[Squaredancing] Discussion on the National in Charlotte

[Linda Jones - LKJ]

So what IS the dress code for the convention?  We are hoping go in the
next year or two and I want to dress appropriately.

Thanks!

Linda


-----Original Message-----
From: squaredancing-bounces at rbnsn.com
[mailto:squaredancing-bounces at rbnsn.com] On Behalf Of Bruce Morgan
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2007 12:30 PM
To: Square Dance Group
Subject: Re: [Squaredancing] Discussion on the National in Charlotte


I thought it was a great convention.  The sound in the Live Band hall
was very bad on Wednesday night but was a lot better the remainder of
the convention.  The music in the Live Band Hall was just too loud most
all the time.  You had to really strain to hear the callers over and
above the Band. It was nice that they had the convention center people
manning the escalators so that in order to go down to them main dance
halls you had to have a Convention Badge on.  This eliminated a lot of
non dancers just milling around looking.  They were able to watch from
window on the main floor.  

The food was excellent.  We even went to the mall across the street from
the convention center and ate 2 nights.  This place had at least 3
places that were open almost all the times that the convention was open.
We really enjoyed it.  There were a few fast food type places that were
not open all the times.  They were geared toward the working people.
Since our activity is held almost at night these places were closed when
we needed them the most.  It would have been nice if they had been told
and could have stayed open.  I am sure they would have been busy.  

All in all, it was a great convention. As for the dress code.  I think
it was a BIG mistake to ask people to leave because they weren't dressed
as required.  The, as required, is not spelled out so that everybody
knows what is required.  If we are going by the CallerLab description
then most people that were asked to leave probably met that requirement.
If this is going to be enforced at future conventions then it needs to
be stated well up front as to what everybody is to wear.  If it is good
for the dancers then the callers, cuers, etc. need to be held to the
same standards.  They are not special people.  They should not get
special treatment.  

Bruce Morgan
Orlando, FL 


-----Original Message-----
From: squaredancing-bounces at rbnsn.com
[mailto:squaredancing-bounces at rbnsn.com] On Behalf Of Ken Robinson
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2007 12:14 PM
To: squaredancing at rbnsn.com
Subject: [Squaredancing] Discussion on the National in Charlotte

Since this list has been very quiet lately, maybe we can get a  
discussion going about the recent NSDC in Charlotte, NC.

There has been a lively discussion in the SD-Callers list about the  
"Dress Code violation incident" in the C1 hall.

Overall, I thought it was a pretty good convention from a dancers  
point of view.

On the positive side:

The convention center is small, so the convention filled it nicely.  
The food was good and reasonably priced. There was an $8 buffet for  
breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I never saw the food run out completely.

The sound was good with little bleeding between halls.

The education area was easy to get to and well signed.

The attendance was up about 10% over last year. Total: 8021. (I have a  
web site that shows the attendance over the years  
<http://www.rbnsn.com/nsdc/>

Now some negatives:

The rubberized plastic floor that was put over the carpet was hard to  
dance on at first and it rippled in spots. I heard that some round  
dancers tripped on the ripples.

I heard that the transportation provided was pretty bad I didn't use  
it, so I can't comment on it. I walked the few blocks to/from my hotel.

The convention organizers really should speak with the restaurants and  
fast food places near the convention to make sure they can stay open  
in the evening. There was a small shopping mall not far from the  
convention center and almost all the fast food places were closed by 5  
PM.

The hall used for the exhibitions and ceremonies did not have bleacher  
seating set up. This made it very difficult to really see the  
exhibitions and the Parade of States.

The signs for some of the halls, especially those which were created  
by dividing big halls, was very poor and it was hard to figure out  
which hall was which.

Does anyone else have anything to contribute??

Ken Robinson
Hillsborough, NJ / Baltimore, MD

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