Nick's Video Thread: Lots of New Videos

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The trouble was that I didn't really have a full performance to work with, so it was a collage of footage and photos, which I think is quite beautiful, but it would have been stronger had it been based around a particular dramatic performance.

Yep, as nice as this collage of great fotos with the lovely trails is, a performance would have been nicer for the DVD, looking forward to the future ... should not be too tough for you to make, just grab your poi and a camera ?

oh, the words "never any better" shouldnt be easily used in poi world ...

As a suggestions, it might be easier for readers to find your new Videos if you always edit them in the OP ... as I guess this thread will get loooong ...

nick, can we clone you and bring you to the uk to set up a studio here?

Well, you can certainly clone me. I've been wanting to do that for years. It would take three of me to do all the projects I take on

I wouldn't suggest putting me in charge of setting up a studio though, or didn't you know that the Poi Studio went down in flames just before I did?

...One of the reasons I'm coming over to Europe this summer is to see if it could be my home for a while. Now that I'm barred from the states I feel pretty isolated in Vancouver. It would be like living in Austria and being barred from all of Europe. So it might make sense for me to relocate to Europe. Otherwise I only really have Vancouver, and it's not an easy place to make a living as an artist.

So... yes, I'm kind of available. I could certianly contribute a big piece to a studio, but I'd rather be drug, naken and bleeding, through cold, vinegar soaked shards of glass before I have to try to run a studio all by myself again.

Whoops. Was that emotional? I'm feeling a little emotional today. I've been picking up the pieces ever since closing the studio, and some days I feel a little exhausted. Over all I'm seeing how I grew through those experiences, though, so at least it was good for my spiritual development.

interesting mr bond! dare i ask why you are barred from the states? seems a little extreme.

Maybe its because youve helped infect my mind and probably many others with poi spinning and now i event take hop socks to work (and i work in an office!)

I was barred from the States for teaching poi workshops without a work visa. I happened in the middle of the poi studio year. I'd set up a big tour in the states in an attempt to get just enough ahead of the ball that I could invest some of my time into important and long term things... and I got nailed at the border. I was thus sent back to Canada, with nothing lined up, $2,400/month in combined expenses, etc.etc. At the time it was pretty harsh, and I just never recovered financially. That happened March 31. I closed the studio at the end of August. I was pretty misserable for a while, and also just very sleep deprived and suffering from long term stress and all that. I've been much happier lately. I owe the bank $10,000, and I Have no job to fall back on, so I'm still going for it, thinking that if just a few things happen right I'll be able to focus on practice again.

The lame thing about being behind the ball, financially, is that you end up having to focus on your immediate needs, rather than the things that are important in the long run. That's part of the reason that I still don't have a performance, or any music to use for performing, or a Demo DVD, or etc. All those things are important but they won't pay off by the end of the month.

...but I'm still making progress! It's nice now that I don't have the studio. It was too much pressure. I've finished the DVD, the beta-version of the website, cards... I'm getting through the list!!!

...oh, boy, but do I ever want a place to practice this winter.

If anybody knows where I can come and practice, please tell me. I need wood floors, high-ish ceilings, music, some mirrors on the wall, people to collaborate with, and access to a couple yoga classes.

Nick, it's a wonderful video. I could watch you spin for hours and hours, I think.

Thanks for sharing. I remember seeing some of the footage when you were here in Calgary, and loved seeing part of the finished product.

I'm sorry to hear about the studio. Financial stress is not a fun thing to deal with, and I can relate, sadly.

Good luck to you. I'd say you could come spin here, but...well, we don't have a studio yet...one day, when I'm wealthy. lol

I like very much very pretty

nice video and the photo too..i learn alot from the dvd

i bet nick couldn't tangle his poi even if he tried. good stuff, keep giving us inspiration to practice more!

Ok, the first of my much-anticipated tutorial videos: The Secret of Flowers: http://www.playpoi.com/secretofflowers

Did it work? Does it work? How do I make a hyperlink again? Dratted technology...

If this goes over well I'll keep making these. Fun, eh? This is footage from one of our first video shoots in the poi studio. It's not quite the production quality of the DVD, but somehow it's loveable, I think. It certainly gives you a good idea of how I approach poi, and it gives you an idea of the DVD as well, if you imagine this being taken to the next level of thought-through-ness and was an hour long.

Ok, enjoy, more videos coming...

that was absolutely rocking nick

great work man


cole. x

Oh, oh, and I've put nickwithfire back up. Didn't really realize it wasn't up. The good news is that when I went to put it back up I discovered I had a higher res version. Too bad I don't have anything higher res for Dervishly Yers...

...but beggers can't be choosers: http://www.playpoi.com/nickwithfire

Bummer, nickwithfire2.wmv isn't working, but I have a copy of it (low res I think), so I'm happy . It was definitely one of my all time favs.. One of the first poi vids I found and one of the largest inspirations, along with dervishly, Yuta's vids, and FNF vids.

It's always a bummer to hear about your clash with the States . I have a friend here in Eugene, Sandra (also goes by Samara), that knows you (was going to help out with your website at one point I believe) and we talk of plans to smuggle you across the border . I'm ecstatic that you've got new content out there and I can't thank you enough for the inspirations you offer!!

Peace, blessings, and gratitude,
- Sui

Nick, thank you very much for the tutorial! That is really helpful, exactly the kind of thing that works well with my brain (laying out pieces and possibilities to combine later).

Are tutorials like this on the new DVD as well? I'm very behind in my poi skills..heh

Cheers,
Shawn

Edit: Just saw the thread for the DVD, where it says it's like this but multiple angles. Cool, I'll have to pick it up..

i'm happy to temporarily mirror for ya, nick!!!
b

Drat. I really can't find out why that nickwithfire isn't working. It's up exactly the same as the others. Yggghhhrrp.... hrmph.

I mean, I.... shlskdffmkdjdf.

I've really gotta upgrade my computer skills sometimes.

Has anybody managed to watch it? What about right clicking and downloading it?

n

Bender: I appreciate the offer... do you mean server mirroring? If so I don't think I need it. I share a dedicated server in Canada, which gives me a terrabite/month or so, and it'll take a while to start maxing that out.

n

I posted this last night on the original thread and then found that the thread moved. (a little while ago apparently) anyways I wanted to share my praise of the video and this little story.
***I've only been doing this for about 4 months now and when I got my copy of this scales dvd I was really impressed by the good vibes & enthusiasum. Hell somepeople are rather protective of there techneques.
I remember when I was at the rainbow gathering this year (which is where I was first exposed to this wonderful art) There was this one spinner there that completely astounded me with this this move he did where it looked like the poi (there were 3 wicks on the chain) were literally passing through his arms. imagine the move threading the needle only instead of moving your hand down to avoid your forearm it was like it passed right through.(and no I was not on anysort of hallucinagen at least not at that point in time) anyways it amazed me and everyone else that watched as well. I find him the next day to ask him about this strange move, When I asked him about it he looked at me and laughed. ( I had asked him to show me again during the day ) he then proceeded to tell me that "a magician never reveals his secrets" or some rubbish like that...

truly a gem of a DVD. Much respect bro, hope to see more.***

ahahahha i love the beginning of the flowers video with the poi doctors.

Latest video: Traditional Maori Poi with Migoto

Oh, it feels so good to be getting old projects done!!! We filmed this in New Zealand last March, but I've only got around to editing it now. I had to almost entirely edit myself out, as I was so sleep deprived I looked just awful. It's too bad, as Dan looked so happy and colorful, and there I was, looking like a corpose with constipation behind him. :P

...but Migoto is the star anyway. She was great. This gives you a real peek into Maori Poi.

Migoto is a Japanese name, by the way, and she had a Japanese father but she was raised in a Maori village speaking Maori, and is very much Maori at heart.

Swoosh!

n