Welcome to The Mix, a fusion dance podcast where we dive into the world of blending dances and all that comes with it.We're talking about everything from the highs of nailing that perfect combo to the lows, emotional and mental challenges and more.
And if you're new to the dance scene, don't worry, we've got you covered with practical tips to help get you started, feel comfortable and most importantly, have fun.So come on in.We can't wait to dance with you.
If people don't know, they you just came back from how to describe it.Like I guess it's like a dance convention in Seattle.
Yeah.What was it called?It's a dance exchange known as high by all or high fidelity fusion.And it was. I don't have the words to describe what this was.Um, to kind of give you an idea, right?
Like imagine an entire weekend of like classes and workshops and just like so many dancers.I mean, it was like, I think they had this year, they had to, they had about over 600 dancers there. and just from from everywhere.
It's a oh, it's a lot of look, it's a lot of bodies, a lot of humans there.OK, it's a lot of him.But we had. Oh, we had so many people, folks from LA, folks from Phoenix, folks from Utah, from Seattle, from Oregon.
I mean, you have folks from New York, from Jersey, folks from Philly, folks from State College.It was like everywhere, everywhere, outside of the US, in the US, under the US, above. Maybe through the US, I don't really know for sure.
We have folks from the Midwest there.Okay.Folks from the West West.It was just, yeah.
Okay, so we go to fusion events or socials, right, in LA.So that's probably more like 40 to 80 people.And that's just a social, there's no classes, right?
So how would you say, are these like, was this event more, I guess dance conventions or weekends, is it more intense?Are you like in the zone more?Do you feel like you're in a different bubble?What's the vibe like?
I feel like for me, because I've gone to somewhere, I've like, oh, I want to do the workshops and the classes and all that kind of stuff.And I went to one in New York earlier this year that was like, they had the classes, they had the workshops.
We did the we did those different things, you know, kind of hanging out with people and stuff.And this time, myself and another friend of mine were like, you just need to dance.That's all I want to do.I don't want to do anything else.
I want to make friends.I want to talk to the body.I just want to dance.Right.Just the socials.And I feel like because of that focus, this was also, mind you, my first time in Seattle.
So I got to kind of like explore the city, you know, see the needle.I was like walking around a lot.And then. When I was ready, I was like, all right, cool.I'm going to come back, kind of just like get into my zone.
And from like nine to what, four thirty, five o'clock every morning, I'm like, I'm there.I'm just like, dude, I'm here to dance.That's it.That's all I'm doing.So I feel like you get to a point to where it's like.
That I think that like that flow state you kind of reach when you get to like hour two or hour three, it's like that, but amplified. Because you're going as long as you want to go.
So I feel like I get to that first little flow and I'm like, this is great.And then it would just deepen and it would deepen and it would deepen.I feel like there was a level that I was able to get to where inspiration and action were the same.
You know how sometimes you have like these ideas or these things you're like, oh, I want to try this out or I want to try this move or I want to.What if I did this this way instead of that way?
It just it felt like for me, like I was able to get to a point to where I'd have a thought.I have something I was like, oh, that'd be really cool to try.And I could do it in real time.And it would like it would work.
And even if it didn't work, it was like, oh, no, I can like I can take this.I can fix it and I can try it again.And it just it felt like it was like just.Ah, it was like it was like lightning. in a bottle, but the bottle is me, you know?
Oh, it was, yeah, it was, it was, ah, it was amazing.Absolutely amazing.So many good dances.Ah.
Oh, did you record any of them?
You know what?It's hard when, when, um, cause I want to record all the dances I dance just in case you want to look back and see what you've done well.
But then there's moments where you're like, that was, and you, I don't describe this to people that don't dance, but you know, after you dance together, really good dance, you like both agree.It was a great dance.
You just look at each other and be like, that was a good dance. biggest regret I have sometimes is just not recording.
Grabbing someone being like, hey, random person staying on the sideline, can you please record this just in case it's good and I can look back?Big regret, yeah.
I actually had one this past week where I was dancing just a few days ago, whereas West Coast Swing and there was a, you know how normally we like upbeat, fast songs that can show, I guess, our athleticism or test it, let's just put it that way.
It was like, oh, I'm about to sweat songs.Yeah, yeah, yeah.
But there was one that was a very it was a beautiful dance.It was a gentle song, but still had like some rise and falls and everything like that.And I regret it was we thanked each other afterwards.And I just regret not taking taking a video of it.
Anyhow, do you feel like you're danced out after spending a whole weekend?
Absolutely not. I don't, I don't know.Here's the thing.I know, I know if I went again, like if someone was like, Hey, do you want to have another weekend?Like of the, of the same thing?I know emotionally I'd be like, yeah, let's go.
But I know physically I need to take time to actually like recover.Cause like, that's, that's, that's super intensive.I mean, you're going from what from nine to six doing a very physically like taxing thing back to back to back.
It's just, it's not, it's not sustainable, but. I'm like, I feel like I could do another one.I feel like right now, I'm like, yeah, no, I want to dance more.
And I've been intentional to do really restorative things, walking and exercising and meditating and all that, giving myself that downtime and that physical time to be a little bit slower. Oh, but I want I want to do more.
You know, I definitely want to.I'm like, I don't feel danced out at all.If anything, I feel like it's reinvigorating my love for dance.I feel like it's like, oh, yeah, this is the thing that I that I love.
This is like the this is that this is that thing that I that I'm like, yeah, I just want to take a bite out of, you know.
Yeah.What would you say is, how do people dance there?Obviously it's like a melting pot of so many different dancers, right?Oh yeah, for sure, for sure.
So do you feel like you felt more comfortable dancing with people from LA because you knew how to lead them in their style, or do you think you actually like dancing with people outside of LA because it kind of pushed your boundary, not boundaries, but like your limits on seeing what can happen on the dance floor?
There's a- But did you have like a preference?Like, are you like, oh, I appreciate my LA peeps.I didn't know you all were really good.
Yeah.You know what?I think, I think it did.It did a lot of things.One of them, it made me, definitely made me appreciate the LA people because I feel like, I'm like, man, there's such, there's so many good people in LA and I feel like
you can kind of get it's kind of like you forget that LA is not the norm outside of LA because you can be here so long and you have so many different styles and different things to choose from.
I mean, not even just like, you know, dance wise, but like food wise, you have all of these different foods, you're like, oh, there's so many choices that you forget.That's not how it is everywhere else.
So I feel like I feel like it made me one, appreciate L.A.folks a lot more.And then to. I wanted to be intentional about dancing with people who I normally wouldn't get access to, people who are from different places.
I'm like, okay, I don't want to dance with the people that I know.I mean, don't get me wrong, because I still dance with some LA folks, and I feel like we had better dances than we did at home.At least I did.I don't know.
They might tell you a different story.But I felt like I was like, oh, it felt like we were like at a different level.
But I wanted to be intentional to say like, oh, I'm not I don't normally get access to people who are like, you know, from from this place and that place and whatever.So I want to like make the most of it.
And I feel like I feel like I definitely got to dance with people who like just grew my lexicon, you know?I feel like I was able to just kind of like hear different ideas and see, I'm like, oh, I didn't think to try this thing out.
Or even just like some of the small in-between moments where, you know, you see someone respond a little differently to something that maybe you've done a thousand times.It was just like, oh, shoot.I'm like, this is what growth is.This is cool.
You know.Oh, my goodness.Yeah.But I definitely got love from LA folks.Definitely got love from LA folks.
Do you feel like there's a different way that, let's say, Seattle people move versus maybe not East Coast, but I'm assuming a lot of people that were there were from Seattle, you know, versus how LA people move in terms of style?
Yeah, you know what I think the big difference that I've noticed that I'd say is that with LA with LA folks it feels like LA folks are like Everyone is kind of their own brand or everyone is kind of like like they're making their own style Not to say that other places don't do the same like there aren't individuals and you know in other locations, right?
But it feels like LA folks are intentional about trying to develop their own way of like expressing.So I feel like you get more of a consistent result with the individuals in L.A.
versus I think with like kind of like with Seattle and with like other some of the other places, especially Seattle.I feel like they were a lot more fluid, a lot more like consistently kind of kind of bringing like a
Alright, I gotta go back to Avatar The Last Airbender.It felt like it was more like, more waterbenders.And it was like, okay, like this, that felt like that was kind of the regional flavor, like the regional, the regional style.
Oh, also shout out to like, Phoenix, like folks from like Phoenix, I don't know what they got going on down there, but like, I feel like I need to, I need to just go like go on tour.
Cause I feel like there were so many different pockets of places where I'd have people who were like from one place.I'm like, yo, whatever y'all are doing over there is like something special.Like, yeah, no, for sure.For sure.For sure.
Gotta, I gotta, I just gotta travel more.I feel like I just gotta travel more, but yeah, definitely a lot of water benefits I'd say so.
Do you feel like you prefer like. fluid movement, hard movements, or do you feel like you have better dance chemistry though with, let's say, earth, people that move more earth like versus fire versus air?
Yeah, you know, I feel like I have more natural dance chemistry with people who are, who are fire, who like kind of lean in that.And I feel like that's, that's dangerous because I feel like I'm just like, let's keep going up.You know what I mean?
And it's like, maybe bigger isn't always better.And it's definitely not sustainable because like, I don't know if you've danced till like 3 o'clock in the morning, 4 o'clock in the morning, but trying to dance like that at 3 or 4 is like...
I'm like, I'm dehydrated, I'm seeing colors, I'm tasting sounds, but I'm still like, hey, let's go, let's go energy, right?
And sometimes you need to have people who are like a little bit more grounded, a little bit more calm to kind of like offset that.
But I definitely liked the challenge of dancing with people who were like, who were, who were just so different and kind of like finding that middle point where, you know, we could connect and where we could like find alignment.
And I definitely feel like the first two days were more of adjusting period versus the last day where I felt like I was just fully in it and fully like, you know, fully immersed.
It was like the last day, it felt like it didn't matter whether they were water or fire or earth.It was like, it doesn't matter.It's going to work.And it just felt like it just clicked.Everything just clicked.It was like, we're here.
Amazing dances the entire day.Just, yeah, absolute top to bottom.Ah, so good.
When you dance with like so many people or so many followers, do you feel like, how can you tell that someone's a good follower if you're staying up sidelines and you're kind of watching it and being like, yeah, I think I want to dance with you.
Yeah.OK, so you know what?There's a couple of people who came to mind like instantly and for the most part, there's so many people there, right?Like it's just so you're like, oh, I want to dance with everybody.
Do you actually get a chance to dance with everyone or you don't actually get to, let's say.
Oh, absolutely not. Okay, you will die.I don't think it's mathematically possible to have dance with every single person I don't like I don't know if it could be I'm not good at math.
You know I'm saying I do words I don't do I don't do numbers, but like you can try and I think you should try I think you should be super intentional to like Try to dance with people That like again that you people who are much better than you that you know you're like Oh, they are up there people who you're like
Excited to dance with people you're not excited to dance with meaning like you're like Oh, maybe their styles are just so totally different or like or whatever But like I'd still say go because you might be surprised by how like how you learn something or like, you know something you pick up I I felt like there were there were a couple people that I that I saw and for the most part I felt like my instinct was right like I'd see I'd see them kind of dancing to songs and whether they knew the song or not and
it was like you could kind of see when someone is like just kind of going through like going through the motions or going through moves and you can see when someone is actively like interacting or like creating with the song.
For me, when I'd see people who were doing that, who were like creating with the song, or they were trying to emphasize this part, or they were like, you know, playing with it, I was like, okay, yeah, we're gonna, it's gonna work.
And there's like one person in particular who I had like just, it was the song Taki Taki, right?And if you're listening, you know who you are, if you don't, don't worry about it, right?But it was like, it was my favorite, dance to that song ever.
I've danced to that song a bunch, right?But this is someone who I had danced with on, probably on that Friday.
And I kind of was like, okay, like I know, I know, even though this song isn't like amazing, that the stuff that you're, that you're kind of listening to and kind of pulling from the song, I know we're gonna have a great connection.
So like, I didn't see your, I don't think I saw her Saturday.Because again, it's 600 people, two rooms, right?It's just It's gonna be hard to kind of find those people, but it was like, hey, let's find each other later.
Sunday was later, and they were playing, like, there was like a Latin music set.And it was my favorite set.There were a lot of great DJs, a lot of great moments, so many amazing songs.But this set was just, it was perfect.
They played the they played the song.They played hockey.And it was like it was like instant.Like we saw each other and it was just like, yeah, this this is this this is happening right now.And it was just like it was so good.
It had everything like it was just it had the rises and the falls.There was there was lyrical.There was there was these kind of like rhythmic motions, these groovy moments.
There were these, you know, big moments, the big lifts, the calms, the the music, all so much musicality.Ah. And I think the big thing that it did for me is that it was like we were able to play with the song itself.
It felt like it was part of the song.It wasn't us just going back and forth with moves that we knew.It was like we were going along with the actual song itself.It just, it just, yeah, it was just, ah, it was so good.It was so good.Yeah, it was.
When you were telling me, like, it sounded like you said, like musicality and like being able to, I guess you say, like, dissect the songs or play along with it.
um you prefer that let's say a dancer that can do that versus someone that just does lifts.Does that make sense?
Or I guess just the the I don't say the athletic feats but you know um which I found interesting because some people might see and be like oh that person's a great dancer because they can just fly in the sky.
Yeah I mean I think athletic ability is is is dope and if you have it like use it But I'm of the thought and of the perspective that athletic ability without context is just It's just stunt work.It's cool.It's cool if you can do it.Right.
But like if it's not on beat, if it's not linked up to the song, if it doesn't have any meaning, then it loses its value.
You know, like it's more like you have the technique, probably in training, maybe for that or that aspect.But you start missing that creative aspect.
Yeah, I think there's an intentionality to the music that you need to have when you're doing any kind of anything.But especially when you're doing big moves, because you do a big move at the right time, and it can just light a place up.
It can make the dance just that more meaningful. You know, especially there's a part of the song where the song talks about, you know, splitting or like or something to that effect.Right.
Or like, I love the moments where a song adds as a word, like, you know, like walking away.Right.And then you literally turn around and walk away.You time it with that.It just like it just works.Or you disconnect.Right.Yeah.
You disconnect with your partner.To me, I like I'm like, yes.Right.But if you just do it at the beginning of the song, you do a backflip at the beginning.It's cool, I guess.But it's like. What does this mean?You know what I mean?How does this fit?
It's almost like listening to a rapper, right?You're listening to a song, and they use this really cool metaphor, this really cool wordplay, and you're like, oh, that was clever, right?It works because of the context.It works because of
the stuff that's around it.But by itself, you just say a word like I could just say, you know, ability.That doesn't have any meaning to it.You're like, okay, cool.I guess that a word that's that's cool, right?
So, so yeah, I feel like the context, the context matters, the timing, the musicality, the like, how does this fit with the rest of the dance that you're creating, you know?
Yeah and you know when you're talking about like that Taki Taki song and you had like that one epic dance that was so good and you just remember it and you're like this nothing will top this off.
So I was thinking to my, cause I feel like there's maybe one or two moments where that happened to me in the past where you're like, how, I feel like it's like chasing a high after a dance, right?You're like, nothing can top it off.
And then you try to find and do another dance.And you're like, that doesn't top it off.And you're like, it's never going to be, it's like having a really good meal.
And you're like this, this, I've never been able to find a restaurant that does the same or even better executes it better.Right.So how do you think like, How do you not be nostalgic and long over it for such a long time?
Because obviously it's like chasing a... I guess you could say it's chasing a high, but it's not... I wouldn't say it's unhealthy.It's just more like, how do you get over it?
You know, I don't know if you do.I think you just have to live with the heartache.You have to live with the knowledge that nothing will ever top this again.And you just have to be...
I think for me, I'm trying to, what I'm trying to do, right, trying, keyword here, is I'm trying to enjoy it for what it is or for what it was and let it simmer and, you know, enjoy the memory of it, but also try to draw out some of the lessons that I learned.
And I was talking to some other friends of mine about how, like, I'll kind of do like an audio log.
where at the end of a dance, usually at the end of the night, usually on the drive back, or maybe a day or so later, I try to do like, okay, these are the things that I really enjoy, the things that I like, the things that I can work on, these are the moves that work for me, these are some of the things that I think I wanna work on in the future so that I can like,
you know, maybe have more fun or like, oh, these are some of the dancers that I dance with or like this song or, you know, I try to just kind of keep track of those little things.
And I feel like that lets me kind of jump back into the flow for the next time. Because if I'm thinking about it, like, OK, all of the stuff that happened in this moment is going to help me going forward.
It keeps me from kind of getting stuck in the nothing will ever top this.You know what I mean?Which is so real.
And I feel like it's it's very hard to not get in that because sometimes you just have these moments or these dances where like, I mean, I can't tell you every night, like every single night, my last dance was just.
incredible like I feel like I had 10s like just like 10 like 10 all across the board every single night even when we had a fake last dance because they were like last dance and then they're like oh one more song whatever and then we ended up getting like a whole 15 minutes more my first last dance was incredible but then my second last dance was even
It was just it didn't make sense.I'm like, dude, this is psychologically.
It's like, you know, it's going to be a really like we got to make the most of it because the last day had so and then your brain just focuses better and your body.
Yes.Oh, it felt like I would because I was I was already in a flow.
Like I was already there in the zone, you know, and it just felt like I got deeper into the zone It was like just it was completely immersive It was totally like totally in the moment totally one with the music one with my partner It was just like everything was just like perfectly synced, you know And at the end we were just like we're just like what like what is what is that?
You know what I mean?Like it was just like it was it was absolutely amazing.It was it was amazing.So um
You know, people don't realize that socials, at least the ones you and I go to, it's like nine, nine thirty and then goes until maybe like one a.m.So for these, how do we call them like conventions?When did it end?Like, when did it start?
When did it end?Because I don't think people realize that.
Oh, I am.Oh, yes.I'm like I'm on my Batman hours regularly.What?Yes, I am.I am.I get I feel like I get better. the later it goes.
Nine to like eleven.I'm warming up.
But everyone's some people are yawning and tired.I'm like, let's go.I have energy.And then, yeah, I play the fast music now.And you start playing slow music.I'm like, no.
It's like, it's like a super slow, like, blues song.I'm just like, uh, let's go.Like, I do not want to slow down.No, absolutely not.Absolutely not.
Like, we're starting to finally wake up at that time.
that part.I definitely feel like 11 o'clock is really my peak time.I've noticed consistently that's the time where it doesn't matter how early a dance starts or how late, 11 just seems to be a time where it just clicks.
I get locked in and stuff just works.But what I also notice is that I kind of have a second peak around, kind of like 1.30, I think, about like 1.30.
And like, I mean, we stayed up to, I think we danced the first night to 4.30, the second night to about, I want to say five.So Saturday was probably to about five.And then- How do people survive when they- That's a great question.
No, because, yeah, it's like if you dance till five a.m.and then a few hours you go to sleep and wake up for workshops and everything.
Yeah.Oh, I didn't.So I know some people, some people didn't stay up for like the for the late nights.Like some people did not do the kind of like the survivors sessions all evening.
And for me, I was like, no, I want I want to to do this.So I didn't do any of the workshops. And I wanted to don't get me wrong, I definitely did.But I wanted to make the decision to say, no, I'm focusing on the dancing.
This is going to be about the dancing and nothing but.
Yeah, I'm going to like my first dance convention, I just heard through and what I love about the dance and we talked about this before our dance community is you just hear a lot of things word of mouth or you can go to this event, that kind of stuff.
And I just found out about it.It's like a West Coast swing Halloween swing thingy in like one or two weeks.
But I'm not – because I feel like I'm still kind of not new, but I'm kind of still dipping my feet in the water in this world that I'm going to only do the social dances until, I don't know, whatever time, 4 or 5 a.m.that they start.
But it starts at midnight, so I was like shocked.But at the same time, I'm like, yeah, it's during peak hours, right?But
And I think in the future, I'll probably be like, okay, let me try out the workshops because my, a dance friend I made is going to go to it.And you know, it's kind of like warming up to like the whole environment.Okay.
So, and we'll just have to do, I'll have to update you on how it goes, I guess, on this podcast.
Yeah, and also like do you feel like how was the event from like an events perspective, right?Did you feel like it was pretty well organized?Did you feel as an attendee that, you know, just from attendees point of view, like what were your thoughts?
You know, I'll say a couple of things.I'll say a bunch of good things and then maybe some like some things that can be improved on, right? But I think that it was, one, it was very well organized.I can't speak for the workshops and the classes.
I wasn't there for those.But my friends who did take the workshops and classes and things like that, they enjoyed them.They definitely had a lot of good things to say.
I think one of the big compliments is that one of my friends, he's like he's like super, super, super good.Like he's he's in it for a long time.Community leader does a lot of stuff, puts on events himself.And he was like, this kicked my butt.
Like, I felt like I had not been challenged like this in so long.And I loved it.I loved every moment of it.I felt like it was like it actually made me better.And I think that was like that's high praise coming from someone who
They've seen a lot, you know.I also think it was very well organized, especially the like the because I was there and I also kind of like traded work hours.So, you know that I had to have like a reduced reduced pay and.
I was like, oh, I wanted to do that because I wanted to help.And I was like, I'm already going to do this anyway.Why not do something?Why not, you know, have some benefit to something I was already going to be doing?
So I felt like that was super well organized in terms of I knew what I needed to do, where I needed to go, who I needed to talk to.The communication was clear. It felt like they did a really good job of making sure all of the essentials were covered.
So you knew where to go, you knew what the expectations were, you knew what to wear, what you needed to have for this, what the theme was.They really did a great job.I mean, we had Excel spreadsheets and all this.It was really well done.
I'm interested, but I'm not really sure all the way to like, OK, I'm definitely going.What do I need to know?I felt like everything was just like you could find it, you know.I also think it was very well, it was like.
very intentional to make sure people were going to be covered in terms of like, we had COVID tests every day before we got there.They provided us with those COVID tests as well, you know, just making sure people are safe, people are okay.
There were things that they were like, hey, like, you know, don't bring don't bring snacks.
Don't bring things, you know, that have these allergens, because you're at an event where a lot of people are going to be touching, passing, you know what I mean?And so if someone has an allergy or something, you know, exactly.
It was like, we got to we got to make sure we take care of that sanitizer was available.There was there was a lot of things that they did that just said, OK, we care about the people here.
And that that really impressed me, because I feel like sometimes you go to places and they're like, Show up and dance and have fun.But like, that's it.Like, we're just we're just here to make sure that you're able to dance.And that's it.
And it felt like they were like, no, we want to make sure that the person is also OK.
Now, maybe for the maybe for the the not so not so nice.Right.
This is the part that organizers listen in, listen in.
This is this is super important.
There's always ways to grow.There's always something to grow.
For sure, for sure.And for this particular event, and I don't know if there's anyone who could have a, uh, a disagree.If you, if you were there, you know, now I am all for making sure people feel comfortable and safe and themselves.I am also.
one who just so happens to have a functioning nose.And here's the thing.When you bring six bodies in one space to sweat, there will be stank.Look, it's it is it is an immutable law of the universe.I understand this.I know this.We know this.
And some of us are a little more sensitive than others, some of us might have different different issues, conditions, things.I understand.But here's the thing.When you tell people. to avoid synthetic or like heavy fragrances.
What you should not leave out is the need to bring some kind of anti-funkification.I mean, Arm and Hammer exists and they have unscented.
I'm pretty sure, I don't know if Old Spice does, but I know, I know there are some good unscented brands of deodorant that exist.And I'm sorry if you think, and you've been misled, that your essential oils and baking soda is gonna do the job.
It did not.It did not.Listen, the kind of smell, I could not go downstairs the first night.It was like a farm show explosion. And it was it was all kind of smells and scents.I'm like, look, I can't do it.I wanted to because the music sounded so good.
I was like, yo, this is fire.But the smell told me, stay upstairs, bro.Stay upstairs.I had to.I didn't have a choice.I did not have a choice because it was not aerated enough for that.I was like, look, I can't do it.I can't listen.I tried.
The oxygen left my body. I got down there, I said, nope, I was holding my breath the whole time.I tried to inhale, my nose said, hey bro, don't do that.Don't, don't, don't do that.
They, they, they would, my, have you ever been held hostage by your own nostrils?Cause if you haven't, I guarantee you that had been an experience that had changed your life.And that was my one thing.
It was like, look, if you're going to make that kind of rule, You gotta also, you gotta enforce it the same way that you enforce the COVID, the COVID thing.
Have people check, all right, you know, they do their check, they do their test real quick, they pass the test, all right, here, stand over here, boom, we do a little rub, little rub, right, little something.
You gotta have something, you gotta have some kind of protection, because like, it was not, it wasn't safe, it wasn't safe.That first night was rough. was rough.Now, night two was a little better.They brought some fans down there.
Night three was a lot better.You know, there was some more ventilation and everything.But yeah, no, at first, I whoo.Child.Mm hmm.Wasn't working, was not working.That is that was my biggest, my biggest thing, my biggest criticism.
It was it was that that was the thing.It's like, hey, look.Come on now, you got to we got to change that.We can't let that be the that can't be the first impression.You know what I'm saying?That can't be the first impression.
I am dying.It was like a farm exploded.
It was bad.And I'm saying this as someone who grew up in like Pennsylvania, like in Harrisburg, PA, every year in January, there's something called the PA annual farm show.All right.They have a farm show complex.I know what I'm talking about.
I know the smell.I said my back home.It was bad.I was like, this is not safe. This is not, this isn't okay.This is telling me danger.So yeah.Like, have you ever been nostalgic for the farm?Like, cause at least you can justify it.
You're like, okay, there are animals here.All right, let me stop.I'm sorry.I'm not sorry.No, I'm not.I won't apologize.The facts is the facts.Folks was stank.Okay.Folks was stankin'.But we had a good time, but still, come on.Come on.
We, tree bark, tree bark is not enough.My friend, like my brothers and sisters in Christ, that ain't it.All right.You got to do more than just the essence, the essence of some sage.You got, look, get some, get some aluminum in there.I'm sorry.
Just a little bit of, you know, a little, a little bit.All right.Anyways, anyways.
Yeah, listen to our old episode, what is it called?Episode three, we talk about B.O.'s and our qualms on it and also breath.Did you have breath?Were you okay breath wise?Or did people eat gum?
Breath wise wasn't actually too bad.And that was something I'm thankful for.Breath wise, for the most part, we were okay.And I mean, I had gum with me.I had mints with me.
You know, I always bring a pack of Altoids, you know, or something, some kind of gum, some kind of something.Because I'm like, I cannot be out here with dry mouth.I can't be out here, you know. It's 1 30 in the morning.
I'm already this close to catching a cramp.I can't I can't catch a cramp and have dry mouth.It's got to be one or the other.You know what I'm saying?
You know throughout the night, well, okay, since I'm going to, for people like me or anyone else listening in going to their first dance convention, well, let's say like dancing throughout the night from like nine to five or maybe 12 to 5 a.m., what do you recommend or what are things that new people should know about when you go to like these like dance conventions or like resources, tips on managing their time or expectations?
Tell me everything before I know that's a great.
That's a great question.That's a great.Okay, so You can do so much more for yourself by planning ahead And what I mean by planning ahead is I always have a dance bag in it.I keep a couple things, right?
I keep extra deodorant I keep you know, like some kind of gum or mints or something like that I think that if you also are like hey, I'm gonna sweat.I know I'm gonna sweat bring an extra shirt, maybe two especially because like
the ride home, you may not, you know, you may not want to be like, you know, covered in all of that, but also because like halfway during the dance, you might say, oh, I am, I am covered in so much sweat.I need to check, like, I just need to.
It makes you feel better.It makes you feel refreshed.It makes you feel like, oh, I can come back for round two.
I'd also make sure you have your water bottle and then bring like some kind of like, like the, I like the, the, the Prime packs, the little, like the packs of the Prime Energy or whatever.
And like, I mean, you need some kind of like electrolytes, like bring that with you, because like that help.Look, I'm telling you, catching cramps is not cute.It's not.You're like, oh, I'm going so hard.My calves ain't working.
No, it's a problem because you look.Look, it's not it's not the flex you think it is.It's really not like it's really not.You want to be able to go the entire time.Do that.
I do a little bit of caffeine, like I'll have like some kind of like mints or caffeine gum or something like that with me.But like whatever you need to to stay level, bring that.
I would treat it kind of like an extended workout, because I mean, it is so like you want to make sure you're eating well beforehand, you know, eat a good meal, get your proteins and, you know, some good carbs, some, you know, like rice is always good.
Like sushi, I think is a good meal beforehand because you're getting your protein, you're getting your rice, you know, your carbs and all that stuff, your starchy carbs. Um, and what else, what else, what else?
Um, Oh, folks don't tell you this extra socks.Yeah.That's a, that's a game changer.That's a game changer.Cause you don't, we don't always think about it, but you're on your feet the whole time.And like, Your feet, your feet will get sweaty.
Like that will happen.And we don't always think about it.But I was like, oh, there was a point I remember during the night.I was like, boom, I changed the socks.I was like, yo, I feel like a new man.I feel like I'm ready.
I'm ready for I'm ready for round five.Like, let's go.You know. So those are some of the things you can do to kind of prepare, you know, that you can like bring with you.And then there's also just make sure your phone is charged.
Make sure you have some friends nearby.It's always good to have people that you're like that you're there with and kind of know where like where you can check in with them for just for different reasons, whether it's, hey, I'm tired.
I'm kind of want to rest or hey, can you watch my stuff or hey, can you watch me and get a video real quick?Because like you're so in the zone sometimes you forget to like
capture some of those moments and I would also say just like give yourself designated time to like rest even if it's a quick 10 minutes like take that time because it's a marathon it is not a sprint and you will exhaust yourself if you just go straight through it like take some time to breathe a little bit watch other dancers like learn while you're there like
I remember there was a point where, cause they had this balcony area where you could kind of go upstairs and you could look down and see like the entire floor.And I was like, man, the first night I did not, I took like, I took no breaks.
I just went the whole time.And then the second night I was like, I'm going to, I'm actually just going to like watch a little bit.I'm going to go upstairs.I'm going to look down, I'm going to watch.
I felt like I had more fun because I took those breaks and because I was watching. where I thought I could appreciate the room, I could appreciate the music, I could appreciate it.I felt like it made me more present.
You know, so that's another thing that I would say.It's like it's underrated, like take some time to actually just watch, like see what other people are doing, see how the how the room is grooving, like enjoy the the whole experience, you know.
Yeah, I think I'm similar to you where like the first night I would be like, oh, I got to dance and try like try dancing and see how everyone is, you know, and the second night would be like, all right, well, I'm going to see the ones that I had a good dance chemistry with and try to find them and dance with them.
So, yeah.And it's, again, mathematically impossible to dance with every single person unless.Yeah, no, it is.So. Yeah, but if you guys have any questions for me or Caitlin regarding, or I guess his experience, let us know down in the comments.
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