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Strictly Jive Fever
Newbie
Joined: 09 Mar 2009
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 10:02 am Post subject: Summer! |
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Just a light hearted rant!
Personaly for me I love the summer, I love nothing better than to spend a day sitting in my garden drinking a few bevies, playing with my little girl and cooking on my BBQ!
My issue with summer is that kills us small independant venues! When you only get 50 or so coming along and you lose 30% to 40% of your numbers it then becomes very difficult to keep the evenings running.
Most of the smaller halls used are old social clubs and very rarely have full airconditioning systems in them. Even with fans on they just circulate warm air.
I have some very loyal jivers who love coming to my nights but on Mondays I am now at breakeven point and Tuesdays not far of it and am now considering a break during summer or shutting them completely.
So does anyone know how I can get more of you dancing during the warmer season hehe!
Kev
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www.strictlyjivefever.com
Modern Jive with a touch of Strictly Ballroom! |
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TeeDee
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Joined: 11 Mar 2009
Posts: 272
Location: Cornwall
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 12:10 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Strictly.
This is a seasonal problem that affects all venues - not just us small independents. I guess the obvious answer is along the lines of the Ant and Grasshopper story - store up when the season is good to make the leaner months smoother. Summer is a notorious lean time of year for all jive organisers.
But you don't want to here that!!!
I feel your pain - having opened up only about 3 months ago I am still establishing things and building up regular numbers - so this summer will be interesting... I am lucky in as much as the venue does have Air Con, but early signs suggest that this seems to make little difference: Down here we have fabulous beaches to go and drink and play!!!
I think fans and air con, etc only make a difference if the dancers get the impression that no effort (or lack of effort) has been made. Other than that, dancers who want to dance will do so hot or cold. The trouble is not everyone is that addicted to dance - and relaxing in the sun can win some people over quite easily.
Perhaps try play up the whole summer thing - I'm talking to my venue about doing jugs of Pimms and running a BBQ... Typical summer activities that encourages people to like summer rather than complain about the heat.
Of course - these are freestyle ideas rather than weekly lesson nights. Keeping good summer numbers during the week..? When you've thought of something - let me know will you?! 
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lilblue
Frequent Poster
Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 203
Location: Southwest
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:31 pm Post subject: |
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| I don't know on this one either - I am utterly addicted to dancing and do so whether its hot or cold. I have noticed though, that of all the various venues I attend the ones with the most (and the biggest) fans seem to be better attended! Maybe have classes outside? Don't know anything about the logistics of this but it would bring summer evenings and dancing together! I know I would go - even if just for novelty value. |
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Nicky
Forum legend
Joined: 22 Feb 2009
Posts: 401
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| Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:52 pm Post subject: |
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Lilblue wrote:
| Quote: | | I have noticed though, that of all the various venues I attend the ones with the most (and the biggest) fans seem to be better attended! |
Very true...However, I think that perhaps the better attended venues are simply able to afford more fans, not really anything to do with the hardiness of their faithful dancers 
Like you, lilblue, I am an addicted dancer and will go whatever the weather, but only to the places where I have the best night out. For me, the 2 places that I will always dance, throughout the summer months, are Mondays at Hamworthy, and the bi-monthly Minstead freestyles. Neither of these venues have the benefits of air con, but they have exactly what it takes to make for an enjoyable night out....The people that run the venues are very friendly, approachable and keen to listen to feedback, and the music is varied and interesting.
Strictly Jive Fever wrote:
| Quote: | | So does anyone know how I can get more of you dancing during the warmer season hehe! |
Thats a difficult one! All I can say is that, for me, the fact that I am always made to feel welcome by people who know my name, make a point of saying "Hi!", and always try to ask me for a dance, goes a long way towards convincing me to drag myself away from an evening spent sipping a glass of Pimms in the back garden.... Maybe TeeDees suggestion of Pimms and a BBQ is worth consideration...Would work for me  |
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qdos
Frequent Poster
Joined: 17 Feb 2009
Posts: 195
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| Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:25 am Post subject: |
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Just a suggestion.... Take your own fans, you know the ones that fold out and you fan yourself manually. Not enough people seem to have them. I know this cos I'm always looking for a lady to ask if I can borrow theirs for a minute LOL
Anyone have suggestions as to where you can buy these? Actually that's an idea for someone to sell some at the venues! hey there you go there's a good idea isn't it? SJ what about an Southern Jive Fan ????? God I'm such a genius !!!! ROFLOL 
Last edited by qdos on Thu Jul 02, 2009 9:29 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Olly
Frequent Poster
Joined: 24 Dec 2008
Posts: 210
Location: Surrey
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| Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 9:06 am Post subject: |
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Qdos wrote | Quote: | | and you fany yourself manually |
 I am not sure this is the answer, but perhaps some people will be thrilled about your suggestion!
Seriously though, hot venues are a fact of life in the summer months and even those with air con still struggle to keep it cool. Organisers can, and do employ a variety of methods to alleviate the problem as much as possible, but this only makes the difference beween being hot or very hot. As Tee Dee mentioned earlier, it is important that dancers see that organisers are taking steps to tackle the problem and making the evening as attractive as possible for dancing. I think you also need to be in regular contact with your dancers informing them of the steps you are taking, plus also introduce some offers and also perhaps have freely available water or other cool drinks. Jive is a social dance, so I would promote the social aspects of this and if you can utilise any outside space as a social area, then even better. I think all venues suffer to an extent during the summer, but organisers can also look at the opportunities on offer. |
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qdos
Frequent Poster
Joined: 17 Feb 2009
Posts: 195
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| Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 9:27 am Post subject: |
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OMG that WAS a typo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Edited now  |
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Nicky
Forum legend
Joined: 22 Feb 2009
Posts: 401
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| Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 10:34 am Post subject: |
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Qdos wrote:
| Quote: | | OMG that WAS a typo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
You may well blush!
Qdos wrote:
| Quote: | | Anyone have suggestions as to where you can buy these? |
I bought a box of folding fans on eBay a year or so ago as I am forever leaving them at different venues and they never seem to turn up again.
Olly wrote:
| Quote: | | I think you also need to be in regular contact with your dancers informing them of the steps you are taking, plus also introduce some offers and also perhaps have freely available water or other cool drinks. |
Totally agree! As with everything in life, communication is key. Simply knowing that the organisers, the crew and the teachers are all doing their best to make the night as pleasurable and comfortable as possible is enough to keep me happy 
How about taking a coolbox full of icepops to hand out on hot nights? Russell and Julie used to do this at their Yeovil freestyles....They are inexpensive and its just a nice gesture  |
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AW
Newbie
Joined: 27 Feb 2009
Posts: 16
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| Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 11:39 pm Post subject: |
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qdos asks [Hand fans - does anyone have suggestions as to where you can buy these?].
I buy a lot of my fans in charity shops like Oxfam and they are usually quite cheap. Paul & Debbie at Jive 'n Kicking used to give fans to the ladies when they first started, I don't know if they still do. May be they know of a supplier? |
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j'n'k
Regular
Joined: 12 Feb 2009
Posts: 94
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| Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 9:09 am Post subject: |
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Hey... What`s all this fuss about fans. We have been selling very nice fans for years and at cost price. just £2!!!!
Qudos, you should have known that, being one of our regulars
Shall I put one by for you next time?
www.jiveandkicking.co.uk |
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qdos
Frequent Poster
Joined: 17 Feb 2009
Posts: 195
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| Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:26 am Post subject: |
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So I noticed this Saturday! j'n'k Thanks for a really fun evening. We did pop out a few times and danced on the grass just outside too.
Great show piece you all did too on the stage |
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j'n'k
Regular
Joined: 12 Feb 2009
Posts: 94
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| Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 1:27 pm Post subject: |
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Right then... You want fans, you can have them! Free fans to all ladies when they pay to enter Jive 'n' kickin' this Saturday (July 18th). Just mention `southern jive' to get one!!
This Saturday only. Ladies only (Sorry qdos... maybe we can do you one half price
For more info on our jives... www.jiveandkicking.co.uk |
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