Could you specifically address my question of how to get new dancers to show up on time for the lesson? I think it would be ok to advertise the event as starting at 7:00 with lesson (or basic moves instruction) in the first half hour. I feel like when new people come at 7:00 and experienced arrive at 7:30 that already sets the newbies up as "a tribe apart". We need to get as many as possible there at 7:00 to integrate and socialize. Thoughts?
On Tue, Mar 14, 2023 at 6:50 AM Mary Collins <[email protected]> wrote: > Alexander- oops...while we are not specifically gender free, we strive for > it in a very very conservative group of older dancers. I am scheduled to > meet with our web person soon and will adress verbage. Thanks for this info. > > On Mon, Mar 13, 2023, 4:34 PM Alexandra Deis-Lauby <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Mary, >> >> Is the Buffalo dance gender free? The website tells callers to use gents >> and ladies. If the dance is in fact gender free, then the website needs >> updating. If you are advertising the dance as gender free but use gents >> and ladies, that would certainly not encourage me to return if I were a new >> dancer. >> >> >> >> On Mar 13, 2023, at 3:54 PM, Mary Collins via Organizers < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >> Watching this as we have the same issue. We are (I believe) the 2nd >> largest city in NYS and have the most pitiful turnout. >> >> I think you have some good ideas here. >> >> One comment: we often or even always speak about our dance not only >> gender free, no partner necessary to bring, but also as no lessons needed, >> each dance being taught and "walked through". Then we advertise "the >> lesson" b4 the dance. If words matter (and I think we agree they do) the >> this is a huge contradiction. >> >> I say to people these sets of words & phrasing: easy, walking to music, >> Only 8 steps, no need to bring partner but a friend is fun, dances are >> taught, practiced (stole from country line dance & swing) and then they are >> prompted once the music starts. We offer basic move instruction rather than >> lesson. >> >> I don't really know if these changes help, hinder or have no effect. I >> only know that not having a friend anchor for the first few dances would >> have resulted in my not coming back. The lesson too. But that's just my >> perception. >> >> We give out "get in free" cards and encourage ppl to share theirs with a >> friend. I also encourage people who say "I told my friends...", to next >> dance offer to pick them up or meet b4 and come together. >> >> We also encourage experienced dancers to partner with new dancers. >> >> I am anxious to hear other's ideas. >> >> Mary "from Buffalo", not. >> >> >> On Mon, Mar 13, 2023, 12:49 PM Sandy Seiler via Organizers < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Newbies are not returning my thoughts... >>> Why? not feeling welcome?, feeling intimidated/too hard? Coming late to >>> lesson and being lost/confused during dance? Lack of feeling of >>> mastery/learning? Need follow up lesson since we only dance 1x/month? One >>> month is a long time to wait for another lesson. Not enough younger >>> dancers like themselves? >>> Ideas: >>> 1. Use beginner friendly buttons >>> 2. Ask experienced dancers to dance with beginners for first 2 dances at >>> least. Board members lead by example. >>> 3. Encourage experienced dancers to come for the beginner lesson to >>> welcome/socialize with new dancers. >>> 4. Have caller or one of us give out free passes (pass for next dance) >>> at the lesson so we don't have to remember to do it at the table. We gave >>> out 15 free passes to new dancers in Feb and did not get any to return in >>> March. (March dance was on 2nd sat instead of our normal 3rd sat and it's >>> spring break. Feb attendance 61, March 38 (paid dancers, not including 3 >>> listeners). Also there was a local magazine article about LBDA in February >>> and we had our most experienced and popular contra dance band (Kaw Creek) >>> playing. >>> 5. Our Lesson is at 7:00, Dance 7:30. Should we use start time 7:00 in >>> advertising bc experienced dancers will figure it out and adjust to coming >>> at 7:30 more easily than new people knowing they need to come at 7:00 for >>> the lesson. New people attending and being on time for 7:00 lesson is >>> important for a smooth dance so do we need to advertise that way? Want >>> experienced dancers to be there to meet and socialize with them so they can >>> be better integrated into the community and not feel so awkward. I have >>> suggested this to our board before, but was told that would be manipulative >>> toward experienced dancers who would be upset that they came too early and >>> wasted their time. That feels like a very unwelcoming attitude, and I >>> would like to encourage all our dancers to consider that 7:00 is our start >>> time because beginners are important and we need to be there to greet them >>> and socialize. >>> 6. Schedule a 1 hour lesson or series of lessons led by experienced >>> callers Lisa and or Jill and a couple new callers... before the dance? On >>> a different day? Through Parks and Rec this summer? >>> 7. New dancers are far outnumbering experienced dancers. Need to do >>> advanced dance to pull back in some dancers who drifted away after the >>> pandemic. Contact individually by phone/email? >>> >>> And then getting younger people to attend is a whole other but strongly >>> related topic we need to address more effectively. We are not getting >>> enough young people at dances. It appears to me that when a young person >>> comes they often decide to not return because there aren't enough people in >>> their age group. >>> >>> Please tell me if you like/encourage these ideas I have come up with so >>> far and add others. >>> Especially I want to know how to get new people to come on time for the >>> lesson. >>> Is it ok to advertise dance for 7:00 even though first 30 minutes is >>> lesson? It's frustrating for our callers and then they don't get a full >>> lesson which is not good for anyone. >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Organizers mailing list -- [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Organizers mailing list -- [email protected] >> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >> >> >>
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