Forums > Social Chat > What/Who made you to start poi?
Login/Join to ParticipateSILVER Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,276 posts
Location: Oxfordshire/Wiltshire, United Kingdom
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,276 posts
Location: Oxfordshire/Wiltshire, United Kingdom
Posted:
I think the topic name pretty much says it all..... my experience was last year at reading festival.... i saw 2 girls spinning poi randomly and asked them about it... they wrote the HOP website address on my arm..... and then i was hooked! (if your out there let me know who you are, id love to thank you!!!)
I think the topic name pretty much says it all..... my experience was last year at reading festival.... i saw 2 girls spinning poi randomly and asked them about it... they wrote the HOP website address on my arm..... and then i was hooked! (if your out there let me know who you are, id love to thank you!!!)
tHeReS gOoD aNd EvIl iN EaCh InDiViDuAl fIrE, iDeNtIfIeS nEeDs AnD fEeDs OuR dEsIrEs.
Innuendo Officer Extraordinaire
105 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
105 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Posted:
First saw poi in 1998 at Samhuinn Festival in Edinburgh, and got to know the guys doing it and learnt from there, with the help of this little new website about fire stuff that was just starting up - I think it was called Home of Something?
First saw poi in 1998 at Samhuinn Festival in Edinburgh, and got to know the guys doing it and learnt from there, with the help of this little new website about fire stuff that was just starting up - I think it was called Home of Something?
YARR! Thats replaced the whale in my nightmares!
journeyman
81 posts
Location: Merced, Ca, usa
81 posts
Location: Merced, Ca, usa
Posted:
well- i was on a beach in santa cruz with a couple of my freinds enjoying our "trip" when I saw two beautiful dancing lights on the end of the beach. My friends & i wondered over to the sight & we say this lovely lady spinning fire poi. I was totally mesmerized by the sound & the sight of this new thing called "fire poi". I spent the entire night wathcing this girl & her friends spinning. The next day i went home & figured out how to make my own poi & the rest is history...
well- i was on a beach in santa cruz with a couple of my freinds enjoying our "trip" when I saw two beautiful dancing lights on the end of the beach. My friends & i wondered over to the sight & we say this lovely lady spinning fire poi. I was totally mesmerized by the sound & the sight of this new thing called "fire poi". I spent the entire night wathcing this girl & her friends spinning. The next day i went home & figured out how to make my own poi & the rest is history...
fire is the light that shines in all of us. Be sure your light shines brightly wherever you go.
BRONZE Member
newbie
24 posts
Location: Falmouth cornwall, United Kingdom
newbie
24 posts
Location: Falmouth cornwall, United Kingdom
Posted:
my friend lizzie taught me at the beginning then the mags the jedi took over. learning from many in circus society. i wanted to do it because it looked like an incredible rush. and it is!
my friend lizzie taught me at the beginning then the mags the jedi took over. learning from many in circus society. i wanted to do it because it looked like an incredible rush. and it is!
the*pom 
BRONZE Member
grumpy poorly froggy
3,999 posts
Location: Nuneaton, United Kingdom
grumpy poorly froggy
3,999 posts
Location: Nuneaton, United Kingdom
Posted:
the place where i work held two circus days where they got a company to send a guy called luke to do some work shops for the kids. well the staff are bigger kids including myself and had to have a go at things like balancing peacock feathers on our face and when i saw the Poi.... i wanted one, went out and got one...and i got 3 pea coack feathers too
the place where i work held two circus days where they got a company to send a guy called luke to do some work shops for the kids. well the staff are bigger kids including myself and had to have a go at things like balancing peacock feathers on our face and when i saw the Poi.... i wanted one, went out and got one...and i got 3 pea coack feathers too
Life's too short to worry about where you put your marshmallows
member
101 posts
Location: Oxford, UK
101 posts
Location: Oxford, UK
Posted:
I was at the Big Chill festival earlier this year and became addicted when I had a go of my friends Poi's. I purchased some of my own and haven't put them down since!!
I was at the Big Chill festival earlier this year and became addicted when I had a go of my friends Poi's. I purchased some of my own and haven't put them down since!!
Life is too short.....lets party naked!
GOLD Member
veteran
1,508 posts
Location: Out, United Kingdom
veteran
1,508 posts
Location: Out, United Kingdom
Posted:
I was down on the coats of Kenya in the summer of 2003 where there was a guy fire spinning, it struck me as kinda cool so i though id give it a bash. As soon as i got home i got a couple of tennis balls and some string and started experimenting. Searching the net i found this place and the free lessons and got better. 2 months later i got a pair of fire pois for xmas and did some burning and fast got addicted to the circles of light.
I was down on the coats of Kenya in the summer of 2003 where there was a guy fire spinning, it struck me as kinda cool so i though id give it a bash. As soon as i got home i got a couple of tennis balls and some string and started experimenting. Searching the net i found this place and the free lessons and got better. 2 months later i got a pair of fire pois for xmas and did some burning and fast got addicted to the circles of light.
AAARRRGGGHHH!!! My giant stick broke!!! In two!!! My stick broke in two!!! 
SILVER Member
Pooh-Bah
1,626 posts
Location: Southampton, United Kingdom
Pooh-Bah
1,626 posts
Location: Southampton, United Kingdom
Posted:
On the first night of a holiday I saw some pretty lady doing fire at Sennen Cove and was totally entranced. It was just so graceful, and I was trying to work out the way they worked which befuzzled me for many a week...
...then, 2 years later, I came to uni, and about 3 people in my 12 person flat had dome some poi travelling... they taught me the basics on practice poi, although it took me literally 5 months to nail a weave (dammit).
Then my best mate got some wicks, and the rest (my hair, or lack of it) is history
On the first night of a holiday I saw some pretty lady doing fire at Sennen Cove and was totally entranced. It was just so graceful, and I was trying to work out the way they worked which befuzzled me for many a week...
...then, 2 years later, I came to uni, and about 3 people in my 12 person flat had dome some poi travelling... they taught me the basics on practice poi, although it took me literally 5 months to nail a weave (dammit).
Then my best mate got some wicks, and the rest (my hair, or lack of it) is history
What a wonderful miracle if only we could look through each other's eyes for an instant.
Thoreau
SILVER Member
member
27 posts
Location: England
member
27 posts
Location: England
Posted:
Well for me it was a year ago at glastonbury festival i saw people spinnin and i just had to get me some of them, and now i love it
Well for me it was a year ago at glastonbury festival i saw people spinnin and i just had to get me some of them, and now i love it
Burn baby burn
SILVER Member
Member
326 posts
Location: Bristol, United Kingdom
Member
326 posts
Location: Bristol, United Kingdom
Posted:
Watching a friend learning i decided i wanted to as well
Watching a friend learning i decided i wanted to as well
Tell me and I forget, Show me and I remember, Involve me and I understand
newbie
11 posts
Location: Australia
11 posts
Location: Australia
Posted:
wellll i only do sum poi coz my main is devil stix but i first started devilstix when i was on a camp and 1 of my friends had a set there.....i had a go and found that i like em and bought my own set then made a fire set.....now im hooked
but with poi my sista started then showed me sum stuff and i learnt a bit from there
im learning staff (sinlge long and double short) but i have not done em with fire YET!!
remeber peace and fire DO mix!!
wellll i only do sum poi coz my main is devil stix but i first started devilstix when i was on a camp and 1 of my friends had a set there.....i had a go and found that i like em and bought my own set then made a fire set.....now im hooked
but with poi my sista started then showed me sum stuff and i learnt a bit from there
im learning staff (sinlge long and double short) but i have not done em with fire YET!!
remeber peace and fire DO mix!!
ethel the aardvark goes quantity surveying......
Heaven doesn't want me, and Hell is afraid I'll take over
192 posts
Location: Wolverhampton
192 posts
Location: Wolverhampton
Posted:
Saw it done at Glasters several times and then found that a few of my friends were interested in spinning too. So we decided to keep practising.
sin
Saw it done at Glasters several times and then found that a few of my friends were interested in spinning too. So we decided to keep practising.
sin
"Abashed, the Devil stood and saw how awful Goodness is"
BRONZE Member
Pooh-Bah
2,211 posts
Location: London, Wales (UK)
Pooh-Bah
2,211 posts
Location: London, Wales (UK)
Posted:
A New Zealand girl called Sarah, she borrowed someones long UV necklace in a club and when we went home lit up poi & staff. Discovered home of poi and still spinning today
A New Zealand girl called Sarah, she borrowed someones long UV necklace in a club and when we went home lit up poi & staff. Discovered home of poi and still spinning today
Come faeries, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame.
- W B Yeats
member
61 posts
Location: england, uk
61 posts
Location: england, uk
Posted:
i got inspired at the summer solstice a few years ago, had a spin with a mates wooden staff with some glowsticks taped to the ends!! saw some crazy guy with a diablo who was really good and after that i was hooked!!
i got inspired at the summer solstice a few years ago, had a spin with a mates wooden staff with some glowsticks taped to the ends!! saw some crazy guy with a diablo who was really good and after that i was hooked!!
i must be loosing my mind.............come back!!!!!
SILVER Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,899 posts
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,899 posts
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Posted:
like 4.5 years ago (or was it 5.5?) I ran into an ex-girlfriend who basically said (to make a long story short) "come to this event next month, there is something I want to show you". well, the event turned out to be a local burningman gathering, and the first I see of this ex, she is completely nude, painted entirly in gold, and spinning fire. Others I saw perform that night were Brian (my future mentor - not on HoP), Arashi (who i remember burned off a few dreadlocks... hehehehe), Sage, and Barusela (who used to always perform with Sage, and who is arguably just as good a fire performer as Sage, and perhaps better with some toys). The ex-girlfriend spent the rest of the night (till the sun came up) teaching me poi and said she had wanted to teach me since she started learning because she thought I would be good at it. The next morning she told me to check out the tutorials on Home of Poi, which was still in it's infancy then. The rest is the story of a truely addictive personality (addicted to poi, addicted to fire, addicted to HoP,...)
like 4.5 years ago (or was it 5.5?) I ran into an ex-girlfriend who basically said (to make a long story short) "come to this event next month, there is something I want to show you". well, the event turned out to be a local burningman gathering, and the first I see of this ex, she is completely nude, painted entirly in gold, and spinning fire. Others I saw perform that night were Brian (my future mentor - not on HoP), Arashi (who i remember burned off a few dreadlocks... hehehehe), Sage, and Barusela (who used to always perform with Sage, and who is arguably just as good a fire performer as Sage, and perhaps better with some toys). The ex-girlfriend spent the rest of the night (till the sun came up) teaching me poi and said she had wanted to teach me since she started learning because she thought I would be good at it. The next morning she told me to check out the tutorials on Home of Poi, which was still in it's infancy then. The rest is the story of a truely addictive personality (addicted to poi, addicted to fire, addicted to HoP,...)
-v-
Wiederstand ist Zwecklos!
BRONZE Member
Member
98 posts
Location: ireland
Member
98 posts
Location: ireland
Posted:
Glastonbury: this year.
I was waiting at the train station for the last train that would take us to the festival + there was a girl (my sister insists it was a guy??) twirling on the platform. i thought it looked amazing + for the whole festival i kept an eye out for stalls selling "those mad twirly things." Eventually i got a pair of tailed poi at the firetoys.com stall + had to ask the girl how to use them. Her answer was "its a lot like skipping".
That evening, back at the camp - i took them out and found that its wasn't at all like skipping + was in-fact a lot harder.
So i've been practicing nearly every day since then + am totally obsessed.
Glastonbury: this year.
I was waiting at the train station for the last train that would take us to the festival + there was a girl (my sister insists it was a guy??) twirling on the platform. i thought it looked amazing + for the whole festival i kept an eye out for stalls selling "those mad twirly things." Eventually i got a pair of tailed poi at the firetoys.com stall + had to ask the girl how to use them. Her answer was "its a lot like skipping".
That evening, back at the camp - i took them out and found that its wasn't at all like skipping + was in-fact a lot harder.
So i've been practicing nearly every day since then + am totally obsessed.
GOLD Member
member
26 posts
Location: wollongong,australia
member
26 posts
Location: wollongong,australia
Posted:
thredbo, australia..last year...went to this huge party and 7 ppl there anded up pulling out staff and lighting up!!!!..i was so amazed!! hehe when i got back to the gong ( home town) i made a staff..was awsome but not quite right...picked up some poi bout a week later..and bam! was hooked:) now got a group of friends who all spin various toys:) and made some awsome new friends:) yayay!
thredbo, australia..last year...went to this huge party and 7 ppl there anded up pulling out staff and lighting up!!!!..i was so amazed!! hehe when i got back to the gong ( home town) i made a staff..was awsome but not quite right...picked up some poi bout a week later..and bam! was hooked:) now got a group of friends who all spin various toys:) and made some awsome new friends:) yayay!
did some one say they saw a flying purple people eater??
SILVER Member
15,417 posts
Location: South Wales
15,417 posts
Location: South Wales
Posted:
I thought you didn't do Poi!
Written by: über seal
then I was asked what I could do with POI.
I picked up a pair and got all tied up in a right mess.
told me I would have to to get better at that.
So I went to brixton
club that night and asked a girl called Rakiya to show me how to do poi.
it took me 20 mins but in the end I had forwards and backwards weave sorted.
I thought you didn't do Poi!
member
47 posts
Location: PRAHA
47 posts
Location: PRAHA
Posted:
nothing xtra, one my friend had fire poi, I nearly killed myself with it (not with burning, just bad one to head..) so I came home, took money went to buy chains ans bit of leather ::))
nothing xtra, one my friend had fire poi, I nearly killed myself with it (not with burning, just bad one to head..) so I came home, took money went to buy chains ans bit of leather ::))
miluju prahu a pár lidí v ní i mimo ní
PRAGUE FOREVER
Toe Poking Bad Boy
2,865 posts
Location: Lake District UK
2,865 posts
Location: Lake District UK
Posted:
my mate dan (TKOF) took me to a poi and staff gathering, loved it been spinning ever since
my mate dan (TKOF) took me to a poi and staff gathering, loved it been spinning ever since
Remember.........YOU LOSE!!!
SILVER Member
UnNatural Scientist - Currently working on a Breville-legged monkey
757 posts
Location: Bath Uni or Shrewsbury, UK
UnNatural Scientist - Currently working on a Breville-legged monkey
757 posts
Location: Bath Uni or Shrewsbury, UK
Posted:
It was a mix of stuff. About 2 years ago I went on exchange to South Africa. The school I was staying at did Bugsy Malone (however you spell it) as a play and a friend I made out there do some as part of the talent show bit. I asked him what it was and he said he did it with fire as well.
About 6 or so months ago various thoughts were going through my mind.
"I need a hobby"
"I need a way of getting some exercise"
"Some kudos would be nice"
"I'd like to be able to do something unusual"
--- and to be honest, I wanted something that wouldn't be expected of me
Poi dropped into my mind so I checked it out and found this place. I tied a couple of socks with string and made a really aweful pair of poi, stood in the garden and hit myself in the head for ten minutes. Happily I was laughing when I hit myself rather than chucking the socks into the trees. Two weeks later I was still spinning them round and I started thinking, "Hey, there might be something in this."
It was a mix of stuff. About 2 years ago I went on exchange to South Africa. The school I was staying at did Bugsy Malone (however you spell it) as a play and a friend I made out there do some as part of the talent show bit. I asked him what it was and he said he did it with fire as well.
About 6 or so months ago various thoughts were going through my mind.
"I need a hobby"
"I need a way of getting some exercise"
"Some kudos would be nice"
"I'd like to be able to do something unusual"
--- and to be honest, I wanted something that wouldn't be expected of me
Poi dropped into my mind so I checked it out and found this place. I tied a couple of socks with string and made a really aweful pair of poi, stood in the garden and hit myself in the head for ten minutes. Happily I was laughing when I hit myself rather than chucking the socks into the trees. Two weeks later I was still spinning them round and I started thinking, "Hey, there might be something in this."
Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand and I can beat the world into submission.
member
47 posts
Location: PRAHA
47 posts
Location: PRAHA
Posted:
cool story... understood to, hmm, 1/3?
cool story... understood to, hmm, 1/3?
miluju prahu a pár lidí v ní i mimo ní
PRAGUE FOREVER
SILVER Member
UnNatural Scientist - Currently working on a Breville-legged monkey
757 posts
Location: Bath Uni or Shrewsbury, UK
UnNatural Scientist - Currently working on a Breville-legged monkey
757 posts
Location: Bath Uni or Shrewsbury, UK
Posted:
Ah well, at least some it makes sence outside my own mind
Ah well, at least some it makes sence outside my own mind
Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand and I can beat the world into submission.
member
75 posts
Location: London, Uk, in a boring town called Ruislip....
75 posts
Location: London, Uk, in a boring town called Ruislip....
Posted:
The first time I picked up a set of poi was at Reading Fest 02. I was camping with UCOF and Chris and asked them to show me some moves. From that day on I was hooked!
So a great big
and 
to you both!!!
The first time I picked up a set of poi was at Reading Fest 02. I was camping with UCOF and Chris and asked them to show me some moves. From that day on I was hooked!
So a great big
and to you both!!! Cant Sleep Or The Clowns Will Get Me!!!!
SILVER Member
15,417 posts
Location: South Wales
15,417 posts
Location: South Wales
Posted:
for Triple Wordscore, Pink Poi, Justine (dont she don use this anymore) and Dykeboy.
for Triple Wordscore, Pink Poi, Justine (dont she don use this anymore) and Dykeboy.
newbie
19 posts
Location: Somerset, England
19 posts
Location: Somerset, England
Posted:
I learned in New Zealand many (oh heck - about 35) years ago from some Maori friends when Iwas a kid. I haven't swung poi for years, then I came across someone swinging fire at a kite festival earlier this year, got chatting, and discovered that like riding a bicycle, you don't lose the knack.
I learned in New Zealand many (oh heck - about 35) years ago from some Maori friends when Iwas a kid. I haven't swung poi for years, then I came across someone swinging fire at a kite festival earlier this year, got chatting, and discovered that like riding a bicycle, you don't lose the knack.
Pat in Somerset, England
member
53 posts
Location: OZ
53 posts
Location: OZ
Posted:
last year i was at a dance festival in Laura and there were a bunch if fire twirlers, i was immediately facsinated. I had seen it before, but these guys had such passion and love for it. I wanted to feel strongly about something. I feel special when i do it because its something i love to do. I wouldnt give it up for nething!
last year i was at a dance festival in Laura and there were a bunch if fire twirlers, i was immediately facsinated. I had seen it before, but these guys had such passion and love for it. I wanted to feel strongly about something. I feel special when i do it because its something i love to do. I wouldnt give it up for nething!
~*~peace and trust takes years to build, yet takes only seconds to shatter~*~
lovable smart-ass
785 posts
Location: vineyards, Vienna, Austria
785 posts
Location: vineyards, Vienna, Austria
Posted:
i blame ucof and sunbeam
i blame ucof and sunbeam
"is optimism in austria just a lack of information?"
-Alfred Dorfer
enthusiast
275 posts
Location: ati: on: She: ffi: eld: UK:
275 posts
Location: ati: on: She: ffi: eld: UK:
Posted:
One of my house mates made some poi and i started waving them about a bit in the beer garden at uni... after getting a couple of bruises, i was damned if was going to let these things beat me up like that in public, then didn't put them down for six months.
Of course, they still beat me up in public now, but i've got used to it. At least they don't set me on fire...
--ben
One of my house mates made some poi and i started waving them about a bit in the beer garden at uni... after getting a couple of bruises, i was damned if was going to let these things beat me up like that in public, then didn't put them down for six months.
Of course, they still beat me up in public now, but i've got used to it. At least they don't set me on fire...
--ben
Hop's Kitten Jester.
1,803 posts
Location: Wonderland igloo, Vic, Australia
1,803 posts
Location: Wonderland igloo, Vic, Australia
Posted:
I orginally met Fireart and was going to do stff but i decided not to because i just ended up as a bruised mess. In poi i ended up in a tangled mess so i chose that over being bruised 24/7.
I orginally met Fireart and was going to do stff but i decided not to because i just ended up as a bruised mess. In poi i ended up in a tangled mess so i chose that over being bruised 24/7.
.:Pink Exocutioner:.
I am Jack's Raging Bile Duct...
Loving you from the deepest part of my loins.
manic over a fence
798 posts
Location: Tas, Aus
798 posts
Location: Tas, Aus
Posted:
a friend showd me at a scout camp. i loved it then promptly forgot about it. then at last years state ventue i saw a girl doing glow poi and was gobsmacked
i made myself a set of tennis ball poi, then a set of fire poi and went from there
i am also learning long staff and double short staff, but haven't gotten v good yet
a friend showd me at a scout camp. i loved it then promptly forgot about it. then at last years state ventue i saw a girl doing glow poi and was gobsmacked
i made myself a set of tennis ball poi, then a set of fire poi and went from there i am also learning long staff and double short staff, but haven't gotten v good yet
Quid Pro Quo
5|>00|\|5 /-\|^3 <00|!
© 1998 - 2024 Home of Poi
All prices converted to United States dollars using XE.com