Performance techniques: Part I

Welcome to the 'Performance techniques' series. This series is for everyone and is designed to improve your performance in both senses of the word. Whether you are on stage or tying your lover, it is always a performance in that you want to perform that activity to the best of your ability. On stage, you are also performing a role to an audience but, in private, you and your partner are both performers and audience. Regardless of who you are tying for, this course will improve your ‘performance’.

Between us, Nina and I, have done countless sessions, 100’s of gigs and many prestigious commercial jobs. In fact, I was quite shocked to find photos of my first performance dated last millennium so that makes me something of a veteran of the circuit. Consequently, we have learned a lot from that and from watching many of the world's greatest shibari performers first-hand which we will share with you. This means you don’t have to learn the hard way or make the same mistakes.

It will improve both your tying and your chances of success and, if it’s your goal, to make money. Of course, the main thing is to have fun but it can be very lucrative. There are many times that I have earned more in a few hours than the average person does a week. – but sadly, not every week! Nevertheless, it did allow me to pack in my day job by making rope my career and give me the freedom to follow my passion. Isn't that everyone's dream? What I can promise is a lot of fun, some great opportunities, meeting interesting people and plenty of travel. Don't blame us if you run away and join the circus!

In the series, we'll explore how you can make a great performance and how little things can make all the difference using real examples from shows. You'll learn the single most important thing that makes an impression, regardless of whether you are with your partner in an auditorium, and we'll point out some of the needless errors almost every beginner makes. We will guide you, step by step, through the minefield of planning and creating a show. There will also be in-depth critiques of advanced performances explaining the elements, what was strong and how improvements could be made.

This course is very comprehensive because success as a performer is a lot more than knowing how to tie. For this reason, you should take care to study and analyse all the examples in depth and, of course, practice. Reaching your potential takes time and effort but we believe it will be a lot faster and easier with this course..

Part I

In this first part, we'll take you right from getting gigs, creating a persona and Internet presence, marketing yourself in this increasingly competitive area, playing a role and all the practicalities. In the process, we will give you many real world examples from top performers which will teach you invaluable tips and hints on performing and tying technique.

Don't worry if you don't have a clue how to market yourself or have little or no budget. I'll show you how to promote yourself almost entirely for free without much technical knowledge or effort.

The experience we will share is priceles but you'll save the price of this course in hard cash by just following a couple of bits of advice. In fact, we will point out mistakes that could cost you hundreds and others that could even bankrupt. You'll also avoid wasting countless hours scouring the netas we provide copious instructions and explanations for every step.

This is your first step in becoming a successful performer in every sense of the word.