START OF THE HEADLINE STORIES SECTION

THE MARCH SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
http://www.ssqq.com/ssqq/schedule.htm

PRACTICE NIGHT IN 2005 SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY WILL BE FREE.
VIOLET STEPLIGHTLY DECIDES TO COMMENT!

As you know Joel and Victor have been practicing since the first of last year in anticipation of going to Worlds. We have attended various competitions throughout the year in order to qualify. Overall we did very well. We won or placed in the top three at many of the events, but in addition to the victories we had a great time at these events competing and meeting new friends.

This was Joel's first year on the circuit. Many of the other pros were raving about him. Joel was indeed the golden boy!
He was so incredible at every competition. Since Victor had been on the circuit last year, it was old hat for him! He had to move to a harder division and he still did remarkably well. Victor has received many compliments from the other pros on the circuit. I keep hearing some of the guys refer to Victor as "The Man" since he is such a natural performer!

By the time Worlds got here, we were going out of our minds with the anticipation!

Unfortunately things quickly got crazy… First, our flight was cancelled; Joel called me en route to the airport to tell me. As luck would have it when we got to the gate Southwest put us on an earlier flight that was late in departing. I called Joel and Ruth and they came scurrying over to the counter to get on the same flight. I'm thinking, SWEET, this turned out to be OK, until we got to Nashville…and our luggage was still back in Houston! I would have panicked, but I'd been down this road before so I knew that when you compete, you NEVER check your costume or your boots. At least I had those with me!

When we got to the hotel I gave my hanging bag with the priceless costume/boot ensemble to the bell captain to take to our room once we got checked in. We get checked in with no problem. I called Joel, who was not feeling too well by the way, to see if he wants to go down to the ballroom and do a quick run through on our routines. He says OK so I decide to go get my hanging bag, well guess what, they can't find it. Panic sets in. WHERE IS MY BAG! They look and look as I stand there with the claim ticket in hand. I know Joel is waiting for me, so I call him to let him know that I need my bag so that I can retrieve my boots. Well it turns out that Joel had the hanging bag all along. WHEW!

OK, we go practice when, uh oh, we discover Joel is SICK! Not just a little cold, no, Joel has a fever and a glassy eyed stare. Even worse I lost my composure when I realized Joel was so white I could see through him! Joel made Casper the Friendly Ghost look like a surfer at Malibu. We go through runs and Joel disappears to collapse until the next day. Victor gets in and we run through his routines and now I'm thinking of two things, "Joel's sick and where is my luggage?!"

As many of you know I have had a problem with the joint in my ankle for quite some time. Prior to leaving for Worlds I visited with my doctor about having corrective surgery and we set a date. I have been limping now for months. I can't run, I can barely walk, and I dance in pain. I want this surgery so bad I can taste it! I am sick of Rick calling me "The Cripple". Now I'm mentally prepared for the surgery and the recovery time when guess what, my Doctor calls (right after the lost luggage and Joel sick incident) to tell me that he is canceling my surgery to go treat Tsunami Victims. All right, he is being noble and the poor flood victims are suffering a lot more than I am, but I've been in pain for six months waiting for this moment and now I'm getting even crazier. Lost Luggage, Joel sick, surgery postponed, I can barely walk much less dance, OK, I'm panicking!

I retreat to my room with tears in my eyes to continue the quest for the lost luggage when finally at 8:30 (after a series of phone calls to an automated voice mail system) it arrives.

AAAHHH, now I can sleep and tomorrow, competition day, will be great!! WRONG… I toss and turn all night. Nightmares of everything that can go wrong on the dance floor have me scared to death. I wake up coughing. Oh no, am I sick? Joel, I'm gonna kill you! Please don't let me be sick! I find a cough pill and somehow drift back to sleep again.

It seems like the moment I fall asleep the alarm goes off and the phone rings. I roll out of bed and prepare for the next six hours or so of competition, first with Joel in the Crystal Newcomer division, then after that with Victor in the Crystal Novice division. (Crystal is 30 - 40 years old) Yes things are SOO much better than the day before. I am busy drying my hair 15 minutes before I need to be in the ballroom when suddenly the room goes dark. There is NO POWER!!! I could go into a lot of detail here, but let me just say as I stood in the dark with droplets of water from my hair forming a puddle on the floor, I began to wonder what I had done to get the gods so pissed off at me!! Why Me, Zeus?

Then I think about the Tsunami people fighting for their lives and figure if they can survive, so can I. My bad attitude improves ever so slightly.

OK, I made it to the ballroom, Joel was wondering where in the world I was. I took one look at him and I knew it was going to be a rough day for us. Joel was so feverish!! Then he took one look at my hair and thought, "She looks worse than I do!"

Competition requires concentration and good health! We had neither! It probably requires good hair too. We don't have a chance. We managed to make it through his rounds. Believe it or not, Joel - bless his heart - did remarkably well, sick or not!! After we finished, I noticed Joel's fiancée Ruth was sick too. My paranoia kicks in again. Oh no, what if I am next? Now I had something else to worry about. Joel left after his competition and I did not see him again until the next day. He and Ruth spent the better part of Worlds hiding in their room trying to recuperate from their illness. It's just as well they disappeared. Dancers are a notoriously superstitious lot to begin with and probably would have treated Joel like an escapee from the Leper Colony.

Victor and I competed after that in the Crystal Novice division. Mr. Victory was on fire! I knew it was his day! I want to mention it was about this time I noticed that SSQQ instructor Randy Winfrey was dancing with his pro over in the Diamond Novice division (Diamond is 40 - 50 years old). Randy was on his game too! In fact I have never seen Randy dance better. I was hoping Randy would win, but then I started to worry he might compete against us later in another division. Oh great. Another thing to worry about! I was a nervous wreck.

We had to do it all again the next day, competing in what's called the "open" category. "Open" is just what it says, anyone can compete, regardless of age within their Division. So I had Joel in Open Newcomer and Victor in Open Novice. I tossed and turned the whole night worrying about Joel. He had worked so hard all year and to be this sick was heartbreaking.

The next day Joel felt a little better. Overall he danced much better than the preceding day and Victor had a good day too. Sure enough, it turned out that Randy had decided to join Victor in the open division competition. As I watched him dance, I could tell he was looking really good! This was going to be close!

Later on we gathered in the ballroom at 11:30 that night to get the results of the previous day's competition…this is so nerve-racking!!! The way they announce the results is to call the names in reverse. You just keep hoping that they don't call your guy's name, which literally means that he's the last man standing.

Well, all three of our men were the last men standing! Can you believe that! Yes, Joel and Victor and Randy each won his particular division. First place! I was elated, especially for Joel knowing what he had to overcome.

Fast-Forward to the next night. It was time to hear the results for the Open category. Both of my guys really wanted this one!! Joel ended up coming in second; I was ecstatic! Then it came Victor and Randy's turn. They kept calling names, no Victor, no Randy, no Victor, no Randy…It finally came down to just the two of them standing. Can you imagine, do you know how big America is? Then add guys from Europe and Mars and the other continents and the last two guys standing in the Universe are from SSQQ!! What are the odds of that happening?

All these people training the entire year to compete against each other and now two guys from the same dance studio in Houston are all that is left? What a remarkable conclusion! This is how they do it in the movies, but here the true story unfolds the same way! I am so nervous; I suddenly realize all my nails are gone. Who cares?

In the end they called Randy's name first. This meant Randy had placed second and Victor had won. We were all happy for each other. We hugged and shook hands and congratulated each other on our victories. There was a large crowd in the audience from Houston and they were all applauding for us. Once we got on the podium I whispered to Randy, "Wait till Rick Archer gets word of this!"

Victor, Randy, and Joel were amazing, but their success was not the only Local story up at Worlds. I also want to mention that we have quite a few ladies who are currently at SSQQ or who started here that did very well in their divisions also.

Christine Sandal came in third, Cher Longoria came in seventh (First Place in Twostep!!) and Priscilla Hamic came in ninth. And I just remembered that Gary Thorpe came in fourth in his category, but he's not a girl, is he? Okay, so what, we'll mention him too. Then Christine danced with her honey Victor and they finished fifth in the couples division. What an amazing group of dancers we have around this studio!

I have told these guys again and again what a privilege and a pleasure it has been took work with Victor and Joel. I have loved every minute of this experience with them. What a joy it has been to be their coach. I am so very proud of them. They both worked so hard and they deserve their titles completely, totally, and undeniably. Victor and Joel are AWESOME DANCERS!
 

(Editor's Note: Anita Williams is too humble to state the obvious. It is an amazing fact that Anita has coached Victor to two consecutive World Championships and now Joel to his first. Nor are Anita's accomplishments limited strictly to the "Coaching Realm". Back in 2003 Anita was a vital member of the SSQQ Heartbeat Dance Team that won the World Team Championship. At the same competition Anita won an individual Championship in the West Coast Swing division.

Add it up. Anita Williams is a Five Time UCWDC World Champion!

That is pretty impressive folks, especially when you see that she is practically crippled with her ankle problem. Fortunately she dances much better than she walks, but to perform as well as she does on that ankle and to have the strength to block out the pain is downright incredible. This is a very talented woman.

Another thing you may not realize is that when Victor and Joel are out there achieving all their glory, Anita is out there too! These competitions are Pro-Am. Joel and Victor are the amateurs; Anita is the Professional. No matter how much she hurts, for these men to win, Anita has to put on a show as well. Anita is quite a dancer in her own right!

For example, Houston Comet Coach Van Chancellor may have seen his US Women's Basketball Team win the Olympic Gold Medal last summer in Athens, but he wasn't out there on the court shooting the ball. By contrast, Coach Anita was out there on the floor dancing her heart out with both men. Joel and Victor could not have won without Anita matching them step for step and looking wonderful in the process. The point is: not only can Anita coach, the girl can also dance a lick or two.

Switching topics, did you know that Joel and Ruth are getting married on Saturday, January 29th. I would say they are having a busy January!
And Randy is getting married to the lovely Melissa Gauthier on Saturday, April 30th. Look what all this dancing does to these men! It makes them so romantic….

 

And what about Coach Williams? Anita says her ankle surgery has been rescheduled for February 4th. After she heals, Anita says she will be fast enough to chase men again sometime around April. If you're a guy, my attitude is "why wait?" After all, the girl can dance, but heck, right now she's a sitting duck!

Switching off of Romance and getting back to Dance, I would like to mention Scott Ladell has begun training ladies to compete in the Western Pro-Ams just like Anita has been coaching the men. Scott is a pretty gifted dancer in his own right and his classes are extremely popular due to his teaching excellence. If you would like to compete or at least talk it over, contact Scott at scottladell@houston.rr.com

Bryan Spivey, the current Texas State Swing Champion, is accepting students to dance Pro-Am with him as well. If you want to get into the Competition West Coast Swing Game, contact Bryan at bubbamotion@yahoo.com

Coach Anita should be up and running in April. If you are ready to let her work her coaching magic on you, contact Anita at anitawilliams1@juno.com 

I would like to conclude by saying how grateful I am that SSQQ has been graced with the presence of so many talented people! My hat goes off to Victor Marquez, Joel McClesky, Randy Winfrey, Coach Anita, as well as to Cher Longoria, Christine Sandal, Gary Thorpe, and Priscilla Hamic. You all have opened the door and set a standard of excellence that will likely encourage many others to follow in your footsteps.
 

 2005 CRUISE NEWS - THE ALASKA TRIP IN JULY IS UP TO 53 PEOPLE AND THE SAME TIME NEXT YEAR RHAPSODY CRUISE IS UP TO 28 PEOPLE

In 2005, Marla and I have two trips planned. In July we take a dream trip on RCCL's Radiance to view the magnificent beauty of Alaska. Then in late September we have our Same Time Next Year Rhapsody Reunion Cruise.

THE JULY 2005 SSQQ CRUISE TO ALASKA (SATURDAY, JULY 16 - SATURDAY, JULY 23)
(THIS TRIP ALREADY HAS 53 PEOPLE SIGNED UP!)
http://ssqq.com/information/alaska2005.htm
 

Trip Status as of March 3, 2005

The SSQQ ALASKA CRUISE scheduled for July 16 - July 23 has reached a very critical moment. Prices for this trip have skyrocketed due to the extreme popularity of Alaska trips during the summer. Let me add the Cruise Industry says this is shaping up as the biggest year in history for cruise trips to Alaska.

Each Saturday I play basketball with Alan Fox, the owner of one of the largest travel agencies in Houston. Not long ago Alan told me he has never seen demand for Alaska trips like he is seeing this year. Here is a brief blurb from his Newsletter:

…………………
-----Original Message-----
From: VacationsToGo.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2005 3:40 PM
To: dance@ssqq.com
Subject: Vacations To Go Cruise Newsletter

"This year is starting strong for all the major cruise regions, with both bookings and prices ahead of last year's pace. Last year at this time, people were booking cruises an average of 72 days before departure; this year, they're booking an average of 94 days before departure.

That's quite a swing, an advance-booking curve that hasn't been seen in this industry since before 9-11, and it indicates that travelers are more confident this year about planning international vacations. It also means ships will likely fill up a bit earlier than they have in recent years.

The hottest ticket in 2005 may well be the Alaska cruisetour, which typically consists of a 7-day Alaska cruise combined with a 3- to 14-day land tour of Alaska's interior. About half of all Alaska cruisers opt to add a land tour before or after their cruise.

I've heard that the pace of sales of Alaska cruisetours this year exceeds the best year in history, which is a strong indication that they will sell out earlier than usual."
……………………..

In a nutshell, even though it is only March our Alaska ship is on the verge of selling out!!

I am not going to fib and say this trip is cheap. In fact, this is an expensive trip. What we will say is that right now the SSQQ price for this trip is $200 to $500 a person below market price. This discount is available because we booked the trip back in November!  However the discount disappears in Two Weeks. Come March 18 the price skyrockets.

REPEAT: SSQQ has its price locked in for TWO MORE WEEKS.
(PS- You have my word of honor this is not a BLUFF.)


On March 18 we have to release our unsold space. From that point on we cannot guarantee space much less the current price.

IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU WANT TO GO, WE ADVISE YOU TO DECIDE TO JOIN US IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS OR FORGET ABOUT IT.

The moment we release our remaining cabins, Royal Caribbean has people on a wait-list ready to snap up the unused space in an instant.

WE NEED A $250 DEPOSIT FROM YOU ON OR BEFORE MARCH 17.

The good news is you still have another month and a half before you have to make your final decision.

Please note that you can still back out of the trip and get a COMPLETE REFUND UP UNTIL MAY 7th.

So there is no reason not to lock in a cabin at a tremendous bargain by acting now. Not only will the prices jump, the ship will sell out of all cabins soon after.

Act now!!   Email Marla Archer at marla@ssqq.com or call her at 713 862 4428.

THE SEPTEMBER 2005 RHAPSODY REUNION CRUISE - SAME TIME NEXT YEAR!
(THIS TRIP ALREADY HAS 28 PEOPLE SIGNED UP!)
http://ssqq.com/information/rhapsody2005.htm

A trip as magnificent as the one we just completed has the makings of MANY SEQUELS. The easiest way to get an idea of what's ahead is to read again what just happened.

As most of you know, Marla and I got married aboard the 2004 Rhapsody Trip. This special event set the tone for the most spirited group we have ever seen. I cannot begin to explain all the trouble these characters got into. There was SO MUCH MISCHIEF it took me nearly two months to write about all the crazy things that happened. I completed the write-up on the Rhapsody Cruise just recently.

Including stories about the infamous "Elevator Ride", Da Jammer, the Attack of the Zombies, Champagne Night, Wedding Fiascos, Tales of the Captain, and of course the Legend of Mr. Handsome, the trip write-up makes for scintillating bed-time reading. Just pop that laptop onto your belly with a 20 foot Roadrunner Cable and read deep into the night!

PLUS in addition to all the vicious RUMORS, we have PICTURES of people like Mr. Handsome, Center of Attention, The Great Gabino, Lollobridgida, Grapevine, the Goldmine, and all the Usual Suspects. We have the Beatles Story, the Bloodbath Volleyball Match at Cozumel, Bar Hopping, Zizzling Birds and Bees Gossip, and best of all the Steamy Gatorade Hot Tub Tales. Do you want to hear some juicy scandal?? Do you want to see pictures of Mr. Handsome strutting in girl's? Do you want to see pictures of the Great Gabino sucking the blood right out of… well if I write more this email won't get past any of the spam censors, now will it??

Read for yourself! Then decide if you want to be part of the lunacy on the next trip!

Last year: http://ssqq.com/information/rhapsody2004home.htm
Same Time Next Year. http://ssqq.com/information/rhapsody2005.htm

 

THE ALASKA CRUISE HAS THE DISTINCTION OF RECEIVING FEBRUARY'S MOST ANGRY COMPLAINT AWARD!

"To be included as a part of the SSQQ group, you must book your cruise through SSQQ. NO EXCEPTIONS!"

Where do rules come from?  Usually one jerk does something so utterly stupid that they ruins things for the rest of us.

A simple example are Stop Signs in the middle of nowhere. We have one on a corner in the Heights where I live. One day there was a terrible two-car collision. Some idiot who ran a stop sign. So they added a Stop Sign in the other direction as well and made it a four-way stop. As a result for the past ten years I have to slow down and stop even though I see at most one car a month coming from the other direction. I might add that car always stops anyway because there is a Stop Sign on the other street. As I said, it only takes one jerk... 

People hate rules!  So do I for that matter. I am one of the biggest rebels on earth. But in my position as owner of SSQQ, I find myself making up rules all the time! 

One of the reasons I make up rules is to protect my business from predators. I am stunned at the number of people who continually try to exploit our business.

There was a bizarre incident last summer where a couple had emailed Marla several times about going on the 2004 Rhapsody Trip. Then for reasons that still make no sense, they bypassed Marla and signed up for the trip with another travel agency. Oddly enough, they paid $170 more for their ticket than if they would have paid by booking through Marla.

Don't ask "why?" because I have never figured that one out.  But they did immediately ask if Marla would arrange their seating for them at our tables. They definitely wished to be part of our group. Since I did not have a rule forbidding this action and because I actually LIKED both people, I told Marla to make them feel welcome. But I decided this was this last time.

There had been several previous incidents along this line, but this was the incident that made me decide to put my foot down. Now you know where this rule came from:

"To be included as a part of the SSQQ group, you must book your cruise through SSQQ. NO EXCEPTIONS!"

This week I discovered it turns out that someone out there doesn't like this rule one bit. He complained bitterly about the injustice to an SSQQ Staff Member who passed his tale on to me. Here's the story:

THE DISGRUNTLED GENTLEMAN WHO WANTED TO SAVE $49!!

As Julius Caesar once said in his Gallic writings, "Omnes viae Romam ducunt." Translation: "All roads lead to Rome".

However JC had very poor handwriting. For years no scholar was able to understand what his next sentence said. Just recently Caesar's mystery text has finally been deciphered. It turns out this is what it said, "All complaints will eventually reach Rick."

What an Amazing Prognostication!  And how true!  I get more complaints than you could ever imagine.

Recently I found out Thru the Grapevine that a certain SSQQ student was very bitter about our new cruise rule: "To be included as a part of the SSQQ group, you must book your cruise through SSQQ. NO EXCEPTIONS!"

The student was very bitter about this rule because he thought he could book next July's Alaska Cruise at a cheaper price than we had listed on our web site. It turns out this student had discovered a travel agent who in his opinion was selling the same trip at $49 less than SSQQ. He related this story to an SSQQ Staff Member who then passed it on to me.

I have no idea whether his claim is correct or not. My source preferred not to share his name or where he thought he could get a better price. All I heard about were the sour grapes.

Why do you suppose this gentleman was interested in this particular trip in the first place?

After all, there are a dozen cruise lines operating in the Alaskan waters and literally hundreds of trips to choose from next summer. How do you suppose out of all those infinite choices our Disgruntled Gentleman (DG for short) managed to choose this particular July trip to be the one he wanted to go on?

My guess it that he chose this one-in-a-hundred sailing because he knows a group from SSQQ is going. He knows this will be a great trip because SSQQ has a well-established reputation for putting together terrific group trips. He wants all the benefits being part of our group, but doesn't want to pay the extra $49. He figures because he has taken a dance class here at SSQQ, he should get included in the group automatically. Sorry, DG, the dance classes will get you some free popcorn at Practice Night, but that's on land. This is Sea we are talking about.

So let's analyze his thinking. What if DG was part of our group?  What would his benefits be?  My guess is DG wanted to come along because he heard being part of a large SSQQ Group has many advantages!!

As it stands, the SSQQ July 2005 Alaska Cruise has turned out to be a great idea. In the old days, I used to schedule our Summer Cruise Trips in January and announce them in February. Now that we actually have someone with some brains involved, Marla suggested scheduling the trip in October.  Why didn't I think of that?  As a result, we already have 50 passengers signed up in January and a huge buzz behind that solid number.  

What will our eventual numbers be? Let me just say that "100" is not out of the question. This may be an expensive trip, but it has turned out to be a trip a lot of people have wanted to take all their lives.

The whole reason most of us have never made it to Alaska before is because most of us were waiting for the right person or the right group to share the experience with. Traveling with a group like ours means you can always find a friend for any occasion.

Who on earth would want to take an exciting train ride deep into the heart of the magnificent Alaska forest alone?

Or what's the point of visiting the famous Denali National Park all by yourself? Eagles, caribou, grizzlies, and moose wander everywhere. Half the fun of seeing these animals is the chance to point them out to a friend or loved one!

What's the fun of witnessing the grandeur of the massive Hubbard Glacier or magnificence of America's largest mountain - the towering Mt. McKinley - all by yourself?

What's the joy of hiking rugged trails through glacial waterfalls outside Juneau alone?

And who would dream of taking a sea kayak trip on the protected harbor of Tongass National Park without a friend to share the boat ride?  

I suppose some people can be happy reflecting on the rugged beauty of Alaska all by themselves, but most people would rather have a friend to share this magnificent experience with.

One nice thing about our SSQQ Groups is how easy it is to make friends.

After a full day of excitement, Dinner Time becomes marvelous fun when you travel with a group like ours. People in our group become friends quickly. After turning everyone into stew in the hot tub and wining and dining them at our first Cocktail Party, the slows and the quicks all start to move at the same speed.

From that moment on each evening offers the chance to share stories of the fantastic adventures of the day. Imagine what the trip would be like sitting with a bunch of strangers all week. It is so much better to hang with a close group of friends who you will be able to see again back in Houston. When you travel as a Loose Moose instead of with the Herd, anyone you meet on the trip likely becomes "Here Today Gone Tomorrow". But when you travel with our group, a friend found in Alaska could become a friend for life.

If it is possible for the sightseeing to get old, SSQQ Dancing becomes another marvelous reason to be a part of the group. Let's face it, when SSQQ isn't around, dancing DOES NOT happen on these cruises - at least not the way we are used to dancing. We become instant Cruise Celebrities simply because our group brings so much energy to each trip.

And the trip doesn't end when you return home. There's an "After Trip" Party. There's the racy Trip Story. After all, what if you do something spectacularly naughty? How is the whole world going to find out without our cheerful gossip about the Trip? And what about the countless pages and pages of incriminating pictures to take you down memory lane that will stay on our website forever? Just imagine how amazing the Alaska pictures will be!

And what about Romance? If you are a couple, what could be more romantic than a spectacular adventure like this? Do you know that lots of couples like to go with our group? The proof is in the pudding - we literally have over a dozen couples that try to make each SSQQ trip they can. And the success of our trips with Singles is legendary. Who can take one look at our record-setting hot tub-stuffing parties and not immediately conclude that the birds and bees are way out of control?

There are many other advantages to traveling with a large group like ours that you would never get if you traveled alone. Due to the size of our large groups, we get free cocktail dance parties, we get champagne, we get dance lessons, and we get free room upgrades. And gosh, I bet those ship cabins sure get expensive without a roommate. SSQQ Cruises always make the "need-a-roommate" problem conveniently disappear.

The reason we insist you book with SSQQ if you intend to hang with SSQQ is as plain and simple as "Frontier Life". Back in the days of Cowboys and Indians, if you were afraid of the Indians, you lived inside the Fort. Or you lived near town. Or you lived near other people. A few close neighbors meant safety. It's called "Community". But it also meant you had to risk your own neck once in a while when the Community was attacked.

In other words, if you want the benefits of a group, then you must contribute to the group and accept the rules of the group.

After our last Rhapsody trip I wrote at great length why it is important for each person to stick together and be part of the SSQQ Group. If there is any doubt in your mind, please read what I had to say: http://ssqq.com/information/travelquestions.htm  (Travel Questions).

But when it comes to our Disgruntled Gentleman, I suppose it is the nature of the beast to want to have your cake and eat it for half price. After listening to the story of DG, the thing that made no sense to Marla was that he claimed he could find a way to improve on our prices. Marla did a quick Internet check that confirmed the SSQQ prices are currently running $150 to $350 below Royal Caribbean's list price for the same trip!  Take a look for yourself:

Here is how to understand the picture taken from the Royal Caribbean Web Site above.

First add $27 in taxes to each of the RCCL prices. This bumps up Interior Cabin from 1199 to 1226, Oceanview from 1534 to 1561, and Balcony from 1779 to 1806.  Now compare these prices to the SSQQ prices for the same categories:

As of January 26th, the RCCL price for an Inside Cabin including taxes was $1226 and our price was $1027. That is a $199 difference.

The RCCL price for an Oceanview was $1561 and our price was $1216. That is a $245 difference.

The RCCL price for a Balcony was $1806 and our price was $1452. That is a $354 difference.

Then for the fun of it I sent Marla to the web site of Houston's largest Travel Agency. Known for their excellent discounts, as of January 26th she found their Inside Cabin price was $1158 (our price is 1027), their Oceanview was $1483 (our price is 1216), and their Balconies were $1738 (our price is 1452).

After comparing our prices to Royal Caribbean's Internet list and to Houston's largest Travel Agency, it certainly appears like the SSQQ prices are actually quite a bargain.

I asked Marla why our prices were lower. She explained that our price is way below market for the simple reason that she got a Special Group Rate based on our group performance from our two trips last year.  In addition Marla got an excellent price by booking a group trip so far in advance!  Now thanks to Marla, SSQQ is an RCCL favorite.

Our Internet price is so low we have even had suspicious travel agents call up to question how we got that price. In other words, the SSQQ price is terrific.

So you might ask, "Even though the SSQQ prices are significantly lower than prices published on the Internet, is it still possible the Disgruntled Gentleman can actually find a price $49 lower?"

The answer is: Maybe.

It may be that DG was confused about the prices. Since it is common not to list hidden charges such as taxes and port fees, sometimes it is very tricky to make accurate comparisons.

However there might be another explanation. It is possible that Disgruntled Gentleman found a travel agent willing to discount their own commission.

The cruise industry would love to find a way to completely bypass Travel Agents. If they could cut out the middle man they could lower costs and boost profits. Several of our passengers on the recent trip almost signed up while they were still on board one day when an announcement came over the Intercom hinting at huge savings if people would book their next trip RIGHT NOW.  This was an example of how the cruise industry is trying cut out the middle man by booking customers on another trip before they even leave the ship

Do you blame them?  I certainly understand this thinking. Commissions to travel agents have been a curse to Cruise Lines because they can be manipulated to the Travel Agent's advantage.

For example, let's say Royal Caribbean wants $1500 per booking. If RCCL books the customers by themselves, they pocket the entire $1500. But if a Travel Agent gets involved they expect a commission in return for their service.  Assume RCCL will give the travel agent a commission of say $100.  However this opens RCCL to being undersold by the travel agent.

Here is how it works: If DG goes directly to the RCCL Web Site, he pays $1500.  But if Disgruntled Gentleman finds a convenient Travel Agent, he can pay the travel agent $1450, then the travel agent turns around and pays RCCL $1500. Then in a couple months further down the line the travel agent gets back $100 in commission. Disgruntled Gentleman saves $50, the travel agent makes $50, and RCCL loses out on $100.

Now you know one of the reasons the cruise industry would rather simply bypass the travel agents. It is true that if RCCL catches an agent doing this, they can lose their license. But it isn't easy to prove a transaction like this. Since $50 is better than nothing, I imagine some travel agents are willing to occasionally cut a deal under the table with certain customers.  As long as they are sure they won't get caught, this is a simple way to steal someone else's commission.

So maybe DG can save 50 bucks by using a cozy relationship with another travel agent. But now Disgruntled Gentleman is angry because we posted a rule insisting people book with our Group if they want to hang with our Group.

Why do you suppose we passed this rule?  Because we got burned by this exact situation on Rhapsody 2004.

To: Marla@ssqq.com
Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2004 5:22 PM
Subject: cruise

Marla,

I hated to bother you with my late registration for the cruise since you seem to have a full plate, so I registered for the cruise along with my roommate, xx, on line using another agency.  I hope that doesn't screw things up for you.

Our  reservation code:  2248326  I didn't know if I should have told them that we were going with SSQQ.  Will you please seat us at one of your tables?

Thank you

The incident listed above was not the first time this has happened to us.  It is no secret that Marla organizes these trips because she receives a travel agent commission on each sale.  After several people tried to do the exact same thing to us on our previous Rhapsody trip as DG wanted to do on the Alaska trip, we decided we had no choice but to block the loophole.

We learned the hard way there are people out there - not many, but some - like clever Mr. DG who are quite willing to stiff Marla her commission, but can't wait to get in line to share the group goodies.

No one likes the smart guy who cuts in line. What's to prevent DG from trying to do it anyway?  Well, the threat of public ridicule is a very powerful deterrent. Once we take his picture, I imagine the thought of a story on the web site about "Mr. Moose on the Loose" trying to cut in on SSQQ Action would give even a hardened Herd Crasher pause for thought.

My attitude is "Veni, Vidi, Vici, GetLosti" which of course is Pig Latin for "Go fight the Indians by yourself."
 

FOLLOW-UP TO LAST MONTH'S STORY ON THE UNITED SALSEROS

You don't believe me?  Last Spring in 2004 we had a very ugly incident when a man named Salsa Eddy repeatedly came to our studio to recruit our students for his dance program right on our own floor. He also enjoyed putting flyers on our cars. And back in 1997 we had the humiliating experience of having a dance team stolen from us, teachers stolen from us, and our class syllabuses stolen from us by an organization known as HSDS.  As if that wasn't bad enough, just to rub salt in our wounds, they sent "agents" over to the studio to pass out flyers to our students right on the dance floor!  These incidents were so exasperating that they led to four solid years of bitterness between our two organizations. If you are curious, go read the "HSDS-SSQQ Swing Feud" at http://ssqq.com/archive/vinlin14.htm
Now we have yet another organization trying to muscle in without permission. For the last several weeks, the United Salseros have been gleefully announcing their activities by leaving flyers on the hoods of all the cars of our students. Here's the latest flyer from Tuesday, January 26. However I have to hand to these guys. They are throwing an angle at me that is unprecedented. They actually had the nerve to email me a thank you note for giving them permission to do this. You don't believe me? Read for yourself.
-----Original Message----- From: United Salseros Sent: Friday, January 28, 2005 10:43 AM To: dance@ssqq.com Subject: Thank You from United Salseros I would like to say thank to SSQQ for allowing United Salseros to invite your students to our salsa events.  Our goal is to have a place that caters to the dancers.  We wanted a place that played great salsa music with very little/no interruption.  We wanted a place that would not increase the cost of water simply because salseros do not drink very much.  We wanted a smoke-free environment with plenty of space and a great floor at little cost to the dancers.  I know that SSQQ students make up part of this crowd.  We are in no way trying to intrude on your classes or events.  We feel that purpose of teaching someone to dance is so that can use those skills outside of the classroom.  At this juncture, you are the only studio that allows us to disseminate our information.  And for that we are truly grateful.  (No Name)   -----Original Message----- From: Rick Archer Sent: Friday, January 28, 2005 11:14 AM To: United Salseros Subject: RE: Thank You from United Salseros For your information, no one with authority has given you permission to advertise your events at my dance studio.  I request that you stop immediately leaving flyers on our cars in the parking lot.  I have received many complaints from my students who do not appreciate this practice. Thank you.  Rick Archer   -----Original Message----- From: United Salseros Sent: Friday, January 28, 2005 1:15 PM To: Rick Archer Subject: RE: Thank You from United Salseros Thank you for the response, although disappointing.  I have spoken with quite a few students from SSQQ and get quite the contrary.  Many posted messages that they would like to be approached and want to interact with dancers from other studios, clubs, etc. Would it be a problem if we contacted you directly and left flyers with you for those that are interested in the events?  (No Name) -----Original Message----- From: Rick Archer Sent: Friday, January 28, 2005 1:32 PM To: United Salseros Subject: RE: Thank You from United Salseros Please just leave us alone.  We mean you no harm. I would like to add it is very disconcerting to be dealing with a nameless, faceless organization. What do you have to hide? I at least use my name. Rick Archer

HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER WAS PRINTED

-----Original Message-----
From: United Salseros
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2005 4:34 PM
To: Rick Archer
Subject: RE: Thank You from United Salseros


We never meant any harm to you. I personally do not think that we have caused any. I chose to contact you because that is something that had never been done directly. In my last email, I asked if you would have a problem with us contacting you directly. I take it from the tone of your email that you would.

We have contacted other studios and one agreed to give our flyers to its instructors and decided to let the instructors chose if they want to disseminate the information to their students. They were honest and specifically stated that they solely promote their own events. But they also saw the potential of being affiliated with us, because any advertising of their studio is good. It was probably a difficult compromise from them. But, they can also see that we do the legwork and they can reap the benefit.

Many students and former students of SSQQ thought that a mutual support between SSQQ and others in the scene would be beneficial to you because you get such a bad rap from some of your former students. I never really had an opinion because once again, I do not know you. But, I can definitely see how they reached the conclusions that they have. I personally, do not think that the bad publicity will have a great effect on your business. You already have the longevity needed to survive. You have your own venue and can control it without compromise. I just think that it is sad that you would handicap your students. Again, I can only speak for United Salseros, but we are not trying to compromise your classes or events. We just wanted to afford your students the same opportunities that we afford everyone else that we can contact. You will be left alone as you desire.

But to leave your mind at ease about whom I am. My name is Crystal Moody. My partner and I are former students of SSQQ. I attended socials there well after I discontinued taking classes. I always enjoyed the large wooden floor and the space to practice. Not to mention that it was nice to have a soda after working up a thirst from dancing. When I started practicing with a group, I would still pay $3 on Thursdays just to practice on your floor. We are neither nameless nor faceless. I still get your newsletters. But you choose not to associate with others outside of SSQQ. If you ventured beyond those walls at least once, you would know who we are. We work with all organizations, clubs, groups, and associations that want to support the salsa scene in Houston. We decided to get started with this venture after returning from New York in August. Recently, we have had dancers perform on ABC and were able to get our events and those affiliated with the events advertised on television free. We do not hold events for money. My partner and I have affluent jobs. The money goes to pay for expenses incurred.

And it is very clear that although you hold yourself out as a social dance school, you really do not want your students to venture outside the playground. For the record, I came to SSQQ for months and I still have no clue who you are. I make it a point to introduce myself to everyone that comes to our events and listen to their wants. I apologize if we offended any of your students. That was never our intent. I also apologize if we offended you in any way. However, living here in Texas, you are clearly aware of the saying "you get more flies with sugar".

For your information, by law, I do not need your authorization to hand out flyers "outside" of your studio. I only state that to address your comment. I have never handed out flyers inside of any studio, club or other venue without the express consent of the owner. I would not disrespect you. We only continued because of the positive feedback that we received from your students. So, tell them that you do not want them to know about events outside of SSQQ. And please explain why.


RICK ARCHER'S REPLY

Thank you for sharing your name, Ms. Moody.

adventures of a dance teacher: THE TEMPER TANTRUM - THE NIGHT RICK COMPLETELY LOST IT

EZRA CHARLES AND THE WORKS PLAYED TO A FULL HOUSE AT SSQQ ON FEBRUARY 19TH!

EMAIL ONE: hi rick-- the ezra charles dance was a total blast!  i wore myself out dancing and loved it.  i hope the event was a financial success so that ezra can return.   regards, Doug EMAIL TWO: Thank you for having Ezra Charles play at the studio. My friends and I had a great time. I hope you and Marla had fun as well. See you soon.  Smooch. S

EMAIL THREE:

Rick,
I started going to SSQQ six years ago next month. I have had a countless number great times at the studio but last night was the best time I've ever had there. The studio looked great and everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time. I regularly go see Ezra play live but having him play on our "home court" just seemed to kick it up a notch!! Congratulations on a fantastic evening!!

Steve G

EMAIL FOUR:

Rick,

Great dance party this past weekend. Colleen & I feel it was the best dance party ever put on by SSQQ. Hope many more to come with same venue. Thanks.

EMAIL FIVE:

What about Johnny Dee and the Rocket 88's for the Sock Hop?  Maureen B

You are definitely feeling ambitious, Maureen.

First a quick lesson in band economics.

It is difficult to make a profit off of a live band. The first 100 guests pay the band. The next 30 guests work here and are attending for free. The next 30 guests pay for the photographer and the refreshments.

What you don’t know is the number of complaints I received about the $20 cover!!  I will simply say I was angry the whole night after the third complaint. That’s when I sat down to cool off.  So add in the cost to my nerves of worrying about losing money and the aggravation of the listening to the complainers spout off and you have a rough idea why we aren't going to do this more often.

It is true that a live band adds energy to the studio that may reflect in more students.  Lets hope so! I am experimenting with this theory in 2005. We have had two excellent results so far so I am in a optimistic mood.

That said,

a) I doubt I can afford Johnny Dee. I barely made money on Ezra and I thought his price was very fair.
b) The sock hop will make more money without a band than with a band since it has “legs” of its own.
c)  Next party to get a live band will be whip in April, then salsa in June – the sock hop is June and my nerves can’t take two bands in one month.
d) Maybe western after that. Swing needs to get in line. I have a lot of people to make happy.

Nevertheless I love Johnny Dee. He would be perfect for the studio!  Maybe I can book him in advance for something later in the year.

Thanks for the idea!


No problem, Rick... by the way, your prices for Ezra were fine. My friend in San Antonio is charging the same thing this weekend at the Blue Bubble Ballroom... and I don't think that includes refreshments.

WANT TO SEE PICTURES FROM THE EZRA CHARLES PARTY?
http://ssqq.com/information/ezra2005.htm

One more thing: Luther and the Healers will be playing at the April 23 Sleazy Bar Party.
Don't miss it!!

SSQQ HIRES JANITORIAL SERVICE

 
-----Original Message-----
From: s
Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2005 4:39 PM
To: dance@ssqq.com
Subject: complaint filth!

Hi Rick,

I know you don't want to hear this but people are complaining about the trash cans running over.............and every night I work someone comes running up to me and saying WHERE ARE THE PAPER TOWELS? WHERE ARE THE DRINK CUPS? WHERE IS THE TOILET PAPER.........and I want you to know that I DO NOT MIND GETTING THESE THINGS AND PUTTING THEM OUT, BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT'S WHEN I AM WORKING THE DOOR AND HAVE A LINE OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND CAN'T LEAVE...a lady came running up to me in at this time with her hands ringing wet...........also the floor in the popcorn room is a dirty mess.....AND CAN'T THE CLEANING PEOPLE PLEASE PUT OUT HAND SOAP? we never have any.

Also I talked to T and she and I both agree they we don't mind emptying the trash so it is NOT an eye sore for the people coming in if it will help you.......one person went so far as to ask me if I have gone to such and such dance studio and when I replied NO they said well the place is very clean and the floors are like you are flouting on them and there are lots of SSQQ people going there...I told them SSQQ is the best deal in town and No I have not gone over there.

Now I hope you don't get mad at me....but I am just trying to make our place a nice place to dance......If I am out of line by telling you this....just say so by email and I won't bring it up again....deal?

your friend, S

EDITOR'S NOTE
I have been trying to solve the problem of cleaning the studio for the past five months. This difficult problem has either directly or indirectly cost me two of my most valuable Staff members Judy Archer and Susan Schroeder.

We have hired a business known as Sanserve starting in March. Hopefully putting professionals to work will make a difference. I will keep you posted.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE CHALLENGE TO THE SSQQ "NO WATCHING" RULE
Written by Rick Archer

As anyone in business knows, many organizations succeed or fail based on the quality of its Customer Service. 

The number one axiom in Customer Relations has always been "The Customer is Always Right."

However no one has ever come up with an axiom that covers this idea: "How to Decide Which Customer is always right".

As a business owner, I am often forced to make tough choices between sticking up for studio rules or bending the rules to make a customer happy. Now I have a question: "How does making an exception for an individual benefit the students who have already cooperated with the rule?"

One of the oldest SSQQ rules is "No Guests/No Watching classes". 

YESTERDAY - 2001

The last serious challenge to this rule came four years ago in February of 2001. One day a student brought along a guest. The Hall Monitor stopped them both and asked them to respect the rule by not coming in.

The student complained loudly about our refusal to let his friend watch. He refused to take "no" for an answer. He demanded to see the manager. In frustration the Hall Monitor came and got me.

Now I had the privilege of dealing with this customer. As I listened, I became aware that this man was quite persuasive. The gentleman listed several excellent reasons why we should allow his guest to stay. If memory serves, this is what he said:

1. I didn't know about your policy till now.
2. We have come all this way. You will force me to miss my class if my friend cannot stay.
3. Can't you make an exception this one time?
4. After all, one person watching will not make much of a difference.
5. Why don't you ask the students in the class if they would mind?

I replied that I did not intend to publicly ask the students to give permission. I have found that the individuals who object to the watching are also usually too shy to speak up as well. To my reply, the gentleman asked me, "Did you just make this up or do you have actual evidence to this effect?"

I replied that up till now I had based my decision on my instincts. However since he was so insistent, I decided I would indeed pose this gentleman's question to my Staff and Students alike using our March 2001 Email Newsletter.

In March 2001, first I stated the studio's position in the SSQQ Newsletter, and then I added this request: 

"Maybe some of our readers would like to explain the reasons why SSQQ should allow "Watching". Or maybe some of our readers would like to agree that "Watching" is not a very good idea. In other words, if you like or don't like the policy, please say something because at the moment one or two people are trying to bring guests to the studio almost every night. They are openly questioning the intelligence of our rule. So what do you think SSQQ should do?"

Fifteen people actually responded with comments. The Silent Majority of 4, 000 said nothing. Fourteen responses supported the "No Guest/No Watching" Rule. One person in 4,015 supported getting rid of the rule. I listed each person's answer. If you are curious for more information, go visit http://ssqq.com/information/watching.htm

TODAY - 2005

On Sunday, January 23rd, I was forced once more to choose between enforcing the rule or bending it to make three people happy. Here is what happened:

I was 10 minutes late to class yesterday. I knew my co-teacher was covering for me, so I didn't mind taking my time. At 4:40 pm as I walked the sidewalk past Radio Shack, I was puzzled to see three adults standing outside the door to the studio in conference with one another.

They stopped me and said I was just the man they wanted to talk to.  A gentleman proceeded to explain that he was already enrolled in a class and that he had brought two friends to start classes this week (this was the fourth week of class).  The Hall Monitor had already turned these three people away. She had told the three people that students could not start in the third week or fourth week without permission and that watching was not permitted.

So now this group asked me to give them permission. The student immediately gave me the ancient story (shades of deja vu; I know it by heart!!):

1. I didn't know about your policy till now.
2. We have come all this way (Pearland).
3. You will force me to miss my class if my friend cannot stay.
4. Can't you make an exception this one time?
5. After all, one person watching will not make much of a difference.

I asked to see the man's registration slip.  I expected it to say "No Watching Permitted" since all of our Walk-in Registration Receipts have the most important rules listed.

Instead he pulled out an "Online Receipt". This is when I found out the hard way that Online Receipts do not have the rules listed. Uh oh. I had never realized before that the Online Receipts do not have the SSQQ rules listed.  I had been ready to use that written document to prove that he should have known the rules ahead of time.  Now I was in a bind.

Now I had no way of knowing whether the man was breaking a rule he already knew about or whether he had made a mistake through ignorance of the rules.  As the owner and the person who makes the rules, I did not want to alienate the current customer or the potential customers.  At the same time I also wanted to support the "No Watching" rule in the worst way.

I realize the police say, "Ignorance of the Law is no excuse".  The difference is they could care less about keeping your goodwill.  This student had made me sincerely believe he did not know about the rule ahead of time. Therefore, because the Online Receipt did not forbid "watching" as I expected it to, I gave in. 

I immediately regretted what I had done. When I told the Hall Monitor to let them in, you should have seen the look of disgust on her face. She told me she had argued with these people for ten minutes!!  She said they had made her absolutely miserable with their refusal to respect her decision.  Now I had turned around and made her look like a fool.

Oh, great. They say a man's wife has more power over him than the State does. Well, add "Hall Monitors" to the list.

I won't do it again. Soon I expect to add the list of rules to the On-Line Receipts so that the Walk-in Receipts and the On-Line receipts both have the "Rules" listed. It is much easier to stand one's ground when you are certain the Rules have been posted correctly.

I made a mistake in this situation. After all, the Hall Monitor had already stood her ground. Now I basically sabotaged her efforts. It isn't much fun to stand up to people. There have been times where students are obnoxious, persistent, rude, and sometimes even ugly.  The SSQQ Hall Monitors do their best to greet the customers with a smile, but sometimes they have to stand up to people as well.  This is never very much fun, believe me.

So when I turn around and let these three people in after the Hall Monitor had gone to all the trouble to stand up to them and defend the rules, I am pretty sure I lost that Hall Monitor's respect that day.

Now that I am thoroughly ashamed of myself, I went ahead and wrote this letter defending the SSQQ House Rules. I hope you will take the time to read it and possibly even comment on it.

SSQQ HOUSE RULES:

1. ADULTS AT PLAY: NO CHILDREN  ( http://ssqq.com/information/children.htm )
2. NO GUESTS/NO WATCHING  ( http://ssqq.com/information/watching.htm )
3. PLEASE SWITCH PARTNERS ( http://ssqq.com/information/switchpartners.htm )
4. PLEASE TURN OFF CELL PHONES  ( http://ssqq.com/information/houserules.htm )
5. NO REGISTRATION AFTER WEEK TWO ( http://ssqq.com/information/houserules.htm )
6. BRING RECEIPT EACH WEEK  ( http://ssqq.com/information/houserules.htm )
7. REFUNDS OR CLASS CHANGES MUST BE DONE ON FIRST NIGHT OF CLASS
( http://ssqq.com/information/refund.htm )
8. BE NICE TO THE HALL MONITORS. ( http://ssqq.com/information/houserules.htm )
 

-----Original Message-----
From: G
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2005 10:58 AM
To: dance@ssqq.com
Subject: Guest

Hi Rick, I'm GM, one of your dance studio students, participating each Saturday in the beginners salsa class. I'm from Mexico and a friend is coming tomorrow so I wanted her not to watch but to participate in the class paying what corresponds to it. I wanted to know if there was any inconvenience.

Thanks, regards - G


-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Archer
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2005 11:11 AM
To: GM
Subject: RE: Guest

I wish I could help you, but we don't permit guests to watch and we don't allow registrations in the final week of class.

If we did allow guests, we would have people all over the studio just sitting there watching.

If we allowed late registrations, every class would slow down while we tried to catch the newcomers up to the rest of the class.

I hope you understand why we have these rules.

Rick Archer
SSQQ Dance Studio

(Editor's Note: It isn't easy to say "No" when someone asks as politely as this gentleman did. The truth is I wrote him back and gave him permission.)


EXCEPTIONS

Everybody has got to die, but I always believed an exception would be made in my case because I am so very special!! - William Saroyan

Rules are made for a reason. As you might imagine, all of our Rules favor the Silent Majority over the Vocal Individual. However we understand it is the nature of being human to ask for "Exceptions".

"What will it hurt if you let just one Kid in?"
"What will it hurt if you let just one Guest in?"
"What will it hurt if you let just one Stranger in to Watch?"
"What will it hurt if you let just one Student Register in the Third or Fourth Week?"
"What will it hurt if you let just one Volunteer in even though I don't have written permission?"
"What will it hurt if you let just one Couple not have to switch?"

You are absolutely right. If we make one exception it probably won't hurt very much. But you forget that everyone else is watching. There will be someone in the building who left their kid home today who wanted to bring him. Next week, maybe he will...

There will be someone in the building who wanted to bring his girlfriend visiting from out of town. He didn't bring her today, but maybe he will tomorrow.

And what is the Hall Monitor going to say? "Well, the lady on Sunday let some guy bring his kid in. Why can't I bring my kid in today?"

People who ask for an Exception are often amazingly self-centered. They only seem to see their side of the story. This article tries to show SSQQ's side of the story.

Before you ask for an "Exception", we ask one favor: Please try to understand our position. If we make an Exception for YOU, then we have to make an exception for everyone. When we make you happy, we end up making a lot of other people unhappy.

SSQQ is in the awkward position of wishing to please you and to simultaneously please every person in the building who have cooperated with our rules even though they would like to have the same exceptions made for them that you are asking us for.

Yes, we understand that you wish to have your friend from out-of- town watch your class.
Yes, we understand that you were gone for business and you wish to start in the third week of class.
Yes, we understand that your ex-husband did not pick up the children and you have nowhere to leave them.
Yes, we understand that you would rather dance only with your wife and no one else in the class.

SSQQ is an enormous place. On any given night there are 100 to 200 people in the building. The odds are excellent that on any given night there are probably ten or more people who were in the same position as you are, but abided by our Rules. If we make an Exception for you, we show disrespect for every one of these people who tried to cooperate.

The most simple way to illustrate our point is to play "It's a Wonderful Life". In this story, SSQQ Rules no longer exist.

Each night when you come to the studio, there are two dozen children running around, a dozen guests of students just sitting there watching, another dozen people who walked in off the street hoping to see what a class looked like, no one switches partners if they don't feel like it, a cell phone going off once every two minutes, six people in each class who are slowing everyone down because they are starting in the third or fourth week of class, unauthorized volunteers everywhere, and hopelessly over-crowded classes because no one checks receipts or enforces the rules.

Is this how the majority of our students want it? No, of course not.


Rick Archer
Do we make Exceptions? Yes, of course we do. We make them all the time. Here are some examples:

Patricia is visiting her daughter Jane from Boston. Jane wants her mother to watch her dance and meet her friends.

Right way to handle it:
Email Rick Archer dance@ssqq.com who will send an Email Approval Letter.

Wrong way to handle it: Just show up at the studio.


Joseph has a friend at work who has just gotten a divorce. Joseph has been trying to talk his friend into taking lessons, but his friend is shy. Joseph wants to bring his friend to the studio just to watch.

Right way to handle it:
Email Rick Archer dance@ssqq.com who will send an Email Approval Letter.

Wrong way to handle it: Just show up at the studio.


Frank has taken Advanced Western Waltz two times before. He has been away from town on business and wants to start in the Third Week of class.

Right way to handle it:
Email Rick Archer dance@ssqq.com who will send an Email Approval Letter or say, "No, Frank, sorry, but we have too many men signed up for this class already."

Wrong way to handle it: Just show up at the studio. You will be sent home.


Ralph has heard about SSQQ and wants to check it out before signing up for a class. He just shows up one night at the studio one night and wants to watch for a while.

Right way to handle it:
Come say hello to the Hall Monitor in Room 6 who will allow to watch the class in Room 6 for a couple minutes and answer questions.

Wrong way to handle it: Don't bully the Hall Monitor into letting you pass by the Hall Monitor door. You will be sent home.


Sophia is getting married and only wants to dance with her fiancé.

Right way to handle it:
Email Rick Archer dance@ssqq.com However the odds of getting approval are slim. Group Classes are for Groups, not individuals. The best way to handle this is to take a private lesson.

Wrong way to handle it: Just show up at the studio and demand to get your way. You will be sent home.


Jeffrey has his kids this weekend, but the babysitter just called in sick. He wants to bring his kids with him to class.

Right way to handle it:
Email Rick Archer dance@ssqq.com However the odds of getting approval are slim. SSQQ is a Playground for Adults. This is a place where boys meet girls and have fun. The moment one kid is in the room, Adults are forced to behave. Why would you do that to your fellow adults. Furthermore, Adults may behave, but children are another story.

Wrong way to handle it:
Show up at the door with kids in tow, say "Surprise!" and try to guilt the Hall Monitor into feeling sorry for you. Please don't do this. You will be sent home.


Rita has heard a class has six extra men in it and wants to help out by volunteering in the second, third, or fourth week.
Right way to handle it:
Email Rick Archer dance@ssqq.com who will send an Email Approval Letter.

Wrong way to handle it: Just show up at the studio. You will be sent home.



After a trial separation, John and his wife Mary decide to try again. It is the third week of class, but John wants Mary to come with him.

Right way to handle it:
Email Rick Archer dance@ssqq.com who will send an Email Approval Letter or say, "No, John, sorry, but we have too many women signed up for this class already. Can we reschedule you for next month?"

Wrong way to handle it: Just show up at the studio. You will be sent home.


Carol used to teach classes at SSQQ. She moved to Austin. She is in town and wants to see the old gang.

Right way to handle it:
Email Rick Archer dance@ssqq.com who will send an Email Approval Letter.

Wrong way to handle it:
Just show up at the studio. You will be sent home. If you worked here, you should know better.


You show up at the door and you don't like what the Hall Monitor has said. You demand to see the Manager, the Owner, Rick Archer or anyone RIGHT NOW!

Right way to handle it:
Email your concern to Rick Archer dance@ssqq.com

Wrong way to handle it:
Why stand there and argue? The Hall Monitors are the SSQQ Managers!! They know the Rules very well and they are paid to enforce the Rules.

Furthermore Hall Monitors are not empowered to make exceptions. That is not part of their job description.

Please do not ask to see me during class. I am teaching. What good is going to do the twenty people in my class if we give people the right to call me out? The Rights of the Group supercede the Rights of the Individual. The Hall Monitors have been told not to come get me during class unless it is an emergency.

However if you think it is that serious that I need to talk to you, I will speak to you either at Break or after class is over. If you have been rude to the Hall Monitor, you will be asked to go sit outside. If you have been polite, the Hall Monitor will give you permission to go sit on the Room 6 couch.


You have an Emergency and need to see someone in the Building immediately.

Answer: The Hall Monitors are allowed to use discretion. Tell them the problem. It is their call. Please respect their decision.


George doesn't like what is going on. He walks right by the Hall Monitor.

Answer: The Bellaire Police are five minutes away if we dial 713 668 0487. They are one minute away if we dial 911. The Bellaire Police like us. The Hall Monitors have the authority to call them if they choose to.

Please give the Hall Monitor your respect.

To Ask for an Exception, email Rick Archer, dance@ssqq.com



 

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick Archer"
To: "Judith T. Williams"
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2005 10:08 AM
Subject: RE: : WHY


Hey Judith, after reading all this I'm wondering why I was stupid enough to give you my email address.

Miss you! Smooch and hug. Rick

-----Original Message-----
From: Judith T. Williams
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2005 11:14 AM
To: ssqq@houston.rr.com
Subject: Re: : WHY

Why do you say that?  Why, I thought most of these quite thought-provoking!

From: "Rick Archer"
To: "Judith T. Williams"
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2005 12:08 PM
Subject: RE: : WHY

I am trying to write a newsletter and instead I find myself wondering why there should or shouldn't be apes just because we descended from apes.

And by the way, shouldn't we have "ascended" from apes?

Why did we DESCEND from apes?  Does this mean apes are better than us?

Answer that, smarty pants.


 -----Original Message-----
From: Judith T. Williams
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 10:50 AM
To: ssqq@houston.rr.com
Subject: Re: : WHY

You got me, Darling!

STAFF TRANSITIONS:

THE SSQQ WEB SITE BREAKS UP TWO MARRIAGES. THE SSQQ WEB SITE IS SLUTTY!

.............

-----Original Message-----
From: K G
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 3:43 PM
To: dance@ssqq.com
Subject: wonderful pics

Thank you for the wonderful pictures on your website of my HUSBAND, A G and his girlfriend, C. They will be very useful!

-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Archer [mailto:dance@ssqq.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 4:12 PM
To: K G
Subject: RE: wonderful pics

With an attitude like that, it becomes obvious why he left you.

Rick Archer


-----Original Message-----
From: K G
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 8:09 AM
To: Rick Archer
Subject: RE: wonderful pics

Maybe you should talk to C about my attitude before you judge me.

We've both been used.

And I think your webpage was very slutty. C agrees.


-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Archer [mailto:dance@ssqq.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 10:00 AM
To: K G
Subject: RE: wonderful pics

You use the word "slutty" too easily. I say consider the source.

How discourteous of you to involve another person in your vendetta!  By the way, did you ask C for permission to use her name in this way or do you not understand the importance of a courtesy such as this?

And do you care to explain how were you used?

Rick Archer


-----Original Message-----
From: K G
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 12:44 PM
To: Rick Archer
Subject: RE: wonderful pics

Since you would probably want to print this for your website, I will not aim my answers to you. Yes, C and I have talked. How do you know whether he has left me or not? Especially since he hasn't and we are still married.


 -----Original Message-----
From: Rick Archer [mailto:dance@ssqq.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 6:05 PM
To: K G
Subject: RE: wonderful pics

If you are still together, what do you need the pictures for? Do you need larger prints?

Rick Archer

RESPONSE TO LAST MONTH'S NEWSLETTER ARTICLE

-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 8:05 AM
To: Rick Archer
Subject: newsletter issue


Rick,
The article about the guy wanting to be taken off the list because of an affair he had with someone at the studio -- I know the woman that he was referring to. Unfortunately, you didn't cover the identities well enough, hence, there are a few people who know who she is too.

My friend is hurt and embarrassed. Of course, the majority of those who are reading the newsletter have no idea of who she is. But, some of those who do maybe didn't know about this particular part of her business. She has already received an email from someone who figured out it was her who was being referred to. Other student friends who do know about it are furious about this being aired in the newsletter.

I know of some things that you have to deal with in running the studio and all the trauma and drama that brings. I understand why you put a note of that type in the newsletter, but I don't think it occurred to you the ramifications it could have.

I don't want you to be upset with me about writing this. I want to let you know the undercurrent of things that are on the minds of students which could be disruptive to the studio that I love so much. In the overall scheme of things, this issue might not be too much. But if a student, whether it is my friend or not, is hurt or embarrassed, my motherly instinct is to say something. If her friends are angry, it is my duty to let you know it.

Even if I ask you not to, I know you might put this in the newsletter. My thoughts are that it is not necessary to run a dialogue about something sensitive like this; it will just add to the emotion that is already out there. We don't even know how or if it affected anyone else. I am cautioning you against upsetting your customers.

Sincerely,

MY REPLY

-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Archer
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 10:33 AM
To:
Subject: newsletter issue

These are very serious points.

I appreciate the courage it took for you to write this letter. I have no desire to embarrass you for sticking up for a friend.

If I do decide to publish it, your name will not be involved.
................

I do not know who this man is you describe. I do not know a thing about this incident. I was also unaware that this incident was such a "cause celebre". If I had been aware this affair was so widely known about, I would have been more discrete.

I do regret that I did not disguise the names better. However I have a problem that you may not be aware of - the credibility of what I report in the Newsletter is only as good as my reputation for telling the truth. People actually ask me if I make this stuff up. Well, I don't. What I print has no power if I soft-soap everything. Nevertheless I did make an error by not disguising the names better.

I assume the friends are angry because someone's reputation has been compromised, but no one seems to care about the other letter. Why not? Because no one knows who it is and no one cares. And this is my point. 99.9% of the community doesn't care. The only ones who care already know!

My wife had no idea who was involved in either situation. Nor did she care. The only people who know are likely to be people who already know. The only people who care are likely to be the ones who already know.

As for the woman who somehow "guessed" the correct identity, if the incident did occur, the initials allow anyone to deny it if they wish to.

You feel a loyalty to defend a friend. However I do not share this loyalty. I do not know this woman very well. But I have received three negative reports on her from three different sources. I believe every one of them. This letter that I printed was the last straw.

I have something to say to you that I did NOT say in the Newsletter. I don't actually like what happened one bit. I didn't spell it out, but the hidden message behind both incidents to the general community was "behave yourself". I put these letters in as a "caution sign" for everyone. My studio is not a place for predatory behavior on the behalf of either sex.

You may not have noticed, but I held onto the letter re your friend for several months. But when I got the other letter, I decided enough was enough. I decided I was going to keep getting letters like these if I didn't do something about it.

If I had my preference, I would rather neither incident would have ever occurred. Now you know why I printed the two incidents.

Rick Archer

FURTHERMORE

SSQQ is not a church. But it isn't a bar either. It is a place where people come to dance and have fun. I want visitors to the studio to feel safe.

In one of the incidents written about, someone lied about their marital status. This deceit led to a very decent person getting hurt.

I don't like people who deceive other people.  It is true that people need love, but gosh what a shame there is so much shit they have to put up with to get some. I apologize for the bad word, but felt it was appropriate here. 

SSQQ is a very nice place. The entire studio is filled with many terrific people. But I have to be honest and tell you all there are predators here too. I am sorry for this, but hope that a word to wise is sufficient.

It is the few jerks in the world that force all the rest of us to be on guard all the time.

I published these stories simply as a warning to everyone.

a Special Note from Rick Archer about Email, the SSQQ Newsletter, and Spam.

I now receive an average of 150 spam emails a day. Because I run a business where people email me at random from all over the world on a variety of subjects, I am reluctant to install filters.

The problem with this kind of volume is the potential I can accidentally delete valuable emails from ssqq students, especially when I don’t recognize the name. To minimize this possibility, please be sure to put a title with some thought behind it in the “Subject” box when you are trying to contact us.

As for the SSQQ Email Newsletter, more and more people report that it is being blocked at their jobs as “Spam”. This leaves me no choice but to make the Email I send out as innocuous as possible.

For that matter you may stop receiving the SSQQ Email Newsletter at any time for reasons that are out of my hands. A month ago, I had over 600 Newsletter Emails sent to students with Yahoo accounts bounced back to me. I contacted Yahoo and was given no explanation why the emails bounced.  It is tough to correct a problem when you don’t even know what is causing it.

In the future, I suggest you automatically go to the Newsletter on the SSQQ Web Site a couple days before classes start and read the latest news whether you get an email reminder or not.

NO STANDING IN LINE – SIGN UP ON-LINE (SSQQ ONLINE REGISTRATION)
https://www153.ssldomain.com/ssqq/register/

As you can see, the SSQQ Newsletter is written to a large extent by its readers. Many people contribute jokes, pictures, and interesting items each month. Anyone is welcome to join the fun!

If you have any comments, suggestions, requests, complaints, jokes, pictures or poetry to share, please send it to me, Rick Archer, at dance@ssqq.com

And thanks for reading all the way to the bottom! …. I might add I do have reason to believe some of you simply scroll to the bottom to look for any little surprises I hide down here. ;-)   Anyhow, thanks to all for making it this far!

Rick Archer
SSQQ Dance Studio
4803 Bissonnet
Email:   dance@ssqq.com
Web:    www.ssqq.com
Phone:  713-861-1906