Do Blues rooms work at Freestyles

[Donna]

Went to Hyde last night, mostly on the promise of the Blues room. Main room was as I exepected, fairly uninspiring club music....

So ... no worries I thought ... the Blues room exists. The visiting instructor did a fair lesson ... and the lesson was packed. The room was very weel lit, nice floor, nice music ... and once the lesson had finished .... deserted Think I got four dances in total there (mind you a couple were with Scots-exile Laura and the others were with the most delectable Holly from Huddersfield etc. etc.).

So, despite all the hype and words, do Blues rooms work outside the weekenders?

The last time I went to Hyde they had a Blues room too. Haven't changed then. I think it's a fantastic idea. If people want a change of atmosphere/music, it's great to know you have a choice. It certainly works for me anyway.

[Swinging bee]

John Miller of Jag Jive has a blues room at his monthly dance at Great Bookham. It's not as busy as the main room but it's plenty busy enough.

I think one problem with having a blues room is that it makes the DJ in the main room play less swing and blues - so the set in there ends up being a bit too poppy: while the set in the blues room get a bit too bluesy without the punctuation of the odd up-beat number. I'm a great believer in a single room at a dance with a nice varied set. We're all doing the same dance so you really don't need a specialist room. Having said that, the Great Bookham dance seems to work - probably because both DJs work together so much they have a telepathic link.

Yes you are right .. a while ago at Bookham I was DJing the S & B room I started a track and legged it in to the main room to get a drink. half way down the corridor the track I had put on sounded a bit 'echoey' as I got into the main room I realised that John was playing the same track "beat for beat" . Now how scarey is that and it's not the first time!
Given the large collection of S & B music I play, this is uncanny

I may be biased but Bookham has to be the definitive venue in the area, Rianos at Maidstone with the two rooms is following close behind
For either venue BOOK EARLY..

Swing ang blues rooms DO work for John Miller and I