If people knew what I knew the last thing they would want to be is a salsa promoter. It is a thankless job and one of the hardest jobs there is . Some one is always complaining and there is hardly any money to be made in it because of the expenses. One of the good things about being a salsa promoter is you get to choose who plays the music and that is what the party is all about.
I must say I have met thousands of people and have had a great time in my 5 years of Salsa Promoting and if I had a choice of doing it all over again , I would .
I have promoted parties and cruises where people from all over the world have attended and it has been a fabulous experience. I have also made life time friends and learned so much about salsa dancing.
In future posts . I will post the dos and don'ts of being a salsa promoter for those who are crazy enough to become one so they will not make all the mistakes I made .
Friday, February 22, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
Lee Ann Neil on salseros supporting the Bar
You know, it comes down to business -- some bars charge a big $10 cover charge to recoup the losses to the bar when salseros don't drink. Others will play a generic latin mix to draw in the drinking clientele. I used to be pretty much a non-alcoholic salsera, but I always bought my water at the bar. I know we had some salsa places shut down because they discovered too many bottles of water obviously brought in from the outside. For some reason, the dance studio socials have not been nearly as successful in DC as in NY. If I think of my favorite places in NY to dance, most of them are dance studios, with the two exceptions of the Link Lounge on Tuesdays and Cache on Thursdays.
But at the end of the day, clubs don't want salsa dancers because its a bad business case to do so. We drink water or many sneak in their own. We don't buy alcohol which is the biggest source of their revenue. When there is a high cover, we don't come or we come early enough to get around it. One of the reasons why Clarendon Grill has been such a mainstay is because there is a mixed drinking and non-drinking crowd. The bar and the dancefloor stay full.
I would rather pay $3, $4, $5 for a bottle of water or Gaterade than lose a good salsa spot. Just my two cents
But at the end of the day, clubs don't want salsa dancers because its a bad business case to do so. We drink water or many sneak in their own. We don't buy alcohol which is the biggest source of their revenue. When there is a high cover, we don't come or we come early enough to get around it. One of the reasons why Clarendon Grill has been such a mainstay is because there is a mixed drinking and non-drinking crowd. The bar and the dancefloor stay full.
I would rather pay $3, $4, $5 for a bottle of water or Gaterade than lose a good salsa spot. Just my two cents
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Free Salsa Classes at Lima
We are on are second week at Lima and there was not a noticeable drop in class attendance from the First week. Either people had a good time last week and came back or the word spread out to new people but it was definitely a packed class.
It was a great class and the class learned some individual shines and the basic cross body lead and right turn . A lot of people stayed after class and practiced what they learned in class . It was a great night and I am l meeting so many new people . It is exciting to meet new people who are interested in Salsa because that means I will soon have some new people to dance with.
It was a great class and the class learned some individual shines and the basic cross body lead and right turn . A lot of people stayed after class and practiced what they learned in class . It was a great night and I am l meeting so many new people . It is exciting to meet new people who are interested in Salsa because that means I will soon have some new people to dance with.
The Resolution Jam
In 5 years StuckOnSalsa has had some great salsa parties but I have to tell you the StuckOnSalsa and ClaveKazi Resolution Jam this past Saturday Jan 5, 2008 was simply one of the best . It was simply electric inside the ClaveKazi studio. People from out of town all up and down the East Coast, The DC Salsa Met Up and the DC Hard Core salseros packed the place and danced all night long . What a way to start off the Salsa Year in DC
Though they call me the Don King Of Salsa , I always back up my hype , so it's not really hype it's just facts . When have i told you an event was going to be big and it wasn't The Resolution lived up to the billing of being StuckOnSalsa's best party of the year on land and in DC . It's one thiong to see the photos and even the videos , but being at a StuckOnSalsa Main event cannot be described it's a salsa situation where you just have to be there to understand the energy and intensity in the room . It was total Salsa Mayhem
DJ Jose Rodriguez DJ Elvira and DJ Neo were off the Salsa Meter and both wood floors in both rooms were awesomeand very dancer friendly
Shaka had to throw us out at 3 :30 am
Though they call me the Don King Of Salsa , I always back up my hype , so it's not really hype it's just facts . When have i told you an event was going to be big and it wasn't The Resolution lived up to the billing of being StuckOnSalsa's best party of the year on land and in DC . It's one thiong to see the photos and even the videos , but being at a StuckOnSalsa Main event cannot be described it's a salsa situation where you just have to be there to understand the energy and intensity in the room . It was total Salsa Mayhem
DJ Jose Rodriguez DJ Elvira and DJ Neo were off the Salsa Meter and both wood floors in both rooms were awesomeand very dancer friendly
Shaka had to throw us out at 3 :30 am
Friday, January 11, 2008
review of All Star Salsa Cruise 2007 by Edie "'The Salsa Freak"k
Another Unique Salsa Event…
The All-Star Salsa Cruise 2007!!
By Edie, The Salsa FREAK!!
I’m not the only one… that will tell you that it felt like all I did was SLEEP and RELAX on this cruise. I have to say, that on all the cruises I’ve been on, I usually have to “take a VACATION after the vacation”… to get over the vacation that I was TRYING to vacation on!!
This cruise was COMPLETELY different. For SOME STRANGE REASON… all of us on board got AMAZING SLEEP AND MUCH NEED REST AND RELAXATION on this cruise.
As I was “complaining” to everyone within earshot, about all the rest and sleep I was getting… they were telling me the EXACT SAME THING!!! Omg, it was like we were all under some sort of HYPNOTIC CRUISE SPELL or something.
EVERYONE relaxed. EVERYONE got sleep. EVERYONE felt vibrant and ALIVE when we got off that ship. In fact, I loved it so much, that I was the VERY LAST PERSON to disembark from that boat!! I’m not kidding! They shut down security after I left, and locked down the doors as I walked off!
OK, get this. Usually I look TRASHED after an event (and that is putting it nicely…). But this time, I must have really looked “radiant and relaxed” because every single one of the departing security guys gave me a compliment that I looked “great and beautiful” as I walked off that boat. “ Florida ’s Best” one guy commented…
THAT NEVER HAPPENS TO ME… EVER.
I looked behind me to see whom they were complimenting, and THERE WAS NO ONE THERE. Shocked, I looked back at them in complete dumbfounded and absolute amazement, like a deer in headlights, like I just saw a ghost… as my jaw dropped to the floor. “Either they are all high, or … this cruise was the BEST thing for me – EVER.” I thought to myself.
This All-Star Salsa cruise was unbelievable. I was talking to a woman afterward, and she said that before the cruise, she thought she may find a great guy to hang out with, or spend time with everyone on board, but instead she found herself at the Spa, spoiling her “self”, soaking up the rays at the pool side and catching up on much-need SLEEP, rest, and relaxation. She told me she realized she was on this cruise for a much more important reason… a spiritual “self-reawakening” and renewal that was more richly rewarding and satisfying. I could not have agreed with her more.
Don’t get me wrong, we ALL went to the dance parties, attended the All-Star workshops taught by some of the best instructors in the world, hung out with friends, visited the Caribbean islands, watched the FABULOUS shows and performances, but I’ll tell you what, ALL OF US got more out of this cruise than we had bargained for.
Looking back, I started to think and wonder what on earth made this cruise stand out among others. I made a list of “why” this cruise – above all others was so unbelievable.
Maybe it was because…
… it was a six-day cruise, rather than a four-day cruise. All of us got to finally “relax” by the second / third day. Most cruises, by the time you just start to relax, YOU HAVE TO LEAVE. I HATE that.
… the promoters don’t put pressure on anyone for any thing.
… the promoters allowed for “play and relaxation time” in the daily schedule.
… you didn’t have to “look” for other dancers or “Salsa music” on board to have a good time – it was always there – and you could relax with just THE THOUGHT of it. One of the advantages of taking a “Salsa Cruise” is the fact that there “are” Salsa Dancers on board – as opposed to a “Regular Cruise” where after a day or so, you end up “wishing” there were dance partners on board you could cut loose and dance with… and “wishing” they played Salsa music. I can’t even IMAGINE taking a non-Salsa cruise. At first it would be “ok”… maybe a “break” from all the Salsa… but after about the third day, I just know for a FACT I would start getting the Salsa CRAVINGS and the NEED FOR SPEED would take over my body and I would start convulsing and foaming at the mouth … (just kidding – NOT).
…the slow and steady rocking of the boat… naaaaahhh… I thought that too, but there was a slow and steady rocking motion on all the cruises I took before this one as well…
… I was alone and didn’t have to care for, or take care of, or worry about ANYONE ELSE but me. .:)))))))
… my cabin was completely and absolutely pitch-black DARK. Which is one of the advantages of having an inside cabin. If you get a cabin with a window, the sun in the mornings always wakes you up – even if you still want to sleep! I ended up taking LONG PITCH DARK NAPS in the middle of a bright sunny day! Daylight would never matter… time stood still on this cruise, and I CANNOT WAIT for the next one!!!
Special Thanks to co-promoters Kelvin and Sheila Sampath and for all their support in helping us get this off the ground!! Fantastic Event guys! Kudos to a job well-done!
Promoter Earl Rush can be reached at:
· Phone: (202) 487-4646
· email: gogoearl@aol.com
www.StuckOnSalsa.com
The All-Star Salsa Cruise 2007!!
By Edie, The Salsa FREAK!!
I’m not the only one… that will tell you that it felt like all I did was SLEEP and RELAX on this cruise. I have to say, that on all the cruises I’ve been on, I usually have to “take a VACATION after the vacation”… to get over the vacation that I was TRYING to vacation on!!
This cruise was COMPLETELY different. For SOME STRANGE REASON… all of us on board got AMAZING SLEEP AND MUCH NEED REST AND RELAXATION on this cruise.
As I was “complaining” to everyone within earshot, about all the rest and sleep I was getting… they were telling me the EXACT SAME THING!!! Omg, it was like we were all under some sort of HYPNOTIC CRUISE SPELL or something.
EVERYONE relaxed. EVERYONE got sleep. EVERYONE felt vibrant and ALIVE when we got off that ship. In fact, I loved it so much, that I was the VERY LAST PERSON to disembark from that boat!! I’m not kidding! They shut down security after I left, and locked down the doors as I walked off!
OK, get this. Usually I look TRASHED after an event (and that is putting it nicely…). But this time, I must have really looked “radiant and relaxed” because every single one of the departing security guys gave me a compliment that I looked “great and beautiful” as I walked off that boat. “ Florida ’s Best” one guy commented…
THAT NEVER HAPPENS TO ME… EVER.
I looked behind me to see whom they were complimenting, and THERE WAS NO ONE THERE. Shocked, I looked back at them in complete dumbfounded and absolute amazement, like a deer in headlights, like I just saw a ghost… as my jaw dropped to the floor. “Either they are all high, or … this cruise was the BEST thing for me – EVER.” I thought to myself.
This All-Star Salsa cruise was unbelievable. I was talking to a woman afterward, and she said that before the cruise, she thought she may find a great guy to hang out with, or spend time with everyone on board, but instead she found herself at the Spa, spoiling her “self”, soaking up the rays at the pool side and catching up on much-need SLEEP, rest, and relaxation. She told me she realized she was on this cruise for a much more important reason… a spiritual “self-reawakening” and renewal that was more richly rewarding and satisfying. I could not have agreed with her more.
Don’t get me wrong, we ALL went to the dance parties, attended the All-Star workshops taught by some of the best instructors in the world, hung out with friends, visited the Caribbean islands, watched the FABULOUS shows and performances, but I’ll tell you what, ALL OF US got more out of this cruise than we had bargained for.
Looking back, I started to think and wonder what on earth made this cruise stand out among others. I made a list of “why” this cruise – above all others was so unbelievable.
Maybe it was because…
… it was a six-day cruise, rather than a four-day cruise. All of us got to finally “relax” by the second / third day. Most cruises, by the time you just start to relax, YOU HAVE TO LEAVE. I HATE that.
… the promoters don’t put pressure on anyone for any thing.
… the promoters allowed for “play and relaxation time” in the daily schedule.
… you didn’t have to “look” for other dancers or “Salsa music” on board to have a good time – it was always there – and you could relax with just THE THOUGHT of it. One of the advantages of taking a “Salsa Cruise” is the fact that there “are” Salsa Dancers on board – as opposed to a “Regular Cruise” where after a day or so, you end up “wishing” there were dance partners on board you could cut loose and dance with… and “wishing” they played Salsa music. I can’t even IMAGINE taking a non-Salsa cruise. At first it would be “ok”… maybe a “break” from all the Salsa… but after about the third day, I just know for a FACT I would start getting the Salsa CRAVINGS and the NEED FOR SPEED would take over my body and I would start convulsing and foaming at the mouth … (just kidding – NOT).
…the slow and steady rocking of the boat… naaaaahhh… I thought that too, but there was a slow and steady rocking motion on all the cruises I took before this one as well…
… I was alone and didn’t have to care for, or take care of, or worry about ANYONE ELSE but me. .:)))))))
… my cabin was completely and absolutely pitch-black DARK. Which is one of the advantages of having an inside cabin. If you get a cabin with a window, the sun in the mornings always wakes you up – even if you still want to sleep! I ended up taking LONG PITCH DARK NAPS in the middle of a bright sunny day! Daylight would never matter… time stood still on this cruise, and I CANNOT WAIT for the next one!!!
Special Thanks to co-promoters Kelvin and Sheila Sampath and for all their support in helping us get this off the ground!! Fantastic Event guys! Kudos to a job well-done!
Promoter Earl Rush can be reached at:
· Phone: (202) 487-4646
· email: gogoearl@aol.com
www.StuckOnSalsa.com
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