ArbeeNYC
Forum Master
Yeah, it often plays out that way. The performance interruption lingers on, announcements are made, people clap for another dance, and so on. And when it's over, a bunch of people leave, even though it's still fairly early.
At the end of the pandemic, maybe a new start?
- Thread starter itwillhappen
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Miradamiranda
Well-Known Member
I’ll take a high-level one-song performance as an example of excellence to strive for any day over a more-than-one-song birthday tanda and cute small-talk announcements from hosts who like to hear their own voice go on and on. But regardless of the reason for the break, when the flow is interrupted, I think it’s worse for the followers who might have just had a couple of non-dancing tandas just before the performance. Then you have been sitting too long, and if there’s excessive AC, you get cold, and the air goes out of the balloon. And for those followers who may not know a lot of people there, it’s even harder to get a dance because you are not seen dancing.
I personally don’t mind a little break to take of the weight off my heels, but I’m mostly lucky to be in that 20% of followers who get 80% of the dances, but I feel for my sisters sitting around.
opendoor
Forum Master
I think that's an important point. Many musicians are also not satisfied with the time at which they should perform. In addition, regard and respect that the dancers have for the musicians in many communities really sucks.
opendoor
Forum Master
I congratulate you. There is obviously such a thing. But my post was about the normal case. I thought we wanted to find solutions for suboptimal situations here?
Reduce expectations? Increase/improve the general demand? Train/mentor 'presenters' (hosts, DJs, etc)? But probably a good start would be to define requirements and get some buy-in. Unrealistic requirements, as in the host 'doesn't want to do/provide that', can't expect to be fulfilled.
You really need the equivalent of the 'better mousetrap' that the world flocks to acquire, and to hold it up as a shining example. BsAs doesn't seem a good starting point from some preceding comments
itwillhappen
Forum Master
In a discussion at the facebook TDJ forum, the proportion of attendees for whom the DJ is actually a no/go criterion, i.e. who don't just chatter, was estimated to between 5% and 20%. And at the bottom line the DJ almost never earns money, and the organizer often doesn't either.
This is the frame for the requirements.
itwillhappen
Forum Master
A good starting point could be where you are right now, you don't have another one either.You really need the equivalent of the 'better mousetrap' that the world flocks to acquire, and to hold it up as a shining example. BsAs doesn't seem a good starting point from some preceding comments
But I suppose there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all mousetrap. I've now joined a relatively new local association, the milongas are doing reasonably well. The music seemed pretty "creative" to me, of course. But it's just what many of the dancers were used to from their lost tango studio. Even if I were to play well "according to international standards", it wouldn't necessarily be a success.
Well, we should customize the set to the audience, that is the entire reason to have a live DJ rather than a playlist.
Mr. Moustachio
Active Member
Yes, but the purpose of the performance is to advertise the dancers/teachers/performers, meaning that the organizer wants to show them when there's a maximum of attendees.
I differ, in that the meditation or getting into meditative state is the same. There are many different ways to reach or achieve it. Someone deeply immerse in composing a music piece is in the same meditative state as someone deeply immerse in solving a math problem or crafting a Japanese sword.
So live music, with their pre-defined set, is a definite 'no'?
I'd agree that a good, active, DJ is a good compromise to a poor playlist. But then, sometimes, we have the DJ just managing some poor playlist set.
Honestly I don’t understand. I can not relate either. Women are more comfortable with close hold than men ime. Most women want or prefer to be held, by strangers too in the dance context. In Europe itself look at the number of younger women flocking to and being attracted to dances like Kizomba and Bachata which close hold. Cross over to Asia which is traditionally more conservative, there too women prefer dancing close. It is a different matter when a man gets awkward about having a woman so close.
Last night I dropped in for a practica at local university tango club after 4 or 5 years. Around 60 to 70% are undergrads or post grads. Fairly young. Half of them have taken up Tango in last six months. One thing with the university crowd is those who do get good, will soon graduate and disappear from the scene as they find job or next phase in another city. I don’t initiate the embrace. I let the lady decide how close or far she prefers. Every single one of them opted for close embrace. Though I noticed before and after they were dancing in open hold with the newer leaders. Can’t tell who was opting for open hold. For new leaders open hold is far more forgiving than close embrace. Ime irrespective of age, women seem to prefer close embrace in USA, Asia, Eastern/ Central Europe and Western Europe. If it is primary Nuevo event then I don’t know. It is hard to find neuvo only events and I probably will give it a pass if I did find one.
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Honestly I don’t see how you are able to do that from a performance. I like to glean the same from the watching the ronda when I am seating. It doesn’t matter who it is. Some interesting variation or movement might catch my eye. It doesn’t have to be the “maestr@s”. I will observe them too if they are social dancing. To me social dancing is more interesting because it is restrictive. I have never performed but I if I were to it will be a lot easier than social dancing. I could do movements that I wouldn’t do in social dancing. As long as I have a compatible partner. Which an advantage most performing couples have.
90% of the performances to me are a waste of time, when the milonga gets stopped and I am being forced to watch.
I don't even pretend to understand, or 'know what women want'.
Well, I can relate. I guess it depends where you live and your attitude. Let's see UK, Hmmm, policeman abducts, rapes and kills 33-year woman walking home alone (police suggest waving down a bus as 'protective measure'); police strip-search schoolgirl; numerous cases of police misconduct. Yeah, it's ok to be held close by a stranger.
OK, those are, hopefully, extremes. Milongas in a city are 'safe places'. Tango teachers really are respectable people (oh, weren't there some allegations about some AT teacher in London and his 'private' lessons?)
Yes, it's ok if you feel safe, and not all men are tarred with the same brush. But I can relate if, for whatever their reasons, some follower doesn't want close hold. Their choice; not mine. Nevertheless I agree dancing AT in close hold, whatever that means in your 'style', is preferable.
itwillhappen
Forum Master
If that were to apply without restriction, the DJ could be connected online, controlling a local computer.
But so far "DJ as a Service" (DJaaS) has not been really successful.