Are the economic worries we hear about affecting our dance habits?

[coastswing]

With all the talk about the economic situation, does this impact your decision to go to a dance?

In the NY area, if you live outside Manhattan, you are already paying a decent sum just in travel to the events we dance at....tunnel/bridge tolls, possibly parking if you can't find the free spaces, the dance event itself, plus any refreshments you might have.....it all adds up to quite a bit.
ex:
Lincoln Tunnel: $8.00
Gas: ??? Depends
Event: Anywhere from $7-$20
Parking: Free-$15+

With gas prices rising regularly, is it enough to scare even the most addicted dancers?

What are some ways that you might save some money on events.....any good tips you can share for finding good flight prices when booking events outside your area? Any other tips that might help out new or even the seasoned travelers?

[Dima]

kayak.com, hotwire.com, and priceline.com for flights, car rentals, and hotels.
AAA discounts

Bringing non-perishables, like fruit and snacks to events to avoid paying high prices the hotels charge in their restaurants.

Car pools to dances in the city - you can park somewhere outside the tunnels and all pile into one car :) I know it's silly, but it's a way to save $$.

D

[westcoastjunkie]

Just curious for the Jersey folk, why not mass transit? It's a lot cheaper.

[coastswing]

For me the timing of the transit is not the best option. Either have to leave before I want, or at later hours, the trains/buses are sporadic.

[jon]

It reached the pain point for me when the gas cost of driving exceeeded the admission cost to the dance - even after the recent price raise at most of the dances around here. I try to carpool, or pick closer options sometimes.

Weekend events aren't attractive on a price/performance basis. The total cost runs upwards of $500 for, basically, 2-3 evening dances - which often don't even really get going until after midnight - some workshops of unpredictable content, and a lot of time watching comps I'm rarely excited by. Not cost-effective. And then there's the many hours of driving and/or dealing with the air transit system to get there, neither fun. Finally several of the California-area events are held at high altitude (Reno = 4400 ft, Tahoe = 7300 ft) which does noticeably limit how much I can dance. So I can certainly afford them, but get more out of spending the money locally on privates or Yoga classes or something of that nature. What events I do go to anymore are local (Boogie, Down Home Blues) or very close (Monterey).

[Arjay]

I think economic hardships are a catalyst more so than the problem itself. In our Bay Area community, places like the "former" Metronome Ballroom, and current Two Left Feet were the true home to the Northern California dances. Everyone from everywhere came to dance much like other places in the world. 1,2 maybe 2.5 hours commute just to social dance. In our area the problem is too many new weekly dances held at too many new venues popping up everywhere. We present ourselves with convenient options and now $50 on gas doesn't sound so appealing when you can get your "fast food dancing fix" nearby.
Not to mention the community then loses the essence of "a good social dance night out" People from all over would crave Friday night...now I hear more excuses...."I was out with friends..." Before, friends took a backseat to Friday night. Or even better, Friday night was so good you wanted your friends to come with you to the dance.

That's the case here. It may be different elsewhere.

[Kelly]

I think economic hardships are a catalyst more so than the problem itself. In our Bay Area community, places like the "former" Metronome Ballroom, and current Two Left Feet were the true home to the Northern California dances. Everyone from everywhere came to dance much like other places in the world. 1,2 maybe 2.5 hours commute just to social dance. In our area the problem is too many new weekly dances held at too many new venues popping up everywhere. We present ourselves with convenient options and now $50 on gas doesn't sound so appealing when you can get your "fast food dancing fix" nearby.
Not to mention the community then loses the essence of "a good social dance night out" People from all over would crave Friday night...now I hear more excuses...."I was out with friends..." Before, friends took a backseat to Friday night. Or even better, Friday night was so good you wanted your friends to come with you to the dance.

That's the case here. It may be different elsewhere.


Its the same case here in NYC. And I think this would be a great new thread in the Westie Lounge as well. We have had our fair share of new dances popping up at different venues....Everyone nowaday's wants to hold a dance!! As far as the economy goes with the cost of commuting and cover charges, and then add traveling to event's at least once a month sometimes twice, I only go out social dancing once a week. You can pretty much find a dance to go to any night of the week in NYC, but thats not how it used to be. Back when I started there was Festa's Wed night dance (still is today!), and it was packed and I wouldn't miss it for the world. As the community expanded there were new people starting dances and the domino effect kicked in. Now there is so-so attendence at all the dances and none of them compare to what it once was.

[KelKel]

I think the economy has definitely affected how often I dance. In Va Beach we've just gotten a few new opportunities to dance. We have more group classes available and some more regular parties. This came just in time for me because I was traveling up to Norther VA, Baltimore, and DC area to dance on weekends which is now getting way to expensive. I had to reduce the times I go up. Some local ppl have suggested carpooling but it can be difficult coordinating travel and return times.

Last year I traveled up much more often but now with the spike in gas prices I just can't afford it. I'm glad there are more local parties I can attend and I hope they continue.

I think as far as conventions, sharing rooms and carpooling is a great money saver but again that confines me to local events that are a car ride away where last year I would have flown to a couple of events. Now that is almost completly out of the question.

[CALI DOLL]

I live in an area (Northern VA) where there are a lot of WCS options during the week. Lately, I've found myself hitting more spots than usual but I'm not sure how long that can continue. The cost of gas might be my downfall. Currently I'm going to 3 weekly lessons/parties and 1 monthly party (not including any conventions).

Regarding conventions: I'm definitely going to fewer out-of-area conventions than I did last year but that's BECAUSE I need to repair the damage I did to my finances last year. Again, I'm fortunate in that the area I live has a WCS convention every few months. I really don't HAVE to travel unless I want to go to a specific convention (Swing Diego, anyone?).

[vegas4x4]

So far, rising costs haven't affected how often I am dancing.

Actually, as time passes and my dancing improves, I find I have to travel more often to where the better dancers and instructors congregate to continue improving myself and to have better dances.

Also, I've been to enough dance conventions now to learn how to cut costs. I usually carpool with another couple if it is within driving distance and always share a room. I bring a portable cooler on wheels (looks like luggage), fill it up with ice at the hotel, and hit the grocery store to seriously cut food costs vs eating out constantly. It helps that there are so many events available in CA.

That and I auto-transfer money out of my checking account every month for conventions, lessons, and trips to CA. It's easier for me to spend when I already have the money earmarked and sitting in a savings account.

Nothing else I'd rather be doing with the money!

[jon]

I think economic hardships are a catalyst more so than the problem itself. In our Bay Area community, places like the "former" Metronome Ballroom, and current Two Left Feet were the true home to the Northern California dances.

I've lived here since 1997 and I can't remember Metronome ever being much of a WCS hotspot. Must have missed some important recurring event.

In our area the problem is too many new weekly dances held at too many new venues popping up everywhere. We present ourselves with convenient options and now $50 on gas doesn't sound so appealing when you can get your "fast food dancing fix" nearby.

Why is this a problem for anyone except 2LF's owners and employees? Having options is generally considered a good thing for consumers and if there are too many of them, eventually some will fail (e.g. the recent Monday night competition in the South Bay, which IMO has pretty much been resolved in favor of one of the options). I much prefer going 5 miles down 101 to Richard's dance on Mondays then spending twice as much overall to drive 44 miles through heavy traffic to 2LF on Fridays.

[Scott S.]

For me it's the same result but for a different reason. I live in a great spot to get to all sorts of dances, dead center between DC and Baltimore. However, the overall economic mess means fewer customers for my company which leads to fewer appointments for me.

I'm working 4-6 hours per day on average right now and, lucky for me, my boss tosses me 2-6 extra hours pay over what I work because I bill out enough to cover it. But the paycheck is still shorter than normal so I've had to take care of bills and cut way back.