Taxi Dancers- Identification

[Jared Requa]

Hey Everyone,

Thanks to those that volunteered yesterday to help out with Taxi dancing tonight (See you at 8!), but I need a little more help. Can anyone think of a cheap/easy way for the Taxi Dancers to set themselves apart from the rest of the dancers? I've been racking my brain since yesterday but I just can't come up with anything. I think my creative muscle broke.

Any ideas? Thanks!


-Jared

[Jesse Phillips]

put some cream on it, you'll be fine. :D  How about I make up some little signages, someone else bring safety pins and we'll just wear a tag?  (I have mad skills for design. :D)  Whaddya think?
-jesse

[Michael Smith]

Someone I was talking to had an idea to not have Taxi Dancers set themselves apart at all. This way, the Taxi Dancers are personally responsible for seeking out new dancers and making them feel welcome. The new dancers then don't know that the person is a Taxi Dancer and it may seem more personal and less like a job.

Just some $.02

~Michael

[Jesse Phillips]

if it's "my two cents" and "a penny for your thought", where'd the other penny go...?

I think Michael might have the right idea! :D
-jesse

[Anna Blair]

the other penny...profit!

Well anyway, I think Michael has a really good idea. If the welcome wagon that has a sign around its neck that seems a little overwhelming and people go out to meet people and talk to people and start friendships, not to be welcomed!

this is such a cool idea, I will take part when I go to burn blue!

[Osmeon]

This is a great idea, but as a volunteer, I'd rather have some kind of identifier.  Not being identified makes it less like a job in the perspective of the new dancers, but more like work for the taxi dancers. Also, It might be good practice for new dancers to approach someone and ask that person to dance. Potentially make them feel more comfortable approaching other dancers.   

~ Marie

[Jared Requa]

Good call Michael... I didn't even really think of it that way! We could be like the Burn Blue Gestapo- 'cept for less interrogation and killing, and more dancing. ;) I dig that.

Lets go with that concept for tonight- a silent pilot of the program. That way we can continue to tweak it before we make it more known that it's even going on. Sound good?

-Jared

[Michael Smith]

Thanks guys. :)

Just to reiterate, this wasn't my idea. It was Ted that suggested it to me.

On Tue, May 5, 2009 at 3:01 PM, Anna Blair <anna....@gmail.com> wrote:

[Anna Blair]

Yay Ted!

[Jesse Phillips]

Yay, Ted.  This sounds like a plan.  (and Anna, well played. ;D )

[Jared Requa]

Ok- so what about Marie's point? Is there value in encouraging new dancers to ask the Taxis to dance? Does not being identified create more work for the Taxi Dancer?

[Dave Poole]

I thought taxi dancers were supposed to be identifiable. They're
supposed to have a tag or an arm band so what new people won't be
intimidated by all the good dancers or possibly getting turned down
because "they're not good enough". The new dancers know they can ask
the taxis for dances, or advice - it's a simple and safe way to get
integrated in the community.

Not having them identifiable is really just "hey experienced dancers,
go play with people you don't know" - which they should be doing
anyways but is unenforceable.

The identification is for the benefit of the new dancers, or the
people that don't have any idea what is going on.

~dave

On Tue, May 5, 2009 at 3:11 PM, Jesse Phillips

[Anna Blair]

nope, it is easy to find the new dancers. The new dancers will feel comfortable dancing with people they know. So lets get out on the floor and get to know them! Go be bold! Taxi dancers unite!

[Sarah Schlossman]

I would say that taxi dancers should be identified as such - either by a visible marker, or by an introduction at the beginning of the evening, or even just by telling the people they ask to dance at the beginning of a song.

I agree with Dave's point:

"The new dancers know they can ask the taxis for dances, or advice - it's a simple and safe way to get integrated in the community."

I had the impression that the point of taxi dancers is not just to dance with new dancers, but to serve as a welcome and a resource about the blues community as a whole. If a new person knows that someone is a taxi dancer, they will feel more comfortable asking that person for a dance, as well as for help with dancing, information on Burn Blue/the blues community, and for advice as to how to get involved. It can be intimidating to try to talk to a stranger at the same time as dancing with them (especially if you are new to dancing). It makes it easier when you know that a person is there to have a conversation and to help you, as well as to dance with you.

I also agree with Marie's point - it makes the taxi dancers' job much easier when new dancers are seeking them out. And it's good practice for new dancers to approach someone and ask them to dance (much less scary when you know someone will say yes). However, that does not remove the responsibility of taxi dancers to seek out new dancers and ask them to dance!

[Emily Smith]

I think these are all really great points.
My opinion is that eventually, Taxi dancers should be identifiable to help the new dancers know that is someone they can approach. Even with an identifier, new dancers will probably not know that is a person designated to seek them out, or designated for them to seek out. Without an identifier, if I was a new dancer and noticing that a really good dancer was asking all the new people and didn't ask me, I'd feel like crap. I would be less inclined to ask that person to dance.
Tonight, and for the first couple weeks, I think it's fine to not have an identifier to test out taxi dancing. But I think eventually, some kind of identifier would be good to have.
My identifier idea: sharpie writing on a fabric softener cloth safety-pinned to the back of the shirt  :)     (it'd be cheap anyway :)

Emily

[Jesse Phillips]

How about this:  Jared, on your way to Burn Blue tonite, stop by a craft store and snag a roll of thicker ribbon (something with black and white checks might be fun - go with the Taxi theme); it'll cost you less than five bucks.  Then we can each decide how subtle we want to be with our "Taxi Pride".   Some dancers may be more comfortable being randomly approached by someone who's commissioned to do it, and others may not.  Those who are more obviously marked will be more approachable, and the ones who aren't so bold can fly in under the radar.
-jesse

[Emily Smith]

I like it.

[Miles Cohen]

If the decision is made to make the taxis visible (I can't tell from this thread whether the decision is final or not), can one of you text me at 206-313-3816. My beginner series ends tonight and I'll let my students know about the program... it might help them get out there.

 

-Miles

[Jeremy Lightsmith]

The decision tonight is Jared's since he's the one putting it all together.

My vote is for some way of marking taxi dancers.  I like the idea of "putting on" the role and "taking it off" when I'm done.  I also second (or forth) what was said earlier about taxi dancers being a resource to be asked to dance by beginners or asked about dancing by anyone...for which a marker would be better.

Jeremy

--
Jeremy Lightsmith
Coaching Teams & Creating Communities

312-953-1193
http://onemanswalk.com/ (blog)
http://facilitationpatterns.org/ (book in progress)
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremylightsmith

[Dave Poole]

Yellow felt arm band + velcro + black sharpie

[Jared Requa]

Here are my thoughts.

The idea of having a secret taxi group seems great, I was initially excited at the idea. After some more thought, and in consideration of the points brought up here, I think the idea is counterproductive due to a couple of points.

1) As a Taxi Dancer, I am not only supposed to be someone to dance with (which a secret taxi could accomplish) but I also serve as an information source for those that just want to know more, not necessarily dance. If I'm in secret, I am hard to identify as a source of information.

2) As a Taxi Dancer, I want to be able to separate my time during a dance by having a something I can put on when I'm a Taxi, and take off when I'm not.

3) As a new dancer, it takes some of the anxiety out of asking someone to dance when I know they wont say "No."

In light of the above, I believe we should try and identify ourselves. That said, I will most likely be unable to make it to any kind of craft store this evening, so unless someone else can make it (I like the ribbon idea, or if someone can think of a Cinco de Mayo themed identifier), I'm not going to stress too much about it this evening. Should we just bring a sharpie and some dryer sheets?

-Jared

[Osmeon]

I will bring some form of identifier. I'll text Miles when I know what form that will take. 

~ Marie

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