View Poll Results: What's in a name?

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  • I like the name "Modern Jive".

    9 40.91%
  • I like the name "Ceroc(tm)".

    1 4.55%
  • I like another related name like "French Jive", "LeRoc", etc.

    1 4.55%
  • I'd like there to be a different name for this dance.

    10 45.45%
  • I don't mind either way...

    1 4.55%
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Thread: If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

  1. #1
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    If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

    And if so, with what?

    The name 'Modern Jive', I feel, is abit dated. It put me off going to a dance classes (still got dragged to them though) and when I tell people I do 'Modern Jive' they ask if it's all to Rock 'n Roll music.

    Has the dance out grown it's name?

  2. #2
    Lovely Moderator ducasi's Avatar
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    Re: If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

    YES!!!!

    I've been saying it for a while, one of the biggest problems MJ has with marketing itself, is the name. Look at all the weird variants as people try to find a name that sells.

    Finding it difficult to think of a good alternative name though... How about "Street Step"?
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

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    Re: If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi View Post
    YES!!!!

    I've been saying it for a while, one of the biggest problems MJ has with marketing itself, is the name. Look at all the weird variants as people try to find a name that sells.

    Finding it difficult to think of a good alternative name though... How about "Street Step"?

    Better but makes it sound too much like a Hip Hop dance.

    Some people would be happy with Modern Jive though because they are in to Jive, Swing etc. Others aren't.

    Maybe it's time to have lables for different types of MJ?

  4. #4
    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
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    Re: If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

    The name's junk - "Ceroc" is better, as it's simpler and cooler, but obviously that has its own issues. In fact, I think this is a clear area where the existence of Ceroc (the organisation) has not helped promote a generic name for the dance that we do.

    To quote Ceroc.com:
    The style of dance taught at a CEROC class is a fusion of Jive & Salsa which is easy to learn, sociable, fun, and can be danced to any style of music.
    Which is about as useful as a chocolate kettle.

    Howver, most of the alternative names have been grabbed by other organisations ("Le Roc", "Le Step", etc.), and in truth it is quite difficult to name the dance well. NuJive?

    Also, in practice, any new name would fail unless strongly promoted by Ceroc itself, and they're very keen on not doing this.

    So we're stuffed, basically.

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    Re: If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidJames View Post
    The name's junk - "Ceroc" is better, as it's simpler and cooler, but obviously that has its own issues. In fact, I think this is a clear area where the existence of Ceroc (the organisation) has not helped promote a generic name for the dance that we do.

    To quote Ceroc.com:

    Which is about as useful as a chocolate kettle.

    Howver, most of the alternative names have been grabbed by other organisations ("Le Roc", "Le Step", etc.), and in truth it is quite difficult to name the dance well. NuJive?

    Also, in practice, any new name would fail unless strongly promoted by Ceroc itself, and they're very keen on not doing this.

    So we're stuffed, basically.

    No were not. If someone started up classes and advertised them Indy from ceroc, what could you call them. I would be very very keen to get away from the French Connection if it was me, and also from the 'Jive' side of things. Does nothing to encourage younger dancers.

  6. #6
    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
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    Re: If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

    Quote Originally Posted by woodface View Post
    No were not. If someone started up classes and advertised them Indy from ceroc, what could you call them.
    Jive Nation?

    Quote Originally Posted by woodface View Post
    I would be very very keen to get away from the French Connection if it was me, and also from the 'Jive' side of things. Does nothing to encourage younger dancers.
    McGregorRoc?

    The problem is that most of your potential market will have heard of either "Jive" or "Roc" as terms, so commercially you'd be almost forced to use on of those terms, simply for name recognition purposes.

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    Re: If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

    When I was dancing in Sweden recently (with Swingers/Lindy Hoppers), one girl said to me: "you're doing what we call......'Boogie' ".

    I agree with the name issue - well brought up.

    I think the wording should describe something which connotes:
    - the fusion aspect
    - the partner aspect
    - the range of music

    If I talk to some people, I describe MJ as the 'uber' dance form - ie. it sits above all others - and can use elements from any dance style (my opinion).

    Would Tony Blair call it 'The People's Dance'?

    Or - how about......Hip and Spin?
    Last edited by JiveLad; 11th-June-2007 at 02:39 PM.

  8. #8
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    Re: If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

    How about 'Off Beat' - could be appropriate for some participants

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    Re: If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidJames View Post
    The problem is that most of your potential market will have heard of either "Jive" or "Roc" as terms, so commercially you'd be almost forced to use on of those terms, simply for name recognition purposes.
    And it was these two words that made me reluctant to go to Ceroc for months until I actually saw the dance...
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

  10. #10
    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
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    Re: If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi View Post
    And it was these two words that made me reluctant to go to Ceroc for months until I actually saw the dance...
    Sure - but if you're opening a standard MJ-based venue, you're going to be appealing to existing punters more than trying to recruit new ones. So you balance the name-recognition factors - and most organisers think the plusses outweigh the minuses.

    But, out of interest, what sort of name would have been more appealing to you as a beginner?

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    Lovely Moderator ducasi's Avatar
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    Re: If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

    Some more thoughts...

    "Cool Step"?

    "Smooth Step"?

    Tango and Salsa have an advantage of being foreign words, and thus easy to accept as a name for a cool dance. Maybe a made up word would work...

    "Fresha"? "Fressa"? "Funce"?

    Just thought... What would you call a light-weight version of Salsa? Balsa!
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

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    Re: If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

    Funce? lol

    It would have to be something that got people from all ages interested.

  13. #13
    Lovely Moderator ducasi's Avatar
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    Re: If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidJames View Post
    Sure - but if you're opening a standard MJ-based venue, you're going to be appealing to existing punters more than trying to recruit new ones. So you balance the name-recognition factors - and most organisers think the plusses outweigh the minuses.

    But, out of interest, what sort of name would have been more appealing to you as a beginner?
    Yeah, but I'd be aiming to get more new dancers over the years of my existence than I steal from my competitor down the road...

    Not sure what sort of name would have attracted me... Maybe a name involving words and concepts like "fun", "easy", "social" and "modern music".
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

  14. #14
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    Re: If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidJames View Post
    The name's junk - "Ceroc" is better, as it's simpler and cooler
    Yes, "modern jive" sounds incredibly naff, but "ceroc" is worse - not least because it gets distorted by so much creative pronunciation - "sher-ock" being the worst. On top of that it also tends to get a from the uninitiated. Problem is, I can't think of a better name - any description containing the words "jive" or "rock" is misleading and sounds old-fashioned; I end up referring to it as "partner dancing", which really isn't much of an improvement.

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    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
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    Re: If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi View Post
    Not sure what sort of name would have attracted me... Maybe a name involving words and concepts like "fun", "easy", "social" and "modern music".
    "The Easy Fun Social Dance For Cool Cats To Modern Music"

    I like it!

  16. #16
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    Re: If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

    Quote Originally Posted by robd View Post
    How about 'Off Beat' - could be appropriate for some participants


    I think Modern Jive is completely outdated as a term and frankly sounds naff. When I explain to people what kind of dancing I do I find it embarrassing to Say Modern Jive, people assume its rock n roll or something for the pentioners!
    This is just a bit of a rant because I have no idea what could be done about it realistically.

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    Re: If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

    Well, to simplify it, I'd maybe just call it Fuse Dancing

    ....ie short for fusion. And there are lots of live wires there.....and you need to be 'earthed' (no aerials pleeez) - and it does involve getting connected to light things up.....

    ....and.....

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    Re: If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

    Quote Originally Posted by JiveLad View Post
    Well, to simplify it, I'd maybe just call it Fuse Dancing

    ....ie short for fusion. And there are lots of live wires there.....and you need to be 'earthed' (no aerials pleeez) - and it does involve getting connected to light things up.....

    ....and.....

    Best Suggestion yet.

  19. #19
    Lovely Moderator ducasi's Avatar
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    Re: If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

    I've added a poll, hope you don't mind woodface.
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

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    Re: If you could re-title "modern Jive" would you?

    Quote Originally Posted by Zara View Post


    I think Modern Jive is completely outdated as a term and frankly sounds naff. When I explain to people what kind of dancing I do I find it embarrassing to Say Modern Jive, people assume its rock n roll or something for the pentioners!
    This is just a bit of a rant because I have no idea what could be done about it realistically.

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