Cool Catz Closes .......

[Will]

Firstly let me say that I do have sympathy for Gus. It involves alot of hard work organising events, and to see it stop must be a bit of a hard pill to swallow.

Ironically, Gus' tragedy "UP NORTH" has had major benefits for us. People keep talking about the success of Jango, but the truth is that our numbers have shot up since Gus started coming along. He seems to have a fan base made of both male & female dancers. He certainly seems to bring in the ladies. Is it because he's ditched his trademarkl orange trousers for 1980's stone-washed skin-tight jeans?

And Gus has brought us this success despite the fact that week after week we have a DJ that's looks like he's come straight from paintballing and forgotten to change his clothes

[Andy McGregor]

week after week we have a DJ that's looks like he's come straight from paintballing and forgotten to change his clothes

[Msfab]

Ironically, Gus' tragedy "UP NORTH" has had major benefits for us. People keep talking about the success of Jango, but the truth is that our numbers have shot up since Gus started coming along. He seems to have a fan base made of both male & female dancers. He certainly seems to bring in the ladies. Is it because he's ditched his trademarkl orange trousers for 1980's stone-washed skin-tight jeans?

And Gus has brought us this success despite the fact that week after week we have a DJ that's looks like he's come straight from paintballing and forgotten to change his clothes

I only started at Jango back in January, wish I started sooner ! I love the classes, especially with the Tango element! It’s a fabulous venue with the best music! Its the best in London and elsewhere probably!

Don’t knock the DJ's attire! He brings glorious colour into our lives! I miss the shirts!!!

Is there Jango on easter monday (28th march)?

[David Bailey]

Or hold a short advanced lesson in a separate room at around 9:45 while everyone else is doing freestyle?

This is actually happening on Mondays at Finchley, seems to be successful, but we're talking about maybe 20-25 people out of a total 120-150 attendees. So it probably wouldn't really be viable as a separate session.

[Divissima]

Is there Jango on easter monday (28th march)?

Absolutely - Jango as normal. Would be lovely to have you back, Msfab

[jivecat]

This is actually happening on Mondays at Finchley, seems to be successful, but we're talking about maybe 20-25 people out of a total 120-150 attendees. So it probably wouldn't really be viable as a separate session.

Is that because only 20-25 people are interested? Or only 20-25 feel that they are advanced enough? And do they select themselves as being advanced? Or is it the lesson content that's advanced, the pupils being just anyone that turns up?

Are the rest of the people freestyling when the advanced lesson is on? I think that would put people off attending the advanced class because they would be loath to give up freestyling time.

[David Bailey]

To be honest the experience with loosing my main club has put me off organising for life ... TOO much hassle.

Don't give up! Most new businesses fail - and they're always a lot of hassle. Doesn't mean that you shouldn't start up another one - now, at least, you know what you did wrong

We did try to work with the Big Boys but they were only interested in their market share etc .... think they thought we were as a threat where as we were only too keen to promote other clubs. I always thought it would be a symbiotic relationship. How naive...

Well, from a position of weakness, you can only get them to help you if you offer a good business reason to do so. Having said that, I do believe an affiliate model could be made to work for this type of thing; given the right incentives both ways, and assuming you're not stepping on someone's toes. For example, a basic attendance discount for Ceroc members and / or payment to Ceroc for each member would probably be interesting. Of course, you need to crunch the numbers to ensure it pays off, but I'd leave that to boring accountant-types

[David Bailey]

Is that because only 20-25 people are interested? Or only 20-25 feel that they are advanced enough? And do they select themselves as being advanced? Or is it the lesson content that's advanced, the pupils being just anyone that turns up?

Are the rest of the people freestyling when the advanced lesson is on? I think that would put people off attending the advanced class because they would be loath to give up freestyling time.

You need to sign up for the advanced class when you turn up - I think there may be a limit, but Robin could tell you for sure. I also think the organisers try to arrange even numbers - again, ask Robin. The rest do indeed freestyle during the class, and it is indeed painful to give up even 20 minutes of freestyle time, but it's usually worth it I think

[El Salsero Gringo]

Is that because only 20-25 people are interested? Or only 20-25 feel that they are advanced enough? And do they select themselves as being advanced? Or is it the lesson content that's advanced, the pupils being just anyone that turns up?

Are the rest of the people freestyling when the advanced lesson is on? I think that would put people off attending the advanced class because they would be loath to give up freestyling time.

Most of the lessons that David's referred to have recently been in Latin (Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba, etc.) to suit the interest of the teacher, and while they're billed as advanced lessons they're actually very basic in those styles.

I think that the majority of people, having attended a 45 minute intermediate class that many find quite challenging enough want to enjoy their freestyle for the rest of the evening. Perhaps the time for an advanced class is during the beginner's lesson? That would mean two teachers, but it might persuade the better dancers to come earlier?

[David Bailey]

Perhaps the time for an advanced class is during the beginner's lesson? That would mean two teachers, but it might persuade the better dancers to come earlier?

Maybe - certainly that follows the model for a lot of London salsa classes, which are often taught in parallel. Trent Park on Weds even has 4 classes going on in one room at the same time...! But again, you'd have to persuade the organisers that this extra effort is worth it, in terms of generating revenue.

[El Salsero Gringo]

Maybe - certainly that follows the model for a lot of London salsa classes, which are often taught in parallel. Trent Park on Weds even has 4 classes going on in one room at the same time...! But again, you'd have to persuade the organisers that this extra effort is worth it, in terms of generating revenue.

This is a bit OT for this thread, but I'd kill for a regular venue with an intermediate class as per normal, but an alternative to the beginners class where perhaps just one harder Ceroc move was disected to death, with taught footwork and styling, and lead-follow. A bit like I've heard Amir does. Something so specialised that beginners wouldn't feel bad about skipping it and doing the beginner's class. And if the class was smaller then each attendee could get a bit more feedback about how their dancing looks. It would cost the organiser the price of an extra teacher, if he could find one skillled and willing to do it, but not much else. It might encourage enough extra good dancers to come along early so that they would join in the intermediate class too and hold up that end of things also.

[Lynn]

A lot of interesting points, I think (I could be wrong) that Gus wasn't just going for having advanced teaching available, but different music as well? Something to stretch dancers a bit? A great idea, I'm really sorry it hasn't worked, but its time may yet come.

[Lory]

As far as I'm concerned, the reason I love Jango so much, is the mere fact it DOESN'T appeal to the masses, bad for business I know, but if the numbers suddenly doubled, it would loose its charm.

I/we go there fully aware the music will be different and challenging and they make no apologies. We go prepared to feel slightly in awe but ready to learn.

I'm really sorry your venture failed Gus but I'm wondering, on what grounds you think it failed, purely commercial or just the lack of numbers?

I'd say the vast majority of punters are only happy with familiar music, they want to keep within their comfort zones, they don't want to travel to far, they want it to be cheap (i've heard people moaning that £7 is expensive) and they are totally happy to get to a certain level of competence and maintain that level once a week! And why not?

Aren't they the lucky ones!!!! Wouldn't we all be really happy if we could get our fix like this! There are venue's that cater for the majority virtually everywhere and it's where the money is.

[Will]

Don’t knock the DJ's attire! He brings glorious colour into our lives! I miss the shirts!!!

Has ever a post ever deserved as much negative rep as this???

[Toby wan Kenobe]

Don’t knock the DJ's attire! He brings glorious colour into our lives! I miss the shirts!!! ???

Has ever a post ever deserved as much negative rep as this???

Dude, when in hole, stop digging.....
TwK

[MartinHarper]

I've always been a little puzzled why folks would want to learn Salsa from a Modern Jive teacher, under the banner of an "advanced modern jive class" or a "latin workshop" or whatever, when they could learn Salsa from a Salsa teacher at a Salsa class.

[spindr]

I've always been a little puzzled why folks would want to learn Salsa from a Modern Jive teacher, under the banner of an "advanced modern jive class" or a "latin workshop" or whatever, when they could learn Salsa from a Salsa teacher at a Salsa class.

the last advanced jive workshop I went to was basically half an intermediate salsa class - but without the footwork

SpinDr.

[El Salsero Gringo]

I've always been a little puzzled why folks would want to learn Salsa from a Modern Jive teacher, under the banner of an "advanced modern jive class" or a "latin workshop" or whatever, when they could learn Salsa from a Salsa teacher at a Salsa class.

If you were thinking of my earlier post, I didn't mention Salsa. But it's a good question in principle. Perhaps (and it works, but not terribly well, for the Samba, Rumba and Cha Cha) they might want to know just enough to throw in a few steps of another dance in the middle of an MJ number?

Alternatively maybe they just want to assure themselves that they're not missing out on anything so special that they'd feel the need to spend another night of the week dedicated to it? Who can say?

As an aside, Carol (who runs the 'advanced' classes that David and I were using as an example) does bring an experienced Latin/Ballroom guy - her champion, she calls him - to co-teach with her, and he gives most of the instruction.

[Tiggerbabe]

Perhaps the time for an advanced class is during the beginner's lesson?

This is what Franck has been doing in Perth - it is not an
"advanced" class but a "technical" class. Held whilst the beginners class is going on, which means that everyone can enjoy both the freestyle between beginners and intermediate classes and then the intermediate class itself.

The numbers have been growing each week

Lorna's teaching this Thursday

[David Bailey]

As an aside, Carol (who runs the 'advanced' classes that David and I were using as an example) does bring an experienced Latin/Ballroom guy - her champion, she calls him - to co-teach with her, and he gives most of the instruction.

Milangro (sp?) is indeed national dance champion (Latin, I believe) of Sri Lanka, if that helps... So it's not really taught by an MJ-er. It's lovely to watch him in action, shows up the difference between us plebs and proper dancers

Carol also did a couple of salsa classes a while back - she's a pretty good salsa dancer, so she knows what she's doing. Hmmm, you're right, it's called advanced class, but it's definitely mutated into a "Latin misc" class, hasn't it? Good thing too

I'd kill for a regular venue with an intermediate class as per normal, but an alternative to the beginners class where perhaps just one harder Ceroc move was disected to death, with taught footwork and styling, and lead-follow.

God, yes. OK, so that's 2 people in N London, all we need is 148 more and it's a going concern