Might A Change Of Venue Mean A Change In Atmosphere?

[Spitfire]

After operating out of the same facility for many years the local WCS club has moved to a new venue, one of the studios. Has it been anyone's experience that with a venue change also comes a change in general atmosphere? I've only been to one dance since the change which was last night and at least then it did seem so.

[nucat78]

I think any time there is a new venue, there's likely to be a change of atmosphere. New people will attend, regulars might not, etc. The question is, how great of a change will occur.

Is the new atmosphere better or worse or just different?

[Spitfire]

Is the new atmosphere better or worse or just different?

For that evening better; this change just occurred so it remains to be seen in the long run.

[twnkltoz]

I have found that the layout of the room makes a difference--I've seen a dance go from a venue where there was seating all around the dance floor to a new place where all the seating was on one side, and it felt very different. Also, a WCS dance in a studio has a more sterile feel than the down-and-dirty-roots feeling of a WCS dance in a bar. I don't know that any of that would stop me from going, but it might change my perception of how fun it is.

[sambanada]

I think a new venue creates new energy. It can most definetely affect the atmosphere of the event.

[Spitfire]

In addition to the move by the local club a newer dance which is held every 2nd Saturday also moved from what used to be a school classroom to the large meeting hall at the senior center and it sure made a difference, not that the atmosphere was bad at the previous location, but this is even more energetic; had a way of making me want to dance more.

The people from the club that I have spoken with do like the move to the studio; while the facility is smaller it has about the same amount of floor space.

[Steve Pastor]

a WCS dance in a studio has a more sterile feel than the down-and-dirty-roots feeling of a WCS dance in a bar

Thanks for mentioning my favorite dance venue!!! (Although they call themselves a Country Western Dance Hall and Saloon rather than a "bar".)

[twnkltoz]

Thanks for mentioning my favorite dance venue!!! (Although they call themselves a Country Western Dance Hall and Saloon rather than a "bar".)

The popular weekly swing dance locally is in a bar that is part of a restaurant built in a bunch of interconnected train cars (it used to be a Victoria Station, if you're familiar with that chain). There are two floors, and the main one slopes down a bit in one corner. It's awesome.

On a barely related note, the Tango community has several different dances during the week. One is at a very traditionally oriented studio, which is very elegantly appointed with a beautiful suspended genuine hardwood floor. Another tends more toward nuevo and is in a 100-year-old firehouse with a polished particle board floor (with a good surface) and funky art on the walls. Totally different atmosphere, even with many of the same people.

[Spitfire]

The 2nd Saturday dance I was mentioning; 120+ in attendance the first night at new location!
Never that at the club's dance.

[twnkltoz]

Wow, that's great!

[Caravaggio]

The second saturday dance was more fun in the new location, but I personally like our old venue for our weekly thursday dances more. There is an extreme lack of seating and the dance floor seems smaller in our new location.

The one thing that I thought our change in location would fix was the weird situation we have where all of the younger dancers sit on one side of the room and all of the older dancers sit on the other. They meet in the middle to dance, but it just seems strange to me that we have that gap, happened in the old location, and the newer one. Is this a common thing? I noticed it almost as soon as i got to Tucson, but my old community didn't seem to have this happen, and it doesn't seem as prevalent in Phoenix.

[Spitfire]

The second saturday dance was more fun in the new location, but I personally like our old venue for our weekly thursday dances more. There is an extreme lack of seating and the dance floor seems smaller in our new location.

The one thing that I thought our change in location would fix was the weird situation we have where all of the younger dancers sit on one side of the room and all of the older dancers sit on the other. They meet in the middle to dance, but it just seems strange to me that we have that gap, happened in the old location, and the newer one. Is this a common thing? I noticed it almost as soon as i got to Tucson, but my old community didn't seem to have this happen, and it doesn't seem as prevalent in Phoenix.

Well hello homie! Welcome here!

[Caravaggio]

I've read the forums for a while now, this is just the first time i've decided to post anything.

[Spitfire]

I've read the forums for a while now, this is just the first time i've decided to post anything.

You've come to the right place. Are you one of the WCS DJ's?

[Caravaggio]

No I'm fairly new to Tucson and WCS in general. Started WCS back in may and moved to Tucson a couple of months ago. If you know me, that may give you an idea of who i am.

[Steve Pastor]

Welcome aboard, Caravaggio. Hope to learn more about dwon your way as you all chat.

[Spitfire]

No I'm fairly new to Tucson and WCS in general. Started WCS back in may and moved to Tucson a couple of months ago. If you know me, that may give you an idea of who i am.

No, can't think of who you are. Did you move from Phoenix?

[Caravaggio]

Tucson is actually the most friendly WCS community that I've been to. There is a bit of the clique-ishness that is present in all dance communities, but not nearly as bad as it was in other places I've danced. Mostly just that you can tell who takes lessons from the same instructor, or who started around the same time. It wasn't hard at all to meet people/make friends.

[Caravaggio]

No, if you were there for the jack and jill on the first thursday, i came in second and third in novice. I have been curious for like a month as to who you are.

[Spitfire]

The one thing that I thought our change in location would fix was the weird situation we have where all of the younger dancers sit on one side of the room and all of the older dancers sit on the other. They meet in the middle to dance, but it just seems strange to me that we have that gap, happened in the old location, and the newer one. Is this a common thing? I noticed it almost as soon as i got to Tucson, but my old community didn't seem to have this happen, and it doesn't seem as prevalent in Phoenix.

It may not be seen in some areas as much as it is for others, but I think it's pretty common in the "one dance" scene such as WCS, Salsa, Lindy, AT. I don't see it like this in the ballroom scene anywhere I've been, not as much anyhow.

[twnkltoz]

The one thing that I thought our change in location would fix was the weird situation we have where all of the younger dancers sit on one side of the room and all of the older dancers sit on the other. They meet in the middle to dance, but it just seems strange to me that we have that gap, happened in the old location, and the newer one. Is this a common thing? I noticed it almost as soon as i got to Tucson, but my old community didn't seem to have this happen, and it doesn't seem as prevalent in Phoenix.

I haven't seen this in my area, and I do BR, AT, and WCS.

[Spitfire]

What I saw at an ECS/Lindy dance in Seattle is that the serious lindy dancers would all sit along the stage and everyone else at the tables, though these serious lindy hoppers were not opposed to doing ECS.

[twnkltoz]

Yes, that's a more likely grouping--the better dancers sitting together, or friends/cliques sitting together. The age thing might be a by-product of that...the younger people tend to befriend each other and therefore sit together, while the older people seek out people their own age. They may also find they're more comfortable with the dance style of someone their own age, although I know a LOT of older people who can really get down and keep up with the youngin's!

[Spitfire]

Yes, that's a more likely grouping--the better dancers sitting together, or friends/cliques sitting together. The age thing might be a by-product of that...the younger people tend to befriend each other and therefore sit together, while the older people seek out people their own age. They may also find they're more comfortable with the dance style of someone their own age, although I know a LOT of older people who can really get down and keep up with the youngin's!

And cliques are not necessarily a negative thing; they're mostly for socializing. The people in them are generally happy to dance with anyone. That being said I realize that there may be in some areas and at some times where that is not the case, but I've seen little of it myself.

[twnkltoz]

And cliques are not necessarily a negative thing; they're mostly for socializing. The people in them are generally happy to dance with anyone. That being said I realize that there may be in some areas and at some times where that is not the case, but I've seen little of it myself.

True. I've been in cliques, but it's mostly a comfort thing for me. I'm more comfortable hanging out with people I know, and I think most people are the same way. If you know several people at the dance, why wouldn't you sit together?

[Caravaggio]

The cliques in a previous community I was a part of were the result of warring studios and high school nonsense so I tend to think the worst...