Make The World Go "Round
06.12.10

I know I've discussed this several times in the past, but it is a tender subject and near and dear to my heart.
 
I've had people literally accost me over my opinion in previous articles regarding the music on the scene. Believe me, it gets that personal!
 
Musical taste is a very personal thing and can range from a very narrow view of "good" music to an extremely generous ear to many genre and styles.
 
With all of our travels over the years, I have had an opportunity to sample many events and see what seems to drive dancers to the floor and just as important, what can drive them away. Based on those observations, I offer some thoughts on this subject:
 

• WCS is evolving and dancers that are joining our community are very much tuned into today's music.
• Dancers appreciate good music in general and tend to want to hear a variety rather than 1 type or genre.
• There is a pendulum effect in speed of music preferred. It has gone from very fast when I started dancing, to slow in recent years and appears to be speeding up again.
• At dances with a mix of dance styles, the DJ's have their work cut out for them. There is always that dissatisfaction level of one group never getting enough of the music they want. If you have two groups, that irritation goes up many times if the DJ doesn't find a fine line of balance.
• Oldies are great, but they need to be sprinkled into the current mixes. Most sessions, I find the DJ's to be a little heavy on old fav's. We have to guard against being lazy in the industry, as safe plays such as these wear thin with many dancers.
• This may catch a little flack, but generally speaking younger dancers are much more tolerant of music variations. This in spite of the fact that they are usually spending a higher percentage of their earnings to dance compared with the more established older crowd.