[Dixielandjazz] Swing Dancers

[Stephen G Barbone]

Andy Ling made some interesting comments about swing dancers in  some  
areas only being interested in the rhythm and not the music or the band.

In my experience in the Philadelphia  PA area it is a combination of  
both. Surely they are interested in the rhythm because that's what the  
dance to. And they hire bands that have good rhythm sections.

On the other hand, since we've been doing swing dances for about 15  
years, we have a pretty good following of kids who know and interact  
with us. As a result, they cheer and clap for both solos and at the  
end of each song. And they come up and talk with us on breaks. We can  
see quite a few of them mouthing the words to songs like "They Can't  
Take That Away From Me." or "I Can't Give You Anything But Love", asa  
we play and/or sing them.

And they ask us if we saw Fats Waller, or Benny, or Artie Shaw, or  
Frankie Manning etc., before they passed away. They know, at least in  
our territory, about the music and the dancers of the 30s and 40s.

IMO, I think the reaction bands get from swing dancers, or any  
audience for that matter, depends in large measure upon how well bands  
"CONNECT" with that audience.

If a band just stands or sits there with bored looks on their faces,  
they may well get that same reaction from the audience. What works for  
us is getting the audience involved with program. They want to be a  
part of it, so bring up a pretty girl and sing to her, or praise the  
best dancers among them. Tell an anecdote about Fats Waller, or Benny  
Goodman, Chick Webb, Ella, et al.

One of my favorites since we are, with one exception, a band of old  
guys is:

"Several years ago, at the opera House in  Wilmington, I met Doc  
Cheatham who was performing there leading a swing band. He was 97 at  
the time, but still playing trumpet and singing beautifully. I was  
about 70 then and asked him; 'Doc, at what age does a man lose  
interest in women?' He replied; 'I don't know, you'll have to ask  
someone older than me.' "

For goodness sake, these kids are young with overflowing hormones. Why  
not sell the sexiness of the music and the musicians as well as the  
music?

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband