Forums > Social Discussion > Official shutdown of the Portland Fire Jam
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Super Gidg!!!!
8,506 posts
Location: Portland Oregon USA
Super Gidg!!!!
8,506 posts
Location: Portland Oregon USA
Posted:
The news has now been officially communicated, our local Fire and Drum Jam has been officially closed. The Portland Parks and Recreation and Portland Fire Department will be enforcing the two year old “no open fire” ordinance in public parks. As the ordinance stands right now there is no way that we can challenge it and it’s a $500.00 fine if you get caught. This weekend will be the first Fire and Drum Jam after the meeting so we expect that the police will be out to enforce the ordinance and there will be people getting ticketed.
The one bright spot is that PP&R and the PFD is willing to talk with us to try and figure out what can be done for the fire community and to reestablish the fire part of the Fire and Drum Jam.
This is a dark day for the fire community in Portland. For those people (like me) that the Fire and Drum Jam was the only venue for spinning fire … let’s just say that my fire toys have been put up until something can be done. Spinning glows just isn’t the same, which will be the only legal light that can be spun.
I’m going to miss it.
The news has now been officially communicated, our local Fire and Drum Jam has been officially closed. The Portland Parks and Recreation and Portland Fire Department will be enforcing the two year old “no open fire” ordinance in public parks. As the ordinance stands right now there is no way that we can challenge it and it’s a $500.00 fine if you get caught. This weekend will be the first Fire and Drum Jam after the meeting so we expect that the police will be out to enforce the ordinance and there will be people getting ticketed.
The one bright spot is that PP&R and the PFD is willing to talk with us to try and figure out what can be done for the fire community and to reestablish the fire part of the Fire and Drum Jam.
This is a dark day for the fire community in Portland. For those people (like me) that the Fire and Drum Jam was the only venue for spinning fire … let’s just say that my fire toys have been put up until something can be done. Spinning glows just isn’t the same, which will be the only legal light that can be spun.
I’m going to miss it.
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is NOT.
Proud member of the HoP DPS.
Sanity is a highly overrated state of mind.
I'm normal ... it's everyone else that's crazy.
Gidg
SILVER Member
Elusive and Bearded
3,597 posts
Location: Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Elusive and Bearded
3,597 posts
Location: Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Posted:
That sucks, sorry to hear it.....maybe you should go to FireDrums
That sucks, sorry to hear it.....maybe you should go to FireDrums
O.B.E.S.E.
Owned by Mynci!
BRONZE Member
the henna lady
6,193 posts
Location: WNY, USA
the henna lady
6,193 posts
Location: WNY, USA
Posted:
Hasn't that been going on a long time too?
That sucks.
Why the sudden enforcement?
Hasn't that been going on a long time too?
That sucks.
Why the sudden enforcement?
Pele
Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir
"Oooh look! A pub!" -exclaimed after recovering from a stupid fall
"And for the decadence of art, nothing beats a roaring fire." -TMK
DIAMOND Member
The Ministry of Manipulation
2,523 posts
Location: Bristol, United Kingdom
The Ministry of Manipulation
2,523 posts
Location: Bristol, United Kingdom
Posted:
America - Land of the free.
Oh
America - Land of the free.
Oh
BRONZE Member
Super Gidg!!!!
8,506 posts
Location: Portland Oregon USA
Super Gidg!!!!
8,506 posts
Location: Portland Oregon USA
Posted:
Spanner, you are right, that is the one. I wonder why I couldn't find it when I did a search.
The sudden enforcement is because of the increase of homeless, crowd control and the lack of people bringing safety equipment. This event has been going on for about 8 or 9 years now and we've never had a problem before and we’ve always been self regulating. The thing that we have recently seen that people showing up without any safety equipment and they don’t take their turn playing safety, even when we tell the “newbie” to “guidelines (take your turn at safety) most give you a look like you are something that the dog left behind that they stepped in. People walking through the performance area when people are spinning, the fuel depot being set up next to the bedding of the homeless people, spinners getting too close to the audience and even not spinning excess fuel off.
There is now a group that has gotten together to think of ideas to make it safer and they have implemented some great ideas in the last month but when it comes to the authorities it’s a case of too little too late … at least the late part.
I still think it is very good that the PTB are willing to work with us. Today someone came up with the idea of having a “Fire” Park, something like a Skate Park, that has possibilities.
Spanner, you are right, that is the one. I wonder why I couldn't find it when I did a search.
The sudden enforcement is because of the increase of homeless, crowd control and the lack of people bringing safety equipment. This event has been going on for about 8 or 9 years now and we've never had a problem before and we’ve always been self regulating. The thing that we have recently seen that people showing up without any safety equipment and they don’t take their turn playing safety, even when we tell the “newbie” to “guidelines (take your turn at safety) most give you a look like you are something that the dog left behind that they stepped in. People walking through the performance area when people are spinning, the fuel depot being set up next to the bedding of the homeless people, spinners getting too close to the audience and even not spinning excess fuel off.
There is now a group that has gotten together to think of ideas to make it safer and they have implemented some great ideas in the last month but when it comes to the authorities it’s a case of too little too late … at least the late part.
I still think it is very good that the PTB are willing to work with us. Today someone came up with the idea of having a “Fire” Park, something like a Skate Park, that has possibilities.
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is NOT.
Proud member of the HoP DPS.
Sanity is a highly overrated state of mind.
I'm normal ... it's everyone else that's crazy.
Gidg
BRONZE Member
the henna lady
6,193 posts
Location: WNY, USA
the henna lady
6,193 posts
Location: WNY, USA
Posted:
If you did a "fire" park you could conceivably control who comes via membership, and use membership to pay for communal safety equipment.
It's what our local skate park does (though the fees go for maintenence) and there is never any trouble there.
Good luck.
If you did a "fire" park you could conceivably control who comes via membership, and use membership to pay for communal safety equipment.
It's what our local skate park does (though the fees go for maintenence) and there is never any trouble there.
Good luck.
Pele
Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir
"Oooh look! A pub!" -exclaimed after recovering from a stupid fall
"And for the decadence of art, nothing beats a roaring fire." -TMK
GOLD Member
master of disaster
3,354 posts
Location: New York, USA
master of disaster
3,354 posts
Location: New York, USA
Posted:
sorry to hear it
best of luck
sorry to hear it
best of luck
kyrian: I've felt your finger connect with me many times
lou kitten: sneaky little meatball..
ezz: please corrupt me more
addict
489 posts
Location: Perth
489 posts
Location: Perth
Posted:
This sounds like a rather major event (the spinning, not the banning) how many would you have there at one time?
Oh problem is a lot smaller than that. We do sometimes get visits from the council (Hyde Park), but mostly we can talk them around.
We are quite vocal at telling people to buck up if they're doing something stupid, and yelling at people who just come to take drugs and leave bottles around.
Though we have been moved on a few times from South Perth foreshore...
It's hard that the very nature of spinning and fire bring undesirables to meets..
I hope you and the council can get things worked out soon!
This sounds like a rather major event (the spinning, not the banning) how many would you have there at one time?
Oh problem is a lot smaller than that. We do sometimes get visits from the council (Hyde Park), but mostly we can talk them around.
We are quite vocal at telling people to buck up if they're doing something stupid, and yelling at people who just come to take drugs and leave bottles around.
Though we have been moved on a few times from South Perth foreshore...
It's hard that the very nature of spinning and fire bring undesirables to meets..
I hope you and the council can get things worked out soon!
BRONZE Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
5,814 posts
Location: Perth, Australia
Carpal \'Tunnel
5,814 posts
Location: Perth, Australia
Posted:
The skate park idea sounds good. Semi closed event, fireproofed already, toilet access. Never underestimate the value of toilets.
The skate park idea sounds good. Semi closed event, fireproofed already, toilet access. Never underestimate the value of toilets.
Is it the Truth?
Is it Fair to all concerned?
Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?
Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
Im in a lonely battle with the world with a fish to match the chip on my shoulder. Gnu in Binnu in a cnu
BRONZE Member
Super Gidg!!!!
8,506 posts
Location: Portland Oregon USA
Super Gidg!!!!
8,506 posts
Location: Portland Oregon USA
Posted:
Our jam can get to be a very large event. On a good summers night we can have up to 40 spinners, a dozen or two of drummers and the audience up to 50 or more. I had a friend try to count the watchers once and she lost track at 63.
I can tell that people in the community are really thinking about this because there have been some great ideas. Including yearly permits for fire spinners and special areas in parks that would be legal to fire spin if you had the proper safety equipment, safety person and the permit. It would mean re-writing the oridenance but it could be an option.
Our jam can get to be a very large event. On a good summers night we can have up to 40 spinners, a dozen or two of drummers and the audience up to 50 or more. I had a friend try to count the watchers once and she lost track at 63.
I can tell that people in the community are really thinking about this because there have been some great ideas. Including yearly permits for fire spinners and special areas in parks that would be legal to fire spin if you had the proper safety equipment, safety person and the permit. It would mean re-writing the oridenance but it could be an option.
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is NOT.
Proud member of the HoP DPS.
Sanity is a highly overrated state of mind.
I'm normal ... it's everyone else that's crazy.
Gidg
SILVER Member
what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
4,030 posts
Location: Bali, Australia
what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
4,030 posts
Location: Bali, Australia
Posted:
Ya, sympathy to you. We lost our lovely Moonfest a while ago;which was very large.. could be well over 50 or so spinners and a couple of hundred 'watchers' It was watchers who caused any trouble/noise leaving/bottles . An occasional unsafe idiot eg firebreather or someone letting a small child go near the space...
The lovley lady who had been overseeing it for years had enough of keeping it all going and didn;t go the route of official/insured/ space and good luck to her. But we miss it.
Ya, sympathy to you. We lost our lovely Moonfest a while ago;which was very large.. could be well over 50 or so spinners and a couple of hundred 'watchers' It was watchers who caused any trouble/noise leaving/bottles . An occasional unsafe idiot eg firebreather or someone letting a small child go near the space...
The lovley lady who had been overseeing it for years had enough of keeping it all going and didn;t go the route of official/insured/ space and good luck to her. But we miss it.
.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....
BRONZE Member
Super Gidg!!!!
8,506 posts
Location: Portland Oregon USA
Super Gidg!!!!
8,506 posts
Location: Portland Oregon USA
Posted:
I've attended a Moonfest when on my trip, it was fantastic. I was very sorry to hear that it was no longer.
I've attended a Moonfest when on my trip, it was fantastic. I was very sorry to hear that it was no longer.
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is NOT.
Proud member of the HoP DPS.
Sanity is a highly overrated state of mind.
I'm normal ... it's everyone else that's crazy.
Gidg
BRONZE Member
Returning to a unique state of Equilibrium
3,289 posts
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Returning to a unique state of Equilibrium
3,289 posts
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posted:
hey sorry to hear that Gidg - I know the feeling. Trying to police the unsafe people, especially those who are not regular attenders and perhaps arent even known to anyone you know is really hard. We moved our local fire gig a few times to try to reduce the bad elements (people coming just to drink / get rowdy / unsafe fire spinners) but that also leads to 'good' people turning up and no spinning being on
hope your fire park idea works out. It sounds like a sweet jam.
hey sorry to hear that Gidg - I know the feeling. Trying to police the unsafe people, especially those who are not regular attenders and perhaps arent even known to anyone you know is really hard. We moved our local fire gig a few times to try to reduce the bad elements (people coming just to drink / get rowdy / unsafe fire spinners) but that also leads to 'good' people turning up and no spinning being on
hope your fire park idea works out. It sounds like a sweet jam.
--
Help! My personality got stuck in this signature machine and I cant get it out!
BRONZE Member
poiromaniac
162 posts
Location: liverpool, uk
poiromaniac
162 posts
Location: liverpool, uk
Posted:
if people are going to watch and almost getting themelves hurt through shher stupidity then is it wrong of me to think that maybe me should let them get burned so they learn a lesson?
fire = hot
if people are going to watch and almost getting themelves hurt through shher stupidity then is it wrong of me to think that maybe me should let them get burned so they learn a lesson?
fire = hot
BRONZE Member
the henna lady
6,193 posts
Location: WNY, USA
the henna lady
6,193 posts
Location: WNY, USA
Posted:
That's a fast way to get lawsuits against the spinner, against the city (for allowing it) and more problems than lessons learned. If spin jams did that, they would be shut down *much* sooner.
Letting someone get hurt, imo, is really never the best answer, no matter how frustrated we are with the situation at hand.
Written by :fanged_angel
if people are going to watch and almost getting themelves hurt through shher stupidity then is it wrong of me to think that maybe me should let them get burned so they learn a lesson?
fire = hot
That's a fast way to get lawsuits against the spinner, against the city (for allowing it) and more problems than lessons learned. If spin jams did that, they would be shut down *much* sooner.
Letting someone get hurt, imo, is really never the best answer, no matter how frustrated we are with the situation at hand.
Pele
Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir
"Oooh look! A pub!" -exclaimed after recovering from a stupid fall
"And for the decadence of art, nothing beats a roaring fire." -TMK
GOLD Member
Teacher, Dancer, Artist, and General Smartass
149 posts
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Teacher, Dancer, Artist, and General Smartass
149 posts
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Posted:
*sound of my heart breaking*
*sound of expletives*
But now where can I take Salem fire spinners to play??
*sound of my heart breaking*
*sound of expletives*
But now where can I take Salem fire spinners to play??
GOLD Member
Now with extra strawberries
810 posts
Location: Canberra, Australia
Now with extra strawberries
810 posts
Location: Canberra, Australia
Posted:
also people watching a show that don't know about firespinning will usually assume that the performer knows what they are doing and is in control of the situation.
You can't expect an audiance member to know the difference between too close and safe they need to be told.
also people watching a show that don't know about firespinning will usually assume that the performer knows what they are doing and is in control of the situation.
You can't expect an audiance member to know the difference between too close and safe they need to be told.
I {Heart} hand me downs and spinning in the snow.<br /><br />
Stargazer
6,650 posts
6,650 posts
Posted:
To me this sounds like an opportunity. I have briefly folowed the other thread in the "Help" section and even though I really feel sad for you guys,loosing your meet, I also feel that it was going out of hand and something "serious" waiting to happen.
Cool it for some time, go to the meet without your toys, watch what happens and talk to those who you think are responsible enough to organize a new one.
Prepare it by having "serious" talks to the fire prevention officers, tha park and city administration, the police and to your friends.
Work out strict guidelines that are to be obeyed at all times and do not be afraid to take the responsibility to have them enforced.
Fire = hot = dangerous. People are too willing to ignore that and another recent thread about a Russian fire spinner getting grievously hurt during her performance shows that "not even" professional spinners are invincible.
Cool it for some time and try to make the "right" approach to the authorities. They only want to see them kept out of lawsuits and the park being a safe destination.
If you're looking at parks in the East: they remain closed for all night = no firespinning.
I'd say that at some stage you won't get around someone even willing to call the cops, when things are about to get out of control...
... but bear in mind that statements like this one are highly unpopular in every community...
To me this sounds like an opportunity. I have briefly folowed the other thread in the "Help" section and even though I really feel sad for you guys,loosing your meet, I also feel that it was going out of hand and something "serious" waiting to happen.
Cool it for some time, go to the meet without your toys, watch what happens and talk to those who you think are responsible enough to organize a new one.
Prepare it by having "serious" talks to the fire prevention officers, tha park and city administration, the police and to your friends.
Work out strict guidelines that are to be obeyed at all times and do not be afraid to take the responsibility to have them enforced.
Fire = hot = dangerous. People are too willing to ignore that and another recent thread about a Russian fire spinner getting grievously hurt during her performance shows that "not even" professional spinners are invincible.
Cool it for some time and try to make the "right" approach to the authorities. They only want to see them kept out of lawsuits and the park being a safe destination.
If you're looking at parks in the East: they remain closed for all night = no firespinning.
I'd say that at some stage you won't get around someone even willing to call the cops, when things are about to get out of control...
... but bear in mind that statements like this one are highly unpopular in every community...
the best smiles are the ones you lead to 
newbie
2 posts
2 posts
Posted:
I have been drumming at these P-town firejams for about a year. On the day the authorities were there, we drummers drummed anyway, but we missed the fire-spinners. I wished spinners would show up anyway, with non-flame alternatives. Ultimately, We need to get firejams going again.
The official reason for banning it is safety, but the ulterior motive is suppressing ecstatic dance and communal gatherings. Hierarchical, male-dominated
societies do not like it. We must not give up.
Hope to see everybody there, in some capacity.
I have been drumming at these P-town firejams for about a year. On the day the authorities were there, we drummers drummed anyway, but we missed the fire-spinners. I wished spinners would show up anyway, with non-flame alternatives. Ultimately, We need to get firejams going again.
The official reason for banning it is safety, but the ulterior motive is suppressing ecstatic dance and communal gatherings. Hierarchical, male-dominated
societies do not like it. We must not give up.
Hope to see everybody there, in some capacity.
BRONZE Member
Super Gidg!!!!
8,506 posts
Location: Portland Oregon USA
Super Gidg!!!!
8,506 posts
Location: Portland Oregon USA
Posted:
Pele is right, there is no way that we can just "let them learn their lesson", not just because of the legal aspects. My conscious would allow me to intentionally let someone get hurt so that they could learn.
Kate, I went down and did some fire spinning in Salem a while ago, OK it was last summer. But it was during the week during the Drum Circle at the park by the river, the one with the carousel. I don’t know if it is still going on because the majority of the people that were there for fire spinning was because of an instructor and she has moved.
We are going to be having a meeting in a couple of weeks that will not have the PTB in attendance, it’s going to be a community brain storming session. I haven’t been able to attend the meetings before but I’m going to clear my schedule and start showing up. I have a vested interest being an “amateur” and having a safe place to spin.
I like the idea of spinning L.E.D.s but I don’t want people to think that we are giving up on the fire aspect because we have switched to a non-fire toy. There is also a suggestion of going to the other side of the river with non-fire. The idea is that this would be a more controlled area that the spinners know exactly what is going on and that we don’t have to try and clean up the other problems, alcohol and drugs. Start the thing as drug and alcohol free is much easier than trying to clean up and turn the current location to drug and alcohol free. The only problem is that, as far as I know, this is the only place that has parking and we wouldn’t have to park and walk to the spinning area.
Raindrum, thank you! This is the first time that I’ve heard any type of input from the drummers from the jam. It’s nice to know that we, fire spinners, are not alone. I’m going to be showing up with my non-fire toys this Sunday. I won’t be able to stay long but then things like work on Monday makes my Sunday spinning stop sooner than I want.
Pele is right, there is no way that we can just "let them learn their lesson", not just because of the legal aspects. My conscious would allow me to intentionally let someone get hurt so that they could learn.
Kate, I went down and did some fire spinning in Salem a while ago, OK it was last summer. But it was during the week during the Drum Circle at the park by the river, the one with the carousel. I don’t know if it is still going on because the majority of the people that were there for fire spinning was because of an instructor and she has moved.
We are going to be having a meeting in a couple of weeks that will not have the PTB in attendance, it’s going to be a community brain storming session. I haven’t been able to attend the meetings before but I’m going to clear my schedule and start showing up. I have a vested interest being an “amateur” and having a safe place to spin.
I like the idea of spinning L.E.D.s but I don’t want people to think that we are giving up on the fire aspect because we have switched to a non-fire toy. There is also a suggestion of going to the other side of the river with non-fire. The idea is that this would be a more controlled area that the spinners know exactly what is going on and that we don’t have to try and clean up the other problems, alcohol and drugs. Start the thing as drug and alcohol free is much easier than trying to clean up and turn the current location to drug and alcohol free. The only problem is that, as far as I know, this is the only place that has parking and we wouldn’t have to park and walk to the spinning area.
Raindrum, thank you! This is the first time that I’ve heard any type of input from the drummers from the jam. It’s nice to know that we, fire spinners, are not alone. I’m going to be showing up with my non-fire toys this Sunday. I won’t be able to stay long but then things like work on Monday makes my Sunday spinning stop sooner than I want.
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is NOT.
Proud member of the HoP DPS.
Sanity is a highly overrated state of mind.
I'm normal ... it's everyone else that's crazy.
Gidg
newbie
2 posts
2 posts
Posted:
Your welcome, Gidg. I think that drummers, spinners and dancers (toyless spinners) are speicalized organisms cooperating to keep one body
alive. We all need each other, and our solidarity will
earn respect from those whose job it is to regulate
our behavior. Several participants have told me that
the firejams were the highlight of their week. Of course! not many activities can top the creative nowness of drumming, spinning and dancing.
It is important to have a centralized area like the Esplanade at which to congregate. We must persist.
Your welcome, Gidg. I think that drummers, spinners and dancers (toyless spinners) are speicalized organisms cooperating to keep one body
alive. We all need each other, and our solidarity will
earn respect from those whose job it is to regulate
our behavior. Several participants have told me that
the firejams were the highlight of their week. Of course! not many activities can top the creative nowness of drumming, spinning and dancing.
It is important to have a centralized area like the Esplanade at which to congregate. We must persist.
BRONZE Member
Super Gidg!!!!
8,506 posts
Location: Portland Oregon USA
Super Gidg!!!!
8,506 posts
Location: Portland Oregon USA
Posted:
You are so right, we have to stick together or we just won't make it.
I've heard a rumor though. With the residential fire station going in they are going to enforce the noise curfew. If I remember correctly that's 9:30pm.
You are so right, we have to stick together or we just won't make it.
I've heard a rumor though. With the residential fire station going in they are going to enforce the noise curfew. If I remember correctly that's 9:30pm.
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is NOT.
Proud member of the HoP DPS.
Sanity is a highly overrated state of mind.
I'm normal ... it's everyone else that's crazy.
Gidg
BRONZE Member
old hand
929 posts
Location: Oregon, USA
old hand
929 posts
Location: Oregon, USA
Posted:
There isn't really a 'noise curfew' persay in Portland as far as I know. There are 'noise zone ordinances' that show the maximum dB levels (at the property line) depending on the zone type and the time of day. (10PM not 9:30)
https://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?a=18493&c=28709
They're going to get you on a "noise disturbance" Ordinance 18.12.010 basically says you're committing a noise disturbance if you cause, or allow any noise that annoys anyone of normal sensitivity. (sounds that are not electronically amplified are an exemption on that one though under 18.14.010)
The way the ordinance stands right now the park director can designate burn areas
So far I have yet to see anything about open flames on public property that isn't a city park, but Portland's Ordinances are written a bit wonky..
https://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?c=28148
There isn't really a 'noise curfew' persay in Portland as far as I know. There are 'noise zone ordinances' that show the maximum dB levels (at the property line) depending on the zone type and the time of day. (10PM not 9:30)
https://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?a=18493&c=28709
They're going to get you on a "noise disturbance" Ordinance 18.12.010 basically says you're committing a noise disturbance if you cause, or allow any noise that annoys anyone of normal sensitivity. (sounds that are not electronically amplified are an exemption on that one though under 18.14.010)
The way the ordinance stands right now the park director can designate burn areas
Written by
20.12.110 Fires, Fireworks and Smoking Prohibited.
A. No person shall light any fire in any Park, except in areas and/or facilities designated by the Director for such use and in conformance with all applicable laws. This Section does not prohibit lighting cigarettes, cigars or pipes in areas where smoking is permitted, nor does it prohibit the use of legal fireworks except as provided in Subsection B of this Section or in areas in which the Director has prohibited such use.
So far I have yet to see anything about open flames on public property that isn't a city park, but Portland's Ordinances are written a bit wonky..
https://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?c=28148
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BRONZE Member
Super Gidg!!!!
8,506 posts
Location: Portland Oregon USA
Super Gidg!!!!
8,506 posts
Location: Portland Oregon USA
Posted:
Leave it to Lurch to find all of the ordinances ... I love it!
The problem with the current ordinance there are no areas and/or facilities designated by the Director. I wish I could understand half of the stuff that are in those ordinances.
Leave it to Lurch to find all of the ordinances ... I love it!The problem with the current ordinance there are no areas and/or facilities designated by the Director. I wish I could understand half of the stuff that are in those ordinances.
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is NOT.
Proud member of the HoP DPS.
Sanity is a highly overrated state of mind.
I'm normal ... it's everyone else that's crazy.
Gidg
BRONZE Member
old hand
929 posts
Location: Oregon, USA
old hand
929 posts
Location: Oregon, USA
Posted:
Zari Santner, Director
503-823-5379
WORKFORCE &
COMMUNITY ALLIANCES
Lisa Turpel, Manager
503-823-6972
This department is responsible for the vibrant employee and community connections of the bureau.
Those are quite possibly the two people you want to talk to the most.. I would suggest starting on the bottom and seeing if you can get anywhere, then working your way up.
Written by
"Director" means the Director of Portland Parks and Recreation, or the Bureau head, however designated. Wherever this Title grants authority to or places responsibility on the Director, that authority or responsibility may be exercised by any person designated by the Director.
Zari Santner, Director
503-823-5379
WORKFORCE &
COMMUNITY ALLIANCES
Lisa Turpel, Manager
503-823-6972
This department is responsible for the vibrant employee and community connections of the bureau.
Those are quite possibly the two people you want to talk to the most.. I would suggest starting on the bottom and seeing if you can get anywhere, then working your way up.
#homeofpoi -- irc.newnet.net Come talk to us we're bored
Warning: Please Do Not Jump On The Seals
BRONZE Member
Super Gidg!!!!
8,506 posts
Location: Portland Oregon USA
Super Gidg!!!!
8,506 posts
Location: Portland Oregon USA
Posted:
Actually we already have representatives from the PPR and the PFD. At least we don't have to guess who to work with.
Actually we already have representatives from the PPR and the PFD. At least we don't have to guess who to work with.
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is NOT.
Proud member of the HoP DPS.
Sanity is a highly overrated state of mind.
I'm normal ... it's everyone else that's crazy.
Gidg
SILVER Member
stranger
6 posts
Location: USA
stranger
6 posts
Location: USA
Posted:
Thats what happened to our circle! Ive been out for few yrs due to bad shoulder injury & just got back in only to find that, well I couldnt find anyone!!! I'm out in Gresham, and have been working with the local FD bout getting a REAL & legal permit for ongoing practices. BUT, I'd be doing a LOT to jump thru all their safety hoops. I remember when the 1st Sunday fire jam under the bridge 1st started & back then I did hear that they got permits for it. Maybe over the years things kinda slipped cuz it sounded like things were getting dangerous & if there were drugs & newbies not following rules, then no wonder they shut it down. I know in my area a permit is required to work w/fire at a park/public place, but there is a park right behind the fire dept out here & we've been working with them about setting up something VERY regulated, with rules in place for safety & equipment etc. But I am currently alone as I've lost contact with my old spinning buddies (Louise & Devon I miss y'alls!) I have 1 friend who spins willing to help, if we had people who'd come (& follow the rules cuz the fire & police WOULD BE THERE & DO INSPECTIONS DAILY!) I thought their rules seemed to have gotten a LOT more strict & wondered why.... but the above problems mentioned may have been why. I'm also trying to get a troupe together & need good spinners who wanna audition (must be over 18 & able to make a commitment to not miss practice etc) for which the permit & new circle would be helpful. They ARE willing to work with us. I have the safety equipment & take that very seriously. Anyone interested in helping me get a circle going lemme know asap as the summer is here & WE MUST SPIN!!! (& I miss you guys)
Thats what happened to our circle! Ive been out for few yrs due to bad shoulder injury & just got back in only to find that, well I couldnt find anyone!!! I'm out in Gresham, and have been working with the local FD bout getting a REAL & legal permit for ongoing practices. BUT, I'd be doing a LOT to jump thru all their safety hoops. I remember when the 1st Sunday fire jam under the bridge 1st started & back then I did hear that they got permits for it. Maybe over the years things kinda slipped cuz it sounded like things were getting dangerous & if there were drugs & newbies not following rules, then no wonder they shut it down. I know in my area a permit is required to work w/fire at a park/public place, but there is a park right behind the fire dept out here & we've been working with them about setting up something VERY regulated, with rules in place for safety & equipment etc. But I am currently alone as I've lost contact with my old spinning buddies (Louise & Devon I miss y'alls!) I have 1 friend who spins willing to help, if we had people who'd come (& follow the rules cuz the fire & police WOULD BE THERE & DO INSPECTIONS DAILY!) I thought their rules seemed to have gotten a LOT more strict & wondered why.... but the above problems mentioned may have been why. I'm also trying to get a troupe together & need good spinners who wanna audition (must be over 18 & able to make a commitment to not miss practice etc) for which the permit & new circle would be helpful. They ARE willing to work with us. I have the safety equipment & take that very seriously. Anyone interested in helping me get a circle going lemme know asap as the summer is here & WE MUST SPIN!!! (& I miss you guys)
SILVER Member
stranger
6 posts
Location: USA
stranger
6 posts
Location: USA
Posted:
Ok so here is the plan for my new fire circle: I will be the permit holder, which mean the responsibility is on me to ensure safety regulations are met AND people follow rules! I have a new copy of the revised fire permit regulations which requires a detailed description, agreement w/the park (separate thing to deal with), a drawing of the layout including where safety is set up (& how) where fueling station is, where "stage" is, how many on stage, evacuation routes & procedures, not to mention at least 3 different safety equipment inspections done at the time I file for permit (which also must have all dates/times (so was planning on same day ea wk all summer till Sept), during the set up (which the hrs of must also be worked out w/FD), before the show starts & then periodically during the event... & then even after gaining trust they will do spot checks, which means we MUST ALWAYS HAVE SAFETY GEAR & USE A PLAN THAT WILL WORK EVEN WITH NEWBIES DOWN THE ROAD (if we do this right it will be a way for newbies to learn right in the beginning & not be afraid of it but foster a respect for safety... for teachers to bring students almost ready to begin fire to learn how to do safety... in my circle newbies will be doing a whole lot of safety!! Thats how it should be to be self-sustaining! Newbies who dont care about safety grow up to teach other newbies down the line to not care about safety, till the concept of safety is lost... and that is probably what happened to our beloved circle! It started out being all about safety, but as the generations came & went the new incoming learners didn't get exposed to how to even get permits or what type of extinguisher is needed for their fuel, etc. But I digress)
Newbies will earn the right to use fire. Their 1st time they may just observe & help with safety. All performers will do a safety shift BEFORE performing, so its an ongoing cycle... wanna perform again later, then it'll take another safety shift. Having sign up sheets helps. Making fire a privilege earned helps. I always did 1 (or often more) shift on safety for every time I used fire at the old circle. In fact a lot of us USED TO many yrs ago when I remember it. Idk how it was toward the end, but if these above posts are any indication, YIKES!! Honestly if I was the fire sheriff, I would not have hesitated to pull the plug. Its actually amazing it went on for so long despite all these problems. So trust with the fire dept was totally burned. It needs to be rebuilt. My plan can help with this... but also that the circle will be under Gresham FD jurisdiction also helps. Lol. But their rules seemed to have been revised about the same time our beloved circle was stopped too. So it had far reaching consequences. Also one must technically get a permit to use fire on their own private property! (*Remember when people would say "oh its my private property so we dont need a permit cuz we OWN the place." We've actually ALWAYS needed a permit even for backyard twirling. But its attitudes like this & misconceptions that have made our craft much more regulated now. The fire dept thinks anyone who "messes with fire purposefully" are idiots, so its up to us to prove them wrong.)
These rules were put in place because of previous abuses. Gresham has some diff rules & are regulated by city of gresham, not PDX, so this is good. Anyone wanting to come must get on my list (my email is g1v34cr4p@gmail.com ) before hand, EACH time. The rules will be that EVERYONE must do a 10-15 min safety shift BEFORE they can spin so this privilege is earned & not taken for granted. Its gonna be "invite only" for a while, which is why I'm saying to get on the list if u wanna come. (provide name, phone #, how long you've been spinning what safety equipment u have, etc. If you've never used fire & looking to get started,
I'm not having total newbies at the fire circle for now (new to fire= having never used fire OR having only used it once or twice under no supervision or regard to safety equipment) unless they take my class & pass my fire safety unit (its not that hard but my classes do cost money. But for spinners who know how to spin & just want fire training, this is all covered in a 1 month class so u'll have you own equipment & know ho to get your own permits, etc) I'm not saying no newbies at all or permanently. We need to get it established first, but if instructors have students they think are really ready they can bring them to use the circle for proper training, but under the understanding that this needs to be discussed with me ahead of time, they will only observe 1st time, do safety a few times, then eventually use fire after being well trained on safety stuff. This will also meet some of the new regulations we have.
Eventually we can have some newbies as long as they are the responsibility of an elder/instructor whom I'll prolly know by then & be able to discuss how they teach safety with their students & how we can help the student learn (so newbies find someone to sponsor them if they've been practicing for a long time & wanna come to the circle. I need to know that those new to fire are under 1-on-1 guidance with an elder, but hey, thats totally not so bad. Its all about guiding newbs
to prevent future abuses cuz that line above about trying to get some newbies to do safety only to get glared at, yeah that WON'T happen!) the idea is to give fire performers a place to practice & a way for newbies to learn THE RIGHT WAY!!! The fire dept will be there watching (if we get the park I want they'll be right there all the dang time which is actually a really good thing in case of an accident & they liked this idea) There would be some volunteer positions as helping people learn safety (cuz not everyone feels comfortable with it which is why many shy away from doing it), someone to welcome ppl & inform them rules (which will be printed out cuz apparently it can't be emphasized enough, Lol), also a couple big guys needed to be "bouncers" in case someone is intoxicated & needs to be escorted away. This will not be a place for homeless people to hang or passwers by to come hang & try it when they dont know what they're doing. ONLY fire dancers. Certain fuel types commonly used in past have now also been banned (you should see this manual they sent me!!! Its nutz regulations now). But its a doable thing & when I called the fire dept they were more than willing to work with me to set something up. Being responsible & telling them we wanna do this right so it can last & we gain their trust back goes a long way. There may be certain fire tools now banned too (no more whips guys... sorry). So I have all this info & am in the process of getting a permit. I wont do it just for myself. My idea is to create a lil selt-sustaining fire community (drummers welcome too, but lemme know if ur just a drummer so I dont grill you about your safety equipment.) People who just wanna show up & spin fire with no "poi master"/instructor to guide them (like how they used to it when I learned long ago) wont be allowed to spin. Anyone planning to use fire will have to check in, do a safety shift, have their equipment checked by me & a fire dept guru & get approval that their wicks are safe, etc. There will be a "sign up list" or "make a line" sorta deal to kinda keep things running smooth.
Eventually it wont have to be so formal, cuz everyone will just know the routine. But a way for performers to practice safely & meet others (which is important to our craft in many ways), for students learning to OBSERVE 9but not spin) what a real & safe circle is like, for me to find troupe members (& whoev else relies on finding others to collaborate with), also a way for teachers to recruit new students, so its its own lil "ecosystem" in a way. Just as long as people expect that it will be kinda formal & regulated for a while & we MUST rebuild trust with fire safety officials, etc.
We also may have to employ a small fee to come spin like $3-5 to cover permit costs & any additional safety equipment we may need to get our permit. But we haven't decided on this yet. Thats something to work out with those who contact me to help organize it all.
The Permit: It will be a "week by week" permit at 1st (need to get permit ea time & has to be 7 days in advance which I will take care of if I have people to help with other stuff), then a months-to-month permit covering ea weekly circle (yes I'd like a weekly circle or maybe twice per mo depending), Eventually a permit for a whole season at a time so hopefully within a few wks we have a "summer permit" if all goes well (which means we have to really impress the fire dept) but this means when Sept comes along, the spinning season & circle are closed till the next spring. (ok thats really not that much of a fee either for a way to practice legally & see old friends, etc).
But I will have to be at every circle for it to take place, & so if I can't make it I'll need a way to contact people, which is also why I'm forming the email list. I want this to succeed & meet all of our vast needs for finding others, safe practice, rebuilding trust, trying out new moves, just like old times... but better. No drugs no alcohol (sorry this means weed too guys.) I dont mean to sound like a party pooper, cuz I'm really not. Lol. But its my butt on the line! If one person gets high & has an accident, then its MY good name/permit/relations with fire & pd officials that gets screwed. So I've put a LOT of thought into how to do this so it works for everyone & has a format to keep things safe.
I've ran circles before & have the safety equipment (even bought some new stuff to add for the newer regulations). Oh NO MORE WHITE GAS either. Only lamp oil & 2 other things are allowed. No kerosene either according to new regulations. The fire dept understands that for some of us, this is our livelihood & we NEED to keep our skills up. We need to try out new material, etc. So this circle is gonna be geared more toward that aim... & those who do it for a living, or are doing professional gigs, hoping to, etc. Not saying that other spinners can't come, cuz any spinner whose willing to follow the rules can come. We'll also hopefully have an area for new spinners who wanna practice with others w/non-fire practice poi (& someone to kinda coordinate that & help teach new moves, etc) so parents with kids can have a place for them that's safe & away from the fire performance area.
About My New Troupe & This Circle: My troupe will hopefully also help run this circle too) Once my troupe is ready to begin weekly practices, we'll make sure the permit also covers weekly "troupe only practices" (so an added benefit for those who wanna join my troupe. I need about 3-4 more people). My troupe is going to be a "mainly poi" with choreographed routines so any previous dance experience is helpful (but not required) & fire competency is needed. Some of you are probably interested in my new circle, but are wondering "How far away is Gresham?" Honestly it's only about 10-15 mins away from PDX. Its right on the border on the other side, so its like the Lake Oswego of the east side. Its not that far. If Portland ends at about 172nd, I am near 242nd... so not that far. Lol.
WANNA COME OR HELP ORGANIZE IT SO U CAN COME?: Email me if you're interested in helping get the new circle set up (help is requested of those who plan on attending! Plus having a leadership role helps foster responsibility and puts you in a position where you will gain all the neat lil perks that go with helping me out! =) Also being looked up to by peers (kinda like when you were younger & thought the cute cool guy who worked at the nightclub & got in for free was the best job in town. Lol *jk, but u get the idea... people will admire your willingness to help & look up to you too... oooh role models are cool! Especially for those who are poi instructors (or wanna be) its a great way to bring your own students to get them some exposure to the art in a way that helps them see YOU doing safety responsibly thus making them think its nothing to fear pr some dorky thing that only geeks bother with! For people who help me, there are a lot of potential perks with networking with other professionals in the craft like finding students easier (thus making more money), not having to do it all yourself (getting permits is a hassle & we all know it, which is why many don't bother with it). My vision is to recreate a new & better version of the old fire jam (but I think it will be called Scenethelite Fire Gala!... or something creative... lemme think on it & let ya know).
I will be starting a new thread just for organizing this massive project so its all in 1 place... but that may take a few days cuz I don't get only all the time. So for now, email me g1v34cr4p@gmail.com for more info. I'll also start a text group on yahoo or something where I can check updates on my phone (unless HoP makes a mobile app? =) That'd rock). I know thats a lot of info to go thru, but its the basic plan outline & rules so people know right up front that we seek to not make the same mistakes of the past. In my area (which is pretty nice) there is no gangs or homeless people to get fuel on (since that was a chief complaint in past). The park is kinda out of the way, off the main street, so there wont be a lot of people just wandering in, but if we get it started NOW, then maybe in summer some at the park may stay to watch. We have to designate an audience area that is away from the performer area, fueling area, safety area, etc. But the floor plan is actually ingenuous & takes care of all regulations (the fire dept liked it). Plus being near the fire dept itself will eliminate the need for a "emergency vehicle area" which is also now required for all fire events.
For those who perform regularly outside at weddings etc (& those wanting to help me out & come to my circle) I urge you to just call the fire dept & request a copy of their regulation manual for fire dancers cuz they have one & it has a ton of good info. I have always been really into safety, had my own safety gear, made my students pass a safety readiness test, etc. So I thought I knew most... but even I was surprised by how laws have changed, AND all that we dont commonly think about like fire truck entrance areas, how to bag your gear (Pele's safety DVD covers a lot of it, which is why I love her even though I don't know her.... yet. =)
I NEED ALL ELDER FIRE PERFORMERS TO COME JOIN MY EFFORT, LEARN WITH ME, HELP ME ORGANIZE A NEW CIRCLE THAT WILL BENEFIT MANY, MANY FIRE PERFORMERS ALL OVER THE AREA FOR A LONG TIME TO COME! ALL THE OLD SCHOOL ELDERS OF THE OLD CIRCLE, EMAIL ME ABOUT THIS!!!
(*Did I mention I am also having to take a fire safety class in order to make this happen... actually 3 I think, which is why I'm NOT going thru all of this just for me to have some lonely place to practice all by myself. I'M DOING IT FOR ALL OF YOU!!!) So please take advantage of this now while I'm offering to do this, cuz I'm the type that if I get no help, I won't do it all & just find other fulfilling hobby in life. I won't do it for a bunch of flaky backyard twirlers who've only used fire once with no idea what they were doing & don;t really care about safety & forming a fire arts community that will be self-sustaining for the long haul! So I'm not about to bust my butt for those who don;t plan on helping or following the rules, . But for those wanting to build a business of teaching & performing, lets help each other & make this work!!! So I hope I hear from a bunch of you within the next few days or weeks. Cuz by August I'll be into something else consuming all my time. I have time now, so lets do it now. Idk if I can monitor all threads so email me with questions or offers to help/wanna come. I'll repost this in its own thread soonish, so that will be best place for discussion. I just wanted to let those who used to go to the old circle jam know.
Ok so here is the plan for my new fire circle: I will be the permit holder, which mean the responsibility is on me to ensure safety regulations are met AND people follow rules! I have a new copy of the revised fire permit regulations which requires a detailed description, agreement w/the park (separate thing to deal with), a drawing of the layout including where safety is set up (& how) where fueling station is, where "stage" is, how many on stage, evacuation routes & procedures, not to mention at least 3 different safety equipment inspections done at the time I file for permit (which also must have all dates/times (so was planning on same day ea wk all summer till Sept), during the set up (which the hrs of must also be worked out w/FD), before the show starts & then periodically during the event... & then even after gaining trust they will do spot checks, which means we MUST ALWAYS HAVE SAFETY GEAR & USE A PLAN THAT WILL WORK EVEN WITH NEWBIES DOWN THE ROAD (if we do this right it will be a way for newbies to learn right in the beginning & not be afraid of it but foster a respect for safety... for teachers to bring students almost ready to begin fire to learn how to do safety... in my circle newbies will be doing a whole lot of safety!! Thats how it should be to be self-sustaining! Newbies who dont care about safety grow up to teach other newbies down the line to not care about safety, till the concept of safety is lost... and that is probably what happened to our beloved circle! It started out being all about safety, but as the generations came & went the new incoming learners didn't get exposed to how to even get permits or what type of extinguisher is needed for their fuel, etc. But I digress)
Newbies will earn the right to use fire. Their 1st time they may just observe & help with safety. All performers will do a safety shift BEFORE performing, so its an ongoing cycle... wanna perform again later, then it'll take another safety shift. Having sign up sheets helps. Making fire a privilege earned helps. I always did 1 (or often more) shift on safety for every time I used fire at the old circle. In fact a lot of us USED TO many yrs ago when I remember it. Idk how it was toward the end, but if these above posts are any indication, YIKES!! Honestly if I was the fire sheriff, I would not have hesitated to pull the plug. Its actually amazing it went on for so long despite all these problems. So trust with the fire dept was totally burned. It needs to be rebuilt. My plan can help with this... but also that the circle will be under Gresham FD jurisdiction also helps. Lol. But their rules seemed to have been revised about the same time our beloved circle was stopped too. So it had far reaching consequences. Also one must technically get a permit to use fire on their own private property! (*Remember when people would say "oh its my private property so we dont need a permit cuz we OWN the place." We've actually ALWAYS needed a permit even for backyard twirling. But its attitudes like this & misconceptions that have made our craft much more regulated now. The fire dept thinks anyone who "messes with fire purposefully" are idiots, so its up to us to prove them wrong.)
These rules were put in place because of previous abuses. Gresham has some diff rules & are regulated by city of gresham, not PDX, so this is good. Anyone wanting to come must get on my list (my email is g1v34cr4p@gmail.com ) before hand, EACH time. The rules will be that EVERYONE must do a 10-15 min safety shift BEFORE they can spin so this privilege is earned & not taken for granted. Its gonna be "invite only" for a while, which is why I'm saying to get on the list if u wanna come. (provide name, phone #, how long you've been spinning what safety equipment u have, etc. If you've never used fire & looking to get started,
I'm not having total newbies at the fire circle for now (new to fire= having never used fire OR having only used it once or twice under no supervision or regard to safety equipment) unless they take my class & pass my fire safety unit (its not that hard but my classes do cost money. But for spinners who know how to spin & just want fire training, this is all covered in a 1 month class so u'll have you own equipment & know ho to get your own permits, etc) I'm not saying no newbies at all or permanently. We need to get it established first, but if instructors have students they think are really ready they can bring them to use the circle for proper training, but under the understanding that this needs to be discussed with me ahead of time, they will only observe 1st time, do safety a few times, then eventually use fire after being well trained on safety stuff. This will also meet some of the new regulations we have.
Eventually we can have some newbies as long as they are the responsibility of an elder/instructor whom I'll prolly know by then & be able to discuss how they teach safety with their students & how we can help the student learn (so newbies find someone to sponsor them if they've been practicing for a long time & wanna come to the circle. I need to know that those new to fire are under 1-on-1 guidance with an elder, but hey, thats totally not so bad. Its all about guiding newbs
to prevent future abuses cuz that line above about trying to get some newbies to do safety only to get glared at, yeah that WON'T happen!) the idea is to give fire performers a place to practice & a way for newbies to learn THE RIGHT WAY!!! The fire dept will be there watching (if we get the park I want they'll be right there all the dang time which is actually a really good thing in case of an accident & they liked this idea) There would be some volunteer positions as helping people learn safety (cuz not everyone feels comfortable with it which is why many shy away from doing it), someone to welcome ppl & inform them rules (which will be printed out cuz apparently it can't be emphasized enough, Lol), also a couple big guys needed to be "bouncers" in case someone is intoxicated & needs to be escorted away. This will not be a place for homeless people to hang or passwers by to come hang & try it when they dont know what they're doing. ONLY fire dancers. Certain fuel types commonly used in past have now also been banned (you should see this manual they sent me!!! Its nutz regulations now). But its a doable thing & when I called the fire dept they were more than willing to work with me to set something up. Being responsible & telling them we wanna do this right so it can last & we gain their trust back goes a long way. There may be certain fire tools now banned too (no more whips guys... sorry). So I have all this info & am in the process of getting a permit. I wont do it just for myself. My idea is to create a lil selt-sustaining fire community (drummers welcome too, but lemme know if ur just a drummer so I dont grill you about your safety equipment.) People who just wanna show up & spin fire with no "poi master"/instructor to guide them (like how they used to it when I learned long ago) wont be allowed to spin. Anyone planning to use fire will have to check in, do a safety shift, have their equipment checked by me & a fire dept guru & get approval that their wicks are safe, etc. There will be a "sign up list" or "make a line" sorta deal to kinda keep things running smooth.
Eventually it wont have to be so formal, cuz everyone will just know the routine. But a way for performers to practice safely & meet others (which is important to our craft in many ways), for students learning to OBSERVE 9but not spin) what a real & safe circle is like, for me to find troupe members (& whoev else relies on finding others to collaborate with), also a way for teachers to recruit new students, so its its own lil "ecosystem" in a way. Just as long as people expect that it will be kinda formal & regulated for a while & we MUST rebuild trust with fire safety officials, etc.
We also may have to employ a small fee to come spin like $3-5 to cover permit costs & any additional safety equipment we may need to get our permit. But we haven't decided on this yet. Thats something to work out with those who contact me to help organize it all.
The Permit: It will be a "week by week" permit at 1st (need to get permit ea time & has to be 7 days in advance which I will take care of if I have people to help with other stuff), then a months-to-month permit covering ea weekly circle (yes I'd like a weekly circle or maybe twice per mo depending), Eventually a permit for a whole season at a time so hopefully within a few wks we have a "summer permit" if all goes well (which means we have to really impress the fire dept) but this means when Sept comes along, the spinning season & circle are closed till the next spring. (ok thats really not that much of a fee either for a way to practice legally & see old friends, etc).
But I will have to be at every circle for it to take place, & so if I can't make it I'll need a way to contact people, which is also why I'm forming the email list. I want this to succeed & meet all of our vast needs for finding others, safe practice, rebuilding trust, trying out new moves, just like old times... but better. No drugs no alcohol (sorry this means weed too guys.) I dont mean to sound like a party pooper, cuz I'm really not. Lol. But its my butt on the line! If one person gets high & has an accident, then its MY good name/permit/relations with fire & pd officials that gets screwed. So I've put a LOT of thought into how to do this so it works for everyone & has a format to keep things safe.
I've ran circles before & have the safety equipment (even bought some new stuff to add for the newer regulations). Oh NO MORE WHITE GAS either. Only lamp oil & 2 other things are allowed. No kerosene either according to new regulations. The fire dept understands that for some of us, this is our livelihood & we NEED to keep our skills up. We need to try out new material, etc. So this circle is gonna be geared more toward that aim... & those who do it for a living, or are doing professional gigs, hoping to, etc. Not saying that other spinners can't come, cuz any spinner whose willing to follow the rules can come. We'll also hopefully have an area for new spinners who wanna practice with others w/non-fire practice poi (& someone to kinda coordinate that & help teach new moves, etc) so parents with kids can have a place for them that's safe & away from the fire performance area.
About My New Troupe & This Circle: My troupe will hopefully also help run this circle too) Once my troupe is ready to begin weekly practices, we'll make sure the permit also covers weekly "troupe only practices" (so an added benefit for those who wanna join my troupe. I need about 3-4 more people). My troupe is going to be a "mainly poi" with choreographed routines so any previous dance experience is helpful (but not required) & fire competency is needed. Some of you are probably interested in my new circle, but are wondering "How far away is Gresham?" Honestly it's only about 10-15 mins away from PDX. Its right on the border on the other side, so its like the Lake Oswego of the east side. Its not that far. If Portland ends at about 172nd, I am near 242nd... so not that far. Lol.
WANNA COME OR HELP ORGANIZE IT SO U CAN COME?: Email me if you're interested in helping get the new circle set up (help is requested of those who plan on attending! Plus having a leadership role helps foster responsibility and puts you in a position where you will gain all the neat lil perks that go with helping me out! =) Also being looked up to by peers (kinda like when you were younger & thought the cute cool guy who worked at the nightclub & got in for free was the best job in town. Lol *jk, but u get the idea... people will admire your willingness to help & look up to you too... oooh role models are cool! Especially for those who are poi instructors (or wanna be) its a great way to bring your own students to get them some exposure to the art in a way that helps them see YOU doing safety responsibly thus making them think its nothing to fear pr some dorky thing that only geeks bother with! For people who help me, there are a lot of potential perks with networking with other professionals in the craft like finding students easier (thus making more money), not having to do it all yourself (getting permits is a hassle & we all know it, which is why many don't bother with it). My vision is to recreate a new & better version of the old fire jam (but I think it will be called Scenethelite Fire Gala!... or something creative... lemme think on it & let ya know).
I will be starting a new thread just for organizing this massive project so its all in 1 place... but that may take a few days cuz I don't get only all the time. So for now, email me g1v34cr4p@gmail.com for more info. I'll also start a text group on yahoo or something where I can check updates on my phone (unless HoP makes a mobile app? =) That'd rock). I know thats a lot of info to go thru, but its the basic plan outline & rules so people know right up front that we seek to not make the same mistakes of the past. In my area (which is pretty nice) there is no gangs or homeless people to get fuel on (since that was a chief complaint in past). The park is kinda out of the way, off the main street, so there wont be a lot of people just wandering in, but if we get it started NOW, then maybe in summer some at the park may stay to watch. We have to designate an audience area that is away from the performer area, fueling area, safety area, etc. But the floor plan is actually ingenuous & takes care of all regulations (the fire dept liked it). Plus being near the fire dept itself will eliminate the need for a "emergency vehicle area" which is also now required for all fire events.
For those who perform regularly outside at weddings etc (& those wanting to help me out & come to my circle) I urge you to just call the fire dept & request a copy of their regulation manual for fire dancers cuz they have one & it has a ton of good info. I have always been really into safety, had my own safety gear, made my students pass a safety readiness test, etc. So I thought I knew most... but even I was surprised by how laws have changed, AND all that we dont commonly think about like fire truck entrance areas, how to bag your gear (Pele's safety DVD covers a lot of it, which is why I love her even though I don't know her.... yet. =)
I NEED ALL ELDER FIRE PERFORMERS TO COME JOIN MY EFFORT, LEARN WITH ME, HELP ME ORGANIZE A NEW CIRCLE THAT WILL BENEFIT MANY, MANY FIRE PERFORMERS ALL OVER THE AREA FOR A LONG TIME TO COME! ALL THE OLD SCHOOL ELDERS OF THE OLD CIRCLE, EMAIL ME ABOUT THIS!!!
(*Did I mention I am also having to take a fire safety class in order to make this happen... actually 3 I think, which is why I'm NOT going thru all of this just for me to have some lonely place to practice all by myself. I'M DOING IT FOR ALL OF YOU!!!) So please take advantage of this now while I'm offering to do this, cuz I'm the type that if I get no help, I won't do it all & just find other fulfilling hobby in life. I won't do it for a bunch of flaky backyard twirlers who've only used fire once with no idea what they were doing & don;t really care about safety & forming a fire arts community that will be self-sustaining for the long haul! So I'm not about to bust my butt for those who don;t plan on helping or following the rules, . But for those wanting to build a business of teaching & performing, lets help each other & make this work!!! So I hope I hear from a bunch of you within the next few days or weeks. Cuz by August I'll be into something else consuming all my time. I have time now, so lets do it now. Idk if I can monitor all threads so email me with questions or offers to help/wanna come. I'll repost this in its own thread soonish, so that will be best place for discussion. I just wanted to let those who used to go to the old circle jam know.
Stargazer
6,650 posts
6,650 posts
Posted:
wow - for once I'm happy 2 live in Germany... we just go out n spin (if any)...
however I wish you best of lucks with your projects
wow - for once I'm happy 2 live in Germany... we just go out n spin (if any)...
however I wish you best of lucks with your projects
the best smiles are the ones you lead to
BRONZE Member
Returning to a unique state of Equilibrium
3,289 posts
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Returning to a unique state of Equilibrium
3,289 posts
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posted:
wow - longest post i've seen on HOP. Loads of important info, but I cant work out which country its for?
wow - longest post i've seen on HOP. Loads of important info, but I cant work out which country its for?
--
Help! My personality got stuck in this signature machine and I cant get it out!
Stargazer
6,650 posts
6,650 posts
Posted:
I would guess Portland...
as in Portland/ Oregon... USA
I would guess Portland...
as in Portland/ Oregon... USA
the best smiles are the ones you lead to
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