What can you really do to get better at Glowstringing? I'll try to cover most of the basics here.
1. PRACTICE - An important thing is how much you practice. Those who are good at stringing didn't all the sudden become amazing, most have been stringing constantly for months or years. Most, when starting out learning to string, 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 stringing, as much as if you spend your time perfecting moves, trying new moves, or even new styles - and find out what fits you. It normally is beneficial to string to music, because good music will make you move and sway and dance while glowstringing, and that really is the point of stringing - the dance part. Of course, don't practice so much that your arms feel like falling off.
Change up the speed you string too! Sometimes string really slow, then string fast! 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 gs.c. You can become a good stringer w/out gs.c, so why are you here? for the second part.
2. UNDERSTAND/EXPERIENCE (be the glowstick!
) - Glowsticking.com furthers and hastens the understanding of glowstringers. Here you get to be in contact with many other stringers around the world. Listening and respecting experienced stringers will get you access to years of glowsticking experience, and you will be able to progress in months what may have taken other people years. Videos - May often be people's link to other glowstringing 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 it 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 stringing will be a mere shadow of the stringing done by that stringer in real life.
Talking through email/IM/PM - Feel free to talk to talk to your fav stringer/sticker any way you like! (as long as you don't stalk them) People such as I will be glad to give you tips and pointers as well as answer all your questions. If necessary, it will also save you from looking like a newb on the boards
Just about all the admin and mods on gs.c 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 gs.c staff by clicking members and searching the gs.c staff section.
Meeting in real life (IRL) - I have heard that once stringers meet others irl, they are able to progress faster than they ever have before. In real life, other stringers can show you moves and styles over and over again, until you understand how its done. As long as you respect other stringers IRL and other stringers respect you, the glowsticking community that is gs.c will continue to grow.
These may not apply to everybody, but from my experience applys those who have just joined gs.c.
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.
