a lazy sunday afternoon call

 

what the view out there on current dancefloor videos on youtube?

 

a good, bad or shrug thing ?

seems the only thing people use these videos for is to take the p*ss so a bad thing in that respect. 

Edited February 15, 201510 yr by chalky

Not to worried myself, as long as they don't try to get arty shots laying flat on the dance floor

Funnily enough, I was just watching some of the contemporary crop of dance floor videos on Youtube before arriving here.

Youtube is awash with the bloody things. 

 

Now I don't profess to be a particularly good dancer, but some of the gyrations I see on display are often incongruous at best. I have sometimes been tempted to put a few links on Soul Source to the offending videos, but the problem is that I feel it would be ignorant of me to do so, as who am I to pass judgement on how people express themselves. 

When viewing the vintage videos though, (roughly mid 2000's and before) I see dancing that I can connect with, recognise and understand.

 

It seems to me that much of the new interest and current fascination with Northern Soul seems to revolve around 'the dancing' or 'learning how to dance Northern Soul' without really feeling the music. The music, the artists, the labels, the true passion and the true emotion has, in some way, been lost to this fashion/craze for needing to be seen as 'cool'.

 

Thankfully, I see that there are still plenty of genuinely great dancers out there though. 

 

Just my opinion folks,

Andrew

I quite like looking back at some of the old footage as I'm only 26 so never experienced "how it was" however I imagine nights weren't often filmed whereas nowadays everybody's got a camera handy.

I do find the acrobatics very OTT and put on especially when there's somebody with a camera, even seen these daft poses people do in photos. Maybe I'm just jealous because I'm overweight and can't pull it off!

I don't mind, I don't have to watch them if I don't want to.

 

I do get fed up of having to move away from the number of people taking photos / videos at some nights. Particularly the semi-pro types with their huge lenses, lights and stuff going on down at floor level. I don't want to be filmed. I want to be left to dance (increasingly badly) in peace. 

I've noticed a rise in clubs creating vids as a means of promoting themselves via social media, YouTube, etc, etc. Some of these have a real professional feel to them. This is particularly so with mainland European venues. This is great as you can get a good idea of the size and feel of a venue as well as an indication of what the crowd and thus atmosphere will potentially be like. 

 

That's very useful if you're thinking about paying a visit to an event in another country.

If anyone I don't know starts taking pictures or filming me without asking my permission they'll be having to get the camera surgically removed.

Funnily enough just watched one, and the bloke being filmed, was doing the invisible hoola hoop move, and incorporating what appeared to be an ancient form of the twerk, not a style I remember well....

I can live with it. What I find more surprising is the number of people who just walk through the dancers with their drinks, spilling them on the way and just getting in the way. I think most of the cameras I see are at the side. 

not really bothered either way so a 'shrug' from me... I know there are people for whatever reason don't want pics or vids of them out dancing and that's fair enough so a bad thing for them but on the other hand just about the only film we have of days gone by is this England wigan thing which im fed up with seeing so maybe in a decade or so when/if some of these nights are gone it will be a good thing?

 

dean

No F*cKbooK - no photos nor videos - only good Souvenirs and music in the Soul - the rest is for the hipsters...

Seeing current events not great, but seeing old footage fantastic - Simply (and meant in the nicest possible way) because that is when it was youth culture (more exciting) Also special, because back then not much was filmed.

 

Not forgetting that to capture 'it' on camera is impossible really - I'm not dead against it as I did it (for promotional purposes) but I do remember telling the camera man to hardly use his big light because I wanted any disruption to the evening to be kept to an absolute minimum - That's why I included lots of interviews, and looking back, I'm glad I did it (and yes I understand it was 'against the rules')

 

All the best,

 

Len

Edited February 16, 201510 yr by LEN

I guess its all art and will court different views....

 

As with art there is some that makes me feel good and some that pains me more than cronic piles.....

Quite like seeing what's goin' on out there

Saw myself on vid for the first time last year......must've been taken while I was treading water 'til a "proper one" got played

Edited February 16, 201510 yr by back street blue

Hate them ,due to work and domestic circumstances I only get out rarely just want to dance a bit and socialise dont want to be a subject of some dickheads video ..

Its intrusive and unnecessary the scene has done fine for decades without this pervasive hobby .

Hate them ,due to work and domestic circumstances I only get out rarely just want to dance a bit and socialise dont want to be a subject of some dickheads video ..

Its intrusive and unnecessary the scene has done fine for decades without this pervasive hobby .

Think the word dickheads a bit harsh. The main man who does most of these videos Is far from being one of them. Would agree with some dancers playing up the cameras but all this leave our scene alone gets boring after a while.

Doesn't look cool anymore, just looks sad. Mainly because it looks too light. The darker the better now we are ancient. If you want to make a documentary that's fine, but you can't just turn up at an event and start filming people without obtaining permition from the promoter and more importantly the paying public.

Think the word dickheads a bit harsh. The main man who does most of these videos Is far from being one of them. Would agree with some dancers playing up the cameras but all this leave our scene alone gets boring after a while.

It does more harm than good and isnt necessary at all , just people massaging their egos and looking good on youttube . A sad sign of the times

The modern day soul scene is of no historical relevance . I am sure that some of the folks in the background of these vids are,nt happy they just went out for the night ,I would hate it if I were caught on camera . It would put me off the venue again .

Dickhead was me being kind could have beem more forthright.

Edited February 17, 201510 yr by Mark S

I love them and to see the different styles of dancing

There is only one Guy who does them on a regular basis and most folks wouldn't even know he is videoing and he never goes onto the floor

The saddest part for me is to see folks taking short cuts across the floor and drinking and chatting on it

As long as they have the permission of the promoters that is all that is required

I love to see the clips on Youtube ... There's only one fella who can video you without you even knowing he's there .. I personally like to watch them .... Would imagine it would catch out one or two who told their partners they were out for a quiet night at the local pub !!! lol

Most show empty dance floors and venues

I've noticed a rise in clubs creating vids as a means of promoting themselves via social media, YouTube, etc, etc. Some of these have a real professional feel to them. This is particularly so with mainland European venues. This is great as you can get a good idea of the size and feel of a venue as well as an indication of what the crowd and thus atmosphere will potentially be like. 

 

That's very useful if you're thinking about paying a visit to an event in another country.

The buggers with the cameras just start filming without asking if you mind, that pisses me off. Its not the promoters they should ask for permission, its the dancers.

The other week somone was filming at an event I attended and was capturing images right across the dancefloor so he was filming periferal dancers even whilst targeting specific people. I was reluctant to dance because the of camera and when I did dance I found myself in a position across the line of sight of the camera.  I dont wish to be reminded that I'm no Fred Astaire, and I dont wish to be reminded on Youtube about my limitations on the dancefloor.

Mr Cameraman do us all a favour and leave the camera at home, just attend the venue and try having a dance yourself.

A person with a camera found me the other week and I told him the same mellowful it's an intrusion

I dont wish to be reminded that I'm no Fred Astaire, and I dont wish to be reminded on Youtube about my limitations on the dancefloor.

 

Then stop searching for yourself on YouTube!   

Then stop searching for yourself on YouTube!   

I don't search youtube for dancers at specific venues, youtube is for listening to great tunes preferebly with a video of a record spinning on the turntable.

My mates point out that I have been spotted attempting to dance on Youtube at a venue and remind that I was doing a Kim Tolliver (I dont know which leg to dance on).

I enjoy watching them especially Juds, which are very well done and more importantly he is a very nice bloke. I suppose this is to be expected with the technology that exists today. If only it existed in the 70,s then we would have more see than This England which in my opinion was rubbish I was there in March 1977 when the first lot of filming was done with the lights on most of the night. Most of the regulars of the time including my self keep out of the way. Say what you will about people filming events today at least they don,t impose themselves as much as they did then.

That's very useful if you're thinking about paying a visit to an event in another country.

 

Seems like most of them are in another country or, more correct to say, another planet

10 days on seems a good point as any to close the poll

 

it looks like the 'shrugs' have it with over 50%

 

thanks to all who took part both in the poll and the follow on discussion