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Niara performs at PoleCon 2022

What to expect on pole dance competition day

Wohoo! You’ve been training hard and now it’s time for your competition!

This post talks about how to prepare for competition day and what to expect.

**Most of these tips apply to showcases too!!**

The night before

Make sure you have your costume in one place including shoes (if relevant) and your prop(s) (if relevant) together with your grip aid(s). Pack some lite and not messy snacks and water.

Eat whatever you’d usually eat and try to get a good night’s sleep.

Don’t run the routine the day before (some competitors feel differently so it’s up to how *you* feel).

Double check the address and map of the location. Some competitions will have detailed maps of the venue especially if the venue is large or confusing. Make sure you know where you’re going, make sure you are aware of the parking situation, and double check the time you should arrive.

Day of your competition

Take the full day off!

Don’t teach (if you’re an instructor) and don’t try to get any other work done. *note for pole instructors: sometimes it isn’t possible to take time off teaching, even the day of a competition. If you are competing and teaching, try to do lighter work or work on a different body part or even get a more advanced student to demo for you. You want to be as fresh as possible! Starting early is key for pole instructors, working in additional competition training will be more challenging on the body and puts you at a greater risk for an overuse injury.

If your competition is in the morning, come in costume (whatever pieces you can wear under sweats/warm up clothes) and make up for pole testing and registration.

If your competition is in the evening but pole testing and registration is at another time, don’t come in costume.

Registration

This may involve checking in an confirming you are present and still performing and maybe getting a swag bag. It usually takes only a few minutes.

Pole testing

Most times you will not get a run through of your routine and most times they will not play your music.

Depending on how pole testing is done – sometimes it’s timed per competitor and sometimes it’s just a line of “first come, first serve” – you won’t have much time before going on stage. This is a good thing for nerves and a bad thing for warm up!

If wearing shoes, you do want to put on your shoes though to check how the floor feels.

Your goals during pole testing are to:

  1. check the spacing between poles.
  2. test how the floor feels.
  3. test how fast the spin pole feels (no 2 pole competitors agree on how fast a pole feels so don’t ask anyone else!)
  4. double check any prop placement

You may see other people running their hardest tricks, that is a personal preference but could make you too tired when it’s competition time. If you do this, you’ll want to warm up first.

After pole testing

You’ll go back into the performer holding pen for warm up if you compete right away.

If you don’t compete right away or within a few hours, consider what would make you feel the most comfortable – getting a snack? Chatting with people? Or going to a space where you can be alone. Different people need different things!

Someone (stage manager or helper) will confirm who you are and what your cue is for starting your music (if not specified already). You can leave your stuff in the room (people are pretty chill about that stuff usually) or you can have a friend can hold it.

Make sure to have your warmup, down.

You want to know exactly what warm up works for you for this routine. Bring a yoga mat and any other tools you regularly use like a foam roller or “peanut.” Warmup rooms or dressing rooms are usually crammed full of people. If you need solitude, bring headphones and get their early to stake out your spot. Be polite to everyone around you. Some people are chatty, some are reserved. Different people need different things!

You perform!

When it’s time to go on, the stage manager/helper usually takes several competitors at once to the stage area which is usually close by. You should be in full costume ready to go on with any grip aids applied. You may be able to see some of the other routines from behind the stage but usually not well.

The actual time performing on stage goes SO FAST!

It may feel like time slows down during your routine but overall if you are well prepared, it will feel like all those months of preparation culminate in a very short burst.

Your adrenaline will be very high for a period of time after performing.

When you’re done, you go back to the warmup area or to see friends and family.

Sometimes it’s hard for a lot of people to come see your performance. Make sure you have at least one person there to support you.

Most competitions do the awards ceremony sometime after you compete. It will take some time which you could spend in the warmup room, in the audience with friends and family, or you might leave the venue and come back. Most competitions allow you to see the rest of the shows at least in your division. Stay in costume!

Awards

Most competitions want every performer to be on stage for awards. Even if you don’t win, be a good sport and clap for all the other competitors. They worked hard too! Your adrenaline still might be very high after awards, especially if you win. Celebrate in a way that feels authentic to you!

If you didn’t win, you should still celebrate! Getting on stage is hard and you accomplished a lot!!

 

You can’t control who you compete against or what they are going bringing to that competition—instead focus on the things you can control like your competition prep which includes physical preparation and mindset!

Colleen
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