salsa 'wars'
- Thread starter yola
- Start date
One of the salsa forums here in the UK was ruined by a war going on in the Nottingham area.
One bit I saw had a promoter advertising a party night and someone else posted that it was ticket only and all tickets were sold !
It's put me off ever dancing in that area
It's also happening in my area. A promoter told me he'd chosen a club night to delibarately conflict with another club. They both went out of business.
Pathetic
One bit I saw had a promoter advertising a party night and someone else posted that it was ticket only and all tickets were sold !
It's put me off ever dancing in that area
It's also happening in my area. A promoter told me he'd chosen a club night to delibarately conflict with another club. They both went out of business.
Pathetic
yola said:
Actually Salsa is not the problem. It's the "people" involved who have issues. :? Whether it's cliques, studios or instructors, once you get negative energy from "any" resource I mentioned, it tends to overshadow what Salsa really is. Salsa is not my move is better than yours, my dancers at the studio are better than yours, my territorial property since I've been the only school for the past ten years, blah, blah, blah....
I tell you this, if anyone (instructors, students, schools) gets caught up in anything "outside" of Salsa i.e. egos, territorial wars, eventually, it will shut them down as DD mentioned in his scenario above.
Why even waste your time on such negativity. :?peachexploration said:
cos we seem to be caught in one...and just sometimes don't know how to (re)act... hoped maybe you guys could share your views and experiences..
we try just to focus on the positive things, the enthousiasm of our students, the joy of dancing and teaching, our love of salsa
We think: the more the merrier! more schools, more salsa exposure, more students for everyone...
In some way i can relate to our collegues, they have to protect their income coz we're the newbies (in their view trying to take a bite out of their coockie)
but sometimes i get so depressed by the negative atmosphere at some parties... i just want us all to get along...
have faith in your own strength.. if you have a good product to sell, customers will buy it!
*sigh*
yola said:peachexploration said:
and just sometimes don't know how to (re)act... hoped maybe you guys could share your views and experiences..
Okay, I see. I'm sorry you're going through a bad patch.
Another member had experienced this a while ago. Will have to look for that thread. You're absolutly right when you say, "In some way i can relate to our collegues, they have to protect their income coz we're the newbies (in their view trying to take a bite out of their coockie)". That's understandable.
If I were involved in something like this, my reaction would be not to engage into any kind of negativity as it will hurt my business as well. I would try my best and stay focused on what I have to offer. I feel that if I have a good school, am producing a good product (good dancers), I am already ahead of the game. My product will speak for itself.
Now, I do understand it can wear you down. The constant competition, especially if it's negative can wear on your nerves but focus on what your goals are for you, your dancers and studio.You may have done this already but look for allies or sponsors who are not necessarily other studios. Whether they are DJs, Clubs, Barbershops, restaurants, caterers, wedding planners, etc. You'll be amazed at how these resources can be a postive addition to your business. Even doing shows just to introduce your dance studio at a restaurant once in a while can make a big difference. People react to what they see moreso than what they hear sometimes. This is a good way to fight.
Picture this: Students show up to this one studio and the director of that studio goes into daily negative speech about how that "new studio" sucks. This can easily be counteracted by the student saying either out loud or in their own mind, "Are you kidding me! I just saw that studio perform last night at my favorite restaurant and it was the most beautiful dancing that I have ever seen!" 
Result: Students old and new go to new school. That's what I mean, let your product speak for itself.
Hang in there, Yola. It will get better. Anyone else? Yep, it obviously happens everywhere. In Sofia there are several instructors and everyone has some reason because he's the best and some reason why some of the other (that he was partner with once, usually, or sth like that) is not actually a good instructor. All this is unofficial, of course, when talking to the public everybody says they are all friends and blah blah.
The worst of all, however, is that there are "hardliner" in each studio that are worse than any selfish instructor. They say dancers from other studios (or from a specific studio) can not dance at all, do not dance real salsa, dance old fashioned salsa, are "zombied", are "a sect" etc. (the accusations are quite different, because there are such people in every big school, even in mine, pitily). They advise newbies not to dance with people from hated schools and at parties look badly. Actually, they make the most intrugues in the salsa society and no matter they are only few people, it's enough to poison the athmsphere quite a lot.
It's obvious that it's not about salsa, nor about styles. Some people just need to indentify themselves with the best in something, and in the case its their salsa school. I think the best way to handle that is just not to respond to annoying post in fora, studio site's guestbook etc. What they actually need is the response.
The worst of all, however, is that there are "hardliner" in each studio that are worse than any selfish instructor. They say dancers from other studios (or from a specific studio) can not dance at all, do not dance real salsa, dance old fashioned salsa, are "zombied", are "a sect" etc. (the accusations are quite different, because there are such people in every big school, even in mine, pitily). They advise newbies not to dance with people from hated schools and at parties look badly. Actually, they make the most intrugues in the salsa society and no matter they are only few people, it's enough to poison the athmsphere quite a lot.
It's obvious that it's not about salsa, nor about styles. Some people just need to indentify themselves with the best in something, and in the case its their salsa school. I think the best way to handle that is just not to respond to annoying post in fora, studio site's guestbook etc. What they actually need is the response.
Yup, you're bang on the money there my friend.
Seems like some people just have this whole stupid football-shirt tribal thing inside them - whether it's having a go at someone because they support "city" and the other guy supports "united"; or whether it's because someone dances at studio x and they dance at studio y.
These people have just missed the whole point of salsa - I actually pity them.
Seems like some people just have this whole stupid football-shirt tribal thing inside them - whether it's having a go at someone because they support "city" and the other guy supports "united"; or whether it's because someone dances at studio x and they dance at studio y.
These people have just missed the whole point of salsa - I actually pity them.
thanx guys for your reactions.
thanx peach... :together: i needed that.....and....
some good dancing last night.. washed away part of the the bad feelings.!!
you've made some good suggestions. gonna brainstorm with my businesspartner about it.
@ jazzhands & seut...yeah, you're right, sometimes the students/hardliners are worse than the instructors themselves... although i think they act on the negative vibes they get from the teachers..
i've found an excellent quote from Eddy Torres that helped me put things in perspective as well:
Remember where you came from. And remember that the bottom line should be not so much who’s greater than who, but who has the most fun. Not who dances the best, but who’s having the greatest time out there, because, after all, I think that’s what dancing should be.
We've started our school because of the fun...we love dancing and we love teaching. I'm determined to keep that in mind and not let the negative thingies ruin my joy..its just hard sometimes
peachexploration said:[
You may have done this already but look for allies or sponsors who are not necessarily other studios. Whether they are DJs, Clubs, Barbershops, restaurants, caterers, wedding planners, etc. You'll be amazed at how these resources can be a postive addition to your business. Even doing shows just to introduce your dance studio at a restaurant once in a while can make a big difference. People react to what they see moreso than what they hear sometimes. This is a good way to fight.
That's what I mean, let your product speak for itself.
thanx peach... :together: i needed that.....and....
some good dancing last night.. washed away part of the the bad feelings.!!
you've made some good suggestions. gonna brainstorm with my businesspartner about it.
@ jazzhands & seut...yeah, you're right, sometimes the students/hardliners are worse than the instructors themselves... although i think they act on the negative vibes they get from the teachers..
i've found an excellent quote from Eddy Torres that helped me put things in perspective as well:
Remember where you came from. And remember that the bottom line should be not so much who’s greater than who, but who has the most fun. Not who dances the best, but who’s having the greatest time out there, because, after all, I think that’s what dancing should be.
We've started our school because of the fun...we love dancing and we love teaching. I'm determined to keep that in mind and not let the negative thingies ruin my joy..its just hard sometimes
Hang in there Yola. Keep us posted. We're always here for you. :friend:yola said:....some good dancing last night.. washed away part of the the bad feelings.!!
We've started our school because of the fun...we love dancing and we love teaching. I'm determined to keep that in mind and not let the negative thingies ruin my joy..its just hard sometimes