Utopia 4th April 2008

[robd]

A bit belated but I can report that Utopia on Fri night upheld the good traditions of the event when held at Twickenham and provided a good setting for Foxylady's farewell dances - we'll miss you babe
Highlights
* Sparkles yummy cake (I had to have 2 slices )
* Good music for most of the night - I even enjoyed the Smoma! I tried to practice the linedance to Give It Back but failed abysmally - Rocky, how much had you pitched that one up by????
* Some lovely unexpected WCS with ladies who I didn't know even danced it.
* Seemed less crowded than the last couple had been on the floor.

Anyway, that's enough smoke blown up the collective asses

Had an email today stating that the April one is being moved to avoid clashing with a weekend event. I presume that event in question is the Weston WCS Champs and this surprises me a bit as I wouldn't have expected Dave, Val or Vince to be going to that nor the majority of the more frequent Utopia attendees. I do concede that there is some crossover of audience but then there was that to some extent on Fri night as there was a workshop & WCS social on elsewhere that meant there was less WCS being danced on the floor at Utopia than is usually the case (which perhaps explains my perception on the floor crowding) Nonetheless it was still a quality night. The downside of the change is that it means moving to Ashtons where the Utopia experience on the one time I have been there was nowhere near as enjoyable as Twickenham. I expect I will still go there to see friends (and suss out the competition for Weston ) but is a shame it couldn't have been at Twickenham. Having said all that, I remember moaning last year that Chill clashed with Weston so Utopia/Ceroc can't really satisfy everybody whether their events are moved or left to clash.

I'll put a poll up anyway to see who is going.

[Astro]

Had an email today stating that the April one is being moved to avoid clashing with a weekend event. I presume that event in question is the Weston WCS Champs and this surprises me a bit as I wouldn't have expected Dave, Val or Vince to be going to that nor the majority of the more frequent Utopia attendees. I do concede that there is some crossover of audience but then there was that to some extent on Fri night as there was a workshop & WCS social on elsewhere that meant there was less WCS being danced on the floor at Utopia than is usually the case (which perhaps explains my perception on the floor crowding) Nonetheless it was still a quality night. The downside of the change is that it means moving to Ashtons where the Utopia experience on the one time I have been there was nowhere near as enjoyable as Twickenham.

Ealing - first friday of the month - is on the same night.
New people running it.

[Mary]

Ealing - first friday of the month - is on the same night.
New people running it.

UK-Jive still has 4th April listed as Hipsters Big Phat Friday. Who's behind the new gig.

M

[Little Miss]

West Coast Swing Central are having a WCS freestyle with fun Jack and Jill that night so I shall be there.

[Mary]

UK-Jive still has 4th April listed as Hipsters Big Phat Friday. Who's behind the new gig.

M

Thanks Minnie. I guess your reply has been deleted. I've not heard of them (or it), but I'm guessing it must be people we know (or know of). Haven't seen any advertising, but then I don't get around much any more (cue song).

M

[Tiggerbabe]

I guess your reply has been deleted.

Minnie deleted her own post.

[CJ]

Thanks Minnie. I guess your reply has been deleted.
M

Can someone PM me the info, please?? (assuming it's not allowed in here)

[Minnie M]

Thanks Minnie. I guess your reply has been deleted. I've not heard of them (or it), but I'm guessing it must be people we know (or know of). Haven't seen any advertising, but then I don't get around much any more (cue song).

M

Gosh that was quick, it was only on there for less than a minute !

Minnie deleted her own post.

Yes it was me - although the email I received requested me to put it on my list, I thought I should let them know I was adding it on here before it became general knowledge

Can someone PM me the info, please?? (assuming it's not allowed in here)

I have emailed Franco to ask permission - watch this space !

[Mary]

OK. Thanks Minnie. Your reply came up in my emails. I thought it seemed a little extreme for the post to be deleted. Sorry for any concern mods.

Always curious to know latest gossip on who's doing what.

M

[Cruella]

Yes it was me - although the email I received requested me to put it on my list, I thought I should let them know I was adding it on here before it became general knowledge

It's no secret that it's JiveNation, it's been sent out to hundreds on Facebook!
Interesting though, that when I asked Simon at the last Hipsters, if it was true it was him that was starting up the new freestyle, his response was 'No, but I'd love to be involved' Quick work Simon!

[Rocky]

.....snip....

Thanks for the comments re: Friday Rob. I think what was interesting for us was that we had a lot of new people through the door and yet the atmosphere still seemed as electric as usual. And it was slightly less crowded as we set the capacity limit at 190 instead of 210 in response to feedback.

And yes, we've changed to the 4th for 3 reasons:

Firstly, because, as you've pointed out, it clashes with the WCS w/ender. There is a crossover of people and our view has always been that from a purely business point of view that it doesn't make sense for us to clash with an event that some of our customers enjoy if we can avoid it.

Secondly, once we had made a decision to move the date, the only Friday we could have at Ashtons in April was the 4th.

And lastly, although we know that the Winning Post is a great venue, an occasional change to an alternative venue has a number of benefits: we can dance later, so we have a 3am finish as opposed to a 1am finish, we benefit from widening the catchment of dancers that can attend as the venue is more centrally located and of course we can have lots of cake, biscuits and chocolate! - we're very limited for space at Twickers so Ashtons upstairs catering area allows us the flexibility of late night snacking in a way that we can't normally provide.

Hope that answers your questions - and by the way, I didn't play Give It Back on Friday, so it was not me playing wiv me knob....

[Cruella]

And it was slightly less crowded as we set the capacity limit at 190 instead of 210 in response to feedback.

That made a huge difference, it was far more comfortable on the dancefloor than the last couple of Utopias.

[robd]

and by the way, I didn't play Give It Back on Friday, so it was not me playing wiv me knob....

So you are now letting Vince get his hands on your knob?

[Sparkles]

That made a huge difference, it was far more comfortable on the dancefloor than the last couple of Utopias.

- it definitely made a huge difference, I didn't get trodden on once, unlike the previous Utopia where I had several bumps and bruises to show for my night's dancing.

It's true that the crowd was slightly different, but Friday really, for me, felt like coming home. There were so many of my friends there, who I hadn't seen in ages. Foxylady was looking stunning and on fabulous form, and my dances with guys and girls alike were just what I needed after a fairly stressful week at work .

[Lory]

- it definitely made a huge difference

I think 190 seems to be the optimum number!

[Paul F]

- it definitely made a huge difference,

Definately.

I really enjoyed Utopia on Friday. I spoke a couple of times to a couple of ladies about how I miss the old Kent House Monday evenings. They used to be such great fun.
Friday, for me, recaptured some of that.

The numbers were just about right I would say althogh I was guilty of 'nudging' 2 people that night. I did apologise though.

Great night all round for me.

[Spiky Steve]

Definately.

I really enjoyed Utopia on Friday. I spoke a couple of times to a couple of ladies about how I miss the old Kent House Monday evenings. They used to be such great fun.
Friday, for me, recaptured some of that.

The numbers were just about right I would say althogh I was guilty of 'nudging' 2 people that night. I did apologise though.

Great night all round for me.

I am booked for Utopia at Ashton's and can't wait. Hopefully my knee will survive the extra freestyle.

I am toying with the idea of staying at a hotel nearby. Does anyone know any good places?

Steve

[fletch]

I am booked for Utopia at Ashton's and can't wait. Hopefully my knee will survive the extra freestyle.

I am toying with the idea of staying at a hotel nearby. Does anyone know any good places?

Steve

Gerry's

[Minnie M]

It's no secret that it's JiveNation, it's been sent out to hundreds on Facebook!
Interesting though, that when I asked Simon at the last Hipsters, if it was true it was him that was starting up the new freestyle, his response was 'No, but I'd love to be involved' Quick work Simon!

The contracts have now been signed, and Jive Nation have sent out emails - so it it is fine to broadcast it, I thought it was wrong to do so before then.

However, even with the above info I wanted their approval to put it on here (I have been there before )

Shame it clashes with Utopia - I would have loved to go to the openning night

[Rocky]

Ealing - first friday of the month - is on the same night.
New people running it.

Shame it clashes with Utopia - I would have loved to go to the openning night

It is a shame given that our dates for the whole of 2008 have been published for over 4 months now..

Although these are different types of events there is definitely a crossover of people who would have wanted to attend both events and now who can't. We've even looked at offering entry after 1am when Ealing finishes as we go on until 3am, but it's just too difficult to administer in terms of gender balancing and pricing (especially as we have already sold in excess of 100 tickets for the 4th).

Still good marketing I suppose to have a 'end of Hipsters' party one month and then a 're-launch of Hipsters' party the following month.... that worked out very well didn't it...