My Life With Parents Without Partners of Florida, Inc.
And My Decision to DJ
Miguel Melgar
August 21, 1993
I remember the first Saturday of September 1974. I walked into the Polish American Hall that
evening. It was the first time in a ballroom since leaving New York. The hall was so packed that
I had to wedge myself through to see the dance floor. I swore that there was near 300 people
there that night. I have enjoyed coming to the Saturday night PWP dances since then.
Around 9 years ago I noticed that the attendance was diminishing. It did not take this
statistician long to notice that the average age of the group was increasing with time. In order
for a club to survive the average age of its members must be maintained reasonably
constant. This was not occurring. When I brought this observation up to the other members of
the club, they minimized the significance of my observation. This trend has continued to occur
during the last 9 years. The breaking event was hurricane Andrew. Since January after Andrew
the attendance has been very low, to the point of having a constantly losing night after night.
The next step of thought is why is the average age increasing? It isn't too difficult to realize
that the reason is that the music hasn't changed much. The same music is being played now as
19 years ago. That is why I volunteered to handle the music.
Mary Tye and I went to the Swing Club dance a few months ago. The place was packed. I was
told that 230+ people were there, at $7/$10 admission. During that evening there were less
than 5 pieces played that could be construed as non-swing. In addition not a single piece was
of the Glenn Miller era.
This Swing club activity is a fad just like the Disco Lounge era and the original Swing era. It will
eventually fade out. If we in Ballroom have the right music, we could inherit this fallout. Many
individuals from the Swing Dance groups would come to Ballroom.
This is why I volunteered to play intermission music as DJ. I want to play more modern music. I
try to play as little of Glenn Miller era music as possible. I don't eliminate it. I just reduce the
importance. I am playing many non-Big Band Swing whose CD volume titles that I received from
the DJ, Randy Atlas, of the Swing Club. All the Merengues except one are 1990s. All of the
Cha cha cha's are 1990s. All of the Socas are of the 1990s, starting with Tiney Winey.
I am convinced that by playing modern music we will attract a slightly younger crowd and
maintain a lowered approximately constant average age. It is with this philosophy that I am
working. I have high hopes that it will work.
(addition to original) February 4, 1996
Recently, at a wedding, a request was made of the young DJ to play a Swing. You guessed it.
He played "In The Mood". At another wedding a Cha-Cha-Cha was requested. You guessed it
again. The young DJ played "El Bodeguero". This is indicative of the generation gap in South
Florida.
I recall that when I was in my teens and twenties three generations danced together. This no
longer exists. My first goal is to at least bring two generations together. Once accomplished,
bringing three generations might be a little easier. I would like to help reduce that generation
gap in music, playing contemporary Swing, Cha-Cha-Cha, etc. Let us not dwell in the past. Let’
s enjoy the present.
PWP was bankrupt when I took over the music. I tried to attract the 40 and 50 year olds. Mary
Tye (the president) and I were partially successful. By the summer of 1995 the club was on
solid ground. The democratic North American tradition sets 2 terms as normal. I therefore
voted for a new president. The new administration of PWP, under the influence of older
previous members of the board, started to cater to the older crowd ("they pay the bills"). The
truth is they don't pay the bills. The very same Polish American Club also dwells too much in
the past.
Because of this move to erase my efforts, I resigned and am going to try my luck on my own.
Henceforth, I am available to whomever is interested in attracting the younger generations to
Ballroom. Let's talk of today, not dwell in the past. Let's have "Ballroom Without Nostalgia".
Hopefully,
Miguel Melgar
February 20, 1998
Well, here we go again. Bob Mezyk got elected President of the Polish American Club. He
hired me, from Vicky’s recommendation, for New Year’s Eve. January 10 was PWP’s last nite.
On January 17 I DJd solo. The attendance was 70. On the 24th Bob announced that Feb 7
would be my last nite. On the 24th the attendance was 76. On the 31st the attendance was
101. On Feb 7 the attendance was 121. Bob then decided that he did not need me. The
attendance on the 14th, without me, was estimated to be about 85. The band was “horrible”
and there was no DJ. Bob announced that Gwen would teach dance the first Saturday of every
month. On Monday we were told that Victor will DJ intermissions. So we are back to the same
old music and same old dancing instructions, e.g., back to catering to the 70-year-olds.
So after six weeks we are back to exile again. Again, I am available to whomever is interested
in attracting the younger generations to Ballroom. Let's talk of today, not dwell in the past.
Let's have "Ballroom Without Nostalgia".
Always hopeful,
Miguel Melgar
Comments: The 70-year-olds are moving up to Broward or dying. There are little left to
reestablish the attendances that Mary and I acquired. The only way to bring the attendance up
is to attract the 40 and 50-year-olds, and the Latins. If and when we come back, the crowd will
be very different. We are not alienating the 70-year-olds. We are trying to attract the 50-year-
olds. Most 70-year-olds love our music.
There is repeated talk by Bob on getting weddings on Saturday evenings. The large majority
of weddings are at Banquet Halls with the Night Club influence, flashing lights, artificial smoke,
etc. They do not want a ballroom. The PAC hall’s main function is Ballroom.
\June 7, 1998
Note: As of June 7, 1998, the attendance since February 7 has not exceeded 100. The
average attendance without us is approximately 70, same as the attendance that we
accomplished January 17, 1998 as a solo. The attendance of 121, acquired February 7,1998
by the Diplomats and I, has not been reached without Mary & me.
Thursday, October 19, 2000.
And My Decision to DJ
Miguel Melgar
August 21, 1993
I remember the first Saturday of September 1974. I walked into the Polish American Hall that
evening. It was the first time in a ballroom since leaving New York. The hall was so packed that
I had to wedge myself through to see the dance floor. I swore that there was near 300 people
there that night. I have enjoyed coming to the Saturday night PWP dances since then.
Around 9 years ago I noticed that the attendance was diminishing. It did not take this
statistician long to notice that the average age of the group was increasing with time. In order
for a club to survive the average age of its members must be maintained reasonably
constant. This was not occurring. When I brought this observation up to the other members of
the club, they minimized the significance of my observation. This trend has continued to occur
during the last 9 years. The breaking event was hurricane Andrew. Since January after Andrew
the attendance has been very low, to the point of having a constantly losing night after night.
The next step of thought is why is the average age increasing? It isn't too difficult to realize
that the reason is that the music hasn't changed much. The same music is being played now as
19 years ago. That is why I volunteered to handle the music.
Mary Tye and I went to the Swing Club dance a few months ago. The place was packed. I was
told that 230+ people were there, at $7/$10 admission. During that evening there were less
than 5 pieces played that could be construed as non-swing. In addition not a single piece was
of the Glenn Miller era.
This Swing club activity is a fad just like the Disco Lounge era and the original Swing era. It will
eventually fade out. If we in Ballroom have the right music, we could inherit this fallout. Many
individuals from the Swing Dance groups would come to Ballroom.
This is why I volunteered to play intermission music as DJ. I want to play more modern music. I
try to play as little of Glenn Miller era music as possible. I don't eliminate it. I just reduce the
importance. I am playing many non-Big Band Swing whose CD volume titles that I received from
the DJ, Randy Atlas, of the Swing Club. All the Merengues except one are 1990s. All of the
Cha cha cha's are 1990s. All of the Socas are of the 1990s, starting with Tiney Winey.
I am convinced that by playing modern music we will attract a slightly younger crowd and
maintain a lowered approximately constant average age. It is with this philosophy that I am
working. I have high hopes that it will work.
(addition to original) February 4, 1996
Recently, at a wedding, a request was made of the young DJ to play a Swing. You guessed it.
He played "In The Mood". At another wedding a Cha-Cha-Cha was requested. You guessed it
again. The young DJ played "El Bodeguero". This is indicative of the generation gap in South
Florida.
I recall that when I was in my teens and twenties three generations danced together. This no
longer exists. My first goal is to at least bring two generations together. Once accomplished,
bringing three generations might be a little easier. I would like to help reduce that generation
gap in music, playing contemporary Swing, Cha-Cha-Cha, etc. Let us not dwell in the past. Let’
s enjoy the present.
PWP was bankrupt when I took over the music. I tried to attract the 40 and 50 year olds. Mary
Tye (the president) and I were partially successful. By the summer of 1995 the club was on
solid ground. The democratic North American tradition sets 2 terms as normal. I therefore
voted for a new president. The new administration of PWP, under the influence of older
previous members of the board, started to cater to the older crowd ("they pay the bills"). The
truth is they don't pay the bills. The very same Polish American Club also dwells too much in
the past.
Because of this move to erase my efforts, I resigned and am going to try my luck on my own.
Henceforth, I am available to whomever is interested in attracting the younger generations to
Ballroom. Let's talk of today, not dwell in the past. Let's have "Ballroom Without Nostalgia".
Hopefully,
Miguel Melgar
February 20, 1998
Well, here we go again. Bob Mezyk got elected President of the Polish American Club. He
hired me, from Vicky’s recommendation, for New Year’s Eve. January 10 was PWP’s last nite.
On January 17 I DJd solo. The attendance was 70. On the 24th Bob announced that Feb 7
would be my last nite. On the 24th the attendance was 76. On the 31st the attendance was
101. On Feb 7 the attendance was 121. Bob then decided that he did not need me. The
attendance on the 14th, without me, was estimated to be about 85. The band was “horrible”
and there was no DJ. Bob announced that Gwen would teach dance the first Saturday of every
month. On Monday we were told that Victor will DJ intermissions. So we are back to the same
old music and same old dancing instructions, e.g., back to catering to the 70-year-olds.
So after six weeks we are back to exile again. Again, I am available to whomever is interested
in attracting the younger generations to Ballroom. Let's talk of today, not dwell in the past.
Let's have "Ballroom Without Nostalgia".
Always hopeful,
Miguel Melgar
Comments: The 70-year-olds are moving up to Broward or dying. There are little left to
reestablish the attendances that Mary and I acquired. The only way to bring the attendance up
is to attract the 40 and 50-year-olds, and the Latins. If and when we come back, the crowd will
be very different. We are not alienating the 70-year-olds. We are trying to attract the 50-year-
olds. Most 70-year-olds love our music.
There is repeated talk by Bob on getting weddings on Saturday evenings. The large majority
of weddings are at Banquet Halls with the Night Club influence, flashing lights, artificial smoke,
etc. They do not want a ballroom. The PAC hall’s main function is Ballroom.
\June 7, 1998
Note: As of June 7, 1998, the attendance since February 7 has not exceeded 100. The
average attendance without us is approximately 70, same as the attendance that we
accomplished January 17, 1998 as a solo. The attendance of 121, acquired February 7,1998
by the Diplomats and I, has not been reached without Mary & me.
Thursday, October 19, 2000.
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