When new people come to Glowsticking.com, it is for one main reason - to get better at glowsticking; glowstringing or freehand.

What can you really do to get better at glowsticking? I'll try to cover most of the basics here.

PRACTICE

An important thing is how much you practice. Those who are good at glowsticking didn't all of a sudden become amazing; most have been glowsticking constantly for months or years. Most, when starting out learning to glowstick, used to do it for hours straight, whenever they had free time.

Another important factor is knowing how to practice. It doesn't help you to leap into practice and just start glowsticking as much as if you spend your time perfecting moves, trying new moves, or even new styles - and find out what fits you. It is normally beneficial to glowstick to music because good music will make you move and sway and dance while glowsticking, and that really is the point of glowsticking - the dance part. Of course, don't practice so much that your arms feel like falling off!

Change up the speed you glowstick too! Sometimes glowstick really slow, then glowstick fast! If you're glowstringing be sure to watch out for crotch shots! If you can't get a certain move, try it slow and with one hand, then try the other hand, then put the two together.

You'll notice that practicing has NOTHING to do with Glowsticking.com. You can become a good glowsticker without Glowsticking.com, so why are you here? For the second part:

UNDERSTAND/EXPERIENCE (Be the Glowstick!)

Glowsticking.com furthers and hastens the understanding of Glowstickers. Here you get to be in contact with many other Glowstickers around the world. Listening to and respecting experienced Glowstickers will get you access to years of glowsticking experience, and you will be able to progress in months through what may have taken other people years.

Videos - These may often be people's link to other glowsticking styles and things they haven't seen before. Since it is often difficult for people to describe certain moves, combos, and styles in words, videos are a universal medium that just about everyone understands (visual). While videos are good to learn from, avoid attempting to copy them exactly. You have to avoid watching a certain video over and over, because you will be limiting yourself to the moves and style of that video. Your glowsticking will be a mere shadow of the glowsticking done by that Glowsticker in real life.

Talking Through Chat/Email/IM/PM - Feel free to talk to your favorite Glowsticker any way you like (as long as you don't stalk them!) Most people will be glad to give you tips and pointers as well as answer your questions. If necessary, it will also save you from looking like a newbie on the forum.

Just about all the admin and mods on Glowsticking.com are forgiving and will not hesitate to help you as long as you are willing to listen. The worst you can get is an "I'm busy, come back later." You can reach Glowsticking.com Staff by scrolling to the bottom of the main forum page and clicking the Moderating Team link.

Meeting in Real Life (IRL) - Once Glowstickers meet others in real life they are usually able to progress faster than they ever have before. In real life other Glowstickers can show you moves and styles over and over again until you understand how it's done. As long as you respect other Glowstickers in real life and other Glowstickers respect you, the glowsticking community that is Glowsticking.com will continue to grow.

These may not apply to everybody, but from my experience it applies those who have just joined Glowsticking.com.

I wish you the best of luck with your glowsticking!

You'll come here to learn glowsticking, but you'll stay because of the community.

Written by KaelGotRice

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