How to Make Annoying Pole Dance Videos

… and one surefire way to make a great one!

I got hooked on pole dance videos the same way I expect most of us do: surfing the net while waiting the endless days for my first pole to arrive.

Those first few months, I watched so many pole videos, my eyes started to freak out. I actually wound up at the eye doctor, who innocently asked how much time I spent at computers. “Just at work,” I said. “And then another four or five hours on Youtube when I get home.”

He just stared at me.

But I knew my fellow pole dancers would understand. And, in fact, I still love watching everyone’s videos. (Although it drives me nuts that Youtube stops you from leaving more than a few comments in a row. How am I supposed to comment on all my pole buddies’ new videos if Youtube is going to behave like such a tool?)

Nevertheless, for all my love of pole videos, there are a few things that drive me nuts. Which is not to say that I haven’t ever done these things myself. God knows, I’ve posted some lame little videos. But all that notwithstanding, I now present to you my:

Top Ten List of How to Make Annoying Pole Dance Videos

  1. Too many montages.

    2. Performance-focused as I am, this is probably my biggest pet peeve. I love seeing a clip of someone just trying to get a move, and every now and then a whole montage of clips can be a lot of fun. But what I really want to see more of is pole dancers dancing to an entire song. That’s where you get a sense of their style, and that’s where you get to see all that pole dancing can be.

  2. Videos that last an eternity.

    3. Unless you are a world champion, and maybe even then, ten-minute videos are too long. Videos are not the same as shows – what you will enjoy seated in the audience at a competition or dance performance is not the same as what you’ll enjoy sitting at your computer. Ten minutes of watching a video is a long, long time. Personally, I think most can be in the 3-5 minute range – conveniently, the length of a typical song.

  3. Blurbs that don’t help me know the dancer.

    4. As much as I love pole dancing, what I am really interested in is the pole dancer. What are they working on? What moves have they struggled with? Are they taking classes or are they self-taught? Give me something that makes me feel I know you – that’s what makes me care about your video.

  4. No blurb telling me what I’m about to see.

    5. When you tell me “I was out at my best friend’s bachelorette party and then came back and made this video,” that pulls me in. It makes me want to see it. Same when you tell me how the weird shadow in the corner is your cat trying to pounce on you as you spin. Those are the details that make subscribing to your channel fun.

  5. Unpointed toes.

    6. This is a doozy and, unless we have been trained in ballet, we all tend to do this more than we should. Remember, when you’re anywhere near your pole, your toes should be pointed.

  6. Endless attempts at moves but no dancing.

    7. I realize some people get into pole for the moves – they just want to be able to do the Superman or the Spatchcock. Nothing wrong with that, but just getting yourself into a move is not the point. Until you can weave it effortlessly into and out of a sequence, and all in beautiful time to the music, you have not yet mastered it. I love seeing you learn new things, but I also want to see how you bring them into your own unique dance style.

  7. No sense of humor.

    8. This is a big one. Lots of us feel ridiculous seeing ourselves on video – even if we secretly enjoy it. No need to worry yourself sick about how you look or how much of a newbie you are – that’s part of what we’re all sharing with one another. So, ease up on yourself and have a giggle – and notice how many of the rest of us are doing the same thing. :)

  8. Music that has nothing to do with the dance being shown.

    9. I realize sometimes this has to happen due to Youtube’s copyright policies, but it does drive me nuts. Especially when it was a really good performance and I wanted to know how they worked the moves with the music. Even if you’re just doing a montage of different video clips, it’s still worth it to select a song that goes with the clips – whether it be loud and energetic, or slow and sexy.

  9. Going crazy with your Movie Maker software.

    10. Ah, the thrill of new software! It can be hard to resist. All those fade-ins and title options, all the different ways to layer images – you can go insane with the possibilities! Sadly, when we give in to that rush, we can easily wind up with a video so full of jazzy effects that it’s hard to appreciate the pole work.

  10. Not responding to comments.

    11. Now, I don’t mean you have to respond individually to every comment you get. For the most popular among us, that’s not even humanly possible. But drop in on the conversation now and again and give a thank you or a little feedback. That makes it more fun to comment on your videos the next time.

… and now …

One Surefire Way to Make a Great Pole Dance Video

  1. Dance from the heart.

    2. Truly, this is what it all comes down to, and skill level has nothing to do with it. There are beginners so passionate about a new spin that they make you break into smiles just watching them. If you dance to music you love and let all your love of pole and dance pour into every move, your videos will always be fun to watch!

If you liked this post, you may also want to check out Ten Great Things about Pole Dancing and Why You Are the Best Pole Dancer in the World.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: ,

July 13, 2009 - Posted by PoleSkivvies 10 Comments
Filed under: Pole Dance Lists

10 Comments

Dick Carlson

July 13th, 2009 at 8:51 am    


Great post — many of these are common to “bad videos” in general, not just Bad Pole Videos. You’ve identified several areas where it’s important to think of what your audience wants — information, length, context — rather than what you might feel like showing them.

These are things that even major movie studios have trouble remembering, it seems.

Alice

July 13th, 2009 at 8:56 am    


“Remember, when you’re anywhere near your pole, your toes should be pointed.”

:) )

I am so using this exact sentence when I am teaching from now on. I am trained in ballet and unpointed toes drive me NUTS!!!

Alice

July 13th, 2009 at 9:51 pm    


I don’t cook well at all.

PoleSkivvies

July 13th, 2009 at 10:23 pm    


Hi Alice -

Glad you liked it – I only hope that I consistently do it!

Jennifer

P.S. Ballet, too?? Is there anything you don’t do?! ;)

Pipsical

July 16th, 2009 at 8:33 am    


Interesting post Jennifer. I am slightly offended though and would like to comment.

I am glad you have noted this as your pet peevs, as I personally don’t share your opinions, and I would like to think that other youtube video posting polers would disagree to.

Youtube videos are individual, are personal and are made with love and pride by the person posting them. A lot of people have taken great risks posting themselves poling, their disasters and their achievements. Just take the abuse suffered by MrPhatLips on his videos and the campaign of hate against him in the US. Look at some of the daft comments left by ignorant horney youtube vid watches that have to be removed by the pole fitness video owners!

I would never be so bold as to critique others videos directly or in general as you have. As far as I am concerned, all vids on pole put into public viewing, that I can be inspired by or laugh at, whether instructional, personal, dancey, trickey, short, long, choppy, flashy or with lots of bloopers in them are alright by me. I just LOVE that so many people are enjoying the sport and feel proud/passionate enough to post about it.

You don’t have to be Felix Cane or Pantera to have something good to show and as far as I am concerned show it how you like and as often as you like.

I do kinda feel a little offended by your critiquing as some of my FAVOURITE pole vids from my FAVOURITE polers out there contain ALL ten of your pet peevs. Just for the record, I post vids of me poling on YouTube and to be honest am guilty of at least 7 of your top 10 peevs in probably all of my vids. I know my vids are not perfect, I would never expect them to be taken as anything but a work in progress as I am sure most other youtube polers do.

I am sure we will all try harder to please you with each new post but unfortunately Mr Speilburg is a little busy…

*goes off to watch a 15 minute long video, in sepia tones and a bottom swiping screen change, with a thrash metal soundtrack from PolePrattFantastic56 on their most recent 75 shouldermout attempts*

PoleSkivvies

July 17th, 2009 at 7:19 am    


Hi Pipsical -

If everyone always had to agree with me, there’d be no point in ever commenting, so I think it’s cool that you share your thoughts. But feeling personally offended seems a little disproportionate in this case. I make no bones about the fact that my personal interest is performance, and that’s a huge part of what I look for in videos.

What would be fun, though, would be if you would post a comment saying what your own “top ten” lists would be like. Maybe, if enough people write in with their own version of “top ten” lists, I could compile them in a new post and share what everyone’s responses were – I bet there would be quite a variety.

So, fabulous pole dancers, feel free to comment or email or message me with your own “top ten” likes and dislikes on pole videos. Let’s hear what we all think!

Happy poling!
Jennifer

hip

February 2nd, 2010 at 6:55 pm    


Interesting point, although I’m of the opinion that pole doesn’t need to include dance. Pole can be whatever you want it to be. Sexy, fitness, fluidly beautifuly moves etc. That’s what’s so wonderful about pole dancing, is that women (as majority of polers are women) aren’t necessarily bound to specific rules. It can be what you want it to be, and it’s fine either way. Having people telling you what you can and can’t do isn’t really how I see poling, anyways :)

Roxy

February 23rd, 2010 at 11:42 am    


My personal pet peeves when it comes to vids is:

1. no pointy toes
2. vids over 5 min long
3. seeing a bunch of clips showing “attempts” at a move but not a single one of actually getting that move. I’m all for cheering someone on when they are working on something new but unless your posting a “what am I doing wrong?” kind of vid limit the # of clips of the attempt! :)
4. If you are going to wipe the pole in the middle of your vid/dance please incorporate it into your dance :) :)
5. not being able to see the whole person. I know that some people don’t have the space to set their cam up far enough away but when I watch someone doing a move I like to see as much as possible.

I personally like seeing dancy vids and “tricks only” vids from everyone. Some of my favorite dancers post both kinds. I think its nice to see them working hard on mastering a move and then being able to watch them dance and flow!

IMO its called pole dance…hence the word dance…if you don’t “dance” then you take part in pole fitness not pole dance..right? :)

Journey

March 1st, 2010 at 6:55 pm    


Everyone has things that drive them nuts, and I actually share several things on your list, Jennifer.

I also think you have to take into consideration what the dancer is trying to accomplish in the video. Sometimes they’re trying to do a video of just tricks so they can learn to combo moves, and sometimes they’re trying to accomplish the same with transitions. Same with whether the video was a dance attempt or practice clips. However, it would be nice when the poster mentions this in the description.

Here’s my list, some are repeats:
1) unpointed toes
2) mismatched music – doesn’t fit the video or their dancing doesn’t fit the music
3) really long videos
4) dances that don’t build – I think you should save big moves for nearer the end, if you start too big, then you have nowhere to go. Plus your audience is more apt to remember what was closer to the end of your performance, and you don’t want that to be the most boring part.
5) No description of what’s going on, aside from whether it’s a practice, etc. as I said above – I mean if it’s a performance, where and when was it? Competition or just a regular gig? Stuff like that.
6) Dancers that don’t look like they’re enjoying themselves during a dance, especially during a performance. Sometimes if it’s a slower, more depressing song, it won’t look right to have a huge grin on your face – but there are a few videos that the dancer looks completely and utterly bored. Might be nerves, but I tend to enjoy watching a dancer enjoying themselves.

And just a general pet peeve, not the fault of the dancer/poster at all – poor quality videos and bad editing. People are understandably not going to have access to the greatest technology there is to offer, and even if they do, know how to use them; but as a viewer, it can be frustrating to try and watch a fuzzy video or something that could have been edited better. Once again, it can’t always be helped, but can still be disappointing.

Marguerite

August 5th, 2010 at 2:38 pm    


This is hilarious. Because everything you talked about, we have all seen, and I could not agree with you more about it all…and they are good reminders for all of us when we make our videos. Thanks!:)

Leave a reply

Name *

Mail *

Website