[9/10/2008 SteppersUSA News]
State of Stepping in 2008 Part 3
By Markie Bee
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Here In
part 3 of this series I continue to see what has changed since the first
article was published a year and a half ago. The full text of the
original February
2007 article is available
here.Also as a point of accuracy, Herb Kent wasn't the original
host of Steppin at Club 7
The original host was a comedian
named Bob Mcdonald. Thank you to Dian for that tidbit, it's posted on
the
history of stepping project website.
How many instructors actually spend REAL money to advertise? How
many promoters use the radio, television, print, and the Internet in
conjunction to promote their sets? Let's keep it REAL. If a business
doesn’t have the money to do what they need to do, they need to find
financial backers. They have to show those backers their excitement
for their business and how they will grow that business.
Only a very few have the courage to show their faith in the art form
known as Chicago Steppin' by putting their money where their mouth
is. Many don't follow up and make the necessary effort to make their
set, or their class THE place to be.
I've seen a small amount of movement in this respect. Online,
I've seen an actual Google ad's for stepping DVD's, also recently, we
have seen some effort to get stepping back on TV even if it's just a
segment on the morning news. Why is it that a select few seem to be able
to find financial backing? Is this a reflection of a lack of business
skills on the part of promoters, or a lack of will to invest (or search
for investors? Perhaps there's too much profit taking and time for more
re-investment in your businesses.
How many instructors give their students incentive to stay at the
bar beyond class by offering some food after the class, or having a
birthday celebrations for students? How much effort does it take?
How many instructors take students on regular "field trips" to other
Steppin' Clubs? How much effort does it take? Many will say these
things cost money. That's right. And you know an aggressive business
person will spend the money. Are today's instructors up to the
challenge? Can they convey that feeling of excitement for the dance
to their students?
Some instructors are doing this, and some have backed off
from making the effort to give that little extra something to their
(customers) students. Perhaps we are starting to see a "thinning of the
herd" where the "weak" or "bogus" instructors are finding that perhaps
they don't belong in the business so they're backing off. (Just a guess
on my part)
Promoters plug sets, but what do they do once they get people in the
club? Most don't do much more. People come to Step, but they won't
stop to drink unless they are being entertained. What are the
promoters doing? How much effort does it take? Is the money a
problem? If so, some promoters should rethink their choice of
occupations.
Again, I'm seeing less evidence of promoters making an
attempt to entertain their customers in 2008 than in the past.
Steppin' is on the cusp of being in the national spotlight, has been
for years. What will take the art form to the "next level"?
Perhaps if more people who are willing to be Don Quixote and chase
the impossible dream. People who are willing to be aggressive
business persons who are prepared to have the insight to see the
opportunities as they appear and are willing to spend money on
advertising, make effort, and follow up with a viable business plan.
I've mentioned this in many prior columns, promotion needs to place more
emphasis on advertising to the rest of the public. Entirely too much
emphasis is concentrated toward "preaching to the converted". Promoters
who are considered good business persons understand this and make a
priority of finding "new blood" continually to expand their customer
base.
Plug like you haven't ever plugged before. Invest in a lively vibrant
website. Create a "positive buzz about stepping" and don't let drama and
disruptors dictate how you run your business.
We have mostly seen progress in the past year and a half with a bit of
back sliding. I'll review our progress in a year. If you make the
effort, you will see the results, you just have to believe!
Do you think Moves like in this video
should be allowed in the WLSC? Watch the video
and Take the poll
If you or anyone you know has any photos, footage or information about
or from any Steppers contests for the
History of Stepping Project,
I'd love to add it to what we have. It's Your History! OR If you have a personal recollection concerning stepping or if you care to help
with the
in any manner, please
Send us an email.
SteppersUSA.Com sells Steppin' DVDs from across the Steppers Community.
Click Here to view the listing
or
send us an email
if you would like to include your DVDs on SteppersUSA.Com
The SteppersUSA Daily News and SteppersUSA.Com are both
daily
publications which update continually. We accept and publish Steppers
classes and workshops, Daily events, weekly events, monthly events,
special events, steppers news, requests for information which we can't
answer but our visitors may have an answer to. All of this makes us the
most complete listing of Steppers information available anywhere. Send
your submissions and pluggers or flyers to us at
webmaster@steppersusa.com TODAY!
Please copy the message below and send it on to as many steppers as
you can please!
This is an open message to ALL steppers. Please share it
with as many people as possible.
As many of you may already know I started a new web
site for the benefit of the greater steppers community. It's called
History of Stepping Project. I wish to encourage you to add your
knowledge to the timeline. If you know anything about stepping, please
share this with the public on this site. We are looking for all
information related to stepping from it's beginnings to the present. The
information literally includes everything from clubs and bars which held
steppers sets and parties to contests and the participants and results,
to when different steppers organizations and classes started, who the
instructors were and are; Musical bands, and artists, DJ's, radio and
television personalities, Movies, videos, and photos… literally
everything stepping.
Creating an accurate historic timeline will go a long
way toward helping the community take the next step in its logical
progression as it continues to grow nationwide and will become a
valuable resource for all in the future.
Your input, your knowledge and your effort have made the dance what it
is today. Don't you feel your place (and your organization's) in the
timeline is well deserved? I do!
Please send an email to your members or readers inviting them to
participate. Place a link on your web site also please. All support is
appreciated!
The effort requires more than just posting the
information. The need for fact checkers, people willing to do some
research exists in this important ongoing project. Just a few minutes a
week can make a difference.
In
part 3 of this series I continue to see what has changed since the first
article was published a year and a half ago. The full text of the
original February
2007 article is 
