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Two suggestions...and I know it's late, but better than never.

Check out Buena Vista Social Club - Rhythms del Mundo: Cuba.  They have great covers of songs which are great for some salsa, cha cha, and rumba.

Also, Lady Gaga's Just Dance works really well was an upbeat teaching song for cha cha.  The beat is steady and the song is contemporary.

I love "Rainbow Connection".  It's a great waltz.  Slow with a pronounced beat and brings a smile to my face. Not the weirdest waltz I've danced too.  Oh, we should use Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters".  Awesome slow V. Waltz.

I still say that Viennese Waltz is a hazard if a line of dance (LOD) is not established.  This is kind of true for waltz, tango, and foxtrot were the basic steps require travel.  Swing, cha cha, salsa, and rumba can be danced in a more packed nightclub setting.  The trick will be to institute the traditional counterclockwise LOD. Not an easy task with the large and overly packed dance floor which we have on our hands. Maybe we should have announcements to force a LOD whenever a song which requires one starts.  We could have the instructor planted around the room to "remind" people to start moving in a counter clockwise direction.

I didn't really pay attention to the food being offered outside, but fried concession stand food isn't exactly in keeping with the B&W feel.  I don't believe that grease goes well with formal wear.  Well...except maybe some for the hair.

I understand the frustrations of many of the more experienced dancers with the antics of some attendees, but we have to remember that B&W Ball is an event which all Fanime member have the right to attend.  I would say that the idea of sectioning off a portion of the dance floor would give the wrong impression.  We don't want to walk down the slippery slope of segregating the membership.  This year was already a much improved dance compared to just even last year.  The conga lines were mercifully kept to at least songs that had a Caribbean beat. As for tango dancing, I agree that the dancers who decide on striking a pose and running in all directions in promenade was annoying, but if we want to lessen that impact, we need the LOD. At least then the running will be in the same direction.

Psuedo-Staffer Darryl, the short Chinese guy in the vest and almost always out of breath for being out of proper dance shape. I personally thought the event was great.  There were problems, but in general all the response I heard was really, really positive.

Problems:

1. The floor was a hazard by the end.  I talked to the guy laying down the floor before the dance started and he indicated that one of the problems was people dancing on the back portion of the floor before the entire floor was laid down.  This apparently caused the guideline he established to be crooked which lead to the uneveness of the floor in the front (which was laid last).  Also the panels in the front apparently were new and not the same type as the ones used in the back and stage left. Pre-dance the floor was servicable, but as the night went on, the gaps got bigger.  The solution is easy, make sure they do it right the next time.  It's not that complicated if they are left alone.  If it is...we should find another floor vender.

2. Music was sometimes a problem.  We all know the many many songs can be interpreted as different dances.  The line of salsa, cha cha, and swing if often blurred.  The problem I had was the lack of more "standard" tempo songs which leave less for interpretation.  Advanced dancers can dance to anything, but with a beginner group, you have to have songs that instantly are recognizable to a dance.

3. Viennese waltz is impossible in most venues without either very experienced dancers or rigid choreography.  The key is space. I believe that due to the size of the venue and the experience level of the average dancer, we should stay away from Viennese waltz, unless we do it as one of those waltz mixer.

4. People already commented about the volume.  I remember that many times I thought it was too loud, but never actually told anybody at the control booth.  I don't know why I didn't.  If it's too loud next year, I'll tell you in person.

5. The room needed much more air.  If we have that many bodies moving...we need more air.  Fans, air condition, air compressors manned by trigger-happy monkeys...something.  I still don't know how some people kept all their clothes on.

6. I think that we need at least one slow song for every two fast song.  There was a stretch which I almost died.  I think it was a mambo, then salsa, then cha cha, then swing, then crazy swing.  Yes I know I don't have to dance all of them, but when there are partners around...well, I have a hard time telling the members of the opposite sex "No".


Pros:
1. Dress code seems to hold pretty well.

2. Water!  God sent!

3. There were alot of people who were eager to dance, but either didn't make it to the lessons, or not completely confortable with their skills in a given dance.  I started giving quick impromptu lessons on the stage right side of the front which drew a tiny crowd. I think that everybody who tried it enjoyed it. I saw other people give quick lessons throughout the night.  Maybe we can something like that to get people involved during the dance, but take the pressure off the partnering aspects in the beginning so that people feel less intimidated. Something off the floor in the corner maybe.

4. I think the lessons are a great, great idea that everybody benefits from.  I was only able to make part of 1 lesson, but I hope that my staffing duties will allow me to make it to more of the classes.

5. Arm bands were genius.  This I think helps all the attendees identify the staffers quickly.  I don't remember if there was an announcement to the general audience on the siqnificance of the garters, but it might not hurt to do a "If you want some help and or want to try out a dance, find the guys with the garters" PSA every-so-often so the attendees know who to go to for assistance.

6. GOHs at the dance is a great boost. Getting to dance with Karen Dyer was awesome.  Eugene, next time don't grab me after I just finished a 4 dance set and was about to pass out to meet and dance with the lovely GOH.  Wait...I'll just build up some stamina.  Ric Meyers knows how to boogie.

All in all, think a very successful event with an overwhelming turnout.  We had a room at full capacity and a line out the door for an Ballroom Dance event which required people to leave the main convention area to attend! It was awesome meeting everybody.

Darryl Hwang
Cosplay

Conga lines were a pain.  There were only like two songs which warranted a conga line (one being "Jump In The Line" as heard in Beetlejuice).  Conga lines running through a ball when waltz is playing is inappropriate and disruptive.  I killed 3 of the conga lines.  I understand the desire to just fool around, but it's a ballroom dance.  Sorry.  If the organizers disagree, please tell me and I won't do it again.

Actually, I believe that wasn't the press.  That was mostly other audience members.  That was why we made a couple of extra "Please, don't use flash photograph unless you are press." Sorry about that. We can warn the press next year, but there is not much we can do about the audience unless we prevent them from bring cameras.

Thanks for the positive responses!

I've also been the MC for PMX for all their Masquerade so far. (just to answers a previous question).

Still amazed that people want to see me with my clothes off.  It's the suit and the mystique.  If I actually did take my clothes off, the audience would probably very quickly yell "Put it back ON!"

I have no idea when I did the California Naruto cosplay idea, but it has been a joke which has been dying to come out.

Random outbursts by the audience can get annoying.  Unforunately, we haven't figured out a mute button for really inappropriate comments.  As MC I try to actually make myself a target to spare the cosplay performers from such outburst, but there are always a couple in the crowd.

Assram is a legitimate spelling according to official sources...With that and Gay Bar, I really had to control myself.  I can't believe that the Contra Code is no longer a understandable joke.  Man we are getting old.  I say we because you got the joke. :)

Darryl "cosplaying as Derrek Kwon" Hwang

Cosplay Spectacular (that's the masquerade) MC here with some shout outs.

To Marisa and Casey, you guys are the best, bar none.  'Nuff said.
To the backstage crew/ stage pirates: As always you guys rise to the occassion.  I believe I'm correct in saying the only snafus were done by me.
To the volunteers for the event, nicely done.
To the theater staff, thank you for all your hard work.  Hope you enjoyed our show too.
To the judges, You have the endurance of marathon runners. I know first had how incredible hard it is to judge a masquerade.  The commitment and the thought you put in was great. I liked all your picks.
Last but not least, to all our performers on stage: good show.

As many of you know, I'm the first MC since the man, the myth, the legend Brian Doan, aka Dieter, decided to stop hosting.  He will be missed, but I hope you enjoyed this year none the less.

Being the MC, you are subject to both cheers and jeers.  I would like to have the fans post about both.  What was good? What was bad? Here at Fanime Masquerade, I know for a fact that the Coordinator listens to the public when they speak.  For example.  Last year people complained about too many walk-ons. This year there were a total of 3. That's 3 out of around 40 groups!

With this said, I would like to address some problems which neither the Masquerade staff nor the MC can correct.

Bad Sound quality of skits: We don't record most of the skits people do.  Each individual group is responsible for their sound.  Bad sound is generally not the theater's fault either.  If we get bad quality sound files, there is only so much we can do.

I would like to point out that currently Fanime is the only con which I know of that allows you to change audio up to the morning of the event.  We even provide a dedicated sound person to help you create the audio for a skit and a music selection to choose background music from.  Good luck finding another con which has this much support for the performer.

"Bad" skits: This, for better or worse, is basically a talent show which we as staff do not pre screen. It's attendees like you who perform in them.  Bad skit happen, live with it or sign up and do a better skit.

Some of the lag between skits: Some of the lag between skits is designed to transition between the stage setup between skits.  Props have to be taken off and on the stage and most groups wanted that done in the dark.

MC can't pronounce names worth a damn: Sorry, I'm working on it...and hopefully getting better. I try to make up for that by being accessible to the performers before the show to make sure their MC narrations are what they want.  I think I'm the only MC who tries to talk to every group before the show to make sure my intro is correct.  Correct me if I'm wrong.

I would like to apologize if during some parts of the show I seem to be long winded.  There is a very thin line that separates entertaining and overdone and I try my best to be on the entertaining side.  I've already read criticism (got to love the in-tar-web-nets) about me taking too long between skits.  I try to gauge my duties by the audiences reactions.  I know some of audience wants basically to run through all the skits as quickly as possible, but I see the show as a whole stage production which needs some continuity: ME  :)

I hope this gives you some insight into my mind and some information of how these shows go.  Feel free to leave praise, constructive criticism, offerings of gold for the MC.  I would love to hear what you liked and disliked.

Your humble servant,
Darryl Hwang
aka "Derek Kwon" according to Ric Meyer.

PS: Don't worry Ric, I get my name wrong sometimes.

Former Judge here :)

out of curiousity, if you know, does the question

"Are the fabric/material edges "finished" or left raw and cut? (this shows time and patience, if you make sure of the quality and details)."

refer to if the edges are completely untouched, if they are hemmed, or if they are sergered?

one of the girls in my group worded it as "'no hemming on the end of a shirt so there's thread dangling' raw or 'Seams not professionally serged on the underside where no one can really see' raw?"

can you clarify?

The wording of the text may be a bit confusing.  The bottom line is how well is it made? Construction awards are given for how close the piece looks to the original design, and how much work did it take to get it there.  What is meant about the raw edges is generally you are not supposed to have raw edges on pieces of clothing.  This does not mean you need a surger.  You could do French or Hong Kong seams or even something as simple as pinking the edges might be appropriate.  The bottom line is your costume should no be unraveling either inside or out.  Many people solve this problem by lining their outfits.  This gives a very nice finished look and hides all those raw edges.

heh, sorry, another question i forgot about. XD

on my costume, there is a lot of tulle and netting and chiffon and other things that show and are not hemmed on the original (it is a j-rock costume), so would i get penalized for having unhemmed tulle that is not hemmed in the original?

Now here is an exception to the rule.  If the original design had some kind of torn look with raw edges, you should follow the design.  The unhemmed/hemmed argument is for mostly costume which do not have real world counterparts.  It is assumed that in anime, costumes are created in the same way clothing is made in the real world, so attention to detail is rewarded.

also, if the original has serged edges and i have no access to a serger (i am doing this all by hand...), is it okay if i improvised? (like, wire-edged ribbon that is crinkled for a stretched and serged ribbon effect, and hand-sewn stitching instead of serging, etc.)

That would be fine.  The judges understand the limitation on resources.  If you are creative, you can make pretty much any fabric costume on a simple sewing machine with just two stitches.  Just refer back to the first comment about making the costume look as professional both inside and out as possible.

heh. another one. xD sorry. on the sample questions for craftsmanship page, it has paired with handsewing what kind of hand-sewing was used. well, what if i do not know? will i get penalized if i tell them that since i taught myself how to sew i honestly have no idea what the fancy anmes are?

I myself am mostly self taught and do not know all the fancy names for the stitches and techniques used.  If a judge asks you about a particular hand stitch, simply describe how you stitched it like you would to a novice.  The hand sewing questions are generally used to quiz the costumer on whether or not they actually worked on their costume as opposed to trying to pass off somebody else's work.  For example...I once had a person try to pass off a purchased costume for their own work.  When I noticed that the invisible zipper in the back was hand sewn into the dress, I asked the cosplayer how long it took to put the zipper in.  She replied that she didn't remember about sewing the zipper in, nor could she tell me how (as in if she just used straight stitches).  This, along with other damning evidence, made the judges decide the costume was purchased rather than made from scratch as she said it was.  Other times judges are impressed with the hand sewing and just want to know more about it.  Judges have all hand sewn something before and know that it is a pain in the butt.  But honestly, if the job is clean and well made, the judges are going to be checking for two things, (1) how close is it to the original design presented and (2) how much of it did you really do yourself.  Just be honest and try to make the best costume you can.  Oh, and take the judges suggestions, critiques, and compliments to better your costume or the next one you do.  Remember, judges are generally fans first, judges second.

Darryl "Don't kill me because I was a judge" Hwang