build freestyle time

[sciwhiz]

Hey everyone

I was wondering how long you guys take to plan out and practice your freestyles. I'm doing a Christmas talent show on December 20th and the song I took lasts 3:01 minutes.  Its been 2 weeks since I've started but I've only planned out about 35 seconds and I'm starting to stress out because of lack of time(also because it's going to be my first public performance). So I'd like your opinion about if I should just cancel my number or something, if what I'm doing is really impossible. Or if you guys have tips for lining up tricks in a fluid way rapidly or to practice efficiently (I can barely get 5 hours of practice a week these days).

Thanks

[crazyyoyoer37]

don't cancel! what level of yoyoer would you say you are? 1-10 and are you good at improvising? send me a message with your response

[sciwhiz]

Its been a bit more than 1 year since I've started... September 2007. I can do almost everything on Mastermagic.net if that can help anyone.

[Xdohl]

I actually just did a talent show not that long ago. What I did, is I planned the very beginning. Then, I just made stuff up as I went. If something I did instinctively fit well in that spot, I kept it.

[mystik115]

 i did a talent show at intermediate lvl last year,
Just improvise. you don't necessarily have to have a plan because no matter what its going to look cool to non-yoyoers.
Also remember to warm up for at least 20 minutes prior to your performence,
I missed a lot of tricks that i can do 10/10 when im not in front  of a crowd, so expect to miss some tricks that your normally hit.

[Raidernation67]

usually 3 miinutes to make it up on the spot.

[lilithbunny]

Keep in mind that this is a talent show, not a yoyoing competition. You're not under any pressure to do as many tricks as possible within your time limit.

Feel free to have fun and have some stage presence. Many years ago I entered a talent competition as a yoyoer and performed about a total of 10 different tricks during my 5 minute entry. The rest was all stage play explaining tricks, getting audience participation, building up suspense (i.e. freaking out the competition organizers by convincing them I would knock out a kid's teeth with a yoyo), etc. Even if you have music playing the whole time you can take up plenty of time having fun with the audience. Having to pretend you're having a lot of fun also helps with nerves.

[neX_Con]

I was made to do an impromptu performance infront of my friend's girl friend an i just do whatever stuff i love to do.  

[petan]

i always spend just only  a week before competiton to build my freestyl...but week of relly hard work...

[Shanaroni242]

I think Lilithbunny has some great advice. Have fun with it, and if the audience and judges see you're having fun, they will have fun too!

Also keep in mind that most non-yo-yoers are thoroughly impressed by simple tricks like Walk the Dog and Rock the Baby. No need to get overly complicated. Complicated tricks may cause boredom with some people.

Other crowd pleasers:
Dizzy Baby
Eli Hops
Bomerang
Elevator
Leg Wrap Trapeze
Mach 5
Boingy
Run the Dog
picture tricks: Flag, Tower, Scissors
Hop the Fence
Planet Hops

You get the idea! Good luck!

[Adam Brewster]

just do something half as cool as this, and you've got it made. 

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/kqV3_xJeWn0&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/kqV3_xJeWn0&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0</a>

[sciwhiz]

 Hey everyone, thanks for the great replies. Many of my doubts have been answered. However there are things I should clarify.

-I can't do anything 2A, 3A, 4A or 5A so its basically going to be 1A all along.
-The audience will be 40% old aged people, 30% adults and 30% 25yrs and under. We're all part of a martial arts school. The old people pretty much won't have a reaction to anything, save for more old people signing old songs, so I couldn't care less if I bore them to oblivion. The rest, even though most have never seen yoyoing,  have seen their fair share of impressive stuff on the net so they'll probably be bored with rock the baby.
-I also asked some people who are organizing the event what they are expecting if I yoyo and got as a reply 'Something that has lots of movement and decent timing to the music'. So I take out my mp3 player (D2) and show them Mickey CJ 2006 and Kentaro ECC 2008. Response: 'Kentaro's is repetitive and Mickey has no timing'. Which is why : Me =» Stress since I think its anything but that. At any rate, I'm pretty sure they're expecting a standard competition freestyle, though just not up to mickey level.
-There are no judges. Nothing to win. There might be food thrown at me if my performance is horrible though(we're in a restaurant).

thanks again for the tips and advices

[Shanaroni242]

Hey everyone

I was wondering how long you guys take to plan out and practice your freestyles. I'm doing a Christmas talent show on December 20th and the song I took lasts 3:01 minutes.  Its been 2 weeks since I've started but I've only planned out about 35 seconds and I'm starting to stress out because of lack of time(also because it's going to be my first public performance). So I'd like your opinion about if I should just cancel my number or something, if what I'm doing is really impossible. Or if you guys have tips for lining up tricks in a fluid way rapidly or to practice efficiently (I can barely get 5 hours of practice a week these days).

Thanks

You might consider switching back and forth between front- and side-style. Alternate between easy and difficult tricks.

Use the whole stage. Smile and make eye contact with the audience.

-I can't do anything 2A, 3A, 4A or 5A so its basically going to be 1A all along.
-The audience will be 40% old aged people, 30% adults and 30% 25yrs and under. We're all part of a martial arts school. The old people pretty much won't have a reaction to anything, save for more old people signing old songs, so I couldn't care less if I bore them to oblivion. The rest, even though most have never seen yoyoing,  have seen their fair share of impressive stuff on the net so they'll probably be bored with rock the baby.
-I also asked some people who are organizing the event what they are expecting if I yoyo and got as a reply 'Something that has lots of movement and decent timing to the music'. So I take out my mp3 player (D2) and show them Mickey CJ 2006 and Kentaro ECC 2008. Response: 'Kentaro's is repetitive and Mickey has no timing'. Which is why : Me =» Stress since I think its anything but that. At any rate, I'm pretty sure they're expecting a standard competition freestyle, though just not up to mickey level.
-There are no judges. Nothing to win. There might be food thrown at me if my performance is horrible though(we're in a restaurant).

thanks again for the tips and advices

Nothing to win = Nothing to lose   

Plus, you can practice as much as possible for the next 4 weeks.

[Monkey Grinder]

Make a list of tricks that you want to do during the freestyle, then just mess around till you have them in the right order.

Play to the crowd alot (glances, gestures, etc.). If they're involved, they'll enjoy your performance much more.

[JAG]

if you need extra time add some easy stuff the crowd will like, such as eli hops

[kizzyontay52]

get some holds in there, leave some time to look up at the crown etc and walk around.

 stuff like chopstick eifel towers or easier alternativces can be held, so that will give more time.

[elMalo]

I was thinking just a second ago. One way to get the audience involved. First start off with like a yomega fireball or a duncan butterfly, yoyos that most recognize. And do the tricks that most people know, like the cradle, eiffel tower, etc. Then, switch to unresponsive, and try to tug return it back. Say something like "Oh it must be broken..." then bind and start the rest of your freestyle.

[kizzyontay52]

I was thinking just a second ago. One way to get the audience involved. First start off with like a yomega fireball or a duncan butterfly, yoyos that most recognize. And do the tricks that most people know, like the cradle, eiffel tower, etc. Then, switch to unresponsive, and try to tug return it back. Say something like "Oh it must be broken..." then bind and start the rest of your freestyle.

dicky did that at 07 uk nationals. got 2nd place.

[spyderman]

I just found out about talent show tryouts today and they start in a week
I am using the song Wizards in Winter By: Trans Siberian Orchestra.
I have been in 3 talent shows in the past. Dont worry it is not that bad. ( Sometimes it is: Try presenting in front of 900 people)
You will be ok with even a 2:00 show because all of the non yoyoers just love it.
Just do what you are comfortable doing even if it is just easy tricks!

Good luck!