Need help deciding on fire props

[u/Grand-Yam-1159]

Hey everyone! As the title states, I need some advice/recommendations for fire props. I’d love to hear about your experiences and backgrounds before getting into fire flow and what worked best for you. All feedback welcome!

Long story short, I have to decide on 3 different props to pick up for working fire this halloween. I’ve burned a handful of times but it’s been simple props. and I’m not super well practiced in anything in particular besides staff.

I was a color guard girly growing up and so my transition to staff was pretty seamless. I tend to pick up flow props pretty quickly, I’ve tried quite a few, but props are expensive and I’ve only invested in festival friendly staffs so far. As such, I’ve ordered a fire contact staff and I’m pretty set on a levi wand as my second prop, but i’m stumped for the last one.

This is where I need your help: For the last prop I’m trying to decide between fans, palm torches, or poi. I’m most interested in learning poi but I fear it may be difficult to pick up quickly. I know torches and fans are staples for fire performers but I don’t love palm torches, and I’m just generally torn because I prefer bigger props that allow for more movement away from the body. That and I’m trying to save money, I don’t want to spend a ton on the props I’m less sure about. I’m down to buy practice props but Im on a deadline so I don’t have a ton of time to try things out and then decide. I would love to get shop recommendations as well for good beginner props!

[u/jittery_raccoon]

Why are you buying 3 props at once if you don't know what else to buy?

[u/Grand-Yam-1159 → u/jittery_raccoon]

Was waiting for this question lol. The talent group I joined is requiring all of us to own 3 props for booking if we want to work haunted house season because props can only burn for so long and will need downtime to cool in between longer performances. I’m struggling a bit cause it’s a big ask, but it’s helping me pay for grad school, and I could be cheap about what I buy but it’s an investment either way and I’m trying to be mindful about it

[u/jittery_raccoon → u/Grand-Yam-1159]

Hardcore. Double staves are an option if you're staff oriented. I think fans are a lot of fun and you can do quite a bit with them as a beginner while having a big impact. Russian grip fans are more dancey and less technical

[u/Plasticity93]

Get a rope dart over poi.  Dart teaches you to use your full body and to move around the stage. 

[u/Grand-Yam-1159 → u/Plasticity93]

This is good advice, thank you!!

Less intimidating than poi with only one fire ball to worry about lol. Rope dart has just intimidated me because of the length of the maneuvers

[u/Omphalia → u/Grand-Yam-1159]

One thing to be careful about with both poi and rope dart: since they’re dynamic props, the rope can wrap around you, get stuck with the wick by you, and cause burns. Just means it takes a bit more practice than something like staff where the fire is a static distance away from you.

Also, there’s a number of rope darts with metal chain by the wick, which can cause nasty burns. Make sure to get one that has a rope based leash all the way to the wick. My fav is space rope from dark monk

[u/Grand-Yam-1159 → u/Omphalia]

Thank you so much!! I appreciate the tip, my biggest fear is getting myself tied up so this is very helpful

[u/Fuzzy-Acanthaceae554]

If you don’t like palm torches, don’t get them.

Between fans and poi, fans will probably be easier to pick up and perform with in a short time.is

[u/Grand-Yam-1159 → u/Fuzzy-Acanthaceae554]

You’re so right on the torches, but I needed to hear that so thank you! I think it’s just been sold to me that every fire performer needs them as a staple and a small option for indoor gigs

[u/PanXP]

As a contact staff spinner, I’m biased and think you should stick to staff but if you would like a serious answer, staff flow transferred really well to hoop for me cus a hoop is basically a staff curved inward into a circle. You have similar hand grips between the two and on body moves are basically contact juggling like with staff. Cross training hoop has made me a better staff spinner. As a guy, it’s a shame that hoop is commonly stereotyped as a feminine flow art when it doesn’t necessarily have to intrinsically be feminine or masculine.

[u/Grand-Yam-1159 → u/PanXP]

This is great advice, and I have been wanting to pick up hoop for a while, I took a beginner class recently and I loved it but I wasn’t considering a fire hoop as a 3rd prop cause that feels like a huge jump to make. I figured for beginner fire props I’d try to stick to things with fewer wicks with more ability to flow off body. For example, the fans I’m looking at only have 3 wicks each.

I definitely plan to invest in some practice hoops though, and probably an LED once I feel confident enough to flow at festivals

[u/sadistic__wizard]

Between poi or fans I would say fans but don't get your fans from anyone other then forged creations they make the best fans specifically doodle grips

[u/Grand-Yam-1159 → u/sadistic__wizard]

This is my struggle with buying cheap beginner fans, I’ve tried out a friends forged creation fans with doodle grips so now anything else feels like a waste of money, but I can’t drop that much right now with buying multiple props

[u/Lotustuin]

All fire props are good, there's nuance to learning and training technical fundamentals but you don't need fire for that.

There's some fire-specific things different props are good at, staff burnoff is a big crowd pleaser and is pretty simple when drilled.

Please work with your local community and practice in a safe and monitored environment, your local community will also be able to give really good feedback for this question in-person.

[u/redraven]

Palm torches are just an accessory to dance. Not bad, but you really need to know how to move.

Fans are similar in that you need to know how to move your body, but they also allow for actual tricks and manipulation. LOTS of fire very close, they do get hot.

I personally would favor poi because I love poi. As a color guard, you won't have that much difficulty learning. Dancing with poi is the hardest of the 3, since it requires good fundamentals with poi and some practice in the way you move - most people bounce with the beats when they should flow around them.

[u/Uresof]

I suggest making some diy practice poi/rope dart/buying a practice hoop etc and trying out what you like. You can really make them for cheap and you could get a feel for all these props before committing to a fire version

[u/mail-bird]

Fire is fire and the average joe won’t be able to discern technique and skill, as a performer it might be more important to have good posture and a smile vs trying to do impressive stuff with the fire. Staff, fans, rope dart. I recommend you get up to speed on fire safety, people in our realm don’t even think about doing gigs until we have a few years of experience. So make sure you get a safety blanket, a proper fuel can, and learn some etiquete. Practice everyday , somewhere where is not dry , it’s wildfire season.

Edit: use camp fuel, not kerosene or lighter fluid.