We received 10 responses to our micro-survey in Canberra Dance News. They are shown in full and unexpurgated below. Because the survey was anonymous we cannot contact respondents for more details, but we have shown our comments and calls for more details in square brackets below. Maybe you could leave further comments against the points, on this blog?
If you have not responded to the micro-survey then it is not too late, just surf along to:
and let us know what you think about the subject "How can we help you to help us to increase bush dance participation?".
That's all - you won't be asked any other questions or for identifying information. Please have all your household ideas ready for one response, or you can email your response or afterthoughts to dance@pcug.org.au.
Here are the responses so far, with [comments]
1. Provide me with vouchers for first-timer free entry for my friends.
[First-timers are offered free entry to the classes starting next Monday 7 February at All Saints Ainslie. First-timers will have more confidence that they have understood the offer if they have a voucher to present, so we will have some vouchers printed.]
2. Offer 2 for one entry price on their first night or bring a friend along for free
[There is also the thought that if you can get a new person along for a second time then they will be "hooked" and keep coming back after that]
3. Reduce thse prices
[The Monaro Folk Society is a non-profit organisation and prices are set to break even, with a small surplus to cover contingencies. Sometimes events run at a profit and sometimes at a loss, indicating that on average the prices are about right. We are very fortunate to have excellent musicians who are willing to perform for our dances even though entry fees and band remuneration has not kept pace with inflation. There has been a marked increase in the cost of the Albert Hall, Woolshed and St John's, but we have been able to keep costs down by using All Saints Ainslie and the Cook Hall.]
4. More couples dances perhaps, but it's readily available and very well organised as it is.
5. Dancers be more inclusive with newcomers. There's a definite sense of the incrowd at some dances. No use going to a dance to sit watching others having fun.
Also, SOME men need to be advised about hygiene. SOME are very smelly. Don't want to dance with them. Women make an effort to look and smell good - how about it men? This is what puts me off coming to dances.
6. Run a regular session in Goulburn!! Yay!! That would be Wonderful!!!
7. Have one bush dance per month only.
8. Simple Firstly, Get the word "Music" back into the societies' title. "Monaro Folk Music and Dance Society" for instance. Secondly, Do not use the word "Bush Dancing" or "Bush Dancers". What you are talking about is either "Australian Folk Dancers" or Austrailian Heritage Music and Dance". Just because the venue for many of these traditional dances was a woolshed in the Bush does not mean that those involved should be called "Bush Dancers" which seems to infer some sort of rough group of would-be dancers. They were in fact just "Dancers" who were performing all the latest dances of the period to just as high, if not a better standard than the good sophisticated folk in the cities, and with all the grace and style of the well dressed city folk. Lift your sights, The words Traditional, Heritage, Original, Pioneering, Historical, Australian Folk Music, all have some meaning to the wider English-Speaking Community out there. (to many of whom, English is not their mother tongue) Perhaps "Bush Dancers" to many of those good people conjures up an image of some Red Necks having a good time. So lift your sights, use the right wording, try to appeal to a much larger section of the great Australian Populace, you might get more people through the door.
[Bush Dancing is a fairly well recognised name for the dancing that we do, see for example http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_dance. It's a short word and comes out near the top in alphabetic newspaper listings etc. The essence of bush dancing in 2011 is the social nature of the dances, the accessibility to all, and the variety of formations and traditions that are included in a "bush dance" evening. We couldn't think of a better label so we decided to go all-out promoting "Bush Dancing for fun & fitness". It has had a lot of media exposure and so to re-badge would be to start again to build public awareness.]
9. Discourage the FIGJAM inf dancers, callers and musos. Discourage bad musicians and weak out of town bands, callers, bands from a long way to drive and their callers.
Support and build on the local product. Nothing is a bigger turn off when we get a flustered caller holding up good dancers and musicians. Encourage the local musicians and callers by remuneration levels covering more than costs. Make sure there is a core of dancers there to mix in and assist new recruits. Encourage a culture that does not scare away timid new comers. The ethos should be the dance. It is not a lonely hearts club.
[In case the acronym has you stumped, we think it stands for something like "Figjam I'm Good, Just Ask Me". We are accepting and tolerant of all and want to encourage diversity and a wide mix of folk participating and sharing their unique talents. Big crowds and development and growth for as many as will. We try to remunerate the musicians as well as we can, but it is in no one's interest to have dances closed down because they are not financially sustainable. Dancers want to dance, musicians want to play, and volunteers want to volunteer.]
10. better layout for the canberra dance news
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