********************************************************************** Swing News, Wednesday 4/21/99, Issue #34, (Next Issue, 5/4/99) IMPORTANT NOTE - Our new e-mail addresses are: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - Submissions to this newsletter XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - Addition/deletion/address-change requests XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - All other correspondence ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello and welcome to the first anniversary issue of Swing News! Our network is now approaching 400 subscribers! It's hard to believe that one year has passed since the first issue went out (on 4/20/98), and actually, our history goes back further, to less formal e-mailings in late 1997. But enough, already. Read on towards the middle of this issue for the "Year in Review". The other big news -- we now have a companion website with the catchy name, SwingNews.com ! Many thanks go to Bob and Jen for developing the first cut of this website. It contains the current issue of Swing News, past issues, a quick link to Vince's site (no more long site names to remember!), plus links to other swing sites and much more to come. Check it out and send any comments or suggestions to Bob at XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . By the way, if you have some good swing pics of yourself and other locals, contact Bob to get them in the on-line photo album. For those who didn't make it, last Friday's Swing Thing at the Coliseum was excellent -- one of the best swing dances I've been to the last couple of years. About 600 people came to dance and otherwise have a good time. And it was a true all-ages crowd, with a wide mix of swing backgrounds. This is what swing was meant to be -- the grand ballroom, the friendly and highly interacting crowd, the sheer pleasure of dancing to the music with lots of room and clean air. Now the Coliseum was around back in the heyday of swing, so it needs no retro-fitting to make the scene; and everyone was dressed nicely, although there weren't too many going the vintage route. The place is so big that the crowd of hundreds seemed fairly sparse -- the Coliseum could easily hold four times that many and still allow for comfortable dancing. So those of you who opted to drown your swing sorrows in a dark corner of some smoky club should next time check out the Coliseum (June 4th with Swingerhead). You'll be glad you did! The other grand ballroom of Tampa Bay, the Gulfport Casino, plays host to the big event of these next two weeks. Louis Prima, himself, is coming to the Casino! Wait a minute ... actually, it's Ray Gelato, but the similarity, although intentional on the band's part, is nonetheless remarkable. Clubs will come and clubs will go, but events like this, if we support them, will keep swing alive in Tampa Bay. I hope to see everyone there! Sam ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THE UPCOMING TWO WEEKS This Thursday (Apr 22), Dem Brooklyn Bums, the bad boys of swing, jet down from NYC to Storman's Palace. Smoking is allowed throughout the club. Phone 727-571-2222. Glen Gutierrez writes: "Dem Brooklyn Bums will be playing at Storman's in place of the Swingin' Mooks. If you've never seen them, it's a must-see show! This is their only local appearance. (They'll also be playing at Ozio's in Melbourne on 4/21, Man Ray in Pompano Beach on 4/23, Downtown Cigar Bar in Ft Myers on 4/24, and Athens Music Factory in Athens, GA on 4/26.) See you there!" This Friday (Apr 23), The Ray Gelato Giants play the Gulfport Casino. The band, after over 15 years on the European jazz festival circuit, comes straight from England to Tampa Bay to kick off their first U.S. tour. If you like Louis Prima, this is the band to see. Details: * All ages show at the Gulfport Casino * 8pm start * Free beginner's swing-dance lessons 7-8pm * $10 in advance or $12 at the door * Smoke-free, historic ballroom, located right on the water * Huge, well-maintained dance floor * Advance tickets are available at Gulfport Casino, Right Step Dance Studio, Echo Antiques, & DaddyKool.com (671 Central Ave, St Pete) in Pinellas; Squaresville, La France, & Sugar Palm office in Tampa. * For more info, call 727-821-9420 or 813-248-5549 * For band info, visit www.RayGelato.com * Directions: If you're coming from the north, take I-275 south to St Pete's 22nd Ave S exit. (From the south, take I-275 north to the 26th Ave S exit and find your way to 22nd Ave S.) Head west. Turn left onto Beach Blvd. (55th St will be on the right.) Head south until the street ends at the Gulfport Casino, located directly on the water. Next Friday (Apr 30), the Swingin' Mooks give a free concert at Station Square Park in downtown Clearwater, 5:00-8:30pm. The event features two dance contests: an advanced-level contest for instructors and the like, plus a second-level contest for the general public. First prize in both contests is a weekend at the Palm Pavilion on Clearwater Beach. Other prizes are gift certificates to local restaurants. Beer and wine will be sold to benefit a charity. Station Square Park is located at the 600 block of Cleveland Street. Thanks to Diane Smith , Downtown Manager for the City of Clearwater, for sending this in. Also next Friday (Apr 30), but later in the night (8pm-1am), the Gulfport Casino hosts a Swing Dance and Lifestyle Expo. Details: * Music by DJ Jumpin' James * Vintage Clothes & Accessories, Dance Shoes, CD Dealers, Etc * All ages * Full bar and pizza available * $6 admission * Free parking * Vendor space available * Phone 727-821-9420 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER THAT Sat May 8: Bombed Out Cat at Cuban Club; 813-248-2333 Thu May 13: Jet Set Six at The Rubb (smoking allowed); 813-247-6234 Fri May 14: Peggy Lee tribute at Largo Cultural Center; 727-587-6793 Sat May 15: BorderLine's road trip to Orlando; 813-935-5339 Fri Jun 4: Swingerhead at Coliseum; 727-892-5202 Fri Jun 4: Rocket 88 & Blue Flame Combo at Skipper's; 813-971-0666 Thu Jun 17: Swingin' Mooks at Largo Cultural Center; 727-587-6793 Sun Aug 1: Brian Setzer Orchestra at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center Sat Oct 16: Bellevue Cadillac at Clearwater Jazz Holiday Doug Matthews writes: Jayne Anne Losito is doing a special "Tribute to Peggy Lee" at the Largo Cultural Center May 14 at 8pm. For all the Peggy Lee fans out there, it should be an excellent show. Jayne Ann has been working with local jazz guru Fred Johnson and her show has been officially sanctioned by the estate of the late Peggy Lee herself. Tickets are $10.50, available by calling the Cultural Center Box Office at 727-587-6793. Jayne Anne Losito adds: Hi! Miss Peggy Lee is one of the greatest singers! She has songs from the 1940's-1970's. She first sang with Benny Goodman, she has performed with such giants as Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and Quincy Jones. Peggy Lee is best known for the song "Fever" and you can hear her songs on commercials even today; other hits include "Why Don't You Do Right", "I'm a Woman", "It's a Good Day", and "Heart". She wrote about 600 songs and sings swing, jazz, rock, and blues. That evening, I'll be doing songs from each decade, 40's - 70's -- some swing, some ballads, with reflections on her life in between. This woman has influenced female singers more than has been acknowledged. Peggy Lee could swing ... but the focus is on her as a singer. I will cover some swing and I'd love to have people dancing, but the main focus is going to be to honor Miss Peggy Lee. She is not doing well physically, had a stroke in Oct 98, and since May 25 is her birthday, on the night of the show, I am going to have a big, beautiful card for all the patrons to sign if they want, and I will send it to her! Local Jazz Giant Fred Johnson is producing this with me. (He Can Swing!) Thanks for your interest, Jayne Anne. Carson from BorderLine writes: Saturday May 15th, two motor coaches will be leaving at 6pm to Atlantic Dance at Disney's Boardwalk in Orlando. There were 80 tickets available; now there are only 40. The cost is $25 per ticket. There will be drinks on board provided and food from Subway. Admission to Atlantic Dance is paid for and so is the first drink. The band that night is Bim Bam Baby from New York City. They are a 7-piece band with female lead singer, and have a CD out already. Atlantic Dance is an awesome place, and just walking along the Boardwalk is a euphoric experience. Before leaving, we will all be at a welcome party at BorderLine and there everyone will receive another free drink and a ticket to Sunday's swing with Bombed Out Cat at BorderLine. It will be a very special swing event. You can get tickets or info at 813-936-0933 or 813-935-5339 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BOMBED OUT CAT Billy writes: Hey Cats ... Here it is; the "Bombed Out Cat" Calendar for the rest of April & May. Please come out and support our local scene, so we can not only watch it grow, but most importantly keep it alive! It don't mean a thing ... Thursdays - The Rare Olive in Ybor City, 9:30pm-1:30am Fridays - The Rare Olive in Ybor City, 10:00pm-2:30am Saturdays - Apr 24: South Beach Grille on Treasure Island, 8:30pm-12:30am May 1: Jimmy B's on St Pete Beach, 8:00pm-Midnight May 8: The Cuban Club in Ybor, 10:00pm-2:00am May 15: Gators on Treasure Island, 5:00-9:00pm May 22: South Beach Grille on Treasure Island, 8:30pm-12:30am May 29: Gators on Treasure Island, 5:00-9:00pm Sundays - BorderLine in Carrollwood (Tampa), 8:30pm-Midnight Thanks & Keep Swingin' Billy ---------------------------------------------------------------------- REGULARLY SCHEDULED SWING NIGHTS & THE CLUB SCENE Tue: Tamiami Bar in St Pete; 727-827-1518; Smoking Wed: Gulfport Casino; 727-893-1070; Nonsmoking Wed: BorderLine in Tampa; 813-935-5339; Smoking Wed: Club More in downtown Clearwater; 727-466-6673; Smoking Thu: Storman's Palace in Clearwater; 727-571-2222; Smoking Thu: The Castle in Ybor City; 813-248-3053; Smoking Thu: The Rare Olive in Ybor City; 813-248-2333; Smoking Fri: Cuban Club in Ybor City; 813-248-2954; Nonsmoking Fri: The Rare Olive in Ybor City; 813-248-2333; Smoking Sat: Cuban Club in Ybor City; 813-248-2954; Nonsmoking Sat: Fortunate One in Ybor City; No Phone; Smoking Sun: BorderLine in Tampa; 813-935-5339; Smoking Know of other regular, weekly swing nights not listed here? Any corrections? E-mail XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . We'll publish an updated list in a future issue. Please include any information you might have, such as the location, contact phone number, and whether they're smoking or non. Sherrie Gill writes: Last Friday I checked out the open swing dance at Swing City (7532 N Armenia Ave between Waters and Sligh; 813-935-7458) and I had a good time. Nice dance floor (not too slippery or too tacky) and with the lights turned down a bit it was a pleasant atmosphere. The cost was $3 per person, which included some impressive snacks. They played a variety of dance music and there were a variety of dance styles on the floor. I got the feeling they catered to the people who showed up. I got in quite a few east coast dances and a few Lindy's as well (plenty of dance room). Carson from BorderLine writes: I was wondering if you knew about all the hot swing stuff happening at BorderLine on Dale Mabry and Waters. BorderLine has one of the best dance floors in the Bay area and has been doing swing events since December of 1998. Wednesday features DJ Paul Mallet, formerly of Sugar Palm, and instructor Jack. There will be one Wednesday (Apr 28) that a WCW wrestling bout will be held; otherwise it's going to be swing. Sunday, Arleene and Jamie are the instructors and Bombed Out Cat plays 8pm to Midnight. Lessons are at 6:30pm. There will be a dance contest after the first break. Phone 813-935-5339. [Smoking allowed] Jacob writes: Hi, my name is Jacob. I just wanted to tell you guys about this new swing club that just opened up. It's really pretty cool. DJ Paul Mallett plays swing from 8pm to 3am. Cover is only $4/$5. The owner told me they will be bringing in some bands soon too. It is called Swinging Saturdays. The club is Fortunate One in Ybor City (corner of 8th Ave & Republica de Cuba). I went last Saturday and had a great time. Hope to see you guys there too. Check out Vince's website for updates on swing night openings and closings at various clubs: http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Stadium/3409/clubs.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSONS & WORKSHOPS Fran writes: I teach at Dallas Bull, north of the Fair Grounds on 301. Tuesday night, I teach swing at 7:30 pm. Our floor is nice, but not as big as BorderLine's. Jack from BorderLine is also my assistant on Tuesday's. If you could print our class at Dallas on Tuesday's in your information, I would appreciate it. Thanks, Fran. Sam Mahfoud writes: Wanted to let everyone know about the summer swing lessons I'm teaching -- beginner's lessons to intermediate & advanced workshops in east-coast and free-style swing: - Thursday evenings, starting May 6th - At the Highland Rec Center, 400 N Highland Ave in Largo - Your first class is free - Separate classes for teens and adults - No experience or partner necessary - For more info, including a schedule of lessons and workshops, please visit the web site, members.aol.com/SwingSum99 , or e-mail me at XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . Thanks, Sam. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THE YEAR IN REVIEW The return of swing in Tampa Bay really had its beginnings almost two years ago. The Masquerade was among the first on the scene, hosting an every Saturday swing night with DJ Matt Mikas. The first time I stopped by, there were no people or swing music to be found; just a video screen playing to an empty room. But by the end of '97, their swing night was packed. (See Vince's swing diaries on the Go Daddy-O link at SwingNews.com for a review of the early days at Masquerade's.) Also early on the scene was Storman's bringing in Rocket 88 every week. Unfortunately, by the time most swing people heard about it, Storman's had sustained enough losses and decided to call it quits. In 1997, you typically had to go to a ballroom (and learn ballroom dances) to learn any swing. Exceptions were the weekly classes taught by people including Frank Ingo and Abdul Mohammed. A group of us dancers, urged on by e-mails from Laura Clarke, would show up at various swing events around town, depending on what was happening that Friday or Saturday night. By November 1997 and through the holidays, our favorite spot was The Ritz in Clearwater. The 42nd Street Band with Kat Heffner was often the band for the evening. There were a few points of frustration we had with the current swing environment. First, the dance floors at places like The Ritz and the Masquerade were puny. Second, the level of smoke at these clubs was incredible. Third, we didn't see that more than one or two of these places could survive, since the fairly small swing crowd was split amongst them. In late January, a new club in Ybor opened -- the Sugar Palm Ballroom, but at that time it was mostly the downstairs that was open. This was the state of affairs until April 1998. Around March '98, I took the swing e-mail list over from Laura, who was now busy with other matters. By early April, we started telling people about the list and anyone who wanted was encouraged to join. Through recruitment and volunteering, a small group formed to promote swing in the Tampa Bay area. These folks included Bob Sutter, who helped put out the Swing News and maintain the e-mail list; Michelle Gilbert, who did a lot of all-around promotion; Sherrie Gill, who arranged swing workshops; and Stephanie Ford, who maintained the e-mail list and also helped out all around. A few others also pitched in from time to time and are mentioned in the back newsletters. The first big events we tried to get all swingers to go to were a Rocket 88 concert at Skipper's on 4/10/98, followed by a Dan Electro concert at the Sugar Palm on 4/17/98 -- the debut of their regular Friday swing night. Here's the e-mail that went out to the list: "Hi all, I wanted to let everyone know, in case you haven't heard already, of two upcoming swing events, one this Friday and the other next Friday. In case you're wondering who's gonna be there, I've heard so far from many dancers who plan to go to both. But to make sure, call up a few people, especially those not on e-mail and help spread the word. This Friday (4/10) it's Rocket 88 at Skippers Smokehouse, starting at 8pm, $6 to get in. For those who missed them at the Sugar Palm a couple of weeks ago, they gave an excellent show and there was lots of good dancing plus a very energetic crowd. Next Friday (4/17) it's Dan Electro & The Silvertones at the Sugar Palm, upstairs in the Ballroom, starting after 9:00pm, $7 to get in. The Sugar Palm's at the corner of Palm Ave & 15th St in Ybor. For awhile, some of us have been throwing the idea around of having a swing night on a regular basis, preferably in a smoke-free location. Some nights would have live music; others, recorded music combined with one or more of the following: Workshops for experienced dancers Dancing (of course) Dance Exhibitions / Floor Shows Lessons for beginners Dance Contests Well, we talked to the owner of the Sugar Palm and they're willing to host Swing Night in their upstairs (smoke-free) ballroom provided that people turn out to it. It would be a Friday night event, but not necessarily every Friday. In fact, the first Swing Night is going to be held in conjunction with the above-mentioned Dan Electro concert on 4/17 ! A beginner's lesson will start the night as soon as the doors open at 9pm. The band starts playing around 9:30. During the band's first break, some experienced swing dancers will put on a floor show. After that, there's more open dancing and a short swing contest later on. If the first Swing Night is successful, we can talk to them about doing others. So spread the word. It should be a lot of fun. Sam" Another early event we announced and went to was a Cherry Poppin' Daddies concert at Jannus Landing on 4/16/98. Soon after, on 4/20/98, the first official issue of Swing News went out (to somewhere between 50 and 100 people's e-mail addresses). We had our first meeting at Bob's house, adopted a mission statement, and decided to have an e-mail contest to name our swing network. You'll have to check out the old newsletters on SwingNews.com for the mission statement and the suggested names. Suffice it to say, some of the suggestions were hilarious. In the end, SWINGANG got the most votes and that's the name we've used to date. Our first year brought 33 issues of the Swing News, on a weekly to monthly basis. I edited and sent out most of them, but Bob took a few turns as editor and Holly Ramsey took the editorship for an issue. We covered lots of bands, local to national, that came to Tampa Bay, as well as dance workshops, lessons, and other things swing related. We went out and supported as best we could those places, like the Sugar Palm, that hosted swing and that supported our mission. The rest is history, and is well documented for those who care to browse, in the past issues available on the SwingNews.com web site. A second perspective on the local swing scene of the last couple of years can be found in the swing diaries on Vince's Go Daddy-O web site, also accessible via SwingNews.com . Throughout the past year, our all-volunteer group has done a stellar and often professional job, with almost zero monetary resources. (The few small contributions we did receive were put to postage, printing, and web-site expenses, and we appreciate them.) I would like to thank each and every person who's helped out in any way, who's sent in items to be published, and who's read this newsletter and otherwise supported this effort. Thank-you! What's coming up in the year ahead? Now that we've grown to almost 400 subscribers, it may be time to revisit some issues: 1. Should we vote on a new name? 2. Should we become a more formal organization or swing society like they have in some cities (eg, the Boston Swing Dance Network)? Should we incorporate as a nonprofit? Should we try to hold dances ourselves if the for-profit groups tire of it? 3. It may be time to start having a few meetings, perhaps on an annual or quarterly basis, and to expand the group of people involved in running this swing network. More on these items next issue, but if you have any thoughts on the above matters, send them to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX if you wish for them to be published; XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, otherwise . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- LINDY HOP TAPE AVAILABLE The Clearwater Public Library has the first instructional videotape in the Frankie Manning / Erin Stevens Lindy Hop series available for checkout. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Robert Boileau writes: Thanks for another GREAT Edition of the Swing News!!! I feel compelled to respond to the letter from Peter Vazquez, who complained about the No Smoking policy in the dance area of the Sugar Palm Club, because he was not allowed to smoke a cigar. I, for one (among many), applaud the Sugar Palm and any other dance place which has such a policy, because the noxious odor from cigars or other forms of smoking makes me nauseous and gives me a headache, as I have respiratory allergies. When I dance, I breathe harder; hence, the smoke is even more irritating. Apparently, some smokers do not realize what a health hazard their smoking is to others as well as themselves, despite all of the evidence and information confirming that. I find it ironic that Mr Vazquez finds cigarettes offensive, but doesn't realize that cigars can be just as offensive to others. Thanks, Robert. Angel responds [regarding smoking & Sugar Palm]: I. There were signs in the entry way letting people know that smoking was allowed everywhere but the ballroom. II. I am a smoker and a dancer and had no problem going into the martini bar to smoke. III. I have been burned by people walking by the floor while dancing; it really sucks. IV. Dancing is a heavy cardiovascular activity; I don't think that second-hand smoke is very good while exercising. V. The person who "accosted" Mr Vazquez probably didn't work there; usually, the customers who were dancers did that. VI. The Sugar Palm wasn't just a club: it was a ballroom. If it were a club, it would have been too filthy to dance at due to cigarette and cigar butts and spilled beer on the floor. Everyone has their own gripe, whether it was the smoking policy, dress code, supposed snobbery (name one place that doesn't have that to some extent), the bands, the DJ, or whatever. Obviously, the people of Tampa are too uncultured to know when they have something nice. Those that want clean air refuse to dress decent, and those who like to dress up want to force the dancers to choke on their choice of a nasty habit. If there's going to be a nice club, it has to be all or nothing ... clean air, clean building, well groomed people. It all goes hand in hand! It really is not hard to walk to another room to smoke, or to put on a pair of slacks or shoes that won't ruin a nice wood floor. If everyone weren't so hard headed, we (dancers) would still have a nice place to dance four nights a week. Stephen Wheeler writes: Traci and I just got back from four nights in NYC where we got to dance at Swing 46 and the Supper Club. Neither could hold a match to the Sugar Palm. Swing 46 was small, and the Supper Club, while huge, had a smaller dance floor than the Sugar Palm. It's a shame that our one, true, "better-than-NYC-quality" club is gone. What I don't understand is everyone kicking the Sugar Palm now that it's passed. Without the SP, there really would be NO SWING SCENE in Tampa. I personally can't thank Taylor and company enough for the hard work they did to keep it going for so long. No, I don't agree with everything that the SP did either. But hey, if I didn't like it, I didn't have to go there, did I? I can say personally that on one occasion I convinced about 7 of my friends to go to the SP and give swing a try. This was after dinner and drinks last fall. (Back then the dress code was toughly enforced.) Two of my friends were wearing shorts. Did we get turned away? No. Taylor got one of the male employees to loan a pair of slacks to my one friend, then loaned one of her own dresses to my other friend. Was it that big of a deal? Of course not. Taylor made rules and then stuck to them. I respect that greatly. There's not too many club owners out there that I truly respect. Kudos to Dan Electro on closing night for telling the smoker that he'd have to go to the smoking section. Dancing is an aerobic exercise. You have to take in a lot of oxygen. Do I want someone else's second hand smoke? Of course not! Is it ironic because in the 30's and 40's they smoked like fiends? (You're kidding, right? That can't possibly be your plausible argument, can it?) Besides, true gentlemen of the period would retire to a private room (like the Martini bar) for cordials and cigars. You did see Titanic, didn't you? That courtesy has persisted through the decades, and now, in the 90s, people should go OUTSIDE to smoke. I don't subject you to my bad habits; please don't subject me to yours. I find it very interesting that people not affiliated with the club have attempted to take credit for the successes of the SP while condemning its failures. Would I have done things differently if I were in Taylor's shoes? Who knows and how is it relevant anyway? There's a big demand for a high quality swing club in Ybor right now. Anyone who thinks they know the secret to success should step up now. We'll all support you for as long as we can. (And I guarantee that I won't bitch about you when you're gone.) Again, goodbye Sugar Palm, you helped solidify a passion here in Tampa that might have just faded away without you. We'll miss you, and (most) of us are secretly hoping that you'll soon come back! Sean Galbraith responds to SN#32's editorial and SN#33's letters: I had to get this off my chest. Sorry about the length, but there was a lot to reply to, and I wouldn't want to leave something out. [Regarding the collaboration between dancers and the club that helped get the upstairs ballroom going:] If this is the case, then it seems that we didn't hold up our end of the bargain, given that the Club only turned a profit around a dozen times in the year+ they were open. How can you say it was a success? Few times that I was there would I consider the club "full" or "near full", and I was there almost every night it was open since September. [Regarding business costs exceeding income:] I agree with you on all points. Businesses have expenses that have to be at least equaled for them to stay alive. Obsessed with money? I'm sorry. I didn't think this was The Home for Wayward Swing Kids. I thought this was a business. Basic Economics Lesson Time: 1. Businesses have expenses. 2. Businesses MUST raise enough revenues to stay self-supportive. 3. Businesses which do not, close. What you call obsession, I call trying anything to survive. What you call alienation, I call desperate attempts to stay afloat. Charging more money for minors is a very common and justified policy at clubs. [Regarding the crowded dancefloor:] I agree to a very minor extent. I mean, this is correct for the time period of about 10-11:30 on Fridays and Saturdays, but the other times and nights the club was open there was a ton of room on the dance floor. I also think you are exaggerating the level of carnage that was unleashed on the dancefloor. If it wasn't for those ballroom dancers getting in everyone's way ... (just kidding, mostly ;-) ) While I wasn't around in the beginning, I can't say I noticed a mass exodus of people in the time that I was at the club. [Regarding self-competition (opening four nights a week):] I have to agree with this. The club was probably open too often (and maybe had too many nights of live music -- costly). I am happy that I did get to go that often, though, so it's tough to complain. [Regarding the dress code:] Funny, I thought the dress code was very reasonable. No ripped, torn, or dirty jeans -- regular blue jeans, black jeans, even acid-washed jeans were allowed and very frequently seen at the club. For the record, that person [on Christmas night] was allowed in, but chose to leave. Most of the times there was a dress code violation, it was from an untucked shirt or a wrong pair of shoes. Most of the time, there was an extra pair of shoes available for loan, but sometimes there wasn't. Sorry. These things happen. I don't think the club went under because people were turned away in droves. The club's financial problems were much deeper than that. As for this so called childish "boycott" ..um.. pardon me for not noticing. Must have not been a very big one. I am curious to find out their reasons. Was it that they were mad that the Club had a good sized dance floor? Or that the club had 90% of the best bands that came to the area? Could it be because it had more class, style and authenticity than Storman's could dream of having? I must have missed the Sugar Palm / Kathy Lee Gifford sweatshop operation that might have justified it. Well, boycotters, congratulations. You shut down the best club to happen to the Tampa area in a long time (from what I have been told). See you at Storman's. Watch out for the glam rock band on stage. Yeah, I really wish the club looked like every other club in Ybor. You know, barely dressed women, men in head to toe TOMMY gear. That definitely would have saved the club, and helped the "community" grow. And if the track record of the "community" holds true, we'll be dancing to booty beats at PLATFORMS in no time. [Regarding community-supported versus traditional clubs:] It would make sense to me that if it was a community-supported club, the community wouldn't mind spending a little more money to support it. Looks like this community didn't support it very much, did it? The more it ignored what conventionally works for other clubs, the more it tried to stay true to its roots, the more money it lost. There is a reason those other clubs work: people spend enough money while they are there to keep them alive. About the only real changes I noticed at the club were the expansion of the seating area (by moving the bar back) and the introduction of a happy hour. I fail to see how either of these caused a mass exodus that doomed the club. Grassroots doesn't pay the bills. [Regarding the nonsmoking ballroom:] Apparantly, there was at least ONE person who felt shunted. Poor guy, having to dance at such a fascist club like the Sugar Palm, and not being able to puff on a cigar on the dance floor. Pardon me while I care less. I happen to like coming home from a club not smelling like someone else's lung cancer. Kacy writes: I think that the Sugar Palm article that Sam wrote last week was very well written, thought out, and hit the nail on the head. I believe that it was fair and objective. We applaud the efforts to bring a higher class club to the Tampa Bay area that is in the style of New York or Chicago. However, the level of support from Tampa Bay was probably not sufficient to support the several bars, clubs, and other venues such as Gulfport and Largo Cultural Center. We attended nights at Largo with Rockett 88, the place packed, and only 4 or 5 from "our group". Others were at the Sugar Palm, the Contra, or somewhere in Sarasota. It did seem that the Sugar Palm was packed the nights we were there. Sam's comments on the dress code were on point. We realize that a certain atmosphere was being attempted, but at the same time this is Florida, it is hot, and it was difficult to maintain a temperature that was required to stay somewhat cool in dress clothes. Our group was only a minority; however, there were some nights when I bet our little group of "thems" accounted for about 20 to 25 people, a significant percentage of the crowd. It was an interesting place when all of the bars were open, the cigar bar, the movie bar, and the disco bar downstairs. You could roam from bar to bar if the main dance floor was too crowded, go downstairs and dance to the DJ, get a drink, and go back up in awhile. It's a shame that the Sugar Palm didn't last. It was unique, but it did have its tensions. Regarding the "Christmas incident", we met Roger leaving as we were starting to pay. Roger was allowed to stay, but opted not to. We had a discussion about the philosophy with Taylor and decided to stay. Roger was wearing white khakis and his trademark Hawaiian shirt. He had his white dance shoes that look like sneakers. It was the shoes I believe that were the main objection. They had spent a lot of money on the dance floor and didn't want running shoes, etc. They were trying to create a vintage upscale club, which is their right. Anyway, it resulted in some tension that was long in coming. The Sugar Palm atmosphere just didn't always fit our group. The dress code, the show-off acrobatics, being kicked in the head on a crowded dance floor by teens trying to do lifts that should be reserved for exhibitions, reserved tables, etc. I guess we're just a bunch of uncouth dancers that didn't deserve such a venue. We applaud Taylor for her blood, sweat and tears. There just weren't enough swing kids with money to keep it alive. It was a valiant effort! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Swing News Know any upcoming swing happenings or other news? Send them in to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . The deadline for each issue, which generally comes out on a Tuesday, is the prior Sunday at 5pm. Editors reserve the right to edit submissions or to select based on relevance. Be sure to call and confirm events before going! The SWINGANG is a network of swing dancers and other swingsters, committed to promoting swing events in places with large, smoke-free or open-air dance areas; to encouraging great music & instruction; to building a united swing community; and to publishing Swing News! Send additions/deletions/address-changes to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . **********************************************************************