United States Dance Championships

[elisedance]

September 6th - 10th, 2011, Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

http://www.unitedstatesdancechampionships.com/

[ttd]

This is one of the competitions which, from pro-am perspective, is not worth doing until you have advanced far enough to have a shot at making the next cut at gold/open. The entries and tickets are much more expensive than average, the venue is pricey, and if your schedule is in any way tied to academic calendar (because you teach or you have school-aged children), the timing is exceptionally inconvenient. I've done it once a few years ago, and it was a major scheduling effort.

[elisedance]

thats odd - is it a 'for profit' or 'not profit' event - I would have thought it would be the latter in which case the fees should be lower.  Or perhaps they are just soaking the pro-ams as usual...

But the pro-ams don't mind (we've broached this before) so it will not change

[Some guy]

thats odd - is it a 'for profit' or 'not profit' event - I would have thought it would be the latter in which case the fees should be lower.  

Take it from an accountant, most people think "not for profit" means that things will be cheaper somehow and the organization is not making a profit.  Not the case.  

I think Wikipedia says it best:
A nonprofit organization (abbreviated as NPO, also known as a not-for-profit organization) is an organization that does not issue stock shares or distribute its surplus funds to owners or shareholders, but instead uses the funds to help achieve its goals. Examples of NPOs include charities (i.e., charitable organizations), trade unions, trade associations and public arts organizations. Most governments and government agencies are described by this definition, but in most countries they are considered a separate type of organization and not considered as NPOs.

While Not-for-profit organizations are able to earn a profit, more accurately termed a surplus, such earnings must be retained by the organization for its self-preservation, expansion, or plans.

[elisedance]

...but other companies have self preservation, extension, plans AND personal profit so they should be more expensive (yes, I know - thats like saying government should run more efficiently than a company (snort!! *)...

* we definitely need a snort emoticon!

[Some guy]

Yes we do!  Maybe a laughing piggy would do.

[ttd]

thats odd - is it a 'for profit' or 'not profit' event - I would have thought it would be the latter in which case the fees should be lower.  Or perhaps they are just soaking the pro-ams as usual...

But the pro-ams don't mind (we've broached this before) so it will not change

AFAIK, size of lower-level pro-am events at this competition has dropped. So hopefully people are voting with their wallets.

[elisedance]

thats odd - is it a 'for profit' or 'not profit' event - I would have thought it would be the latter in which case the fees should be lower.  Or perhaps they are just soaking the pro-ams as usual...

But the pro-ams don't mind (we've broached this before) so it will not change

AFAIK, size of lower-level pro-am events at this competition has dropped. So hopefully people are voting with their wallets.

I thought I knew just about all of them but 'AFAIK?  (unless its rude that is )

[ttd]

AFAIK = As far as i know

[elisedance]

AFAIK = As far as i know

I suppose that was AFAIK(new) then

[ttd]

Anyway, back to USDC, I looked at their winner's circle page, and closed levels aren't that big there. IMV, that just confirms the idea that this comp is not worth doing unless and until one feels like they have a shot at making at least the next cut at the open pro-am scholarship. Those events are pretty big, with 1st rounds and quarter finals.