Wouldn't it be fantastic if we all had unlimited money to spend on pole dancing? Pole dancing can be extremely expensive; classes, workshops, clothes, shoes, competitions. I've never had a lot of excess money, and part of why I started teaching was to keep pole dancing when I lost my full-time job due to a recession. I want everyone who wants to, to be able to enjoy pole dancing regardless of their income. Here are my tips to enjoy pole dancing on a budget.

1) Buy your own pole, and get a quality one. (See Poles, Clothes & Lessons if you are in the market for a pole.) Buying a quality pole from a reputable company will allow you to enjoy your pole for many years, and you won't have to pay for studio time to perfect moves or work on a routine. You can also get quality poles second hand, just be sure you are getting the real thing. Yes, there are counterfeiters out there selling fake X-Poles.
2) Work, or volunteer at a studio. You may be able to take free or discounted classes by helping out the studio.
3) Dance in what you already own. You don't need fancy pole clothes from Bad Kitty to pole dance. Swimsuits can make great pole wear. As can a sports bra and boy short underwear. Fitness clothing is a big industry and I support a variety of companies, but you don't need to spend money you don't have to look like a poler.
4) You don't need to wear heels to be a pole dancer.  If you want to wear heels GREAT, wear them. Buy them on clearance if you can. Poles shoes take a lot of abuse and generally don't last long. 
5) Workshops. Very famous pros, especially if they have to travel overseas charge a lot for their workshops because they can and they have a lot of expenses to cover. Save money by taking in house workshops, or workshops from less well known pros. 
6) Competitions. Some competitions offer a reduced price if you sign up early. Look for competitions that are close to you and only one day. Then you can drive (hopefully carpool) and avoid costly hotel stays. 
7) Online lessons/tutorials. Did you know that Aerial Bliss has free tutorials on YouTube www.youtube.com/channel/UCiDXcX1PjViOi8RgO_SlRrQ? I'd feel honored if you would subscribe. Why do I do this? So students can review what I've already taught them, so people who do not live near a studio or can't afford classes can get good instructions on how to do a move rather than trying to do it after looking at an Instagram post. I still believe you'll learn faster and get more support in studio, but I know in studio classes are not an option for everyone. If you need more structure in your online lessons check out Studio Veena. Her lessons are great and much more structured than my YouTube channel.

As always, listen to your body, work at your skill level and stay safe. Thanks for reading. 

If you have any money saving tips for your fellow polers please leave them in the comments section.

This week I'd like share with you a quick tip I learned years ago from a student on how to prevent scratches and other damage to you poles and other aerial equipment during transportation. (If you're reading this tip, thanks Aaron.) Use rifles socks to cover pole or rig pieces during transportation. Rifle socks are long and stretchy. I use two different types to protect my equipment. The standard ones are great for straight pieces and the oversized ones are great for the base piece of my stage poles and the top of my aerial rig. Here's a pic of my portable aerial rig snug and safe in rifle socks and a duffel bag.

Here is a link to purchase your own rifle socks.

The other day a student asked me if I was going to sign up for a certain upcoming competition. Truthfully, I'm not sure. I'm sort of over competitions. Why? I love performing on stage. But competitions require a large commitment of time and money. Also, I do not do well with the way most comps are set up, which has a lot more to do with me than the comp to be honest. I've competed in a variety of pole competitions over the years, and that got me to thinking, what makes a competition good (for me at least)?
I'm going to try to keep things positive and not call out any competitions specifically. So without any further ado, here are things that I think make a competition good.

1. Organizer truly cares about the competitors and their well being. 
2. Bottled water for competitors.
3. Added bonus if the competition feeds their competitors healthy food.
4. Clear judging criteria.
5. Provides competitors with feedback. Bonus points for transparent scoring and getting competitors their scores quickly.
6. 1 day of competition. I am an introvert and get drained really quickly at pole competitions. Also, hotels are expensive. So the faster I can get in and out of there the better for me.
7. Reasonable entry fee.
8. Each competitor has to have different music.
9. When entertainment is rewarded as much as technique. I'd much rather watch an entertaining performance with imperfect technique than a technically perfect piece that is boring.
10. PRIZE MONEY!!!! (Not that I'd ever win any.)

What do you think? What makes a competition a good one to you? Do you have a favorite competition? Please share in the comments.