5846  Tango on New Years

Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:38:37 -0800
From: Phil Seyer <professionalsguild@gmail.com>
Subject: [Tango-L] Tango on New Years
To: tango-l@mit.edu
<b074f1780911172238v959553bi8ea3c7633165af49@mail.gmail.com>

My main job these days is to throw massive New Years Eve Parties.
It takes month of planning and a huge investment.
I have a question for the list about whether I should have a
"tango room" at one of my parties. I'm going into detail
here so you can better understand my situation.

Traditionally these NYE parties I throw have not involved tango, but
focused mainly on live rock, funk, soul, and R&B bands, DJs,
casino gaming, complimentary drinks, hotel take-overs,
dinner, breakfast for two, and such. I say "hotel take-overs"
because we literally take over the entire hotel. We don't
just rent a room or two.

In 2006 I saw a couple dancing beautiful Argentine tango
while the band played some heavy rock tune. It was really
good Argentine tango and fancinating to watch.

In 207 and 2008 I tried to find some tango dancers to
perform for my parties (I host two of them simultaneously,
one in Sacramento and the other In the Bay Area.) No
luck.

This year I succeeded in booking Johnathan Yamauchi and
Oliva Levitt, two dedicated teachers who dance
and teach the Carlos Gavito style.? The idea is that they will
perform informally in the lobby of the hotel to entertain
the party-goers standing in the huge line waiting to
get in.

Later in the evening, they'll do a tango performance
in the DJ ballroom (which holds about 500 people).

I'm thinking of also using a smaller room as a "tango
room" and playing some authentic Argentine tango
tunes in that room so that people can dance or
watch Argentine tango dancing in that room. The
room will hold, say, 30 to 50 people.

The event will be a huge success without a tango
room. I know that more than 1000 will be in attendance
at the party and that all hotel rooms will sell out.
But I was thinking that another room might just
add to the variety and the offering. We would then
have 3 dance floors as well as poker, roulette,
black jack and craps in another room (not real
gamblling, but complimentary gaming for prizes)..

But is the tango room is a good idea? Will any
tango dancers come?? Is there too much of
a culture clash or will the diversity add to the event?

Please let me know your thoughts.

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:26:02 -0500
From: Michael <tangomaniac@cavtel.net>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Tango on New Years
To: Phil Seyer <professionalsguild@gmail.com>
Cc: tango-l@mit.edu
<13176a380911190526s1b10cfb8y138f6cd4f77a4f34@mail.gmail.com>

Phil:
The whole issue comes down to money. How much are you charging? Somebody
complained to me about a NYE MILONGA that costs $50.
Michael
Washington, DC
On Wed, Nov 18, 2009 at 1:38 AM, Phil Seyer <professionalsguild@gmail.com>wrote:

> My main job these days is to throw massive New Years Eve Parties. It takes
> month of planning and a huge investment. I have a question for the list
> about whether I should have a "tango room" at one of my parties.
>
> But is the tango room is a good idea? Will any tango dancers come? Is
> there too much of
> a culture clash or will the diversity add to the event?
>
> Please let me know your thoughts.
>

Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:53:27 +1100
From: "Vince Bagusauskas" <vytis@hotmail.com>
Subject: [Tango-L] Subject: Tango on New Years
To: <tango-l@mit.edu>

There are tango dancers that do other types of dances. I know of one place
in Wellington, NZ that has both a Salsa and a tango "room" on at the same
time and some dancers go from room to room, depending upon their mood.
Another venue for NYE is having a tango party away from the madding crowd,
spiced up with some salsa and rock and roll, but predominately tango. So
maybe your tango room may attract some punters.

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:02:48 -0800 (PST)
From: "Trini y Sean \(PATangoS\)" <patangos@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Tango on New Years

--- On Wed, 11/18/09, Phil Seyer <professionalsguild@gmail.com> wrote:

> My main job these days is to throw
> massive New Years Eve Parties.
> It takes month of planning and a huge investment.
> I have a question for the list about whether I should have
> a "tango room" at one of my parties. I'm going into detail
> here so you can better understand my situation.

It looks as if you have nothing to lose by having a tango room and a lot to gain. You've already hired the dancers. Having a tango room would give them an opportunity to meet people. You might attract a lot more people to tango. You might want to set up the dance floor for a smaller crowd and then expand it as needed. Go for it.

Trini de Pittsburgh

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:47:20 -0500
From: joanneprochaska@aol.com
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Tango on New Years
To: professionalsguild@gmail.com, tango-l@mit.edu


Some points:
a.) Considering the focus of your NYE parties, it would not seem that just having a tango room would attract serious tango dancers. They will look for a New Year's Eve Milionga to satisfy their hunger on this special night.
b.) Even if serious tango dancers do attend, then the music had better be the best, or they will be sorely disappointed that they spent XXX dollars to get in and you will certainly hear the complaints.
c.) IMHO, the tango room would end up being a curiosity for those non-tango dancers who will watch whoever is dancing and some may "try" to dance the tango, which will just annoy any serious tango dancers who may be dancing.

In conclusion, it does not seem that there are enough good reasons to dedicate a room and get a dj just for tango.
My advice is to concentrate on the focus of your parties.
As they say, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"!

Joanne Pogros
Cleveland, Ohio
www.tangocleveland.com

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:19:42 -0500
From: Barbra <buffmilonguera@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Tango on New Years
To: professionalsguild@gmail.com, tango-l@mit.edu

I can tell you that, from my experience, any tango offering is going to
be better attended than you think - and not just by tango dancers. I
have recently been to two chamber music concerts featuring tango music
- totally packed much to the surprise of the hosts. I have done
similar "tango rooms" or other tango programs at fund-raisers, and
folks love it - even if they just come to watch. If you do a tango
room, I would "salt it" with several local folks who know how to do the
dance and people will love the opportunity to watch and listen to the
music regardless of whether they dance or not - although in the past, I
have asked "my" dancers to volunteer to wear a red ribbon - and I tell
the watchers that the folks who are wearing a ribbon have already
volunteered to try it with them if they ask. I like the ribbon idea,
because if the volunteer really wants to take a tanda or two "off" they
can just take the ribbon off and put it back on.....

barbra

Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:22:25 +1100
From: Myk Dowling <politas@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Tango on New Years
To: tango-l@mit.edu

Barbra wrote:

> I can tell you that, from my experience, any tango offering is going to
> be better attended than you think - and not just by tango dancers. I
> have recently been to two chamber music concerts featuring tango music
> - totally packed much to the surprise of the hosts. I have done
> similar "tango rooms" or other tango programs at fund-raisers, and
> folks love it - even if they just come to watch.

This would match my experience. Tango i surprisingly popular amongst
people who don't actually go out of their way to learn it. We have quite
excellent attendance to tango workshops held at folk festivals here in
Australia. Of course, the alternative viewpoint then is whether the
tango dancers you do have are going to be happy having a crowd of
gawkers. Salting the room with some local tango dancers who are
expecting to be on display is probably a good idea.