How many weekender women pay for a ghost male?

[Spin dryer]

It seemed to me that at Storm that there were significantly more women than men, despite the balancing of the sexes. It occurs to me that one possible explanation could be that some women who missed the boat for female only bookings paid for themselves and a fictitious male. Has anyone done that?

[Lynn]

It seemed to me that at Storm that there were significantly more women than men, despite the balancing of the sexes. It occurs to me that one possible explanation could be that some women who missed the boat for female only bookings paid for themselves and a fictitious male. Has anyone done that?

For Ceroc events it would be pretty easy for them to know whether this has happened or not and how often as each member of any booked party is supposed to turn up in person to have their male/female wristband fitted. So the organisers would surely know exactly how many, if any, women turned up without a man to collect the male wristband for their booking.

On an aside, it certainly seemed to be quieter this year, yet I believe the event was sold out. Does anyone know if numbers were reduced, or did some people book a cheap ticket and just turn up for the Saturday evening?

[MartinHarper]

Seemed to be more leaders in the handful of classes I went to. I'm not sure whether to blame the teachers for excess leader-focus, or the followers for not caring about becoming better dancers.

My expectation is that the event didn't "sell out", but rather that Ceroc stopped selling tickets a little before the final date for organisational reasons.
Also, note that Ceroc don't promise perfect 50/50 gender balance.

[Ghost]

I can assure you no women paid for me at Storm

I danced with some on Monday, but that was free

[killingtime]

Could we have the option "I've been a ghostly male at an event" please .

[stewart38]

It seemed to me that at Storm that there were significantly more women than men, despite the balancing of the sexes. It occurs to me that one possible explanation could be that some women who missed the boat for female only bookings paid for themselves and a fictitious male. Has anyone done that?

Id say 5% more women

Try Franco camber May 2004 or Nov 2004 for significantly more
In fact by 2/3am its back to hunt the lady

Anyway its fairly easy to abuse the system

All you need to do is know a name of a person going and just say your with them (assuming there not on there own) and turn up and stay elsewhere

Also lots of women could book for a man and women (£58 ?) and just go on there own or share with others of just walk on site

All fairly easy , there is no need to need to know names of others booking

[Gadget]

If anyone is considering this for any aberdeen events, I'm perfectly willing to take up ghost's place (He get's about a bit dosn't he )

gig·o·lo - Show Spelled Pronunciation[jig-uh-loh, zhig-] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -los.
1. ~
2. a male professional dancing partner or escort.

[Feelingpink]

Could we also have the option: "I hadn't thought of booking a ghost male, but thanks for the idea?"


Cue lots of bookings with "Casper" as one of the dancers ...

[Astro]

Don't blame the women!
I know men who book accomodation for two men, except one has a fictitious name, and only one turns up.
This is because it is cheaper to pay for a shared room with a male ghost than it is to book single accomodation.
Until cheap single accomodation is offered, the gender balance will be ****-eyed.

[Trouble]

Don't blame the women!
.
Until cheap single accomodation is offered, the gender balance will be ****-eyed.

**** - eyed - there is a joke there somewhere.......must resist....must resist.

[David Bailey]

Don't blame the women!
I know men who book accomodation for two men, except one has a fictitious name, and only one turns up.

I thought there were rules against that?

Mind you, I'm not sure how they could be enforced...

[Gentabout]

I had an offer on the saturday night of being paid. Does that count?.

Had to turn it down of course, being a man of the cloth for the evening.





Gent.

Ps having a girlfriend was the first reason for turning her down, being a cardinal was just a bonus.

[stewart38]

Don't blame the women!
I know men who book accomodation for two men, except one has a fictitious name, and only one turns up.
This is because it is cheaper to pay for a shared room with a male ghost than it is to book single accomodation.
Until cheap single accomodation is offered, the gender balance will be ****-eyed.

NO blame ceroc for doing it !!

why should my friend pay £149 for a single room when he can pay £118 for say a two male or male /female room and just not have the other person there. I 'pretend' he has a friend

For god sake the fact he is a sad loner should be punishment enough rather then charging him extra to have his/her room

[LMC]

Agree that an organisation charging "singles" more than buying two tickets is shooting itself in the foot when trying to gender balance.

I think there were a few more women than men at Storm but didn't find it a major problem [shrug] - I got asked plenty as well as getting out there and doing the asking, it felt "balanced" in terms of effort

Lynn makes a good point - if people can get a single ticket for £29 then that's darn good value for a couple of workshops and a nearly-all-night freestyle on Saturday only and I wouldn't be surprised if a fair few people did this at Storm - IMO it was noticeably busier on Saturday than on Friday and Sunday. Although this could be the people who arrive late Fri/Sat am or leave early Sun am. BUt then they would be more likely to stay for the whole time if the tickets were more expensive. TBH, for £29 I would rather arrive Sat am and drive home Sun am and get than share with a stranger, and am strongly considering this for Storm next year and other Ceroc weekenders I may want to go to, but don't have enough leave for the Fri/Mon.

[Astro]

For god sake the fact he is a sad loner should be punishment enough rather then charging him extra to have his/her room

Or.....he may be hoping to lure someone back

[Hayles]

I understand why ceroc want to even out the numbers of men and women for events like storm, but it can never be totally even.
Besides I am female (last time I checked) but I can also dance as a male and at storm I went to lessons as a "man" so that I could improve my repetoire, but danced as a lady most of the evening. So what's to say that just because someone is female that that is the role they will dance all weekend? You really regualte that kind of thing anyway.
Also I've seen plenty of guys dancing together, so at the end of the day there's always someone to dance with!

[mick s]

So why not give the customers what they want and break the weekend down into sections e.g.

Freestyle Nights only
Individual nights freestyle
Freestyle and classes

May prove logistically more difficult to organise but with some thought and careful pricing strategy could probably generate even more revenue than currently, whilst giving people more flexibility.

[David Bailey]

So why not give the customers what they want and break the weekend down into sections e.g.

Freestyle Nights only
Individual nights freestyle
Freestyle and classes

I think Ceroc are starting to play with this concept by introducing Utopia / Non-Utopia sections?

But yes, a more "pay-as-you-go" approach might well be more lucrative. Of course, it's easy for us to say that, making it work is the hard part.

[Lynn]

I think Ceroc are starting to play with this concept by introducing Utopia / Non-Utopia sections?

But yes, a more "pay-as-you-go" approach might well be more lucrative. Of course, it's easy for us to say that, making it work is the hard part.

I don't actually like that idea. I like the fact that when I get to a weekender I can just decide to attend/watch whatever workshops I feel like, go and dance in whatever rooms I feel like, depending on my mood. The 'pay for access to part of the venue only' bit means I either have to decide in advance whether I want to any classes - while not knowing what classes are on offer or who the teachers are - or pay the full amount, then end up not doing any classes etc anyway and feeling I've 'overpaid'.

I know, illogical. But that's me. And I have to admit the two level thing at Breeze has been a factor in putting me off booking. But I'm probably the only one, everyone else probably thinks its a great idea.

[David Bailey]

I know, illogical. But that's me. And I have to admit the two level thing at Breeze has been a factor in putting me off booking. But I'm probably the only one, everyone else probably thinks its a great idea.

I think that "all-inclusive" deals seem to be going out of fashion slowly, in some areas at least, as the "pricing management" technology improves - e.g. digital telly pricing.

Ideally, a pay-as-you-go approach could mean that the overall quality of each "component" would improve - because if it's no good, no-one will pay for it (in the same way that buffet meals are generally less good quality than a la carte).

Of course, that also means that popular classes will be seen as good classes, which is not always the case - some areas are just niche...