Help from Romania .... please read!

[salsero-Romania]

i have been a salsero for the past three year and i currently have a problem. i want to organize the first workshop in Bucharest (the capital of Romania). the problem is i have no idea how much we would have to pay for the participation of one of the top salseros of the world, i.e. Super Mario or Susana or Leon....whatever ... it doesn't matter ......i would actually prefer Orville. how can i contact them? please, give me an idea, just an approximate amount... we are kind of isolated here, we don't have any contacts outside Romania, none of us knows a renowed salsero... and as far as i know, the people living in the places with a long salsa tradition don't know we exist either... thanx and i am waiting for your messages... see ya... que viva la salsa!

[peachexploration]

Hi SR! Welcome to the forums. Start with their websites, most of them have contact information on their home pages. :D

[MacMoto]

Welcome, salsero-Romania!

Start with their websites, most of them have contact information on their home pages.
Here's a list to start with:
For Super Mario's contact info see: http://www.uksalsa.com/Mario/
For Susana: http://www.salsavideos.co.uk/Profiles/susana.htm
For Leon (and others): http://www.salsalife.co.uk/classes.htm
For Orville: http://www.salsation.ca/contact.htm

Also see: http://www.dancefreak.com/stories/promotion.htm
This page from Edie the Salsa Freak's website tells you everything you need to know in order to organise Edie and Al's workshops, from advertising tips to costs. This should give you a good idea of what you need to do to get top international teachers to your area.

I think it may be a good idea to check if there is a sala congress in a country close to Romania and which teachers have been invited to it. Teachers may be more willing to add Bucharest to their itinerary if they are going to be near there anyway.

[salsero-Romania]

Thanx for help! I'll try to contact them. I looked on 'dancefreak.com', but it's very much for us, because in my country the average wages is 150$ and a fee of 15$/hour is....... i am speechless........maybe i can spend this sum because i'm so crazy about salsa I would rather attend the classes than eat......but my friends...i don't think so.....It is probable then that we won't be seeing these top-dancers in Romania very soon.....because we don't have money.....shitty life ....money ...again money.... at least we have salsa and we can dance!

[Spitfire]

Bun venit salsero-Romania, :D

This is another website that may be helpful.

http://www.latindance.com/

[dancin/dj]

salsero romania, perhaps you could explain your situation to some of these teachers and if there going to be overseas they might drop there standard fees for you, there are people in life who do this type of stuff ya never know, worst they can say is no :D :wink: ciao

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

Wellcome Salsero-Romania!

Glad to know that salsa is starting to become popular in Eastern European countries. Sorry that the wages of the "big boys" are still rather high for Romania. :( Hope it goes well. :)

[Pacion]

It can be a bit daunting when you hear that the fees for one class is like $150 - US!

In addition, to their fee for teaching and performing, when you bring them over, it is customary that you pay their flights and provide accomodation.

From my own personal experiences, I think some of the "really" big names might be too much just now, for a baby salsa environment. You won't get full value in terms of technique and so on. too much to take in, in such a short period of time.

How about a teacher who has had classes with one/several of those big names?

Any chance of getting sponsorship from a company in Bucharest, at least to help where flights/accomodation is concerned?

Another option, which certain people might accept is payment in kind. For instance, a ballroom/latin teacher I knew would be paid in crystal glasses and anything else made in crystal, when ever he taught in Eastern European - about 10-15 years ago. He didn't mind and knew enough people to sell the crystal on to.

As someone said, all you can do is ask. At best they will say yes. At worst, they will say no.

Goodluck.

By the way. Do you have any approximate dates as yet?

[salsero-Romania]

I don't have an approximate date ....maybe after i'll try to negociate with some teachers...maybe after i'll find sponsors ....maybe in september!i don't know .... it's just an idea now .....

Sorry for my language but i don't know english very well

[Pacion]

I don't have an approximate date ....maybe after i'll try to negociate with some teachers...maybe after i'll find sponsors ....maybe in september!i don't know .... it's just an idea now .....

Sorry for my language but i don't know english very well

Firstly, no need to apologise for your english. Firstly, it is better than my Romanian for a start! Secondly, if I am going to confuse Budapest and Bucharest, :oops: then hey, you are still doing better than I am just now :D

I only asked about the approximate date as I might try and visit (and rope in a Czech friend) :wink:

[pygmalion]

salsero romania, perhaps you could explain your situation to some of these teachers and if there going to be overseas they might drop there standard fees for you, there are people in life who do this type of stuff ya never know, worst they can say is no :D :wink: ciao

I've had experience with this, too, dancin/dj. People give away things for freee all the time, even airline tickets. I'm not sure this is true outside of the states, but, in another capacity, I've gotten everything from free plane tickets to hotel rooms to computers, just for the asking. The secret is in marketing of the event.

Another suggestion is to "piggyback" your event on the existing travel schedule of one of the big name salsa teachers. That would lower your costs quite a bit, since they'd already be nearby.

[Pacion]

That would lower your costs quite a bit, since they'd already be nearby.

Yes, but there is still the matter of their fee :?

For instance, I heard about one teacher who charges about US$40-50 for a private but when he is in the UK/overseas, he practically changes the currency SYMBOL to £ (for pounds sterling) and adds a bit more so that amount now becomes about £50 which then converts into US$80 at a pre-Iraq war exchange rate of about US$1.6:£1.

Last time I checked, the US$ was about $1.90:£1. Therefore, that would then translate into approximately $95 for what is essentially the lesson that would have been taught for approximately $50!

Personally, I think it is unfair when we don't get to benefit from a strong currency, especially as the teacher would have had his flight and accomodation paid for. If necessary, have a "home" rate and an "overseas" rate and whatever the exchange rate is at the time, so be it. But don't tell me that you are going to charge me in pounds! (Or am I being mean? :oops: )

I might as well hold off until I come to the US and have the private with you there - and the difference in cost, can go towards my airfare/shopping :D

At the end of the day, almost anything is negotiable and perhaps, certain teachers will take the economic environment into consideration.

[salsero-Romania]

:))) pacion, IT IS UNFAIR.... but then, LIFE is unfair... :)) really, at least you guys get the chance to at least SEE (not to mention DANCE) with some of the world-famous salseros and salseras... we only HEAR their names and, if lucky, have a video or tape of them!
a tape is around 30-40 bucks... and the medium wages here is around USD 200 :)))) funny

[Pacion]

I know! But, at least you get to enjoy all that lovely crystal and architecture (not to mention buildings designed to keep the cold OUT) :wink:

But, I know, it is all relative. :D

[salsero-Romania]

hehehe
Bucharest is not similar to Prague... quite different... and we have warm buildings, but the warmth in people's souls is enough... :)

[DanceMentor]

I am friends sith several Romanians (who live in Romania), and I am familiar with the wages there. Why don't you figure out how much it would cost to bring someone there, and then maybe we can make some suggestions on what we could do to get someone there. Maybe we can find someone that will teach the classes at a reduced rate, and maybe you can find a nice place for them to stay that is free, such as a friend's house. Also, see if there are other Salseros there in Romania who would be willing to volunteer their time in making this dream possible.

[Pacion]

I know! But, at least you get to enjoy all that lovely crystal and architecture (not to mention buildings designed to keep the cold OUT) :wink:

But, I know, it is all relative. :D

hehehe
Bucharest is not similar to Prague... quite different... and we have warm buildings, but the warmth in people's souls is enough... :)

:oops: Oops once again! I was making a silent reference to London :oops: which does not get as cold as your part of the world, but due to the designs of some of the buildings, they don't seem to retain the heat :lol:

( :lol: see, told you you didn't have to worry about your english, whereas I need to, today :lol: Now where did I put those carrots (hungry again!) :lol: )

[salsero-Romania]

hehe enjoy the carrots....
and my english is not so good, i have a close friend by my side... she's fluent in english... so don't be surprised if when she's not arround my english would ... kind of .... suck! :)))

[Pacion]

I think you will be fine :wink:

[squirrel]

:))) trust me, pacion, he won't be fine... :))) not as long as i'm at work and busy :)))

[cocodrilo]

I would LOVE to go to that event! Do let us know when you plan to have it. I produce latin dance events and if I attend, I could volunteer to help for a week or so. Cheers

[dancin/dj]

salsero romania, perhaps you could explain your situation to some of these teachers and if there going to be overseas they might drop there standard fees for you, there are people in life who do this type of stuff ya never know, worst they can say is no :D :wink: ciao

I've had experience with this, too, dancin/dj. People give away things for freee all the time, even airline tickets. I'm not sure this is true outside of the states, but, in another capacity, I've gotten everything from free plane tickets to hotel rooms to computers, just for the asking. The secret is in marketing of the event.

Another suggestion is to "piggyback" your event on the existing travel schedule of one of the big name salsa teachers. That would lower your costs quite a bit, since they'd already be nearby. thats a good point pygmalion about piggybacking 8)