********************************************************************** Swing News, Tuesday 6/8/99, Issue #37, (Next Issue, 6/22/99) XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - Submissions to this newsletter XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - Addition/deletion/address-change requests XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - All other correspondence http://www.SwingNews.com - Swing News web site ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi all, Swing is alive and kicking (and growing too!) in Tampa Bay. That's the take-home message from last Friday's Swingerhead concert & dance at the Coliseum in St Pete. Over 750 swingers enjoyed the sounds of one of Florida's best swing bands, and most came to dance! James & Arleene gave a beginners lesson to 100 or 200 people -- the largest I've ever seen. Swing kids and adults filled the dance floor, performing swing steps in East Coast and Lindy Hop, plus a good dose of street swing and aerials. The band even threw in a couple of Cha Chas. This gathering of Tampa Bay's swing community included most folks you've seen somewhere in "the scene". I did hear one complaint, with which I have to agree: "There just wasn't enough time in the evening to dance with everyone I wanted to." If we could only have this problem at every event! There are a couple of concerts coming up these next two weeks, plus swing five (and soon to be six) nights a week at local ballrooms and clubs. So check out some of these venues if you haven't already. Directly on the horizon is Friday, June 25th's, Swing Dance and Lifestyle Expo at the Gulfport Casino, sponsored by us! It's a benefit for Swing News and Tampa Bay swing, plus it promises to be a unique, fun & exciting event. It features hours of great swing music & dance, plus lots & lots of swing items. If you've been looking for swing music, that perfect 40's dress, dance shoes, or anything else, this is the place!! So tell all your friends, especially the ones that aren't on e-mail, and let's make our event a big success!!! This intro concludes with some words of wisdom from Dan Parshall, who started and is active in running USF's swing club. He writes: "I know most of us want to keep swing going strong, and I think one of the best ways to do that is to involve the newcomers. I think that too many people aren't willing (or just don't bother) to show newbies how to dance, and to teach them what the scene's about (ie, the music, the clothes, AND the dance). I make it a point to dance with new people at least once a night because, quite frankly, that's the only way they're ever going to learn. Yes, I know it sucks to dance with someone who thinks that Time is just a magazine, and whose arms flap like noodles in a strong breeze, but let's face it -- we all sucked when we started. The only reason I can dance today (albeit only passingly) is because my friends took the time to help show me how to dance, and I made a personal effort to find the better dancers and ask them what I could do to improve. Going up to people and saying, "Hey, I suck but will you dance with me anyway?" is hard enough, but more than once I got turned away (sometimes almost rudely). The same thing happened to many friends of mine, and so we ended up pooling our knowledge, each of us sharing any little thing we learned so that we would all improve. The only stipulation that comes with knowledge is that you pass it on (wisely, of course). I try and share what little I know, and if everyone else did the same, then before long the newbies that come into a club would actually be passable dancers, and instead of having maybe 50 regular dancers, we would have several hundred. Just a thought. Feel free to write back with your opinion to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. --Dan" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THE UPCOMING TWO WEEKS This Friday (Jun 11), it's not strictly swing, but Billy Bacon and the Forbidden Pigs will be opening for Buckwheat Zydeco at Skipper's Smokehouse. Bacon & the Pigs play a mixture of "roadhouse rockabilly, swing, and Tex-Mex music", according to Skipper's. Tickets for this 8pm show are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Phone 813-971-0666. This Sunday (Jun 13), local favorites Dan Electro and the Silvertones bring their jump swing and blues to Skipper's. Opening for them is the Molten Mike Group (blues). This event is the 2nd Birthday Party for the Suncoast Blues Society. * 5pm show * $5 cover * Ages 18+ (under 18 admitted if accompanied by a parent) * Outdoor concert area (aka The Skipperdome) features giant oak trees, covered tiki deck, benches, and picnic tables. Food from Skipper's restaurant (Florida/Carribean/Louisiana menu) can be brought in, as can drinks from the bar. * The main dancefloor is a piece of plywood over sand next to the stage. Other dance areas are available on the wooden decks. * Skipper Rd & Nebraska in North Tampa * Phone 813-971-0666 or http://mbus.com/clubs/Skippers.Smokehouse Next Thursday (Jun 17), the Largo Cultural Center continues its swing series. The Swingin' Mooks perform. Phone 727-587-6793 for tickets or info. The show runs 8-10pm. * All ages * $10.50 per ticket, either in advance or at the door * Good-Size Dance Floor (Tile) * Smoke-free * Cash bar + maybe some snacks * The Largo Cultural Center is located at the corner of East Bay and Missouri Ave/Seminole Blvd (Alt 19) in Largo's Central Park. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER THAT Fri Jun 25: Swing Dance & Lifestyle Expo at Gulfport Casino; Fundraiser for Swing News & Tampa Bay's swing network; 727-821-9420 Sat Jun 26: Bombed Out Cat at Skipper's; 813-971-0666 Sun Jun 27: Swingin' Mooks at Pier 60 Pavilion on Clearwater Beach Sun Jun 27: Dan Electro & the Silvertones at Platinum Vault; 727-550-8811 Sat Jul 3: Swingin' Mooks at Skipper's; 813-971-0666 Sun Jul 4: Bombed Out Cat at Straub Park Fri Jul 30: Dan Electro & the Silvertones at Gulfport Casino; 727-893-1070 Sun Aug 1: Brian Setzer Orchestra at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center 813-229-7827 Sat Oct 16: Bellevue Cadillac at Clearwater Jazz Holiday; 727-461-5200 Friday, June 25th, at the Gulfport Casino marks the first-ever event to be hosted by our swing network. This third event in the fine series of Swing Dance & Lifestyle Expos promises to be the biggest, best, and most exciting yet. (Nearly 200 people danced the evening away at the last Expo.) It features an all-star, all-volunteer cast. This event will be a fundraiser for the Swing News, for the network (now called the Suncoast Swing Gang), and for Tampa Bay swing in general. Proceeds will go toward keeping the Swing News newsletter and website going and toward sponsoring future live music events. So support your nonprofit and independent swing network.... Support the future of Tampa Bay swing.... Be there and help spread the word! * Swing Dance & Lifestyle Expo at the historic Gulfport Casino * Friday, June 25, 7pm - 1am * Free Beginner's Swing Dance Lesson 7-8pm Angel & Jim instruct * Five Hours of Nonstop Dancing 8pm - 1am DJ Paul Mallett Spins the Tunes * Swing Lifestyle Expo & Sale throughout the night: Swing CDs! Vintage Wear! Food & More! * All Ages Welcome * Door Prizes & Raffle * Full Bar Available * Admission $6 * Huge, Beautiful, Smoke-Free, Waterfront Ballroom * For more info, e-mail XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX or phone 727-893-1070 Vendors contact Liz at 727-821-2963 to reserve a space * Address & Directions: 5500 Shore Blvd, Gulfport. 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. * Many thanks to all our volunteers and vendors who are making this event happen! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DONATE AN ITEM FOR OUR RAFFLE As a fundraising part of the Dance & Expo on the 25th, we're asking all readers to donate an item to our raffle -- swing related or not -- if they're in a position to do so. All donors will be recognized. * To all dance instructors, especially those who've listed their lessons in past Swing News, please donate some free lessons. * To all clubs and venues that sponsor swing nights, please donate some free tickets, passes, or other merchandise. * To all businesses and individuals that run them, please donate an item or a gift certificate. * To everyone else who has an item or service to donate (or who can acquire one), please do so. I'll be donating some free dance lessons, myself, plus a swing CD and a video. I challenge each and every reader to also donate something. To donate something, e-mail XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX , or contact Liz at 727-821-2963, or bring your item to any of the next three Wednesday- night Gulfport Casino swing nights (to the DJ). Thanks in advance for your help. --Sam ---------------------------------------------------------------------- WEEKLY SWING NIGHTS Tue: Dancelovers Ballroom in Clearwater; 727-582-9499; Nonsmoking; All Ages Wed: Gulfport Casino; 727-893-1070; Nonsmoking; All Ages Wed: Club More in downtown Clearwater; 727-466-6673; Smoking Thu: Storman's Palace in Clearwater; 727-571-2222; Smoking Thu: The Rare Olive in Ybor City; 813-248-2333; Smoking Fri: Swing City Dance Studio in Tampa; 813-935-7458; Nonsmoking Fri: Luna Lounge in Ybor City; 813-248-3460; Smoking Fri: The Rare Olive in Ybor City; 813-248-2333; Smoking Sat: Fortunate One in Ybor City; 813-241-CLUB; Smoking Sat: Majestik Dance Club on Clearwater Beach; 727-443-2890; Smoking Sun: Majestik Dance Club on Clearwater Beach; 727-443-2890; Teen Swing Starting Sunday, June 27th, the Platinum Vault (1901 Central Ave in St Pete; 727-550-8811) will kick off its every-Sunday swing night, 7pm-2am. It's ages 18+, $5 admission for everyone, and has a large, tile dancefloor. The dance area will be nonsmoking, and nearby lounges will be available for smokers. A free beginner's swing lesson will be given 7-8pm; an intermediate one, 8-9pm. A brief lesson in dances other than swing will happen at some point during the evening; opening night features a Cha Cha lesson during the band's break. Opening night, Dan Electro and the Silvertones perform 9-11pm and Matt Mikas DJs the rest of the evening. Opening night also features professional dance exhibitions, plus special guest Christian Perry from the GAP's swing commercial and from Brain Setzer videos. Andrew Woodrow writes: Swingers, Our local swing scene has taken some hits in the recent months, as you all know, but swing is still here and still very much alive. But the only way swing is going to stay alive in the Tampa area is if we -- the swingers, the people who love the music and the dance -- give it all our support. Right now, there are quite a few clubs and ballrooms that offer swing, but if these venues are not successful and are forced to close their doors on swing nights, they might not be very quick to open them to swing again. On the Swing News list alone, there are quite a few names -- enough to keep the swing scene alive if everyone helps out. So come out and support the clubs and ballrooms that are holding swing. Come out to the large venues, such as the Coliseum and the Gulfport Casino, and also remember the small clubs as well. Last Saturday (June 5th), the Fortunate One on 8th and Republica de Cuba had a live rockabilly band. When the Fortunate One is not having a live band, DJ Paul Mallett always spins some great swing and rockabilly. Your Fellow Swinger, --Andrew James Norman writes: Howdy swing dance enthusiasts! We are now hosting a Tuesday night dance. Manny, at Dance Lover's Ballroom in Clearwater, has asked us to host a weekly, public dance at his beautiful facility. For the coming two weeks, Arleene will give a half-hour lesson at 8pm, then I'll spin the tunes until 11:30pm. Arleene and I hope to see you there. Here are the particulars: smoke-free; Belaire Place Shopping Center (1704 Clearwater-Largo Road at Ponce de Leon); 727-582-9499; $6 admission includes lesson; large floating-wood dance floor; ample free parking; BYOB. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TEACH KIDS TO DANCE To keep youngsters off the street, Largo's Tri-Park Outreach Program runs a summer rec program for 7-12 year olds. Butch Stoll, director of the program, is looking for one or more volunteers to teach swing dance to these kids. It could be monthly, weekly, 1/2, 1, or 2 hours -- whatever your schedule allows -- and no prior teaching experience is necessary. The rec center is located on 142nd Ave between Belcher and 66th St in Largo. To volunteer or for more info, contact Butch at 727-532-9929 or at XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- WHERE'S MY SWING NEWS/EVENT? If you're wondering when the next issue's coming out, I'll let you in on a little secret. At the very top line of each issue, on the right- hand side, in parentheses, it tells. For example, at the top of this issue it says "(Next Issue, 6/22/99)". Now, it's possible the issue arrives a day or so late for a variety of reasons -- e-mail delays, too much material, technical problems. Or, for some people, it may not arrive at all (if your service provider is down, if your e-mail address is no longer valid, illegible writing, human error, whatever). If it's been over a month and you haven't received an issue, then resubscribe (by sending an e-mail request to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX). If you're organizing a swing event or know of one, please send it in (to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX) as soon as the details are finalized. All major local events will be listed if they make the deadline (Sunday at 5pm before the next issue comes out.) Down the road, we'll strive to have a discussion group on the Swing News web site where any late-breaking events can be posted. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BOMBED OUT CAT CALENDAR Thu Jun 10 The Rare Olive, Ybor City, 9:00pm-1:30am Fri Jun 11 The Rare Olive, Ybor City, 10:00pm-2:30am Sat Jun 12 Club Majestic, Clearwater Beach, 10:00pm-1:30am Tue Jun 15 Cadillac Jacks, Treasure Island, 9:00pm-1:30am Thu Jun 17 The Rare Olive, Ybor City, 9:00pm-1:30am Fri Jun 18 Midtown Sundries, St Pete, 10:00pm-1:30am Sat Jun 19 The Yellow Rose, Tampa, 10:00pm-2:00am Thu Jun 24 The Rare Olive, Ybor City, 9:00pm-1:30am Sat Jun 26 Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa, 8:00pm-Midnight Tue Jun 29 Cadillac Jacks, Treasure Island, 9:00pm-1:30am Contact clubs to confirm and for info on smoking, dance floor, etc. E-mail the band (Billy) at XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SWINGIN' MOOKS CALENDAR Wed Jun 9 Club More, 10:00pm, Clearwater Thu Jun 10 Storman's Palace, 9:30pm, Clearwater Sat Jun 12 Gators, 5:00pm, Treasure Island Sat Jun 12 Planet 9 Ball, 11:30pm, Tampa Wed Jun 16 Club More, 10:00pm, Clearwater Thu Jun 17 Largo Cultural Center, 8pm, Largo Fri Jun 18 Neptune Lounge, 10:30pm, Tarpon Springs Sat Jun 19 Gators, 5:00pm, Treasure Island Sat Jun 19 Planet 9 Ball, 11:30pm, Tampa Mon Jun 21 Gators, 10:00pm, Treasure Island Wed Jun 23 Club More, 10:00pm, Clearwater Thu Jun 24 Storman's Palace, 9:30pm, Clearwater Fri Jun 25 Gasoline Alley, 11:30pm, Clearwater Sat Jun 26 Gators, 5:00pm, Treasure Island Sat Jun 26 Planet 9 Ball, 11:30pm, Tampa Sun Jun 27 Pier 60, 5:00pm, Clearwater Beach Wed Jun 30 Club More, 10:00pm, Clearwater Contact clubs to confirm and for info on smoking, dance floor, etc. For the latest, visit http://md24.com/swinginmooks.htm on the web, or e-mail the band at XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- HIGHLIGHTS OF LAST WEDNESDAY'S MEETING Last Wednesday's meeting of our swing network at the Gulfport Casino was a big success and bodes well for the future of swing in Tampa Bay. 14 people attended and 10 others volunteered afterward to help organize. Highlights of the meeting: - Adopted a preliminary mission statement - Talked about goals for the network, including: -> Encouraging special events at favorite venues -> Sponsoring an events calendar & clearinghouse for organizers to inform people of events and to avoid event clashes -> Forming business relationships with event venues, instructors, and sellers of swing merchandise - Discussed organizational roles and who wanted to do what; everyone introduced themselves and talked about their interests - Decided to incorporate as a nonprofit - Chose a new name for our network, the Suncoast Swing Gang - Discussed our first event -- Fri, June 25th at the Casino - Talked about sponsoring or cosponsoring future events, as needed; the idea is to support local organizers like we've been doing, but to throw an occasional event if the local calendar has room for it. - Decided to meet quarterly (four times a year) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Suncoast Swing Gang, publisher of Swing News, is a network of swing dancers and other enthusiasts, committed to promoting events in places with large, smoke-free or open-air dance areas; to encouraging great music & instruction; and to building a united swing community! Send additions/deletions/address-changes to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . Check out our companion website at http://www.SwingNews.com . **********************************************************************