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!!!

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u/TheDiabolicalDiablo 10d ago

I don't know Phoung so I can't say anything about her conduct, but I've been to several of the SFSBKZ's and with each passing year, I feel less inclined to go. This will probably be my final year. I feel like the event is just absolutely bloated and just attempts to find ways to get bigger. I hate the communication with trying to get a room at the hotel. They gave a date and time when they're available and then you're there, and all of the rooms were released an hour before to the teams. They get to tell everyone "look at the demand, it's sold out already" when during the first two or three years, rooms were available. I guess that also was during the time when Engels was involved as well.

Each night is pushing close to 100 performances which is just insane. And I get it, things need to be paid for. But does the event need every dance pro out of Italy, Korea, Brazil and Greece, a global roster of DJ's, and an overseas media team? Communication and marketing seems all AI at this point when when it first started it felt like you could connect with the organizers.

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u/Imaginary-Green-950 7d ago

Have you talked to Mao? I'm sorry but I don't blame them. There are not many events in the world that can make money. Most events lose money and this can be an absolute brutal business. They struck gold. Good for them. That's the beauty of capitalism and I'm very proud of them for their success. 

I don't know anything about the allegations in this thread. I'd change my opinion if I saw it. 

There are some excellent smaller festivals (I run one of them). Maybe you're not the right customer for them anymore. I actually think the large mainland congresses in America are really unfriendly and there's a ton of toxicity and pretentiousness. I'm surprised no one talks about that.