The role of the Taxi dancer

[sbell]

Originally posted by Will
Indeed, it would be nice if when I'm at a venue and cookingly hot. That a Taxi dancer would go to the bar and buy me a drink, then return and mop my brow with a cool dry towel. That a taxi dancer may bring me a bowl of fruit, peel me some grapes and pop them into my mouth, whilst another fans me with an enormous ostrich feather....

I think the taxi dancers do as good a job as they can too. And I agree that there are some very good - and some not quite so good!
And as for the above!!!!! Would that we could have that in life never mind in dancing!!!!

[Grant]

Originally posted by Sheena
what should I do if your sword goes all wobbly *swoon*

well that explains why linda calls herself the quiet one

Grant

[Dave Hancock]

Originally posted by Graham
I think training and even assessment of taxi dancers could be performed in a different, and more relaxed, way from the CTA training. I do think it would be good to have training for taxis so that there was more consistency in what they were trying to do, even if this is just within one venue/city

Agree with you on this G, although Franck has certainly organised one day to train taxi dancers in the past and it was an awfully good morning with all that attended gaining an insight into what was expected of us. Have also seen the manual which Chris talks off although not for a number of years but my memory was that it had a lot of very good tips, some of which were obvious although just to see them spelled out helped to re-inforce your own thoughts.

At the risk of getting flamed if Franck was to organise such a taxi-workshop then I'd suggest he does it in Glasgow where IMHO and with a couple of exceptions the standard of taxi-dancer isn't as high as the rest of Scotland. Certain of the taxi dancers just sit together and talk to each other the whole night and with the exception of taking the beginners out for a quick re-cap do very little of what they are supposed to do. I also feel that the time-keeping is pretty poor of these individuals as they are regularly not there for the doors opening which is when you get many of the beginners arriving and as a taxi this gives you a chance to both identify new people and also to try and be a bit welcoming to them. (Would like to add that you would not be included in my list of bad Glasgow taxi dancers before you go on the defensive )

[Franck]

Originally posted by Dave Hancock
Agree with you on this G, although Franck has certainly organised one day to train taxi dancers in the past and it was an awfully good morning with all that attended gaining an insight into what was expected of us.

Yes, I agree and I would love to organize further training days for Taxi-dancers, they are great and make a huge difference. The main problem is time, for myself and to get everyone together... So many week-end events already!

Originally posted by Dave Hancock
Have also seen the manual which Chris talks off although not for a number of years

The manual is still about, though not in a printed format. It is available online and all new Taxi-dancers have (should have) access at any time. It is a great summary of the role of taxi-dancers.

if Franck was to organise such a taxi-workshop then I'd suggest he does it in Glasgow

Glasgow is due a Taxi traning day, as the last one was in Aberdeen, and Glasgow hasn't had any for ages!
I do not recognize the picture you painted of Taxi-dancers in Glasgow though, but will monitor it!

Franck.

[Dave Hancock]

Originally posted by Franck
Yes, I agree and I would love to organize further training days for Taxi-dancers, they are great and make a huge difference. The main problem is time, for myself and to get everyone together... So many week-end events already!

Well if you'd stop qualifying for finals and organising fabby weekends with wonderful guest teachers...

[Grant]

Originally posted by Dave Hancock
I'd suggest he does it in Glasgow where IMHO and with a couple of exceptions the standard of taxi-dancer isn't as high as the rest of Scotland.

so you want to pick a fight...

(Would like to add that you would not be included in my list of bad Glasgow taxi dancers before you go on the defensive )

but not with graham

Well if you'd stop...organising fabby weekends with wonderful guest teachers

don't listen to him franck, we want the fabby weekends.
aussie weekend in a couple of days

grant
(not a glasgow taxi dancer!)

[Graham]

Originally posted by Franck

I do not recognize the picture you painted of Taxi-dancers in Glasgow though, but will monitor it!

I don't think Dave is alone in this view Franck.

[Chris]

Just a quick word on this before any taxi taxi dancer (who is probably unknown to me) takes criticism, which is probably not meant.

Firstly, I think one of the reasons Ceroc has perhaps become so successful is maybe cos it uses (what business management consultants call) positive affirmation - we get results in Ceroc by commenting on the things people are doing right (and hoping that related bad things will go away of their own accord, which often they do). This goes for taxi dancers as well.

Secondly, taxi dancing is a learning curve IMO. People start taxiing and all sorts of things can go wrong, even with the best candidates. Sometimes people think that cos they're asked to taxi they must have reached a certain level, or their ideas are special, or they're better than other dancers of similar ability; they sometimes want to teach beginners everything they know, or lord it over people, or just use it as an excuse to skive off and get in free. Mostly these problems - if they happen at all, and mostly they don't - but mostly they go away of their own accord and with encouragement and more help from the franchisee or other staff members. Occasionally they become a pain!

I'm not up to date with what's happening in Glasgow but sympathise with the posts so far (inc Franck) - just wanted to add a note to say taxi dancers are human too and they won't always get it right!

[Dave Hancock]

Originally posted by Chris

I'm not up to date with what's happening in Glasgow but sympathise with the posts so far (inc Franck) - just wanted to add a note to say taxi dancers are human too and they won't always get it right!

Agree with most of what you say Chris, although wanted to add that there isn't a major problem with Glasgow taxi dancers. Just IMHO they are not of the same standard as Aberdeen/Dundee. I believe this is partly due to the fact that I believe the standard of taxi dancers, both in dance ability and general attitude to be extremely high in both of these cities.

[michael]

Well Dave i guess you will not be flavour of the month (or this evening for that matter)with some people or more precisely a few taxi dancers. Noticed two Taxi dancers in particular that i always see making an effort (and i dont stop dancing to observe much) so the problem is not large and will probably disappear as Franck will no doubt observe.

There may be other reasons why you feel the standard is not as good as Aberdeen/Dundee. Like dance mad Taxis who just love dancing. Would be interested in how you find Edinburgh on Thursdays where i feel the standard is currently very high indeed

In marcos they have a seperate area for beginners to practice for the rest of the night which is a big advantage. They also have a male teacher which makes it easier to describe the moves compared to a female who i would imagine is always having to think from a male point of view. The microphone system is also much clearer. One wee point that was noticeable recently was that when Brady does the moves they seem to be done quickly, the move just flows over so damn smoothly that you dont (i dont)see the move as detailed. It is hard to describe but great dancer he is no doubt but from someone wanting to pick up the EXACT manner in how it is done as well as remembering the damn move itself i find it quite difficult to follow. I only noticed this when the DJ stood in one night and his movements and style were so precise and deliberate that it just looked easier to follow.

Must promise to stop posting and boring forum with dribble but thought it might help so i mentioned it.... Leave all alone for a while....but not tooooo long

[Dave Hancock]

Originally posted by michael
Well Dave i guess you will not be flavour of the month (or this evening for that matter)with some people or more precisely a few taxi dancers. Noticed two Taxi dancers in particular that i always see making an effort (and i dont stop dancing to observe much) so the problem is not large and will probably disappear as Franck will no doubt observe.

As I have already said previously in this thread there are some exceptions to the rule and I believe that Glasgow has one or two very good taxi dancers, although as a whole the standard is again in my opinion not as good as other venues and it was interesting that the likes of Graham (a Glasgow taxi dancer himself agreed with this point).

Have discussed this also with several of the more experienced Glasgow dancers face to face and they also agree.

Personally I don't see this as a problem as you call it, although it again is my opinion that without a little guidance the standard of taxi dancing in Glasgow shall not improve on it's own and it shall stay at the same level for the forseeable future.

As regards being flavour of the month with taxi dancers, I would hope that they shall not take the huff just for viewing an opinion which is what the forum is for. I may even be lucky enough to get a dance with one or two of them, although I shall wait till after ten to ten when they come 'off duty' in order to ask them, which is yet another thing which many of the Glasgow taxi dancers don't seem to adhere to.

[Grant]

Originally posted by michael
There may be other reasons why you feel the standard is not as good as Aberdeen/Dundee.

could be that the commitment of the aberdeen/dundee crowd is higher...
nobody could be more committed than the dundee mad crew

grant

[Graham]

Originally posted by Grant

nobody could be more committed than the dundee mad crew

Certainly nobody ought to be committed more than the MAd crew.................

[Grant]

Originally posted by Graham
Certainly nobody ought to be committed more than the MAd crew.................

usual rates for setting these lines up for you graham?

grant

[bigdjiver]

I saw a common scenario again last class. A young couple turned up for the first time. The lady was obviously fun loving, extrovert and seemed instantly right at home. She was also young and pretty, and there was no shortage of people willing to show her the ropes. The taxi dancers were all female, but despite this the guy was sitting there alone for most of the time, glowering jealously. They left early. Previous experience is that they will be unlikely to come back, whilst they are together. The female taxi dancers were busy, doing the lead with other females, but I felt that they should have been concentrating on the guy.

Is it important to spend more time on male beginners?

[Tiggerbabe]

Originally posted by bigdjiver
She was also young and pretty, and there was no shortage of people willing to show her the ropes.

By "people" I'm guessing you mean men? Unfortunately, it's always the case that on a "follower's" first night she can be led by almost any of the "leaders" who are there. From someone who can only lead maybe 4 or 5 moves to the most experienced man in the room.

The taxi dancers were all female, but despite this the guy was sitting there alone for most of the time, glowering jealously. They left early. Previous experience is that they will be unlikely to come back, whilst they are together. The female taxi dancers were busy, doing the lead with other females, but I felt that they should have been concentrating on the guy.

Is it important to spend more time on male beginners?

Mmmmn, not good It's very difficult if you have more lady beginners one night than men - as you have to try and spend an equal amount of time with everyone when doing the refresher class. Why should the ladies who were on their first night get less attention than the guy?
However, I would always try to make sure that when it came to freestyle that the gentleman in question was dancing equally as often as his partner.
The biggest problem I have found with new men is that often they will not dance during the freestyle session (and even my powers of persuasion have occasionally been put to the test ). As taxi dancers (and this is where the more experienced dancers can help too ) we have to try and boost their confidence so that they feel they can give people a great dance - even if they are beginners.

Hopefully they will be back - and it often is the case if the girl is really keen that the bloke will keep coming just to keep her happy/quiet - and after 5 or 6 weeks he starts to really enjoy himself.................4 months down the line he's hooked, popular and she's getting fed up having to book a dance with him 2 weeks in advance

[bigdjiver]

Originally posted by Sheena
By "people" I'm guessing you mean men?

No, by people I meant people. Women are people too. All but one of the taxi dancers were female.

Your theory that he may have refused offers may be valid.

Part of my thinking was that if more help was given to the men, then they would be able to help the beginner ladies all the sooner.

[Gadget]

I think I know what you're getting at: A beginner lady can dance with almost any man of any ability and still have a good dance. A beginner man if dancing with a beginner lady will lack the confidence and lead skills to controll{guide} the dance.
However I'm not sure that monopolising the taxi dancer's time is the way to resolve the issue; perhaps leading them fairly strongly through a couple of moves would show them what it should 'feel' like for the lady? Or would that put them off?
{never managed this 'follow' lark myself , but I assume that I'm a decent enough lead }

[Chicklet]

Originally posted by Dave Hancock
I believe that Glasgow has one or two very good taxi dancers, .

Have to say that last night's on-duty boy taxi was most industrious and smiled at lots and lots of beginners, even while dancing with them def. a credit to the organisation....now if we could only do something about the violent tendancies of the OFF duty ones, we might have a nice night

[Grant]

Originally posted by Gadget
{never managed this 'follow' lark myself , but I assume that I'm a decent enough lead }

wasn't it prof sumner-millar ( i know graham will correct me if i have the name wrong) who said
"never assume cos if you assume you make an ass out of u and me"
you could always ask someone who will give an honest opinion - fc springs to mind
one day i might even be brave enough to ask her myself

grant