Newbie wants lessons

hi, i live in sydney, australia and have just recently picked up an interest in poi/fire poi. i was wondering if anyone knew of any places in sydney where i could take beginner lessons or buy equipment for it? i've managed to learn a few tricks from this site alone, but i think that i would feel more confident with an instructor, especially where fire is concerned =)
thanks

oh, and im also interested in staff lessons as well ^_^

I think the Firefly's run some lessons in fire stuff, but it's at a cost. The various fire crews that meet up around Sydney are probably just as willing to teach an honest beginner for nothing but the thrill of watching someone else get a move down pat. =)

Equipment can be bought from Glebe markets (though I've never personally been) or from the Rocks markets (stall under the umbrellas, about half-way along). The dude that runs it seems to be a cool guy.

As for lighting up - again, the Sydney meets have safety equipment on hand, don't see anything wrong with asking for someone to spot you carefully the first few times you light up.

Although granted I don't speak for everyone, people are on the whole quite friendly. Just ask. =)

hey pearly, welcome to this great art!You should really enjoy it, but first of all- TREAT FIRE WITH RESPECT!
I can't help you with lessons but you can buy good equiptment from the HoP (home of poi)shop, its really easy to do.
Good luck!
CPG

If you're ever in Denver.....

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If you love something, set it on fire.

I buy most of my stuff from the markets at the Rocks, so much so that I now receive a discount.

When I was just starting with Poi, I even got the guy there to show me a few things.

as for places to learn in sydney, I don't know of any. But when I was there last, I had just bought two staffs and I was walking around and 'happened' to run into a few people who firetwirl.

[This message has been edited by Blu'Fire (edited 16 March 2002).]

emthren is right - there are lots of crews around sydney that would be willing to help out.

the fireflys workshops have finished. I'm not sure if that's a permanent thing, or just until they get back from O/S.

In the meantime, you're more than welcome to come down to Newtown next Wednesday night and meet our crew. I think you've actually already sent us an email - one of us will respond to is as soon as the chance arises.

I heard people in Holland don't teach you squat unless you can already do it. Then if you lucky they give you entry to their exculsive group. That sucks.

Emthren?

The same Emthren from AAW old days? Don't imagine there can be many more people with the name Emthren living in Australia can there lol. If you ever make it up Brisbane way, make sure I find out first

(well, that's if you even remember me, been a while admittedly )

Here's the sydey infor I have.

Sydney
 Fireart Fanatics
Glebe Point, waterside of Glebe Jubilee Park, Federal Rd
Thursday, 830 (winter)/930 pm on
www.fireartfanatics.com

 The Wick Effect
Newtown, Camperdown Memorial Park
Wednesday, from 7.30pm

 Sunday, A few people also meet in St. Peters, just outside the train station, at the 3ft from the curb cafe.

 Monday nights the Circussoc at UNSW meets on the Library Lawn.
More info: http://ccls1.cse.unsw.edu.au/~malcolmr/circusoc/index.php

 (Most) Tuesday nights a group gets together in the North Rocks/Carlingford area. Email (redpaper@hotmail.com) for more info.

Nexus_sun

Or maybe you could just ask someone who makes their own toys to show you how they make em. That would probably stop you from getting ripped off by buying them ready made. (Personally I haven't come across a safer design than the fire sticks/poi myself and friends use ... and everything I see for sale in this area is either a rip off to me, or not as safe as I would like).

A rip off *to me* is adding $15/$20+ onto the cost of materials. When they are so easy to make, and take no time at all. I wouldn't pay for it and I don't want my friends having to pay extra for it.

Nothing *personal* against people who sell them at a marked up price, they could be fantastic people - it's just that I really don't agree with it.

ooh thanks everyone for all your help. i think i'll try and get to the newtown meet within the next couple of weeks. is camperdown park near the train station btw?
and what do ppl actually do at these get togethers?

pearly - look forward to seeing you there!

the park is on a road that runs parallel with King Street. It will take you between 2 & 3 minutes to walk from the station to the park

Its called Camperdown Memorial Park and we are at the end near the Courthouse Hotel. Cos of daylight saving we are meeting a little later these days - after 8.30pm is a safe time to arrive.

what we do? hang, play, chat, misbehave. all casual and groovy.

hey i want to go some were like once a week and learn some nore moves tooi live i n campbeltown and all those places are to far away

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the risk is the rush