[Charley]

I should add I do like do dance in boots too… but not my knee high…they tend to slip down, not good I’ve almost fallen a few times. My favorite boots are my black thigh highs. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

I have the same problem with knee high boots unless they are stiff tops and lace up but then the rivets scratch the pole https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif

I usually dance naked because of the carpet issue – it’s too difficult and my stilettos get caught up – my chunky heel boots are okay but I am also dealing with a light fixture right next to my pole and I don’t want to accidently smash a light bulb – lol!

Ankle sport socks are nice too – I use them a lot – knee high socks when I feel sexy. I also use legwarmers as much as possible.

I have ballet slippers which are great for dancing and I can still split heel and cupid in them so they would be ideal I think because pole does do a number on feet.

[Charley]

inverting on the left feels like learning to invert all over again https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

I think if you just make yourself train that it will get easier and you’ll be able to do a lot more combos.

I think there are some moves that are difficult because of the awkwardness – inverting being one of them and gemini and scorpio – I actually just got scorpio in my opposite side and it looks better but it feels like I am going to fall. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif

What is weird though is sometimes if you can’t get a move and you do it opposite arm you can do it, lol!

[Charley]

Wow! That was awesome! You’d really have to trust your partner!!!

That one girl is super strong.

[Charley]

I don’t even pay attention to which side I spin on anymore but it took a long time to get there. When I began teaching I had trained for about 6 months or so before hand on opposite side movement because I figured not all my students will be right handed.

It takes some time but if you spend a little bit of each practice session trying to go with the basics on the opposite side – you’ll get it. As you build up more strength from things like the fireman or the attitude you’ll be able to progress to split grips.

I am also trying to get my elbow grip and split grip on the opposite side. It’s soooo scary.

I think it’s a good idea to set out from the beginning learning each move on both sides – I wish I had because it’s harder to go back later.

[Charley]

I second Lola on the power ball.

Also go easy on your wrists – they will get stronger.

Handstands were awful for me too for a really long time. One thing I noticed I was doing was twisting my wrists when I came down into the handstand. YOu need to keep your wrists straight – thing of your fingers being spread open and your middle finger pointing askew (slightly left or slightly right) make sure your fingers are in front of you and not to pointing away from you.

This was my problem – I was weakening my wrists and damaging them because they were not straight – it may not be an issue for you. The more you practice the stronger you’re wrists will get.

[Charley]

Awesome job! You must be so proud and on cloud 9 right about now!!!

Like Jenn said – in our area and I am sure Chicago being a big city it’s the same deal – our amateur night is full of veteran dancers. I know girls who plan trips to amateur nights https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif Off the street dancers never get much of a chance. So that’s awesome and even mor eof an accommplishement to beat them!

The way I see it you came in first! Good luck if you do decide to work there.

[Charley]

I’m not quite sure exactly what you mean – but are you thinking about the inverted hip hol? Pole is gripped with you hip and legs are extended over your head?

[Charley]

Kinda strange, calling it pole dance though. If it is Chinese pole then they should explain what the contraption is. Otherwise their just gonna have a bunch of confused newbies. lol

Yeah – it’s seems silly that they don’t mention what it is they are dancing on. Plus the cube is about 4 inches in diameter vs our 2. The vid didn’t really seem to teach anything either.

[Charley]

Thank you Carmel! I don’t have any vids here yet all of mine are on youtube. Pole Twista and I were talking about lack of feedback Friday so I kind of ranted a bit here.

I do think that people who don’t have others to bounce things off really need feedback on vids.

I am really passionate about the community (here, other forums, youtube) sharing and caring about one another. I really would love to see more encouragement towards new posters and new pole dancers. This forum is good to new members but there are other places and youtube especially where it seems like you need to be Pantera to get feedback.

I am not looking for compliments or anything like that but would like to talk about my vids the way I talk about others.

Burn2ea – I think it’s easy for newbies to get overshadowed a lot. There are a lot of questions that a lot of us have answered a million times so sometimes I notice we get short or ignore questions that have already been answered. But I think it’s someone – just taking the time to acknowledge you that makes you feel on top of the world and let’s you know you aren’t alone, what is going through your head others have had similar thoughts/feelings. Feel free to PM me anytime with any questions you have =)

With all of that being said – this forum is much more open than some others because people letting their real feelings being known would have caused drama but I think this is an awesome discussion because it makes us reflect on the way we encourage one another and makes us consider follow up.

I totally understand not watching long vids or watching several vids from the same user ina short span of time. This helps us put together the best package to get the optimal feedback.

This is a brave thread and really honest – I appreciate the honesty from everyone and the way the thread has been handled with integrity.

And I appreciate all the feedback and comments I’ve gotten and if anyone adds me as a friend on youtube I’ll go check out your vids and leave comments and feedback. (http://www.youtube.com/charleyisagirl)

This really goes to show how important we are to one another. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Charley]

I’m 99% sure this is a chinese cube.

I train people how to use it – it’s fairly difficult to perform any swings because it does require a counterbalance. A friend of my bf’s works on it. Very cool piece of equipment.

[Charley]

Sorry I haven’t read everyone else’s post BUT I know Mary Ellen from Empowerment Through Exotic Dance and her course is AWESOME!!!!!!

Mary Ellen is ACE certified as well as being a registered nurse. Mary Ellen KNOWS HER STUFF. She has been teaching for a good long time and knows pole inside and out. She is probably the most helpful person I ahve ever encountered. She is not afraid to share all of her knowledge from opening a studio and marketing to making syllabuses. She is an amazing human being and would recommend anyone looking for certs to go through her because she is thorough – this woman does her research and knows her stuff. She has a lot to offer.

I cannot wait to spend time with her learning – it will be worth every single penny.

She has been an inspiration and a HUGE help to me through out my journey here as an instructor. I have learned a lot from her.

Alena Downs from pole junkies also has a program and highly recommend working with Alena too. Alena is full of insight and great advice, she knows pole from both a perfromers and health professionals stand point. She also is not stingey with her knowledge and freely shares it.

I love both women – they are wonderful people and very safe – probably the safest instructors I have ever met.

When I started my business – Alena not only sold me poles and walke me through all the things I would neec but sent to me her private class syllabus,

I plan to get certs through Mary Ellen and get competition ready through Alena.

[Charley]

If it’s warm and humid more often than not you may want to go with chrome because TG is very grippy. We;ve entered spring here and my girlfriend took down her TG because it was so grippy and hte pole burn was really bad.

I’m the queen of sweaty hands have not noticed TG being any better. Chrome is better than stainless in that it warms up quicker and seems to stay warmed up longer. With that being said…stainless is great in summer. (x-pole is not available in stainless steel.)

I have stainless steel – supposedly the most slippery pole and I do ok on it in summer. I have an x -pole and do well on it all year round but find it too grippy in consideration to my stainless steel pole in summer. I have a choice most don’t – so I suggest chrome over TG if anything because we (USA) are going into our summer season and it will be more manageable. You can purchase an upgrade of tg A and B poles for your pole for winter.

[Charley]

Pole Twista – that was me on Friday chat =)

I don’t get hardly any responses to my vids at all!!!! It’s hard because you do feel bad. You do feel like you’re doing something wrong or are not entertaining. That is the farthest thing from the truth with you. You are good!!! I don’t leave a lot of responses anymore because no one responds to my vids – atleast say I suck or something!!!! There are enough people on YT to comment.

As far as unanswered posts – TG is something that is fairly new to the community and while I can do this move I don’t feel comfortable enough giving advice on it.

I feel like it is an advanced grip (although easier to hold) and I feel like this move can cause shoulder and wrist injury if not properly executed. I tried this grip too soon and am lucky to have survived it. I rely to heavily on it and I think mastering the basic handspring grip, then Chinese, then twisted grip makes more sense to me.

I’d have to be in person with you to help you with it – it’s to easy to misinterpret what someone writes and much harder to explain what your body is doing. Especially since youa re twisting your hand around the pole.

I could more easily advise you on the deathlay than the handspring.

Continue posting vids and I am glad that you have said something about this. It is an issue. Some people whether for better or worse get tons of comments where as others do not and for those who do not it does feel like a popularity contest – which is not what pole is about in the first place.

There are certain people who could post a vid of them falling off the pole and get comments. If a vid is worth watching all the way through – it’s worth commenting on. I also think commenting doesn’t always have to be the "well done!" but can be constructive and helpful. I actually ask my friends what looks right and what doesn’t because of bland comments – I never give anyone a bland well done – it’s not fair to them – tell them what you liked, what got your attention, etc. It takes 5 mins to watch a vid and 30 secs to comment.

I also advise against multiple postings and really long vids. I personally cannot stay captivated for that long – even with people like Pantera. I have really loooong vids so I get why people don’t comment.

I am so with you on this. Sometimes it seems like no matter what you do you cannot get feedback – and we thrive on feedback especially those who do not have classes close by and those who do not have pole buddies.

[Charley]

https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif Yay! Roxy! Awesome news! Congrats!

PM me if you need anything https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Charley]

It looks like a Chinese"cube". I am not sure why they are pole dancing on it but it’s kind of a cool effect. Chinese poles are close to 4 inches in diamter to dancing would be difficult.

[Charley]

Thin doesn’t equal healthy at all.

I’m small but smoke like a chimney, drink like a fish and eat red meat and carbs all day long. I’m a fairly disgusting person.

Get a pole, dance around, have some fun and you’ll feel great.

And remember ex’s are ex’s for reason so anything they say let it fly in one ear and out the other.

[Charley]

Have you thought about talking with the studio that you take lessons at about being an instructor there? Maybe even an advanced instructor?

[Charley]

Do you have exposed beams? If so you can use a platinum stages pole and center the ceiling plate under a beam. Platinum Stages has a mush smaller ceiling plate vs the X pole Dome and it’s just as sturdy as the X.

Good luck I hope it all works out for you https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Charley]

As a business owner here is my 2 cents.

I’d love to have a pole studio but at the moment it is more beneficial financially for me to to rent space from dance, fitness and yoga studios because I have an immediate market. I do not have to go out and get clients I walk into them. With this experience I plan to rely heavily on building a good reputation as an instructor and a performer this way when I do open my own studio – withhin the next 3 years I’ll have people already interested.

There are slow periods for pole. I’ve notice winter is a little slow, things pick up around March. So even when it’s slow you have to pay the lease on the studio where as right now I just cancel classes and resume when I have more enrollment – at no cost to myself and the studios can put another class in that spot.

After figuring out where to teach you have to buy poles. If you are in the US I strongly suggest using PS poles to teach on because they are the industry standard diameter and most clubs use stainless steel or brass. Stainless steel is heavy duty and doesn’t flake like chrome can so you have a longer life span on your poles. I suggest removeable Super Poles because if you are teaching at a venue not owned by you – you can easily take the poles down and store them – I used to store mine all in one piece in a back room – set up was 10 minutes.

You have to then come up with a syllabus. I teach not based on fitness or dance but both. WE learn everything on both sides of our body – we learn movement and we also learn to move with what feel right to our bodies. I have several fitness polers, sensual polers and polerina’s. I teach the moves and the movement – it’s up to them to decide how they want to dance. Moves are grouped by execution so all moves that similar in execution are taught together. For example I teach fireman then attitude – both start with your outside ankle hooked on the pole the difference is one require you to bring your back leg behind the pole – the other requires you to throw your back leg behind you. Since entry is similar these moves are taught together.

After you’ve got the venue, poles and syllabus you need to advertise and get the word out. This is why I really like renting space I walk into ready made clients, Usually studio clients are my first class after that I rely on word of mouth and other forms of viral marketing.

Pole Parties. At least starting out you should be willing to have pole will travel. It’s a convenience for potential clients and you make a lot of money, I charge a hefty sum for parties and have been so far lucky that many of the parties I’ve done have gained me students. People like that you are willing to cater to them. I really enjoy home parties and make a lot more money off parties then classes.

Advanced Pole Tricks. Not really as important as I would have thought. I think students like that you can do them and for me being able to perform at a certain level of ability has gotten me into venues to teach classes but the simple fact is most students won;t hang on. I have my hardcore junkies that take classes through Thanksgiving and Christmas but overall most students just want something fun to do and a good work out. I’ve been at this for a year and a half and have yet to have anyone get past an intermediate phase. Most people who want advanced work will pay for private lessons. I put my more advanced students in a mixed level class because there is so little business for it. It takes a long time to get to a level where your moves are polished and you are ready to begin polishing inverted poses. Although I teach everything from a pirouette to a handspring, deathlay, yogini, death drop, etc. I don’t get a lot of calls for that type of thing.

In general students who do not own poles but come to weekly classes will stay in the beginner phase for months and intermediate even longer. It’s not uncommon to have students who don’t want to buy a pole and don’t practice during the week. So…advanced is cool and you have a leg up on the competition if you can offer it but here I’ve noticed I don’t teach a lot of it. Most of that stuff is taught one to one.

The most challenging thing with teaching is fighting youtube. A lot of students will watch video clips and think you can go directly from an x ankle to gemini without moving, lol! A lot of students will also see that so an so has only been pole dancing a few months and can do a handspring – so you really have to make them understand that you aren’t holding them back to be mean or take their money but youare teaching them the proper way to train your body for pole which means polishing moves, building on what you know and preparing your body to be able to safely and effectively learn and practice the next set of moves. My pet peeve is trickster and not dancers – I am training people to do difficult and dangerous things with their body that weighs heavily on me as an instructor and I believe that there are things that must be accomplsihed before doing a deathlay. If they cannot climb the pole why would I teach them to invert? Which position is safer?

So this has been my experience. I love teaching and I love my students. I have a high retention rate which is awesome. I get a lot of hard core polers that will cut their grocery bill to be able to come to class. Many of them are very dedicated and beautiful dancers. On the other hand I do get people who try it and hate it. This is a difficult thing we are teaching. There are slow peroids and busy periods. It’s totally worth it.

Just consider your options and availability and give your business time to grow. Come up with a 5 year model instead of a 1 year model. Don’t bank on pole as a sole source of income right away. It’s slow to grow but it does grow. I am busier than I was last year, have a second venue and still get emails from former students begging for classes to resume.

If you have any questions or want to chat feel free to PM me anytime.

I have chosen to pay rent vs have a studio right now because of the economy and I like not having to pay bills when no one is in the building. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

Goodluck! I think you’d be a great instructor.

[Charley]

I can make one when I get home from work https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Charley]

What is the club standard in your country? I suggest always going with the standard size so that if you ever wanted to (I know right now maybe you don’t) you could dance publicly at a club (exotic or non exotic) or at other venues and pole schools.

I am a very small person and have no problems with full 2 inchers.

Your grip improves over time. I’ve seen tiny, tiny girls with tiny hands do some amazing things on full size poles.

[Charley]

hi there! Welcome aboard. I’m from MI too! I’m in Royal Oak, there are a few others from MI here too – bertysboo and jnybeth. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[Charley]

I’ve not tried the candle bit – I’ve wondered if it cleaned up.

Brass is next on my list too https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

I am so afraid to be spoiled by brass.

The TG poles are great too. I was actually considering a TG45 – may still get one…

[Charley]

Professional Exotic Dance provides a lifestyle. While it may seem like it’s a lot of work and stress (it is and it’s physically demanding) it also offers a lot of benefits.

You, for the most part, can determine when you want to work, you have financial control – if you don’t feel like giving a specific person a dance – you don’t have too. You get to dress up, you can take breaks when and if you need, you get to dance and get told a million times a night how amazing a human being you are.

It’s not for everyone. Neke outlined all of the bad parts. If you go to work, keep your eye on the hustle and the dollar, make your money and go home – you’ll do fine. A lot of the negatives that come from dancing come from getting involved in the politics or hanging out with customers or other dancers after work (usually having drinks.) If you can enjoy yourself in the atmosphere and stay away from drinking and drugs…it’s good money and you’ll meet your financial goals.

I would suggest those who have had past addiction problems stay away from dancing – but I would tell them not to work in any bar/restaurant where they are around people drinking and possibly doing drugs and that’s just about any bar you go to. I also, respectfully, think that those who have a history of sexual abuse could find dancing uncomfortable, it could bring back terrible memories or have a deep emotional impact. I feel the same way about women who have been physically abused by a man in their life as well. Not saying everyone who has an abusive past wouldn’t like dancing but just putting out there that sometimes you may find the job deeply emotional and so it may not be the best idea to work in close contact with men (who can sometimes be pushy or grabby, intentional or not.)

Age, weight, size, shape, race – none of those things really matter (some clubs as Neke said have a "look" they hire but they aren’t the majority) it’s about sales and selling people on you as a person and a dancer. If you like people, meeting new people and are good at conversation and like dancing – you’ll have a good time.

The only other thing I stress to new dancers is be sure your relationship is in a good place and your significant other is okay with it – and I mean totally 100% behind you. It can be difficult for the someone special – they might think they are okay with it and later realize they aren’t. So be prepared for them to say after a couple of nights that they don’t like it and feel weird about it.

Lastly, research the club you want to work at. This will aid in your enjoyment of the job. I would go in as a customer and check out the girls, staff and management first. See what the patronage is like. You can avoid extra’s bars and bitchy bars this way. If a bar is open and doesn’t have private booths chances are dances are fairly clean (although most places have that one girl who will go the extra mile.) Once you’ve settled on a place you’d like to work schedule an audition and see how it goes.

Another thing, some girls like to do is amateur night – just to see what the stage and lights will feel like.

Whatever you decide to do be sure to safe and really smart about it. Try not to drink alcohol, don’t leave your drinks on a table and walk away (even in the dressing room.)

Make sure you have one person who knows where you are and your schedule at all times.
Try to get a bouncer to walk you out to your car at night or carry trial sized hairspray (make shift mace.)
Don’t tell anyone your real life story, name, address, etc.
Stick to your financial goals – that should be your focus and walk high, proud, confident and have a great time.

[Charley]

I find that the chrome is stickier – so in the winter when it’s dry and cold I can still stick…many times with PS no matter how much I work it – it just doesn’t heat up. Stainless is awesome when there is humidity – you stick right to it yet its smooth enough to do quick moves without sticking too much. X-pole on the other hand I stick too much to in summer and can’t do quick flip arounds the way I’d like.