Barren West Coast Scene - What can we do?

[Saab]

Cheers mate! I really do think this kind of discussion will aid greatly in an effort to increase interest and retention in bhangra and foster a more open discussion with some of the "Silent" users on btf. I think we both agree the problem is not contained within the prism of the bhangra scene, but is impacted by a vastly changing social, financial, and cultural landscape.

Next round is on me!

 

[scaplash]

In reading this thread one or two things jump out to me. As a collegiate bhangra dancer I think one of the frustrations with the circuit is that you can feel like you're on the outside looking in if you're on a lesser-known collegiate team. A lot of the bigger comps that get more publicity and respect go with much more well-known teams. As someone who has never been a competition organizer, it's impossible for me to know whether these teams get in simply because their audition videos are objectively better or if committees pick teams based on reputation.
I think the other half of the problem is that a lot of placings/performances at smaller comps/melas don't get the same respect and attention from the bhangra community as bigger competitions. One thing that maybe we as a community and and a circuit can do is give more weight to those smaller competitions/melas-in the form of feedback and discussion. Why can't we discuss those small mela performances the same way we argue/discuss elite 8?
Secondly, as a part of a smaller bhangra team and in dealing with melas, I have found that they have an exceptional way of getting audiences and sponsors-some often paying each team $500 just to come. I think the biggest problem with some melas is that there is a disconnect between those organizers and the Bhangra community. Many of the people who run those melas are typically in their 40s-50s and run it more as a local gig or performance. I think if we worked with those mela organizers and maybe had melas be a stripped down competition by maybe not having the mixer and afterparty and focusing more on competing with solid, reputable judging, we could provide a better platform for up and coming teams.
Just some more food for thought,
-Sonny

 

[kman58]

In reading this thread one or two things jump out to me. As a collegiate bhangra dancer I think one of the frustrations with the circuit is that you can feel like you're on the outside looking in if you're on a lesser-known collegiate team. A lot of the bigger comps that get more publicity and respect go with much more well-known teams. As someone who has never been a competition organizer, it's impossible for me to know whether these teams get in simply because their audition videos are objectively better or if committees pick teams based on reputation.
I think the other half of the problem is that a lot of placings/performances at smaller comps/melas don't get the same respect and attention from the bhangra community as bigger competitions. One thing that maybe we as a community and and a circuit can do is give more weight to those smaller competitions/melas-in the form of feedback and discussion. Why can't we discuss those small mela performances the same way we argue/discuss elite 8?

^^Amen to that too. I feel the exact same way. No matter which way you put it, until a smaller team gets the opportunity to compete they will not get better. Dancers will be dissuaded and leave to go do other things, and there's nothing left to look forward to except your cousin's shaadi reception in May and the University's cultural night which 12 people attend.


Melas are fantastic and need to start getting better PR and exposure, and the best way to do that is to get high quality videos at melas and smaller comps. Bringing this back to the original topic, as an example, I've only seen one video series on GTV that was from a mela (and lo and behold it was a Cali mela, and that too the performances were indoors not out). If West coast comps/melas make a bigger effort to get high quality videos up on Youtube (whether that be by bringing guys like Harjot out or just investing in some solid video production of the performances) and teams post those videos here for people to talk about and critique, not only will those smaller teams get their name out, but the melas/small comps themselves would grow.


The East coast comps/melas could use this same method, get good videos up, put em on this forum for people to view and critique, grow your team or your event.