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One thing to keep in mind – if you live in an older place (which a lot of rentals are) then be sure to really check for those joists. The standard gap (16 inches) only became standard after WWII. Our house is older than that, and the joists are closer together than 16 inches. My husband ended up going in the attic and verifying the distance between them since the stud finder was acting screwy. If your place is newer then it is no big deal.

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Interesting, jivete! I feel like I can get to a safe resting position a lot more easily on a pole (even if  I'm still up in the air). On a lyra it seemed like the only "rest" position was having my feet on the ground! But that could just be my inexperience with the apparatus.

Getting tangled up in silks would be a nightmare for me. I feel like I would have a panic attack. Same reason I won't go scuba diving… you need to stay calm if something goes wrong.

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I took one aerial workshop. It was in a studio, with a professional aerialist instructor. The quality of the instruction was excellent and safety was the top priority. I enjoyed it, but I don't really want to pursue aerials any further. Why? Even with excellent instruction and spotting, it scared the crap out of me in a way that pole does not. Even on a pole, I always feel like I'm no more than 10 feet away from safety (less than 8 feet in my home). Even if I'm tired, all I have to do is make my way back to a pole sit or a basic invert position, and then I can safely dismount.

I scared myself on a lyra, because I realized the only thing keeping me from falling on my head was my own strength and fear not to fall and get seriously injured. I know pole can be just as dangerous, but I feel you work your way up to the dangerous stuff because strength limits you. You can find yourself in a dangerous position in aerials on day one.

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I think this is similar to other industries as well. I ran into this problem when planning my wedding. It used to be, if you hired a photographer or a DJ, you got someone who did it as their only job. They went to school for it, might even have a degree in it, had state of the art equipment, belonged to professional organizations, and generally came with references. There also weren't that many choices, unless you lived in a big city.

These days, anyone can buy an inexpensive DSLR or basic DJ equipment and speakers. Then he/she can call themselves a photographer/DJ, put an ad on Craigslist, and start getting bookings. To the average consumer, it's hard to tell the difference between someone who is skilled and qualified, and someone who is just out to make a buck. Many times, you get what you pay for. But not always. The consumer has to be vigilant about who they interview and hire.

There are plenty of amazing instructors out there who have never gotten certified in anything. There are other people who are lifelong fitness professionals who maintain their certifications and take book learning very seriously.There are also people who bought a pole, watched a few videos on Youtube or took some beginner classes, and decided they were ready to teach. Some of them may have gotten "certifications" that are meaningless. The certifications are not absolutely necessary to qualify someone to teach pole, but they can help a consumer make sense of who is or isn't a qualified teacher.

For what it's worth, I would like to hear that an instructor has some type of background in fitness, but it doesn't have to be pole specific. I have taken classes with pole teachers who are also:

Certified personal trainers
Gymnasts
BFAs in dance
Yoga teachers

All of them brought interesting ideas to the table. A lack of a pole diploma hanging on the wall was not a big deal to me.

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I recently did a shoot like this. I haven't gotten the photos back yet, so I can't say for sure how they came out. But in many ways, the simplest of poses can photograph extremely well. As pole dancers we often think that a good pole shot is a picture of the hardest trick we can do. But simple stuff can be very sexy, esp if that is what you are going for. Lots of poses from the floor, back arches, pole holds, pole sits, etc. Try to practice in front of a mirror so you can work on posture and how to best position your hands, face, legs, etc.

Aerial tricks can look nice, but not if you're not secure in them. Unless you can execute a move without struggling, don't do it during the shoot. A photo shoot is not the time to attempt something new, or do a trick that you can only get some of the time. Otherwise you might be sweaty, or your facial expression will show how much effort you're using.

 

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Thanks Amy. Your blog post on the topic is great, I have seen it before but it's nice to read again now. I have existing issues like Saphyre, so I am extra cautious about pain in my wrists. I also have no aspirations to compete, so I'm happy to use whatever pole diameter makes my life easier.

The 50 is nice and solid feeling and I enjoy twirling around it and doing simple tricks on it. It is a great pole for purely "dancing." But if I ever want to get more advanced, especially with split grips, I think I will need to bite the bullet and get a thinner pole. 

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Please don't feel guilty for how you feel. I read a news story a while ago. It was about how one of the major side effects of this ongoing economic situation is that people don't feel like they can complain about their jobs anymore. It's true, many people are unemployed for extended periods of time and have bills to pay and wish they had a job at all, regardless of how terrible it is.

But that means people are also staying in jobs that they hate for longer, for lack of a better opportunity. Or that suddenly it's forbidden to vent about your frustrations because it means you're ungrateful. Just because someone is employed doesn't mean they're happy, and the ongoing strain of bottling up your emotions and suffering in silence can be just as distressing as having no job.

It's ok to hate your job and still be grateful for having it.

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Some friends have also had good luck at Kohls. They sell inexpensive street shoes that are pretty good for pole dancing.

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1252723/candies-platform-high-heels-juniors.jsp

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1035228/elle-platform-high-heels-women.jsp

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1181591/lc-lauren-conrad-platform-sandals-women.jsp

Just be careful about bringing street shoes to a studio, since they may scuff the floor.

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The day after Halloween is a great time to pick up pole shoes… a lot of the adult stores and temporary costume stores stock the most common Pleasers and Ellies around that time. You may also have luck immediately after Valentine's Day.

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Interesting that some people don't like dancing in shoes because it is not "who they are." That describes me to a T – I am a flip flop, sneakers, and Uggs kind of girl in my daily life. I do yoga in bare feet, I love walking around barefoot in the summertime, and I almost always train in bare feet for pole. I also love the look of a pointed toe.

And yet… I adore my 7 inch Ellies. Putting them on is, for me, like a superhero putting on a mask. It lets me turn into that bombshell sexpot who I usually don't get to be in my daily life. At least for a song or two 🙂

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What a hilarious auction title. Hey everyone, check out my new Spaghetti Leg Wrap Gartini Stripper Club Money Tip Garter Rave Punk Gartinis!

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It's important to check on carpet, but also on hardwood floors. Particularly if they are creaky. That means they are flexing a lot.

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Interesting that Amy mentioned the pole diameter.

I have small hands and wrists… small enough where one-size bracelets are too big on me. I occasionally get a shooting pain in my left forearm, which is typically my bottom split grip hand. I have been shying away from doing any split grip as a result. I understand that the bottom hand is supposed to just push the body away from the pole, and that the top arm is supposed to take almost all of the weight during a split grip. But it hurts even during a partial split grip. It also gets aggravated during certain yoga postures… specifically chaturanga or arm balances.

I also can't do a basic wrist sit on my 50mm pole. No matter how hard I try, I can't hold the weight of my body up on my forearm. My hand just slips off the pole because my fingers don't touch. However, I can do a wrist sit on a 45mm pole (I know because I've used a 45mm star stand alone during an event).

I wonder if using a 50mm pole is contributing to my wrist issues. It's the only size I've ever trained on. I'm probably going to get a 45mm (or maybe even a 40?) as my next pole. I understand the idea of "toughing it out" on a larger size in order to build strength, but not if it will cause injury.

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I have never had acrylics, but I get regular shellac manicures over my natural nails and they are fine for pole. I do keep them relatively short because I wear contacts. Maybe look into this instead?

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Glass cleaner (ammonia) also works well for cutting grease and oil, including the factory stuff. Xpole even recommends glass cleaner in their manual.

It's a generally good tip for household cleaning as well… whatever rubbing alcohol doesn't work for, glass cleaner usually will… and vice versa. 🙂

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I don’t have a solution for you but I am looking forward to the answers! My husband is working on body weight exercises and I think he’d make a great poler, but he has the same problem. He can do flag and even some split grip stuff, but the idea of a pole sit makes him cringe.

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Raven, check out http://clientsfromhell.net/ – always good for a laugh for anyone who works in design!

I have a few artist friends, including several designers. The most successful ones I know work in corporate environments doing slick (but boring) design for high profile clients, and then have meaningful creative outlets outside of work. One of them does photography in his spare time and also customizes his car. The other belongs to an artist collective and organizes exhibitions for other performing and creative groups she belongs to. So they find their artistic fulfillment elsewhere.

Other friends have gotten really disillusioned when they found that working in the creative field was not nearly as fulfilling as they once thought. It may be asking a lot for your job to also be your primary creative outlet. It's certainly possible, but not everyone is so lucky. All the more reason to dance it out 🙂

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Off topic, but I hadn't realized that FGF was a chain. I once took a drop in class at a studio with that name. I wasn't a fan of the workout, so I never went back. It was a lot like Zumba with a couple beginner pole spins thrown in. Intense cardio workout, but not for me.

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1.5 inches is roughly 40mm. If you like the width of your pole, then get another 40mm. 45mm (1.75 in) and 50mm (2 in) are thicker and some people like those sizes better. Thinner is usually easier for moves that require lots of hand grip, while thicker is easier for moves with leg grip. But every body is different.

There are many discussion threads on this site about the pros and cons of different thicknesses. You can also go to a home improvement store and check out different thicknesses of pipe, just to see how the sizes feel in your hand.

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Definitely get a quality pole from Xpole, Platinum Stages, or Lil Mynx (or if you don't live in the US, there may be other options available. Not sure.) I knew a girl who bought a cheap pole off eBay and it ended up being the hanger rod from an Ikea wardrobe… no joke. She used it anyway… and of course it fell. She's lucky she didn't end up breaking her neck.

This is just my opinion and I understand people are looking to save money where possible, but pole dance only really requires one piece of equipment – a pole. And you shouldn't cheap out on it. You can go cheap with everything else… no need to buy designer pole wear or the fanciest, most expensive yoga mat or whatever else you get for your practice. $200 versus $300 for a piece of quality sports equipment should not even be a question. If you can't afford the cheapest pole from any of these brands, then you should save more money until you can. Your health and safety could depend on it.

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Yup, I have narrow/sloping shoulders too! I've tried on so many bras over the years that I can take one look at a bra online or hanging on a rack and go "nope!" or "maybe…"

Here's a funny tip for home polers… you know what makes great pole shorts? Men's underwear! I bought some for my husband and after they went through the dryer they were just too small for him. Rather than throwing them away, I had an idea… and it turns out they make great pole shorts! They don't ride up the butt like womens "boyshorts" and they stay in place during tricks. I probably wouldn't wear them to a class because they look kind of silly, but for a workout in my house they're awesome and comfy!

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Hazi411, for small band with large cup size, try this bra from Panache.

http://www.barenecessities.com/product.aspx?pfid=Panache5021&source=gbase&cm_mmc=GLPA-_-Bra-_-Panache5021-_-NA&term=Panache5021&mr:trackingCode=4A64C84A-2E02-E111-87D9-001B21A69EB8&mr:referralID=NA&mr:adType=pla&gclid=CLjF-IrinLUCFUid4AodwxIAIg&cmp=BPP20

I haven't purchased one, but I have tried it on in a store and really liked it! I'm thinking of ordering it in pink once my current bras wear out.

The small band/large cup size set of women is underserved, both in pole wear and in regular stores. I think a lot of times people think DD+ equals plus size, but not always. I remember looking around for my bra size in everyday retailers – Victoria's Secret stops at DD, but Lane Bryant starts at a 36 band. I end up having to just order online or go to boutiques which are expensive. A lot of women settle for "close enough."

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It wasnt a personal jab at you Amy, sorry if it came across that wat. It was just a reminder that some people are sensitive about their bodies. You might think “huge boobs” is a neutral term or even a compliment, but some girls might take offense to being described that way. Just like you might admire someone’s long legs, but inside they hate that pants are always too short or they feel shy about wearing heels.

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Also @pankake check out Nordstrom’s website. They use actual plus size models to show off plus size lingerie and clothing. Even if you don’t end up buying the item there, you can see a product image on a realistic body type. Instead of showing it on a size zero and then saying “available up to 18W.”

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I have the Ta Ta tamer. It’s ok, but far from the best sports bra I’ve ever worn. I find the fabric has worn out quite quickly from use and it does not wick sweat very well. YMMV but I would recommend other sports bras above it, especially at the Lulu prices. I have posted in other threads about my faves and I love finding new ones. Sorry for not saying more but I’m on my phone. 🙂

And btw, I know you don’t mean any offense by it, but DD is not “huge” by any means. It is a fairly common size in many parts of the world. I am a DDD/E but I am not overweight. Not all polers are skinny!

I do have a Mika Lynn top and like it, but it’s not a sports bra… More like a swim top. Good for gentle workouts and I would wear it for public pole performances and yoga class, but I’d never run in it! Too much bounce.