Prior Work
A couple of years ago I began posting on this topic (December 2006) [this link shows all of those entries in sequence]
The topics I addressed at that time include:
- "Rising tide" principle
- Social recreational dance is an "industry" and not merely a type of business
- The critical importance of industry superstructure & infrastructure
- What industry superstructure & infrastructure includes
- Industry associations & their prevalence
- Distinctions between trade/industry associations and professional associations
- We have professional associations, but lack strong trade/industry associations
- Distinctions between business and profession
- Credentialing
- Conventions
- Trade shows
- Educational events
- Trade magazines
- Trade publications other than magazines
- Dance Teacher Magazine - only miniscule coverage of social recreational dance
- Cheerleading, drill team, color guard, gymnastics, baton, marching bands > huge growth of dance-orientation and dance-base activities
- Huge growth in dance in many forms at the very same time that social recreational dance has been declining
- Social recreational dance has awesome potential for the future
- Consumer oriented dance magazines
- "The Commons" principle
- "Public goods" principle
- Principle of the commons is about downside risk
- Principle of public goods is about upside gain
- Commons issues do appear in the news, public goods don't
- "Public image"
- More successful equals more exposed
- What would be possible with an industry association that isn't possible without one?
- Cooperation & competition
- What's required to move ahead
- Synergy
- Teams outperform individuals
- Community
- Industry foundation possibilities
New Phase
At the time I began the posting above I didn't promote or publicize it.
But now it is time to move this ahead. Particularly now, even more than before, the additional strengthening of social recreational dance at the "industry" level can make a big difference for all boats in this time of ebbing tide ("Rising tide" principle).
"The Case": The earlier material was oriented to making the case for an industry/trade association; while there is a lot more to be addressed in that, my focus is now on making it happen.
How it can happen
In the world of social recreational dance, we have many people and organizations with extraordinary abilities to create a trade/industry association. Because of the many professional associations and event-sanctioning bodies and other member-run organizations in the world of social recreational dancing, the creation of a trade/industry association could happen almost overnight.
I'm thinking that in this industry, because of its strengths in "organizing", and the interconnected nature of the leadership, it could be accomplished with a few phone calls and it would be done and in place.
Since I've had prior experience with trade/industry associations in different roles (including member of an organizing committee) I understand the realities and I'm not asserting in an unrealistic way that it would happen like that, or that it should, simply that it could.
In the social recreational dance industry, development of a strong trade/industry association probably depends more on making the case than on mobilizing the resources. In other industries which are not good at "organizing" the difficulty for them is making it happen.
Benefits all around
Development of a strong industry/trade association is all upside, and no downside that I'm seeing. It is a good thing, and of good value, for all participants in the social recreational dance industry; the larger companies and the smaller entities will all benefit.
In industries in which the smaller businesses are benefitted by a trade/industry association, the market is made much better; the industry grows; and that benefits all of the businesses including the market leaders.
For the market leaders in an industry, trade/industry associations are not only indirectly beneficial, by the improvement in the vibrancy and success of the whole industry, they are also directly beneficial for them. Market leaders obtain great benefit from trade/industry associations.
The professional associations will also benefit from a strong trade/industry association. The event-sanctioning bodies will benefit from a strong trade/industry association. And the other member-run organizations in social recreational dance industry will benefit from a strong trade/industry association.
What is now not present, can be developed
The superstructural and infrastructural elements of an "industry" which are now not adequately present in the social recreational dance industry can be developed with a strong industry/trade association. Refer to the list at the top of this page for a few of the industry assets we need or need strengthened.
Missionary - Evangelist
The development of a strong industry/trade association is a very worthwhile project for us. Join me in evangelizing for it. We can make it happen. All will benefit from it.
With a stronger and more vibrant social recreational dance industry - the natural and intentional result of development of a strong trade/industry association - the community of dancers will benefit greatly. As the community of dancers benefit, that in turn benefits their larger communities, their families, friends, peers, colleagues, and the people in the places of their lives.
Next Step
If you haven't already reviewed my previous entries on this broad topic (December 2006) please do so now. To proceed to the discussion of the existing dance organizations without having at least scanned my previous entries will be to miss the whole context of the potential great value of development of a strong trade/industry association.
The next step in this discussion is to consider existing dance organizations which might possibly be interested in the topic of a strong industry/trade association in addition to our strong professional associations.
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