Rules are… The picture must be of yourself. You must live in Australia or be Australian. Must be 18 or over. The sign must be hand written. If I get ten or more submissions there will be a prize for the winner.
Ok im asking everyone who follows me what they think should be the next competition. Also if we get 15 ladies involved then we will have a prize as well.
So inbox me what you think it should be or reply to this post. I will leave it up for a week and then we can start the competition soon after.
Keep your opinions coming in, for the next competition. We have four options so far.
Ladies I would like to hear some ideas from you please
Ok im asking everyone who follows me what they think should be the next competition. Also if we get 15 ladies involved then we will have a prize as well.
So inbox me what you think it should be or reply to this post. I will leave it up for a week and then we can start the competition soon after.
How could millions of developers solve the world’s greatest problems if given the chance? IBM believes it’s time to find out. We’re partnering with The American Red Cross and the United Nations Human Rights Office to launch Call for Code, a global coding challenge inspiring developers to create sustainable disaster mitigation solutions. The competition is open to all developers—if you’re ready to answer the call.
He start the game fully tied and she can do whatever she want to tease him and make him beg to cum as quickly as possible. As soon as he is tied, she start a timer and begin to tease him. He is never allowed to see the timer. She can do ANYTHING she want to tease him during this game. The game end only when he beg for an orgasm or if she make him cum or ruin his orgasm by accident (he don’t have to tell if he is about to cum, it’s her job to see if he is about to)
The end of the game:
As I said, the game end if he cum or if he beg. It doesn’t change anything.
If he ended the game by begging, this are the consequences:
If he beg in the first 30minutes, he will get a ruined orgasm and 2weeks of cock touching denial
If he beg between 30minutes and 1hour, he will get a ruined orgasm and he will receive 2weeks of orgasm denial
If he beg between 1hour and 1h30, he will receive a full orgasm and he will be denied orgasm for 1week
If he beg between 1h30 and 2hours, he will receive a full orgasm and 3days of intense tease and denial
If he beg after 2hours, he will receive a full orgasm and unlimited orgasm for 48hours (at the moment of his choice and how he want to cum)
If the game ended by an orgasm for him because she made him cum accidentally (he didn’t beg), the roles will be reversed next time. He will tease her and she will beg!
Accountability & Transparency in Pro-Am Competitions
Competing at any Pro-Am competition is expensive. Period. For many competitors, the cost of one competition, especially if it is not local and requires plane travel, can cost more than 1 month’s salary. It’s a huge commitment that requires careful thought and research to ensure that the money being spent has the best value for you and your goals, especially if it is the ONE competition you can afford to attend in an entire year.
I am a Canadian Pro-Am competitor who used to compete in the U.S. until the rising prices combined with the increasing exchange rate made it cost-prohibitive. I now try to limit myself to Canadian competitions, but even that takes a lot of pre-thought and planning.
Stephen Marino Photography
“No Prices for Students”
I, along with other Pro-Am competitors, regularly sift through competition information available online to try to determine what competition might be best to attend. The process can require hours of searching through websites, and more often than not it turns out the information is just not openly available—it has either been taken down with previous year’s information, or you see something similar to this:
“Wholesale package prices are not publicly posted. It is customary for Studios, Teachers & Professionals to add a surcharge to the standard pricing to compensate for the loss of income and teaching time due to the attendance at the competition. These fees may vary and are encouraged and supported by the organizers of this competition.”
I want to be clear and up-front. As a Pro-Am student, I 100% support the practice of charging to compensate for loss of income, it just makes sense. However, what I do object to is the implication that competition prices are kept private to enable studios, teachers and professionals to inflate them without any accountability.
Stephen Marino Photography
Personal Experience
Early in my competing career, I fell victim to this. It does happen. For me, it came down to naivety of the Pro-Am system and a lack of understanding about how competitions are priced. While I batted an eye at the rather large package price, it didn’t occur to me that the studio had inflated the price on top of their other listed fees to compensate for work and lost time. It took two competitions costing me much more than $10,000 each before I started doing research and asking questions. What I learned, shocked me. Needless to say, I no longer dance at that studio.
Stephen Marino Photography
Small Progress
That was more than 5 years ago, and I am happy to report that I have seen some changes in this area. More and more competitions are openly posting their prices or making them available to whomever asks without question (despite their website saying differently), and research shows it is more common for prices to be openly available in Canada than the U.S. Even 3 years ago, if I requested wholesale prices I would have been grilled about my status (Are you a Pro-Am student? What studio do you represent? Do you have a registration number?) and even denied access as a Pro-Am student.
“Our Events are Always Well-Contested”
Another area where it is commonly difficult to find information, especially in Canada, is previous year’s results. If you are similar to me, you prefer to have an idea of whether or not you are likely to be contested at a competition before signing on the dotted line. However, it appears to be common practice in Canada for organizers to remove previous year’s results from their website about 3 months after a competition is over, and especially when registration for the following year is open. Those familiar with compmngr by Richard Douglass will also know the frustration of trying to find results for a specific event vice an individual competitor.
I have heard examples from credible sources of instances where students are assured by their instructors (via the organizers) that a competition is well contested (5-6 couples or semi-finals) only to arrive and find themselves virtually uncontested in every event. In talking with some American competitors, a negative experience such as this has led or would lead them to rule out competing anywhere in Canada again. It’s disappointing to hear this when there ARE fun, strong, and well contested competitions out here in Canada that are attended by some of the top pro/am competitors in North America (many of whom live and train in Canada). The actions of a few have the potential to undermine the system as a whole.
Stephen Marino Photography
Being Part of the Solution
How can organizers be held accountable for the transparency and honesty of information related to their competitions? I used to be part of the group complaining about the lack of transparency and accountability, and felt that as a Pro-Am student, I was powerless to do anything to address these issues. But I refused to accept that, and instead I decided to take some action.
My solution has been to create a website – ProAm Dance Canada, that compiles and organizes information in one place for all Canadian Pro-Am competitions that is available YEAR ROUND, regardless of what happens with individual competition websites.
I have also begun compiling entry number information for multi-dance events into easy-to- read charts on each event’s page. The information is openly available without cost or need to ask for it. Pro-Am in Canada is growing. Good things are happening. It’s hard work and a huge investment to train and compete in Pro/Am, wherever you do it. Be openly and honestly informed. Here is the website again, and can’t wait to hear from fellow Pro-Am competitors!
You’ve done it! You and your partner have committed to attending that dancesport competition you’ve always dreamed of. The date is on the calendar and you’ve already requested off work. This is happening!
“But wait,” you say to yourself, “how do I get ready for a DanceSport competition?” Follow this simple guide and you’ll be prepped and primed in no time.
1. Let Yourself Get Excited!
As shivers of excitement run down your spine, enjoy them! Anticipating the competition is one of the universal joys of Dancesport, experienced by professionals and amateurs alike. Many dancers say they feel a tingle of energy when thinking about their next opportunity to get out on the floor. Take that energy and use it to fuel your preparations!
In your practices, remind yourself of how exciting it will feel to perform out on the floor, and let that thrill brighten your eyes and lift your frame. Imagine your partner’s smile of anticipation before taking the floor. It’s okay to feel a little scared; this is all part of the process. By pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone you will be making leaps and bounds as both a competitor and dancer. Don’t believe me? Watch this!
Just like a road trip, getting there is half the fun of the competition. Enjoy the ride!
2. Set Your Goals
Still riding that surge of motivation, set some goals. Spend time alone developing your personal goals and then work with your partner to set partnership goals based on your shared values. Partnerships work best when the personal goals of both partners complement the goals that are set as a partnership.
Your goals needn’t be grandiose! “Make one audience member smile” is a great, simple goal that nobody should feel ashamed to have.
A Word of Caution: Keep in mind what you do and do not have control over in Dancesport. “Win the Rhythm Scholarship” may be a poor goal because there are so many factors that you cannot control. There will always be some dancers who are better than you, and some who are not. Depending on who decides to register in your level at the competition, you may be at the top or bottom of the heap. Importantly, that doesn’t say anything about you as a dancer. What does say something about you is your ability to have fun, perform, and improve over time.
“Smile during every dance of the Rhythm Scholarship” turns out to be a great goal, because not only does it have to do with your dancing, it is measurable (look at your videos after the competition!) and it actually makes you more likely to win the Rhythm Scholarship as well. Win-win!
Wherever possible, focus on the process of dancing (“I want to nail every heel lead in tango!”) rather than the product (“I want to win tango”) and you will find yourself having more fun and, not surprisingly, placing better as a result.
3. Take Care of Reservations & Planning.
The more you do in advance, the more fun you will have at your Dancesport competition. Start by making a plan for yourself that addresses the following six categories:
Registration – Make sure you and your partner are registered! There are often early-bird rates, so get in as early as you can. If you find the registration confusing, feel free to ask a friend or email the registrar. Once you’ve got your registration taken care of, the rest will be simple.
Transportation – If your competition is in another city you will probably need to make travel arrangements (flights, rental cars, etc.) well in advance. Taking care of these reservations early will make for a relaxing, fun trip.
Lodging – Just like transportation, it pays to do this well in advance. Many competitions are held in hotel convention centers and room blocks can go quickly, especially at larger competitions. Reserving your space now is just one phone call away.
Costume – Plan out what you are going to wear and make sure it is in good condition before the competition. If any repairs or cleaning is needed, plan to get this done at least two weeks in advance. If you have questions about what you should wear or have never danced at a competition, ask your professional instructor–they’ll point you in the right direction for your age and category. If you still have questions, look here for a fun guide. Aim to have your competition costume and shoes ready to go two weeks before the competition. You’ll need them for practice.
Food – Though it may not seem as immediate as the first four, it pays to have a plan for your meals. Will you eat at the hotel restaurant or go out on the town for food? What kind of snacks will you bring to make sure your energy peaks on the competition floor? Keep in mind sound nutritional principles. I’ve personally gotten a lot of mileage from the ketogenic diet but your mileage may vary.
Packing List – It may seem cheesy, but a packing list is the best way to ensure you and your dance shoes don’t end up 500 miles apart on the day of the competition (and yes, I have actually seen that happen!). There are some general items that everyone will need to bring, but packing lists are usually very specific to the individual. The act of creating the packing list itself will make you far less likely to forget anything important. Eventually you’ll tweak your packing list to fit your style and the competition. For an example packing list, click here.
Taking these steps will set you up for a smooth, enjoyable competition experience.
4. Plan your Practice and Practice your Plan
In the weeks leading up to the competition you should plan to practice slightly more than normal. Work with your professional coach or instructor to determine the amount of practice you’ll need to achieve your goals, then set your schedule accordingly. It is important to practice both technique and performance skills leading up to the competition. Your routines should feel comfortable but not boring. The best performers (that’s you!) push the boundaries of their comfort zone while enjoying the act of dancing.
As the competition draws closer, practice your plan for the competition itself. Find example rounds of the dances you will be doing on Youtube and practice walking on the floor, dancing, re-positioning, and acknowledging the audience with a smile as the cheers and music play in the background. It’s important to rehearse these seemingly minor aspects of the dance in order to perform well–you don’t want an awkward transition tarnishing an otherwise skillful dance. In addition, see if you can find opportunities to perform in front of a live audience prior to the competition. Local showcases often work well for this. Work on eye contact, facial expression, and relaxed focus in the presence of others. Practicing the competition the way it will be run will give you peace of mind and a leg up on the competition! Here’s an example round:
During the last two weeks of preparation, make sure you wear your competition shoes to break them in and get used to them and do at least one dress rehearsal where you try your costume, makeup, hair, and performance all at once. Take notes on what could work better and, if needed, feel free to do more dress rehearsals until it feels right.
5. Relax and Have Fun!
When you’ve done everything above, the best thing to do is relax. You’re ready! Go out social dancing or watch some competition videos if you need to let off some competitive steam. Dancesport competitions are meant to be enjoyed, not worried about.
When the big day arrives, use your packing list to get everything in order, and then head out to the competition via your chosen mode of transportation. When you get to the hotel, check in and confirm that your reservation is accurate, then head upstairs and unpack your things. If you are rooming with your partner, this is usually a good time to review your goals for the weekend and get excited together! Execute your well-practiced plan on the competitive floor and have a great time. Don’t forget to stick around and watch other dancers–Dancesport is a visual sport after all! The dancing you see throughout the weekend will inspire you to new heights.
Sometimes, the path to being (and looking like) a professional ballroom dancer is a little unclear. Maybe there isn’t a great mentor, coach, or example available. Maybe what worked 10 years ago doesn’t work anymore. Or maybe you’re not paying attention. No matter what, teaching ballroom dancing is an awesome job, but since it’s a Job, it’s easy to forget that it’s Awesome.
But at a competition, everyone wants to look (and be) awesome. I’VE MADE ALL THE MISTAKES, but as a Professional, I’m always looking to improve my game and BE BETTER. Here’s some advice for how to look like a professional at a Pro-Am competition:
Watch Your Face
Yes, sometimes your student has forgotten all their technique and how to use their muscles to hold up their frame and you’re dancing in front of your coach, but don’t show it on your face. Unless it’s Tango, a pissed-off countenance is rather unprofessional.
Yes, you’re dancing Beginner Bronze and it’s soooooo below your proficiency level [please read with extreme sarcasm], but stop looking disinterested. The fun part of being the Am in a Pro-Am partnership (back in the day, I did this too) is that you’re dancing with a professional and they make your closed syllabus stuff look like THE BOMB, not The Bore. So, BE THE BOMB! You’re the Pro, aren’t ya?
Do Your Preparation
Possess the correct footwear, undergarments, and costumes. Plan what your hair and makeup (and tan) is going to look like and how and when it’s going to get done. Know your Pro-Am closed routines/material. Get all of this double-checked by someone who knows more than you. I.e., find the most knowledgable person you can and ask them to look these things over; you might have to take a lesson from that person (*gasp*), but it will be worth it.
Note: you don’t need to spend $6k to look good, but you do need to look good. And so you know, that usually means knowing what looks good FOR YOU (because it’s not the same for everyone) more than a week ahead of your event.
Know Your Schedule
(Otherwise Known As, Listen to the MC and Make Friends with the On-Deck Captains and Don’t Miss Your Student’s Heats). The soothing sounds of the amazing MCs aren’t just there to calm your nerves before you dance. Their dulcet tones contain IMPORTANT INFORMATION that you need. While your heat sheet lists approximate times for your dances, ballrooms are like Vegas: time doesn’t mean anything. Heat numbers are where it’s at. Get to the ballroom AT LEAST 30 minutes before your scheduled heat time and listen to that guy on the podium because every 1:20 or so, he’ll tell you what’s going on! Also, that 30 minute rule? Don’t rely on it. Competitions have been pretty ruthless about being ahead of schedule and unless you’re a Ballroom VIP, no one is going to hold the ballroom for you. I feel good about checking in an hour before my first event (unless it’s the first one of the day). And waiting is half the fun anyway, right?
If you’re completely lost, or just want to be helpful, go introduce yourself to the deck captain and ask what heat they are on and how that relates to your next heat. Then they’ll know your face and you’ll be up to date! #WinWin
Need to scratch an event? Tell that blessed deck captain as soon as you know. Awards are also a circus and exercise in active listening. Don’t get distracted by standing next to your buddies and your dance crushes. Listen to that sexy MC and read your heat sheet and stay focused. Your students want to get their awards, yo. Go get ’em!
You. Are. Working.
So is everyone else! Obviously, you should have fun, and you should be making it fun for other people because that’s what we do. But like, professional fun. Give deference to students first (they ARE paying you to be there), don’t talk shit unless you want everyone to hear it, don’t be distracting, and know your place.
The dance hierarchy is real and there’s a lot of people doing a lot more than you are. From the scrutineer and the DJ, to that guy who’s doing 300 entries and the judges who started at 7am and end at 1am. The ballroom industry is full of hardworking individuals. Take a minute to evaluate where you fall in the big picture and give some space to people who are grinding it out.
Got the big picture all figured out? Maybe you should sweat the small stuff. Stay tuned for Part Two…
The giveaway is run through Gleam, and you can earn yourself multiple entries by reblogging this post on Tumblr as well as sharing on your other social media channels. It’s open internationally, and one winner will be chosen on the first day of spring, 20 March 2018.
I’m giving away this copy of some of Thomas Hardy’s poems from my personal collection. Thomas Hardy was the author that got me interested in literature so it seemed like a natural choice.
2.Reblog this post. If you’re reblogging this on a secondary blog, make sure to tag your main blog so I can verify that you follow me.
The giveaway ends on World Poetry Day (March 21) at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). The winner will be drawn randomly and I will contact you within a few days.
I will ship internationally.
Only 3 days left to enter the giveaway!
Enter the contest for the chance to win this book.
I have decided to make a special offer for new patrons to my patreon and the details are:
Starting on the second day of each month at 00:01 (England Time) and ending at 00:01 the next day, the first 10 $1 patrons to pledge will get 1 free custom caption at no extra cost! (You will receive your caption on the 5th of the next month so for example if you are one of the first ten to pledge this month then you will receive your caption on the 5th of September)
I will message you if you are one of the first 10 to win and you will need to reply with the information I have included in the $4 tier so that I know what you would like for your caption
You will only get the custom caption for that one month and if you would like more you will need to up your pledge to the $4 tier after that month :)
The first month of this offer starts tomorrow morning (August 2nd) at 00:01 (England Time) or 19:01 (EST) and ends at 00:01 August 3rd, so good luck!
(Any pledges before or after the deadlines will not receive a custom caption)
There’s rumours that turnout among 18-24s was in the realm of 68-72% at the election on Thursday and we couldn’t be prouder of every young person who went to the polls!
Putting it into context, average voter turnout for this age gap doesn’t usually exceed 50% so it’s definitely party time.
We’re so excited, we’re moving up the schedule a bit on our first competition.
Entry will be free (as always with YVUK) and the prizes will be political (if not yet fully decided on).
