PROMOTERS AND HOSTS, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
Suggestions for high-intensity promotion for International Pro Salsa Champion, 
 

International Professional Salsa Champion, 
Edie "Salsa Freak!!

The following will help you gain high-turnouts for workshops in your city

Dear Host,
Thank you for inviting us to your city for one of our Salsa FREAK Salsa Workshops. What we’ve done is compiled a list of ideas that other promoters all over the world have used with us that have worked extremely well in the past.  

You may copy any information printed anywhere on Salsaweb,
 including pictures, and place it in your flyers. 
Make sure the Salsaweb Logo is on all your flyers. 

References:

The information that follows will bring many students to the workshops.  We can’t guarantee the number of people that will show up to our workshops in your city, however, we can guarantee the instruction will be WORLD CLASS.

We’ve taught classes ranging anywhere from 5 people, to over 400 people at a time. As you can see, we can handle just about any crowd, and each class will be given the same quality of instruction.

The Introductory Class (Beginner-Intermediate), Do's and Don'ts Lecture, Internet Seminar, World Travel Seminar, Instructor Training, are all optional.  You may or may not need them, depending on the interest.  Click Here for details. 

Important

We need AT LEAST a third of the time we spend in your town, to do some site seeing and touring.    Edie needs this time to write about your city for Salsaweb Magazine, to encourage others to visit. 

Based on our own experience, every time Edie visits a city and writes about it, the Salsa scene explodes out there!   This means new students, dancers, and more advertisers interested in sponsoring future events!

Her resulting article about your city is where you could get the Chamber of Commerce, World Trade Center, or Airlines / Travel Agencies to pay for airfare, or portions of our stay.  Reference her World Travel section on www.dancefreak.com

The following is a checklist for you to use, and be sure to do PRIOR to our workshop in your city:

  1. You will need AT A MINIMUM, 4-6 months to prepare and promote our workshops.  Anything less will bring less people.  NINE MONTHS IS IDEAL.     
  2. Write, email, phone call SPONSORS, especially liquor, beer, or cigarette companies.  See if they'll pay for the airfare, hotel, or stage / studio space.  Trade for one of their banners to hang, and mugs/key chains, and free samples of their products.  Go to www.sponsorship.com for more info on how to raise funds for events, and shows.  
  3. You may want to contact American Airlines.  They're really into sponsoring Latin entertainment venues.  Coke would be excellent as well.  
  4. See if you can host our visit in conjunction with a charitable event.  Sometimes the charity will pay for the "entertainment" by asking airlines and hotel chains to "donate" hotel and airfare for the cause.   THIS WILL SAVE US ALL HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.   My partner and I will perform for free during the week, to promote the weekend workshops. 
  5. Work in coordination with other volunteers or your friends. Don't try to do this all by yourself.  It won't happen. You would be amazed at how much people are very glad to help and volunteer for free.  We'll also do "favor" exchanges for free entrance to workshops and/or private lessons and/or free videos/DVDs.
  6. Get yourself on, or fax our Press Release to the Latino radio and local television stations there. Talk about our workshops, the website, and the explosion of Salsa all over the world.   Reference various articles I wrote.  
     
  7. Reference and/or print out various articles I wrote and put in your flyers or newsletters.  Print out a few articles and hand them out at events, and at nightclubs, classes, etc, so people become familiar with various topics, and what we're about.  Print articles of interest for the workshops as well!  Dancers love to dance to read about dancing too!  
     
  8. ALERT THE MEDIA!!  We've had interviews and meetings with journalists, television stations, Country Presidents, and even Royalty (Kings and Queens!). We found this to be very successful.  (yes, Edie has performed for the Prince of Jordan, and will be performing for the President of Ireland soon!)   When we arrive, we will be more than happy to speak on the radio, or do a television performance.  
  9. Write a Press Release and fax it to all the newspapers and periodicals in town to insert their "entertainment" sections. 
  10. Go to Universities, colleges, dancewear retail stores, and dance studios and hang up / pass out flyers. 
  11. Go to Swing and Lindy-Hop clubs and/or studios and pass out flyers. 
  12. Get on a swing email distribution list, and send them the press release. They may charge you a minimal fee - and they just may do you a favor and tell their thousands of people on their distribution lists for free!
  13. Click Here for our standard flyer.  Have an envelope-stuffing party, and attach the flyer to a current dance group's mailing or emailing distribution list, like a Swing club, or other dance studio's monthly mailing. You may even ask to put the ad in a dance magazine or newsletter that you know of.  They're usually very cooperative, if you help them stuff envelopes, or simply have all your flyers already folded.  Do it in exchange for a free video or DVD that we will supply. 
  14. Take press release to club managers, and have THEM tell the DJs to announce it at the clubs each night, up to a month before our arrival.  Tell the owner/managers you'll advertise their club for FREE on Salsaweb (currently over 100,000 hits per day) in exchange.  Have the owner tell the DJ to announce our arrival each night, for a solid month prior.  Write out on a piece of paper all the details, and leave it with DJ.  You may have to bring the paper or flyer every week to remind the DJ to announce our workshops, but it's definitely worth it.  Thank him by buying him a drink each time.  They love that, and will gladly accept bribes.  
  15. Go to local dance apparel stores and ask to leave flyers or post flyer to bulletin board. 
  16. Make sure to provide a telephone number with recorded message on it describing the workshop details.
  17. Ask Edie for a copy of Edie's new instructional videos and show them at Latin socials, clubs.... get a mini TV / VCR combo unit. Make copies of the orders forms for the video itself, because people may want to order it as they're watching it. Also get order forms for the workshops as well.
  18. We will perform for free, at various nightclubs, schools, or studios to promote the workshops to bring more people. You must coordinate with the managers, or owners of clubs to get permission for us to perform, and for the DJ to announce our performance and workshop details.  We will gladly accept money for performances too!  Our normal fee is $300 per performance where promotion to the workshop is not the objective. 
  19. We will also perform at a party your group can give to promote the workshops. 
  20. Please make sure Edie placed the workshop info and/or banner on the Workshop schedule on the  http://www.salsafreak.com/edie/performance_schedule.htm page. If she didn't, call her and politely, but firmly, remind her to do it!  (305) 588-9130
  21. Announce our workshops on local web pages in your area. 
  22. My dance partner and I will perform, teach, and lecture on the history of Salsa music and dance to Spanish and Computer classes at a school assembly.  (some of my dance partners speak very fluent Spanish and English).  Edie will lecture to computer class students about the Internet, a solid college education, and how her website / business grew to 100,000 hits per day.  ($300 for a full day).  Invite newspaper reports to cover the event. 
  23. Review our Lectures and Seminars for more ideas. 

We've done all the above, and have had very very successful workshops as a result. We're also open to doing privates in the evenings, and more workshops while we're there as well. We don't tire easily. Let us know if there is anything else you need. Please email Edie wowedie@yahoo.com to coordinate further plans and ideas. 

 Things to bring to each workshop:

  1. Host is responsible for the DJ, and/or Music Boom Box or CD Player during workshops. 
  2. Functional Microphone or Headset for instructors
  3. Sign up form with name, phone, and email info
  4. Copies of her video order forms
  5. Name Tags with Salsaweb logo on it, with a number, so we can keep track of how many attended the workshop.
  6. Colored labels or colored dots (to stick on the front of student's clothing), or wristbands to track to see who's attended/paid for each workshop.  You can get little stickers (round), write numbers on them, and put them on people's shoulders to see that they've paid. We can calculate what is owed to us at the end based on the stickers we've given out.
  7. Salsaweb Banner
  8. Sign-up Sheet with name, email address, and telephone number for host (for future events/workshops)
  9. Cash Box with change
  10. Pens and Notepad
  11. Instructional Videos and DVDs, Edie's Timing CD
  12. Camera - we do not allow videotaping the workshops because we want the students to purchase our instructional videos!
  13. Video Order Form
  14. Refreshments (optional)
  15. Copies of Edie’s posture article Posture for any Ladies Styling Classes
  16. Music!!
  17. Backup radio or boom box (just in case!)
  18. Water, Red Bull, and various fruit snacks for Edie and her partner during the long workshop day.
  19. Announcement sheet to introduce Edie and her partner- remind Edie to bring this to you!!!

What We Teach:

The following are all one hour classes:  We can teach up to three hours in the morning, and three hours in the evening.  Privates are $80 per hour, not including studio fees. 
 

 Classes that Henry can teach on his own:

-          Cuban Body Movement

-          Shines

-          Timing – Musicality, how to find the “One” and “Two” in the music

-          Rueda de Casino

-          Performance and Choreography Techniques

 

Classes Edie can teach on her own: 

-          Edie's World Famous Spins Class - men and women – all levels

-          Ladies Styling (all levels) – may need men in this class – ladies are encouraged to bring a skirt. 

-          Instructor's Training Seminar - (minimum 4 hours – each student pays $120, promoter takes 30%)

-          Ten Deadly Sins of Lead and Follow – techniques class for men and women

-          Performance and Choreography Techniques

 

Classes that BOTH Henry and Edie can teach:  
-            Lifts and Tricks
-            Cuban Style Partnering
-            LA Style Partnering
-            Rueda de Casino
-            “Perfect Storm” Turn Patterns -


Combining Sexy Cuban and The Flash of LA Style Partnering Techniques
 

We also Teach The following Seminars:

Instructor Training Seminar (click)

This is an intense, in-depth minimum three-hour or two-day course - separate fee for student.  200-page manual included with course.  "How we teach Salsa" - Edie discusses instructor-related topics via roll playing, and tough question and answer sessions.  Increase your student base, sell more lessons and promote your workshops.   Refine your own dance moves and how you teach as well. She will also discuss promotion and media.  Click Here for Complete Details

Introductory Class (Beginner-Intermediate)   Lecture and Demonstration

Covers solid foundational training, posture, poise, connection, dance floor etiquette, Cuban motion, rhythm, and timing.   

Ten Deadly Sins of Lead and Follow (The Do's and Don'ts on the Dancefloor) Demonstration and Lecture

One of the most popular classes we teach!  Lecture on the "Do's and Don'ts" of partner dancing and floorwork.  The ten most difficult questions on leading and following, styling, competition questions, show and performance issues, and dance style and etiquette issues.  

Internet Seminar - How to grow your website and business

Based on her own experience, Edie will discuss how to create a very successful business by creating or using a very powerful website.  She will describe how to make your company's site attractive, and increase the number of visitors to your site.  

How to perform and teach around the World Lecture

Lecture on the "Do's and Don'ts" of traveling abroad.  After teaching in over 20 different countries, Edie will tell you what, and what not to expect.  Travel tips will include dealing with hosts, other dancers, instructors, planes, trains, automobiles, ships, cars, and fluctuating schedules.  Luggage, clothing, and costumes will also be discussed.    

High School Lectures and Performance for Students (at the High School auditorium)

Edie will perform, teach, and lecture on the history of Salsa music and dance to Computer Science and Technology classes at a high school or college assembly.  Edie will lecture to computer class students about the Internet, a solid college education, and how her website / business grew to 100,000 hits per day.   

A Typical "Edie, The Salsa FREAK " Visit to Your Town:

Thursday and/or Friday, Edie and dance partner arrive.  Perform Thursday and/or Friday night, to promote the weekend classes.  (bring LOTS of flyers- and make sure there is a website reference and phone number and email printed on all the flyers - with complete details of the weekend!)  Bring videos and LOTS of flyers to every performance. 

We will teach one (1) hour classes with a 15 minute break between each.

Saturday  Three hours:  Beginner, Spins, Intermediate, "Do's and Don'ts", or Advanced.  We like to teach spins early in the day, and early during the weekend, because we apply a lot of spinning techniques throughout the rest of the workshop weekend.  We would perform at some nightclub that night again, to promote Sunday's workshop.  

Sunday Three hours:  Lifts and Tricks, Ladies Styling, Men's styling (simultaneously), then an Advanced Techniques class.  We can also teach an "On-Two" Intermediate or advanced level class here as well. 

Based on our past experience, time and time again, at the end of the fourth hour, everyone is trashed, and we've found that a fifth hour makes us look bad... it leaves an "exhausting workshop" memory for the student.  What works is a "practice" hour after the fourth hour so the students can practice what they've learned, and we'd be there to assist them.

Sunday night we leave, or Monday or Tuesday morning. 

It is recommended you charge each individual hour class separately, at least $15 per hour.  Give a 15% discount to people who take the entire weekend package, and/or increase the entire cost of each workshop hour by 15% if they wait till the "day of" to purchase the tickets. 

Cost and Fees: 
If these guidelines are followed carefully, we have found that "new student" sign-ups and attendance normally increases by over 200% after our visit to your city / country.  The residual effects of our visits are astounding.  The instructors in the cities we leave behind are those who benefit the most from the residual affects of our visits.  To entice people to register early, offer a 10% discount to those who pre-register.  If you don't have a credit card system on your website, you may also take payment over www.paypal.com, to facilitate credit card payments. 

Sample Workshop Cost:   (each session is one hour  long, with a 15 minute break between)
1 session $15 per person
2 sessions $25 per person
3 sessions $30 per person
...Additional Sessions $15 each 

Optional Pizza Party & Performance later that night $10 per person

All weekend:  You name your price. 

Requirements: 

Out of the country work permits and/or Visas will be required, and payment of hotel and airfare must be made up front by the promoter.  Airfare and hotel are not part of advertising and venue expenses.  If we are doing business with you for the first time, 50% of our fee must be paid to us in advance via Western Union. 

We need to arrive one day prior to all other instructors. Reason: we are usually more trashed coming in from Miami (longer distance than everyone else), and need a day to recover before the event.

The more workshops we teach, the better. (at least 4 per weekend), as the more we teach, the more DVDs we sell.

DVD advertising. We will need for you to advertise our DVDs on the event (paper) schedule (handed out at the event) and website, in your language (primary language at event) with links to our store at www.dancefreak.com/store.

Airline: We ask than when you make the reservations, you ask for two things: aisle seats for the both of us - even in separate rows, where there is a computer plug (in the seat) for my laptop. This is where/how I can write about your event.  We will not purchase airfare tickets for you, and expect to be reimbursed.  As our promoter, you must pay for our airfare as far in advance as possible. 

Website: You need to have an English version of the event website. I need it so my readers from www.SalsaFreak.com   and www.SalsaWeb.com  can have a look.  If my readers cannot read the info, 90% of them won't click on the link again.

OPTION ONE (Week-Long Workshop fee)

  • 80-20% split of entire event, with minimum $4500 (USD) take-home for a full week.  (80% to A&E productions, Inc., 20% to promoter.)  After advertising and venue expenses - but not including hotel, transportation, airfare (vegan non-dairy flight meals please), and meals.
  • Promoter must provide airfare, hotel, transportation and meal expenses. (please request vegan, non-dairy meals on planes)
  • Monday airline departure must be LATER than twelve noon.
  • Three meals per day or meal allowance must be provided. (non-dairy vegetarian required)
  • We will receive a free vendor booth, and 100% of all sales (proceeds from booth) We require both a day and night setup. 
  • We will teach up to three hours per day, and provide two formal performances total, with various informal nightclub demos.
  • Promoter may take up to 15% of private lesson income. 
  • Write-up of your event for cover of Salsaweb and Salsa Freak Newsletter: Additional $250 (USD)

OPTION TWO (Congress fee)

  • $500 (USD) per day, with a minimum three-day stay.  
    Payment must be made in cash (USA) on or before the final evening of the event. 
  • We will teach up to three hours per day, and provide two formal performances total, with various informal nightclub demos.
  • Promoter must provide airfare, hotel, transportation and meal expenses. (please request vegetarian non-dairy meals on planes – fish is fine)
  • Monday airline departure must be LATER than twelve noon.
  • Three meals per day or meal allowance must be provided. (non-dairy vegetarian required – fish is OK)
  • We will receive a free vendor booth, and 100% of all sales (proceeds from booth) We require both a day and night setup. 
  • We will receive 100% of all private lesson income
  • Write-up of your event for cover of Salsaweb and DanceFreak Newsletter: Additional $250 (USD)

NOTICE:  For all print and promotional web material, and when introducing Henry and Edie on the microphones, prior to their performances and workshops, PLEASE USE OUR STAGE NAMES:  "Henry Herrera and "Edie, The Salsa FREAK - The Perfect Storm".  Please DO NOT use Edie's last name. 

We look forward very much to working with you, and developing a life-long relationship.  Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us in Los Angeles, California by phone at (305) 588-9130, or (305) 298-5562. 
You need to call us directly on the telephone, as we receive over 18,000 emails a day (that's with SPAM Quarantine turned "ON"!), and may not get to your email for a while.  If you prefer Email, go to our www.SalsaFreak.com website, CLICK ON THE CONTACT US LINK, and contact us there.    This will ensure a timely response.   If we do not hear from you by telephone at least once, we will not do business with you.


Edie's cell:  (305) 588-9130
Henry's cell:  (305) 298-5562

Take care, and let us know if you have any questions. 

Henry Herrera, and
... Edie, The Salsa Freak!!