Niamh, though I know what you mean by saying that people are "shoved" to the back - I think it is the best option available. If you put tables around it will reduce the dance floor significantly and there still won't be enough rood for everyone. I 'd say leave it as is  - the more room for dancing we have the better! Second dance room I though waorked well two years ago but didn't kick off this year?

We've always had trouble getting people to use a second room for some reason.. People seem to just want to stay in the "main" room no matter what but we will probably try something that's a bit of a mix next year to try and "encourage" people to spread out a bit more.

I disagree about the lay out of the dance floor.

Anyone who was there knows how many people want to dance and the floor is PACKED. It's great to have a full dance floor, the idea of seating down the end to me is a good idea as people can go rest away from the floor and talk amoungst themselves. It's a little break but you are still within the athmosphere of the dancing/music.

If seats were put aorund the dance floor it would reduce the space for dancing, increas the risk of peoples legs sticking out and someone tripping over them, also it would block off the fans so graciously imported into the wondows (much needed and well done)

However i would try and address the bar area/service, it was terrible, slow, not a big range and totally unorganised.

The other point I would address is to have the floor swept anmd mopped a few days before we arrive, so it's not dusty and dries properly and is not sticky.

People I would LOVE to see are Gil & Anke (austria) wait till you all see the new show ;-) (yes you heard it here first)

Adrian Y Anita are fantastic to watch but the tricks and dips class, lets be honest thats for shows not the local dance floor, anyone worth their salt knows that Tricks and Dips like they do are a NO NO for the avergae dancer (yes thats all of us here) to dangerous.

DJ's Julian Summers, he really knows how to ROCK the place.

Very interesting views on the layout of the dance floor and we very much welcome any and all comments on this matter. We try to improve every year but as the event is only once a year its going to take a long time to find the right combination. The layout of the floor has been a very difficult one for us and we will try to find some way that works better.

Totally agree on your point about the bar Davey (not that i actually got to it very much) we will have to look at that. The bar is probably the most difficult part of Salsa School to organise never mind get right. Finding someone willing to do it and getting a licence has prover far far more difficult than you would imagine and there have been years where i feared we were going to have to run a "non alcoholic" event.

Do people really drink alcohol at this event?    

If I recall correctly the bar itself was charging 2 euros a glass of poured 2. litre Coke, + for water too right? I dont object to the price per ce, but given the markup + the amounts consumed + the current economic climate I cant imagine what pub wouldnt crawl over broken glass to reap some of that whirlwind.

Bar licencing and extentions are pricy enough I agree, but I'd be surprised if a bar couldnt be coaxed to handle all of that malarky ( speaking from experience, if you go to any bar, and tell them you are dropping 300 people heavy 'splitz' drinking people on their door step, and usually they will do most of the work for you )

- Edited by Hugh1a on 27/10/2009 at 17:11

Perception is an interesting thing but speaking from experience most bars have no interest at all. In the first year we tried every bar withing a 20 mile radius and eventually had to pay somone to provide a service. They werent interested in year 2 so we had to get on the road again to find another bar owner to provide the service. Again in year 3 we had to get somone new. So far, the current guy has stuck with us and has kept his prices "reasonable" (I believe some people went to the bother of comparing his prices to local prices on the night and found him to be cheaper than the local pub). As for the water, I agree with you and this is something we are going to have to try and discuss with them but as you can see, we dont have a line of people willing to get their solicitor to go to court to transfer their licence to us for the weekend and then move in coolers, taps, fridges, staff, etc.

Its also worth noting that the courts and local Gardai are not necessarly keen on giving the licence and this year following 2 court appearances we were only awarded the licence the day before the event. As for telling them we have 300 heavy "splitz" drinkers ... that is not the case. One of the biggest issues faced by any salsa promoter is holding on to a venue as salsa dancers tend not drink in the same volume as other functions. What drink is consumed most in salsa by far ... Water.

He he, well I have to say I'm surprised!   I know plenty of pubs are just 'ticking over' simply surviving on their Saturday to pay their insurance and staff costs.    Given that a 2 litre bottle of coke/water costs about 1 euro per bottle per crate of 12 in a C&C + the markup is  considerable ( .2 lt x 5 glasses @ €2 a pop), much higher than a pubs markup for respectively less outlay.

Especially given that things like insurance, electricity, entertainment, guaranteed custom etc are effectively supplied for them.   I'd have thought pubs would jump at the chance - just goes to show the initiative is lacking in the vintner trade imo.

In regard to licensing issues:  Is it not possible to declare the event as a party under the regulated entertainment umbrella?   

/H.

- Edited by Hugh1a on 28/10/2009 at 15:50

Declare the event as a party ... been there (and other places) and got our wrists slapped . We tried every possible "variation" (including getting 2 firms of solicitors on the matter) but licencing is a very strict business and its not worth the risk.