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  Performing Incognito?

  Posted by DanteD on June 22, 2015 at 2:55 am

  I’ve been doing pole (along with other aerial apparatuses) for about 1.75 years, and I’ve gotten pretty good. Not elite level, certainly, but good enough to perform. I think it’d be so much fun, but I’m a guy with a professional, conservative job (which I like). Any ideas about costumes/makeup to perform incognito? Anyone have any experiences with work finding out?

  polesilks replied 9 years, 4 months ago 4 Members · 4 Replies
• 4 Replies

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  Runemist34

  Member

  June 22, 2015 at 9:51 am

  Hey Dante!
  There are a few people (women, mostly) here who have had their work find out… I’d say, mixed results! However, it’s a little bit different when women are discovered than, I think, men being discovered. The stigma around women and pole dance is that it’s a sexual thing, and our society doesn’t like to admit that women can be sexual, and motherly, and professional… well, anyways! I’m not sure how a workplace would react to a man coming out as a pole dancer. Other gymnastics I could see being taken well (there are men doing gymnastics on the olympics, for goodness sake!), but pole has that “stripper” stigma still attached and hanging on.

  As for dancing incognito, I would say that a mask might help a lot! Also, putting a lot of makeup around the eyes, distorting your features (making your eyes look bigger, or changing their shape, drawing attention to various parts of your face), playing around with shadow and lighting (also known as contouring) and colour, could all help to transform you on stage! Interestingly, drag queens are extremely good at this, and you could look up some ideas on Youtube. Getting a professional to do your makeup would also be a good one!
  A good stage name also goes a long way to keeping your superhero identity separate from your secret, civilian identity 😉

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  PenelopeAnn

  Member

  June 23, 2015 at 1:52 am

  Runemist – “your superhero identity” – love it!!!

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  DanteD

  Member

  June 25, 2015 at 11:47 pm

  Thanks! I’m considering using a fake beard to throw people off (my real one is patchy). That plus a mask like you suggested should work. Makeup would likely work, but I have no idea how to apply it lol. I do have friends who are really good at it, though.

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  polesilks

  Member

  June 26, 2015 at 3:26 pm

  We know of a solicitor her in the UK who wares dark glasses and lots of make up so people do not recognise her… shame really as Pole is Gymnastics but vertically…

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