Could you help me, please?

[SunvillagePublications]

Dear Dancers

Pardon me for gate-crashing your forum. I am not a dancer myself, but I thought this might be the best place to come to sound you out about something.

I am a publisher of various educational materials. Recently, two rather substantial manuscripts on social dancing came my way and frankly, I am wondering whether it would be worth publishing them. What I mean is, do you think there would be enough interest in them to warrant "going to press"?

They will be available in instant downloadable form as a package with one or two other valuable downloadable products related to fitness, for between 20 and 40 dollars.

I would be very grateful if you could help me guage whether there would be enough interest in these e-books.

Thanks in advance

Chris

[scotttocs]

Personally?

Depends on what "fitness materials" I think a lot of dancers are fairly knowledgeable once they've gotten somewhere, and low level intros won't necessarily pull stuff in.

However, Dancing with the Stars is pulling in a LOT of newcomers, and if the pieces are accessible that might be a very good market.

[DanceMentor]

I think there is going to be a lot of momentum as a result of dancing with the stars, so this might be a good time.

I'm not so sure about the "downloadable" part. I never end up reading something I downloaded, so I don't value that sort of thing. I'd rather just have a hard copy.

[fascination]

well you know what opinions are like...everyone has one...but IMO? yes definately

[SunvillagePublications]

Hi again!

Opinions are what I need, positive or negative, so thank you for your replies.

Just wanted to respond to a couple of points -

(1) The fitness products would be given as bonusses to the main offer. I want people to get real value from the information, because my philosophy is: If you're not happy with what you get from me, then I'm not happy. That's why I always offer a 100% guarantee. If you don't like whatever I offer, I don't expect you to keep it.

(2) Downloadable, but printable. I know what you mean about hard copies, that's why my e-books do allow for printing of one high-resolution hard copy. But downloadable books do have a great appeal for the instant gratification.

(3) What's "Dancing with the stars"?

I know I being rather forward here, having just arrived, but I maybe some of you experienced dancers would like to have a look at the manuscripts when they are edited, and give me an opinion. You'd also get the info for free, of course!

Thanks again for the replies.

Chris

[DanceMentor]

Hi again!

(3) What's "Dancing with the stars"?



#1 show on Television this Summer, and could be #1 for the Fall. If so, it might help book sales considerably.

[SunvillagePublications]

Thanks. Just Googled it. Yes, I can certainly see the appeal!

[star_gazer]

I am an avid reader and have spent most of my life involved in dance. But with the recent exception of Twyla Tharp’s THE CREATIVE HABIT: LEARN IT AND USE IT FOR LIFE, I’ve found very little to read about any kind of dance that is anywhere near as good as dancing itself.

[mamboqueen]

I agree with what the others are saying above regarding the timeliness of your articles. Strike while the iron is hot! I'm not sure what your demographics are, and if you're doing it on a big/small, local/national scale, but perhaps you could even hook up with a dance studio that would give you something (really cheap or free intro lessons are usually a "given" at most studios to attract newcomers) to add to your package with the article.

I'm curious to know if the authors of these articles are professional dancers or amateurs/social dancers. Do you know?

[Sagitta]

Yup. Knowing the credentials of the authors might help attract dancers who are attracted to reading about dance, or maybe even non-dancers. I'm sure they are people who would be happy to read them over. I would. I'm primarily a social dancer...

[SunvillagePublications]

Thank you for all your replies. I am going to go ahead and start the editing/formatting ball rolling.

They are not articles, but full length instruction manuals (200+ pages each) covering the basic range of ballroom dances in detail, traditional and some Latin too. There is plenty on technique etc. They were written by professional dancers (champions, I think) for beginners and from what I can tell (from reading some of the information) they would be of interest to more advanced dancers too. They were published years ago but I have obtained the rights to re-edit and republish them.

I would like to contact the posters on this thread by PM if that is OK by you, and I would be happy to send you advanced copies for your inspection and opinion, if you wouldn't mind. It would be a great help, so I know where I am going with this.

As regards local or national, I like the idea of contacting institutions and schools! I hadn't thought of that! It's brilliant, in fact! Is there a chain of schools that operates throughout the US? I was thinking more on a global scale, though as I am not located in the US. That is probably why I hadn't heard of "Dancing with the stars". Downloadable information is just so accessible. You see something you want and 5 minutes later you can start reading it. I bought dozens of e-books last year, and about a dozen already this year!

Thanks again!

Chris

[mamboqueen]

Arthur Murray and Fred Astaire are the big chains :)

[Medira]

I would be interested in checking out the material as well, if you'd like.

As MQ mentioned above, Arthur Murray and Fred Astaire are the two big chain studios, with FA having locations throughout North America and AM having locations around the world. Where are you from? There may be chain studios in your area that someone who is more local to you will know about. :)

[SunvillagePublications]

Hi!

OK, I'll be in touch after the preliminary editing has been done.

I am from the UK but resident in Japan. As the info is all downloadable, though, there is no specific global location, but I'll certainly bear in mand what you have told me, and everyone els eon here too.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Chris

[SunvillagePublications]

OK, the editing is underway.

I've just found out that "Dancing withe stars" is the US version of our long-running "Strictly Come Dancing". Now I get it!

[Indiana_Jay]

I am a publisher of various educational materials. Recently, two rather substantial manuscripts on social dancing came my way and frankly, I am wondering whether it would be worth publishing them.

Well, my lovely wife and I are very interested in social ballroom dancing, but I'd need to know more about the type of infomration contained in the manuscripts to give you an opinion.

But it might help you to know that we purchased copies of two DVDs releated to ballroom dance; the Gere/Lopez movie "Shall we Dance" and the documentary film, "Mad Hot Ballroom." So folks like us are certainly willing to part with $ for media related to our hobby.

-IJ

[Indiana_Jay]

I would like to contact the posters on this thread by PM if that is OK by you, and I would be happy to send you advanced copies for your inspection and opinion, if you wouldn't mind. It would be a great help, so I know where I am going with this.

I, too, would be happy to review the material.

[waltzgirl]

If you felt comfortable posting the names of the books' authors, we might be able to tell you if their names/reputations will help you in marketing the books. I've paid (fairly) big bucks on e-bay for out-of-print dance books by some of the legends.

[SunvillagePublications]

Indiana - thanks for the offer, I'd be happy to send you inspection copies in exchange for your thoughts. You too, Waltzgirl, if you wish.

I am happy to pass on the details in private, but I would prefer not to post them openly on the forum at this stage.

I'm no dancer, but I can tell attention to detail and comprehensive information when I see it. There are about 400 pages in all, and hundreds of detailed illustrations. The first one has been formatted now.

I am planning to offer some extras with the e-books, including two more e-books (which are not published by me but I have rights to) on fitness tips and how to make drinks for athletes. What do you think?

Also, I am thinking of including a really special bonus that I have created myself, and that I think would be of benefit to anyone learning to dance or aiming to improve dancing skills. My expertise, (apart from publishing, which is fairly recent) is in the field of learning and how people learn better, especally foreign languages, but for anything really. (I have two language courses out in teh offline world, publsihed by Hodder and McGraw Hill). Well, I have created a special report that investigates the mental side of learning anything physical better and faster. I think it would be a nice addition to the e-books and would make the whole package something really rather special.

Do you mind me asking, Waltzgirl, how much you mean by "big bucks"? I am not out to rip anybody off, and I only want to offer products of the highest quality, that will really be of benefit, for a great price. I want it to be win-win all round, which is why I always offer an unconditional guarantee. My motto is - If you aren't satisfied, then I'm not!

I haven't contacted the schools yet, but I will when I have something concrete to show them. That really is a good idea!

[Indiana_Jay]

I am planning to offer some extras with the e-books, including two more e-books (which are not published by me but I have rights to) on fitness tips and how to make drinks for athletes. What do you think?
I doubt that those extras would affect my purchase decision.

I have created a special report that investigates the mental side of learning anything physical better and faster. I think it would be a nice addition to the e-books and would make the whole package something really rather special.
To the extent that the information can be applied to learning dance, this seems more valuable than the fitness tips and drink recipes.

[Medira]

I would have to agree with Jay on the above.

[mamboqueen]

Also, I am thinking of including a really special bonus that I have created myself, and that I think would be of benefit to anyone learning to dance or aiming to improve dancing skills. My expertise, (apart from publishing, which is fairly recent) is in the field of learning and how people learn better, especally foreign languages, but for anything really. (I have two language courses out in teh offline world, publsihed by Hodder and McGraw Hill). Well, I have created a special report that investigates the mental side of learning anything physical better and faster. I think it would be a nice addition to the e-books and would make the whole package something really rather special.





Anything along the lines of "Superlearning?" I'm interested in this.