[Foxy_Rei]

Ditto to the knowing what WD-40 is! I’m in NY in the boonies and it’s a common household item… I thought everyone knew what it is! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[Foxy_Rei]

Congrats Veena!

Let me also just say that although you are like the shining star of pole on this site, it’s great that you’re still growing as a dancer and accomplishing things right next to the rest of us. It’s very encouraging to us newbies to see that… thank you! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[Foxy_Rei]

What a fun idea! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

I’m only a beginner (not even 3 months in yet) but you could interview me if you wanted… I’d understand if you didn’t, but I just thought I would offer. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Foxy_Rei]

BLOOPER CONFESSION!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

I didn’t say anything but no one seemed to notice, but I thought I would clue you all in https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_tongue.gif

During my video when I dismount from the cross ankle release, how I kick off the pole and go off camera for a couple seconds??? This is what really made me so frustrated – I fell onto the bed!!! I thought it was going to be on camera but kept dancing anyway, and I felt sooo much better when I saw it hadn’t shown up.

However, if you look on the far right side of the screen you’ll see my mirrored closet doors. There’s a doubled reflection from the closet doors and the mirrors on the wall so you can narrowly see me fall back onto the bed. I had thought I would land next to it, but I was slightly off…

Thought you guys would get a kick out of that https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_razz.gif

[Foxy_Rei]

I don’t know very many intermediate moves, but I am happy to say, I can now do the corkscrew with the help of this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twj6Sx5D_iE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That doesn’t look like the same corkscrew I’m thinking of… this clip from the Kelly Kayne video is what I think of when I think corkscrew (jump to 50 seconds):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-peZkuVosc

The body position is similar because your back is arching around the pole, but one of them is using the reverse grab and the one on the Kelly Kayne video doesn’t… Adamseve, which version are you trying to do???

[Foxy_Rei]

The pain may just be from your muscles being used in a different way, and that they’re not quite strong enough yet. With practice you will get stronger and the pain will go away… just take it slow and don’t rush yourself. However, if your theory is right…

From the sounds of it your grip is too good, almost… your hand won’t slide on the pole so it won’t rotate around when you spin, right? If that’s so then the Mighty Grip will only make that problem worse. Watch your hands when you spin and see if you move your hand to the opposite side of the pole as your body (so your palm would be facing you). Your palm should be facing to the side (inward left or right).

A few weeks ago I was having problems with my left wrist, and I think this was how I did it. Instead of keeping my wrist straight out away from the pole, my hand and wrist were kinda wrapped around behind it. (Like the forearm grip position would be for my wrist and hands, just with the forearm away from the pole) It felt like I snapped a nerve – it was that sharp twinge kinda feeling – along the top of my wrist going into the back of my hand. I was ok as long as I kept my wrist straight, but if I did anything with my wrist in that position again it really hurt. I think it’s healed and I’ve been ok since, and I’ve also learned better technique so I don’t turn my hand around like that again.

What kind of pole do you use??? If it’s a grippier one like titanium or brass that may be why… chrome is slicker. The only thing that’s coming to mind is maybe wear some sort of wrist brace to keep your wrist straight so it won’t let you bend it around the pole (one that doesn’t go over your hand so you can hold on)??? Then when your hands and arms are stronger remove it. But like I said, make sure this is the problem first because it may just be part of the frustration of being a newbie and gaining strength https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_tongue.gif Maybe one of the other girls would have a better idea… good luck!

[Foxy_Rei]

Over on the task menu on the left side, there should be an option to import music. Any songs that are in the default iTunes format (m4a I think) won’t import into WMM. However, any songs that are in mp3 format that you put in iTunes yourself (not bought through iTunes and not imported from a CD) WILL import.

When you click on the add audio file option in WMM (or whatever it is), you can browse for music. Go to My Music > iTunes > iTunes Music and browse that way. Most songs ending in the .mp3 file extension will be able to import. However, if you used iTunes itself for loading the music they won’t work.

I myself use another program for obtaining my music https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif , then when I have downloaded the songs I then move them to the iTunes Music folder and import them into my library. If you do it that way, the original mp3 file will stay intact. What iTunes normally does is when you find an audio file elsewhere in your computer to import, it makes a copy of it in the m4a format and saves that one to the iTunes Music folder. However the original file will need to stay wherever it is on your computer to use it (i.e. – importing a file from your desktop will require the file stays on your desktop for it to play, even though iTunes made its own copy of it) But if you save that original file to iTunes Music to begin with, all it does is move it to another file within iTunes Music and doesn’t make that new copy of it; keeping the mp3 intact. Do you follow??? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_ugeek.gif

*Note – iTunes isn’t compatible with .wma format and will make a new converted copy to the m4a format, but still needs to keep that original file for it to play.

I’m also kinda a slickster when it comes to audio… If it’s saved in a format I don’t like, I use a program called Audacity that can record any audio playing through your computer. It’s kinda like the old cassette tapes and recording off the radio – just play the song and hit record on the program. It records the song, then you can turn around and save your recorded audio in whatever basic format you would like – mp3 included. I’m sure there are conversion programs out there, but I like my method better and the program comes in handy in other ways ():-) The only disadvantage of this program is that ANY sound coming from your computer will record in the song. I have a couple songs with IM chimes in them and another the beeping from my volume being turned up…

[Foxy_Rei]

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[Foxy_Rei]

LOL NO I meant poke around the internet to find more information!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[Foxy_Rei]

I’m one of the young-ins – I’m 22, will be 23 in June. I’m a newlywed – married October of ’08. I have a daughter who is just about 18 months old. I’m 5′ 4" (look taller in my videos because we have short ceilings – only 7′ high). And I’m going to make some girls hate me but I only weigh 110 pounds https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_eek.gif (115 at most, like right after I’ve eaten https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif ). I’ve been poling about 2.5 months now, all self-taught from watching everyone’s videos here and YouTube. I owe TaraKarina for getting me really interested in poling and also for finding this site – her videos have a link to SV.

Since poling, I’ve learned really fast and have been amazed at myself. I’ve never been really athletic so the fact I’m able to do this is invigorating! I tried cheerleading in 6th grade but hated it. Did cross-country running 8th-10th grade and ran track 9th-10th, but I was the worst on the team and eventually got asthma from exposure to second-hand smoke for so long and quit… the asthma was activity and anxiety induced, and I haven’t had problems with it in a while.

But I’ve always had self-esteem issues, and have issues with anxiety and panic attacks. I used to be on medication, but it made me miserable and instead of having panic attacks every day I had one huge one like once a week that completely shut me down. I stopped taking it when I got pregnant, and never started again. But between poling and cutting caffeine out of my diet I haven’t had as many panic attacks… maybe only 1 or 2 since I’ve started poling??? I still have other manifestations of stress (for instance I pull my eyelashes out… haven’t been quite able to stop that – have done that since I was like 6), but the fact I’m not having the panic attacks says a lot. My only complaint is that I’m tired a lot from more activity! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[Foxy_Rei]

It’s kinda funny you brought this up… Sascha and I are planning on getting together and going to an amateur night at a club in my area, but we’re doing it for fun and not as an audition.

My only suggestion is have a very flexible routine. Don’t have every beat of the song move-for-move memorized and down-pat. Otherwise you may end up with a very stilted performance. Have maybe the beginning and big parts of the song planned out, but maybe at the low parts of the song plan on using that time to work the crowd a little bit, etc. Not to mention that if you have a routine all worked out and, heaven forbid, something bad does happen you’re whole thing will be out of whack the rest of the song. But like one of the other girls said, if something happens, keep going and smile and be cute about it ("oopsie daisy!" https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif ) It’s the confidence that gets people’s attention. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumright.gif

The funny thing is I’m saying all this and I’ll be scared sh*tless myself to go up on stage when Sascha and I get together here in a little over a month! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[Foxy_Rei]

I’ll put that program on my wish list… money’s tight after buying the pole, but by the time I’ll be able to afford it maybe I’ll be good enough at poling that it’ll make a more costly program worth it https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

Congrats on finding the deal on Sony Vegas!

[Foxy_Rei]

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[Foxy_Rei]

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[Foxy_Rei]

I’ll ditto what everyone else is saying and I’ll add this: I was 8 when my parents separated, and it was a couple years before they actually divorced. My mom was cheating, and she was the one asking for the divorce.

The thing that was the most traumatizing to me was listening to my parents fight, and after my dad moved out and my sister and I went to stay with him, was when he broke down crying… the only time I’ve ever seen him cry. If he had just moved out and I had never heard the fighting for hours and hours during the night nor had seen the emotions flying, it wouldn’t have been nearly as bad. So my advice is if he wants to leave, let him. Don’t make any scenes in front of the kids… they will be confused, but when they are older you want them to realize that you handled it like adults instead of having a screaming match like children. I had nightmares of my parents fighting for years afterward. Also as hard as it is, try to be strong for the kids. Come to grips with that this is what is best, and be there for your kids. If you let them see how much it’s upsetting you, it’ll make them even more upset. I know it’s hard to mask the emotions… It’ll be so much easier for your kids that way. But do try to keep them in the loop; tell them what’s going on, just try to do it rationally.

Like I said I know it sounds strange, but that’s the kind of stuff that will get to the kids more than the actual splitting up will…

[Foxy_Rei]

I’m not sure how much better I’ll make you feel, but I’ll give it a shot https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_confused.gif

I’m having a reputation around here as being a beginner but learning really fast, and trust me, even though I can do several moves I still feel like I suck… I watch Veena and Fleur dance then want to cry when I watch my own. I still feel like I can’t dance and properly string my moves together and I beat myself up about it, and not to mention my sweaty hands making every dance and practice a nightmare… Also I can do moves like the gemini and scorpio and learned to switch between them with no hands right off the bat, but truth be known, I still can’t climb the pole! I put my foot/shin up there to get into a pole sit but it’s not doing anything – it’s all my arms. I can’t hold myself up on the pole with my legs whatsoever when I’m right side up (other than a pole sit, but I still have to hold on with my hands because I fall backwards).

So all that to say that we all feel like we’re inadequate no matter how much we can actually do. It always seems like someone else is better than us… But that doesn’t mean we should be getting down about it! We all have our own strengths and weaknesses, and you just need some time to find out what those are. Being happy with who we are as a pole dancer is something that needs to happen at some point, so it may as well be in the beginning, because like I said, it’ll always seem like someone’s better than you and you’ll always be upset. So if you learn to be positive from the start you’ll save yourself a lot of heartache. This is something I have to learn for myself, too… But we’re all in this together! You’re not alone! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[Foxy_Rei]

Oh yes for the record I wasn’t recommending WMM… it does suck, but it’s all I have, and I don’t want to download a trial version of a product I can’t afford to buy when the trial is over… that’s what happened with me and Adobe Photoshop. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif I was merely just stating that the editing program is what determined the final file extension, and that’s just how it worked out for me…

[Foxy_Rei]

I have to admit it was kinda strange seeing a guy do the body wave https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif But that was a good vid!!!

[Foxy_Rei]

Oh yes I forgot to mention I love the name, too… I have a rather unusual name, myself, so I can always appreciate rather different names https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[Foxy_Rei]

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[Foxy_Rei]

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[Foxy_Rei]

Ok I gotcha now. Yeah I would look into the software for converting before going out and buying a new camera and everything, especially since you said it was really expensive… Good luck!

[Foxy_Rei]

Ohh Jungle, Jungle… https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif It’s ok, I often post something and then think "Why did I do that??? People are going to think I’m nuts or something…" And I’m going to try to cheer you up anyway https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_tongue.gif

I wouldn’t worry about retaliation from posting those videos on YouTube. Perhaps not posting there would be a good idea, but I don’t think you’re going to get a group of "christians" standing on your doorstep with spears and torches or something. It can be scary knowing that you’ve angered someone, somewhere that you can’t see or don’t know and your mind will naturally wonder what the consequence will be. Paranoia is natural, but not always logical. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_geek.gif But just remember that these people don’t know who are actually are, don’t have your address, and I highly doubt that they live in your general vicinity and would think of even going through the effort to come after you in person. It’s all in cyberspace, and it may do a number on your brain but they can’t actually hurt you. Just keep praying and be strong, you’ll be ok. It’s just Satan playing with your mind. Don’t let him get the best of you!

We all love ya, and you can’t post something like that and honestly think that one of us isn’t going to respond! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[Foxy_Rei]

I’m not sure about this one, but we do have a "tech related" forum under the "everything else" section (all the way at the bottom) that you may want to post future questions like this to. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

I just use my digital camera (Sony CyberShot) for videos, but I use Windows Movie Maker to edit them. The camera uploads the videos as .avi files, then I import them to WMM. Then when I save the finished movie in WMM, it saves it as a .wmv file. I’d imagine that as long as it’s a video-type of file I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able to upload it to the site, but I’m not sure on that one. Does it just not work, or is it just too time consuming and you’re looking for a file that would load quicker??? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif

[Foxy_Rei]

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