hoopster girl

Ok, so lets say you just got back from powwow and you accepted being a head dancer. What would you do to prepare yourself for powwow next year? Including but not limited to outfit updates, modification, practice, preparation for giveaway.

Oh yeah nothing about "money is not a problem" cuz it is a problem. everything should be realistic

Hoopster Girl

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ooo.. shiny

crazywolf

Boozhoo niji,

Well lets see, this sounds familiar. I put it off for as long as possible, wait until the last minute. Acutally... thats not true entirely.

My outfit gets updated continuiously, but then again, I am a fancy dancer, and I wouldnt be if I didnt always change something right? I guess I cant really help you there.

I never practice, dancing is something that comes naturally. You practice for a play. You dance to live.

As far as money being a problem... well thats the way it is for all of us innit? I usually spend about $50 to $100 for a giveaway. I try to stretch the money as far as I can. My favorite thing to giveaway is something useful. I like to make these shower kits for the vets, dancers, whoever is at the pow wow. Our pow wows are small, so I make 25-30 of these. They go a long way. I find the supplies wherever I can, Big Lots, Ebay, flea markets, yard sales, clearance sales. I am looking all the time. I get the travel sizes of shampoo, soap bar, toothpaste, mouthwash and toothbrush. Then I makea little bag with a drawstring and put those in. The material for those is bought from local fabric shops off the remnants tables.

Then I get toys for the kids, anything I find, usually spend $1 or less per gift. Hotwheels are cheap, and sometimes I can find these little baby dolls at clearance stores or whereever. I check yardsales all the time, clean out my attic, wherever there is stuff that can be recycled.

Good luck.

Derek

CHEROSAGE

I think know what you are saying and wanting to know.

We hit Wal-mart, Dollar General, K-mart,ETC., all clearance sales everywhere. We will buy all year. Think about food baskets, putting together little gifts(such as makeup kits for girls). Make little purses, BUY things on sale.

We will make outfit changes all year. This even means the rest of the family, not just the Head Staff. I always like a new shirt.

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BOB

Pathfinder

I pretty much do as the others. First, I set a budget. Usually, half of my fee. I prepare no less than six months, usually every pay day buy a little.

I pretty much have an ongoing project with my dance attire. My Mom's a great seamstress, so maybe a new dress.

Mostly, I try not to stress, and get a good night's rest the night before.


Have fun & keep dancing!

CHEROSAGE

In addition to getting ourselves ready we start saving money to make sure we can get there and back. We make sure we have enough food and drinks, if we camp, to feed friends and family as they come to camp and visit/stay.

We begin to tell everyone we know about the dance. This is good for the Powwow Committee and the Powwow. As soon as the Committee can get fliers to you start passing them out everyone so they can make plans to come support you.

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BOB

Eagle Plumes

I pretty much do what Bob, does, hit walmart, dollar general for like baskit stuff , snackes for the drum, cough drops ext. But i also make things i like to do hand towls for the drums, vets, honored elders, i collect al year , i even collect when im not going to be head staff just in case one pops up i wont be scrambling to get it together, and my family are huge helpers ! i can always count on shawls from my sister-in-law & blankets seem to come out of nowhere, im always getiing offers for helping out with my give-away, but i too am always getting into my"stash" when i hear of a give-away that afriend or family member is having and contribute a little something, there have been times where $$$ has been real tite so i offer to either sew or help hand out the gifts either way im helping out. And i always honer the elders, Children and the vets. I like giving sacagawea dollars to the real little ones "careful they dont try to eat them" oh and candy for the kids i remember running for the candy, so i like to watch them scramble for it. And last but not least I like something new when im headlady, a new dress is always nice but my closit is getting quite full! so then i add a new piece of beadwork here and there.

WhoMe

Hoopster,

When I am asked to be on head staff I contact my family, community and tribal members to support the powwow.

I attend powwows and pass out flyers. I get online and email my friends.

If I am head dancer I make sure I take other dancers with me from my area to that powwow. If I am head singer, I support other head singers throughout the year and in return ask for their support to help me. If I am announcer, I make sure other emcees have a powwow flyer when they announce.

I also make sure information about the powwow is listed on Powwows.com. You never know who may be monitoring this site!

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"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe