Which comes first, the dancer or the music?

[Gav]

had a laptop with a playlist already set up - and it was set up where anyone could walk past and look at it.

I quite like that idea, it would add a bit of a novelty to an evening!

Didn't they try that at Ashtons? I seem to remember a bigger screen though?

Or maybe I just dreamt that?

[jivecat]

There was a character at one venue (St. Mary's in Marylebone), who told me that it was not allowed for a lady to ask a man to dance, unless authorised by the Queen. The look he used to give whenever a lady did ask him for a dance was priceless.

Must have been an AT venue.

[David Bailey]

Like I'd be any the wiser! After 5 years of hearing tango music I still could barely put a name to any artist by listening. Is it just me?

Nah, it all sounds the same to me too

Actually, after a while you do get a rough acquaintance with different orchestras - have a look here for a quick overview.

[Prian]

Must have been an AT venue.

Ceroc alas

[David Bailey]

Didn't they try that at Ashtons? I seem to remember a bigger screen though?

Or maybe I just dreamt that?

I've seen it at a few places - I think there may even be some specialised software that you can use to display it for you. It doesn't seem impossible to organise.

Actually, what I'd really like is a dual- or triple-screen version at weekenders, so that you could see what's coming up next in each room

[straycat]

One of the venues where I used to dance had a laptop with a playlist already set up - and it was set up where anyone could walk past and look at it. At times I did use it to position myself near to someone I wanted to dance for a particular track I liked.

So was this a playlist that was prearranged before the start of the evening? Or was there a DJ involved during the set?

[Lory]

Didn't they try that at Ashtons? I seem to remember a bigger screen though?

Or maybe I just dreamt that?

I'm sure I remember it, I think it was at UTOPIA though? I remember someone pointing it out to me, when it got to about the last 3 songs and I was gutted that I hadn't noticed it before then

I wonder why they stopped

[Lory]

Actually, what I'd really like is a dual- or triple-screen version at weekenders, so that you could see what's coming up next in each room

That could be hilarious if a popular track was coming up, verses an unknown!

[glads]

Frankly I'm not going to grab a 65yo follower for 'Candyman' although I have half-timed something nearly as fast with one

that's a bit age-ist isn't it?

[jivecat]

that's a bit age-ist isn't it?

Hmm. Let's be realistic here. However, I'm intending to be fit enough to be able to dance to Candyman when I'm 65 - whether it's to be recommended on the grounds of taste and aesthetics is another matter.

Or to put it another way - when Candyman comes on do you immediately turn around and grab the nearest grey-bearded, pot-bellied grandad? Thought not.

[Trouble]

MM Or we could really go back to the old days and have dance cards.

[Lynn]

One of the venues where I used to dance had a laptop with a playlist already set up - and it was set up where anyone could walk past and look at it. At times I did use it to position myself near to someone I wanted to dance for a particular track I liked.

Our venues use laptop playlists, its up on the stage where the teacher can tweak it but sometimes near the end of the night I'll go and have a look and see what tracks are left so I can find suitable partners.

[David Bailey]

That could be hilarious if a popular track was coming up, verses an unknown!

I envisage it as being a bit like that area in Camden tube station where it tells you which platform the next train is arriving on; people would be queueing up and then rushing to / from places.

It's a winner, I tell you.

MM Or we could really go back to the old days and have dance cards.

E-cards. You put your music preference down on your iPhone, the next track gets fed into a WhoToDanceWith app, and you get matched with a Mystery Dance Partner.

Blimey, I'm brimming with creativity at the moment.

[Prian]

MM Or we could really go back to the old days and have dance cards.

Mike Ellard used to do excuse-mes at tea dances. Do they still (excuse-mes that is)?

[Rocky]

I'm sure I remember it, I think it was at UTOPIA though? I remember someone pointing it out to me, when it got to about the last 3 songs and I was gutted that I hadn't noticed it before then

I wonder why they stopped

Well sort of... when we launched UTOPIA we did start using a lap top set up on the Dj desk facing outwards that showed what the next genre of track was going to be (although not the actual track name itself..:wink but we quickly realised it didn't work very well..

Firstly, the screen wasn't big enough for many people to see, and whilst we could have projected it we preferred the ambient clouds and sky image that we use in the venue with the projector. And secondly, just the logistics: Not only is it very hard to categorize some tracks but both SF and I Dj on the fly which means that we often change the decision on the next track to cue up a number of times before playing it (sometimes just seconds before hitting play). So announcing the next track in those circumstances became a little problematical.

I think the unknown often leads to some happy coincidences - either dancing to a track that you feel you don't like with a partner that brings it to life for you, or indeed dancing with someone you've never danced with before.

Having said that the unknown can also be like sh1tting razor blades too...

[Prian]

I envisage it as being a bit like that area in Camden tube station where it tells you which platform the next train is arriving on; people would be queueing up and then rushing to / from places.

It's a winner, I tell you.

There are youtube clips one I believe in a mall and one on a train station where groups of people break into song/dance apparently spontaneously (a bit like The Full Monty scene). But I can't seem to find them.

[David Bailey]

There are youtube clips one I believe in a mall and one on a train station where groups of people break into song/dance apparently spontaneously (a bit like The Full Monty scene). But I can't seem to find them.

T-mobile - Youtube clip here

Still genius.

[Trouble]

Plus, you have the musically challenged people like me that couldn't tell you the name or artist of a song they liked anyway so whilst having a list is great, i would be saying.... what does that one go like, to every single one. !!

[David Bailey]

Plus, you have the musically challenged people like me that couldn't tell you the name or artist of a song they liked anyway so whilst having a list is great, i would be saying.... what does that one go like, to every single one. !!

Don't worry about it.

*Patronising pat on head*

[Trouble]

*Patronising pat on head*

You might need a stool to do that David.