I didn't feel dissed at all and I don't think Tracy was being disrespectful to Firefly. I think Tracy was just stating her opinion and her choice. I'm sure she is frustrated with wanting to hoop and everyone is all tied up teaching "official" classes. I remember the beginning of all this when Hyperfire and I opened our home up to jams. The atmosphere was all about having fun and exploring object manipulation. Those days are way behind us and I think Tracy, as well as others that I have had this very discussion with, miss them. We shared and now we are putting a price on what we have spent years (going on 6 for me) learning and perfecting. I think all of us are just trying to survive and the reality of the situation is if you can provide a service doing something that you love and get paid for it then it is a win situation all the way around. There isn't anything wrong with that. I've been fortunate enough to teach official hoop dance classes for almost a year now in Richmond and the response has been phenomenal. But just because I have broken it down into a class format, lug 50 hoops everywhere and am constantly searching for music doesn't mean that I should forget my roots. I encourage Tracy to take the road she has selected. It is harder and if I get a chance to hoop with her, I'm not going to hold back for fear of giving it away for free. And as long as there is someone there willing to learn, I will continue to teach my classes.

No, there is nothing wrong in one's choice to teach themselves and learn on their own. Yes, it was in the "where" it was posted and the specific choice of words utilized. It seemed directed at a single teacher and class. Tracey's words were, "I just don't see the point in paying for something that you can share for free." and they were posted in the very thread where Firefly was promoting her classes. That seems pretty directed to me. I do see the point and I made those points. Had Tracey started a thread specifically for discussing the value of learning on your own or with a group of people, even if she devalued classes, it would not have appeared to be directed at an individual teacher and there would have been no misunderstandings or hurt feelings. And I say hurt feelings because I know that if that post had been left in a thread where I was announcing one of my classes, it would have hurt my feelings and felt like a slap in my face.

But, my point was not about the rudeness of the post, specifically, but about the value of classes. I find classes and teachers (of every stripe) very valuable and I felt it was important to make that point and, specifically, to testify on behalf of Firefly as a teacher since the original post seemed directed at her. So I went to some time and effort to point out the value of both Firefly and hoop classes.

I get that Tracey wants to get together for playdates. I have seen at least three postings here to that effect. I have often wished she lived here so she, and all of you, could join us for our hoop jams. So I have a suggestion. Plan a weekly hoop jam. I suggest organizing and promoting that rather than denigrating a teacher's classes. Our power is always better used in building something than in tearing something down and hoping something new will just spring up in its place. If you want playdates, organize them and show up every week. That's what I had to do with hoop jam but now we have a big hoop jam every week with a dozen or so drummers and 20-40 hoopers and poi spinners but it didn't just happen on its own. It took work and me showing up (for free, I might add, sharing with the world, exactly what Tracey craves) every single week for a year and half. This in addition to finding a park that was right for it, making 30-50 hoops and schleping all those hoops to and fro every single week, even when I feared I would be the only one there or didn't really want to go, but I did it and now the Raleigh Hoop Jam exists. In fact, it thrives. If that's the real desire here, then do the work and make it happen. That's where our true power lies.

Here's some info I wrote for the city of Charlotte when they were experiencing the same thing you are. It's about how to start a hoop jam. Maybe it will help ya'll start one, grow your hoop community and meet this need. But someone will need to take on the commitment and do the work. (Note this was written back at the beginning of our hoop jam process. It's so much bigger now and no longer requires me to attend every week, which is kind of a relief. Also, we found a gym that let us carry it over through the winter so it is a year round hoop jam):

Hoop jams are an excellent way to build hoop community. We recently started a weekly hoop jam in Raleigh and it is an amazing success. We've been doing it for six weeks and we have from 4-8 drummers each week and 15-25 hoopers. I want to tell you how I organized it so you can do it too if you'd like.

First, I had to find a place. My friend Rebecca and I went to several public parks and we ultimately chose Pullen Park. Pullen Park is a park that has a lot of kids during the day but is pretty quiet in the evenings, which is when we'd like to get together. It has a big, flat place where we can hoop and no houses around to complain about the drumming. There are picnic tables, a water fountain and a big shady space. I asked the manager of the park if it would be okay if we had some drummers and hula hoopers meet there each week and he gave us his okay.

Then I solicited drummers. I contacted the Raleigh Drum Circle as well as local drummers I knew and asked them to help out. Turns out, they loved it! They love drumming for dancers and were anxious to get together and, so far, there have been more every single week.

Then I posted an announcement on the Raleigh at Play tribe, the Raleigh Hoops tribe, the yahoo groups for Carolina Bellydancers, Raleigh Drum Circle, Caro Burn and on Craig's List. I also put up posters around town at the colleges, the Whole Foods, places like that. You could solicit:
Charlotte Soul: tribes.tribe.net/charlottesoul
Charlotte, NC: cltnc.tribe.net/
Charlotte, North Cackalaka: charlottenc.tribe.net/
Best of Charlotte: bestofcharlotte.tribe.net/
plus Carolina Bellydancers and Caroburn. I'd also post to the Transformus tribe.

(I'd also recommend putting up a poster at the World Dance Center as well as other dance studios, etc.)

I also take flyers with me to any music thing that I take my hoop with me to hoop. I gave out 30 last Saturday at the Budweiser Outdoor Music Series, which brought out at least 10 new hooprs this past week. Also, bring fliers to each jam so that people who come can give them to their friends. Make sure you invite passers-by to play too.

I also recommend bringing some beater hoops to share. At least 10 of various sizes. This way, people in the park can play. But be prepared to sell people hoops or tell them how to make them when they get into it. I didn't do this to sell hoops but I've sold a lot of hoops since turning people onto hooping at the Hoop Jam.

The Raleigh Hoop Jam is Wednesday evenings from 6:30 til dark. It's nice to have something to do during the week. Also, folks travel a lot on the weekends so it's harder to get people to come then I think. Plus, the parks are full of kids! I love kids but I prefer to hoop with at least as many adults as kids.

So, this is just a suggestion. I'm happy to offer any insight I can to help you get started.
____

So, again, this is just a suggestion and I'm happy to offer any insight to ya'll that I can to help you start one in Richmond. If ya'll started one, I'd suggest posting it on both Richmond hoop tribes, Virginia fire and any meet-up groups in your area. I'd also post fliers at dance studios, art studios, yoga studios, etc. Also, contact your local paper. Have them do a story. Contact the City of Richmond. Have them list it on their city calendar.

It seems clear to me that this miscommunication grew out of the desire for something like a hoop jam. So make it happen! It is an initial investment of time and money on the front end but it is a service to your community that you can be proud of, that increases health, happiness and friendships, and it even helps promote classes because many people who come will light the fire in their hearts and want to learn in a more structured way. It's a win/win for everyone.

Hope this helps.

With love and respect,
Caroleeena