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Thread: Rant - Hammersmith "free-style" 23 April 2005

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    Registered User Clive Long's Avatar
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    Rant - Hammersmith "free-style" 23 April 2005

    One my guilty pleasures is to go back to Hammersmith free-style on an occassional Saturday night to determine how awful or wonderful it can be.

    I was put in a bad mood from the start for two reasons.

    Nice new gleaming ceroc card (my third) was "swiped in", then I got directed by a very pleasant chap to a "holding" area where I filled in another application form. I questioned it but didn't want to cause a "scene". The explanation was that I wasn't on "their" system - pretty cack system then. Also something to do with public liability insurance - if true, then what's all the computer garabge about? Why do you want know whether I am single or married or divorced? Clive Long scrubbed that nonsense out !

    Then I went into dance and a class was going on - until 9:30pm. Maybe I missed something but I thought it was supposed to be a free-style night. In fact the lesson looked excellent and some variations on moves I could have learned, if I had been at the start of the class - maybe it was clear there was to be a lesson - but not what I expected on what I thought was a freestyle night.

    Was it too crowded? Come on. This is Hammersmith.



    Clive

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    Re: Rant - Hammersmith "free-style" 23 April 2005

    Quote Originally Posted by Clive Long
    One my guilty pleasures is to go back to Hammersmith free-style on an occassional Saturday night to determine how awful or wonderful it can be.

    I was put in a bad mood from the start for two reasons.

    Nice new gleaming ceroc card (my third) was "swiped in", then I got directed by a very pleasant chap to a "holding" area where I filled in another application form. I questioned it but didn't want to cause a "scene". The explanation was that I wasn't on "their" system - pretty cack system then. Also something to do with public liability insurance - if true, then what's all the computer garabge about? Why do you want know whether I am single or married or divorced? Clive Long scrubbed that nonsense out !

    Then I went into dance and a class was going on - until 9:30pm. Maybe I missed something but I thought it was supposed to be a free-style night. In fact the lesson looked excellent and some variations on moves I could have learned, if I had been at the start of the class - maybe it was clear there was to be a lesson - but not what I expected on what I thought was a freestyle night.

    Was it too crowded? Come on. This is Hammersmith.



    Clive
    well they have had lessons there for years and thats well advertised. They stopped being beginners lesson about 5 or more years ago and can be fairly challenging

    It was less crowded then it has been before

    The thing with Hammersmith is they can get away with what they want as there often isnt any reall competition on a saturday in that area

    so they can have one person on the door and you can queue 1o mins to get in or you can queue for ages to get a drink as they never have enough bar staff

    that said i think it was good nite with only the very odd odd song but hey those songs cleared the floor a bit.

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    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
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    Re: Rant - Hammersmith "free-style" 23 April 2005

    Quote Originally Posted by Clive Long
    One my guilty pleasures is to go back to Hammersmith free-style on an occassional Saturday night to determine how awful or wonderful it can be.
    Heh, thought it was just me who did that...
    (that's also my excuse for Friday Casbah nights)

    But I stopped going a year ago, when I realised I just wasn't having that much fun there. Music's usually OK, but it's too crowded, and a bit too cliquey for my tastes - I had a record 3 refusals in a row there one night, it still rankles...

    Do you know who was teaching the class, by the way?

    IMO, the only London venues that have consistently good word-of-mouth are Jango and Hipsters (great if you live in West London!). Otherwise, I think you take your chances with every venue, sometimes it's good, sometimes not so good...

    P.S. about the bar queue, you're better off bringing your own...

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    Registered User El Salsero Gringo's Avatar
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    Re: Rant - Hammersmith "free-style" 23 April 2005

    Quote Originally Posted by Clive Long
    Then I went into dance and a class was going on - until 9:30pm. Maybe I missed something but I thought it was supposed to be a free-style night. In fact the lesson looked excellent and some variations on moves I could have learned, if I had been at the start of the class - maybe it was clear there was to be a lesson - but not what I expected on what I thought was a freestyle night.
    The freestyles that Bradders organises (Hammersmith, Guiness, can't remember which others) have always featured a short lesson at the start although for it still to be going on at 9:30 seems a bit unusual.

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    Dickie Davies' love-child Cruella's Avatar
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    Re: Rant - Hammersmith "free-style" 23 April 2005

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidJames
    Heh, thought it was just me who did that...
    (that's also my excuse for Friday Casbah nights)

    But I stopped going a year ago, when I realised I just wasn't having that much fun there. Music's usually OK, but it's too crowded, and a bit too cliquey for my tastes - I had a record 3 refusals in a row there one night, it still rankles...

    Do you know who was teaching the class, by the way?

    IMO, the only London venues that have consistently good word-of-mouth are Jango and Hipsters (great if you live in West London!). Otherwise, I think you take your chances with every venue, sometimes it's good, sometimes not so good...

    P.S. about the bar queue, you're better off bringing your own...
    Mick Wenger (spelling?) was teaching. Didn't notice the lesson to be honest, too busy chatting in the bar! But although the music was ok!! Just a couple of dodgy tracks. It was too crowded. In fact i tripped over a ladies foot whilst dancing and ended up on my bottom on the floor. Great way to get attention but i have a nice big bruise now, just lucky i have natural padding there!

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    Re: Rant - Hammersmith "free-style" 23 April 2005

    Quote Originally Posted by Cruella
    In fact i tripped over a ladies foot whilst dancing and ended up on my bottom on the floor. Great way to get attention but i have a nice big bruise now, just lucky i have natural padding there!
    have you i have never noticed

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    Ceroc Teacher Little Em's Avatar
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    Re: Rant - Hammersmith "free-style" 23 April 2005

    Quote Originally Posted by Cruella
    Mick Wenger (spelling?) was teaching. Didn't notice the lesson to be honest, too busy chatting in the bar! But although the music was ok!! Just a couple of dodgy tracks. It was too crowded. In fact i tripped over a ladies foot whilst dancing and ended up on my bottom on the floor. Great way to get attention but i have a nice big bruise now, just lucky i have natural padding there!

    i too have injuries...... some lady trod on my foor with her big heel, an i now have bruise there !!

    an no sign of regret or apology !!! i know its not intentional but a little sorry smile would of been nice ! was far too busy was elbowed twice in the ribs !!! again no sign of any regret !!!
    rant over....

    but i still go back for more, when its on !!! i must like it !!!!


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    Re: Rant - Hammersmith "free-style" 23 April 2005

    Quote Originally Posted by littleemc-central
    i too have injuries...... some lady trod on my foor with her big heel, an i now have bruise there !!

    an no sign of regret or apology !!! i know its not intentional but a little sorry smile would of been nice ! was far too busy was elbowed twice in the ribs !!! again no sign of any regret !!!
    rant over....
    I don't think the Hammersmith atmosphere is at all friendly; maybe because it's so big, so few people know each other, it's got the "big-city" attitude to socialising. I much prefer smaller venues, even Hipsters is a little too large and crowded for my tastes. Small-town boy, that's me.

    Not apologising for injury though, that's just mean

    There's now much more competition for venues on a Saturday, so hopefully the choice will drive some standards up. I for one would love to have some Dance Wardens (like Taxi Dancers but meaner )

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    Registered User Clive Long's Avatar
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    Re: Rant - Hammersmith "free-style" 23 April 2005

    Also my third "downer" was that I was so useless on Saturday.

    I think I could remember about 5 moves - I'm on a "more moves is better" kick at the moment - so don't console me with "... it's the way that you do it, that gets results" piffle.

    I struggled through one dance and I almost gave up. At the end all I could do was look sheepish yet winsome, shrug my shoulders and say, "Sorry. I just ran out of ideas".

    I'm gonna take a break.

    Clive

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    Re: Rant - Hammersmith "free-style" 23 April 2005

    Is not a crass attempt to depersonalise it from you, Clive cos I've heard you're a pants dancer anyway!!

    BUT...

    I know of many people who can have a bad night because the music is so consistently thoroughly average that there is no inspiration to draw upon. I'm sure someone can start off having a bad night, but then a few well placed exciting or challenging or even fave tunes later, there's no stopping you...

    So, might not have been you, Clive!!

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    Re: Rant - Hammersmith "free-style" 23 April 2005

    Quote Originally Posted by Ceroc Jock
    I know of many people who can have a bad night because the music is so consistently thoroughly average that there is no inspiration to draw upon. I'm sure someone can start off having a bad night, but then a few well placed exciting or challenging or even fave tunes later, there's no stopping you...

    why cant they just play jive music for a jive event, its not hard

    not some abstract braziillan mano jumpo abstract stuff

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    Re: Rant - Hammersmith "free-style" 23 April 2005

    Quote Originally Posted by stewart38
    why cant they just play jive music for a jive event, its not hard

    not some abstract braziillan mano jumpo abstract stuff
    maybe the dj's should work out there set's from a phone book to keep everyone happy......

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    Re: Rant - Hammersmith "free-style" 23 April 2005

    Quote Originally Posted by Simon r
    maybe the dj's should work out there set's from a phone book to keep everyone happy......

    no only keep 75% happy never going to keep everyone happy

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    Registered User Clive Long's Avatar
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    Re: Rant - Hammersmith "free-style" 23 April 2005

    Quote Originally Posted by Ceroc Jock
    Is not a crass attempt to depersonalise it from you, Clive cos I've heard you're a pants dancer anyway!!

    << snip >>
    So bad, she said she thought I was a DJ trying a go at dancing

    Clive

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    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
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    Re: Rant - Hammersmith "free-style" 23 April 2005

    Quote Originally Posted by Clive Long
    So bad, she said she thought I was a DJ trying a go at dancing
    Hey, there's no need for that level of abuse...

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