For some EU marathons it seems standard to fill a form including URL to your social media profile, and in one recent case they asked back to me "to fill more information" - I had already supplied a URL but there is only a dance photo of mine. They mentioned indirectly I could "add a link to a video" -
Others who attend marathons or know the organizers can comment.
I haven’t attended any of the popular marathons in EU. I do not have any social media presence. I know at least a couple of others who have been regulars at popular marathons who have no social media presence.
The salsa marathon concept came from Tango marathons. Earlier on some Tango marathons tended to be invite only or someone that organizer knew had to vouch for your level of dancing. A lot of tango marathons have watered down requirements as there are more exclusive tango event that is invite only. In tango it is known that marathons have higher quality dancing than festivals and invite only events have higher level than marathons.
I am guessing due to high demand the salsa marathons organizers are balancing the distribution. Unfortunately when you put your location, you are competing for spots with highest number of dancers wanting in. Someone from California or say Japan or UAE will find it easier to register than hoofs you have to jump through. Because Salsa marathon organizers are also trying to be diverse. If you already have been attendee at one marathon by an organizer, it gets easier to be accepted at the next marathon by the same organizer.
Personally I prefer larger festivals. But many salsa dancers in EU prefer smaller marathons due to higher quality dancers and less crowded. The negative of that is too many people wanting attend marathon that has capped the number
They probably want a video to see your dance level.
I hardly ever asked any friend to shoot my video. A few videos that were shot without me asking a friend and in one case a stranger (at Sibenik) are not on any social media nor public. Though there are a few public videos posted by festival videographers.
having no video of myself is now about to backfire on me (the only recent smartphone video I got was with friends who said they don't want to get posted).
You can shoot one with a willing follower next time you are out. Upload it as private YouTube video. Send that link to organizers.
If you don't even get access you can't get recognized by followers.
Honestly I don’t know how many people browse online videos of random people unless it pop ups in their feed.
With the number of festivals you are going to, you must be running into the same followers. People recognize you if you have danced with them at previous festivals or events. It is natural. I am saying from experience. And I tend to be one of the lesser social person relative to others.
I understand if they want to make sure no weirdos get invited.
Not really sure weirdos can be detected from photo or video.
But as I am no pro dancer I found no need to have videos of my dancing on social media. Fortunately festivals don't have these application forms, so I can live with that.
More likely as I said there are more people wanting to attend the marathons from your region. So how do they decide how to admit people as they can’t admit everything they applies.
Pro dancers are used to attract dancers. They lend credibility which makes more people wanting to attend. I don’t know how many pro dancers attend marathon. They hardly have a chance to make money at marathons. The pros likely prefer events where they can earn money.
But as you said there are many festivals to choose from. Actually at festivals you will often run into the organizers.
Pro videographers do not film me because I'm neither a celeb nor eye-candy.
If you request them to film you, they will mostly oblige. Or if you are dancing with a follower they like to film.
I am guessing most festivals you have been to are covered by Starmambo. About 30% of time he does film random dancers (to him). He usually does that during the last hour of filming which generally tends to be around 4am. Or if you are dancing near the stage area or DJ booth, your chances of being filmed are higher. Sometimes it becomes difficult to avoid him depending on event or where on the dance floor you are dancing.
My observation is that Steve 40% of the time covers same or repeat dancers, 30% pro or celebrity and remaining 30% random. 40% includes his friends.
At festivals you are member of 90%, when it comes to being nobody to videographers.
Their mission is to generate clicks for advertising, and it is true filming me is not serving that purpose.
Yes. I don’t know if starmambo is able monetize the dance videos. But those 70% I mentioned are likely to generate more clicks. Someone said that he is not able to monetize the video posted on YouTube or Facebook. If you see number of clicks most videos are less than 1K or 2K. Though he does get paid by the organizers. That is his main source of income.