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Re: salsa congress ?

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Posted by SBC (24.61.59.201) on March 18, 2005 at 11:24:31:

In Reply to: salsa congress ? posted by ken on March 18, 2005 at 08:18:18:

: I am trying to get info. on the april event but can't find it on the web site except for one in sept.

For a number of reasons, we don't list that event here, which we're also not associated with. The 5th Annual Boston Salsa Congress is on Sept. 16-18, 2005, at Springstep, and promises to be a fantastic event again. www.salsaboston.com/congress Be sure to check out the guest book.

The reasons we don't support the other event is as follows:

1) They are currently committing trademark infringement.
2) While we certainly would be proud that Boston is big enough for two congresses, it certainly isn't big enough for two *with the same name*.
3) The promoters of the event have absolutely not responded to any attempts by us to clear the air, including invitations to participate in the 4th Annual Boston Salsa Congress.
4) Their promotions team early last year at a major BCCA event created such a problem in the neighborhood that BCCA was severly admonished by the Town of Brookline Selectmen and the magnifyng glass came out. As a result, BCCA's entertainment license was drastically restricted, costly police details became required for all future events, building and fire inspectors decended on the property, BCCA's status as a new corporate citizen was tarnished, and basically BCCA has not been able to host the kind of events it had hoped to ever since. That in turn has added substantially to the well known financial struggle over there.
5) Individuals closely associated with the organization of the other congress have repeatedly publically maligned and slandered efforts by SalsaBoston, Havana Club, and others Salsa groups in Boston, for reasons that aren't totally clear.
6) Quite frankly, I went to the event for a while last year and it wasn't very good. My impression, having been to a lot of congresses, was basically that New York came to Boston, had a congress, and went home. The reviews I heard are consistent with that. (To finish the story, ultimately I was escorted out, purportedly for not having a wristband/ticket, even though the event VIP Achievment Award recipient personally grabbed me as I was coming in, took me inside and sat me down in his seats. The VIP and his party left as well in protest).

Now, some would say, "sour grapes" or such, but that is actually not the case. We just cannot help out groups and events that have consistently shown such obstinateness when it comes to Boston's Salsa community, particularly major for-profit events hosted by people who aren't even from Boston. Sorry about the generalization and no intent to offend, but perhaps, as they say, that is the "New York way". Nevertheless, the invitation to this organization to clear the air still stands and we wish them all the luck with their event.

SalsaBoston

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Comments:
: : I am trying to get info. on the april event but can't find it on the web site except for one in sept. : For a number of reasons, we don't list that event here, which we're also not associated with. The 5th Annual Boston Salsa Congress is on Sept. 16-18, 2005, at Springstep, and promises to be a fantastic event again. www.salsaboston.com/congress Be sure to check out the guest book. : The reasons we don't support the other event is as follows: : 1) They are currently committing trademark infringement. : 2) While we certainly would be proud that Boston is big enough for two congresses, it certainly isn't big enough for two *with the same name*. : 3) The promoters of the event have absolutely not responded to any attempts by us to clear the air, including invitations to participate in the 4th Annual Boston Salsa Congress. : 4) Their promotions team early last year at a major BCCA event created such a problem in the neighborhood that BCCA was severly admonished by the Town of Brookline Selectmen and the magnifyng glass came out. As a result, BCCA's entertainment license was drastically restricted, costly police details became required for all future events, building and fire inspectors decended on the property, BCCA's status as a new corporate citizen was tarnished, and basically BCCA has not been able to host the kind of events it had hoped to ever since. That in turn has added substantially to the well known financial struggle over there. : 5) Individuals closely associated with the organization of the other congress have repeatedly publically maligned and slandered efforts by SalsaBoston, Havana Club, and others Salsa groups in Boston, for reasons that aren't totally clear. : 6) Quite frankly, I went to the event for a while last year and it wasn't very good. My impression, having been to a lot of congresses, was basically that New York came to Boston, had a congress, and went home. The reviews I heard are consistent with that. (To finish the story, ultimately I was escorted out, purportedly for not having a wristband/ticket, even though the event VIP Achievment Award recipient personally grabbed me as I was coming in, took me inside and sat me down in his seats. The VIP and his party left as well in protest). : Now, some would say, "sour grapes" or such, but that is actually not the case. We are just cannot help out groups and events that have consistently shown such obstinateness when it comes to Boston's Salsa community, paricularly major for-profit events hosted by people who aren't even from Boston. Sorry about the generalization and no intent to offend, but perhaps, as they say, that is the "New York way". Nevertheless, the invitation to this organization to clear the air still stands and we with them all the luck with their event. : SalsaBoston

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