I remember back in ye olden days of the early aughts and surfing Lindy Hop message boards, trying to figure out who knew what they were talking about was such a pain in the ass. Often times people who were actually knowledgeable would be the least serious commenters.
Rayned Wiles would answer half the time in verse while Reuben Brown delighted in threading the line between snark and trolldom. I remember thinking that Peter Loggins and Jenn Salvadori needed editors or be a bit less quick on the draw with their posts and how polite Mike Faltesek was when he was slamming you and everything you stood for. Out of frustration with less knowledgeable posters, David Rehm half jokingly devised a whole merit system where people would only be allowed to post on a topic based on their dance experience.
Personally, I always thought it would have been helpful just to have a link to a video of the poster’s dancing. I think about this every time I hit submit on a blog post. If you’re new to this blog-and I know there are quite a few of you based on the numbers in the past few weeks-I’m sure you’re wondering who this joker is.
A quick Youtube search of my name search won’t turn up much of anything. Even though though I’m camera shy, truth be told I don’t really need to hide since my dancing isn’t interesting enough for anyone to record it for digital posterity. Not even me. It’s good enough to get the ladies to come back for seconds, but that’s about it. And really, that’s all I’m interested in.
Still, it’s about time that I should put something up if only a) in the interest of full disclosure and b) to show that I don’t take myself all that seriously.
This video isn’t much, but it’s really all I have. Despite the song, this is not from Swing & Soul which I did go to this past weekend. This is just what happened when I left my camera on the DJ table to record me dancing with Nina night after Thanksgiving a couple of weeks ago. Hence the reason why we’re not in focus half of the time and why our heads are missing in the other half. The song is “The Oogum Boogum” song by Brenton Wood which is my favoritest song ever.
The only other video of me dancing that I know of is actually the two of us dancing to this same song at a wedding a few months ago. However, due to the shenanigans that night, I had to promise to never to show those videos in public. At least until I need some money.
Speaking of Swing and Soul, in addition to having a great time I’m thinking of writing up bunch of thoughts inspired by many conversations with old and new friends there. Look out for that in addition to my year end video highlights which should go up before the New Year.
Wandering & Pondering 
Breanna said,
December 14, 2010 at 12:25 am
I love how Nina’s default is to shake her butt!
PS: You should ask Naomi what she thought the original lyrics were to the section of this song that starts around 1:52, when he starts breakin it down.
Jerry said,
December 14, 2010 at 10:05 am
I’ve had that conversation with her. I think her interpretation was “Stick out your boobs” which makes slightly more sense than mine which was “Still got the boobs” as if it were an affirmation in regards to the subject in question. I thought mine was more appropriate for a casual sidewalk cat call. Naomi’s interpretation makes the singer too creepy for the tone of the song. Although the actual, lyric, “Still got the blues” doesn’t make any sense to me in the context of the song.
Yes. I spent a lot of time nerding out to soul music this weekend, and had a damn fun time doing it.
Jeff said,
December 15, 2010 at 1:34 am
Oof. I think the day I stop saying stupid things is the day I stop being somewhat interesting. That whole … episode thingy … back there was probably just me getting a little high on the “HEY I KNOW THINGS TOO” juice. Anyway, I don’t think that there should be a rift in the small population of swing bloggers on the interwebs, so. Um. Olive branch is extended!
(For the record, Will in the NYC scene frequently posts videos of birthday jams at Fram. Not sure how many of those I’m in, but proof of my dancing experience, or lack thereof, can be found in those.)
Jerry said,
December 15, 2010 at 10:13 am
Dude, you need to chill out.
Jerry said,
December 15, 2010 at 5:09 pm
It took me awhile to figure out what you’re talking about. It seems like you’re interpreting this post as being about you, which it is not. The main clue being that it is about me. I tend to write about me on my blog. It happens.
You mention a rift. There is none because a rift would imply that we were close. I don’t know you from anyone. Just like I don’t know most of the bloggers I follow, and I follow hundreds. Literally. 595 subscriptions at last count.
I have an opinion. You have an opinion. Welcome to the internet. If you don’t want to stand by what you post, then don’t put it out there. Otherwise deal with the fact that once it enters the ether, whatever you type no longer belongs to you. You’ll live much more peacefully once you accept that and move on from there.
Once again, I repeat: just chill out.
Emily from Philly said,
December 21, 2010 at 10:19 am
Jerry, you’re fun to dance with and a reason I look forward to any visit to DC!
Jerry said,
December 22, 2010 at 1:27 am
Thanks. There needs to be a next time soon.
Brody said,
January 21, 2011 at 4:47 pm
I really like your attitude that your dancing is ‘not interesting’, but that what’s important to you is that followers come back to you — that THEY like your dancing.
I think there’s way too much emphasis on flashy dancing, when what’s really important (it seems to me) is the feel of the dance, the musicality, the interaction between the partners.
I see so much dancing in competitions where the concern of the dancers is clearly to impress others, mostly the judges. But if I were a judge, this is exactly the kind of dancing I would mark down.