Here is an article to give you a perspective why some salsa clubs, salsa nights and salsa socials fail. This is not an all inclusive list. Just some things I find true. This could also apply to other dances like swing or ballroom dances.
I hope you can see that one of the most important element of success for these things is "community support". This is HUGE in my opinion. Organizers put on these events for the community. They bring to you the best they can so that you can have.
I encourage you to support your local organizers. If you want to have a place go to dancing or an event to enjoy, your support is much needed. Help by attending, spreading the word, or help in others ways. Please keep in mind many times the organizers use their own $$ in advance to pay for space, airfare and other expenses to make an event happen. So they are taking a risk for the community.
I hope this can shed some light as to what needs to happen so that the events in your community can survive so that you will have an event or place to go dancing.
Good luck. happy dancing!
Why "SALSA" Clubs, "SALSA" Night or "SALSA" Socials fail?
Have you ever wondered why "SALSA" Clubs or "SALSA" socials fail? There are of
course many reasons. Many fail due to a combination of reasons. It is rarely because of one
reason why a "SALSA" Club or "SALSA" Social failed.
Most think it is very easy to approach the owner of an establishment, tell him/her/them "I
want to have a "SALSA" night at your place" and PRESTO, they say yes and it will be
successful. If it was that easy then there would be MANY "SALSA" Clubs and "SALSA"
Socials all over the country. Reality is this is not the case.
Here is a small list (not all) of reasons why a "SALSA" Club, "SALSA" Night or "SALSA"
social would fail.
NO SUPPORT FROM THE DANCE COMMUNITY - This is huge if there are many
SALSA dancers in your area. It might seem obvious but you will be surprised as to how
many will not support an event or club for a wide variety of reasons. Some reasons are
intentional (mostly personal) and some are unintentional. The worse kind is the intentional.
This is a spider web by itself. It can get really ugly when the reason is intentional. Not only
will the club or event not survive, the "SALSA" scene itself will not grow. "DRAMA"
becomes more the focus instead of being supportive of the club or event. Generally the local
instructors play a big role in either encouraging or discouraging support of clubs or events in
your area.
DISCORD BETWEEN OTHER INSTRUCTORS/ORGANIZERS - Depending on
the size of your town/city, this could be a huge factor. Places like Los Angeles are not
necessarily affected much by this unless the instructors/organizers are in close proximity to
each other. When instructors/organizers in a small town are not in talking terms, the dance
community is divided and the dances are small. Thus it is more difficult to establish a
"SALSA" Club to go dancing regularly. It goes back to the first reason above. Some
instructors will make their students feel bad if their students attend another instructors' event.
Thus creating animosity. This in return either slows the growth of a SALSA scene or it will
not grow at all.
NOT BIG ENOUGH SALSA SCENE - In my opinion, this is a major factor. No
dancers, No "SALSA" scene, thus No club! If there is a very small "SALSA" scene in your
area, you will be extremely hard pressed to make a "SALSA" Club a success. You will
need "people" to support it. If you do not have the people, you won't have a club.
LACK OF KNOWLEDGE - It takes some "know how" as to what it takes to make a
"SALSA" Club a success. There are so many things that need to be in place prior to having
a "SALSA CLUB" or even a simple "SALSA" Social. Without experience or some
guidance from someone who has successfully ran a "SALSA" Club or "SALSA" Night,
your "SALSA" Club will have a rough road to success.
ATMOSPHERE OF THE CLUB - Once you have your "SALSA" Club up and running,
the atmosphere in the club is one of the major factors of the success (or failure) of the club.
Many so called "SALSA" Clubs or "SALSA" Nights have failed due to the atmosphere (or
lack of it). You as the organizer will have to create the atmosphere that will attract the
people you want to support your club or event.
THE MUSIC - This is one of the factors MOST take for granted. "SALSA" is "SALSA"
right? Well, yes it is however just like chicken, baked chicken is not the same as fried
chicken. There are many kinds of "SALSA" music. What kind would you play? Columbian
"SALSA"? NY "SALSA"? Puerto Rican "SALSA"? How about some MAMBO?
Knowing your crowd helps with this. You can establish the type of club or night you want
by the music you play. That in return attracts the people you want in your club. If you want
a HIP HOP crowd you would play HIP HOP music right? If the music you play doesn't
keep people on the dance floor, the event or club will fail.
NOT BUYING DRINKS - JUST FLAT OUT CHEAP - If a night club is hosting a SALSA NIGHT, they do rely on your dollars to keep that SALSA NIGHT going. That is the truth. Let's face it... MOST SALSA DANCERS ARE NOT HEAVY DRINKERS OR JUST DON'T DRINK AT ALL. So what to do? Buy a bottle of water or softdrink. DO NOT BRING YOUR OWN BOTTLE OF WATER INTO THE CLUB! Here is my take on this... if you do not have the money to pay at the door and buy one bottle of water, stay home.
There are so many more reasons why a "SALSA" Club, "SALSA" Night or "SALSA"
Social fails. I hope some of these have given you some insight as to why it isn't so easy to
have a successful "SALSA" Night, "SALSA" Club or "SALSA" Social.
Everyone has a role in the success or failure of a "SALSA" Club, "SALSA" Night or
"SALSA" Social.
Be a part of SUCCESS. Be a contributor. Be a supporter. Do it for the dance -
SALSA.
Good luck with your adventure.
Author:
John "salseroblanko" Morey
SALSA SPECIALIST
www.salseroblanko.net
