Baltimore Pride Festival

[bjarvis]

Baltimore Pride has come & gone for another year.

Pride festivals are typically more work than festival for folks like kent4str and me... there's always some community group with whom we are affiliated which needs staffing, assistance in setup or such. Baltimore Pride is a much longer working engagement for us than most others but it's a great venue and a good time nonetheless.

For the third year running, kent4str and I hosted intro-to-square-dance sessions at the festival's picnic pavilion on behalf of the Chesapeake Squares. Since all vehicles had to be off the grounds by 10:30 AM, we were there much earlier to unload the sound systems and misc supplies; the Chesapeake Squares folks provided the generator and a stack of pamphlets & flyers, as well as staffed their booth over in the community groups section of the festival. We were able to take down the equipment and escape the masses just before 6 PM, making it a very long day.

One the whole, I think our dog and pony show went pretty well. We did intro sessions at the top of the hour, noon to 4 PM. As with prior years, the noon hour presentation was an utter flop: no one was interested in dancing, just eating. We had a square of newbies & Chesapeake Squares folks for the 1 PM session, two squares for the 2 PM session, one for the 3 PM session and two again at 4 PM. Each show was intentionally kept short: 5-6 basic calls taught in about as many minutes. If we had a full square of experienced dancers, we closed the session with a simple mainstream singing tip as a demo. All through each show, we announced ad nauseum our open houses (no partner or prior experience needed, etc.), our web site, our booth, our brochures, our dancing schedule and emphasizing the social aspects of the club.

I'm not sure how many folks filled out an address card for more information --our club secretary Scott tracked that info-- but there was a good churn of bodies through the pavilion, including a lot of younger folks (18-25). And everyone left laughing, a few asking for more calls.

I largely view these public demonstrations as a public visibility function supporting our recruitment rather than a recruitment function in itself. On that front, I'm ready to declare success.

BTW, our next open house is Tuesday, June 26, at the Waxter Center (Cathedral & Eager Streets). No prior dance experience needed, no commitment required and don't worry about bringing a partner. Click here for details.

While we were on duty, we weren't able to socialize a great deal with friends but I did take a few photos during breaks. The adorable furry bearginner popped by to introduce himself in the mid-afternoon and we were able to chat for a short while before the next demonstration started.

	Brian, Paulo & Kent Baltimore Pride, 2007-06-17
	Paulo (bearginner) Baltimore Pride, 2007-06-17
	Andy Baltimore Pride, 2007-06-17
	Greg Baltimore Pride, 2007-06-17
	Kent, Joe, Brian & Jeff Baltimore Pride, 2007-06-17
	Random hottie #1 Baltimore Pride, 2007-06-17
	Random hottie #2 Baltimore Pride, 2007-06-17
	Random hottie #3 Baltimore Pride, 2007-06-17

Comments

[markgarciachris.livejournal.com]

Random hottie number one and two is our current landlord... Yeah, he's definitely a hottie.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

If you can get a DNA sample, we'll clone a copy or two to send with you to Philadelphia.

[bearginner.livejournal.com]

It was great to meet you and Kent!
And the 4pm dance was really fun to watch!
Hugs,
Paulo

[rsc.livejournal.com]

Hey, I know Andy! He comes to the Boston contras and to Dance Camp now and then.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

He mentioned he had done a lot of contra up in the north-east...

[(Anonymous)]

I know Andy too. He and I were once even mistaken for one another a few years ago at contra dance camp. He's a cutie, ain't he? He's even cuter in his full Scottish regalia, Sutherland tartan and all.

Aw, fudge

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

That last comment was from me.

[kuriin.livejournal.com]

You don't know me, but do you go to DC Pride? I haven't been to it since 06.

Was this year as boring as last? :b

Ohio State U student wants to know as I used to live in Maryland. :)

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Was it as boring as 2006? As near as I can tell... :-)

I've never been a big fan of the DC festival: I don't like trudging around on overheated asphalt and the number of businesses & political groups begging for money makes it more a commercial venture than a celebration of community. That, and I've spent the bulk of my time there each year staffing booths for community organizations so it's more a work shift than a fun time for me.

In all, I'd skip DC's festival if I could avoid it.

[kuriin.livejournal.com]

Yeah. The past few years have been pretty much nothing but advertisements/campaigns. The one thing that disappointed me in both the New York and DC one were the lack of leather men. I heard there was a leather event in SF, which makes me interested in checking that out.

Oh well. Hopefully the Columbus one will be mildly entertaining. =P

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

If you want to see the leathermen in NYC, you have to go a week earlier and catch "Folsom Street East." It's very leathery and also features much exposed skin when the weather allows (as it did this year!).