/r/ContactStaff

Photograph via snooOG

This subreddit is dedicated to the art of Contact Staff, a form of object manipulation.

Anything related to staff is acceptable.

This subreddit is dedicated to the art of Contact Staff, a form of object manipulation.

Feel free to post your own photos or videos if you just want to show off, or post your favorite subjects and tutorials related to contact staff. Feel free to post other staff related subjects like double staff and such.

Join us on Facebook! The Facebook flow arts community is ever growing, much like the flow arts community on Reddit - we'd love you to join in on the discussion that's going on in the Contact Staff Facebook group!

Tutorials:

Purchasing a Contact Staff:

If you're an object manipulator looking to meet-up with like-minded individuals, these are the places you want to go:

Rules & Guidelines:

  1. Try to avoid redundant or over-asked questions: if your question can be answered by the sidebar - please use that instead of creating a new topic on an already addressed question (e.g. don't ask "where can I buy a contact staff?", ask what specifications you're exactly looking for)
  2. Keep discussion civil! No trolling, flaming, or personal attacks will be tolerated!
  3. In order to keep this subreddit on topic we rely on our users here to keep out poor quality content. As much as we hope to be on top of everything, we can't be. Please report any posts that go against the subreddit rules so the moderation team can act accordingly.

Related Subreddits:

/r/ContactStaff

1,785 Subscribers

7

Kiki Ex Machina. Flow Show 13 double contact staff

5 Comments
2024/11/29
22:35 UTC

1

Staff with strands on ends?

Looking for a interchangeable fire/led staff with strands on ends aswell

5 Comments
2024/11/20
03:11 UTC

2

Troubleshooting

I have a Pixel LED Staff 32 from Sacred Flow Art While i was using it one sides image compleatly froze, and i turned it off hoping for the off again on again trick.

Now it will turn on and communicate with the other side, but it wont light up itself.

Is there any way to fix this?

0 Comments
2024/10/20
00:51 UTC

2

Flights

Has anyone ever taken their contact staff on a plane?

I have a fire one and an led one. Im trying to figure out if i can bring the led one. I got a hard no from the tsa kn the fire one. But they never answered my question about the led.

2 Comments
2024/10/12
18:12 UTC

1

Where to buy practice staffs?

I am looking to buy my partner a contact staff as a present. He will want to do fire eventually, so one with wicks. He is 6’ - what length should I get? Any Canadian fire flow shops?

TIA 🔥

6 Comments
2024/10/06
20:41 UTC

1

any alternative to flowers?

is there an alternative which provides the same physical properties of a flower but wont make my noble staff look like an oomba woomba ceremonial stick?

2 Comments
2024/10/05
14:57 UTC

6

Fishtails - how long did you take?

How long did you take to learn fishtails? I’ve been using this tutorial and am having trouble with connecting the two halves of the infinity sign.

I am using a DIY staff. I’m 5’4”, the staff is 58”. I’m starting to wonder if it’s a bit long for some tricks.

Edit: I DID IT! Focusing on how the staff feels is the way to go

11 Comments
2024/09/30
13:49 UTC

8

First staff!!

I have finally ordered my first staff and I went with dark monk. I have a lot of friends who fire spin with poi and hoops but I’m the first to have a contact staff. With that being said, what are the best tutorials to watch for a beginner?

5 Comments
2024/08/29
00:56 UTC

2

Contact staff options in DE

Hey all, I'm a semi-beginner with flow and looking to finally get my own prop. I've been spinning mostly regular staff (with and without fire) and dragon staff (only practice) and was debating about which one to get, and am slowly settling on contact staff as it's a bit of an in-between and also none of my fire-spinning friends do it so it's a bit different.

So I was looking at options that are reasonable to get in Germany, and I've found a few but really not sure how to choose or if there are other options I should be looking at

One I got recommended was https://www.etsy.com/de-en/listing/668258487/contact-fire-staff - a friend of mine got a fire staff from this store and really likes it. It's aluminum, but tbh he's never had any issues with his bending or wicks getting damaged and it's been dropped plenty of times (he covers the wicks when practicing and I'd do the same ofc). The cheapest option I've found that looks decent. I don't know what kind of grip tape they use, I would need to ask them, it doesn't look like silicone though

I'm also looking at https://www.gora.hu/product/contactstaff/view which has a carbon fiber option, but ofc it's a little more expensive. I've heard though that the quality of gora used to be better than it is now?

Or I could also go with https://www.gora.hu/product/spikedcontactstaff/view also from Gora to also be able to use it as a dragon staff

And I saw https://www.jugglingcalling.com/products/contact-staff?taxon_id=12 but it seems pretty expensive for an aluminum staff (almost the same price as carbon fiber from Gora)

Any thoughts?

4 Comments
2024/08/19
12:35 UTC

1

Selling camping ticket for flow retreat in France end September

Heya flowies

I have tennis elbow 😥 so can't use my camping ticket (€495) for this amazing week in France at the end of September.

https://poiretreat.com/castle/

https://flowarts.shop/collections/castle-poi-flow-retreat/products/camping-ticket-the-castle-poi-flow-retreat-2024-deposit

I have paid my deposit of €200 so if you can buy my deposit off me, I will transfer the ticket into your name.

Amazing teachers, beautiful vibes, flow arts and fire !

Love and light

0 Comments
2024/08/09
12:59 UTC

2

Looking for a practice contact staff

Hey guys :) My girlfriend fell in love with the concept of a contact staff and wants to get one for training and dancing. Right now she doesnt have any intentions of using fire. We wanted to get a collapsable fusion staff from three worlds but the shipping to Germany is so damn expensive.. Is the collapsible gora practice staff any good or can you recommend any other shop/staff, preferably shipping from Europe. Or is there an easy/cheap way to do a DYI staff?

5 Comments
2024/08/06
18:41 UTC

1

Wick covers with silk tails?

Hello! I am very new to contact staff, I have been playing around with a few of my friends but finally decided to order one. (Yay!!!) Now I am also looking for wick covers on Etsy.

Now I’m shocked at this, but i am having a hard time finding covers for the 4” classic wick (from dark monk). Everything seems to be shaped for fans, poi, dragon staff, etc…

I did stumbled on some cool wick covers with a silk tail. I was wondering if anyone has experience with these? I do really want them but being so new I do not want to add anything to my staff that will only make it harder to practice.

Does anybody know how the silks affect the use of the staff?

1 Comment
2024/08/02
13:30 UTC

1

How to take apart the Collapsible Contact Staff from Wizards of Flow?

Hi people, I have just received my collapsible contact staff from Wizards of Flow, after putting it together excitedly I can't seem to take it apart anymore. Anyone have some tips? unfortunately WOF does not give much info themselves..

1 Comment
2024/07/25
17:01 UTC

4

Best tutorial for DIY contact staff?

I’m a complete beginner and looking to make my own contact staff. I’ve found a few tutorials but not sure which one to use. I don’t have any power tools at home so one that doesn’t require those and is relatively easy would be good. I was looking at using a wood broom rod and bike tubing on the ends for weights and tennis tape for grip. Any tips? Thanks !

7 Comments
2024/07/04
19:05 UTC

1

Can i bring my staff in my carry on?

I’m doing a transatlantic flight and i wanna bring my staff, its collapsable(3 parts) and i know bats and stuff arent allowed so I’m guessing its a no but does anyone know for sure if I could/couldnt bring it in my hand luggage?

3 Comments
2024/06/10
11:25 UTC

3

Why do people talk about practice staff and fire staff?

Like the title asks,

I've bought my first staff a week ago, a threeworlds fire staff. I'm practicing with it and it's really really fun. I'm just worried because of the terminology I see people using around here - is it common practice to have a cheap staff for practice and keep the fire staff for performance only? Can it get easily ruined?

8 Comments
2024/06/08
07:29 UTC

1

Hard case for plane travel?

Wanting to bring my staff with me on a trip soon but I’m flying. I don’t think it’s smart to check it without being in a protective hard sided case… any recs I can get on short notice?

4 Comments
2024/06/05
20:18 UTC

2

Have been spinning contact fire for a few years now. I'm curious about a possible LEDsetup for separate occasions. Anyone who's experienced both have oppinions?

2 Comments
2024/06/04
02:46 UTC

3

Long hair staffers, how are you not ripping your hair out?

Literally just shaved the bottom inch off my neckline with my longer hair lol. Still struggling. Currently ponytail with a neck gator/dust shield pulled around it the best I can but as I do neck wraps it slides up and hairs start to come out and get painfully ripped out. Any tips?

11 Comments
2024/06/02
00:01 UTC

1

Best book for contact staff tutorials?

I ve only come across the book first contact which is a beginner’s guide. I was looking for something more advanced.

3 Comments
2024/05/19
07:23 UTC

1

Wizard of flow is the wizard of slow.

Just annoyed and want to vent. Lead time for orders was 2-5 weeks when I placed my order. It is now 2-3 weeks lead time according to their site.

I ordered mine 5 weeks ago, going into week 6 now and they still have 5 orders to complete before mine. Was hoping to get it in before an event and thought I gave it ample time but seems like it won’t now. Ugh.

Sucks man.

9 Comments
2024/05/17
12:30 UTC

3

Completly new, staff recommendations?

Hi, I want to start with contact staff training but I am completely new and dont know where exact to start.

Thought will buy an Threeworlds Fusion because its collabsible and so its easier to take it with you. Also like that its changeable with LED Ends or with the V3 Dragon Hub, you can change it into an dragon staff.

Read on Reddit that you should start with a contact staff and then you can add training with a dragon staff. Love the movements of both but will definitly start with contact staff.

Don´t know about the weight because its really light with 500g but maybe I can adjust some weights at the end to make it heavier.

Found also one promising from Gora, which is with 1.2kg heavier. I dont know if I can change the end heads to the dragon heads. Maybe some of you know that.

Whats your opinion for a new starter?

6 Comments
2024/05/16
08:13 UTC

1

Cleaning rubber grip

Ola flowies, my rubber grip is sticky from sun lotion and sand... Any tips for cleaning?

2 Comments
2024/05/15
18:32 UTC

1

Cleaning rubber grip

Ola flowies, my rubber grip is sticky from sun lotion and sand... Any tips for cleaning?

0 Comments
2024/05/15
18:32 UTC

2

Contact staff recommendations.

Sup flowmies. I’m looking to get a new contact staff as my old one is no more. I had a dark monk carbon fiber that I really enjoyed. Before I recommit, I’d like to know what you guys are spinning and your reviews! Tia!

4 Comments
2024/05/08
17:58 UTC

1

Full Vision Contact Staff Secrets?

Anyone got any tips and pointers?

I know there's page 13. And maybe page 5? Anything else?

1 Comment
2024/05/08
04:00 UTC

1

Looking for help

Hello, so I’m writing a fantasy novel and I’m looking for advice on my main character using an acro staff (i think that’s what it is called)

the people of this world are ocean nomads who live on giant floating lily pads.

anyway, long story short, the main character has the ability to enhance the performance of basically every part of his body below his stomach. when using this ability he’s able to do things like leap higher, kick harder (skull crushing), and have the flesh be tough enough to block bladed weapons and heavy blunt force attacks.

i wanted weapon/tool that’s unique and can compliment his fighting style, that’s when I discovered the acro staff. I have some fight scenes in mind of him cartwheeling using the staff and like crunching a skull and other stuff.

I’ve already been researching and watching vids of people doing acrobatics with an acro staff, but i’ve been wondering if some of yall would be able to link me more resources to see different moves that I can use for reference.

I also want to get your opinions on this whole idea and if you think it makes fictional sense… haha

thank you!

3 Comments
2024/05/01
03:44 UTC

2

Traveling with staff on plane?

Flying southwest soon and wondering what the policy is on flying with staff? Mine is non collapsible so I can’t fit it in my suit case. I doubt I could bring it on the plane, correct? It’s 58” and a practice staff if that makes a difference. I’m assuming my only option would be to check it as a separate piece of luggage.

3 Comments
2024/04/19
03:31 UTC

2

DIY Contact Staff Weighting Questions

Thanks in advance for reading any portion of my post, and providing any insight you may have on this project. Hopefully this might help future DIYers searching the sub, too.

BG INFO:

I want to learn a new physical art and get into flow state again after a long hiatus from flow arts. I'm going for a DIY contact double staff for beginner practice. Eventually I might make/buy ones with LEDs, fire, maybe learn techy stuff with smaller staves, etc. For now I'm going for a long and heavy one to learn on. I'm 5'6" and I think I'll make staff around 4'6". If this project goes well I'll make more sizes and weights to see what I like. I know there's a lot of personal preference involved, but I'd like a starting point for the first one.

CURRENT PLAN:

Don't have the money or tools for a metal tube. I'll use either PVC or a wooden dowel for the main portion, then weight the ends and add grip tape to the middle.

If using wood dowel for the staff:

  • Drill through the center of the ends of the dowel deep enough to add a large, heavy nail.
  • Wrap ends with something like a heavy-duty foam (e.g. fitness mat material) to add more end weight and create heads.

If using PVC for the staff:

  • Get two small pieces (6"? 24"? Idk) wood dowel which fit snuggly inside each end of the pipe.
  • Do the nail thing and fitness mat thing as above.

QUESTIONS:

  1. What should the approx. overall weight for the entire staff be? I've seen suggestions between 1lb to 2.5lb.
  2. What should the approx. ratio be of center : ends?
  3. PVC or Wood? PVC will obviously make the weight shift to the ends much more than using a dowel, so knowing the approx. ratio will probably answer this.
  4. External diameter of the dowel/PVC? My initial guess is 1" but I pulled that out of my ass.
  5. Extra credit: What's your favorite grip material? I'm thinking EPDM.

Of course please tell me if there's a totally different approach to any of this that I haven't thought of.

Update:

After getting a couple comments and doing more research, this week I'm going to buy about $100 worth of materials. Yes, I could buy a practice staff for less off Etsy, like around $60, or around $120 from a professional store. But what I'm planning will be enough materials to make 3 staves of various sizes with different handle materials & diameters, different grip types, and different weight ratios (plus I'm a big DIYer so some of the materials are adhesives and whatnot that I will continue to use for other projects). More updates to come.

4 Comments
2024/04/06
07:17 UTC

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