Hi Lenny good question you posted.

One way might be is to have the same prices?? I see that one has rooms alittle lower and admisison to the fest is lower at one also. Do you think having (IPA) having no music on Sunday hurts? Many people work during the week and can not get to the fest Thrs-Sat, for some out of town people.

I think this year they do not have some of the same bands playing at both festivals, which if they did then the people may be able to afford only one festival and then they have to pick just one to go to.

I see both have flyers out for each festival already, I beleive you can never have too much advertising.

I think this issue should be handled like any marketing plan.
What group of people do you want to target to come to the festivals?

Is it people who attended polka dances in the past, but no longer attend? Then you need to research why they stopped coming and hopefully overcome it . Not a short term fix for this year but maybe for next year.

Is it non-Polish ethnic groups you want to attract? Then advertise in those ethnic medias. In Toronto there are many websites that list events for their ethnic audience (and several for Polish people) and I would hope Cleveland has those too. Also do you advertise in English media? There are inexpensive ways to do that.

Is it young people who may have never attended a polka dance? Find out where they go now, be it clubs or whatever and see if you can promote your festivals at those locations. If they allow flyers there, do NOT have the "normal" flyer. Make up a special one that targets the audience. For example, say - if polkas remind you of Beer Barrel Polka, then come see modern hard-driving polkas, etc. Add an incentive such as, if you come after 11pm admission is free. Make it easy for someone to "pop in" to see what it's like.

These all require a lot of work but good results will require good effort.

Lenny,

A good topic to discuss.

I think IPA could improve it's festival attendance by moving it to Labor Day Weekend. While there are a few other events that occur on that weekend, I think IPA would draw more people on a holiday weekend. The formula seems to work pretty well for USPA on Memorial Day Weekend. Just an idea I've been meaning to pass along to IPA. Perhaps they have considered this, but it should be given some serious thought.

These are all good suggestions and idea's. My thoughts are that while these festivals are being promoted and are already upon us for 2011, now is the time for us to observe the things we think they each should be doing and noticing some items that they missed. This way we can get 2012 on the radar and maybe suggest that the Orgs appoint an efficient press committee to be tied in with sites like Polkas United and feed these type of suggestions. There has to be a way this all works in synch and drives good results.

I wonder if there might be ways to get the word out through Facebook/Twitter/some other kinds of social media? It wouldn't require changing much about the event itself, but just how its publicized. You might be able to find people in the Cleveland area who would be happy to stop by to hear some live music for an evening--they wouldn't have to travel, but might really enjoy the experience. Maybe if there was one particular evening targeting young people or new comers with dance lessons? There is a growing community of late-teen and twenty-something young adults who love all things unique and ironic. I imagine they could be convinced to try some polka.

Just some thoughts!

I'm from Toronto and I just came back from a dance in Buffalo.
Their Dyngus Day 24-page brochure is absolutely EVERYWHERE. Wegman's (a supermarket), Target, etc. etc.
The brochure just doesn't list the events, it describes the history and meaning of the event for the unitiated.
That is the kind of promotion any festival needs to increase attendance.

HI Lenny,

great question and I love all the suggestions that you have received so far.. We definitely have to get creative to reach some new demographic groups
of people to keep Polka alive .. while I appreciate all the older folks at these festivals and the history, we need to reach out to the younger folks.

As for USPA and IPA in Cleveland, first I will say the band line-ups are always awesome.. However, that venue / dance hall at DoubleTree is totally maxed out, at least for USPA.. I have attended USPA about 3 or 4 times in recent years... so if USPA plans to attract more people, the current space at Doubletree hotel Does NOT suffice..

So something has to change venue-wise in order to draw more people and just as important, KEEP them coming back for a second time..

Currently that space at Doubletree USPA works for people that like to stand in front of the stage to listen and interact with the bands..

However, for dancers like me, the dance floor scene has gotten too frustrating.. There is very limited room to dance because:

(a) that dance floor is quite small to begin with ..
(b) over half the floor disappears when people stand on it without dancing,... and ...
(c) the floor gets sticky and dangerous from spilled drinks ..

And for people that like to sit at tables, that table space is just too crammed.. if people are sitting at tables, there is absolutely no space for people to walk in and out of the table area.. If I see someone that I want to dance with sitting at a table, it is a major struggle and very time consuming to walk to their chair to ask them to dance..

So it is time to find a more spacious venue.. I know Memorial Day can have chilly weather yet, but why not pitch a huge tent such as Frankenmuth had traditionally done ?? It does not need to be as large as the red and white Frankenmuth tent, but I would say at least half as big.. If rain and cool weather is a concern, it can be a tent that has side flaps, and there could be a provision for heat somehow.. just some ideas..

oh, and thanks for playing "Holiday In Poland" for me in Connecticut this spring ..
cheers, joe the polka tornado

Polkatornado, I totally agree with your observations. I just got back from this year's USPA and Friday was at absolute capacity. You couldn't get any more people into the place.
Saturday the lounge was at absolute capacity. You could barely move around.
I couldn't attend Sunday so I don't know how that was.
I'm assuming Lenny is more concerned about the IPA event which I have never attended.

Hi, This is Eddie down in Jacksonville, NC...we have several Polish Events down this way as well...........since we are close to the beach, we get a nice turn out for our festival in November, folks do two vacations in one, polka music and polish food along with some golf and the beach at the same time............I think you need to offer more than just the dance.........the economy if tough these days and you need to offer more for the entire family.........growing up I tried to introduce my children to polkas, even now they are not to interested in them..........we need to realize, the polka music is weakening and down size our events or cut the prices and recognize that you can no longer make a living promoting polka music, you need to be just in it for the fun these days!!!!

I received a few private e-mails concerning the latest USPA Festival and also looking at some of the discussion in this thread I'd like to comment on a few things. This years USPA Festival (2011) had a fantastic showing in numbers. The age group was just the mix we need at all polka events. The Doubletree Hotel was packed from Thursday to Monday with all polka loving fans. Some say it was too crowded ... I disagree. We can't have it both ways. If they moved to a larger venue it would allow more space but would it be effective the following year? What I'm getting at is ... the USPA has a working relationship with management at the Doubletree to provide aggressive pricing and best in class customer service. Together they have made this festival more affordable than any other. We're in the age of scrutiny as the corporate mind set is to make money and raise prices continually. An event such as Polka Fireworks at Seven Springs in Champion, PA use to be the big event of the year. It's been effected by high prices and in turn it's lost it's luster. Families and fans are challenged by not only the high prices but the restrictions management now places on the liberties a polka fan has. At one time that festival drew massive crowds because back then the former management worked in harmony with the polka coordinators. Regrettably, that's gone away. On the other hand, the USPA is keeping that working relationship with management and their event is attracting more attention. I would venture to say that a family of 5 can spend the extended weekend there for half the cost maybe more. Imagine that? Looking at all the costs, lodging, restaurants, admissions, drink prices and that's not to mention convenience in travel with Cleveland being the crossroads for most fans. My point is ... when the polka coordinators deal effectively with management, it's a win/win situation for the polka fans. The USPA no doubt attracted attention this year and I predict they'll do just as good or better next year.

HI Lenny,

you made a lot of good points that I had not thought about regarding the relationship with the management at the hotels..
And Cleveland is a nice crossroads location, a sort of center of the polka world.. So Cleveland is okay, but I find it hard to believe
that there is not somewhere in that area with more dance space for the event..

I may have failed to mention that they are people , and not only me, who in fact have stopped going to USPA because
of the overcrowded conditions, particularly the lack of adequate dance floor space .. I may be in the minority in that I consider it a ""POLKA DANCE"
first and foremost, and therefore I need room to dance, or I likely will keep skipping USPA..

polka on,
joe

I was very happy to see that we are getting comments on USPA. I would like an opinion on moving the dance floor to the back of the room for dancers, and leave the bands upfront for fans of standing in front of the band. Our dane floor is 40X40 which is a large dance floor. We do work very hard to keep our pricing affordable, and we have talked with managment about a few improvements we have noticed need to be done, they have agreed to do them and also keep our pricing the same for 2012. If you suggestions please let me know.
Barb Haselow

I don't think moving the dance floor to the back is a good idea. You want to dance close to the band just like the fans want to stand close to them. Dancing at the back would feel like you're dancing to a cd and not a live event.
You could try setting up a dance floor in the adjacent second hall where you only have tables now and see if there are any people willing to dance there as a trial. You would probably need some kind of additional sound feed to that hall since the "natural" sound isn't very loud.

do what the latins do here in nycity and new jersey ... they have dance lessons before and during the events ...and lets try to introduce various dances and reduce brass sounds and rock - druming ...

Ready at last! Our researches of European Social Ballroom Dances are now on a set of 5 CD/DVD-s- data discs. We offer the content to you for free. Although copyrighted by the author, Mr. R. Cwieka, (me), he hereby gives you permission to make copies of the said discs and distribute them to your dance friends, the general public and to libraries. DO YOU WANT THE DISCS? (FIRST, I SHALL SEND THE INITIAL CD.) SHALL I SEND IT TO YOU? Here are the contents:
POLONAISE: STORY OF A DANCE
MAZUR-MAZURKA: THE BRILLANT GLORIOUS DANCE
The title, MAZUR-MAZURKA: THE BRILLANT GLORIOUS DANCE, is a compendium or a catch-all title for the following works, which deal with aspects of the Mazur-Mazurka Dance:
MAZUR: THE ELEGANT POLISH RUNNING-SLIDING DANCE
POLISH MAZUR-MAZURKA DANCE MANUALS &
SUPPLEMENTAL POLISH MAZUR-MAZURKA SOURCES

RUSSIAN MAZUR-MAZURKA DANCE MANUALS &
SUPPLEMENTAL RUSSIAN MAZUR-MAZURKA SOURCES

GERMAN MAZUR-MAZURKA DANCE MANUALS &
SUPPLEMENTAL GERMAN MAZUR-MAZURKA SOURCES

ITALIAN MAZUR-MAZURKA DANCE MANUALS
SWEDISH MAZUR-MAZURKA DANCE MANUALS
SUPPLEMENTAL ENGLISH MAZUR-MAZURKA SOURCES
SUPPLEMENTAL FRENCH MAZUR-MAZURKA SOURCES
SUPPLEMENTAL AUSTRIAN MAZUR-MAZURKA SOURCES

THE ŻYWIECKIAN MAZUR

THE ELEMENTS OF AND THEIR COMBINATION IN FIGURES FOR POLISH
FIGURE DANCING

THE MAZUR-MAZURKA DANCE FIGURES WORKBOOK &
THE MAZUR-MAZURKA DANCE FIGURES AUDIO INSTRUCTIONS*

SUPPLEMENTAL HOŁUBIEC COUPLE-TURN SOURCES

SOME MORE MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, FRAGMENTS, ETC., ABOUT THE
SLIDING-GLIDING MAZUR STEP: FINALLY DONE 2007

A SUPPLEMENTAL SIMPLE ANALYSIS OF SOME PICTURES OF THE PZDP


THE KRAKOWIAK DANCE WORKBOOK
THE KUJAWIAK DANCE WORKBOOK
THE OBEREK DANCE WORKBOOK
THE GORALSKI DANCE WORKBOOK
DANCES AND FOLKLORE OF THE ŻYWIECKIAN TOWNSPEOPLE

*As of this writing, The Mazur-Mazurka Dance Figures Audio Instructions, do not exist in book form.(But we do have a soft-covered Workbook of all these Figures which is available.) They are a series of 4 DVD-data discs, done as DATA-SOUND RECORDINGS, TALKING, VERBAL INSTRUCTION which are in ENGISH for each of the figure-sequences, that is, of the complete choreographies for almost 300 hundred Contemporary Social Ballroom and Stage choreographies. These are used in conjunction with the THE MAZUR-MAZURKA DANCE FIGURES WORKBOOK which illustrates all of the figure-sequences, that is, the figures are drawn.. This is about forty hours of verbal instructions—a real treat for dance lovers. (To obtain these, for free, contact the author at cwiekara@shu.edu) Would anyone or group of dance-lovers like to make a video record of these complete choreographies? Or donate copies to your local library. Or place any of the works on your web-site OR make computer-animations. Feel free to do so.