poi are customizable to whatever your tastes are. for a beginner, i would recommend smaller wicks. most people start with cathedrals (which are squares) or smaller monkey-fists (2.5 inches) until you get used to being around the flames. dog chains are studier and more reliable but are a bit heavier than ball chains. you also cant do any hyper loops or orbitals with dog chains because they link up and tangle if they come in contact with each other. if you use lamp oil instead of white gas, make sure it is clear. you can get it pretty cheap here:

www.buytikitorches.com/tiki-t...oil-128

note that lamp oil will burn longer than white gas and can burn down your wicks much faster so you should blow them out instead of letting them go out on their own. brown fuel is full of impurities and while lamp oil has a lower flash point (does not ignite as easily) major impurities will absorb into your skin and collect in your liver and kidneys which can lead to major health problems after a few years. as far as safety goes, a damp towel does work fine if you dont have a duvie, but make sure its not completely soaked. if heated, water evaporates and steam burns can be just as bad as burns from fire only steam continues to rise and doesnt dissipate as quickly as a quick burst of flame would. a word of caution on something that took me by surprise when i lit up with fresh wicks for the first time: when wicks have never been burned, there is no carbon (black stuff) caked on the outside. this causes the wicks to burn incredibly bright and hot. repeated use will bring them down a little bit so dont be taken off guard. i was really surprised and almost burned myself pretty badly. it was a while before i worked up the nerve to try again so be warned. that said have a blast. www.playpoi.com is a great resource if you havent utilized it already. be safe and have fun!

Yeah, it looks like it'll be warm and dry. So we should get a good crowd. You can check the website before you leave for the most up-to-date info. I'll change the front page to the site if we're rained out or closed for a holiday or whatever.