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DioHoP Mechanical Engineer
729 posts
Location: OK, USA

Posted:
I've noticed lots of trends in society where something will get big for a short time, then go quickly and quietly out of style in favor of the next proverbial "shiny object" that floats in front of the public spotlight. Popular trends have always been like this, and I'm a little curious/worried whether poi and fire dance in general might be taking that same path.

People see something neat and exotic that a select few have developed and refined, it becomes chic for a short while, everyone and their mom gets into it, and once everyone's good at it, it becomes boring dies out. For example, I think everyone here in the states had to put up with the rediscovery of Swing Dancing a few years back Where is it now?

Are we as fire dancers simply the ones ushering in a new fad that will become really popular in short time, but then become old hat and fade into obscurity once everyone learns how and trivializes our sacred art? Scary thought to ponder, especially about something we cherish so closely, but does anyone have thoughts on this?

What hits the fan is not evenly distributed.

chairmenmeow47member
81 posts
Location: mesa, arizona

Posted:
i say, enjoy the popularity while it lasts! unfortunatley i think you are correct to say that it may pass. but on the brighter side, it will make it easier to find people who are REALLY interested, rather than dealing with a whole mass of people. i stay, stick to what you love, even if the rest of the world is doing something else!
oh yeah, i used to teach swing dancing, so your comment made laugh.
just my two pennies...

-ivy. = ^ )

Ralph, jesus did not have wheels.--sunday school teacher, the simpsons

Raymund Phule (Fireproof)Enter a "Title" here:
2,905 posts
Location: San Diego California

Posted:
seen as how I still wear the same jeans I did in highschool hehe I doubt I will be giving up poi any time soon

Some Jarhead last night: "this dumb a$$ thinks hes fireproof"

Fwirl :pmember
76 posts
Location: Wellington, NZ

Posted:
I think in time, for some people, it will fade but if they really love it they'll still be doing it in 10 (at least) years. I have been known to move from loving one thing to another, I hope this isn't the case with poi (please!!!).
Like at school, in my year/class/form/grade it is the big thing at the moment. Me and my friend really kicked it off, but its good. And we can use the school Jembe drums as well!!!
My spew,
luv 2 ya all
Lyd's:p

Neo:Wow, that sounds like a really good deal, but I have a better one. How about I give you the finger and you give me my phone call?

CharlesBRONZE Member
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Posted:
It's already gone through that phase in New Zealand.

Due to the visual effect both standard poi and fire has on people, there are little resurgent fads that happen at schools and universoties all the time.

I've never really counted the 900 or so people just starting out as fire-dancers unless they have been doing it for a long time already as it always drop off.

What is left is us!

yay us!

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flash fireBRONZE Member
Sporadically Prodigal
2,758 posts
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia

Posted:
I have strong feelings about this topic. I taught myself firespinning back in 1996/97 and have watch the onslaught of faddism.... I have never been into poi, because its just not my thing and because every man and his 3 legged dog are doing it.

I'm one of those people who are dilluded and like to think they can be and do things that are unique. When I see a bunch of people picking up my passion just cos all their friends are doing it, it makes me mad! The population of firespinners and poipeople in Australia is vast, as is the spread of talent. Respect to the people who do it well and, in my view, for the right reasons. To all those just doing it cos its the thing to do - please hurry up and get over it! Our audiences are being saturated by poorly presented performances and something I consider majikal and somewhat spiritual is being bastardised by commercialism.

At a big festival this year, every second person had a set of poi. It made me pleased that I had remained true to myself and my trusty double staves and not become one of the masses..... It was so bad that one of my crew felt almost so ashamed to be a poier (and one of excellent talent at that) that she barely even used hers during the entire 3 days.

I guess it comes down to what compells an individual to do fire/poi. I personally have always done it for myself and to share the mystical energy firedancing creates with any people enganged in the experience - audience or otherwise.

I really regret the fad phase of something that was so unique and special. To be honest, it really bugs me to see so many people doing it.

Call me selfish, call me territorial... It's the bare bones of how I feel in the matter.

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Bender_the_OffenderGOLD Member
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted:
Poi's like a box of chocolates,
....ya shouldn't care what people think you look like when you've had too much!
horribly lame analogies aside, it's nice that firetwirling still has a good name. To be sure it may not last, but it's nice. Even if it's passe this time next week (e.g. Westlife feature it on a music video, or there is footage of someone clubbing a seal with a firestaff while fire breathing on one of those non-biodegradable burger boxes, wrapping some beaming poi on an orphan's neck..apears on the 6 O'clock news) we will already not care about 'the outside world' (and 'all' of their definitions of what 'unbathed' means) cus we have our gatherings, our adrenaline, and our groovy new mates from it!!!

we'll always have plaster of paris!!
/crushes soapbox against eye in show of fire unity and beercan trickbusting.
..that hurt not a little...

Laugh Often, Smile Much, Post lolcats Always

PeleBRONZE Member
the henna lady
6,193 posts
Location: WNY, USA

Posted:
I have been on this board a looooooong time through many incarnations and this came up as a question a few years ago, and again last year...if that helps give any indication.

If you read through past posts, tell me how many names do you recognise? When was the last date they were on here? I could rattle off the names of at least 100 people who started on this phase and "loved it" and "couldn't imagine doing anything else" who no longer spin because they became bored. It's a slow growing fad in the fire aspect because it is difficult to get into properly and safely, it has that on it's side for holding back the masses. However, this is one of those things that will always be around in some dark corner, then everyone will be doing it, then it will die again until someone thinks it looks cool. I don't think it is anything to be ashamed of, especially if you do it with skill. Most fadders will not invest the time it takes to become really adept at something, which is why it becomes boring. Glowstix are dieing in their fad now too. They aren't plastered everywhere. The new things are simply moving back in, and old things are being recycled. Just keep plugging along and it'll eventually fade. Question is...will you fade with it?

[waving to Flash Fire...Hey there Hun! How they hanging? ]

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

Raymund Phule (Fireproof)Enter a "Title" here:
2,905 posts
Location: San Diego California

Posted:
Out of curiosity Flash Fire, what are the right reasons? Me I was introduced to this by a friend that was spinning glowsticks in a club in Guam. I was like hey how you do that? To make a long story short got a lot of bruses from glowsticks and about 7 - 8 months later I am spinning fire and loving it.

Some Jarhead last night: "this dumb a$$ thinks hes fireproof"

dromepixieveteran
1,463 posts
Location: Florida

Posted:
Well...

Being 'new' to poi I dont know if I'll ever have the time to develop my skills as I am one of those people who is (usually) busy busy busy...
I've been doing poi for 2 years. I have to admit I was one of those people who spun in clubs fucked of their heads doing very little in the way of tricks but just thinking

'OH they look so pretty'

I've been spinning seriously for about 5 months...
I realized about 5 months ago that it actually gets more complicated and involves: moves with names, physics, dicipline, and lots of practice...
I was actually very happy to find out that it wasnt just some random thing people did whilst fucked up...

In saying this most people who drop it (I guess) cant be fucked to get into the REAL art or never knew it was an art as such... Thats why it passes I think...

But to be honest I think those who hold it in their hearts as something which is part of them, their life, etc... will never drop the art!
Dont worry about those who do drop it, maybe they werent meant to do it in the first place?!

ciao people, love, drome

JUGGLEwithyourmind!

SmokyDavySILVER Member
Do my poi look too small in this?
394 posts
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Posted:
Can't be bothered with theoretical demographics, it'll most likely work on a person to person basis, city to city.

I don't know how long it'll hold my attention, let alone the world's...
MikeGinnyGOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA

Posted:
Maybe it's a passing trend, maybe not. Maybe I'm just another bandwagon-jumper who will one day sit around and say that "I used to do that" or maybe not.

But I have bigger and better things to worry about right now...like how to do this friggin BTB butterfly.

-Mike

Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella



A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura

DioHoP Mechanical Engineer
729 posts
Location: OK, USA

Posted:
Right reasons? Well hey, I do it because when you're there with the fire around, nothing else matters, no matter how bad your day went or whatever's stressing you out... it's a release. It's 100% for ME. Sure it may look cool, inspire others, freak out the squeamish and impress the ladies, but that's not what it's really about, to me at least. Of course, what originally drew me to the art was seeing it in a demo and thinking "hey, this looks cool and maybe I could try it."

Good notice on the difficulty holding back the masses, but that also generates another question in my mind involving the ethics of teaching - Say some stereotypical trendy person sees you and wants to learn a few tricks. You are almost POSITIVE he's going to stop once he learns a 3-beat weave, run home to show his friends his new "hardcore/extreme" hobby that he's now a sudden expert at, and it'll take off from there and get completely devalued. Should you teach him some basics on the spot or should you politely keep it a more private art?

There's that double-edged sword I guess - on the one hand, you're doing something that is certain to draw attention and inspire others to pursue firedance, but on the other hand you might be contributing to the trivialization of the art by giving away its secrets.

I think maybe that's why martial arts have several varying degrees of rank, and only teach certain skills at certain ranks so a student must display the necessary devotion to learn the secrets of the discipline... I dunno, maybe I'm just paranoid but right now I'm dealing with the question of training a friend of mine who I'm not sure will do good things with firedance. What do you guys think?

What hits the fan is not evenly distributed.

MikeGinnyGOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA

Posted:
quote:
Originally posted by Brody:
Right reasons? Well hey, I do it because when you're there with the fire around, nothing else matters, no matter how bad your day went or whatever's stressing you out... it's a release.


but on the other hand you might be contributing to the trivialization of the art by giving away its secrets.

I think maybe that's why martial arts have several varying degrees of rank, and only teach certain skills at certain ranks so a student must display the necessary devotion to learn the secrets of the discipline... I dunno, maybe I'm just paranoid but right now I'm dealing with the question of training a friend of mine who I'm not sure will do good things with firedance. What do you guys think?
But poi isn't martial arts. It's fun, yeah, but it's not a religion. If we look at its roots, it was done for a number of reasons, but in and of itself, there was never that much spirituality assigned to it. It's not like yoga or karate.

Don't get me wrong; I'm not scolding you, but I am asking you (not telling you) if you feel that spinning is a "funkier than thou" contest.

-Mike

Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella



A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura

Fwirl :pmember
76 posts
Location: Wellington, NZ

Posted:
I have come across the "giving away the poi secrets" thing. AT school, 2 friends and I were learning to do fire dancing for a festival at school. We have now got a reputation as being addicted (so I never really do it so muich at school)and we have taught a few people how to do it. SO, other people from school now find poi far more boring and just want to have ago themselves. I want the skill to be (at least) quite mainly one of the things I am extremely good at and you can watch (to some extent). Oh, that sounds bad, is it?
The 2 friends and I now all know the same moves basically which is boring!! How can we perform if we all know the same stuff? Is it good? For me at least (I'm working through getting over this) one of the friends mainly gets moves slightly quicker then me sometimes, and I can get jealous. How can all 3 of us brake out of being all the same?

AM I more likely to lose interest fast because I can pick up moves faster then alot of people?

Shit that was long! Oops...
Luv 2 Ya All
Fwirl

Neo:Wow, that sounds like a really good deal, but I have a better one. How about I give you the finger and you give me my phone call?

SmokyDavySILVER Member
Do my poi look too small in this?
394 posts
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Posted:
I give all my moves away freely..

To me, 9/10ths of the fun is creating new moves. I'm "inventing" new moves all the time, and frankly, it would be impossible for anyone to catch up with me completely. Even if they caught up, they wouldn't be as smooth, and they wouldn't have my skill with staff or double staff.

There is 1 element that I am wary of. People who don't enjoy or are not able to make new moves, lack of the creative energies. I don't teach them *my* moves, and infact, I attempt to teach them moves that I don't do myself.

Perhaps its easy for me to do that since I'm coming from London, where there's a million and a half moves to steal, but either way. I don't want everyone using the same moves as me.. Not because I am guarded, but because it totally kills the creative atmosphere.

In many cases, I teach myself new moves just so I can teach it to people.
DioHoP Mechanical Engineer
729 posts
Location: OK, USA

Posted:
My bad guys, I wasn't saying poi is martial arts, just comparing the two cuz martial arts is something you cannot do unless you have the passion for it, and the discipline ensures that by making it a process learned in stages... not opening up the doors to learn every technique or secret from day 1. Anyway, not ranting or anything, just offering a comparison.

I hate to use the expression "keepin' it real" but it kinda fits here I think Like what Flash said, perhaps I'm just territorial too, but the idea of seeing something close to me, that helps to define me as a person, become something completely unappreciated and "been there, done that".... worries me.

It's nice to hear different voices on the issue, esp from places where it's already come and passed, so we can see many sides. Am I obligated to pass on knowledge, just for the sake of spreading the art form? Or should knowledge be held back until a student's motivation is established? Heavy question.

Ahhh, the trials and tribulations of being a teacher

What hits the fan is not evenly distributed.

KyrianDreamer
4,308 posts
Location: York, England

Posted:
well, perhaps i'm especially weird. i didn't really get into it through fire or glow, as it happens. (didn't see glow done for ages, actually.)

i mean, i saw fire first. and i said "wow, that's so cool." par for course. i did actually go up to speak to the guy afterwards, and he did tell me it wasn't that hard to do and that all i needed to do was practice. but i never belive stuff like that, i mean, god, fire? it was wicked cool. i didn't think about what he said again for awhile though.

it just happened, later that night, a boy was trying to learn the weave with someone's tennis ball poi ... and suddenly after a few hours i foudn myself really intrigued. "that looks really cool... relaxing... i wish i could do that..... he's insane though.. has to have hit himself in the nuts about a million times... that looks really fun..." anyhow, being shy as i was that night (and a tad distracted) i never did say anything at the time, but i was talking later in the week to none other than Whiffle Squeek, and the subject of the guy learning the weave at that party came up.... i complained of my lack of coordination (no joke, my coordination sucks !) and he said, and i quote "You don't need any coordination to do poi. Just lots of patience and a high tolerance for pain." that was about it. and i love it, no matter how good or bad i am. even if i could never do fire again, i'd do it just because.... i love it.

i mean, i know by all accounts i'm just some random newbie, and i do seem to be neglecting my poi for staff a lot lately. but.... eh. i enjoy it.

my random anecdote.

Keep your dream alive
Dreamin is still how the strong survive

Shalom VeAhavah

New Hampshire has a point....

KyrianDreamer
4,308 posts
Location: York, England

Posted:
lol @ ur sig brody!

Keep your dream alive
Dreamin is still how the strong survive

Shalom VeAhavah

New Hampshire has a point....

Kendermember
33 posts
Location: Springfield, MO. USA

Posted:
I was flipping thru the chanels today, just lookin ta see whats on, and low & behold I saw spinners. You would think that that would make me happy, but it was on Oprah and she had Cher on the show singing and she had some spinners in the background. It made me kinda depressed to see these people cuz they really werent doing it for the love, they were just up there doing "eyecandy".Unfortunately, I have to say that unless your truly dedicated to poi, staff or any other fire implement, its going to pass as a "fad'. Im fairly new to spinning myself (not quite a year yet), but I can honestly say that I will spin from now on. I havent found anything that relax's & frustrates me at the same time as spinning does.

-= Kender =-
------------------
TheBovrilMonkeySILVER Member
Liquid Cow
2,629 posts
Location: High Wycombe, England

Posted:
the first time I saw someone spin was on holiday at the end of august last year and I just thought 'Wow. That is tres amazing, I'm going to have to learn how to do that'. I found out what it was called and ordered a set of firepoi from here the next day.

I was expecting it to end up like a fair number of my hobbies (like juggling and diabolo) - interesting for a couple of months and then nothing. The fact that I'm still spinning now, even after a gap because I broke my wrist, tells me that I'm not likely to be getting bored or giving up any time soon.

I'm still not really any good, but that doesn't matter - I don't spin so people can tell me how good I am (although it's a huge confidence booster ), I spin because I enjoy it.

But there's no sense crying over every mistake. You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.

TwirlyVicnorthern monkey
235 posts

Posted:
i knw it will become a fad with me because i'm that type of person (looks in cupboard, sees ten different stles of dance shoe,three pairs of ice skates, six juggling clubs, tons of ball, one unicycle, astro-fecking-jax,three types of guitar, bongos, flute, badminton raquet etc)

but the thing is all of the above, i worked damned hard to be good at and i enjoyed the challenge. As long as spinning continues to be challenging for me, then i'll continue. At least i can look at all of my "projects" and be proud.

Out of my ten styles of dance shoes, four of those pairs danced at world championships, my ice skates were at the nationals, i've taught others with my clubs, balls and unicycle and accompianied them on my musical instruments.

actually screw it, i'm not going to lament fads, i'm going to celebrate them.how the hell else could i have learnt so much in my 18 years??

hee hee happy thoughts now!

vic xx

p.s. re: poiers at festivals, i was very very proud to be a staffer at glastos!!

ex-hop-aholic, now inconsistent lurker...

MikeGinnyGOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA

Posted:
vic has a good point. What fun is life if you aren't off trying new things?

I agree, I won't teach someone to spin if they just want to learn two moves so that they can get chicks. I want to be sure that people actually want to learn to be decent at it.

I don't care what for, but I'm not going to let some jerk waste my time because he just wants to be able to do a two-beat weave so that he can think of himself as being "badass."

But I think that's understandable. I have limited time.

-Mike

Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella



A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura

Raymund Phule (Fireproof)Enter a "Title" here:
2,905 posts
Location: San Diego California

Posted:
I just had the most kick ass spin ever as of right now I wont stop spinnin till I am worm food!!!

Some Jarhead last night: "this dumb a$$ thinks hes fireproof"

Kyromember
24 posts
Location: Portland, OR USA

Posted:
Fad?

Okay back in the day of Rubics Cube, I got it down to 1 min & 22 sec. I practiced solving that darn puzzle over and over again, wearing out the plastic color stickers that formed the solid sides.

Today, I can still solve it - takes me a lil' less than 3 minutes...but I still play with the cube often and practice just 'cause I luv it still.

I plan on being around, spinning fire even tho it's no longer cool to do so.

From the most primitive cultures to the most advanced civilizations,man has had to manufacture things;his well-being depends on his success at production.The lowest human tribe cannot survive without that alleged source of pollution: fire. Ayn Rand

Paddyback from the dead...sort of
884 posts
Location: 43°41'N 79°38'W

Posted:
A couple of randoms thoughts here. I'm not trying to make any point, just firing off what I think when I read the thread.

- I don't think there are right/wrong reasons to start an activity. What other reasons are there to start apart from thinking that the activity in question looks fun and interesting, and then wanting to try something that is fun, interesting, and new to you? Whether you started before or during the fad, what other reasons can you claim to have?

- How exactly do you draw the line between doing it "for the love" and not? The people spinning poi on Oprah may have been used as eye candy by the show producers, but that does not mean they don't do poi because they enjoy it...none of them would have started poi with the ambition of being on TV. If they're good enough to be on TV, they've obviously practiced a load on their own time, gone through all the struggles we have, and they would have done that for nothing other the love of the activity. Does doing something "for the love of it" mean you have to do it in isolation to prove that you have no other reason for doing it? Is "the love" invalidated otherwise?

- Once a fad passes, you might think it's shameful to be considered "one of those" who joined the fad, but think about this...if you saw a couple of swing dancers who were fantastic dancers, loved to do what they do and practice all the time, would you really hold it against them that loads of people did the same thing a few years ago (as was already mentioned)?

- When an activity you do becomes a fad, why would you be ashamed? If one is worried about looking like a follower, does that person's skill not make it obvious that he/she had been doing the activity for a long time? If one is worried about no longer feeling special, you've got a bit more of a point, but doesn't one want to have more of a basis for feeling special than doing an unheard of activity? If one does it because one loves the activity, that person wouldn't care if others started.

- Remember that there are people who gave up activities after two weeks before the activity becomes a fad as well as people who give up after two weeks once the activity is a fad, and the two are no different. I don't think anyone can be truly be called a follower of a fad because everyone is at some point introduced to any activity they do, and the time at which that happens is random. To penalize people for not being introduced earlier is unfair.

-Imagine this (related to above point)...everyone in the world is introduced to poi at the same time. Say half are interested in learning, and say that after two weeks, half of those stop. Another month, and another half stop. Another year, and just a few people are going at it. The point of this is just to illustrate that if you take away the factor of some people being introduced before others, it becomes obvious that the fact the half the world did it some point doesn't matter one bit.


Please excuse me any of these thoughts have any "tone", I'm just trying to make some random points and sometimes its hard to write argumentative stuff in a manner that won't get misinterpreted somehow. Fwirl espcially...I didn't mean to offend or put down your view in any way. Just trying to offer a different perspective.

Cripes, that got long quick, please excuse the space hogged by me.

//Edit because I was jumping all over the place while writing this and forgot to finish a few sentences.

[ 15 July 2002, 12:09: Message edited by: Paddy ]
DioHoP Mechanical Engineer
729 posts
Location: OK, USA

Posted:
An excellent set of reflections, Paddy. Thought-provoking, to say the least... I really agreed with the "spinners on Oprah" example, but I wasn't really suggesting that those who perform for major gigs are in any way casual about their passion for the art, and they have DEFINITELY worked hard to become adept. Being famous does not amount to selling out, in other words

The one point I do disagree slightly on is the one about your skill being able to distinguish someone with passion for the art from someone who's just doing it to be hip. I believe Faddism (is that a word?) ends up trivializing an achievement, because even though you can do something highly intricate and difficult, when everyone else does something similar (albeit simpler) you cease to be unique and become someone who's just better at the trend. And then an anachronism, once the trend passes and you're still in it. Going back to your comment on practicing in isolation, I don't think one has to do that to prove their love for something, but after it's come and gone that's all they're left with, essentially. The few others who stuck with it to the end might be able to practice together, share time and effort with each other, but there's nobody new to teach to or no interest to generate because everyone's tapped it out as far as they'd like.

I plan to spin for a long long time, whether there's a thousand awestruck spectators there, or just my safety holding the fire extinguisher. But I'd like to think I won't have to see something I love become a pop culture relic and lose any chance of introducing it to others. Hahaha... avoid teaching others to keep it from being taught to too many others? I am dizzying myself Anyway, food for thought but I'm certainly not trying to be vehement about the subject.

What hits the fan is not evenly distributed.

KyrianDreamer
4,308 posts
Location: York, England

Posted:
quote:
I don't think there are right/wrong reasons to start an activity. What other reasons are there to start apart from thinking that the activity in question looks fun and interesting, and then wanting to try something that is fun, interesting, and new to you? Whether you started before or during the fad, what other reasons can you claim to have?
beautiful paddy. i wish i was this articulate.

Keep your dream alive
Dreamin is still how the strong survive

Shalom VeAhavah

New Hampshire has a point....

CharlesBRONZE Member
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Posted:
DO I DARE....?

Do I DARE OPEN MY HEART TO THE BOARD...?

WILL I BE CAST OUT AND TRAMPLED...???

Oh well, here goes.

I do firestaff for money! Sure it's a hobby, and I fell in love with it long before I started earning, but right now, at this point in time. I do it for the money and the joy of knowing I have entertained people.

There's a few people around Auckland who think I spend too much time doing "simple" stuff like burnoffs and between the legs moves and going really fast, but making it impressive to the crowd is half of the thrill for me.

I would say almost all of my practice sessions would be in the middle of town with my hat out...

Sure, I like to practice the harder stuff without fire in a park or something, but no-way am I going to "spin behind the bikesheds".

I like to have people watching so I can tell what is impressive to them and what's not. I then weigh up the difficulty of a move with the reaction it gets and use that to decide what to focus on.

I like to think I'm not too bad at firestaff, but there are definitely tons of people much much better than me.

So, I do it for the public, for the money and for the buzz I get from entertaining and helping people to enjoy themselves...

Does that make me a bad person?

HoP Posting Guidelines
* Is it the Truth?
* Is it Fair to all concerned?
* Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?
* Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?

KyrianDreamer
4,308 posts
Location: York, England

Posted:
imo, no.

but let the festiveties begin.

Keep your dream alive
Dreamin is still how the strong survive

Shalom VeAhavah

New Hampshire has a point....

PeleBRONZE Member
the henna lady
6,193 posts
Location: WNY, USA

Posted:
If that makes you a bad person, then I am right next to you being bad! (Oh that sounds like fun now doesn't it? )
Amen, well said and hallelujah Charles!

To be straight forward, in the end, the fading aspect of fad is good for people like Charles and I. The less available it is, the more money we make! Yet when it is a high point fad does it bother me? Sometimes, a little bit, but only because people get so cocky and forget about etiquette in the face of competition. But overall, no. I have been performing for a long time. I know crowds and am still learning them, working with them, relishing in them. That right there will allow me to keep up what I do, what I love to do, and to get paid for it long after the fads have faded.

I see nothing wrong with getting paid for what you love Charles. Isn't that what most people strive to do and never get to? In that respect, we are the lucky ones.
Do I think anyone can be a performer? No. For the reasons Charles mentioned. You have to be there for the audience more than for yourself sometimes, and you have to adjust your desires to fit what the audience wants, which leaves out the risky moves that are only fire in circles to the laymen. The only thing that really gets me about fadders in this respect is that many, not all, see this as a quick way to make money, without regard to the planning, effort, sweat and blood the "pro's" invest. It just seems ignorant or disrespectful to me, I just can't make up my mind which! However, I still get gigs and make money so I can not complain.

Woah Charles, you opened the flood gates!

I'll shut up now!

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

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