I don't understand a word: marathon invitations are not about dance level but about having refererences? So references to what if it's not dance level? Salsa dancers are not soccer hooligans, there should be no fear you vandalize. I guess I will concentrate on marathons who don't ask questions who are my friends. What a nonsense.
Salsa open diary
- Thread starter MacMoto
- Start date
1derpalm
Son Montuno
That's the type of person you strive to get better to impress, snd when you are finally awesome and the only good lead around and dhe asks you. You say no and walk away.
But that wasn’t popular. The attendance was thin and not the same caliber dancers.
WTAF is this nonsense? I don't want to go to events that demand videos of me. This seems like a way to get over hyped Instagram dancers and not a way to weed out actual talent.
As in supporting the organiser (by doing promotional activities) and are on good terms with their inner circle.
I didn't apply to PSM May edition for years because it was too inner circlish and being put on a wait list while others get priority is bs.
If there are marathons now asking for videos, then that's news to me.
Yes, it's about PSM May edition. I like Prague as a destiny, so I was tempted. I didn't know this marathon is so different from others. Actually my first marathon in Basel back then also had a form field asking for a social media URL (don't remember if that was obligatory, but I remember I uploaded a salsa photo of mine because I had none on my social media).
I understand if they don't want known rough leads or creepy guys, but still wonder what "on good terms" means. If they want to make a weekend with their friends then they should organize it privately. If they put it in the internet then they shouldn't ask who my friends are.
It's the wish of the organizer to do it this way. PSM May edition is the only marathon I know that has given me that feeling of exclusivity.
Because it was the one people often cited as being the best and was always sold out (I'm pretty sure it's been documented here on the forums many times).
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Iol. PSM is an anomaly. I don't think the other marathons have such entry requirements.
So it's like these nightclubs which let people always wait outside one hour even if the club is still empty, to increase FOMO and let other people see the queue and think "Must be great inside"? Good to know now.
Pretty much how I felt when I saw they had a waiting list. For what? To go to a glorified salsa social? Hellllllll no. If your event is full, just say 'sold out' and be done with it.
I have friends who are permanently on the 'will never get in' list. Even a Czech guy I know said that the organizer doesn't let locals in for some reason (unless they volunteer to be his oompa loompa)
Thankfully other marathon organisers didn't follow suit.
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Absolutely. What a way to turn some people off and attract some exhibitionists. As a wonderful, intuitive guide I spent four days with in Algeria put it, “I can see you prefer to be behind a camera rather than in front of them”
It makes such a big difference if the dancefloor is surrounded by chairs or not. Recently I was at a festival which had chairs along the walls and often all non-dancing people were sitting there. I understand sitting is more comfortable, but as a male I have to do the asking 90% of the time and asking sitting ladies has a higher rejection risk. A few times I wanted to dance but didn't feel like asking sitting ladies, so instead I paused. After that experience I was at two festivals which had no chairs at all along the walls, so everybody was standing. It makes it so much clearer who wants to dance and I don't remember rejections. If you really want to sit down you have to go ten meters into the neighboring room. Dancehouse as organizer has understood that and never has chairs along the walls, I appreciate that.
They did in the 1st/2nd editions but removed the chairs afterwards.
The chairs never made any difference to me. Doesn’t it help having them, so you could eliminate asking those who are sitting.
I do ask those who are sitting as well. Esp if they have been doing so for a few songs. For example at Magic there are chairs along the wall but also a wall of dancers standing around.
Some of our socials have chairs around the wall. I will going to one in an hour. If you have seen the follower before, you know how much or how often she dances. Rejection is very less likely if such followers are sitting. At socials, most followers don’t sit. If they do it is only for a song or two. Since we are leader heavy, followers are consistently getting asked. If you don’t ask the ones that are sitting, other leaders will.
I do ask those who are sitting as well. Esp if they have been doing so for a few songs. For example at Magic there are chairs along the wall but also a wall of dancers standing around.
Some of our socials have chairs around the wall. I will going to one in an hour. If you have seen the follower before, you know how much or how often she dances. Rejection is very less likely if such followers are sitting. At socials, most followers don’t sit. If they do it is only for a song or two. Since we are leader heavy, followers are consistently getting asked. If you don’t ask the ones that are sitting, other leaders will.
Welcome back, how was it?
90% of the followers were new to me. The average level was lower than usual. The DJ music also left much to desire. There was expectations of very heavy rain and thunderstorm. Must have kept many people from coming. There were still about 50-60 people that showed up.
My personal reflections on Live2Mambo 2026:
This is not a review as I didn't really participate in the event from a dancing perspective. I decided to make this event something more personal, casual and I followed my own routine of sleep, eat and dance, in that order. I treated it like a spa holiday.
First time being in the venue hotel, and let me tell you, it makes a huge difference. Being able to put on my dance shoes and walk down a few flights of stairs (or take the lift) and then walk 20 meters down the hall directly into the lobby and straight onto the dance floor was a laughable luxury.
Also, having the ability to have food delivered from Wolt from almost any restaurant directly to your hotel room is another huge plus. Sure, I could have done this anywhere in the city, but being in the venue, having the Wolt driver literally walk up to your hotel room door and hand deliver your food, all without ever having to leave the comfort of your own hotel room, is like a whole new level of pampering.
I had planned to take it easy at this festival and dance very light (and I miean VERY light).
Some NEW personal highlights for me were:
- Skipping the entire Friday evening party without a second thought or regret
- Attending the last 15 minutes of a 5-hour day social (Sunday)
- Waking up at 6am, then arriving to the night party and dancing only to the last song (Sunday)
- Didn't eat a single snack at the event despite it being free. Controlling myself not to eat sweets/junk food is my new hobby and so from this perspective, I succeeded.
My only regret was going to the Saturday night party at all. I should have stayed in and slept.
Why were these highlights? Because I chose to do it on my own time. I didn't feel the pressure of having to dance every single minute at the festival because of some expectation I have of myself to do something just because I am there . I listen to my body and what it wants. And most of the time, it wanted to rest and also to eat and drink warm tea.
I also trained my basics in my hotel room during the day social. Imagine having some of the best dancers for your most prefered dance style 25 meters away and yet you decide instead to stay in your room to train your basic step. Yep, that's me.
When I was at the venue, I'd talk with people I hadn't seen for years. After having a few dances with people I know, it was easy to get into a flow and rattle off 5-10 dances in a row. Was rather surprised many people still remembered who I was. Whenever I entered the dance floor, it was almost impossible not to be asked for a dance.
For me, this was like a homecoming. I intentionally experienced something very different because what I used to do before (try to get my money's worth by dancing a lot at every single party) doesn't work for me any more. So this was a new experience for me, especially when it comes be being more attentive to what my body needs.
The idea of waking up at 2 am in the morning and attending a night party now sounds insane to me. So are 5 hour day socials. If I have the energy, sure I'll go, but not going is also now a completely fine alternative.
Goes to show that everyone's experience at these events is very diferent. I enjoyed this much slower pace very much. But most of all, the feeling of that all too common 'festival depression' or 'didn't meet my expectations' element is completely gone. The experience was one of a kind and I would not have changed anything.
Well, maybe with the exception of the music being a bit too soft for my tastes.
This is not a review as I didn't really participate in the event from a dancing perspective. I decided to make this event something more personal, casual and I followed my own routine of sleep, eat and dance, in that order. I treated it like a spa holiday.
First time being in the venue hotel, and let me tell you, it makes a huge difference. Being able to put on my dance shoes and walk down a few flights of stairs (or take the lift) and then walk 20 meters down the hall directly into the lobby and straight onto the dance floor was a laughable luxury.
Also, having the ability to have food delivered from Wolt from almost any restaurant directly to your hotel room is another huge plus. Sure, I could have done this anywhere in the city, but being in the venue, having the Wolt driver literally walk up to your hotel room door and hand deliver your food, all without ever having to leave the comfort of your own hotel room, is like a whole new level of pampering.
I had planned to take it easy at this festival and dance very light (and I miean VERY light).
Some NEW personal highlights for me were:
- Skipping the entire Friday evening party without a second thought or regret
- Attending the last 15 minutes of a 5-hour day social (Sunday)
- Waking up at 6am, then arriving to the night party and dancing only to the last song (Sunday)
- Didn't eat a single snack at the event despite it being free. Controlling myself not to eat sweets/junk food is my new hobby and so from this perspective, I succeeded.
My only regret was going to the Saturday night party at all. I should have stayed in and slept.
Why were these highlights? Because I chose to do it on my own time. I didn't feel the pressure of having to dance every single minute at the festival because of some expectation I have of myself to do something just because I am there . I listen to my body and what it wants. And most of the time, it wanted to rest and also to eat and drink warm tea.
I also trained my basics in my hotel room during the day social. Imagine having some of the best dancers for your most prefered dance style 25 meters away and yet you decide instead to stay in your room to train your basic step. Yep, that's me.
When I was at the venue, I'd talk with people I hadn't seen for years. After having a few dances with people I know, it was easy to get into a flow and rattle off 5-10 dances in a row. Was rather surprised many people still remembered who I was. Whenever I entered the dance floor, it was almost impossible not to be asked for a dance.
For me, this was like a homecoming. I intentionally experienced something very different because what I used to do before (try to get my money's worth by dancing a lot at every single party) doesn't work for me any more. So this was a new experience for me, especially when it comes be being more attentive to what my body needs.
The idea of waking up at 2 am in the morning and attending a night party now sounds insane to me. So are 5 hour day socials. If I have the energy, sure I'll go, but not going is also now a completely fine alternative.
Goes to show that everyone's experience at these events is very diferent. I enjoyed this much slower pace very much. But most of all, the feeling of that all too common 'festival depression' or 'didn't meet my expectations' element is completely gone. The experience was one of a kind and I would not have changed anything.
Well, maybe with the exception of the music being a bit too soft for my tastes.