Someone has invited you to SHINE and you said yes without fully knowing what you agreed to. Here is the honest breakdown…
It is a theatre show, not a nightclub
You will be sitting in a numbered seat in a tiered auditorium, watching a lit stage with performers. There is no dance floor and no standing around a bar all night. It is much closer to a concert than a nightclub.
The shape of the night
Doors open, you find your seat, and the lights go down around 6:30pm. Performers come out one at a time, each doing a routine of between 2 and 3 minutes, and the categories run in blocks. There is an interval roughly halfway through. Awards are at the end, and the whole thing runs about four hours.
What to wear
Whatever you like. Most people land somewhere between a nice pair of jeans and semi formal attire, because SHINE has a bit of an occasion feel to it and plenty of the audience treat it as one. The Round runs cold air conditioning, so bring a layer.
When to cheer
Loudly and often. Pole audiences are not polite golf-clap audiences. You cheer when someone nails a trick, when they land a drop, when they hold something that looks impossible, and when they walk out for the first time. Loud, vocal shouts and screams mid-routine is encouraged rather than rude.
The bit nobody warns you about
You will get emotional. Somewhere around the third or fourth performer you will realise you are watching a student do something extraordinary in front of a full theatre, and it lands harder than you expect. This happens to almost everyone at their first pole comp.
Content and age
SHINE is a 16+ event, with some language, mature themes, sexual content and nudity, plus haze and strobe lighting. Pole history and its art form both include sensuality. Some routines lean into that, some are pure athletics, and some are very funny. Come with an open mind.
Access
The Round has wheelchair access and bookable wheelchair seating, accepts the Companion Card, and has accessible parking. If you need anything specific, call the box office before the night rather than sorting it at the door.
Midshow and Afterwards
You will want to talk about the show so you catch up with friends in the foyer at the intermission or post show.
Friday 30 October, The Round, Nunawading. $50.
