Topic: Nailsea 7th May

[Lou]

It was my first visit to Nailsea. Ever. My only previous experience of Nailsea people was at a CK gig at Fiddlers, where the Nailseans couldn't get their head around a band with no drummer.  It seems the existance of drum machines, for some reason, had passed them by.

So armed with alarming prejudice (and some nervousness), I ventured forth, south of the river, to last night's Nailsea freestyle. Of course, with my alarming lack of a sense of direction, it took me a while as I travelled into the tree lined wilderness. It reminded me of the legend of the New Jersey Pine Barons. These were folks who disappeared during the Americal Civil War and lived in the pine forests of NJ. Strange inbred creatures are still rumoured to live there, and it produced the legend of the Jersey Devil (feel free to google!).

Anyway. That's all beside the point. I just wanted to whitter for a moment. 

I finally found the venue - thanks to the lovely map here on John's events page. Cheers!  It's a very nice leisure centre with plenty of parking. The room lends itself very well to a freestyle. Plenty of space to dance, a good dancefloor on the medium to slow side, and a separate bar area outside. And some nice bunting to reflect the theme. The first thing I noticed, though, was the sound system. The sound wasn't good at all. The bass was thumping, but the middle & top were so muffled as to make unpleasant listening. Fortunately, when this was pointed out to the organisers, they moved the speakers from behind the curtains & fiddled with the controls which improved things enormously. 

The music had more of a bias to the 50s & 60s than most other freestyles in this area. It seemed a somewhat older crowd who liked to R&R as well as LeRoc, so the music was quite well recieved (even Cliff Richard!). There was also the odd treasure in there, like Goldfrapp and the Black Eyed Peas, but then, also the occasional puzzler like Tina Turner's "Simply the Best" which is incredibly hard to dance LeRoc to, as it's just so slow. The presentation of the music wasn't great, as there were often very very large gaps between songs. This let down the otherwise very professional feel of the dance.

I have to apologise to all the chaps I danced with. I couldn't follow for toffee last night. I'm putting it down to recovering from that cold, and I hope it didn't spoil it too much for you. However, on a positive note, I finally got to dance with Justine. That was, in fact, my best dance of the night, as she follows wonderfully. Thank you! 

[Justine]

Thanks lou, i enjoyed my dance with you too and any time you see me please ask me or i will ask you to dance.
I actualy thought i danced terrible last night as like lou said the music was ummm well lets just say i couldnt seem to get into it at all. But i always enjoy nailsea and diane is a lovely lady.
I also got to dance with phil and i messed up i think as like i said i just couldnt get into the mood as the music wasnt to my taste(but others seemed to enjoy it), but thanks phil you were great and thanks for not doing a drop on me as i have done my back in a bit on the horses, i think i will stick to dancing its safer haha!!!!
I also ended up trying to pick pieces of my husbands beed necklace off of the floor as i broke it but at the end of all that i did actualy enjoy myself.

                                                   Justine xx

ps lou we should try and have ago at double trouble with graham as i think i can actualy do that!!!! as i use to in my other dance style and i think i was actualy good at it, i would love to have ago in leroc.

                                         

[philsmove]

.......................
I also got to dance with phil and i messed up i think as like i said i just couldnt get into the mood as the music wasnt to my taste(but others seemed to enjoy it), but thanks phil you were great and thanks for not doing a drop on me .............
                                                   Justine xx

                                         

Hi Justin

Well I think it must have been a good event  ?cos I?ve only just woken up

One of the native squaws invited a few cowboys back for some moonshine 

 I can?t remember much about the dance but i did have a lovely dace with you

[andrew_w]

[even though i'm biased] I thought it was a very good evening with a very pleasant atmosphere (as usual for all Nailsea classes).

WRT the music I think Diana's problem is one of resource rather than choice. Dances at Nailsea have not been the norm so there is neither the equipment nor the back catalogue of music that you'll find in long running events. Reading between the lines, I think that the last two events have been "well let's see how it goes", but have been successful so that should lead to higher levels of confidence in future events.

I spoke to Diana at the end of last night and she told me that she had felt in a cleft stick - some people didn't like such and such style and had asked for so & so and vice verca - you can't please everybody and it perhaps feels as though you're pleasing nobody

I have found Diana to be very happy to listen to advice (it was me who introduced her to Goldfrapp and BEP for instance) so I'm sure that future events will improve. I've already offered to let her use my lappy and external sound gizmo for the next do which should eliminate the dramatic pauses and (hopefully) lead to a "better" mix of tracks (whatever that might mean). Having said that though, I would always expect there to be a mix of tracks from 50 years ago to today at Nailsea.

I hope that people will support future events as there are few enough venues running dances already. [/even though i'm biased]

Big respect to those who really threw themselves into the dressing up game! (and Diana for putting up with her boots 'til the end)

[Lou]

WRT the music I think Diana's problem is one of resource rather than choice. Dances at Nailsea have not been the norm so there is neither the equipment nor the back catalogue of music that you'll find in long running events. Reading between the lines, I think that the last two events have been "well let's see how it goes", but have been successful so that should lead to higher levels of confidence in future events.

I hope that from her successes, Diana will invest in some better equipment, as it's the only thing that let the evening down. The music, and the presentation are key parts to the enjoyment of the paying customer, after all. That's why many places actually use a DJ.

And it's good that each venue has its own style of music. The music style and cliental of Nailsea seemed quite suited, so I don't think Diana need worry there!

I hope that people will support future events as there are few enough venues running dances already.

I don't know if I understand your point. Which venues don't run dances, and are you saying we should have even more?

[andrew_w]

I don't know if I understand your point. Which venues don't run dances, and are you saying we should have even more?

Not saying that venues don't run dances more that there aren't enough venues / classes in the area to provide dances each week - Diana has been / is running her dances on weekends when there are no dances in Bristol

[frankiebath]

As Diana's daughter and Dancer I was extremely pleased to hear of her successful dance on Saturday. I know how much effort goes into ALL her classes and dances. Diana always tries to please everyone with her music choice, playing a variety of thoroughly thought out tracks which I, a fellow member of the Nailsea Le Roc class, think is amazing. Being an experienced dancer who has attended many different classes, I feel that Diana not only comes across professional but so friendly to everyone in the class. I would like to congratulate her on her success over this past year. I know that many of the lovely people in her class would agree with me. Well done!

[Graham W]

...Justine also gave me a gr8 coupla dances on sat - doub troub - mm, there's a challenge - 'ave u seen wahts happening next monday at St Bon's..?

G

[Justine]

shhhhhhh graham haha!!! im sounding like i realy get around now haha  and yes graham you wouldnt mind would you?? if i had a go at double trouble with you hopefully with lou too as that would help!!!!
we tried it before didnt we graham with tracey but she wouldnt carry on with it remember, but she was very good and it was a shame. so lets have another go please 

                                   Justine xx

[Lou]

I attempted Double Trouble with Graham & Elaine at Portishead once! Nah - it was a good laugh. I've even tried leading it once or twice, but I don't know many moves, so it quickly gets dull.

Hopefully, after St Bon's next week there will be plenty of people willing to give it a go....

[Anita]

I agree with Lou re the sound system and music at Nailsea--it was the same at the previous Space Odessey dance I went to. Hopefully it will be taken as constructive critisism and things will improve as a lot of the atmosphere is dependant on the sound system being up to scratch. I've only heard good things re the quality of the lessons though.

[Lou]

Hopefully it will be taken as constructive critisism and things will improve as a lot of the atmosphere is dependant on the sound system being up to scratch.

I hope so too - it was certainly meant to be constructive. Sometimes it's easier to see issues when you're an outsider - friends & relatives can sometimes be too well meaning - and personally I'd rather be told (if, of course, the criticism is constructive!). 

[Elaine]

As we didn't go to Nailsea, I can't comment on the sound system or music, but Lou is right, constructive critism is well meant.  Eric took some flack a while ago about the music at Elmgrove and did something about it - he has improved the music dramatically and that is welcomed by the dancers.

Everyone who holds an event puts a great deal of effort into the running of it, there is no doubt, but they should take on board feed-back.  They will find that their punters will really appreciate being listened to and the organisers will reap the benefits.

Good luck for future events.


Elaine