Tutorial: Microlight Glove Rave Light Shows Part 2 - Hand Techniques and Basics Lightzombies.com

I’ve separated this section from specific techniques because I believe it is important to have a solid foundation for every skill (you have to learn to walk before you can run). Here are some basic concepts that will help new glovers.

1. A good light show will FLOW. After learning some techniques, practice making them flow together. If you stop AT ALL between techniques (to think, or regain position, or for whatever reason) your viewers will pick up on the pause and the flow of the show will be interrupted.

2. Don’t just move your hands around quickly and sporadically. Fast moving lights do not make a light show good, unless they flow well together.

3. Finger dexterity is important. Practice the finger moves in your downtime at school, work, or whenever you have spare time. The great thing about gloving is you don’t need gloves on to practice.

4. Rotate your wrists. Stiff wrists make for bad light shows.

5. MOVE YOUR ELBOWS! Do not keep your elbows tucked to your side. This will restrict the movement of your arms, once again causing a bad light show.

The first way is to begin practicing liquid dance moves. There are TONS of tutorials on youtube about liquid dance. Learning some of these techniques and practicing them will allow you to create the connected effect that occurs when one hand follows the other. This is a foundation for good light shows. When I get a chance I will take some pictures illustrating the basics of liquid movements. The basic idea behind them involved pretending your middle fingers are connected by string, and having one hand follow the other.

Develop INDIVIDUAL finger dexterity. Hopefully in your life you’ve played the piano, or guitar, or other instrument which requires finger dexterity (or are a good typist). Practicing is simple, and can be done in your spare time, ANYWHERE. Simply stick your hand out with both pinkies connected. Bend your first finger of your left or right hand towards your palm, then bring it back to a flat position. Follow the same technique with your middle, ring and pinkie finger, then move to the other hand (pinkie first this time). The pinkies and ring fingers are usually hard to separate, so don’t get frustrated. Complete independence is not required. This practice will also help with some of the basic finger roll moves that will be addressed in my next hub. You can also practice individual finger dexterity by placing your hand on the table and attempting to lift each finger up individually.

Once you’ve developed individual finger dexterity you will want to work on coordinating your fingers. This works in a very similar way. Place your hands out flat in front of you with your pinkies touching and your thumbs stuck out. Lift your first finger up partially, just like the previous exercise. Follow that with your middle finger, and as you close your middle finger, finish closing your first finger. Follow your middle finger with your ring finger, then your pinkie, then the other hand’s pinkie, ring, middle and first finger. You should end up with all fingers tucked like a fist. From this position, simply reverse the moves. Many people open their fingers at the same time, or too quickly. The close and open motions should be at the same speed, and look very similar. Once your palm is flat, repeat the motion the other way. Make sure you can do this both ways! This is part of the finger roll effect, which can be AWESOME if practiced enough and executed well.

The technique above is usually applied to a type of "finger dancing" called digitz. Youtube digitz dancing for more tutorials on finger flows.  I'm going to write more about digitz in the next section of this hub.