[SandyBrown]

I was thinking about this the other day. At my studio, you can’t really get away with doing something on just your right side, because the instructors make us do the same spin/invert/combo on the left side. I know that my right side is my strongest and even though I try to do everything on both sides, I still get frustrated with my left side. It’s not super bad, but it’s bad, lol.

[SandyBrown]

I’ve found that alcohol works pretty well for me. I’ve tried the Might Grip and similar products, and while I find them great for inverts, I feel like I’m stuck to the pole when I try spinning. I’ll wipe the pole down with alcohol, then I’ll rub some on the palms of my hands and anywhere else that my skin will come into contact with the pole. I told myself that I didn’t want to become reliant on the Mighty Grip stuff, but when I went to the studio the other day and the instructor told me that they’d run out of rubbing alcohol, I almost panicked, lol.

[SandyBrown]

the one thing that has been assumed in this thread is that ALL the high cost (USPDF..etc) training programs include "business start up" info…I’ve been doing some research here and there because I do think it’s import to have certs under the belt…but why would I spend $3000 and not get the business inside info? does that make sense. I have no problem paying for a good training program and for the time spent in developing the training program if I’m going to get the business side too. But I haven’t found too many $$$ trainings that include good business info. The flip side if I’m not looking for the business side I shouldn’t have to pay $3000 either. You can get a reputable PS cert for $400. I don’t know of an organized sport that costs that much for training either…in figure skating your certification was your experience….same for gymnastics etc.

Roxy-Pink, that’s a good question about the business side of things being included in certification. I’m not interested in having my own studio or teaching others on my own, but I am taking the Climb & Spin (USPDF) intensive training and certification next month. I’ll be sure to ask Kira and Wendy about that as I feel that would be great advice to have for that are interested in owning a studio.

As far as the money goes, I too was like WTF at some of these prices. But reading the explanations of Empyrean and others, it makes sense in the long run for these certification programs to cost as much as they do.

[SandyBrown]

I started pole dancing in studios. The very first class I took had 16 people in it, all of whom were beginners like me. I don’t have a pole at home, so I try to get into the studio whenever I can. I’m glad that there are DVDs like Jamilla and online lessons like Venna’s out there so that people can truly see how it’s done if they would prefer to learn solo or if geographic prevent them from going to a studio.

I can’t remember who commented on this, but it was mentioned that students were being taught at one particular studio to run into one of their spins/tricks. At the studio I started off at, we were taught to jump into an invert. I saw a recital video of a friend who is still at that studio, and I saw her not only do a running motion into her invert, but also the same motion while going into a shoulder mount. At my current studio, that would not fly at all, plus it gives you back problems as well. I also definitely agree that just because someone knows how to do a move doesn’t mean that they’re good at instructing others.

[SandyBrown]

I have an idea!

How about we turn this into a monthly pole jam? NYC polers from all studios and self-taught polers can come together once a month at Body & Pole and learn from each other. I would love for us to show what we’re learning at our studios/homes on a more frequent basis.

[SandyBrown]

I was a psych major in college, whoo hoo! But I couldn’t tell you much about what I learned because I completely forgot what I learned. Although, I do know that cognitive dissonance was thrown in the mix, lol.

That’s what I’m not understanding, the communication part. I know that people are busy and all, but what happened with the communication here? This whole thing is just bad communication, and we all know what happens when people can’t communicate. Even when they found out about the Body & Pole workshops, before making the competitors sign contracts, why not speak to Lian first about all of this? But I think one thing USPDF can definitely learn about this is to have better communication in the future. I also think in a weird way that it’s a good thing that this is out in the open, so that if the USPDF is not living up to what they feel their mission is, then they need to retreat and think about how they want their image to be for the future.

Also, to answer your question Amy, I believe pole studios have the option of being affiliated business programs. I have no idea if that’s even considered helping to sponsor.

This whole thing is making my head hurt. I don’t like seeing people sad, mad, and upset. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif

[SandyBrown]

I’m going to throw in another perspective here (Is that’s what’s called being a devil’s advocate? I don’t know, lol).

Anywho, this situations has been bothering me, and I can’t help but take this situation personally (even though it has nothing to do with me) because I am a NYPD student and I do know Wendy and Anna. They are both great instructors and are wonderful people to all of the students at NYPD. All of the instructors at NYPD are amazing at what they do, and I have the upmost respect for pole instructors in general because they have the desire to share their passion with as many students as possible. And I also appreciate this website because it brings so many people together to give varying opinions.

With that being said, the more I think about this situation, the more I understand why Wendy and Anna took the actions that they did. USPDF–just like Body & Pole and NYPD–is a business. To me, their actions had nothing to do with them being greedy or spiteful about another studio hosting some workshops. I’m sure they weren’t rubbing their hands together and laughing at all of this. Like it or not, you need money in order to make money, and in order to put on a competition such as this, you need money and SPONSORSHIPS. Sponsorship, I believe, is the reason why all of this is happening.

While I hate that all of this happened, in my eyes, if you submit for my competition, and I agree to fly you to the location where the competition is being held and I agree to pay for your lodging while you’re there, I would expect for you to be around for my purposes because I may have other things lined up for you, like interviews, photo shoots, and the like or whatever. How would that work out if you’re someplace else doing workshops at another location on my dime? I would try to shut the situation down, as they did. Like it or not, in all things that we love, money can sometimes play a factor.

Like I’ve stated, I believe this all had to do with sponsorship, which, to me, isn’t a problem given the fact that pole studios and pole federations are businesses. Yes, they care about us as students and yes they should work more to promote a cohesive unit, but they are still businesses. Many people view pole dancing as a sport and pole dancers as athletes. Many athletes and sports federations seek out sponsorships. Lian, you seem like a really sweet person, and I know that you meant no malice when scheduling your workshops, but like I’ve stated, I don’t think it had anything to do with one studio not wanting another to host workshops. Wendy and Anna would have totally been fine with Body & Pole having workshops during the time they were paying for the competitors IF (in my opinion) Body & Pole was a sponsor. If they were as greedy and spiteful, they could have easily started scheduling workshops for Sunday as well. In order for USPDF to be successful enough to have future opportunities for aspiring competitors, they need those sponsorships. You probably don’t care to have anything to do with USPDF in the future, but this is just something to think about.

Also like I’ve stated, Wendy and Anna are really nice people, and they also happen to be running a business. I’m not business-minded, but a friend of mine is, and her explanation is the reason why I can see Wendy and Anna’s side more. Lian, I sincerely hope that you, Wendy and Anna will be able to have a dialogue about this in the future. It may not change anything now but I hope that you’re able to talk with them about this because in the end it sucks for everyone: the students at these studios, the owners and instructors, the people who have signed up for these workshops and are spending their money to come for this competition, the competitors, everybody. Especially since one of your own instructors is also a competitor just like a few are from NYPD. Like I’ve stated, I know that you didn’t have any ulterior motives and you wanted as many people as possible to have the experience of learning from some of the best, but I think they were perhaps blind-sided about this. Sponsorship is my theory, and like it or not, it’s needed in situations like this. When you feel that you’re losing money and sponsorship from another entity, you start to do what you can to make sure you’re still ok in the end. Lian, I believe that you know that Wendy and Anna are good people. While you don’t like how they’ve played their hand, I personally believe that they support Body & Pole and everything that you’re doing, and they also believed in your talent as well as Kyra’s for you all to have been past and current USPDF competitors.

I know that this came off as being extremely biased, but I just wanted to throw another perspective in this. I know that some of you may not agree with what I’ve had say, but before you continue to express opinions about people (that you may or may not know) just know that there’s always several versions of a situation. Lian has told her side, and I’m sure that USPDF will express their side in time.

. So can we all now sing kumbaya and continue to look forward to these workshops (wherever you’re taking them) and this competition, please! And like Angel1201 said, for the love of pole. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

And thanks, Veena, to being so generous with your time.

[SandyBrown]

I started poling in 2008 because I felt like s*** after having been dumped from a relationship the year before. I didn’t feel sexy anymore (and I never had) and I had an even lower self-esteem. I don’t remener how I even thought about it, but around Valentine’s Day 2008 I started looking up pole studios in my area. I found one and booked the next beginners level, which started March 1st, 2008, and I’ve been poling ever since.

I don’t do it for fitness at all, but I think it’s cool how my body has responded to it. I’ve gotten a lot of feedback from instructors and people in my everyday life that about my new body composition. I pole as a way to get away from my everyday life, to feel sexy and confident, to feel accomplished when I nail a spin or trick that’s been kicking my butt, and as a way to boost my confidence. I haven’t been this focused on a hobby in a long time. It’s so challenging and sexy and beautiful, and I love how each poler I’ve come across has her own way of connecting to pole.

[SandyBrown]

Yay Veena!

[SandyBrown]

I’ve updated my workshops!

Thurs
2pm – 3:30: Jenyne USPDF– GatorGirl4life, SandyBrown
3:30 – 5 pm: Allegra spinning pole USPDF – ottersocks, GatorGirl4Life, SandyBrown
4pm – 5:30: Contortion B&P– amyxshi
5pm – 6:30pm: Alethea USPDF- TrophyWife, PhillyPoleJess, PoledanceVienna
6:30 – 8pm: Jenyne USPDF- amyxshi, ottersocks, Phillypolejess, PoledanceVienna

Fri
9:00 – 10:30 AM Michula Nunez USPDF —
10:30 – 12:00 PM Spinning pole w/Allegra USPDF —

Sat
9:30 – 11am: Estee B&P–ottersocks, bauderlady
10:00 – 11:30am Wendy Traskos USPDF —
10am – 11:30am: Spinning pole with Allegra (MPD Australia) USPDF – Fleur
11:30am – 1:00pm Jenyne USPDF–
11:30am – 1:00pm Amber Richard USPDF–
1pm – 2:30: Brooke USPDF–ottersocks
1pm – 2:30: Jenyne USPDF– terp258
2pm – 3:30: Contortion B&P– PoledanceVienna
2:30 – 4pm: Alethea USPDF-amyxshi, tracee, dayanara, GatorGirl4life
4pm – 5:30: Miss USPDF winner–
5:30 – 7 pm: Karol USPDF- TrophyWife, terp258
7pm – 8:30pm: Amber USPDF- amyxshi, tracee, Foxy_Rei
8:00 – 9:30 pm: Karol USPDF-

Sun
10am – 11:30: Amber B&P–PoledanceVienna
12:30 – 2pm: Leigh Ann B&P- SandyBrown, PoledanceVienna, LuvlyJ, Gatorgirl4life
2:15 – 3:45: Alethea B&P- PoledanceVienna
7:15 – 8:45: Karol B&P- amyxshi

[SandyBrown]

I’m going to pole class at noon. Other than that, I plan to pamper myself with a mani/pedi.

[SandyBrown]

Marlo is ALSO not allowed to teach for me, the owner of Shockra told her that if she teaches for Body & Pole she will cancel all her classes there.

Oh, wow….. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_eek.gif

[SandyBrown]

I’m not offended at all and definitely agree with you, Amy. It sort of leaves a bad taste in my mouth that things are happening the way that they are. And now that this community knows the reason for why these workshops have been cancelled, I wonder how the reputation for USPDF (and NYPD, for that matter) will fair in the future. It’s hard to not associate NYPD with USPDF because most of the people at NYPD is involved in USPDF in some fashion.

I hope that Anna and Wendy connect with Lian to discuss this matter, particularly since Lian was one of the competitors last year and Kyra is competing as well. Most importantly, they all should talk because it’s just the gracious thing to do. I understand wanting to generate as much revenue as possible, but there shouldn’t be any bad blood between pole studios/federations/whatever you want to call it.

[SandyBrown]

Awww, I just got the cancellation comfirmation on my Saturday Body & Pole workshops. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif

I have mixed feelings on this. While I understand why USPDF did this, and I understand why the competitors didn’t want to cause conflict that would lessen their chances at winning, the only people I care about are those of us that signed up for these workshops. Especially since the workshops with some of these competitors are completely booked. It’s not fair to the workshop participants at all.

Wendy and Anna are both great instructors and they are good at what they do, but perhaps next time they should consider drawing up a contract well in advance for the competitors so that this isn’t an issue next year. I signed up for four workshops at Body & Pole, with my two Saturday ones being cancelled. Out of those two, I was really looking forward to Alethea’s.

[SandyBrown]

Ohhhhh nooooo! I hope they don’t cancel their workshops! Those particular workshops are filled, and I’m really looking forward to it! (And USPDF’s workshops are more expensive….and it’s the studio I take classes at, lol).