How do you choose a venue/freestyle

[ant]

The first question I'll ask, before deciding to go to freestyle or not, is, who's the DJ? As music is important to me............

I reckon I start from the point that I am going to a freestyle and so the first question I ask is where are the type of dancers I most like dancing with going to be. If I cannot workout where a good MJ venue is going to be (most notably the last two Ceroc weekender weekends) then I go to Tango.

There have only been two freestyles that I have been to that have a real washout and in both cases the DJ's were non dancers and in one case he was not even a DJ but the franchise owner. Being a glutton for punishment I then went to a regular night for this particular franchise and it is the only time I have ever wallked out from a venue.

To me the dance experience is what counts the aural experience is almost irrelevant. Having said that there are certain genres I enjoy dancing to more than others, Latin (fast or slow), Funk and Swing.

[Jay Jay]

the first question I ask is where are the type of dancers I most like dancing with going to be.

always my first criteria

To me the dance experience is what counts

spot on

[Lory]

I reckon I start from the point that I am going to a freestyle and so the first question I ask is where are the type of dancers I most like dancing with going to be.

I agree but with experience, I've now worked out that the Dj's I like, attract the dancers I like!

Win win!

[tsh]

1) Does it have a blues room.
2) Do I know the DJ (or have a recomendation for the DJ).
3) Is it less than 3 hours drive?

(The latter rule is necessary to allow me to go to wetherby. Usually it's more like a 1:30 cut-off).

[ant]

...... Is it less than 3 hours drive?

(The latter rule is necessary to allow me to go to wetherby. Usually it's more like a 1:30 cut-off).

When Ruby Red said you were at Wetherby, I thought my god it must be a three hour drive

[Jan in Notts]

I start from the premise - is it a night when I don't have the children?

Funnily enough last friday there were two local freestyles on the same night. I decided to go to the even more local independent venue because of a recommendation. It was a smashing night and hearsay was that the other venue was signifcantly lacking in numbers. It was a shame that they were on the same night I am sure that if they had been on alternate nights a significant number of people, including myself, woud have attended both.

[Bibi]

I agree but with experience, I've now worked out that the Dj's I like, attract the dancers I like!

Win win!

Hmm, but what advice can be given to those who don't necessarily know about the repertoire of the DJ or venue? Speaking from personal experience, the DJ was not on my list, and actually, neither were the dancers to some degree - I went because these were the venues I took my classes. But it's fair to say that over the last few months, coupled with the fact that I've improved a bit and also having experienced that dancing with non-regular dancers is "refreshing" and adds to the dance experience, I tend to be a bit more picky and adventerous - so will venture to places anew. Venues have remained the same, but I've changed - look, I'm even thinking about going to Hammersmith on Saturday! a first for me. My top 5 list for going out are:

1. Childcare - Yes/No
2. Choose Dance Night: What mood am I in? Is it Tango or Ceroc (or Salsa)? Yes/No - would be fantastic if it's a combination, for example the AT/Tango Weekender, Edinburgh, organised by Franck and Tiggerbabe
3. Choose Venue - most times, the distance does determine the choice made as often tend to go out on my own. (Yes/No)
3(b) If I have time, I may try to find out who's going to be there and only seldom can this influence my decision.
4. Choose outfit.

Now, if for any reason, the decision is a "No", then I revert back to previous and if I still can't progress then I change the variable, etc. The only one which cannot be altered is childcare, if I don't have any, I'm homebound - simple as.

Bibi

[ant]

Hmm, but what advice can be given to those who don't necessarily know about the repertoire of the DJ or venue?

Hi Bibi
This is how I assess where I want to go to get the best dance experience within my target area (generally within one hours drive):
- Past experience.
- Recommendation.
- When listings further afield (Lyndaslist and Uk jive) show sold out. I make enquiries from dancers in the area or on the forum and ask them what they think. Remember it for next time.
- Does it have a blues room.
- Who is the DJ, especially in the blues rooms
- does it have any other dance glick ie tango, band, linked to a series of workshops, special theme
- Do I like the building that the event is in. Asphetically and/or numbers
- What other events are going on near my 1st choice venue and will it affect numbers
- is it being shown as a special event
- is there a big weekender on

Having said all that I think two people with the same target area can still come up with a different answer. For instance I suspect younger dancers would also like to go to venues where there are likely to be younger dancers.

PM me when you are free and when we meet at Berko I can give you some tips on what venues to head for that night and I am sure Jay Jay ZW and Lory can give you some tips to.

[Trouble]

MMM for me it would be...

1.Where are the dancers i like dancing with going to be.
2.Where are people i dont like going to be

The rest doesn't really matter but its nice if i can also have

3. Blues room
4. Mark, Rachel, Blue Shoes, Rocky, as DJ's
5. Be right on my doorstep (never then)


See....... im easy to please. xx

[ant]

MMM for me it would be...

1.Where are the dancers i like dancing with going to be.
2.Where are people i dont like going to be

Hi Trouble - how do you work this out?

[killingtime]

I tend to have a long list of factors that would make me choose a venue to go to. Then I realise I'm in a city that has no MJ classes or freestyles and the nearest one that does is 3 hours drive away and I don't have a car. So then I go to the weekly (most weeks anyway) swing dance that's on .

[Lory]

Hi Trouble - how do you work this out?

By looking at the poll?

I thought that's why I did it each week

[Martin]

By looking at the poll?

I thought that's why I did it each week

When I was in Sydney, we set up an email list - and emailed out where we would like to go, then agreed on a venue.

Most times, the venue was decided upon as to the DJ. Then we all went there.

[martingold]

By looking at the poll?

I thought that's why I did it each week

problem with the poll is that there are now so few freestyles on it as a lot of people are not allowed to say where they are going

[ant]

problem with the poll is that there are now so few freestyles on it as a lot of people are not allowed to say where they are going

And the computer can't add up!!!!!

[tsh]

problem with the poll is that there are now so few freestyles on it as a lot of people are not allowed to say where they are going

only the DJs can't propose entries. If noone knows of an event, surely that's the promoters fault, but I think it's allowed for them to vote for an event they will be at. If Ceroc wanted to add DJ names to events, or provide DJs with a calander I'm sure they'd have thought of that by now. I believe that most of the well-known DJs have some sort of web presence themselves anyway...

[stewart38]

1) Does it have a blues room.
2) Do I know the DJ (or have a recomendation for the DJ).
3) Is it less than 3 hours drive?

(The latter rule is necessary to allow me to go to wetherby. Usually it's more like a 1:30 cut-off).

Went to Kidlington last night for the first time

Moved about 8 months ago and this one is only about 10 miles away from me , so why did I go

Didn't have blues rooms , wouldn't have a clue or really care who the DJ was

Went because was recommended by two friends and if course it is near

Very good to.

[Trouble]

By looking at the poll?

I thought that's why I did it each week

[David Bailey]

By looking at the poll?

I thought that's why I did it each week

What, to find out where to avoid?

[emmylou25]

Went to Kidlington last night for the first time

Very good to.

Stewart, Soz didn't recognise you last night, think we had a dance (I was taxi-ing, but in a bit of a daze yesterday) - glad you enjoyed it.

I tend to choose a venue according to:
- when it is (having a non-dancing OH means I'm taking the mick a bit about how often I go out dancing)
- where it is (try and share lifts as most of the freestyles near me aren't that close)
- reputation from others.

At the mo for freestyles I've not ventured too far afield otherwise that's my weekend wrecked, but often the ones I fancy clash with other dates.

DJ doesn't really impact my choice, although if there was a certain style of music being played I'd want to find out feedback on it from people who like similar music to me, dance in a similar way etc before spending money to find out I hate the whole night's music.