Dance Chat...Would you participate?

[TemptressToo]

I wish this place had a dance chat as well. That would be a lot of fun! Question is, do you think it would work? You have to have people willing and wanting to chat to even support such a thing. Anyway...here's a quick poll.

[DanceMentor]

I can easily install such a feature. We talked about it among the moderators. I guess the main thing is we prefer to get you to put your messages on the board where they will be preserved. Here is an example of one I tested a while ago:
http://showtimedanceshoes.us/cgi-sys/mchat.cgi?channel=showtimedanceshoes.us

[pygmalion]

Hmm. Chat rooms can be fun, but they can also be annoying. Fun? When I'm in the mood, hanging out and talking about dance is just one of my favorite things to do. Annoying? When I'm just checking in and don't have time to chat, but people won't let go. I guess I'll give it a provisional yes. I'd be willing to try it.

[TemptressToo]

Well it would be in addition to the message boards. If you didn't want to chat and just wanted to post a message. You could do so. That would eliminate the annoyance involved. :)

[pygmalion]

Yeah. Sounds like a good plan. Actually, if you'd asked me seven months ago whether I'd participate in message boards, I would have said no, and now, obviously, I'm hooked. :oops: :lol: So maybe a chat room is not such a bad idea. You never know. I might get hooked on that, too. :wink: :D

[DanceMentor]

Ok, I just purchased talkdance.com
I can have the site up and running with a chat application within a couple of days. It will be a separate site this way.

I would appreciate it if someone could make a donation to help with the expense: http://www.dance-forums.com/donate.php
The domain itself only costs $8. It may cost a little for hosting as well, but not more than $5-$10/month unless it gets really popular.

[DanceMentor]

One way we will use this is try to have a scheduled meeting about a specific subject say once per week. We will also cut and paste that conversation onto the Dance Forums as a permanent record for future reference. If possible, we may try to have some sort of "Ask and Expert" chat session.

Note: the domain will not be functional for a couple of days still, and probably a couple more days to get the chat application installed and running well.

[SDsalsaguy]

Personally I'm not a fan of this idea for a couple of reasons. For one thing I think that scheduling will be difficult regarding our extensive multinational membership. Also, those who don't speak (i.e. type) english as a primary language will be disadvantaged in participating. The forums avoid such problems because they don't depend on real time interaction and response...

Just my thoughts.

I do, however, fully endorse this:
We will also cut and paste that conversation onto the Dance Forums as a permanent record for future reference.

[pygmalion]

One way we will use this is try to have a scheduled meeting about a specific subject say once per week. We will also cut and paste that conversation onto the Dance Forums as a permanent record for future reference. If possible, we may try to have some sort of "Ask and Expert" chat session.

Note: the domain will not be functional for a couple of days still, and probably a couple more days to get the chat application installed and running well.

This sounds like a great idea, DM. Perhaps I can get some folks (like my coaches LOL) who don't normally participate, to log in for an hour on a Saturday or Sunday evening to talk about something specific. That could be of great benefit. Cool idea. :D

[danceguy]

Drawing from past experience, I've found that the best way to chat with others on a forum is to do so with chat programs like yahoo and aol-im. One idea is to have a chat time where most people can attend...it can be very hard with people from different countries, but I've attended chats like this before and it can be a lot of fun. Usually there is one hour in a week where just about everyone can get together, its not all that hard to do.

In this scenario, a group chat with one of your standard chat programs will work rather well. Its also nice to keep these informal...making it an official, regulated discussion by professionals could make it uncomfortable for many, including myself.

So, perhaps there could be a Swing chat...a Salsa chat...or just a general 'say hi' to everyone at DF kind of chat. I've seen very large online groups create a chat feature and many times it will fall into disuse or abuse.

Again, most members here who want to chat will post their info in their profile...but I know for most of us we don't have a lot of time to chat. But I think an informal group chat would be a fun thing to try...and then see how people are open to the idea afterwards.

Just my thoughts,

Best,

SG

[DanceMentor]

Based on my conversation with the hosting company, I have a couple of things to add:
1) Chat applications are VERY resource intensive, so we can not just leave the chat running 24 hours per day.
2) Instead, we will schedule chats.
3) The chat session will copied and published as a permanent record

When we have a chat there will be a specific topic in mind. This topic could be general or specific, such as "swing" or "teachers only" or "interview with Joe Famous". Potentially, we could schedule open (all topics) chats as well.

I might add that by scheduling chats it will help us to have a successful chat. All too often I see sites where chats are available, but there are zero people chatting.

I'll let you know as things develop. It will surely be a couple of weeks.

[TemptressToo]

Well what about having a Yahoo chat? That would be the easiest means of doing it. Also...it's free. You can just set up a chat room and notify the board to have at it.

[TemptressToo]

See if this works...

http://www.network54.com/Hide/Chat/91270

This is a swing chat connected to my local Swing group. I'll be there for a while...come talk to me. You don't have to register, just enter a name in the "guest" spot and enter.

[DanceMentor]

OK, the domain is active: Dance Talk (http://www.talkdance.com/). I'll be starting to build a chat application over the next few days hopefully. Any votes for a time or topic for the first chat? (specify your time zone. I'm in Eastern Standard Time)

[SDsalsaguy]

I'm on Pacific Standard Time myself...

[pygmalion]

I'm EST, too.

What if we picked a time like late evening EST, and alternated Saturdays and Sundays?

example: 4:00 PM PST = 7:00 PM EST = Midnight GMT= 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM down under

Not overly convenient for the UK people, but not way too early for our Australia contingent.

Or we could alternate starting times, to make life easier. Knowing how crazy I am, I'd log on, regardless, but salsachinita and MadamSamba deserve to sleep. :wink: 8)

[salsachinita]

example: 4:00 PM PST = 7:00 PM EST = Midnight GMT= 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM down under

Knowing how crazy I am, I'd log on, regardless, but salsachinita and MadamSamba deserve to sleep. :wink: 8)

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Thanks, Jenn. I will be there as long as I get my time converted correctly. There are two things that prevent me from participating: (1) Salsa dancing (2) Teaching.

I am flexible otherwise. At the moment my life is divided between dancing salsa, talking salsa, and writing about salsa (ok, with a little bit of other things call work......occassionally 8) ).......nothing like a truly balanced lifestyle :roll: :lol: 8) !

[DanceMentor]

I'm definitely going to let this idea develop over time. I want to get feedback and then try to schedule a chat where lots of people can participate. What about Sunday afternoon? This is usually a pretty active day on the Dance Forums.

What could we talk about?

[SDsalsaguy]

What could we talk about?
Ummm... dance? :lol:

Seriosuly though, what topics/themes would people be interested in for our initial DF chat?

[twnkltoz]

What if the first official chat is about how to run the chat room? ;)

[SDsalsaguy]

What if the first official chat is about how to run the chat room? ;)
Wouldn't that make it a chat chat instead of a dance chat? :lol:

[pygmalion]

It might be nice to have a brief chat about ground rules before getting into our first dance chat. Maybe ten or fifteen minutes, then on to the dance discussion? What do you think?

[TemptressToo]

I'm in Central Time Zone...the time zone thing will make the "scheduled" chat thing very difficult.

[pygmalion]

Yup, unless we alternate starting times from week, to week. That way, everybody gets to participate at a convenient time, at least sometimes.

[pygmalion]

Any update or further thoughts on this?

[delamusica]

Seems like everyone's on here so much that the message boards are just *this* far off from directly chatting anyway!

[pygmalion]

Good point, delamusica. I bet if we set a specific time for people to log onto DF, it would be as good as any chat room. Maybe even better. :D

[DanceMentor]

I never got a chance to do anything else, but it is setup and working, so feel free to try it out, or suggest a time to meet and chat.

[Jack]

Yes it would be fun.....

[tsb]

Personally I'm not a fan of this idea for a couple of reasons. For one thing I think that scheduling will be difficult regarding our extensive multinational membership. Also, those who don't speak (i.e. type) english as a primary language will be disadvantaged in participating. The forums avoid such problems because they don't depend on real time interaction and response...

Just my thoughts.

I do, however, fully endorse this:
We will also cut and paste that conversation onto the Dance Forums as a permanent record for future reference.

pretty much my thoughts, too.

[pygmalion]

Any updates on this? It looks like we have at least a few chat opportunities every week. Anyone have thoughts? :wink: :D

[TemptressToo]

Well...how about somebody starting an official Yahoo chat room. You can make those personal/private rooms open to whomever. How about that for an idea?

That way, those of us that like to yak for hours about nonsense won't have to worry about our chats being pasted into a discussion. ;)

[pygmalion]

Do you know how to set those up, TemptressToo? I'd be willing to help, but I don't have a clue. :oops: :lol:

[etchuck]

Two words...

Yahoochat stinks.

Really really not a very versatile layout or anything with the Yahoo chatserver. You can't save transcripts, and many times in my experience the server decides to lock up.

[Chris Stratton]

If someone wants to set something up, I'd be willing to drop in later this evening or some other time, provided that you don't have to give out too much personal info to get onto the site (I really hate giving email addresses to all those commerical webpage places)

[pygmalion]

Chris,

I'll take an action item to set something up, but it won't be tonight -- I think there are too many logistical issues to resolve. But within week or so, I think we'll be set. The dinner hour -- 6PM EDT to 6PM PDT seems to be our busiest time, so why not set up a chat within that time frame? I can do it. Just not tonight. I want people to know in advance, so they have free reign to participate (and DM can archive, if he wants. 8) ) Maybe Thursday or next Tuesday? I'll keep you posted.

Jenn

[Dame Swing Kitty]

I for one would love to chat online with other dancers, scheduled or not. Until we get this thing up and running, why don't we just exchange AIM and MSN IDs to get to know each other? For one, I know with MSN we can invite multiple people into a chat...I've had fifteen people in one chat before using that method...

To get us started: on MSN I'm DameSwingKitty@hotmail.com, and on AIM I'm Rainnede...anyone and everyone feel free to message me! I love to talk, especially about dancing!

[dancin_feet]

Never really been into the chat thing myself. Only having internet access at work would make it impossible for me to chat.

I also agree that the time zone differences will make it very difficult for scheduled chats. Worth trying if there is enough interest though.

[salsachinita]

The dinner hour -- 6PM EDT to 6PM PDT seems to be our busiest time, so why not set up a chat within that time frame?

Ummmmm, I wonder what time that would be for me...? Never really good at figuring out timezone differences :oops: .........

I'm in anyway, unless I'm out salsa-ing!

[pygmalion]

I think I noticed before that you're 14 hours ahead of me -- that would be 8 AM to 11AM, in your time zone, whatever that is. :wink: :D

[salsachinita]

Thanks, sweetie :D !

Now if I could only get up a bit earlier....... :roll:

[salsero-Romania]

hy alll long time to see you....

1. i have a space for your chat in my server .....how many mega do you need! ......and money ...i don't need!......i have many mega !
2. this script phpmychat.....i don't trust it.... i worked with it and has not beeen satisfied.....you want to study another version chat for us ????

i expect your reply!

[pygmalion]

Um help! How to proceed? Anyone?

[salsero-Romania]

i expect details......how many mega need??.....and now i have some ideea bout another chat soft....

i waiting response

[dr daffy]

i think the dance chat thing could work. AIM works wonders when i want to chat... which is every minute of every day that isn't spent on dancing, lol. if you guys have AIM screen names, just post them and we could form a private chatroom on AIM. it works all the time with my friends and i and we could have a lot of fun chatting up a storm :wink:

[DanceMentor]

Well, I suppose we can always test your chat by setting a time that a few people can meet at the same time. It's fine to use your server or this one.

I don't believe we have had a successful chat up to this point. Probably someone would need to take charge by PMing a few people so everyone could agree on a time.

[dr daffy]

yeah, that's a really good idea...the only problem is, times differ for everyone, heh

[tasche]

Well you could ahve a chat window. Anything from 12pm-6pm PDT works for me

[pygmalion]

We've had a couple serendipitous chats. Just a couple, in the past year. We probably wouldn't need a formal chat function at all, if we could just coordinate a time to log into DF.

[tasche]

Thats what I meant a time window not an actual chat window. :D

[DanceMentor]

I could make one of those shoutboxes too. The thing is...I think Dance Forums is such a wonderful resource because it saves a permanent record of all of the posts. Chat doesn't really do that, and chat is much harder to moderate. I don't mind doing it, but we will really need someone who wants to volunteer in coordinating chat times. It would also be good to have someone copy and paste a record of the chat. One way to have fun with this would be to conduct a live interview (even if it only involved a couple of people).

[brujo]

Oh dear lord no!

Chat started

Salsero has joined
Salsero : Helloooo
Salsa Addict has joined
Salsero : Anyone here
Salsa Addict : Hi Salsero
Salsero : Hi Salsa Addict
Salsa Junkie has joined
Salsa Junkie: Who likes salsa!
Salsero : Salsa!
Salsa Addict : I luv Salsa!
Salsero2 has joined
Salsero1 : Hey, who took my nickname!
Salsa Addict : Hi Salsero1
Salsero : My nickname first
Salsero1 : Hi SA.
Salsa Addict : Salsero was here first...

Can you tell I'm not too thrilled....

[SDsalsaguy]

Glad to see I'm not the only one who's not a chat fan... :lol:

[squirrel]

Chat is ok when you cannot use the phones in the office to call your friends and have a salsa-related conversation :oops: :oops: :oops: :lol: :twisted:

[dr daffy]

come on guys! chatting is AWESOME! lol... i'm such a fan of chatting... besides, it'd be easier if we all chatted in a room cuz then everyone could talk and not have to wait a day or so to respond and stuff like that. i think it would be really fun


besides, i'm addicted to chatting :oops: heh

[pygmalion]

I don't care for chatting (or for IM'ing either, while we're on the subject) In general, I think brujo's right. (funny too! :lol: )

I think it could be worked, though, with some planning, like a specific subject or two, planned and publicized in advance. What I'm envisioning is a lot like a teleconference, only online. There would be some inevitable dumb sidebars, but some cool conversation could be made, as well. 8)

[dr daffy]

lol, sounds good