[10/3/2008 SteppersUSA News]
Is The Economy Hurting Stepping?
By Markie Bee
Buy Tickets Best Of Both Worlds Dance Extravaganza
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Here Buy Tickets + Chicago Steppers Convention Info -
Click
Here October is Breast Cancer Awareness
Month For Steppers Too -
Click Here New Email Address for Pluggers:pluggers@steppersusa.com The
famous words "It's the economy stupid" has been ringing in my ears ever
since I heard word of this. Several months ago when the gas prices were
knocking on five dollar a gallon's door in Chicago (Remember
in March when I talked about this, and
the follow-up in June),
I warned about the effects of a poor economy on stepping. Back in the
day, when stepping was pretty much a Chicago only thing, it was pretty
much a fairly recession proof business proposition in the windy city to
do a steppers set... There were blue light basement parties and (when
all the bus routes ran 24/7/365) you could always grab a cheap ride to a
set... Hell, if you had a car, you had a bar! Now, the bus cost's a
couple of bucks and you usually need a ride home (in Chicago). The
playing field has changed a lot. Stepping is no longer a Chicago only
dance, people rely on their cars, we have for the most part moved to a
much wider area, in many cases, into the suburbs and out of the urban
centers. People didn't mind driving "to the city", or the suburbs to go
to an event, or to a class. One thing I sure didn't think about though,
was the combination of the country sliding into a deep recession, along
with natural disasters (the hurricanes in the gulf of Mexico) messing
with the gasoline supply causing gas shortages in many areas in the
southeastern region of the country. I have had phone discussion with
Instructors who have suspended some of their classes because people
can't use their cars to get to the lessons. I spoke to one Atlanta area
instructor who is contemplating shutting all of his classes down until
January as he is seeing less attendance. "It's not because the students
don't want to go to class, they just can't use their cars because of the
gas situation.
When it comes to places steppers go to dance, they have always been
picky. I'd imagine, as the economy worsens and gas situations continue,
they will become even more picky about where and when they go out to
step. It's becoming more than our collective wallets thinning now, and
we need to weigh our choices. The real promoters will have to step up
their efforts on the web to appeal to that large group of people who are
moving more toward doing things at home, so when that "cabin fever" sets
in, they think about goin' steppin' at "the place".
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month For Steppers Too
If you haven't visited this site yet
the address is
www.stepandthinkpink.org and while you're there, sign up for the
monthly "Pink
Newsletter".
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.
Las Vegas Weekend Jam II
Alexis Park Resort Hotel Las Vegas, NV
Friday Night Meet + Greet Dance Party +
Saturday Night Premiere Event Dance Party
Sunday Morning Continental Breakfast
Sunday Dance Party
One (1) Dance Workshop (Stepping, Ballroom or Line Dance/Hustle) of your
choice
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The
famous words "It's the economy stupid" has been ringing in my ears ever
since I heard word of this. Several months ago when the gas prices were
knocking on five dollar a gallon's door in Chicago (
