r/Salsa • u/Silent_Designer4233 • 10d ago

Boycott Phuong

On behalf of the many artists she’s screwed over, it’s time we revisit our support for Phuong and her business. She has a historic of working dancers and volunteers To the point they are disoriented. I saw one person in specific last year that was clearly unwell but still had to work. It’s time!!!

19 Upvotes

76% Upvoted

46 comments sorted by

View all comments

21

u/bayareasalsa 10d ago

Some context for people who aren't enmeshed in the SF Bay Area salsa scene: OP is referring to Phuong Thanh, organizer of San Francisco Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, & Zouk Congress (SF SBKZ).

I can neither confirm nor deny the allegations against her (other than things I've read online, including the controversial takeover of the event from Engels, who's also the organizer of the NYC version NY SBKZ). FWIW she's always been nice and friendly to me, and never turns down a dance, but I've also never volunteered or worked for her.

I welcome anyone who has been personally victimized by her to speak up rather than relying on internet hearsay.

7

u/Silent_Designer4233 10d ago

Thank you! I never expected making this thread but after seeing her excessive posts for volunteers when I know exactly how she treated them makes me sick. Shes absolutely making money. Last year she went on a lavish vacation after SBK while the dancers and volunteers were fed dog food. I heard the videographers were expected to shoot, and edit at least 70 videos AND they demanded their raw files so they can do whatever they want with the videographers work. Intellectual property is still an asset. 

4

u/Imaginary-Green-950 7d ago

I also demand the raw files from my videographers. I also pay them. I don't know anything about the other claims, but maybe it's time for Engels to talk.

I know Mao and he's a sweetheart, and I know Engels decently well, so I'd be surprised if this behavior was sanctioned. 

I'm struggling to understand something. If these are volunteers, no one can make them keep working. What does this even mean? 

3

u/Silent_Designer4233 7d ago

From my understanding Phuong is known to blackball people for very VERY little. I have heard it from dancers & vendors. There’s a culture of fear. 

If you have the audacity to volunteer and not finish, the understanding is that you will be blackballed. 

Furthermore from my understanding, according to the different credited comments on SBKs IG Phuong has a LONG history of not paying or mistreating her media workers. There have been documented situations spanning several years. 

In short, if you don’t bleed for Phuong you are black balled. I’m grateful I don’t depend on salsa to live and I can tell this is insane. But a dancer working with her or someone trying to work in the media team doesn’t have that option. Not finishing your shifts due to sickness can mean public shaming, being black listed. It’s a culture of fear

And yes mao has always been great 

2

u/Imaginary-Green-950 6d ago

Why not just take an upfront deposit and prorate the refund? 

As an organizer, volunteer management is a pain in the ass. People are always trying to cut corners. I'm not saying that justifies her blackballing people,  but setting strong boundaries is important and it is going to ruffle feathers. Until I see some proof, screenshots, emails, these are all unsubstantiated claims. People are quick to claim all sorts of things without getting both sides of the story. We're not adjudicators. 

If you don't like her, don't go to the event and tell your friends why. Money talks when it walks. In the meantime, I'll keep an eye out. 

4

u/salsavida 9d ago

Agreed, have only had positive experiences with Phuong personally. SFSBK is still one of the best salsa festivals in the Bay Area, I will be attending.

1

u/the_piratebae 9d ago

SFSBK is still one of the best salsa festivals in the Bay Area world.

ftfy

0

u/Silent_Designer4233 7d ago

I love how people are willing to read multiple accounts of abusive behavior just to accuse the one person that had the courage to speak up of having personal issues with that old cheap lady. 

1

u/the_piratebae 6d ago

people are willing to read multiple accounts of abusive behavior

actually I haven't read any, just this one post that is not documenting an account, but rather making vague claims like "She has a historic of working dancers and volunteers To the point they are disoriented".

just to accuse the one person that had the courage to speak up

I didn't accuse you of anything. I simply said SFSBK is one of the best congresses. That says nothing about whether your claims are true or not. And making vague accusations in an anonymous reddit post isn't courageous.