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Thread: Too many weekenders?

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    Too many weekenders?

    Quote Originally Posted by Minnie M
    IMO there are too many weekenders already...
    I thought this was interesting. Are there too many weekenders? What are the downsides to having an excess? Or should we have more?

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    Re: Too many weekenders?

    Quote Originally Posted by MartinHarper
    I thought this was interesting. Are there too many weekenders? What are the downsides to having an excess? Or should we have more?
    Ah!! but they are only at the WEEKEND!

    You still have the other 5 days of the week if you don't like them too much.

    There can only be 52 of them can't there???? (per year)

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    Re: Too many weekenders?

    You don't have to go to every one, just pick your faves

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    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
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    Re: Too many weekenders?

    Quote Originally Posted by MartinHarper
    I thought this was interesting. Are there too many weekenders? What are the downsides to having an excess? Or should we have more?
    There certainly seem to be more weekenders than a few years ago. You might think this could draw people away from going to standard Friday / Saturday night events.

    However, there seem to be also many more standard Friday / Saturday night events, certainly in my area, so that theory doesn't seem to hold up.

    I'm not the biggest fan of weekenders, I think they're a bit over-hyped. But from the evidence, they do seem to promote dancing in general, as well as "dancing-at-weekenders", so I don't think they damage the non-weekender events, quite the opposite in fact. So that's good

    There's another issue though, about the whole "pressure to go" which FirstMove alluded to in another thread - the whole weekender-hyping thing certain people indulge in can raise expectations.

    Not everyone has The Time Of Their Lives at weekenders - some people love it, some dislike it, some are bored, some quite like it but can live without it, and so on.

    As for "how many is too many", I imagine it's the same as any "market saturation" situation. But I also imagine that, as these are very much deman-driven, there'll be a correction in the long term, so it's not a big deal.

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    Re: Too many weekenders?

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidJames
    There certainly seem to be more weekenders than a few years ago. You might think this could draw people away from going to standard Friday / Saturday night events.

    -snip-

    As for "how many is too many", I imagine it's the same as any "market saturation" situation. But I also imagine that, as these are very much deman-driven, there'll be a correction in the long term, so it's not a big deal.


    Also, I think that there is some diversification in the product that organisers offer. Rockbottoms offer a very different format to JiveTime. I think that the fact that Rockbottoms events get booked up months in advance is an indication that there is room for more weekenders of their format.

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    Registered User Lynn's Avatar
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    Re: Too many weekenders?

    Weekenders are a big plus for folk like me who don't have any regular night, or even people who don't have that many big freestyles within handy travelling distance. If you have to travel to dance, an event with several evenings dancing plus accomodation is great. And the more weekenders there are, the more choice there is for dancers, the more competition between events so the higher standards to make their event the best.

    There seem to be enough dancers to go round to fill weekenders and regular freestyle nights, if all the complaints about overcrowding are anything to go by.

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    Forum Bombshell - Our Queen! Lory's Avatar
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    Re: Too many weekenders?

    The only real downside i can think of, is the 'watering down' effect. I don't think anyone could possibly go to ALL of them, so we just hope and pray that the one 'we' choose will be the one that attracts the people we like to spend time and dance with.

    David James, spoke of the hype and eluded this to be a 'bad thing.' I'd disagree, for me, that's part of what adds to the excitement... everyone planing to meet up, discussing what they'll be wearing, organising BBQ's etc I love the build up and anticipation..

    On a really personal note, I would be attracted to a smaller more specialised weekender as well, should one arise. I could definitely live with 'just' the blues room... No classes but instead, spend the day, socialising and experimenting with both 'dance' and 'music'.. in a non formatted Jam

    I'd love to have time to swap music idea's ....an iPod session?

    Also contrary to what David said, and agreeing with Underpar, I love dancing till dawn, I can't explain it and unless you've experienced the 'high' you won't understand but it's definitely like a drug! But I need to lay in, so, lets start the day at lunchtime!

    Maybe just Friday night to Sunday Tea time?

    Surely I can't be alone here?

    Going back to the downside question, by having so many weekenders, it must inevitably reach a saturation point, which could (but not for the organisers) have a welcomed 'up side' less crowding for one and a continued improvement of quality!

    I do appreciate that weekenders aren't for everyone. If your not a fan of roughing it a little and you can't possibly live without your little home comforts or without sleep, for that matter and if you find crowds and big rooms intimidating, then weekenders just aren't for you!

    Also, I agree, it IS nice to be part of a crowd but what could be better than being part of the forumite crowd?
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    Registered User Lynn's Avatar
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    Re: Too many weekenders?

    Quote Originally Posted by Lory
    I do appreciate that weekenders aren't for everyone. If your not a fan of roughing it a little and you can't possibly live without your little home comforts or without sleep, for that matter and if you find crowds and big rooms intimidating, then weekenders just aren't for you!
    And there are 'smaller' weekenders too if you want a bit more comfort - I was at the Jive Addiction Scarborough one last year, and there was a lot less people (maybe 300?) which gave more space to dance, smaller classes and nice comfy hotel accomodation. And isn't Rock Bottoms more that style? (Haven't been - yet!)

    And I agree about the dancing til dawn thing - I couldn't do it too often, but I love it when I do.

    (And btw DJ re salsa - I heard of some NI folk over in England for a salsa weekender - and the dancing finished about 5 or 5:30am - lightweights!)

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    Re: Too many weekenders?

    Quote Originally Posted by Lory
    Also, I agree, it IS nice to be part of a crowd but what could be better than being part of the forumite crowd?

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    Re: Too many weekenders?

    ok there has been an increase in weekenders, but the increase in dancers is proportional, so I do not see any problem
    I worked at twelve different weekenders in 2004, all were a success
    Camber & Southport sold out this year
    Party Weekender is almost sold out for november (I understand)
    Rock Bottoms sells out

    Dance weekenders are not a private club, they are for the benefit of the dancers (and organisers) if the increase in events means it is not possible to go to them all, no probs

    Yes there will become a saturation point, this happens with competing local venues, but that is the dance business.

    We all (I hope) want to expand MJ and get more dancers involved etc. the weekenders give the oppertunity for organisers, Teachers, DJ's, dancers to exchange ideas discover new moves or music.
    They help the dance direction - Southprt Latin room will encourage others to play more Latin music - Blues & swing music in MJ evolved from Beach Boogie & Camber swing rooms.

    How many people have been to a weekender and been dissapointed because the event was affected by the increasing number of simmilar events taking place? I have not come across this.

    Peter

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    Re: Too many weekenders?

    Quote Originally Posted by Lory
    David James, spoke of the hype and eluded this to be a 'bad thing.' I'd disagree, for me, that's part of what adds to the excitement... everyone planing to meet up, discussing what they'll be wearing, organising BBQ's etc I love the build up and anticipation..
    Except for people reading this who may have their expectations raised, then cruelly dashed. Bit like meeting me really

    Seriously, I much prefer the (copyright ZW I believe) "high points / low points" approach, I think it's more balanced...

    Quote Originally Posted by Lory
    I love dancing till dawn, I can't explain it and unless you've experienced the 'high' you won't understand
    Well, I have danced till dawn, and I've danced till 11pm. The amount of time dancing is nothing compared to the quality of the dancing, to me.

    But people get different things out of these. And there seems to be a bit of one-upmanship by some people in the "I can dance longer than you" stakes, which I'll politely bow out of and say "OK". Again, I have no interest in how much dancing I do, only that it's good quality.

    Quote Originally Posted by Lory
    Maybe just Friday night to Sunday Tea time?

    Surely I can't be alone here?
    If you are, that kind of puts paid to any socialising...

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    Re: Too many weekenders?

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidJames
    Except for people reading this who may have their expectations raised, then cruelly dashed.
    I'm a firm believer that you only get out of things, what you put into it! Sadly no ones notices the people standing on the sidelines or watching from afar!

    But people get different things out of these. And there seems to be a bit of one-upmanship by some people in the "I can dance longer than you" stakes, which I'll politely bow out of and say "OK". Again, I have no interest in how much dancing I do, only that it's good quality.
    Maybe that's true to some extent but not in my case.

    We all have off nights, when we feel our dancing is just, well, not happening and maybe I just take longer than most to reach my peak but that's what I love, when I've reached it, I can then maintain it for hours!
    Quote Originally Posted by Lory
    Surely I can't be alone here?
    If you are, that kind of puts paid to any socialising...
    Maybe I am?
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    Re: Too many weekenders?

    Quote Originally Posted by Lory
    David James, spoke of the hype and eluded this to be a 'bad thing.' I'd disagree, for me, that's part of what adds to the excitement... everyone planing to meet up, discussing what they'll be wearing, organising BBQ's etc I love the build up and anticipation..
    I quite like a sense of anticipation but I don't like building up a huge expectation because this is almost bound to be disappointed. For that reason, I enjoy Fri nights and Sun nights at weekenders more, because they're low-key, with less pressure to fuss about clothes etc or stay up late. Though I often do anyway.

    Enjoyment at weekenders is what you make it, as several people have said. It's a combination of personal attitude, fitness, luck in getting good dances at the right time, company, people you meet, even the weather. These factors are all variable and not always under my control, so I try to approach each weekender philosophically, thinking "I'll probably enjoy it, but what the hell, it's not the end of the world if I don't."


    On a really personal note, I would be attracted to a smaller more specialised weekender as well, should one arise. I could definitely live with 'just' the blues room... No classes but instead, spend the day, socialising and experimenting with both 'dance' and 'music'.. in a non formatted Jam
    I agree. I don't get much out of the classes and can't dance all day and half the night as well, so something has to give. Rather than pay for the classes I'd like a free afternoon to go off and do a little light tourism/shopping. The lunchtime freestyle sessions are often excellent (shame about Camber's in May) and one definite plus point of the Southport blues room is that it's open, and uncrowded, all afternoon. Having never actually made it to the bitter end at a weekender, I wouldn't mind if the nights ended at a fixed time, say 3ish, as I find that I stay up for the sake of it, and because I'm afraid I might miss something, when I'd really be better off getting some sleep.

    Correct me if I'm wrong but I can't remember a class described specifically as "musicality" being offered at any of the weekenders I've been to. Some classes include elements of musicality, but isn't it time this was offered in it's own right, maybe in conjunction with listening to new music, like Lory describes above, but as a class/session open to everyone?

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    Re: Too many weekenders?

    Quote Originally Posted by Lory
    I'm a firm believer that you only get out of things, what you put into it! Sadly no ones notices the people standing on the sidelines or watching from afar!


    We all have off nights, when we feel our dancing is just, well, not happening and maybe I just take longer than most to reach my peak but that's what I love, when I've reached it, I can then maintain it for hours!
    You are not alone, I'm right with you Lory.

    I agree. On a weekender somehow the first 4hrs is an amazing warm up for the dancing that goes on into the dawn. Those are the kind of dances that seem impossible to replicate on a normal freestyle night. The flow of music is the key IMO, and the obsessive dancers who refuse to go to bed.


    Quote Originally Posted by Lory
    On a really personal note, I would be attracted to a smaller more specialised weekender as well, should one arise. I could definitely live with 'just' the blues room... No classes but instead, spend the day, socialising and experimenting with both 'dance' and 'music'.. in a non formatted Jam

    I'd love to have time to swap music idea's ....an iPod session?
    I would love a weekend of Blues and Latin and anything slow to medium. ...and just one fast track - 'Swing City'!


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    Re: Too many weekenders?

    Quote Originally Posted by Zebra Woman
    You are not alone, I'm right with you Lory.

    I agree. On a weekender somehow the first 4hrs is an amazing warm up for the dancing that goes on into the dawn. Those are the kind of dances that seem impossible to replicate on a normal freestyle night. The flow of music is the key IMO, and the obsessive dancers who refuse to go to bed.




    I would love a weekend of Blues and Latin and anything slow to medium. ...and just one fast track - 'Swing City'!

    Can we also have "Whatever Lola wants" by Gotan Project.

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    Re: Too many weekenders?

    Quote Originally Posted by Zebra Woman
    ...and just one fast track - 'Swing City'!
    You're heading the right way for a span- err, negative repping - young lady

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    Re: Too many weekenders?

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidJames
    You're heading the right way for a span- err, negative repping - young lady
    Really?

    Have I mentioned how much I like Swing City?

    Damn, you're not coming to Ashtons on Friday. I could have requested it and had it dedicated to you David. Next time eh?


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    Re: Too many weekenders?

    Quote Originally Posted by Zebra Woman
    Damn, you're not coming to Ashtons on Friday. I could have requested it and had it dedicated to you David. Next time eh?
    Watch it, you, or I'm withdrawing hair-pulling privileges....

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    Re: Too many weekenders?

    Quote Originally Posted by jivecat
    I can't remember a class described specifically as "musicality" being offered at any of the weekenders I've been to.
    One of the Rock Bottoms weekenders I've been to had a musicality class, so they do exist.

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    Re: Too many weekenders?

    [QUOTE=DavidJames]


    I'm not the biggest fan of weekenders, I think they're a bit over-hyped. But from the evidence, they do seem to promote dancing in general, as well as "dancing-at-weekenders", so I don't think they damage the non-weekender events, quite the opposite in fact. So that's good

    There's another issue though, about the whole "pressure to go" which FirstMove alluded to in another thread - the whole weekender-hyping thing certain people indulge in can raise expectations.

    Not everyone has The Time Of Their Lives at weekenders - some people love it, some dislike it, some are bored, some quite like it but can live without it, and so on.

    [QUOTE]

    I read this and thought no wrong

    Then read it again and felt he has a point

    I love weekenders, more dancing better standard etc etc

    But some people I know went once and wouldnt go again

    'whats the fun of walking around 30 extra in a class' Camber girl I know said and wont go again

    Not sure if it takes a certain mentaility to go. If you a wall flower probably not going to enjoy boy or girl or a beginner

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