Most popular drinks among salseros? (besides water...)

[jamin1]

Hello All,

Question for all you clubin' salseros: What is the most popular drink (or types of drinks) among salseros when at the nightclubs (besides water)?

As most of us have experienced, weekly salsa events in a nightclub environment have always been very difficult to maintain due to the fact that salseros typically do not buy enough drinks to make it worth the nightclub owners time to host the event.

To solve this we could go on a campaingn to encourage patrons to buy more drinks but the question tries to approach the solution from the other side of the equation. Assuming that salseros are willing to buy something, perhaps it is the bars that are not offering enough drink items that salseros actually want to buy. And if they do offer them, they are not advertising them enough or offering specials for them.

I am hoping to compile a list of drinks (or types of drinks) that most popular among the salseros and then work with the club owners to obtain these drinks, put these items in the forefront and offer specials for them.

Maybe it this is a exersise in futility but giving the way things are now... anything is worth a try.

Jamin
www.skymambo.com

[quixotedlm]

coffee

[samina]

mojitos, hands-down

[naturallove]

For me, definitely Gatorade, and I know other salseros/as that drink it as well. When you're sweating a lot, a nice cold Gatorade is really *******ing. Most of us don't like too much alcohol while we're drinking, but maybe a large vat of sangria or some other punch with a kick might be popular.

On another note, I have a theory that tapas might really go over well with the salsa crowd. We don't like a lot of drinking but boy do we eat, especially after dancing! I've never seen any clubs do this, but I wonder if that might be another money-making way to go.

[salsamale]

what I drink now:
water - often
ice tea - often
pineapple juice - often
red wine - sometimes, when it's cold outside
hard liquor/ mixed drink - rare, when it's cold outside

drinks I might want but they don't offer:
real ice tea
protein shake
milk
milkshake
slushie
veggie shake
carrot juice

food I might want but they don't sell:
pizza
empenada
gelato


some ideas:
free cover for salseras, or free drink with cover for salseras
1/2 price drinks for salseras all night
happy mambo hour
free salty snacks
turn off the air conditioner or pretend it's broken

[Beto]

mojitos, hands-down
Agreed. That's hella popular with quite a few salseros that I know.

Aside from mojitos (which aren't offered everywhere), I tend to pick something different every week.

For example, one week I'll do Corona. The next I'll do a Hard Cider. Week after, I'll do a malt like Smirnoff Ice (sometimes with a bit of Blue Curacao added to the top).

Between one of the selections listed above, and water purchases, I do my part to "keep the salsa scene alive by supporting the bar" :D

[Andresito]

Cuba Libre !

[Catarina]

For alocholic drinks: Mojito, & kiphrinia (however you spell it!). I second having gatorade available at clubs/bars. I'd buy that!
salsamale--i think some places around here do turn the air down, just for that purpose...and the bussers are downright AGGRESSIVE in clearing any drink or bottle of water htat's not in your hand, even if it's half full...just so you have to go buy another 5-10 water/drink! grrrrr.

[Beto]

For alocholic drinks: Mojito, & kiphrinia (however you spell it!). I second having gatorade available at clubs/bars. I'd buy that!
salsamale--i think some places around here do turn the air down, just for that purpose...
I'm convinced that this is the case at our local Tuesday night venue. It's insanely hot in there after 1 or 2 dances and I bet you, more than anything, that it's to drive us dancers to the bar.:mad:
and the bussers are downright AGGRESSIVE in clearing any drink or bottle of water htat's not in your hand, even if it's half full...just so you have to go buy another 5-10 water/drink! grrrrr.
Tell me about it!!! :headwall: On more than one occasion I've had my Corona bottle, which had at least one or two more swigs left in it, taken after I'd set it down for a dance. Same with bottled water (which I now close and hide in my bag between dances for fear it will grow legs while I'm looking away):(

[salsamale]

I was just kidding about the air conditioning. One place here actually advertises that they just got new air conditioning. It was a good place before, now it's even better.

And, that's just not right, about swiping your drinks before they're finished. I once witnessed an attempt to clear 2 full bottles of Corona, and I knew what was happening because earlier that night, it had happened to one guy in our group. I intervened long enough for the owners of the beer to return - they were that close to losing 2 full beers!

Dear bar owners, please don't do this. We're not stupid, and we're drinking water, so we're probably not drunk. Charge what you will for the water, but please don't clear drinks and water bottles if there is even a little left. Thank you.

[Ron Obvious]

Cuba Libre !

Agree Cuba Libre, but with dark rum (all except Captain Morgan) and much lime.

[naturallove]

I was just kidding about the air conditioning. One place here actually advertises that they just got new air conditioning. It was a good place before, now it's even better.

And, that's just not right, about swiping your drinks before they're finished. I once witnessed an attempt to clear 2 full bottles of Corona, and I knew what was happening because earlier that night, it had happened to one guy in our group. I intervened long enough for the owners of the beer to return - they were that close to losing 2 full beers!

Dear bar owners, please don't do this. We're not stupid, and we're drinking water, so we're probably not drunk. Charge what you will for the water, but please don't clear drinks and water bottles if there is even a little left. Thank you.

Actually, one of the security guys at a venue where I go told me explicitly that the bar messes around with the air to make us buy drinks. :mad:

[Andresito]

Agree Cuba Libre, but with dark rum (all except Captain Morgan) and much lime.

Havana Club Añejo, Coke, fresh limes... get your feet moving !

my father said allways, you should drink so the ruhm goes to your feet and not to your head !

[salsamale]

Actually, one of the security guys at a venue where I go told me explicitly that the bar messes around with the air to make us buy drinks. :mad:
I don't know, but if I ran a club, I would rather be known as the club that is always comfortable, instead of the club that is always humid with sticky floors. In the long run, if a club has wood flooring, it is better to control humidity or risk damaging the wood flooring. I suppose it's about deciding what image one wants for their club, and trying to maintain that image.

Image 1:
The club with bad floors that always swipes beers, and with not enough women because they charge women cover.

Image 2:
The club that is comfortable, where your drinks are safe, and where there are plenty of women.

Women will attract the men, some of whom can dance. Men who can dance, will attract women. A virtuous cycle. More people = more bar takings.

[Roo]

If I'm having alcohol, it'll be a mojito also.

Occasionally red wine (but man, that's worse for my dancing!).

[BugBear]

I usually drink beer. :) And around here I've seen people ordering anything. Cocktails, water, hard liquor, wine... And ever if there are less bar takes than a night with regular folks there, I don't hear the owners complain. Because having a salsa party is a sure way to have a crowd during a weeknight.

[basicarita]

Caipirinhas.

And at SOB's you can eat before you dance.

[MacMoto]

WATER.

Sorry, but of all the standard drinks offered at standard salsa clubs, that's the only thing I'm willing to drink when dancing, and I pay for it even when it's £3 per bottle. When the bar is out of bottled water, I buy a glass of something (either orange juice or half-pint of cider) and ask for a glass of tap water to go with it.


Non-standard drinks ideas...

- One club once offered a range of r e f r e s h ing non-alcoholic cocktails, which proved quite popular among dancers (esp. female). Shame they stopped hosting salsa soon afterwards... :roll:

- At a couple of congresses I attended, there was a fresh smoothies stand. What a fantastic idea :cool:. I think I spent about £10-12 pounds per night on these on top of the usual quota of bottled water (usually about 1 bottle/hour for me).

[Twilight_Elena]

I like orange juice and mixed fruit juice. My usual drink is Martini bianco with orange juice. It's very light. Many friends now drink the same as me.

T_E

[salsamarty]

I am a traditionalist. Bombay Saphire martini with a lemon twist or olive. Only enough vermouth to coat the glass. 1 martini per night followed by Calistoga sparkling mineral water with a lime.

[noobster]

And at SOB's you can eat before you dance.
Copa on Tuesdays, same. Food and dance for $5. Did that place close down/move yet or what?

No EtOH for me while dancing, no can do. Tried it once with very poor results. I like water and Gatorade at socials, usually buy cranberry juice at clubs.

When not dancing, I love a good beer. Chimay bleu, Leffe blond/brun, Theakston Old Peculier, Boddington's, Hefeweissen, and Young's Double Chocolate Stout are some of my many favorites.

[DCR]

Copa on Tuesdays, same. Food and dance for $5. Did that place close down/move yet or what?

No EtOH for me while dancing, no can do. Tried it once with very poor results. I like water and Gatorade at socials, usually buy cranberry juice at clubs.

When not dancing, I love a good beer. Chimay bleu, Leffe blond/brun, Theakston Old Peculier, Boddington's, Hefeweissen, and Young's Double Chocolate Stout are some of my many favorites.


Copa closes the end of this month but will move to 10 west 18th street.

My favorite drink is 1% lowfat milk with crush ice.

[Sabor]

My favorite drink is 1% lowfat milk with crush ice.

seconded .. but full cream :)

[Ron Obvious]

Havana Club Añejo, Coke, fresh limes... get your feet moving !

my father said allways, you should drink so the ruhm goes to your feet and not to your head !

Somewhat off-topic: can you get Havana Club Añejo (7 años I guess you mean) in Zürich anywhere? Have myself lived there one year and would like to know where you get decent rum (didn't dance salsa then).

[jamin1]

WOW! what great repsonses! I wrote down all of the ideas you guys gave me in this thread and will work with the bar owners to get these drinks on the list with specials...


Keep em comin!!

Jamin

[jamin1]

well the Gatorade idea didn't work out :(

Jamin

[Andresito]

Somewhat off-topic: can you get Havana Club Añejo (7 años I guess you mean) in Zürich anywhere? Have myself lived there one year and would like to know where you get decent rum (didn't dance salsa then).

There is an importer of Havana Club here and there are several cuban places

Particularly there is the Bohemia Club in Kreuzplatz that has a "Havana Noche" every saturday, sponsored by Havana Club, so there you can get it, and at lower price than other places.

[thespina13]

Shirley Temple! Whee!

Actually right now I'm in the mood for a virgin Pina colada.

[Josh]

Patron Reposado

OR

Glenlivet on rocks

[salsera]

Mojitos!! I went to a venue on Monday night and they had atleast eight varieties of them. Of course, I still only had one, but the choices were nice.

[Sandalphon]

In Poland we the most popular coctails are Mojito and Cuba Libre, but Caipirinha wouldn;t be worse. My favourite drink is beer with Sprite... :-)

[salsachinita]

For me, I love Cowboy Shots!

One of our clubs do regular runs with staff coming out with trays of these: popular amongst the patrons because they don't lose their dance space :p.

I think shots are good, as you don't end up with *lots* of empty glasses or bottles around the place to get knocked & broken (definitely a hazard for dancers).

Mojito, Pina Colada & good ol' Midori with lemonade are my regular choices.

[tj]

What's a Cowboy Shot? :confused:

[Me]

LOL I looked up the etymology on urbandictionary.com and if it is correct I don't think it is something salsachinita can delve too deeply into. :D

[salsachinita]

;) tj my dear, all I could say is havin' such an "un-postable" name, it sure is a nice drink!

I think it's Bailey + Butterscotch schnapp in a shot glass. Yummmmm.

You can drink one of these mid CBL & not miss a beat :lol::lol::lol:.....

[samina]

I think it's Bailey + Butterscotch schnapp in a shot glass. Yummmmm.



blrgh... i think i'd puke on my first double-spin! lol ;)