Forums > Social Chat > Getting Flamed for doing Poi
Login/Join to Participateambiguous
646 posts
Location: Mpls, MN, USA
646 posts
Location: Mpls, MN, USA
Posted:
I'm in the middle of an exciting online mudslinging contest on another set of boards for parties around my area. Somehow I got mixed up in the age old "How dumb Kandie Ravers are" arguement. This girl mistook me for a candy raver, she thought my online name "jello" meant i was candy. I thanked this other girl on the boards for letting me barrow some glowsticks because my led's died in the middle of the party, which apparantly was all the info the first girl in question needed to offically label me as a "dumbass". Lots of hostility flying at me all of a sudden.
Anybody else ever get negative responses related to poi, whether fire or glowsticks?
[ 23. February 2003, 12:26: Message edited by: Jello ]
I'm in the middle of an exciting online mudslinging contest on another set of boards for parties around my area. Somehow I got mixed up in the age old "How dumb Kandie Ravers are" arguement. This girl mistook me for a candy raver, she thought my online name "jello" meant i was candy. I thanked this other girl on the boards for letting me barrow some glowsticks because my led's died in the middle of the party, which apparantly was all the info the first girl in question needed to offically label me as a "dumbass". Lots of hostility flying at me all of a sudden.
Anybody else ever get negative responses related to poi, whether fire or glowsticks?
[ 23. February 2003, 12:26: Message edited by: Jello ]
_________________________________
Fuzzy Dice.......................................
HoP Mechanical Engineer
729 posts
Location: OK, USA
729 posts
Location: OK, USA
Posted:
Whenever we practice we have to endure the occasional harassment, most often by rude boys trying to appear masculine and make themselves look good in front of their friends. The most recent such event was last practice when a couple guys sat there, watched us for a while, ran to their SUV and took off, yelling something to the effect of "GO FAGS!" (why they would call me a nicotene product I am somewhat confused about ) But yeah, clever how they chose to wait till they were sailing away at 40mph befor ethey started hurling insults...
I've seen performances before where the audience members were absolutely horrible in their criticisms of the performers, especially in the sexual comments area (directed towards females).
Then again, I look at little kids who see me perform and I see the magic in their eyes reflected from my spinning. It's one of the best feelings in the world.
The best description I ever got about this phenomenon came from my buddy Nasu... he said that "People want to tear down what they can't build themselves." Criticism, inflammatory comments, and outright rudeness are the marks of an ignorant person who doesn't want to open their mind and see potential beauty in something. Children are the most open minds in nature, whereas we get older and things start to solidify and we get rooted in our perceptions of how things are (or how they should be).
Your situation I would think is more an instance of stereotyping and prejudice, where someone took one aspect of your personality and immediately slapped a label on you. That, unfortunately, happens everywhere. You might show this girl a photo or two from our art gallery and maybe she'll see what we do isn't some stereotypical drugged-out raver exclusive.... then again if she's rooted in her beliefs before she even gets to know you, it's her loss.
Something else to remember... what we do is just plain COOL. A few naysayers here and there might want to think ill of it, but for the most part, what we do captivates and inspires the majority of people who see it (or at the very least, entertains them). Don't let 'em get ya down (though I doubt you are, this is more a general reminder to the HoP community).
Whenever we practice we have to endure the occasional harassment, most often by rude boys trying to appear masculine and make themselves look good in front of their friends. The most recent such event was last practice when a couple guys sat there, watched us for a while, ran to their SUV and took off, yelling something to the effect of "GO FAGS!" (why they would call me a nicotene product I am somewhat confused about ) But yeah, clever how they chose to wait till they were sailing away at 40mph befor ethey started hurling insults...
I've seen performances before where the audience members were absolutely horrible in their criticisms of the performers, especially in the sexual comments area (directed towards females).
Then again, I look at little kids who see me perform and I see the magic in their eyes reflected from my spinning. It's one of the best feelings in the world.
The best description I ever got about this phenomenon came from my buddy Nasu... he said that "People want to tear down what they can't build themselves." Criticism, inflammatory comments, and outright rudeness are the marks of an ignorant person who doesn't want to open their mind and see potential beauty in something. Children are the most open minds in nature, whereas we get older and things start to solidify and we get rooted in our perceptions of how things are (or how they should be).
Your situation I would think is more an instance of stereotyping and prejudice, where someone took one aspect of your personality and immediately slapped a label on you. That, unfortunately, happens everywhere. You might show this girl a photo or two from our art gallery and maybe she'll see what we do isn't some stereotypical drugged-out raver exclusive.... then again if she's rooted in her beliefs before she even gets to know you, it's her loss.
Something else to remember... what we do is just plain COOL. A few naysayers here and there might want to think ill of it, but for the most part, what we do captivates and inspires the majority of people who see it (or at the very least, entertains them). Don't let 'em get ya down (though I doubt you are, this is more a general reminder to the HoP community).
What hits the fan is not evenly distributed.
ambiguous
646 posts
Location: Mpls, MN, USA
646 posts
Location: Mpls, MN, USA
Posted:
Yeah, if I'd call her on the blatant generalizations and stereotyping she's making if I thought it do any good, but I don't think it's an arguement that would go anywhere. I have no idea who she is, I can't say anything about her, but she seems to say alot of simply ignorant and cruel statements about numorous people in this one thread. Than again I shouldn't be surprised, while these particular boards are a good source of music information around my area, they're filled with alot of jaded ignorant elitist types.
"People want to tear down what they can't build themselves." - that is definitly a cool quote.
Yeah, if I'd call her on the blatant generalizations and stereotyping she's making if I thought it do any good, but I don't think it's an arguement that would go anywhere. I have no idea who she is, I can't say anything about her, but she seems to say alot of simply ignorant and cruel statements about numorous people in this one thread. Than again I shouldn't be surprised, while these particular boards are a good source of music information around my area, they're filled with alot of jaded ignorant elitist types.
"People want to tear down what they can't build themselves." - that is definitly a cool quote.
_________________________________
Fuzzy Dice.......................................
Enter a "Title" here:
2,905 posts
Location: San Diego California
2,905 posts
Location: San Diego California
Posted:
Jello, my only advice is, if you arnt spinning for the young woman who called you a dumbass, ignore what she says. She doesnt know you obviously so just blow her off and continue doing what your doing. If you really wish to piss her off though, get better!
Jello, my only advice is, if you arnt spinning for the young woman who called you a dumbass, ignore what she says. She doesnt know you obviously so just blow her off and continue doing what your doing. If you really wish to piss her off though, get better!
Some Jarhead last night: "this dumb a$$ thinks hes fireproof"
member
531 posts
531 posts
Posted:
Dio I think you summed it up in a nutshell.
Good to know I'm not the only person here who has been called a fag for spinning fire.Though they also made sure to be way out of range of me when they said it.Though I probably still wouldn't have done anything being they just wouldn't have been worth it.
On a positive note,me and Nyx had people stopping in the street to watch us spin some fire on the sidewalks in New Haven.One of em even threw money at us.
I guess what I want to tell you is just to focus on the positive.If she is close-minded enough to make such a ridiculous generalization than she is also close-minded enough to not see your side of things.
Sometimes people who like to say such harsh things will get more pissed off if you just ignore them.They want you to react.
Dio I think you summed it up in a nutshell.
Good to know I'm not the only person here who has been called a fag for spinning fire.Though they also made sure to be way out of range of me when they said it.Though I probably still wouldn't have done anything being they just wouldn't have been worth it.
On a positive note,me and Nyx had people stopping in the street to watch us spin some fire on the sidewalks in New Haven.One of em even threw money at us.
I guess what I want to tell you is just to focus on the positive.If she is close-minded enough to make such a ridiculous generalization than she is also close-minded enough to not see your side of things.
Sometimes people who like to say such harsh things will get more pissed off if you just ignore them.They want you to react.
member
167 posts
Location: Bergen , Norway
167 posts
Location: Bergen , Norway
Posted:
Is this abuse thing a big problem for some out there? And whats do you say if anyone is giving abuse?
I cant say I have had any problems with abuse....
Is this abuse thing a big problem for some out there? And whats do you say if anyone is giving abuse?
I cant say I have had any problems with abuse....
I like Fire.. :)
GOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
2,617 posts
Location: Berlin, Ireland
Carpal \'Tunnel
2,617 posts
Location: Berlin, Ireland
Posted:
Yea I was called a wierdo by some kid who could hardly stand up straight after perfoming in a club. I laughed at him and thanked him. It does happen sometimes me thinks.
Yea I was called a wierdo by some kid who could hardly stand up straight after perfoming in a club. I laughed at him and thanked him. It does happen sometimes me thinks.
I live in a world of infinite possibilities.
Hot Schtuff
1,032 posts
Location: Stillwater,OK/Wichita Falls,TX
1,032 posts
Location: Stillwater,OK/Wichita Falls,TX
Posted:
Hey Dio another thing to add about the pitiful excuse for masculine guys who have to resort to insulting something they obviously don't have a clue as to what the heck it is in order to appear 'kewl' in front of their friends...(whew! that was a mouthfull! )While the guys were speeding past in their SUV they weren't very bright in the fact that they yelled insults to us about our passion and love when they had no clue what it was that we were doing...But one thing I DID find humerous is the fact that they weren't bright enough to "roll down the window" instead of driving by with the passenger door open and making fun of us. I tried so hard not to laugh...This lil situation shows us two things:
1) Too ignorant to 'ask' and find out what we were doing and so had to resort to insults in order to make themselves feel 'big' in front of others.
2) This also shows us that they weren't smart enough to roll a window down...which had power windows judging by the make and year of the SUV. They had to stick their heads out the passanger door and throw insults at us while speeding in excess of about 40mph (I'm just guessing on the speed) when the speed limit here on campus IS 20mph!Not only was it dark then BUT there were other people around who not only heard him but were in danger because of their reckless driving habits.
Anywhoozle I could care less what others think.If they are too ignorant to come up to us and ask what we are doing, instead of calling us 'Fags', then I don't have time to even acknowledge them. It would just be a waste of my time getting mad at them and yelling back at them...Which would only be setting fire to a puddle of gasoline (hey isn't that what we are supposed to do in poi? .) Owell I don't care just remember that even tho there are ignorant and insulting people out there, there ARE people who find what we do kewl and exciting. Ok I'm done for now laterz yall!
Hey Dio another thing to add about the pitiful excuse for masculine guys who have to resort to insulting something they obviously don't have a clue as to what the heck it is in order to appear 'kewl' in front of their friends...(whew! that was a mouthfull! )While the guys were speeding past in their SUV they weren't very bright in the fact that they yelled insults to us about our passion and love when they had no clue what it was that we were doing...But one thing I DID find humerous is the fact that they weren't bright enough to "roll down the window" instead of driving by with the passenger door open and making fun of us. I tried so hard not to laugh...This lil situation shows us two things:
1) Too ignorant to 'ask' and find out what we were doing and so had to resort to insults in order to make themselves feel 'big' in front of others.
2) This also shows us that they weren't smart enough to roll a window down...which had power windows judging by the make and year of the SUV. They had to stick their heads out the passanger door and throw insults at us while speeding in excess of about 40mph (I'm just guessing on the speed) when the speed limit here on campus IS 20mph!Not only was it dark then BUT there were other people around who not only heard him but were in danger because of their reckless driving habits.
Anywhoozle I could care less what others think.If they are too ignorant to come up to us and ask what we are doing, instead of calling us 'Fags', then I don't have time to even acknowledge them. It would just be a waste of my time getting mad at them and yelling back at them...Which would only be setting fire to a puddle of gasoline (hey isn't that what we are supposed to do in poi? .) Owell I don't care just remember that even tho there are ignorant and insulting people out there, there ARE people who find what we do kewl and exciting. Ok I'm done for now laterz yall!
RISK: Do not follow the common path; Go where there is no path and leave a trail.
BRONZE Member
old hand
1,184 posts
Location: under the fairie wheel, Australia
old hand
1,184 posts
Location: under the fairie wheel, Australia
Posted:
i get asked all the time what it is im doing after i finish spinning and always get asked if tey can have ago to wich i always ask the age old question have you ever done this before (9.99 times out of 10 the answer is no and if yes it was only once before)
i try to perswaid them not to have a go as they are usualy not of normal mind state (either drunk or on somthing els) but they can be pritty forcefull so i let them have a go.
i usualy give the girls a hand with what to do (as they are alway cean to learn and not doing it to show off)but very rairly give the guys a hand but only if there straigh and genuine to have a go not just trying to show off to there mates.
the best look is the look on there face as they repededly hit themself with the staff or poi (i never repeat never let them fire them up) they usualy put them down after about the second time they get hit and walk off getting payed out by7 there mates for being a twat and i feel beter for them showing me the respect that this is a hard thing to master and it takes a lot of work to achive it
i know this is creul of me to do this but it dose reenforce that fact tothem that this is a dandrus pasttime/hobbie/job that we have chosen to learn
i get asked all the time what it is im doing after i finish spinning and always get asked if tey can have ago to wich i always ask the age old question have you ever done this before (9.99 times out of 10 the answer is no and if yes it was only once before)
i try to perswaid them not to have a go as they are usualy not of normal mind state (either drunk or on somthing els) but they can be pritty forcefull so i let them have a go.
i usualy give the girls a hand with what to do (as they are alway cean to learn and not doing it to show off)but very rairly give the guys a hand but only if there straigh and genuine to have a go not just trying to show off to there mates.
the best look is the look on there face as they repededly hit themself with the staff or poi (i never repeat never let them fire them up) they usualy put them down after about the second time they get hit and walk off getting payed out by7 there mates for being a twat and i feel beter for them showing me the respect that this is a hard thing to master and it takes a lot of work to achive it
i know this is creul of me to do this but it dose reenforce that fact tothem that this is a dandrus pasttime/hobbie/job that we have chosen to learn
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand, strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, and screaming "WOO-HOO What a ride!"
member
104 posts
Location: Stillwater, OK
104 posts
Location: Stillwater, OK
Posted:
Yeah, Dio, I remember that night..... I coulda had some fun with them too, how dissappointing that bullies and hecklers in college are so much more afraid of confrontation than they were in high school, a pitty.
Oh well, not worth jail time to smack around an idiot.
besides there's a nice large group of us, strength in numbers.... hehehe numbers armed with chains and sticks
We can deal.
Yeah, Dio, I remember that night..... I coulda had some fun with them too, how dissappointing that bullies and hecklers in college are so much more afraid of confrontation than they were in high school, a pitty.
Oh well, not worth jail time to smack around an idiot.
besides there's a nice large group of us, strength in numbers.... hehehe numbers armed with chains and sticks
We can deal.
No one knows me like I do.
veteran
1,325 posts
Location: San Diego, California, USA
1,325 posts
Location: San Diego, California, USA
Posted:
It kinda worries me how smart they are when they heckle and piss off a group of 5 to 10 people with steel pipes they obviously know how to use and (in a few of my friends cases) rope darts that they can obviously use pretty damn well.
I was double staffing and two guys in middle school (I knew them last year and they're basically topping off in their life because they think they're the shit already) walked up, called me a fag saying 'My sister can do that!', then stole my beaming and electroglo poi. Horray for local community security! Got them kicked out of the park for the rest of the week, and got compliments from security for saying Poi/staff looked cool.
Closed-minded people these days!
Kinudin
It kinda worries me how smart they are when they heckle and piss off a group of 5 to 10 people with steel pipes they obviously know how to use and (in a few of my friends cases) rope darts that they can obviously use pretty damn well.
I was double staffing and two guys in middle school (I knew them last year and they're basically topping off in their life because they think they're the shit already) walked up, called me a fag saying 'My sister can do that!', then stole my beaming and electroglo poi. Horray for local community security! Got them kicked out of the park for the rest of the week, and got compliments from security for saying Poi/staff looked cool.
Closed-minded people these days!
Kinudin
member
237 posts
Location: porthtowan, truro, cornwall
237 posts
Location: porthtowan, truro, cornwall
Posted:
Reading your storys has been pretty intresting Coz I never get stuff like abuse happening to me, well not very often anyway. The thing I find most annoying, actually, is when people say I should "put a hat out." I know that I should take it as a compliment, but the fact that they think I do it for money,and not because I love it, is pretty insulting.
The only time I got abuse was at a festival (of all places) this guy ( who could only have been about 15) gose, "hey, I bet I could do much better!" This was way back in the day when I had real anger managment problems (im not kidding, I had to see a specialist) So I marched up to him and screamed "you could do better could you? Then fucking show me!" And shoved my flaming poi in his face. It set fire to his hair. ....
Which I guess taught us both a lesson.
Reading your storys has been pretty intresting Coz I never get stuff like abuse happening to me, well not very often anyway. The thing I find most annoying, actually, is when people say I should "put a hat out." I know that I should take it as a compliment, but the fact that they think I do it for money,and not because I love it, is pretty insulting.
The only time I got abuse was at a festival (of all places) this guy ( who could only have been about 15) gose, "hey, I bet I could do much better!" This was way back in the day when I had real anger managment problems (im not kidding, I had to see a specialist) So I marched up to him and screamed "you could do better could you? Then fucking show me!" And shoved my flaming poi in his face. It set fire to his hair. ....
Which I guess taught us both a lesson.
Luv peace 'n' chicken grease Al X x
BRONZE Member
Pooh-Bah
2,211 posts
Location: London, Wales (UK)
Pooh-Bah
2,211 posts
Location: London, Wales (UK)
Posted:
Well I personally think you are all a bunch of circus freaks.
Well I personally think you are all a bunch of circus freaks.
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
HoP Mechanical Engineer
729 posts
Location: OK, USA
729 posts
Location: OK, USA
Posted:
I'm a "freak" of an entirely different nature
I'm a "freak" of an entirely different nature
What hits the fan is not evenly distributed.
member
40 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
40 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted:
I think this issue is something that every performer in any profession, whether it is the fire arts, music, of just busking for a bit of extra cash, has to put up with. I have only really had one person "flame" me for doing poi, it was one night when i was just having a leasurely practise with one of my mates down southbank, (all melbournites will know the place). twas one of those guys who thinks he is top shit and better than everyone else, and was with a group of mates. he yelled out "get a job you bum" or something to that extent, to which i relied "i have one already, but thanks for the idea" the look on his face was priceless.
In my mind there is really only three things you can do to these type of "people", makea smart arse comment back, like i did, ignore them, or set them on fire, ie, cutie poi girlie, the third doesn't always go down that well with the authorities and is not highly recommended.
Do what you want and never take shit from people who don't understand the fun and enjoyment you get from doin what you do, if they were even half as smart as you they would be admiring you talent and trying to get info from you how to start.
I think this issue is something that every performer in any profession, whether it is the fire arts, music, of just busking for a bit of extra cash, has to put up with. I have only really had one person "flame" me for doing poi, it was one night when i was just having a leasurely practise with one of my mates down southbank, (all melbournites will know the place). twas one of those guys who thinks he is top shit and better than everyone else, and was with a group of mates. he yelled out "get a job you bum" or something to that extent, to which i relied "i have one already, but thanks for the idea" the look on his face was priceless.
In my mind there is really only three things you can do to these type of "people", makea smart arse comment back, like i did, ignore them, or set them on fire, ie, cutie poi girlie, the third doesn't always go down that well with the authorities and is not highly recommended.
Do what you want and never take shit from people who don't understand the fun and enjoyment you get from doin what you do, if they were even half as smart as you they would be admiring you talent and trying to get info from you how to start.
The weekend has landed, all that exists now is clubs, drugs, pubs and parties, I got 48 hours off from the world. This could be the best night of my life, I've got 73 quid in my backburner and I'm gonna wax the lot, man.THE MILKY BARS ARE ON ME!!
member
167 posts
Location: Bergen , Norway
167 posts
Location: Bergen , Norway
Posted:
Angry girl with fire-poi's ........lucky you didnt set him on fire.....
quote:Maybe he was a fellow spinner?
Originally posted by cutie poi girlie:
"hey, I bet I could do much better!" This was way back in the day when I had real anger managment problems (im not kidding, I had to see a specialist) So I marched up to him and screamed "you could do better could you? Then fucking show me!" And shoved my flaming poi in his face. It set fire to his hair. ....
Which I guess taught us both a lesson.
Angry girl with fire-poi's ........lucky you didnt set him on fire.....
I like Fire.. :)
member
237 posts
Location: porthtowan, truro, cornwall
237 posts
Location: porthtowan, truro, cornwall
Posted:
quote:Ooooshk, never thought of that!! ....
Originally posted by Jackelero:
Maybe he was a fellow spinner?
Luv peace 'n' chicken grease Al X x
member
167 posts
Location: Bergen , Norway
167 posts
Location: Bergen , Norway
Posted:
jepp.....a fellow spinner with loads and heaps of
nice moves to learn away......
maybe also a rich spinner in search for a friend... with a really lovely good-looking mate.....
ok...I'll stop......
jepp.....a fellow spinner with loads and heaps of
nice moves to learn away......
maybe also a rich spinner in search for a friend... with a really lovely good-looking mate.....
ok...I'll stop......
I like Fire.. :)
Enter a "Title" here:
2,905 posts
Location: San Diego California
2,905 posts
Location: San Diego California
Posted:
I dont have any cool stories of abuse or mistreatment but everytime I spin fire on base people (especially those on duty) get pissed off.
I am normally surrounded by 10-20 of concrete on either side and they still seam to think that I will set the whole of SoCal on fire!!
Grr!!
I dont have any cool stories of abuse or mistreatment but everytime I spin fire on base people (especially those on duty) get pissed off.
I am normally surrounded by 10-20 of concrete on either side and they still seam to think that I will set the whole of SoCal on fire!!
Grr!!
Some Jarhead last night: "this dumb a$$ thinks hes fireproof"
member
102 posts
Location: London
102 posts
Location: London
Posted:
I've never had any abuse from anyone about doing poi. I went to a music festy (Godskitchen GG) last year and got lots of odd looks cos many people hadn't seen Poi before. Odd - I was expecting there to be loads of spinners!
I took them along to a First Aid Course I was on a while ago to keep me occupied while I waited for my practical exam, and the instructor and three, er, "older" women got dead interested, and I know that at least one of them sent her son off to Camden to located Oddballs and has now taken it up as a hobby to keep her moving and supple. Nice.
I've never had any abuse from anyone about doing poi. I went to a music festy (Godskitchen GG) last year and got lots of odd looks cos many people hadn't seen Poi before. Odd - I was expecting there to be loads of spinners!
I took them along to a First Aid Course I was on a while ago to keep me occupied while I waited for my practical exam, and the instructor and three, er, "older" women got dead interested, and I know that at least one of them sent her son off to Camden to located Oddballs and has now taken it up as a hobby to keep her moving and supple. Nice.
Why is it that everthing which is fun is illegal, immoral, or fattening?
Hot Schtuff
1,032 posts
Location: Stillwater,OK/Wichita Falls,TX
1,032 posts
Location: Stillwater,OK/Wichita Falls,TX
Posted:
Dio let's keep it straight here k?...I do the around here! Just kidding! You know I you!
Dio let's keep it straight here k?...I do the around here! Just kidding! You know I you!
RISK: Do not follow the common path; Go where there is no path and leave a trail.
Pooh-Bah
2,419 posts
Location: la-la land
2,419 posts
Location: la-la land
Posted:
Durbs and I got heckled by some piss heads in Guildford last friday.. We'd set our self up in a really cool place.. at the top of the high street in the church ground.. be had a big wrought iron fence between us and the pasing public.. still some idiots decided to come through the gate.. or 'saftey' people kinda got in thier way in the doorway, but they still managed to get thru.. anyway.. they did the usual thing 'oi mate - givus a go'.. needless to say we did not relinquish out precious poi to them.. but it was really funy to see the effort they went thru to try to prove to us that they could do poi in front of thier mates - I nearly felt sorry for them.... ha ha ha - will the people never learn??
It's not something you can just 'do' takes practise..
but anyway - my rant was supposed to point out that people are just jealous that we can to poi..
Durbs and I got heckled by some piss heads in Guildford last friday.. We'd set our self up in a really cool place.. at the top of the high street in the church ground.. be had a big wrought iron fence between us and the pasing public.. still some idiots decided to come through the gate.. or 'saftey' people kinda got in thier way in the doorway, but they still managed to get thru.. anyway.. they did the usual thing 'oi mate - givus a go'.. needless to say we did not relinquish out precious poi to them.. but it was really funy to see the effort they went thru to try to prove to us that they could do poi in front of thier mates - I nearly felt sorry for them.... ha ha ha - will the people never learn??
It's not something you can just 'do' takes practise..
but anyway - my rant was supposed to point out that people are just jealous that we can to poi..
I honour you as an aspect of myself..
You are never to old to storm a bouncey castle..
member
19 posts
Location: Seattle
19 posts
Location: Seattle
Posted:
Oh my gosh, you want to see bitter reporting? Read this article! (The reporter had been to ONE performance. Ever. And the group she saw, Pyrosutra, as you can tell from the name, puts a fair amount of emphasis on sexuality, unlike most of the other Seattle troupes.)
Douse It
The exhausted art of fire dancing.
BY ARIEL MEADOW STALLINGS
Chances are, if you've been to an underground dance party, club night, gallery opening, or Golden Gardens in the last few years, you've seen the fire performers. Typically dressed in sexy postindustrial fire-retardant costuming, they spin kerosene-doused wicks on chains (called "poi"), writhe seductively, feed each other fire, and wiggle long metal fingers with flaming wicks on the end. It makes for an exciting performance at first--a visceral study of the elements, a show that burns into your retinas, warms the skin, and gets up your nose. Fire performing seems to capture that elusive edge of art . . . or at least it did. The ground has been broken, and this once-interesting art has started to stagnate and slide into cliché.
Cirque de Flambé member Pyro Boy was once quoted as saying that fire spinning is the "Yo-Yo of the new millennium." He was right. Fire performing has spread through Seattle's performing community like the plague, infecting unemployed dot-commers, artists, accountants, yoga teachers, lithe dancers, and a few unfortunate attention hogs. Skilled '90s performance groups like the groundbreaking Cirque de Flambé or the infamous MagmaVOX have spawned a flaming mushroom cloud of fire dancers. Seattle is now home to at least a half-dozen troupes with hundreds of collective members, whose exotic stage names rival rave DJs' in terms of over-the-top ridiculousness. Strangely, the skill level doesn't seem to have improved since MagmaVOX's Eros and Seraphina were literally jumping through hoops and spinning fire on stilts in 1998--in fact, the performance quality seems to have become increasingly homogenous and uninspired.
At the root of this glut of fire performances in Seattle is the relative ease of getting started. Swinging poi is a pretty basic study in gravity, and I've watched dancers pick up the basics in less than a week. Naturally, there's extensive learning beyond that point--I mean no insult to the masters--but amateurs can still capture an audience. Let's face it: It's hard not to watch someone tempt fate with fire, especially if they happen to be scantily clad young women (and, oh yes, so many of them are). As Dori, a fire performer from Brooklyn, explained, "The fact that you can spin, spit, breathe, or dance with fire doesn't make you a performer--it makes you a fire dancer." Fire dancers are fine-- until they decide they're performers and overtake an event.
That's perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the encroaching fire trend: Fire shows increasingly happen at events that used to be participatory. Dance floors are cleared so that we can stand around and watch fire spinners--stony faced and oh-so-serious--twist around and flutter flames across their skin.
You know you're catching an amateur's show when the primary focus is writhing, some pseudo-spiritual themes, and a lot of sexy glances. The choreography will be pretty simple: Go stage right, swing poi; go stage left, wiggle hips, swing poi. If you're lucky, maybe you'll see elaborate costumes and some fire eating. If you're not lucky, you'll get an eyeful of pretension and a nose full of smoke.
Seattle has a few very skilled fire performance groups that deserve the support of the larger artistic community--groups like Pyrosutra, which pushes the boundaries by including flags, flaming Hula-Hoops, and green-flamed poi. Good fire performing should show a clear sense of technique and choreography that would impress even if there weren't fire involved. The stunts should make you gasp, and there should be an obvious dedication to safety: Look for assistants with wet towels or fire extinguishers standing by in case of an accidental dreadlock ignition.
Sadly, the more experienced performers are drowning in the sea of amateurs. The topless faux- spiritual eroticism that so many fire performances have defaulted to might excite the "Show yer tits!" pub-crawl crowd, but I'm here to entreat the fire-performing masses to put down the kerosene, step away from the poi, and listen. I know that fire spinning has meditative effects for those who practice it, but as an audience member, I am growing tired of watching. And what kind of meditation demands an audience? Taking off your shirt does not make your show better. It doesn't make you look more talented. If I wanted to watch nipples and open flames, I could have stayed home with a lighter and a mirror and saved myself some money.
info@seattleweekly.com
Oh my gosh, you want to see bitter reporting? Read this article! (The reporter had been to ONE performance. Ever. And the group she saw, Pyrosutra, as you can tell from the name, puts a fair amount of emphasis on sexuality, unlike most of the other Seattle troupes.)
Douse It
The exhausted art of fire dancing.
BY ARIEL MEADOW STALLINGS
Chances are, if you've been to an underground dance party, club night, gallery opening, or Golden Gardens in the last few years, you've seen the fire performers. Typically dressed in sexy postindustrial fire-retardant costuming, they spin kerosene-doused wicks on chains (called "poi"), writhe seductively, feed each other fire, and wiggle long metal fingers with flaming wicks on the end. It makes for an exciting performance at first--a visceral study of the elements, a show that burns into your retinas, warms the skin, and gets up your nose. Fire performing seems to capture that elusive edge of art . . . or at least it did. The ground has been broken, and this once-interesting art has started to stagnate and slide into cliché.
Cirque de Flambé member Pyro Boy was once quoted as saying that fire spinning is the "Yo-Yo of the new millennium." He was right. Fire performing has spread through Seattle's performing community like the plague, infecting unemployed dot-commers, artists, accountants, yoga teachers, lithe dancers, and a few unfortunate attention hogs. Skilled '90s performance groups like the groundbreaking Cirque de Flambé or the infamous MagmaVOX have spawned a flaming mushroom cloud of fire dancers. Seattle is now home to at least a half-dozen troupes with hundreds of collective members, whose exotic stage names rival rave DJs' in terms of over-the-top ridiculousness. Strangely, the skill level doesn't seem to have improved since MagmaVOX's Eros and Seraphina were literally jumping through hoops and spinning fire on stilts in 1998--in fact, the performance quality seems to have become increasingly homogenous and uninspired.
At the root of this glut of fire performances in Seattle is the relative ease of getting started. Swinging poi is a pretty basic study in gravity, and I've watched dancers pick up the basics in less than a week. Naturally, there's extensive learning beyond that point--I mean no insult to the masters--but amateurs can still capture an audience. Let's face it: It's hard not to watch someone tempt fate with fire, especially if they happen to be scantily clad young women (and, oh yes, so many of them are). As Dori, a fire performer from Brooklyn, explained, "The fact that you can spin, spit, breathe, or dance with fire doesn't make you a performer--it makes you a fire dancer." Fire dancers are fine-- until they decide they're performers and overtake an event.
That's perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the encroaching fire trend: Fire shows increasingly happen at events that used to be participatory. Dance floors are cleared so that we can stand around and watch fire spinners--stony faced and oh-so-serious--twist around and flutter flames across their skin.
You know you're catching an amateur's show when the primary focus is writhing, some pseudo-spiritual themes, and a lot of sexy glances. The choreography will be pretty simple: Go stage right, swing poi; go stage left, wiggle hips, swing poi. If you're lucky, maybe you'll see elaborate costumes and some fire eating. If you're not lucky, you'll get an eyeful of pretension and a nose full of smoke.
Seattle has a few very skilled fire performance groups that deserve the support of the larger artistic community--groups like Pyrosutra, which pushes the boundaries by including flags, flaming Hula-Hoops, and green-flamed poi. Good fire performing should show a clear sense of technique and choreography that would impress even if there weren't fire involved. The stunts should make you gasp, and there should be an obvious dedication to safety: Look for assistants with wet towels or fire extinguishers standing by in case of an accidental dreadlock ignition.
Sadly, the more experienced performers are drowning in the sea of amateurs. The topless faux- spiritual eroticism that so many fire performances have defaulted to might excite the "Show yer tits!" pub-crawl crowd, but I'm here to entreat the fire-performing masses to put down the kerosene, step away from the poi, and listen. I know that fire spinning has meditative effects for those who practice it, but as an audience member, I am growing tired of watching. And what kind of meditation demands an audience? Taking off your shirt does not make your show better. It doesn't make you look more talented. If I wanted to watch nipples and open flames, I could have stayed home with a lighter and a mirror and saved myself some money.
info@seattleweekly.com
BRONZE Member
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posted:
Hee hee hee...I love it when jounalists gets paid to show how narrow-minded, repressed and stupid they are. In print!
Sounds ot me like that one should be having long weekly sessions with the paper's agony aunt columnist.
Hee hee hee...I love it when jounalists gets paid to show how narrow-minded, repressed and stupid they are. In print!
Sounds ot me like that one should be having long weekly sessions with the paper's agony aunt columnist.
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