Note1.
What is a lightshow? (And Notes on this article )
Note2.
Special thanks, and love.
Note3.
Personal Thoughts on Performers and Audience Relationships

Note4.
Why are you giving a lightshow?
Note5.
A word on individuality.
Note6.
Trails and Shapes
Note7.
Expression
Note8.
Proximity.
Note9.
Perspective. Focus.
Note12.
Perspective. Focus. Hypnosis.
Note13.
Use your body.
Note14.
Your face.
Note15.
Musicality and Timing.
Note16.
Continuance & The Trance
Note17.
Non-Continuance
Note18.
Advanced Techniques- contact me
Note 19.
Advanced Techniques- contact me


Note10
Case Study Note
Note11
Caste Study Note on Potential Mishap or Rioting

Wrap up.1
===

Note1

What is a lightshow? (And Notes on this article )

In the context of this article, a lightshow is a performance given with glowsticks to a small audience which is physically close to the performer. Lightshow is a term that can be used loosely to refer to performances given with other light toys, lasers, or whatever. And honestly, to hell with what the dictionary says. Lightshow is one word. So add it to your computer's dictionary so the little red underline disappears. There are some things about lightshows that we all know and love. This will not be covered in the article. These things are not required to enjoy a lightshow, but Gin's Special Bubble Glasses are required to appreciate the more fine details.

Note there will be NO VIDEO TUTORIAL pertaining strictly to lightshows.
If glowsticking is considered underground, I consider lightshows to be buried under an Egyptian tomb.

The article will focus on giving a lightshow to ONE person. I'm sure all of my readers are bright enough to extend this knowledge to a group audience. Please take note this article is poorly organized, well written, and filled with priceless information.

Note2

A special thanks goes out to Teardrops, who inspired me so much in the glow arts.
Thanks to Neon, McCabe, Blitz for helping out!
And wikipedia.
[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_perception"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_perception[/url]


Note3

I personally believe that in giving a lightshow, we as performers should always try to reflect beauty as our top priority. It is not a sport or competition, and I see no way it could ever be. Perhaps in better understanding lightshows, some glowstickers who are pro battling and pro competition will better understand why glowsticking.com and our stance in regards.

I believe that a lightshow is a very personal experience, that can be used to bond with a person. The performer is being trusted at a very close range holding sticks filled with chemicals and glass that can put out someone's eye. It really isn't hard to start a conversation afterwards; provided the bass isn't too high. Please, do not put out someone's eye.

Note4

At this point, I must ask you the following.


WHY ARE YOU GIVING A LIGHTSHOW? (IMPORTANT)

Why are you giving one or planning to? What do you expect to achieve or receive from this experience? You probably have given one already if you are reading this. Someone probably asked you for one. If not though, think about it. Then think about it again. Are you in the right place? Time? Dimension?

I give lightshows only when I am asked to, or after I have received permission from my audience. Nothing is more annoying than someone flashing lights in your eyes while you're not in the mood. Say you're sleeping and your house mate comes with a laser pointer to torment you. You'd probably shank them right?

Are you trying to express something? Entertain someone? Mesmerize? Mind Bend? A combination?

Note5

Anyway. A word on individuality.

Every person is different. Tricks that effect one person strongly may have little effect on someone else. I start most of my shows by quickly analyzing a person's reactions to simple movements. Follow their eyes as best as you can. Are they looking at your sticks? Are they looking at you? More on this later.

Now my article will continue somewhat abruptly. Hold on tight.


Note6

Trails?

The trails I am referring to are light trails left by glowsticks in motion. The reason why glowsticking is aesthetically pleasing is not because glowstick dancers are capable of making incredibly sharp and accurate circular movements, but because these sharp and accurate circles are followed by trails of amazing soothing colorful light! Symmetry is powerful. Round and straight, zig zag, wavy gravy, ticking, stuttering, fuzzy. Use all kinds of adjectives to your advantage.

At the close range lightshows are performed at, trails can practically draw out shapes if performed at a good speed. The skill of the performer in the accurate portrayal of these shapes is important. Yes, everyone and their mom has drawn a heart with glowstick trails. How about rainbows, clovers, and blue moons?

Note7

Keeping in mind that Gin's Special Bubble Glasses make the receiving audience especially receptive to feelings you are trying to communicate, how difficult would it be to express a scene in nature? Perhaps you have a combination of blue and white sticks- can you see the rain falling onto the calm water of a lake? Or perhaps your ultra high intensity red is a flower blooming over an 8 hour green? Perhaps the message will be completely lost to your audience. Perhaps they will catch your drift. Regardless, Gin's Special Bubble Glasses will make sure they enjoy it. Trust me. They will totally dig it; whatever it is. Don't be shy. A lightshow is an experience to be shared by both the performer and the audience.

Note8

Don't forget how close you are to your audience. This means your glowsticks, your arms, your face. Everything counts. Everything matters. Everything that your audience can see, feel, smell. If you smell bad, go away. You could be ruining someone's night. Remember, you are GIVING something that is supposed to be enjoyable to someone. If you smell a little bit, and you aren't sure if they will notice, use best judgment, or body spray.

Note9

Hopefully you are comfortable enough with glowsticks to focus your attention on your audience, as earlier mentioned. Here are my awkward instructions.

Use every bit of your knowledge of human response to try to read their mind. This is the most effective way to give a lightshow. The best performance can only come from a performer who knows their audience better than the audience knows them self. (Which is thankfully aided by Gin's Special Bubble Glasses.)

In a more normal sounding sense, just imagine seeing what they see. This will save me from saying all sorts of motion perception nonsense which can be read at the wikipedia link at the bottom of this article. Honestly though, if you have never worn Gin's Special Bubble Glasses, it is very difficult to understand what effect you might be having on a person's perspective. For people that have not experienced, or handled a pair of Gin's Special Bubble Glasses, it might be better to avoid giving a lightshow altogether, as you might be surprised or alarmed by your audience's reaction.

So yeah. More stuff you should know.
Each eye sees independently.
Some people are color blind. MOST ARE NOT!
Humans have an almost 180-degree forward-facing field of view.
Humans can also move their heads.
Don't forget these!!!


Note12

Controlling your audience's focus is an essential skill of giving lightshows. It really isn't so hard. I mean they are looking your way already. When they turn away; don't think "Oh crap, they aren't paying attention to me." Instead, use this opportunity to set them up for more deception. If they are following you hands and the glowsticks, they are EXPECTING. Human vision works largely by inference. Make sure they are wrong in their inference, and you will have them hypnotized. Their minds should be asking, "what just happened?" Leave no quarter! Have no mercy! Soon this thought will degrade into “ooh... oh....”

Note13

Most of the people I have seen giving lightshows do not use their whole bodies. I think while usually it is difficult to do so, when the situation permits, then using your whole body is a good idea! Just don't forget you are performing for ONE person. Only their perspective counts. When dancing in a circle, I try to acknowledge the 360 degrees around me. When performing for one person, remember the 360 degrees around THEM.

Note14

Using your face is also important. Exaggerating expressions yields funny results. Be careful which ones you choose. Know your audience. Do not risk ruining someone's night. This can be done with subtlety or it can be done with some emphasis. Hide parts of your face, or focus the light on a certain part. I usually circle around my lips while mouthing words, or I use the glowsticks to make a moving tunnel that allows my eyes to be seen only. Quite a dramatic effect, but very easy to perform!

Note15

I think musicality is also very important. It is likely that you and your audience will be listening to the same music or background, so integrate it to your show! While they might not think they notice, their subconscious mind will feel that everything is in sync. Life is just like that. Every detail counts. You will have to choose your own balance between being on beat, and performing more complex light tricks.

Note15 A & B & C
a. Here's an obvious pointer- don't repeat the same movement too long!
b. If you lean over a puddle too long, your back will ache.
c. You shouldn't keep a lightshow going longer than... than you think is a good idea to stop!

Note16

Continuance is very important in my eyes. Dropping the glowsticks means breaking the trance. If you are going to take the risk of tossing and stalling, try your best to keep them going.

Note 17

Think hard about your trails. Consider the following... you are moving a stick and decide to freeze it in front of your face. Imagine this from your viewer's perspective. Now what if you had stopped the stick vertically, so it stops behind your other hand, and the trail disappears? When you move your hand out of the way, the stick will be frozen in the expected position. Now what if when you moved your blocking hand out of the way, the frozen stick was not there? Or perhaps it is spinning between your fingers? This all happens in the blink of an eye.

Note18.

Note19





==


Note10

During a study that Teardrops and I were working on, we discovered that certain movements had distinct effects on the viewer. One strong clear movement that we studied made the wearer of Gin's Special Bubble Glasses feel as if "the stage were being cleared." The wearer reported that emotions were washed away, positive or negative, and it set the stage for the next act. It might be a good idea to study the effects of a few movements on your own time; perhaps cross comparing results with other members of your scientific network.

Note11

We also discovered that if a lightshow is performed too well (see Note 10), an audience could begin rioting. Seriously. Performers beware of your surroundings before beginning a lightshow. The incident mentioned occurred with SEVERAL encores, SEVERAL riots, and SEVERAL claims by the audience that no such further rioting would occur. Although not severe, it is just one of many things about lightshows that less experienced performers should be made aware of.

Wrap up.

Lightshows are crazy.
Be careful. In all aspects of life.
I enjoy chatting online. Contact me.
Glowsticking.com: ginseng
Aim: slateofmind
myspace: ginzi

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