Thoughts on attending a milonga just to watch

[Bailango]

Thanks everyone, sounds to me like it's probably fine for them to come if they want to - I am not pushing for it but even though it's their idea I think they will get bored after a while so I'll make sure there is an exit strategy.

I'll look into classes and offer to go to those with them, even though I doubt they will take me up on that.

The main reason I asked is because this will not be one of my local milongas, I am the one visiting their city, so I don't know what the milonga will be like in terms of atmosphere/friendliness; and likewise, I won't be able to introduce them to any of my friends because I won't know anyone else there either.

This is the kind of thing I wanted to keep in mind, how to bring non-dancers along in a way that doesn't bother other dancers, and that's what's tricky to figure out when it's a milonga you've never attended before. I will probably end up asking the organisers for advice on where to sit.

Honestly I have never seen dancers being bothered by non-dancers (unless they invade the dancing area). There are pros that take up seating space and may end up dancing one or two at tandas at best Most milongas don’t have traditional seating arrangements. Thought about taking up seats is the last thing I am going to worry about.

When I have taken non-dancing friends, I never tried to get them to take a class or teach few steps. Neither was I interested nor them. If they like what they see, you can hook them with the host, who is likely an instructor or knows right direction to point them to.

I will not overthink this. If they want to tag along, I see no issues.

 

[JournalInTime]

Many milongas I've been to have had visitors who weren't tango dancers: the non-dancing (yet!) life partner, the proud parent who wanted to watch their child dance (hi, mom!), the sad friend who just broke up and wanted to be around people, the acquaintance who danced another style and was curious about tango, the work colleagues scouting the next teambuilding activity, the curious journalist (and in one case, the curious filmmaker), the shoe saleswoman (dancing isn't a requirement for selling tango shoes), the (creepy) guy who wanted to look at long legs, the incognito fire and liquor-licensing inspectors (whom I mistook for creepy guys), and even the random club-hoppers looking for drinks and entertainment. When I worked at a tango studio, I had to take the door at times. We got all of these and more.

The only truly touchy part is payment: Studios have limited space (possibly due to fire regulations, whence the incognito fire inspector) and, more important, limited seating. Even off the floor, extra bodies block the cabeceo. Thus, whether someone is crowding the floor is a postscript, and the organizers will probably insist that each person pay. Plenty of dancers go, pay, and decide not to dance, after all!

Yet, working the door . . . well, let's just say that some people show up with an "I don't dance/I don't pay!" attitude. This can lead to awkward moments. So, take it upon yourself to pay for everyone.

Of course, it's also good to explain at the door that your friends don't dance. First, you might get lucky and not have to pay for them if the venue isn't too busy and isn't expected to get busy (I've offered this and been offered it, for my mother). Second, the organizer might take an interest and suggest better seating for observers (which, not coincidentally, is often bad seating for dancers). Finally, the organizer might pass the word that your friends don't dance, avoiding sticky social situations.

This seems like something that would work whether you're a local or a visitor. It might even work better as a visitor, since you'll all be unknowns anyway and it'll give you an excuse to present yourself to the organizer which, in addition to clearing things up about your friends, can get you some introductions and tandas.