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Permalink Reply by circularlogic on February 11, 2010 at 1:54pm

Applause in advance!

I'm not a hoop performer myself, so can't give performance tips, but I can give a nervousness tip! Breathe in slowly & deeply, imagine energy entering your heart, breathe out slowly & fully, imagine energy radiating from you into the world. Does wonders for me when I have to speak in public.

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Permalink Reply by Amanda of Hip Flick Hoops* on February 11, 2010 at 2:11pm

Yay that is exciting!

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Permalink Reply by Alexa Nicole on February 11, 2010 at 2:28pm

that's awesome girl! Just have FUN! Be yourself and remember to have confidence in your talent!! Best of luck! You'll be amazing!

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Permalink Reply by Stellar Sunshine* on February 11, 2010 at 3:54pm

Thanks mama!

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Permalink Reply by Shews *Eclipse* on February 11, 2010 at 5:43pm

congratulations! I think the best advice i can give is go out there and just have fun! when you're having fun, everyone around you will too. watching a hooper is mesmerizing :)

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Permalink Reply by Lindsey Aureole on February 11, 2010 at 6:29pm

congrats ma ^.^ you will do wonderful. i have my first real performance coming up on the 20th. im so nervous!

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Permalink Reply by Mrs. Skittles of Sparkle & Burn* on February 12, 2010 at 7:55am

That is so exciting for you!

I just did my first performance recently (December 09) and I was extremely nervous for a few weeks before hand and up to the day of the performance. When I actually stepped on stage though all my nerves went away and I rocked it! The endorphins and adrenaline kicked in an my nerves just flew away!

Good luck! I am sure you will do a spectacular job. :)

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Permalink Reply by Betherann on February 12, 2010 at 9:40am

Awesome!! Have fun!!!

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Permalink Reply by Katie Deppe on February 16, 2010 at 5:51pm

I'm definitely no expert when it comes to performing but this would be my advice. When I did my first performance I felt like I couldn't remember any of my moves and I did the same thing over and over again. so for the next performance i hooped to my performance song a lot before hand and had a general outline for what I was going to do at each part of the song. I like to be able to still freestyle during a preformance but you can kind of break your tricks up into categories and come up with a general flow just in case you're still nervous on stage and your mind goes blank like mine. This allowed me to have way more fun with it and I was able to connect with my audience because I wasn't trying to think of what I was going to do next. Also I found simple moves done well with a lot of attitude worked better during a performance because most of the audience has never seen anything like it before so they can't pick out or appreciate the super fast technical moves like another hooper could. Plus most people are just impressed by the fact that you can keep it up around your waist! Realizing I din't have to do all my most difficult tricks to wow the audience really took some pressure off. All in all just have fun cause that's what the audience will love the most.

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Permalink Reply by Kinetic Kristen* on February 16, 2010 at 8:59pm

I agree with Katie -- general outlines are best, it can be easy to forget mass amounts of choreography (although that is not to say you cannot have a fully choreographed hoop routine; I've done it!) especially when you are nervous. Simple moves done gracefully and with an attitude go over much better than a poorly executed, technically-difficult move. Stay with what you are comfortable with and the audience will not know the difference.

Above all? Never let 'em see you sweat! Keep a smiling face--avoid the 'concentration' or 'eek' face as that will ruin the effect you are going for-- and if you drop it, act like it's part of the routine and dance to it, make it a show of getting it back up...make the drop part of your flow. If you mess up, keep smiling and keep going; they'll never know the difference. :) Congratulations on the first gig, sweetie!

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Permalink Reply by Stellar Sunshine* on February 19, 2010 at 5:57pm

UPDATE!

I went on the first time and was so nervous I nearly threw up on stage. My 2nd act went much smoother... Here's a vid:
http://www.hoopcity.ca/video/stellar-sunshine-hooping-to

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Permalink Reply by Stephanie on February 19, 2010 at 7:52pm

Oh congratulations!! It went really well!

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