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Pole Pumpkin and Pole Lotta Splits perform at PoleCon 2023

Thank You for Applying to PoleCon!

Thank You for Applying to PoleCon! Goodbye.

Showcase selection explained and how to make the best submission for next year.

January has always felt exceptionally long.  For one, everything we had put off until the New Year is not circling back, maybe it’s the weather.  Current events of fires and politics have made the month cause us to want to return our free trial of 2025 and scootch on back to a lovely Brat summer.  For those waiting on their PoleCon Hogwarts letter, the days seemed to drag exceptionally.  Submissions for the 2025 PoleCon opened up in September of 2024 and closed on January 15th.

And then we wait. 

You filled out all the blank spaces and selected the video that made you shine.  This could be your first time trying to get into a showcase, or a once-a-year dice you roll.  Some may have performed before and desperately want to feel that high again.  Maybe you submitted multiple ones to increase your chances, or maybe you’re not 100% sure what experimental is, but you’ll figure it out if you get in. (I was guilty of this with Contemporary) There is a small rush when the Google form screen thank you for your submission and with that it’s up to the curators and the pole universe to decide. This year is your year, you can feel it.

Then, the owls take flight and land in our Gmail accounts with news we’ve been waiting for centuries.  If you pray for an email that says those 4 magic words in the subject line.

“You’re Performing at PoleCon!”

The Instagram stories are starting to trickle in with celebration as people get their golden tickets, and you start doing that nervous habit your mom yells at you about.  You told everyone and yourself, you didn’t care if you got in, it’s whatever but as you wait you realize you do care, and it is not by any means a whatever situation. Then the email notifications ping you back into the present.  You see the line “Thank you for Applying to PoleCon!” and you open it with excitement and read:

“Thank you for applying to perform at PoleCon 2025!You are a wonderful and amazing dancer and unfortunately, you were not chosen to perform at PoleCon 2025 in the Contemporary/Artistic Showcase.

Please note — if you applied to multiple showcases, you will receive an email for each showcase you applied to.

We appreciate you taking the time to share your creativity with us and hope to see you at a future PoleCon event!

PoleCon”

Your shoulders slump and you start to notice the significant lack of air in the room. You hold out hope for the other showcases you applied for but one by one, you get struck with “nice try maybe next year” bullets as your hopes and ego bleed out and there is nothing left but disappointment.  Of course, you’re happy for your friends that got in this year, but this was going to be your year.  You had all reserved your room together and had already been talking about helping each other with makeup and getting ready.  Definitely couldn’t wait to get drinks after! And just like that, life throws you a curveball, and you only have a wet noodle to hit it.   Dealing with rejection of any form will bring out all kinds of emotions in people, and all are valid.  You’re mad, you’re sad, and you feel you aren’t good enough.  You think you are better than some who did get in.  You feel personally attacked or that nefarious choices are being made.  You send angry emails to PoleCon headquarters.  You’re pissed at the curators for being haters.  You are embarrassed you ever bothered.  You suck your teeth at the time you wasted.  And yes, we all feel a little sour grape. Let it out, let it all out, and process.  It’s ok.

Don’t worry. I have reached out to curators and gotten more information directly from them about what they are looking for and why the people who get chosen do. I’ve tried to organize and ask the questions you may have had so that you can better understand the process and have a better chance next year without submissions. Turns out, the devil is in the details.

What Are They Looking for in an Audition? 

“Stage presence, stage presence, stage presence.” – Amy the Pole Comedian, Pole Comedy

Every response I received said the same thing. What gets you noticed is not the degree of difficulty, how many moves you do, or even the technical perfection. This isn’t a pole competition; no one judges and no scores are kept.

“You can have the best-pointed toe in the game, do the same Ayesha as the next person, but still lack the energy and presence which pulls the audience in.” – Dey Pheonix, Men of Pole.  

Stand-out submissions often are from people who look like they are having the best time performing.  They have well-thought-out costumes, good use of props, and energy.  More often than not, you can tell when performers genuinely enjoy themselves and who is just acting like they are.  Whether it’s comedy or experimental, the more genuine and passionate you are in your piece, the more the audience wants to feel the experience with you and be drawn in.  It’s one thing to do a “nice” routine that’s clean and highly technical, but it’s another thing to PERFORM. So go on, give them the ole’ razzle-dazzle.  Be authentic, and the curators will appreciate it and take notice.

Additionally, don’t forget the importance of musicality.

“Music and dance are a language, and one essentially cannot exist without the other in most cases. I’m looking for how you translate the music you’re dancing to with your movement. That includes matching the energy of the song you’re performing too….”

What are your biggest pet peeves in a submission? 

“Using the same application and video tailored to other showcases that are more personally preferred or appropriate for and copying and pasting the same information that speaks to that showcase instead. Don’t do that. It makes me sad. We’re awesome too.” – Alex Shanahan, Experimental Showcase.

Submitting for multiple showcases is ok and increases your chance of being selected.  However, curators want to know why you think you’re right for THEIR showcase.  I will admit I am also guilty of this.  I submit my most recent competition piece every year and hope for the best.  Yes, it’s usually my best, cleanest work. However, my portraying a demon with blood-red tears doing a bird of paradise may be neat, but what does it have to do with, say, Comedy Pole?    Curators want to see the whole vision, or they’re not going to hope by the time you hit the stage, the concept is clear; they’re going to choose the applicant with a well-explained and thought-out description and a body of work that reflects that.

Another noted pet peeve is “Tricks over storytelling.”  For example, an Iron X is very impressive and requires a lot of work to nail.  No one is belittling the effort made in the tricks one executes.  However, every jade split, butterfly, Iron X, etc., looks the same after a while.  What makes yours interesting?  Curators want to see your personality and story executed throughout.  Maybe you hold the wrap skirt you removed earlier in the piece as a flag between your toes in a Russian split.  Get creative, get weird, take chances.  We’re all fantastic, so what makes you unique?

One final note: Make sure the curator can tell it’s YOU in the video. Be mindful when sending videos if they’re from a class and multiple people are in it doing combos or if they’re a group piece but you are submitting a soloist.

“If I can’t tell who you are in the video…literally. A few times, someone uses a group video submission for a solo act. Much like on a dating app, if I don’t know who I’m looking at, then it has to be a no.” – Amy the Pole Comedian, Pole Comedy

PoleCon encourages curators to choose different people every year for their showcase, yet often, the same people are selected for the same showcase multiple years in a row. If you have done this, what brought you to that decision? 

This can be frustrating for many applicants and something that bothered me specifically.  I have not been selected for the same showcase 2 years in a row because I performed in it once before, in 2023.  Yet, I will see people getting into the same showcases every year.  This can quickly be taken personally.  Why them and not me?  Was I not good enough?  Do I not know the right people or the correct secret handshake?  What makes them so unique?  None of us want to be bitter or unhappy for our fellow polers who get in, but what gives?

Well, it’s not always that simple. First of all, it’s never personal. Most curators aim to select new and fresh faces every year and give everyone a fair shot at a turn. Every year, Pole Con posts the percentage of new performers to returners for each showcase, and the majority are always newer than repeats; however, sometimes repeats can’t be helped.

As we know, your video submission is essential. If it lacks energy or relevance or the quality of the video is terrible, you’re already off to a rough start. Curators will choose performers they know are consistent and reliable over taking a chance on someone new with a blurry video and a blank bio. That’s just showbiz, folks. If someone brings value to the stage, it’s always worth it to have them again.

However, other circumstances can affect selection.   

For instance, showcases featuring specific cultures and communities can have fewer applicants, so returning performers are often re-cast simply because of low submission numbers.

“Often, you will find the same folks apply for Men of Pole, while others, of course, apply for other categories (rightfully so if the person does not identify with gender binaries). Although I, myself, express you do not have to be a cisgender male to participate, this can also contribute to the lack of newer faces for this showcase in particular.” – Dey Pheonix, Men of Pole.

The lack of applicants can also result from hopeful performers not understanding the showcase concept and, therefore, shying away from it or completely missing the mark when submitting.  I have shied away from contemporary and experimental because I wasn’t confident; I knew what it was.  Before counting a showcase out, check out the PoleCon YouTube channel and watch past performances from the showcase to see if they make sense to you. You may be pleasantly surprised.  Take a chance and challenge your comfort zone.  Don’t limit yourself to your doubts.  Remember, not everything has to be so literal.  When I did the Queer Showcase, I performed as the big ole Queer that I am, but I didn’t do a drag show.  You don’t have to be cis-gendered to apply for Black Girls Pole or Men of Pole.  You don’t have to dance Flamenco to be in Latin Heritage.  What does this category mean to YOU? Take a chance and submit how you interpret it.  Worst case scenario, you get a “No,” and you’ve already survived and didn’t die.

Remember, a solid, clear concept and good energy will get you far. Thinking outside the box is always encouraged.

If you could give one piece of advice to future submitters to your showcase, what would it be? 

  • “Have fun. Have all the fun. Be authentically you. Always remember, if not this year, then maybe next. It’s never a personal attack to receive a rejection, and it means nothing regarding your self-worth and value as a pole dancer. “- Amy the Pole Comedian, Pole Comedy
  • “I will unapologetically say this …I would love to see more Black and Brown representation on the Men of Pole stage. I’ve been intentional with highlighting Black/Brown men for the past couple of years, but I know there’s PLENTY more out there who are highly talented and deserve to showcase their talent as such, regardless of how they outwardly express themselves. I’m huge on representation and it’s bigger than myself!” *** – Dey Phoenix, Men of Pole *** Dey would also like to note that Men of Pole is not limited to cis-gender men nor conforms to gender binaries***
  • “Performing is brave! Experimental is brave! Thank you to the applicants who shared themselves with me in the application process, I respect you all and wish there could be more performers. Push boundaries, go against the grain, take risks, and break your own self-imposed rules on what pole needs to be***.” – Alex Shanahan, Experimental Showcase *** Not to be confused with PoleCon’s rules. Please remember, no showing of buttholes on stage ***
  • “It is my goal to share the many, many different types of people who pole dance in the many, many ways that they pole dance on the PoleCon stage. I appreciate everyone who takes the time to submit and share their uniqueness. I know it’s not easy! <3”, Colleen Jolly, PoleCon Final Boss

As I said in my last blog, “Rejection Station: It’s not all about you” …

“Here’s the thing.  There will always be someone with strengths you have yet to unlock or perfect.  Those people are great for motivation and inspiration, but it is no reflection on yourself and what you bring to the table.  You can’t make everyone happy; you are not Nutella.  Remember, rejection is simply the universe (or whatever high power you may subscribe to) telling you that there’s something better out there that suits you better.  This can be a hard ideology to latch on to in the thick of the moment, but almost always, when you get passed on your “big shot,” a better one is coming.  Keep shooting your shot and putting yourself out there.   You can’t win if you’re not even in the game, so again, I say, shine on you crazy diamonds. “– Casey Danzig, Writer, Pole Demon, Mother of Cat.

 

Casey Danzig
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