The Salsa Squad Blog

August '09 E-Newsletter

Here is the news in brief:

1) Brean Sands Salsa Weekender, how to book your place.

2) Free Salsa Social Sunday Aug 30th (Bank Holiday).

3) How to Get in 1/2 Price or FR EE, and last months winner.

4) Tip of the week - how to remember moves....and peoples names.

1) Brean Sands Salsa Weekender, how to book your place.

This will be the 4th year that the SALSA SQUAD boys and girls have visited Brean Sands Salsa Weekender. Last year 1 in 10 of the 1000 people who were there were SALSA SQUAD members.

If you want to come and join in the fun this year on Fri 4th - Mon 7th of December then book your place with us now as we are taking another big group along, full details HERE. If you are on Facebook then the event page is HERE.

As a thank you to all members new and old for your continued support we are putting on a FR EE Salsa Social at D-bar (not D-Fly) in Cheltenham. These salsa socials are always packed and this event will be no different. Full details HERE. If you are on Facebook then the event page is HERE.

3) Get in 1/2 Price or FR EE!

Bring a new Guest to any SALSA SQUAD night and you BOTH enter 1/2 price, bring 2 or more new guests and you enter for FREE and your Guests enter 1/2 price. The person who brings the most new people in each month wins 4 classes FREE. Congrataltions to Leo Rocha who won Julys competition. For full details of the competition follow this LINK.

4) Tip of the week - How to peoples names ........and moves.

Last month we covered how to make conversation at a Salsa event. If you missed that post you can read it again HERE.

This month we are going to look at the tricky subject of remembering peoples names and how that relates to remembering moves.

You know how it feels when someone remembers your name. That warm sense of appreciation rings in your ear and resonates like a bell down to your heart. And every time it happens, it brings us closer together.

But remebering names can be difficult. Even my own mother forgets mine sometimes, she often goes through the entire family tree before getting to it, 'Do you want a cup of tea Geoff....Sue....Mike.....Daniel....Elliot....I mean Paul.....??

Here are some tips that might help:

Attitude
Im bad with names. I can only remember faces. I always forget people. I dont think Im ever improve my memory for names. I feel guilty when I ask the person to repeat their name again and again.

Try changing your attitude! If you tell yourself youre terrible with names, youre always going to be terrible - it's a self fulfilling prophecy.... and that apples to anything in life that you tell yourself you are bad at. Start telling yourself 'Every day I am getting better at remembering names' (or what ever) ' and you will get better.

Focus
I failed to focus on the moment of introduction. I was too busy worrying about the correct handshake, what to say next, would they like me, etc.

Forget about you. Focus on them. This is the key to remembering names. Smile and make eye contact as soon as they say their name. Repeat it back to them within four seconds. Dont worry ¦when you do remember their name, you will make a good first impression.

Repitition

Try to use the persons name 4 times during the conversation, but not all at once eg 'So Tony, tell me Tony, how did you get started in Salsa Tony....Tony'. Spread it out otherwise they may find someone else to talk to, and fast!

Association.

You meet someone for the first time called Anthony. Imagine him jumping up and down whilst scratching his Y fronts as he has 'Ants in his Pants'. Ants in his Pants Antony. The more outrageous you make the association the more chance you have of remembering his name.

Practice

Don't try and remember everones name at the next night out. Aim to add 1 or 2 names at every class and before you know it you will know the names of lots more people than when you started.

How to remember moves.

Practice the routine immediately after the class rather than going back to your trusty favourites. Practice it 4 times with different partners. Carry a notebook in your back pocket and write it down. If you do this use CBL, RT, LT RHH etc rather than Cross Body Lead, Right Turn, Left Turn, Right hand hold etc. Some people feel a bit geeky doing this but I can promise you all the best dancers have done it at some time. Video record it on your phone, this is the best way and most modern phones allow for this.

Ok folks, that's all for now.

Saludos

Paul 

SALSASQUAD.com

posted by paul on 27th January 2010

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