3187 About interrupting a milonga for "announcements"
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2005 23:14:16 -0800
From: Yale Tango Club <yaletangoclub@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: About interrupting a milonga for "announcements"
Hola Listeros,
I am interested to find out what you have to say about the habit of some organizers to interrupt the evening, usually when there is an hour or less left to dance, to make "announcements". You know what I mean, the music is shut off and the big overhead neon lights are switched on and people are called back to earth from their tango universe to take up positions around the room and listen to talking.
What follows can be anything from announcements of milongas to come, workshops, Thank You's for time and effort, raffles, prizes for best costume, event anniversary speeches, anecdotes from way back when with you never guess who, to even long lectures on the history of tango (this was by a visiting Argentine who never should have been handed the microphone, he used up ALL the remaining dance time with his talking). Often - well, always - this lasts much longer than I wish. I get really antsy as I see the clock ticking away and I want to get back to dancing with all the people I haven't danced with yet. So little time!
Next you may have the dreaded Birthday Dance with people cutting in and everybody watching. Oh No.
Also of course there might be a performance. Personally I feel that tango is not a spectator thing but a participation thing, but I'll admit that a good performance can be interesting and sometimes even impressive. So basically I think performances are neutral or OK.
Personally I think announcements are a rude interruption of the evening and a waste of time. I am sometimes the DJ and I find the interruption disrupts the flow of the evening. Often they forget to thank the DJ but even if they remembered every time, I would still prefer no announcements. Flyers and emails can always inform people better than somebody standing there talking.
At my own event, an 8-12pm practilonga with a young crowd of 25-40, I NEVER interrupt to do announcements. I inform all my people by email or flyer. Only on occasion do I take a minute or two between class and practica to give some basic info directed at new people (please stay to practice, and come write down your email addres, and be there next week for another class). I probably rush the info too much because I so hate to waste people's dancing time.
When you give me your opinion, I would like to know if you are usually the listener or the one standing there talking.
Do you think the informative value of the "announcements" warrants the interruption and the time?
Do you like the idea of the birthday dance (when it's your birthday, and when it's not)? Do you, like me, hide the fact that it's your birthday?
Thanks for your opinions. You may send them to me directly, I'll report to the list on what the People say.
Tine
************************
Tango Club at Yale
YaleTangoClub@yahoo.com
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Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 10:22:28 +0100
From: Eero Olli <eero.olli@ISP.UIB.NO>
Subject: About interrupting a milonga for "announcements"
First, I should state my interest in this issue. Few years ago I was the
leader of a tangoclub, since then I have moved to another town, where I am
not in charge of organizing.
I think that these announcements are usually annoying. However, if used
with care they can be a great way to build a community.
* Make them short! No details, no speaches, no discussions, no lectures!
Around 15 seconds per topic is enough. Try it! You can say everything that
is important enough to break up to the dansing in 15 seconds. This way you
can sqweeze four people/announcements in one minute. It is moving forward
fast enough for the dansers not to get bored and loose attention. (News in
the radio are usually 2-3 minutes, while the TV-news are from 15-30 minutes,
while they cover the same stuff. Dont allow people get started with
'show-and-tell' type of announcements.)
* Avoid making announcements every milonga. The fewer, the better
announcements.
* Allow the DJ to decide when the announcement should be made.
Events:
* Announce dates of upcoming events and let people know where they can find
more information. I think that classes with guest-teachers could be
announced three times, but no more: 2 months ahead (or as early as
possible), 1 month ahead, and one week ahead (or as late as possible).
* Allow 'competitors' to announce their special events, too, but ban all
non-tango information.
Milongas are about the people present:
* Present visiting guests (not just the teachers) for the crowd. This way
your regulars will not miss that one great dance with the stranger.
* Sometimes a whole group of dancers from the beginnersclass shows up. Greet
them welcome. You want these people to return every week. (This
announcement is not for your old crowd, they can spot the newbies far away.
It is for the begginners. It is often difficult glide into a set scene, and
this kind of announcement, feels good for the newcomers).
* Announce the birth of tangobabies, weddings and other major events. But no
gossip, please.
Sincerely,
Eero
Oslo, Norway
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 01:59:57 -0800
From: el turco <shusheta@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: About interrupting a milonga for "announcements"
addition to Announcement issues i'd like to put couple other issues on
the table;
-Tango organizations such as Tango Societies, Tango Clubs or Tango
Associations, please DO NOT hold elections in the middle of the
milonga!
- Don't push people for "waterfall" dancing in the middle of the milonga!
Some say, WATERFALL helps people to dance with different people,
however, my observations and discussions with dancers do not approve
this. FYI= Waterfall dancing is "fair-shared tango fun" which is a
kind of tango game that happens as; leaders go from left side of the
dance floor, followers go from the otherside and they meet in the
middle and start dancing til the end of the ance floor, OK sounds good
but if the Waterfall runs 6 songs, my goodness, people start sitting
on their chairs.
Bests,
Burak
Minneapolis
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 08:28:18 -0800
From: Yale Tango Club <yaletangoclub@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: About interrupting a milonga for "announcements"
Hola Listeros,
I have received several replies so far and all were by people who really hate those interruptions (for announcements and for some, even performances are too much) and at the most consider them acceptable only if they are VERY brief, eg 15 seconds per event, that's about 50 words, or 4 words each to say the key things: who, where, when and where's the flyer, plus some verbs and pronouns to string it all together into a coherent sentence.
Another person brought up those tango games with frequent enforced partner changes designed to make you dance with new faces. Like you're back at summer camp!
Errr, is there ANYBODY AT ALL out there WHO LIKES BIRTHDAY DANCES, PARTNER CHANGE GAMES, RAFFLES etc? Please let me know, I won't make fun of you. It would be hard to believe these things continue to be done if a large majority of people prefer to just stay in the tango zone with their partner, the music and the flow of the evening.
On a different note, does anybody know of a way to contain the interruptions in frequency and duration, without getting too confrontational?
At scientific conferences and presidential debates they use timers that beep or light up. Some events (short ones) might not peter out and maybe people can be addressed while they are changing back into their street shoes.
Those raffles, are they by sponsors who give money/food/services to the event, or do they just donate the raffle item (eg a $10 milonga admission, often for ONE person). If two numbers need to be drawn, that's 100 people captive for 5 minutes each, that must be the cheapest deal in the history of advertising. And where do the ladies keep the ticket handy?
ANY IDEAS? Please address those to the list.
Thanks
Tine
Yale Tango Club <yaletangoclub@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
Hola Listeros,
I am interested to find out what you have to say about the habit of some organizers to interrupt the evening, usually when there is an hour or less left to dance, to make "announcements". You know what I mean, the music is shut off and the big overhead neon lights are switched on and people are called back to earth from their tango universe to take up positions around the room and listen to talking.
What follows can be anything from announcements of milongas to come, workshops, Thank You's for time and effort, raffles, prizes for best costume, event anniversary speeches, anecdotes from way back when with you never guess who, to even long lectures on the history of tango (this was by a visiting Argentine who never should have been handed the microphone, he used up ALL the remaining dance time with his talking). Often - well, always - this lasts much longer than I wish. I get really antsy as I see the clock ticking away and I want to get back to dancing with all the people I haven't danced with yet. So little time!
Next you may have the dreaded Birthday Dance with people cutting in and everybody watching. Oh No.
Also of course there might be a performance. Personally I feel that tango is not a spectator thing but a participation thing, but I'll admit that a good performance can be interesting and sometimes even impressive. So basically I think performances are neutral or OK.
Personally I think announcements are a rude interruption of the evening and a waste of time. I am sometimes the DJ and I find the interruption disrupts the flow of the evening. Often they forget to thank the DJ but even if they remembered every time, I would still prefer no announcements. Flyers and emails can always inform people better than somebody standing there talking.
At my own event, an 8-12pm practilonga with a young crowd of 25-40, I NEVER interrupt to do announcements. I inform all my people by email or flyer. Only on occasion do I take a minute or two between class and practica to give some basic info directed at new people (please stay to practice, and come write down your email addres, and be there next week for another class). I probably rush the info too much because I so hate to waste people's dancing time.
When you give me your opinion, I would like to know if you are usually the listener or the one standing there talking.
Do you think the informative value of the "announcements" warrants the interruption and the time?
Do you like the idea of the birthday dance (when it's your birthday, and when it's not)? Do you, like me, hide the fact that it's your birthday?
Thanks for your opinions. You may send them to me directly, I'll report to the list on what the People say.
Tine
************************
Tango Club at Yale
YaleTangoClub@yahoo.com
To subscribe to our event emails, please email us or visit our website.
To unsubscribe, send us an email, or if you're in a hurry, do it yourself by sending an email to YaleTangoClub-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com. If it doesn't work, just let us know. We're nice people and we really don't want to aggravate anybody. Thanks!
************************
Tango Club at Yale
YaleTangoClub@yahoo.com
To subscribe to our event emails, please email us or visit our website.
To unsubscribe, send us an email, or if you're in a hurry, do it yourself by sending an email to YaleTangoClub-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com. If it doesn't work, just let us know. We're nice people and we really don't want to aggravate anybody. Thanks!
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 17:04:57 +0000
From: Jay Rabe <jayrabe@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: About interrupting a milonga for "announcements"
my two cents...
I don't like long announcements. I think the important thing is to keep
whatever is said completely "value added," as succinct as possible.
15seconds per topic with 3-5 topics seems a good rule.
I agree with someone else's comment about letting the DJ decide when to make
the announcement. That's a good idea, since the DJ (at least ideally) is in
touch with the mood of the crowd and will know the best time for an
interruption without causing major loss of energy and momentum.
I don't like other structured things, games, mixers, "waterfalls," etc. I
suppose once in a great while they can be OK, like a previous post
mentioned, if you have a group of newcomers or out-or-towners. But generally
I find them at best boring and at worst, obnoxious.
I do like birthday dances. They give the birthday-person a chance to be in
the spotlight.
I generally like performances, with the potential of seeing new steps and
styles, especially if enough advance notice is given that I can bring my
video camera so I can study them later.
J in Portland
www.TangoMoments.com
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 16:45:07 -0500
From: Miamidances@AOL.COM
Subject: Re: About interrupting a milonga for "announcements"
>I think that these announcements are usually annoying. However, if >used with care they can be a great way to build a community.
I do have to agree with you that most announcements are annoying, but thats because they are not handled properly or professionally. Not everyone that tries to run a Milonga is a qualified MC and entertainer.
I believe that every good party needs an intermission that is informative and entertaining. Some DJ
Eighty percent of the parties that I
I know that this is going to sound like sacrilege but I run organized controlled parties where I set the mood and control the energy of the party. I run more than just Tango parties. I have run all the different styles of dance parties possible, Ballroom, Country, Argentine Tango, one time parties for private clubs, weekly parties and special event parties
I did find a time that I did not make any announcements at a Milonga. First and only time in my life, and it has never happened since. In fact it happened twice; May of 2002 and May 2003 I
If you
Sorry I won
Randy in Miami
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 22:52:27 +0100
From: Christian Lüthen <christian.luethen@GMX.NET>
Subject: Re: About interrupting a milonga for "announcements"
for those wanting 'orginal tango' (from buenos aires) [... whatever
that might be...]:
they also pause for announcements at bs.as. milongas. =:-o
for the rest:
announcements which announce could be fine,
announcements which are annoyments should be avoided.
here in cologne they feature regular announcements ...
... and at the end others are invited to announce their event as
well. great custom!
happy dancing and careful announcing ... .-)
Christian
christian@eTanguero.net
https://www.eTanguero.net/
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 15:53:37 -0600
From: Stephen Brown <Stephen.P.Brown@DAL.FRB.ORG>
Subject: Re: About interrupting a milonga for "announcements"
Some of my thoughts on announcements and other activities at milongas:
A brief set of announcements fairly early in the evening is not that
disruptive--particularly if the primary purpose is to welcome everyone and
introduce newcomers and visitors from other cities. Such announcements
can help make the milonga more friendly. It's also reasonable that a
host/organization may occasionally want to recognize some of the people
who have made contributions to the milonga, the community, etc.
Opening up the floor for announcements from all comers can quickly
degenerate into someone making a lengthy announcement. Those who have
other announcements can prepare flyers and ask the host in advance to
announce the activity and mention the flyer.
An announcement session too late in the evening can disrupt the overall
mood of a milonga--even to the point of triggering a mass exodous as
people suddenly start looking at their watches and thinking about other
things.
Birthday dances can help build a sense of community, but if they are held
too late in the evening they might disrupt the overall mood of the
milonga. It depends on the event. Certainly, someone with a birthday who
arrives during the last hour of a milonga or shouldn't expect everyone
else to quit dancing. And maybe a birthday dance shouldn't be included at
an event that is already crowded with other activities.
Exhibition dances also can contribute to a milonga if they are really
worth watching, but if they are held too late in the evening they might
disrupt the overall mood of the milonga. Again, it depends on the event.
As for the dj setting the evening's agenda, I don't agree. The organizer
should set the evening's agenda and work with the dj.
With best regards,
Steve
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 17:27:26 -0500
From: Ilene Marder <imhmedia@ULSTER.NET>
Subject: Re: About interrupting a milonga for "announcements"
Hi Tine,
I run Woodstock Tango in Woodstock New York and host milongas each
month. I also go frequently to milongas in nyc and elsewhere...
Announcements can be very important for community building...but, yes,
they should not be endless... so, if one does make announcements I
always appreciate it if they are done in an entertaining way with
flair, warmth and humor.
I "interrrupt" the dancing for announcements first with a performance
if I have special guests, then do the door prizes (which people really
like), and then, if I have upcoming events, I will briefly announce and
send them to my web site or to flyers at the door. I also ask if other
tango organizers have anything to announce and keep that short (they do
the same for me at their milongas and I appreciate it). I do like
birthday dances, and if there isn't a performance, will follow that
dance with brief announcements, etc. I dont force people to dance for
birthdays and will do it only if I know in advance that someone wants to.
I do not play "partner games" (that waterfall thing sounds horrible!),
but in workshops/lessons, we do ask couples to change partners fairly
frequently as that ensures extra women or men get a chance with a
partner...I am not tango police and do not insist on changing partners
if some couples don't want to.
re; door prizes- I provide (free admission to next milonga, bottle of
wine, etc), not sponsors. (Ladies have to be creative about where to
put tickets!)
Woodstock Tango is a young community, and dancers here don't seem to
mind the interruption at all, as it seems to reinforce community and
shows them how many opportunities there are to dance. I find here, in
nyc and elsewhere, that the more experienced the dancers, the more they
resent a long interruption...
key words...keep it short and entertaining...
Dance Tango for Peace!!
Ilene
>
>
>
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 18:12:54 -0500
From: Miamidances@AOL.COM
Subject: Try Again Re: [TANGO-L] About interrupting a milonga for "announcements"
Dear Friends,
I have no ideal what happended to my posting. what I sent and what happened to it I don't know. I'm trying again to get all the message thru.
Here goes
>I think that these announcements are usually annoying. However, if >used with care they can be a great way to build a community.
I do have to agree with you that most announcements are annoying, but thats because they are not handled properly or professionally. Not everyone that tries to run a Milonga is a qualified MC and entertainer.
I believe that every good party needs an intermission that is informative and entertaining. Some DJ
Eighty percent of the parties that I
I know that this is going to sound like sacrilege but I run organized controlled parties where I set the mood and control the energy of the party. I run more than just Tango parties. I have run all the different styles of dance parties possible, Ballroom, Country, Argentine Tango, one time parties for private clubs, weekly parties and special event parties
I did find a time that I did not make any announcements at a Milonga. First and only time in my life, and it has never happened since. In fact it happened twice; May of 2002 and May 2003 I
If you
Sorry I won
Randy in Miami
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 16:47:08 -0700
From: Tom Stermitz <stermitz@TANGO.ORG>
Subject: Re: About interrupting a milonga for "announcements"
A real milonga is different from a practice.
At a milonga I strongly prefer no announcements or demonstrations, but
I can also see the value in stopping things for 15 seconds at a point
earlier in the evening to welcome everyone. Maybe the occasional demo
is reasonable.
A practice, or as Tine calls it a "practi-milonga", is primarily an
outreach or community building event. The primary purpose is to get
beginners over the difficult integration issues, to welcome everyone,
play easy, familiar music, lights up bright, etc.
Mixers:
I personally do not like to be part of mixers, but they can be
extremely successful... especially to welcome beginners and to get
people (like me) away from old habits and just dancing with my
favorites.
In the past year, Tango Colorado grew from 220 to 330 members.
Attendance on Tuesday night grew from 50-80 to 100-140. This happened
for multiple reasons, but it was mainly about a directed strategy of
being welcome and friendly. The mixer dance is one important component.
For three songs, beginners mix with teachers, close-embrace with open,
this clique with that clique.
Stirring up the pot is good, but the main benefit is that beginners can
step past their anxieties if not terror about mixing with those great
dancers.
(Another reason Tango Colorado grew is that it doesn't compete with
teachers or local organizers. In fact, TC promotes for the teachers,
and it is neutral, COMMUNITY BUILDING organization. All the teachers
bring their students and are rotated through the beginner class before
the practice.).
Birthday Dances:
This concept seem friendly on the surface, but the trouble with
birthday dances is that they are about consolidating and defining who
is "IN". They honor people who are already well-integrated (who don't
need it), while newcomers and beginners look on, not knowing whether
they like this yet, let alone willing to share their birthdates.
Outreach is about growing outward, not consolidating inward.
On Feb 2, 2005, at 12:14 AM, Yale Tango Club wrote:
> Hola Listeros,
>
> I am interested to find out what you have to say about the habit of
> some organizers to interrupt the evening, usually when there is an
> hour or less left to dance, to make "announcements".
> ...
> Next you may have the dreaded Birthday Dance with people cutting in
> and everybody watching. Oh No.
> ...
> At my own event, an 8-12pm practilonga with a young crowd of 25-40, I
> NEVER interrupt to do announcements. I inform all my people by email
> or flyer. Only on occasion do I take a minute or two between class and
> practica to give some basic info directed at new people (please stay
> to practice, and come write down your email addres, and be there next
> week for another class). I probably rush the info too much because I
> so hate to waste people's dancing time.
> ...
> Tine
>
Tom Stermitz
https://www.tango.org
Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2005 16:42:04 -0500
From: jackie wong <jackie.wong@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: About interrupting a milonga for "announcements"
Well this is interesting to me because our community is in the middle
between the two (Yale and Woodstock) and I have attended, not the Yale
practica, but the New Haven Milonga and Woodstock events.
The New Haven Milonga was one of the first milongas I attended and I loved
it. They have an announcement period and also birthday dances. The people
are friendly and use the announcement period to promote community goodwill.
We all know about the places that are torn apart by friction between
organizations and how badly this can affect the community.
I run a Milonga and the break is special to me because we can say thank you
to the people that come, we can embrace the people who are celebrating their
birthday, and we can acknowledge the people who spend so much time
organizing events.
... is a milonga just about dancing or is it more?
I discovered in my trips to Buenos aires that the milonga is yes, a time to
dance, but more, it's a time to be with friends... to drink, to dance, to
laugh, to watch, to talk about what we have learned, or about how much our
feet hurt...it feels natural to me to extend this beyond my immediate circle
Of course, there's room for all variations... but I personally am looking
forward to my first Woodstock milonga. I attended workshops there and
absolutely love Ilene and their community and wish they lived closer to me!
So I'm willing to make the almost 2 hour drive.
Jackie
www.tangopulse.net
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2005 5:27 PM
To: TANGO-L@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: [TANGO-L] About interrupting a milonga for "announcements"
Hi Tine,
I run Woodstock Tango in Woodstock New York and host milongas each
month. I also go frequently to milongas in nyc and elsewhere...
Announcements can be very important for community building...but, yes,
they should not be endless... so, if one does make announcements I
always appreciate it if they are done in an entertaining way with
flair, warmth and humor.
I "interrrupt" the dancing for announcements first with a performance
if I have special guests, then do the door prizes (which people really
like), and then, if I have upcoming events, I will briefly announce and
send them to my web site or to flyers at the door. I also ask if other
tango organizers have anything to announce and keep that short (they do
the same for me at their milongas and I appreciate it). I do like
birthday dances, and if there isn't a performance, will follow that
dance with brief announcements, etc. I dont force people to dance for
birthdays and will do it only if I know in advance that someone wants to.
I do not play "partner games" (that waterfall thing sounds horrible!),
but in workshops/lessons, we do ask couples to change partners fairly
frequently as that ensures extra women or men get a chance with a
partner...I am not tango police and do not insist on changing partners
if some couples don't want to.
re; door prizes- I provide (free admission to next milonga, bottle of
wine, etc), not sponsors. (Ladies have to be creative about where to
put tickets!)
Woodstock Tango is a young community, and dancers here don't seem to
mind the interruption at all, as it seems to reinforce community and
shows them how many opportunities there are to dance. I find here, in
nyc and elsewhere, that the more experienced the dancers, the more they
resent a long interruption...
key words...keep it short and entertaining...
Dance Tango for Peace!!
Ilene
>
>
>
