you surprise me Lee - "commercial interests of a majority of club organisors " Is this true
I would have thought teaching your punter how to dance, in the best possible way surrounded by happy friendly and helpful crew, is the best way to secure a regular flow of people in your front door. I don't go with this 'we are only doing it for the money' method - it rarely works, people aren't that stupid, or am I stupid to believe that it is only our money organisers are interested in
--ooOoo--
Age is a question of mind over matter, if you don't mind, it doesn't matter
Leroy (Satchel) Paige (1906-1982)
Mickey Mouse's girlfriend, Minnie, made her film debut, along with Mickey, in "Steamboat Willie" on November 18, 1928.
That date is recognized as her official birthday.
Taxi's are very underated IMHO.
In the 1st couple of weeks, blokes espescially do not have a clue and are feeling a bit foolish and vunerable. It is the friendliness of the Taxi's who reassure them, make them laugh and tell them to hang on in there, as it will come and they will get it in a couple of weeks.
All political correctness aside, blokes come to dancing for a couple of reasons.
1 Made to, by their wives, partners etc.
2 To meet women.
Once they get it, things change and the dancing takes over.
Taxi dancers are the friendly contacts without the mantle of a teacher, approachable and willing to advice and dance as needed. This is not to say teachers are unapproachable but in your 1st couple of weeks they may seem to be.
Please feel free to disagree, this is only my opinion.
DTS xxx xxx
--ooOoo--
Age is a question of mind over matter, if you don't mind, it doesn't matter
Leroy (Satchel) Paige (1906-1982)
Mickey Mouse's girlfriend, Minnie, made her film debut, along with Mickey, in "Steamboat Willie" on November 18, 1928.
That date is recognized as her official birthday.
I think I've mentioned it before on a different thread: for me there were 4 taxis who were crucial to me: Andi, Jackie, Natalie and Becca (Witty Bird). They were all patient beyond belief, encouraging and friendly.
If I look back - those first 8 weeks were so crucial - and I might have been given up had it not been for those extras with the taxis.
I say a big, huge thank you to all of them.
Yes - as someone (DTS?) said - they are perhaps underrated in their importance.....
Ae Ceroc about just teaching you to dance or about getting as many people through the door as possible? Feel a poll comming on
There are plenty of us small clubs that do it out of love though.
You would think. I spoke to one organisor once that said he only catered for beginner dancers < 6 months as the better ones all disappeared anyway.
[/quote]
Are you saying that because I teach beginners technique, I have low numbers? You were saying it important to tech teachnique earlier.
Yeah it's a new venture in a competative area of the UK (and the hall is maxed out at 80)
What I am saying is that most places want to ensure that beginner are retained. I believe ceroc even publish yearly figures amounst the venue in a performance table of retaining begginer dancers .
If they do not come back you cannot teach them anything.
If you are teaching something you do not normally expect the students to keep coming once they have learned it. Most outsiders cannot grasp an environment in which some championship winners of more than a decades experience still sometimes turn up and join in beginners class.... I spoke to one organisor once that said he only catered for beginner dancers < 6 months as the better ones all disappeared anyway. ...
I would be very interested to know how they do that. The membership forms that I have seen do not ask about dance history. AFIK all the franchise knows about their members is the date they joined that franchise. Things may have changed. I have recommended that Ceroc alter their membership forms to ask:... I believe ceroc even publish yearly figures amounst the venue in a performance table of retaining begginer dancers .
Is the new member already a member of another Ceroc Franchise already?
If not have they danced MJ before?
If not have they partner danced before?
The retention rates from people who have danced MJ before are vastly different from those of the average newcomer.
I always thought "Taxi Dancers" were a Ceroc idea - just received an email from an American swing site, whilst checking out their web site I found this .......
Originally Posted by Swing City
--ooOoo--
Age is a question of mind over matter, if you don't mind, it doesn't matter
Leroy (Satchel) Paige (1906-1982)
Mickey Mouse's girlfriend, Minnie, made her film debut, along with Mickey, in "Steamboat Willie" on November 18, 1928.
That date is recognized as her official birthday.
No, they've been around for yonks:
I especially like this bit:A taxi dancer, or "taxi" for short (the word has been used since circa 1927), is a professional dance partner in a partner dance. Taxi dancers are typically young women who are hired by male patrons to dance with them on a dance-by-dance basis. The term "taxi dancer" comes from the fact that, as with a taxi-cab driver, the dancer's pay is proportional to the time she spends with the patron.Now they tell meA "taxi" is not a prostitute, and no sexual favors may be expected off the dance floor.
There's even a song about being a taxi dancer.
Love dance, will travel
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Bookmarks