So, been working on spinning for awhile. Just bought my first pair of fire poi a month ago. I am not ready, I am not. I have control, but I need more practice. Also, have a mentor who travels, so I'll burn when they are available. BUT, for conversation's sake. When did everyone think/know they were ready to burn?
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Nebraska
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Re: Ready to burn?
Wed, June 18, 2008 - 8:04 PMTime wise? I think it was 6 months before I tried fire for the first time. Mentally? You need to feel safe and confident in trying it. There is no such thing as over-preparing your safety gear and procedures for the first burn. So definitely have someone there to help watch your back.
Personally, I feel a person needs to be fluent in whatever move they are going to try. If doing a 5bt weave is not almost automatic with practice poi, then they should not light up. The thing is that your brain will be distracted by the sight and sound of the fire. Your adrenaline will already be up and its hard to be as smooth as you normally would. So if you are not able to do a behind the back move without concentrating intensely, imagine doing it while reading a book. Its distracting and you are more likely to bang into yourself.
Admitedly, Im a cautious fellow. I know that a few folks would learn a move then light up shortly afterwards in eagerness. But don't let me discourage you. Its exciting and fun to spin fire for the first time (and every time afterwards), so I wish you well with it. :) -
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Re: Ready to burn?
Thu, June 19, 2008 - 8:14 AMHey thanks for weighing in. I will be honest and say that right now I would be terrified to light up. And something about being terrified and whirling fire doesn't sit well with me. I need to be more comfortable. I more of a movement oriented person, not just a tricks person, so it's less about how cool each move looks while lit, but how well I can tap the flow while I'm moving. Perhaps once I am feeling comfy with that I will think about it. Once again, not until my mentor is availble to get me started (plus proper safety and all that). Whew, but glad to know that It's not unusual to be nervous about trying it. -
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Re: Ready to burn?
Thu, June 19, 2008 - 5:59 PMhonestly, I would be more afraid if you weren't nervous. People who get too comfortable get careless and thats when the chance of an accident increases. You shouldn't be ALWAYS terrified. That's not good because being on edge shouldn't be what you want. But respect the danger inherent in this pasttime. :) -
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Re: Ready to burn?
Fri, June 20, 2008 - 5:25 AMWell yeah, no one wants to watch a performer who's face says, Oh my god, I'm going to kill myself with these, the entire time they're spinning.
You know what I love about this pasttime? There are total options. Don't want to spin fire? Don't have to, have some socks, or some LED poi and you're good to go. Really want to play with fire, get some kevlar wicks, you know? It's totally kinda cool. I just wish I had found it much, much sooner. lol! -
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Re: Ready to burn?
Sun, June 22, 2008 - 7:17 PMI don't spin poi, I use staff.
However, with me, the whole feeling of "I'm not ready" never really went away until I finally lit up.
The first couple times I didn't really do anything except spin the staff in front of me, just getting used to the sight and sound of the fire, becoming comfortable with it so close to me.
Then I started trying some of the tricks I had first learned, and got more comfortable as the staff returned to my hand (I do contact) and I was still alive and not on fire.
I even panicked a little the first couple times the wicks touched me, sure to death that I was on fire and I was going to get burned.
Then I slowly realized that unless it is in the first couple minutes while the wicks are still saturated it wouldn't really leave fire on me lest my clothing caught.
Then I realized that the wicks merely touching me were not going to instantly burn me.
So it really took several times spinning to get comfortable enough to work with more advanced tricks, to this day I am still nervous about doing new things, but have realized the only way for me to get past the nervousness is to just do it, if I succeed then great, I know I can do it. If I fail, then I find out why and usually the consequences are not nearly as dramatic as I first thought them to be as long as I work safely. -
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Re: Ready to burn?
Tue, June 24, 2008 - 4:33 PMexcellent advice. I have to admit, Im still building up my confidence to buy a fire staff and light it.
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Re: Ready to burn?
Fri, August 15, 2008 - 7:09 AMOkay, am dying to try my first burn. So...saftey procedures. I have two spotters, who are both trained in how to tell me if I am on fire, and how to approach me if I haven't put myself out in 3 seconds. I am intending on wearing denim pants and a cotton top. 100% cotton top. Will pull hair up and back and wet it down thoroughly before putting a 100% cotton headwrap on, which will also be soaked down. Each spotter will have soaked towels waiting. I have a space marked out, and a fuel depot idea in place (just need to get the items for it). Fuel depot is set 15 feet away from the actual spinning space...
Any of you who have already burned have any more suggestions for me, can see something I've missed. I totally wish I had someone who has done a burn before here, but don't know of anyone.
