Caitlin
Forum Replies Created
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I'm been so busy I've started to reply to this so many times but never managed to finish! All the advice is fantastic, I'm really grateful, thank you – there are definitely some things I would never have thought of! And above all, I will keep the mantra "smile, point your toes, keep your head held high no matter what happens :)" close to my heart at all times, it is beautiful advice, thank you!! I keep having to remind myself that the only reason I chose to do the competition because I want to perform, not to win – I forget surprisingly often!!
I had my chorey done AGES ago but silly me was lazy about cutting my song down to the length required for the comp. I cut the song the other night, less than two weeks from show time, and realised it requires way more significant changes than just cutting a section or two out as the transitions won't work in the same way… I think I've sorted it now, and there are only a couple of bits that are different, but still it is an unanticipated stress and I hope I don't go on autopilot and that muscle-memory and all those hours of visualisation don't kick in and make me switch back to my old chorey!!
Of all the advice I have read, one thing that has also stuck out has been eye-contact, and keeping facial expressions alive. I am fine at the start of my routine but as I go on I lose myself in it and have been told that I close my eyes a lot! I suppose a little of that isn't a bad thing as it shows how much I'm getting into it, but still it must be a little alienating for people watching…? Just something to work on, I guess.
I have made my costume by buying a simple black bra of a brand I know that fits, and using a glue gun to cover it in material and sequins 🙂 I chose a pirate theme in the end so I used red and white striped material with gold sequins. For the bottoms I cut up a pair of cheap black K-Mart undies until they were as cheeky as I wanted(!) and then covered them in a black velour fabric with gold glitter in it, and sewed red sequins around the waist band (with a gold bit at the front to match the bra and look (kinda) like a buckle. I also made floaty split-sleeve things with shimmery white organza and stretchy gold sequin armbands and am wearing one whale-net stocking (on my left leg which I use less for important grips!) I'm also making a headband/bandana-type thing out of the remnants of the red and white material to match the bra, and will iron on a skull n crossbones patch 🙂 I had a blast making the costume, it's definitely one of my favourite parts! I never thought of myself as creative whatsoever but when it comes to making something fun and sexy to dance in – hell yeah!! Oh yeah, and I have a cutlass, but I'm losing that pretty early on in the routine. One tip I can definitely give other fledgling competitors that I've found so far is PRACTICE WITH YOUR PROPS even if you only plan to have them as you walk on. You'll feel SO stupid walking onstage trying to be sexy with a plastic toy cutlass if you haven't played with it in front of the mirror and it can throw you off WAY more than you realise!!
I found out recently that the poles in the comp are both 38mm, which I desperately need to practice on, as I've been on 45s and 50s exclusively recently. It's only the layback/CAR stuff that worries me, but I'll have a chance to try it out this weekend. I've also only been practicing on one, but I have ear-marked bits where I should have time to move between the two. I was really pleased I actually managed to find a couple of youtube videos of the venue so I could see the heights and distance between the poles – the was valuable information!!!
Anyway, thanks again everyone for your thoughts so far, and I hope my little insights so far can help some others who are preparing for their own first time on stage 🙂
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Ooo RikkiL – how do you come out into a Hip Hold?? Is it similar to the drop into a Scorpio?
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Ok, so I know this post was from quite a while ago, but my left hip is really quite strange, so I thought I'd search the forum for other people's experiences…
I'd be interested to know how everyone's doing now, a few months down the mine and if their hips are any better/worse. Did you find the physio was the way to go? Or did something else work better in the end?
The one that bothers me is my left, and when I try to move my leg is a circular motion, rotating the leg in the hip joint, either lying down or standing up, it really grinds/pops/catches. It actually literally feels like the ligaments are crunching against each other or against something else. And stretching for the front splits is absolutely fine, but when I stretch for the centre split (either leg out to the side) it just feels wrong. Tight, but not muscular tight, more like something is caught. It also means I can't do an extended cradle as I struggle with anything that needs a straddle.
It's very annoying! I will go to the physio soon (if that's what's recommended) but it'd be nice to have some idea what I'm in for too, and to know what other people have found helped or hindered their recovery.
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Sorry I didn't reply to your FB message! For some reason I don't seem to get emails about messages on FB anymore, I don't know why 🙁 Sorry about that honey! I love your profile pic, btw 🙂
I think the rest of the poles are just Bobbi's own poles, as far as I know. I phoned and asked Vanessa about the PCP and she told me which one it was, but I've never noticed it so it can't be that much different from the others.
I'm signed up for Flex on Thurs again this term – I'm getting steadily closer! To right and left splits anyway, centre splits may never happen! I'm not going this week tho as I got my tattoo finished on Sunday so I'm having another healing week. I'm free most of the time really tho! It'd be cool to do a practice on a Sunday maybe if you fancy it? What are you doing this term?
http://x-pole.com.au/contact.htm Check it out! Totally unneccesary! But pretty funny.
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Hey Joy 🙂 We need to meet up soon! They've actually just got the one PCP at Bobbi's, the one nearest the door in the Penthouse room, so I'm going to try it out tomorrow!
@5Butterflies That's awful! I hope you've recovered from your fall now. I liked my X-Pole when it was all I knew, and to be honest I never had any problems with mine back home, but I frequently borrowed them off friends for teaching and had heaps of problems with theirs jamming or the chrome peeling off etc. And I've heard AWFUL things about their customer service, but again I never actually had to utilise it. PCP just seem more professional and customer-service focussed (and on the contact us page they don't have a picture of a woman lying on the floor staring provocatively into the camera with her hand between her legs… come on X-Pole, you're not doing yourselves any favours!!)
And yes, it would take a home pole a long time to work up the same amount of wear and tear as a studio pole does in one year, luckily!
Haha, so no-one has ANYTHING bad to report about Pussycats for home use?!
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Haha, how funny! I didn't even see the dates.
Just had a look at your pics, I’d love to see a clearer photo of the ones on your upper arm/shoulder, the colours look beautiful 🙂
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Wow, I love this thread! I love looking at other people's tattoos, especially when they are meaningful and artistic.
I only have one, which is a work in progress. I'm 10 hours in at the moment, with maybe 4 left. I'm going to be quite sad when it's over tho as I've been really enjoying the process. Eventually I'll get more, and I hope to be able to go back to the same guy as he is awesome.
There are pics in my album:
https://www.studioveena.com/photos/view_album/4e2e0d66-3d40-4c35-a85c-3d560ac37250
There are so many different meanings interwoven in it that I won't bore anyone trying to explain. I'm the only one that needs to know after all!
Great thread Glitterhips!! Altho for some reason I can't see yours 🙁
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Had to update…! I had my third session on Sunday, and I have one more booked then she should be finished…
https://www.studioveena.com/photos/view_album/4e2e0d66-3d40-4c35-a85c-3d560ac37250
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MissMegi77, do you know of a link for the cradle to reverse grab? I can't quite picture it…!
I always loved the Carousel to Reverse Grab to Back Hook/Back Attitude… feels like flying!
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Hey lovely Veeners!
I had my first session on Sunday! Very happy with the result so far…
https://www.studioveena.com/photos/view_photo/4de4193e-518c-43a4-aa89-03f70ac37250
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Are Cleopatra and Candy the same thing? And is the only difference between a Cleopatra/Candy and a Shoulder Mount the grip used? I'm confused!
I had a dream the other week that I could do the splits really easily… I did them over and over again and it didn't feel like a dream, I was so disappointed when I woke up! 🙁
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I've always wanted to get into circus arts but as others have said the time time/money factors and the fact it can be tricky to find somewhere to learn have meant that I haven't got into any of them yet. I started hooping while I was travelling round Australia with my husband as it was much easier to carry around a hoop than a pole! But now I've stopped that again as I am now living in Sydney and don't have the space to hoop.
When I have got back into poling for a while and got my strength up I am going to emroll in a silks/hoop class and I really can't wait. I love hooping and started poi too a while ago which is also really fun, but none compare to pole, I just love the inversions and the strength it takes.
My friend and I did a skill swap for a while back home – she taught me belly dance and I taught her pole dance, which was really fun.
If I had time and money I would definitely be taking up loads more physical hobbies, but life definitely gets in the way a lot of the time!
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It's been a while since I've posted anything but mine is CaitlinMidori. When I get a pole in my house again there will be lots more, but not for now!
I'll have to go through and add everyone on here tho, it's fantastic having so much inspiration.
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It's beautiful Moxie, the shading is REALLY well done 🙂 very cute design!
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Wow, there's some beautiful artwork on some of you ladies! I love rib cage pieces but I'm always concerned about how they'd stretch with pregnancy or just with random weight changes…. but it's just such a sexy area! @Ghettobarbie yours is very pretty, what does it say? @Miss Enzo your flowers are gorgeous too, tattoos are all the better when they have meaning like that.
I'm glad to hear that they don't fade or get damaged even when they are on an area that has a lot of contact with the pole too! I've wanted to get a foot tattoo for years but haven't quite decided on the design yet, and now I know I don't have to worry about climbing! @Shellectra, I've never heard of a transdermal on the foot before, brave you!
I'm so excited, I went for my second consultation yesterday and the design my artist has done is beautiful! It's gonna be huge, covering the whole of my upper back, but it's absolutely gorgeous!! I have the final viewing next Mon and my first session the following Sunday… gonna be expensive but I can't wait to get it going!