DJ Big D premieres at Fun Pit!

My first time DJing at Fun Pit! (click on above picture to see the playlist more clearly)


I reckon Fun Pit has a much more laid back feel compared to CBD. There are many more beginners here, and the social dancing only starts at 9.30pm. There are still 2 DJ slots, but each slot is only about an hour.


I was told to play slower songs for the first part of my set. The floor full for the entire set, but I did get a few requests from the more experienced dancers to play something basically faster. They liked 'Bogangles' but it wasn't enough. Next time I might hang loose a bit more and spin a bigger variety of songs (varying speed, style, and energy more). Or I might just ask to do the second set instead. Of course it all depends on who turns up.


No probs with the equipment. The mixing board takes a pair of those standard-sized 6.5mm male jacks. Luckily, Sam had a pair of RCA-converters handy for me to borrow. I've now bought my own.


Swing Patrol are trying to encourage more social dancing here by introducing a live band (first gig June 22nd). I hope it works out! It's quite exciting actually!

Hullabaloo! Hullabaloo!

"Hullabaloo! Hullabaloo!" Damn well sounds like something you'd chant at a cult gathering. But there were no sacrificial chickens slaughtered at this event. Hullabaloo is Perth's Lindy Exchange, where dancers come from all over the country and indeed the world to well...dance. And eat, and chat, and catch up on goss, and make new friends. In fact it's pretty much like any other gathering of people with a common interest, the only 'normal' thing we didn't do is sleep. Much.


This was my first Hulla, and boy was it FUN! I left Perth seriously contemplating what it might be like to live there!


Highlights-


-Catching up with my interstate and overseas mates, and making new ones. You are legends!


-Being looked after by our awesome host Lauren!


-Having my first-ever classes with Dax and Alice, Ruth and Shane- sooo inspiring! There's so much to try out!


-Dancing with and meeting so many HOT follows!! Should I feel dirty for having multiple lindy crushes??


-Being gob-smacked again and again by MANY amazing dancers who have been telling me they've been dancing for 'just a year or so'. Excuse me?!?!


-Being a willing volunteer in the week of 'sleep deprivation' experimentation. Joining the morning peak-hour traffic while heading home after the all-nighter on Sunday. Or was it Monday??? (Losing track of the date and time is a sure symptom of this condition.) Regularly waking up at sunset.


-Dancing to the tailored-for-dancers live band on the Saturday night. All the lindy classics, all very danceable and no song longer than 5 minutes!!


-Placing third in the J&J with Kristy, whom I had never previously met let alone danced with, she did so well considering she had an injured ankle too!




Friday night greetings at the Mustang Bar. Pocket-Rocket Cindy, Dwin(?) and the hot HOT Jessie! (Photo thanks to ShortYGeorge.)



Sweaty Dancing. Sorry Ruth! (Photo thanks to ShortYGeorge.)



At the ball with Mark, Loz, Leah. Beautiful people!



My awesomely-talented Perthie buddies! Loz, Leah, Dom, Mark, Jess.



Kings Park, Brought To You by the PSDS. (Photo thanks to ShortYGeorge.)



Who needs the 'Scared Weird Little Guys' when you have Shane and I?



HA! We looked like THAT?!! (Photo thanks to ShortYGeorge.)



Dave and Sam livin' it tuff.



That was a really nice back massage! From top, L-R: Fiona, Timmy, Ruth, Francois, Angela



Kara, the hottest blues dancer at Hulla!



Melbourne and London in Perth. Timmy and Francois.



Timmy, Francois, Ruth and Loz.



Flying with George Airlines!



Timmy, Francois, Fiona, Angela and Ruth



The ANZAC memorial at sunset.



J&J with Kristy. I'm trying to get inspiration by staring into space. The band were absolutely phenomenal- we danced the final to 'The Fox'. (Photo thanks to Dave Cheney.)



Sad Goodbyes at the 'Last Chance Dance'. Leah, Telia(?), and the lovely Sophie whom I will be seeing very soon!! (Photo thanks to ShortYGeorge.)



Sharon. HOT. We had some awesome dances that night!! (Photo thanks to ShortYGeorge.)



Blues Princess Fi, Mark and Loz (Photo thanks to ShortYGeorge.)



Back in Melbourne. I still love this city!

Easter in Mallacoota

This Easter was spent in Farfarfarfarfarfar-East Gippsland in the town of Mallacoota. Well, we slept there and actually spent the day bushwalking in the nearby Croajingolong National Park. Much laughter and good times were had playing many games of 'Taboo', and generally trying to speak proper English to each other. Nougat. Nought. Sticky Toffee pudding with ice-cream. Not with cream. Not with nothing. How many times did that waitress bring out that same dessert?? What? Exactly.

It was great to catch up with old friends from near...

and far-

We also found strange life-forms in giant sand dunes-






And conquered sheer cliffs (with the help of some specialised climbing equipment)-

All in all, this made for a bunch of very happy campers-




I'm definitely up for some more adventuring next long-weekend- Queen's Birthday in June! Perhaps something on this site.

DJing @ CBD, 5th April 1st set

Woo-hoo! I finally feel like I've done a decent job DJing. The room was filled with mostly beginner-intermmediate dancers so I played a lot of hi-fi groove and slower tracks, with the last half-hour mostly hi-fi, faster old-skool. And absolutely no problems with the equipment!!!

Happy Easter everyone!!