Postitive Thread - Expansion of MJ

[Gus]

OK ... time for a happy thread

We can all (well mostly) agree that Ceroc has been a driving force for the development of MJ. There are also a lot of independent dance organisations (some small, some large) now in existence, which provide the motivation and competition necessary to keep quality high and clubs innovative (look at Ceroc Metro as an excellent example). So ... what we need is for the whole thing to be BIGGER ... more people. Know any clubs that don’t want more members?

We've discussed the topic a number of times before, from a basic marketing view ... how about something very simple. We ALL pick a week sometime next year, say the 1st week of Feb. building up to them we have a national campaign covering ALL MJ clubs .. .simple message, for that week, ALL our dancers are to bring 1 new person to the club for free. Imagine the potential. I know its very simplistic but if only half our dancers did this thing, think of the huge expansion. I cant believe there are any dancers who don’t know somone who they could drag along for one night. Well kids, what do you think ... have I finally lost my marbles or could this work?

[Dreadful Scathe]

have I finally lost my marbles

Whaddya mean finally ? Yeah, a good idea. Not just the bring someone along, but the co-ordinated effort thing too .

[MartinHarper]

I suspect it actually makes it easier for folks to introduce new dancers if different clubs have their recruitment drives at different times of the year. There's more flexibility that way, for prospects who happen to be on holiday or otherwise unavailable for new hobbies.

[Trousers]

I suspect it actually makes it easier for folks to introduce new dancers if different clubs have their recruitment drives at different times of the year. There's more flexibility that way, for prospects who happen to be on holiday or otherwise unavailable for new hobbies.

Huh?
I think You think too much!
People will introduce friends, enemies etc to this at any time of year irrespective of venue/company directives.

People - that is real people don't give two hoots where they dance or who owns the venue, they care only for themselves and the pleasure they get.

Is this the rose tinted glasses dept.?

[Whitebeard]

Trousers ??

Belt, or braces, or elasticated - or are you a real pessimist ??

...... they care only for themselves and the pleasure they get.

Probably mostly very true. For my own part I find the local venues already quite well enough attended and might well hesitate, even if I knew of any prospective dancers, to encourage them along. My floorcraft is not of the best and is severely stretched as it is.

[Gojive]

My floorcraft is not of the best and is severely stretched as it is.

WB, you always strike me as the "Gentleman of the forum", and I sincerely hope I get the opportunity to meet you one day .

IMHO, the mere fact that you even recognise floorcraft, means that you are already head and shoulders above many many 'dancers' that I've been unfortunate to 'bump into' in my five years!!

[bigdjiver]

...People will introduce friends, enemies etc to this at any time of year irrespective of venue/company directives...

Agreed, but it does not hurt to encourage the punters to do so.

I have noticed there seems to be quite a surge in membership in January. I suspect it is because of all the socialising that occurs over Christmas & New Year. People getting together, and asking "What are you up to latley?"

[stewart38]

I suspect it actually makes it easier for folks to introduce new dancers if different clubs have their recruitment drives at different times of the year. There's more flexibility that way, for prospects who happen to be on holiday or otherwise unavailable for new hobbies.

No have a national week when it applies across the country with at least a months notice. ie introduce a friend week

You can get someone in for free or 2 for 1. Show this 'mate' the flyer and say 'look loads of new people will be there etc'

[Yliander]

No have a national week when it applies across the country with at least a months notice. ie introduce a friend week

You can get someone in for free or 2 for 1. Show this 'mate' the flyer and say 'look loads of new people will be there etc'

first timers always worry that they are going to be the only newbie on the floor - a week like this would mean they could be assured of not being the only newbie in the class.

Think this sounds like a wonderful idea

[Chicklet]

OK ... time for a happy thread
, ALL our dancers are to bring 1 new person to the club for free. Imagine the potential

LOVE the idea of MJ being more popular than that ballfoot thing but not sure about this one bud.

I know I haven't been to anything for a while (not through choice!)but the venues I have been to many many times are so popular already that a doubling in numbers would make for a very uncomfortable night...and put people off, hoisted on the petart of one's success perchance

I'm standing by my old buses idea!!!

[Trish]

LOVE the idea of MJ being more popular than that ballfoot thing but not sure about this one bud.

I know I haven't been to anything for a while (not through choice!)but the venues I have been to many many times are so popular already that a doubling in numbers would make for a very uncomfortable night...and put people off, hoisted on the petart of one's success perchance

I'm standing by my old buses idea!!!

I think that what's needed is generally bigger halls to hold all the people that want to come dancing. It's a shame that some Franchise holders don't realise the potential of this. I know bigger halls are more money, but if the hall you're dancing in is so crowded that it's driving people away, surely if they had more space to dance you'd end up with more people going - and a nice big freestyle type atmosphere, which is also a bonus!

[Andy McGregor]

I think that what's needed is generally bigger halls to hold all the people that want to come dancing. It's a shame that some Franchise holders don't realise the potential of this. I know bigger halls are more money, but if the hall you're dancing in is so crowded that it's driving people away, surely if they had more space to dance you'd end up with more people going - and a nice big freestyle type atmosphere, which is also a bonus!

I'm sure that there isn't a franchise holder out there that wouldn't like to fill a big hall. But, from the punters point of view I think that a dance with about 60 people is optimum. I simply can't get round more than 30 women in a night - so any more than that is just traffic to bounce off. I say have more venues on different nights. Once you've filled a venue, don't move to a bigger venue, open another one, or even the same one, on a different night and fill that one, keep doing that until you've taken over the world. It's what football does, they don't keep bringing more players onto the pitch - they get another pitch.

[Gus]

[SNIP]but the venues I have been to many many times are so popular already that a doubling in numbers would make for a very uncomfortable night...and put people off, hoisted on the petart of one's success perchance

Its a nice problem to have ... and a couple of the venues in the North West, e.g. Chester .. are approaching that situation. However, Northwich has a capacity of 250, Stockport Town Hall has a capcity of 350+ ... we've both got some way to go to fill those venues.

I think that what's needed is generally bigger halls to hold all the people that want to come dancing. It's a shame that some Franchise holders don't realise the potential of this.

Its a two edged sword. The bigger venues cost exponentially more. A small local hall may cost you £60 a night and accomodate 80 dancers. A big hall may accomodate 200 dancers but cost you £300 Also, in many area of the country you simply CANT get these big Halls. We are spoilt in West Cheshire 3 great Halls at Northwich, Winsford and Nantwich (all within 15 miles radius) ..... but NOTHING like for whole of the rest of Cheshire

[bigdjiver]

I think that what's needed is generally bigger halls to hold all the people that want to come dancing. It's a shame that some Franchise holders don't realise the potential of this. I know bigger halls are more money, but if the hall you're dancing in is so crowded that it's driving people away, surely if they had more space to dance you'd end up with more people going - and a nice big freestyle type atmosphere, which is also a bonus!

It is a difficult balance. If the hall is too big for the number of members the venue lacks atmosphere. There is room to expand, but the venue contracts.

[Whitebeard]

It is a difficult balance. If the hall is too big for the number of members the venue lacks atmosphere. There is room to expand, but the venue contracts.

The great thing about this forum is that it introduces us to the thoughts, preoccupations, and occasional problems, of a wider range of fellow dancers than we could possible converse with at noisy and crowded dance nights. Hopefully, this leads us to modify our own thoughts and actions in reponse.

This thread (together with those on smoking and DJing) brings out the difficulties experienced by franchisees/promoters in pleasing all of us all the time. A sheer impossibilty of course; and the best they can do is try to achieve that balance and compromise producing the best results for them - which, by definition, should also be best for the majority of their dancing customers.

Is this still a happy thread Gus ??

[Gus]

Is this still a happy thread Gus ??

I've not been (unfairly) flamed for being anti-Ceroc for at least 6 days so by my limited criteria .. YES

[Magic Hans]

It is a difficult balance. If the hall is too big for the number of members the venue lacks atmosphere. There is room to expand, but the venue contracts.

I suppose it probably would, especially if it was a big open area, with little or no obstructions (columns, rails, etc) and a big high (echoey) ceiling!

It's peculiar how different sizes of venues create different atmospheres. Marcus Garvey in Nottingham is quite a sizable venue (regularly attracting in the region of 200) dancers and has a wide range of dancers and seems to have a good standard.

West Bridgford, on the other hand, is probably a more suitable venue in terms of facilities and layout. It is somewhat smaller (prob less than 100), and so more intimate.

For reasons that I don't see, I like Marcus Garvey and am fairly apathetic toward W Bridgford.

I like to see a variety of venues both large and small around, to add variety!

Ian

[Yliander]

I like to see a variety of venues both large and small around, to add variety!

variety is the spice of life

[bigdjiver]

While waiting for a bus I struck up a conversation with a girl of about 20. I asked her if she knew what Ceroc was, and she replied that her dad did it.

I went on to say that there had been some discussion about how to attract more youngsters into it.

"Stop the old people from doing it"

[Demota]

"Stop the old people from doing it"

100% correct (and that's me as one of the "old" people fortunate enough to hang out with younger folk and see how their minds work. Probably got a lot to do with the worry that older guys are only there to lech over young girls nubile bodies and what young guys think their mates will say if seen dancing with older ladies. All unfounded, of course, but that's the reality of it. Only way out is to set up a separate younger class with the promise of a "promotion" to the seniors when they were good enough. (I know the problem with this is that they would probably get really good at it and prefer to stay in the "junior" league.