I love people who dance. Let me say that right off the bat. The vast majority are fun-loving, friendly, good-hearted people. But I've been involved in the dance world for going on thirteen years now, and there is a tendency among social dancers that I want to call out. And that is, a sense of entitlement.
Folks, we love putting on dances for you. But it costs: either in money, or in time. There is not a single social dance venue in Los Angeles that couldn't be making more money doing something else. That means putting on social dances involves some sacrifice, and that needs to be respected.
Show me the Money
Take Ballroom by the Bay, for example. I have taught numerous group classes there, as have instructors from By Your Side, in Culver City, and other studios. None of us has received payment.
The hosts at BBTB do it for free. The DJ does it for free. The people who help with setup, cleanup, and security do it for free. The dance admission is only $10, and for that you get a light snack, a free lesson, hours of dancing to well-chosen music in a very nice, not-inexpensive-to-rent facility. No venue could do this as a for-profit endeavor. Most for-profit venues that offer any dancing at all provide only a small dance floor and make money on food and drink sales on top of an admission fee.
The same goes for USA Dance. The chapter spends a LOT of money to rent that big venue. Consequently, their admission fee is a little higher. But all of the work going into those dances - and there are over a dozen people working through each dance, not even counting the planning time - is done for free.
Dance studios generally provide a monthly (sometimes more frequent) social or "practice" dance. Usually these are open to the public. In no case does the studio owner make enough money from admissions to pay for his time, an instructor's time - often there is a lesson preceding general dancing - refreshments, setup/cleanup, and security. The studio could be offering private lessons, group classes, or event rentals during that time. They provide social dances as a way of fostering a dance community for the students and the public. It is marketing, but it's a loss leader.
Group classes in general are set up for social dancers. Once people are interested in competition or showcase dancing, they go into private lessons. That is where studios make their money. Some studios specialize in competition coaching to the exclusion of everything else; they may have practice hours, but the people on the floor aren't dancing for fun; they're dancing their competition routines. Other studios are closed systems (like the big chains), which have their own competition circuits, closed studio parties, and other events. These studios don't even try to draw "outsiders" for social events.
The studios who do are most often independent. A studio owner is typically only one of several instructors working in the space. He or she has to do all the work of running the business in addition to leading group classes and teaching private lessons. Most of the other instructors are not employees, but independent contractors. Every time one of these professionals gives an hour or two or three to host a social event, he or she is working, for you, for free - and what is more, he or she is giving up either income or personal time. That preliminary lesson may serve as marketing for the instructor, but it's still a time cost.
Social Economics
The social dancers who attend these events - whether in a studio or in a public venue like Ballroom by the Bay - come from a range of backgrounds. You may not be interested in the lesson on a particular night. You may not choose to dance in the mixer. But I'm asking you to please respect the hosts and the other dancers.
If you don't care to participate in lessons, come later in the evening. If you want to get there early, but not take the lesson, please keep your conversational volume down while the lesson is in progress. Even if the instructor is amplified, there will be people in the class who miss instructions if there's other noise in the room.
If the hosts provide a show - of ANY kind, even if it's a first-time performance from a couple that's only been dancing a few months - please don't talk through it. It's extremely nerve-wracking, for all but the most seasoned professionals, to do a performance. All we really want to hear is the music and some applause.
If professionals can hear your conversations while performing - or while teaching - it's going to affect their willingness to come back and support the hosts. The hosts cannot continue to improve these events in the absence of professional support. It's what's called "social capital," and we can't afford to squander it.
So please, respect your hosts. Respect the professionals who contribute to social dance events. Respect the fact that everyone involved is giving up their time, and sometimes their money, to provide a fun social dance experience for you.
Ask not what your dance hosts can do for you ...
It is always okay to ask social dance hosts for services that aren't currently provided. If they can find a way, they'll generally try to get their dancers everything they can. But take criticism off the table. Don't complain about the dance, especially to people who have never attended.
If you've had a bad night, of course you can - and probably should - mention it to one of the hosts; if it's because of something they can fix, don't you think they'll try? Of course they will.
It is a fact that in any organization run by volunteers, a very few people end up doing a very large proportion of the work. If you regularly attend non-profit social dances, help out where you can. If you like the lesson that's been provided, sign up for a private with the instructor. Bring chips or cookies or TP one night. Take an hour to watch the door. Or just contribute an extra $20 once in a while.
But the biggest and best helps you can give to social dance organizers are simply to show up, to dance with joy, to recommend the event to your friends, to bring guests, and to speak well of the organizers and your fellow dancers.
Think of everything that goes into putting on a dance, and appreciate the fact that other people are doing it. See you on the dance floor!
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