City Lights
- Thread starter Gumby
- Start date
Gumby
New Member
Dang - I'll only be there Saturday - I never get to see you dance - though I probably will at SFO. I'm going down for most of the weekend so I can see D & G compete.
I'm hoping the change of ownership and the addition of the pro events (not to mention the great shows) gives this comp a boost. Very limited number of competators in most heats the last couple of years. I love the energy at this comp. Though the lady's changes room does leave a lot to be desired.
I'm hoping the change of ownership and the addition of the pro events (not to mention the great shows) gives this comp a boost. Very limited number of competators in most heats the last couple of years. I love the energy at this comp. Though the lady's changes room does leave a lot to be desired.
SexyMan2Cha
New Member
Went there last year. It was very small but I was told it would be much biger this year. The location/building is beautiful.
Terpsichorean Clod
Forum Master
I'll be there all Saturday and in the evening on Sunday. I'm really, really, really nervous. This is my first time volunteering at a competition. I've only been to a competition once before, and that was as a spectator. I plan on packing snacks, water, an extra shirt, a towel, comfortable walking dress shoes, and a really thick skin (I've heard how volunteers sometimes get treated by stressed-out competitors). ...and maybe I'll bring my dance shoes, just in case there's some free time for social dancing.
Laura
Well-Known Member
You'll be okay! They don't usually give newbies the positions that get the most guff. In fact, some of those positions, such as Registrar and possibly Deck Captain, are being staffed at this competition by people who do it professionally at competitions all around the US. I'm trying to think what you might be asked to do that would put you into conflict with crazed competitors, it's usually things like Registrar, Chairman of Judges (another paid professional position), Deck Captain, and People who Take Tickets at the Door.
Here's a tip: if you're working the door, be firm but clear, and don't let anyone in for "just a minute" unless you take an ID from them and write down the time that their "minute" starts. Better yet, don't let anyone in for "just a minute" without the approval of one of the organizers. And, if possible, when that "just a minute" starts, send an escort with the unticketed person
. Asking the door people to let you in for "just a minute" is the most common ticket scam out there, and these tactics discourage the cheats. I think making them wait until you can find an organizer (Glenn or Barb would be the best) is the best bet.
Here's a tip: if you're working the door, be firm but clear, and don't let anyone in for "just a minute" unless you take an ID from them and write down the time that their "minute" starts. Better yet, don't let anyone in for "just a minute" without the approval of one of the organizers. And, if possible, when that "just a minute" starts, send an escort with the unticketed person
. Asking the door people to let you in for "just a minute" is the most common ticket scam out there, and these tactics discourage the cheats. I think making them wait until you can find an organizer (Glenn or Barb would be the best) is the best bet.
Gumby
New Member
So how did everyone do?
I had a pretty good weekend. Didn’t dance as well as I should have but had good placings nonetheless.
The show Saturday (what little I saw of it) was great. I really appreciated the extra room they created by putting in that row of elevated seats and moving the tables back a bit. The organization was very smooth.
The music was OK – not great but nothing horrible. The volume seemed a bit loud to me. Saturday morning especially I felt I was getting an echo effect. And the ladies changing room was as dark as ever. Lucky I think this is the last year at that location and much as I love the feel of that old building I won’t miss trekking up and down the stairs and trying to put on false eyelashes in the dark.
I had a pretty good weekend. Didn’t dance as well as I should have but had good placings nonetheless.
The show Saturday (what little I saw of it) was great. I really appreciated the extra room they created by putting in that row of elevated seats and moving the tables back a bit. The organization was very smooth.
The music was OK – not great but nothing horrible. The volume seemed a bit loud to me. Saturday morning especially I felt I was getting an echo effect. And the ladies changing room was as dark as ever. Lucky I think this is the last year at that location and much as I love the feel of that old building I won’t miss trekking up and down the stairs and trying to put on false eyelashes in the dark.
Katarzyna
Well-Known Member
I see all results are up on :
http://www.o2cm.com/
http://www.o2cm.com/
SonInDance
New Member
I thought the organizers did a fantastic job this year with the great professional shows. My son and I went to both of them in the evening. His favorite was Benji Schwimmer's solo. He can do so many different genre of dance with ease. Then next favorite was Victor & Anna's foxtrot and definitely Max & Yulia's Hip hip Chin chin. I liked Victor & Anna's Tango as well as all of Max & Yulia's dances.
We are newbies to ballroom but I had watched the entire series of PBS American Ballroom Challenge. It was very exciting to then see Felipe & Carolina Telona as well as Vaidas Skimelis & Jurga Pupelyte compete in the Professional categories so up close. They attacked the floor so amazingly that they really blew away the competition (not to take away from the efforts of all the pro dancers).
Only negative was the bathroom situation (door locks and handles were not working when Sunday night came around) and the professional videotaping was awful. I paid $150 and half of the dances, you could barely see the kids' face, clothing or moves. It was all dark and shadowy. I think because they placed all those video cameras on the stage. The sunlight from the windows across the room caused everything to darken close to the stage. Last year was better because the cameras were in the back of the room so the sunlight was not directly in the video cameras.
We had a great time and saw so many awesome amateur & professional couples dancing.
We are newbies to ballroom but I had watched the entire series of PBS American Ballroom Challenge. It was very exciting to then see Felipe & Carolina Telona as well as Vaidas Skimelis & Jurga Pupelyte compete in the Professional categories so up close. They attacked the floor so amazingly that they really blew away the competition (not to take away from the efforts of all the pro dancers).
Only negative was the bathroom situation (door locks and handles were not working when Sunday night came around) and the professional videotaping was awful. I paid $150 and half of the dances, you could barely see the kids' face, clothing or moves. It was all dark and shadowy. I think because they placed all those video cameras on the stage. The sunlight from the windows across the room caused everything to darken close to the stage. Last year was better because the cameras were in the back of the room so the sunlight was not directly in the video cameras.
We had a great time and saw so many awesome amateur & professional couples dancing.
Laura
Well-Known Member
I've always loved the Regency Ballroom, and it was kind of a dream come true for me to dance in it in an evening session at a ballroom competition. The video came out poorly due to the lighting, but so be it. I'm just so glad that I was able to compete there, and to dance decently. Glenn & Barb did an awesome job with the competition, and I liked that they recognized and honored the previous organizer, Sherrie, who founded the competition 11 years ago.
And for everyone screaming my name and number, thanks! Hearing you there took away my nerves, and made me just want to dance as well as I could for you.
See you all at SF Open!
And for everyone screaming my name and number, thanks! Hearing you there took away my nerves, and made me just want to dance as well as I could for you.
See you all at SF Open!
Terpsichorean Clod
Forum Master
Thanks for the advice and encouragement, Laura! I survived! I got poked in the chest a little bit by one bellicose attendee, but I quietly stood my ground until a high-ranking person came by to back me up.You'll be okay! They don't usually give newbies the positions that get the most guff. In fact, some of those positions, such as Registrar and possibly Deck Captain, are being staffed at this competition by people who do it professionally at competitions all around the US. I'm trying to think what you might be asked to do that would put you into conflict with crazed competitors, it's usually things like Registrar, Chairman of Judges (another paid professional position), Deck Captain, and People who Take Tickets at the Door.
Here's a tip: if you're working the door, be firm but clear, and don't let anyone in for "just a minute" unless you take an ID from them and write down the time that their "minute" starts. Better yet, don't let anyone in for "just a minute" without the approval of one of the organizers. And, if possible, when that "just a minute" starts, send an escort with the unticketed person
One of the highlights for me was while cleaning up in the ballroom between the day and evening sessions. Anna and Victor were practicing for the evening show. I didn't really notice them at first - two (in my mind) ordinary-looking people dressed in black, bespectacled, hair undone, no makeup. And then they began to move... :dreamy sigh:
I don't know about competing, but I definitely want to volunteer for another competition! (I'll wear a thicker, more poke-resistant shirt)
Laura
Well-Known Member
Well, USA Dance - NorCal Chapter is hosting the USA Dance Southwest Regional DanceSport Championships on June 9th in San Jose. This is a qualifying event for the 2007 and 2008 national championships, so there will be a lot of great top amateurs from the west coast there dancing. We would love to have you volunteer!
Standard Dancer
Member
Terpsichorean Clod
Forum Master
Thanks for the heads up, Laura! I've reserved the whole day on my calendar. It's the weekend after my medal exam so it'll be a great way to decompress. Nice change to watch other people stressing out. Where do I sign up?