Organising milongas

Organising is a thankless task a lot of the time - it is only on the night when a happy, energised crowd dances to a playlist that has taken days to put together, that I feel it is all worthwhile. So when I send out invites and get an answer that says - I plan to wash my hair( not quote but I did get one which said I told a friend I'd go to the movies) - am I getting a put-down? I think so, but maybe I am being over-sensitive.
In our town there are a number of milongas every night - and a relatively small customer-base - so it is an uphmilongas ill battle.

Tango vibes

There is always so much going on in Sydney sometimes I am pleased that financial constraints mean that we can’t afford to go to many of the events/workshops we would enjoy.

On Saturday we chose the Marrickville milonga run by Tango Entre Amigos. It has a really good floor and though the buzz can be uncomfortable, we took the risk. It is odd how some milongas give off an unfriendly vibe sometimes. This last one was not as good as last month which was really friendly – and I had many more dances – but it was a good nice of dancing and congenial company. Sometimes one is able to work out where the bad vibes are coming from, but sometimes they are unexplained – bit like the logic of being asked to dance (there isn’t any!)

Sunday we wanted to go to the Crows Nest Fair to dance with and watch the supporters of A Little Buenos Aires but got stuck in traffic and missed it! So we checked out Tony Leoni’s Tango Tea Dance at the North Sydney Leagues Club. Sadly the Kameraigal room is brown! (my least favourite colour) and has no atmosphere. Tony however makes up for it by being an amiable host and although it was a small crowd it was very friendly.

Coming up next weekend – the new Milonga de mis Amores at Gladesville RSL . Looking forward the the venue – and to the free canyengue lesson.

Making money in Tango

Recently one of my tango partners asked if I was making money out of the little milongas that I run every month. As one who has been in small business all my life I would not run the milongas if I wasn't covering costs - which is all I am doing at the moment. Good he said - "I don't understand these people who say you shouldn't make money out of tango"! And I agree. Everyone involved in tango is there because they love the dance, the music and the culture. Those who have found a way to make a living out of something they love are the lucky ones. Those who snipe at this (and the Tango Nazis fit in here) are sourpusses.

We have three major camps here and it is probably the same everywhere - there are
* Tango Entrepreneurs: those who organise milongas, run schools, workshops and websites or sell tango shoes or other items to the community. In Sydney we have some very clever, tenacious entrepreneurs who have made the tango scene buzz for the last few years.
* Tango Dancers: those who are just happy to dance wherever they find good music and company they enjoy. Fortunately there are enough to go round two or three milongas a night - and to create an interesting scene.
* Tango Nazis: those who have given themselves the authority to tell others what (and who)is good and bad about the tango scene - and who can behave quite viciously if provoked.These people have sucked life's orange and found it juiceless - and can't see past their own egos.

Angelina's Tango Blog

Angelina sailed along happily writing a tango blog using a free ware program until one day in July 2008 an internet gangsta came along and flooded her program with spam and the ISP closed it down!
She's been writing spasmodically on the TangoAustralia website but has now decided it is time to create a real tango blog! So here goes... back with gossip, news and thoughts about tango - with a focus on her home town. From now on will write in first person