[6/22/2009 SteppersUSA Daily News]
My Rant & Going Green
By Markie Bee
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Steppers are customers too. One thing that has always bothered me about clubs and bars and other places Chicago style steppers go to dance is the attitude of the staff, managers, and owners of these establishments toward their customers. You can't blame it on the recession, because I've seen the attitude for years, and years. Steppers (customers) don't drink; steppers (customers) don't buy enough of this or that… We've heard it all before. Is the problem really with the Chicago style steppers (customers) or is the problem with the attitude of the businesses? Remember the anthem "We work hard for our money"? Well, I feel too many businesses have the attitude if I open the doors they will come and spend (up to and over some sort of an inflated, calculated, expectation) even if a place is dirty (unclean and in disrepair, bathrooms stink), hot (poorly air conditioned) and otherwise less than acceptable to general standards for a place of business. The Chicago style steppers (customers) who walk through the doors of the establishments and buy a drink or a meal, deserve to be treated like kings and queens, but because of preconceptions; they are treated like red headed step children. The business of dance is big business which generates hundreds of millions dollars business for millions of customers. For many years Chicago style stepping has been a cottage industry in comparison to the rest of the dance world, but that has been changing as the dance catches on in cities across the country. People with small minds think small, and I hate to say it, but some of the establishments we (customers) go to on a regular basis, aren't meeting some basic standards any (customer) should expect every visit. They cut corners, reduce staff and otherwise disrespect their customers with the above mentioned attitudes. If a business offers stellar service in a clean and comfortable environment these businesses can (and should) expect our business and a greater chunk of revenue. We all work harder for our money today than we have in many, many years. We decide how we spend that hard earned greenback. We offer some business revenue to a venue through our attendance, but there's no upper (or lower) limit to how much we spend. Give me something worth my dollar and I'll consider spending it.
I finally broke down the other day and signed on to Facebook for the first time and now I'm going to be using it as another outlet for SteppersUSA and all it offers. I know it took me a long time to get with that program but I had to wait for it to surpass MySpace in numbers and now it has. After a full day I now have a little over a hundred "friends", some I haven't seen for quite a while. Be sure to "friend me" if you're on Facebook. Something else I found while on Facebook, was a cause worth this column's (and your) time. Sarah Teagle has started "Step & Go Green America" on Facebook. I signed on right away and promised her I would write about a cause we can all get behind. As of this writing there are now around 30 people supporting the cause she is going to be talking more about at the big ten year anniversary event over the Labor Day weekend. Join her in the cause people!

If you would like to join SteppersUSA in Twitter or just to check it out, you'll see the twitter bird just below our logo. Just click on the twitter bird and it will bring you right to the SteppersUSA page on Twitter.  Watch the bar or follow SteppersUSA by clicking here.

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My Rant & Going Green 

 


Sunshine Stepping at Club 142 in Hammond, IN with a variety of the stars of the Chicago style stepping community including Steppin' James, Carlos, Dominique, Johnny (JC) Carter, Royce Banks, Swan, and G. Porgie. The video was shot freehand by Markie Bee (SteppersUSA.Com) live and unscripted after Sunshine's Ladies Styling class.

 

Earl & Robin at the 219 Contest Finals

Take a look at our You Tube Steppers Video page and rate some videos (Seven pages now)

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
 

Steppers History

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.

Steppers Community Definition Added
Cross Reference Word Index Added
Multiple Definitions Added Definitions Page
2006 3-G's Contest results added Timeline Updated
Steppers Compete 2003 Timeline Updated
The Dungeon in Chicago in the 1970's See the Personal Recollections Page

A Message To All Steppers (Click Here to View)

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.

Thank You for your time!

Markie Bee
The History of Stepping Project

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Monday June 22, 2009

 

Steppin' Out Monday's
Celebrity Steppers
Market Street Bar & Grill
244 S Market St. Inglewood, CA
8:30pm-2am
$5
www.celebritysteppers.com

 

Dream Productions & TG
Tonik (Every Monday)
7247 W. Roosevelt Rd., Forest Park, IL
5pm - 10pm (Hip Hop after)
akkeem91@sbcglobal.net
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Martini Mondays (Every Monday)
Twin Cities Steppers
Arnellia's
1183 University Ave. St. Paul, MN
6pm - Until
651-642-5975

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Recession Busting Mondays (Every Monday)
Smooth Jazz, Chicago Steppin', Classic R & B, and NeoSoul
Slade's Bar and Grill
958 Tremont St. Boston MA
5:00pm - 11:00pm
$2 cover
www.steppersofboston.com info@steppersofboston.com
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Monday Night Madness (Every Monday)
Shorty Smooth
The 500 Café
500 North 29th, Milwaukee WI
8pm - Until
Free
414-350-9476
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