Forums > Social Chat > Poi: A Passing Trend?
Login/Join to ParticipateHoP Mechanical Engineer
729 posts
Location: OK, USA
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?
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.
SILVER Member
Liquid Cow
2,629 posts
Location: High Wycombe, England
Liquid Cow
2,629 posts
Location: High Wycombe, England
Posted:
If you choose to specialise in (even very simple) moves that make you a better performer, then fair enough - there's no point throwing out really complex moves just because you can, especially if the crowd enjoys the simpler moves more.
quote:Hell no, you've invested plenty of time and effort in learning to spin and getting good enough to perform, what you chose to do with those skills is entirely up to you.
Originally posted by Charles (INFERNO):
I do firestaff for money!
...snip....
Does that make me a bad person?
If you choose to specialise in (even very simple) moves that make you a better performer, then fair enough - there's no point throwing out really complex moves just because you can, especially if the crowd enjoys the simpler moves more.
But there's no sense crying over every mistake. You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.
back from the dead...sort of
884 posts
Location: 43°41'N 79°38'W
884 posts
Location: 43°41'N 79°38'W
Posted:
quote:Very, very true. Everything I wrote is theoetical in a way...it shouldn't matter if everyone else does it or not, and I try to live by that, but deep down I really want poi to stay low key and out of the eye of the fickle masses. But then again I only started spinning in december...perhaps I am one of them? Time will tell I guess.
Originally posted by Brody:
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.
HoP Mechanical Engineer
729 posts
Location: OK, USA
729 posts
Location: OK, USA
Posted:
Hehehe you know what's kind of scary... I saw someone spinning fire (with no safety, mind you) dressed completely in expensive, preppy Abercrombie & Fitch clothing and $300 Oakley sunglasses, knocking himself silly with the poi but feeling like a total badass afterwards and rushing off to tell his fraternity brothers all about it. Does something like that raise any other eyebrows? Aside from the obvious questions about his clothing budget That's what started this whole thread for me, actually.
Brings to mind a line from Fight Club - "Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken."
And also, to anyone who teaches - STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY!
Hehehe you know what's kind of scary... I saw someone spinning fire (with no safety, mind you) dressed completely in expensive, preppy Abercrombie & Fitch clothing and $300 Oakley sunglasses, knocking himself silly with the poi but feeling like a total badass afterwards and rushing off to tell his fraternity brothers all about it. Does something like that raise any other eyebrows? Aside from the obvious questions about his clothing budget That's what started this whole thread for me, actually.
Brings to mind a line from Fight Club - "Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken."
And also, to anyone who teaches - STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY!
What hits the fan is not evenly distributed.
member
18 posts
Location: U.K. London
18 posts
Location: U.K. London
Posted:
well if poi is a passing trend i have been passing it for the last 5 odd years. i may be new here but there is no blood in my veins just 100% fuel. i first started with wood balls with cord and u nails.
There may be loads of new people poi'ing but with may things fresh eyes see new things.
myself i can't wait too see wot new and mad things ppl will come up with.(hell i have heard of a set of laser poi)
now would they be cool or wot 10 times better then leds and 100 times better then glow sticks
So bring on the new just dont throw out the old
well if poi is a passing trend i have been passing it for the last 5 odd years. i may be new here but there is no blood in my veins just 100% fuel. i first started with wood balls with cord and u nails.
There may be loads of new people poi'ing but with may things fresh eyes see new things.
myself i can't wait too see wot new and mad things ppl will come up with.(hell i have heard of a set of laser poi)
now would they be cool or wot 10 times better then leds and 100 times better then glow sticks
So bring on the new just dont throw out the old
fire fire in the sky behind the back........oops now i die ahhhhhahhhhahhhahhhhh!!!!! Its not sick if you love it.
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,638 posts
Location: Brum / Dorset / Fairy Land
3,638 posts
Location: Brum / Dorset / Fairy Land
Posted:
I have enjoyed reading Paddy's replies. Thanks fo the refreshing points of view. They echo mine entirely so I won't go into my arguments
I have enjoyed reading Paddy's replies. Thanks fo the refreshing points of view. They echo mine entirely so I won't go into my arguments
Geologists do it in the dirt................ 
GOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posted:
But being a fire spinner means that you spin fire. Being a good fire spinner means that you know what the hell you're doing. Being a model fire spinner means that you are safe about it.
Other than that...I assign no preconceptions to the meaning of spinning fire.
quote:I guess it goes back to the old thread about stereotypes of fire spinners. Yeah, a lot of us definitely have an off-mainstream edge to us, and a lot of us lean to the left.
Originally posted by Brody:
Hehehe you know what's kind of scary... I saw someone spinning fire (with no safety, mind you) dressed completely in expensive, preppy Abercrombie & Fitch clothing and $300 Oakley sunglasses, knocking himself silly with the poi but feeling like a total badass afterwards and rushing off to tell his fraternity brothers all about it. Does something like that raise any other eyebrows?
But being a fire spinner means that you spin fire. Being a good fire spinner means that you know what the hell you're doing. Being a model fire spinner means that you are safe about it.
Other than that...I assign no preconceptions to the meaning of spinning fire.
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
GOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posted:
Ok, so I had a thought. Hurt, too...
My roommate is a juggler. I think that poi and staff will probably go the way of juggling. I don't think it's ever going to disappear. What will happen is that eventually Western audiences will no longer think of it as a novelty, but they'll still be entertained by it and spinners will always be a relatively rare breed.
And there are people who juggle clubs and people who juggle fire. Same with poi. Some people just don't do fire and don't necessarily want to.
But poi never go away completely. It's too cool to do that.
Ok, so I had a thought. Hurt, too...
My roommate is a juggler. I think that poi and staff will probably go the way of juggling. I don't think it's ever going to disappear. What will happen is that eventually Western audiences will no longer think of it as a novelty, but they'll still be entertained by it and spinners will always be a relatively rare breed.
And there are people who juggle clubs and people who juggle fire. Same with poi. Some people just don't do fire and don't necessarily want to.
But poi never go away completely. It's too cool to do that.
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
member
76 posts
Location: Wellington, NZ
76 posts
Location: Wellington, NZ
Posted:
Food for thought alright!
Paddy-I'm not annoyed with you, more impressed. dam good speech!
Charles-I don't think your bad, thats cool.
You guys have made me think.
I AM going to relax, let anyone twirl! As long as they love what they are doing, kick some arse!
I'm quite scared that it will just be a trend for me so I am becoming selfish with it. Dam girl, be a hippy and relax out! Need to go do one of those relax all the muscles in your body things, they are good. I have room for alot of personal growth.
-Off topic.
So, I'm gonna go think out my life! . Its good, try it. Read some of those brilliant personal growth books!!!
Luv
Fwirl:P
Food for thought alright!
Paddy-I'm not annoyed with you, more impressed. dam good speech!
Charles-I don't think your bad, thats cool.
You guys have made me think.
I AM going to relax, let anyone twirl! As long as they love what they are doing, kick some arse!
I'm quite scared that it will just be a trend for me so I am becoming selfish with it. Dam girl, be a hippy and relax out! Need to go do one of those relax all the muscles in your body things, they are good. I have room for alot of personal growth.
-Off topic.
So, I'm gonna go think out my life! . Its good, try it. Read some of those brilliant personal growth books!!!
Luv
Fwirl: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?
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:
Those personal growth books are brilliant!
I read one last night and now I've got three new growths on my arm and one on the side of my nose...
Those personal growth books are brilliant!
I read one last night and now I've got three new growths on my arm and one on the side of my nose...
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journeyman
92 posts
Location: tell me when you find me
92 posts
Location: tell me when you find me
Posted:
Well as usual by the time i get time to read a post it is out of date and pretty much covered the topic but here's my 2c.
Teaching LOTS of people has implications that worry me, like copy cats, accidents, idiots, sustaining a fad and so on. BUT one thing I have learned is that like the old cliche "you can lead a horse to water but cannot make it drink", only the truly inspired will ever get anything out of the art, most others have too short an attentionspan and drop it eventually.
I had this amazing student about 3 years back, she was so talented, taught her all I knew and she had sooooooo much potential to earn money doing this shit, I fully wanted her to join fwdco, but even tho she was amazing, her heart wasnt in it and she just let it go. Such a tragedy!
But from hiphop gangsta kids to med students at uni, everyone wants to have a go. Actually getting into it for them is a far, far greater step, which few people take. ( just us psychos)
I'd not worry too much folks...fire spinning has been around far longer than me or any of you and like all things enjoys surges in popularity...then in a few years, no one cares anymore. Then suddenly someone remembers and starts it all up again...then eventually no one cares....it's a cycle.
I dont think fire will ever be mainstream cos there is too much freak element involved...something I forgot until I put myself in the shoes of a nonspinner and realised how goddamn dangerous and crazy it all looks. It's not safe and clean and pretty enough to enjoy mainstream success..we hope. I feel the role of fire will always be the freak show...thats fine with me. It never feels nice to see masses of other people exploring what you use to express and identify yourself...
Well as usual by the time i get time to read a post it is out of date and pretty much covered the topic but here's my 2c.
Teaching LOTS of people has implications that worry me, like copy cats, accidents, idiots, sustaining a fad and so on. BUT one thing I have learned is that like the old cliche "you can lead a horse to water but cannot make it drink", only the truly inspired will ever get anything out of the art, most others have too short an attentionspan and drop it eventually.
I had this amazing student about 3 years back, she was so talented, taught her all I knew and she had sooooooo much potential to earn money doing this shit, I fully wanted her to join fwdco, but even tho she was amazing, her heart wasnt in it and she just let it go. Such a tragedy!
But from hiphop gangsta kids to med students at uni, everyone wants to have a go. Actually getting into it for them is a far, far greater step, which few people take. ( just us psychos)
I'd not worry too much folks...fire spinning has been around far longer than me or any of you and like all things enjoys surges in popularity...then in a few years, no one cares anymore. Then suddenly someone remembers and starts it all up again...then eventually no one cares....it's a cycle.
I dont think fire will ever be mainstream cos there is too much freak element involved...something I forgot until I put myself in the shoes of a nonspinner and realised how goddamn dangerous and crazy it all looks. It's not safe and clean and pretty enough to enjoy mainstream success..we hope. I feel the role of fire will always be the freak show...thats fine with me. It never feels nice to see masses of other people exploring what you use to express and identify yourself...
...Firebreathing? Magic is only part of it my friend, diet does the rest!
GOLD Member
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted:
if i twirled fire for money that is used for stem cell research, would that be a bad thing if the stem cells were culled from black rhinoceros yearlings who were fed Enron and Worldcom share papers shredded by Anderson out of a box made out of a non-biodegradable material as i listened to some E-17? hmmmm? would that make me a monster?...
LIVE to TWIRL!
TWIRL to LIVE!
and never mind the politix.
damn i love firetwirling.
if i twirled fire for money that is used for stem cell research, would that be a bad thing if the stem cells were culled from black rhinoceros yearlings who were fed Enron and Worldcom share papers shredded by Anderson out of a box made out of a non-biodegradable material as i listened to some E-17? hmmmm? would that make me a monster?...
LIVE to TWIRL!
TWIRL to LIVE!
and never mind the politix.
damn i love firetwirling.
Laugh Often, Smile Much, Post lolcats Always
member
61 posts
Location: bristol,uk
61 posts
Location: bristol,uk
Posted:
Isn't this whole poi think taken abit too seriously- arn't you all doing it for fun? you're wasting valuable twirling time arnt you not, complaining about how popular your hobby is. I would like to know if my reasons are good enough to be interested in YOUR art. i find it inspiring to watch all of you that are half decent at poi/fire twirling whatever, are you not proud that people look up to you as interesting pretty damn impressive. Do i have to promise to dedicate the next 2 years to poi and then once i cross the 2 year mark allowed to slag off the next set of beginners(if there are any)- just because people give up within a couple of weeks doesnt mean they gave poi a go because they thought it was cool of different, it might be because its just not for them and they realise that they dont love it enough to take it seroiusly. Most of you seem to talk about this art as being your own and no one elses, but you were beginners once and wouldnt you like to have felt welcome into a new hobby, not like me, having only just become remotely interested in it to come and read this page and now scared that Ill never feel welcome as a beginner whoever i meet. Be glad others want to do it please, and dont worry if the masses end up doing it and it all becomes over comercialised because the spectators will always be able to define a good, practised fire twirler to someone thats doind it to show off, and enjoy it a whole lot more watching you. there will always be a thin line there.
But im not put off poi yet.
Isn't this whole poi think taken abit too seriously- arn't you all doing it for fun? you're wasting valuable twirling time arnt you not, complaining about how popular your hobby is. I would like to know if my reasons are good enough to be interested in YOUR art. i find it inspiring to watch all of you that are half decent at poi/fire twirling whatever, are you not proud that people look up to you as interesting pretty damn impressive. Do i have to promise to dedicate the next 2 years to poi and then once i cross the 2 year mark allowed to slag off the next set of beginners(if there are any)- just because people give up within a couple of weeks doesnt mean they gave poi a go because they thought it was cool of different, it might be because its just not for them and they realise that they dont love it enough to take it seroiusly. Most of you seem to talk about this art as being your own and no one elses, but you were beginners once and wouldnt you like to have felt welcome into a new hobby, not like me, having only just become remotely interested in it to come and read this page and now scared that Ill never feel welcome as a beginner whoever i meet. Be glad others want to do it please, and dont worry if the masses end up doing it and it all becomes over comercialised because the spectators will always be able to define a good, practised fire twirler to someone thats doind it to show off, and enjoy it a whole lot more watching you. there will always be a thin line there.
But im not put off poi yet.
Never doubt that a small group of crusties, activists, and politicos can change the world... in fact, it's the only thing that ever does ;-)
back from the dead...sort of
884 posts
Location: 43°41'N 79°38'W
884 posts
Location: 43°41'N 79°38'W
Posted:
Holly, I'm glad you're not put off by all this chat, because you shouldn't be. For as much as people here might say they don't want poi to become too large, nobody would *never* resent one person at all, expecially before they gave it a true shot! If you take a look around this site you'll see that newcomers are genuinely welcome by all. I as well once felt very nervous about being a newbie posting on a board with so many veterans.
Trust me, after a few months you'll develop the same innocent protectivness for poi that we all have.
Holly, I'm glad you're not put off by all this chat, because you shouldn't be. For as much as people here might say they don't want poi to become too large, nobody would *never* resent one person at all, expecially before they gave it a true shot! If you take a look around this site you'll see that newcomers are genuinely welcome by all. I as well once felt very nervous about being a newbie posting on a board with so many veterans.
Trust me, after a few months you'll develop the same innocent protectivness for poi that we all have.
HoP Mechanical Engineer
729 posts
Location: OK, USA
729 posts
Location: OK, USA
Posted:
Holly, you've really added a valuable new perspective to the discussion here, at least in my opinion And I'm glad you aren't put off by some of us (myself included, at times) being a little bit selfish about fire dancing... like Paddy says, it's an innocent protectiveness - something anyone would develop after applying a lot of time and effort to a hobby or talent.
We certainly love it when a newbie comes up to inquire about our art, techniques, whatever I especially love it when I perform for little kids, they ask a TON of questions!
Holly, you've really added a valuable new perspective to the discussion here, at least in my opinion And I'm glad you aren't put off by some of us (myself included, at times) being a little bit selfish about fire dancing... like Paddy says, it's an innocent protectiveness - something anyone would develop after applying a lot of time and effort to a hobby or talent.
We certainly love it when a newbie comes up to inquire about our art, techniques, whatever I especially love it when I perform for little kids, they ask a TON of questions!
What hits the fan is not evenly distributed.
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