 |
Welcome to Salsa
and the City! This is a monthly column
by Erin about
Salsa in the Circle City. Salsa has become a lifestyle for some of us:
music, dance, parties, fashion, travel, friends, relationships, and,
did I say dance? For those who are addicted to Salsa, this is a place
where you can read about what's going on in the city, and share your
ideas, comments, and gossip. Erin has been a regular of Indy's Salsa
scene since 1999.
It's Your Choice!
by Erin
Lamb
posted August 16, 2006
The Indianapolis Salsa community now has a choice to make on Saturday
nights. A choice between which Latin party to attend!
It all happened in the last two weeks. First the Vault had to shut down
on Saturday, August 5th. Then it reopened for last Saturday, August
12th. On the same night, The Cozy had its first Latin party with DJ
TaZ. It looks like these two clubs will be competing for the same crowd,
so which one to pick?
Everyone has become acquainted with the Vault in the past year, but
as Yang and I found out, there have been a lot of changes in the past
week. For one, the Hip Hop nights have been stopped at the Vault. Last
week the floor was clean and a joy to dance on! Now that there are no
more Hip Hop nights on Fridays, we don't suffer from the drinks spilled
on the floor the night before. Plus, the Vault's new DJ every Saturday
will be DJ Jimmie Jim. He will be playing many new Salsa songs straight
from Puerto Rico. Also the club is charging no cover right now.
And for The Cozy (formerly the Blue Cactus), I believe most people recall
what a nice dance floor they have. It is spacious, with good lighting.
If you were there last week, you probably saw the new, plush seats surrounding
the dance floor. DJ TaZ, as energetic as ever, will spin all night long
for the dancers. I remember when it was the Blue Cactus that you had
to miss three or four songs before you finally got through the line
to get a drink. I hope the new staff of the Cozy has no problems getting
to the patrons and keeping them happy. Everybody knows that if you keep
the Salseros happy you'll have us for as long as you can stand us!
So, the choice is yours or you don't have to make a choice. If you want,
do both! The two venues are not that far from each other. The more people
dancing and supporting the Latin dance community in this city, the better.
After all, if there were no clubs that allowed us to have Latin dance
parties, we'd all be miserable, going to Have a Nice Day Café
and slapping drunk people out of our faces while Brittany Spear's music
played in the background. Oh the horror!
Past Columns
Reader's comments
It's good to hear that the Cozy is having a salsa
night again. I first started dancing salsa there when it was the Blue
Cactus. I think competition is good because it will keep the two bars
on their toes. I guess the most successful bar will be the one that plays
the best music and serves the best drinks at the right prices. For me,
it's all about the music. Anywhere I can get my salsa groove on is the
place where I will spend my money and time. Good luck Indy. Austin.
- Austin of Savannah
It is deja vu all over again! Let me say that I
have always enjoyed reading your articles Erin and you do a great job
covering important topics from the Indianapolis' salsa community. The
Vault vs. the Cozy is the same as when it was The Vault vs. the Savoy
last year. If the Vault has really gotten their act together (no sticky
floor) then the night should do well. I was at the Cozy last Saturday
and it brought back good memories. The Cozy did remove their hardwood
floors and replaced it with a Sam's Club laminate (I know my floors).
While not the greatest for traction for advance patterns, but the general
public should have no problems. The bar service was EXTREMELY slow. My
guess would be that the owner did not believe that there would be over
200 dancers showing up on the first night. Do not underestimate the power
of salsa!!!
- Marques
Nice comments, Erin. I am excited for the choice
of venues. Big cities usually have the same in terms of multiple venues
on a given night. The good thing is that (as you mentioned) they are close
together so that I can stop by both! And for those on the prowl, I can
imagine that this must be a dream come true! Hehe. :P
- Rebecca
Erin how come you and Yang where not at the COZY
to support them on their first night while I saw you at the Vault? Are
you only supporting the Vault and not the COZY?
- Emily
Emily, I'm glad that you went to both places last
Saturday. I chose to stay at the Vault last week. If I want to go to the
Cozy this week, I will. It's a choice I have to make too.
- Yang
Thanks for your question, Emily. With all that
has happened to the Vault in the last couple of weeks, I felt it was necessary
to show my support and gratitude to the owner who gave us a home for our
Latin parties in the last year. The owner is a good person and likes the
salsa crowd.
- Erin
I've pledged support to The Vault because when
no one else would open doors The Vault did and they were good to the Salsa
Community as Erin & Yang can agree with me. It's unfortunate that
The Vault received bad publicity but none the less it didn't happen on
a Saturday night. I like new music and I was tired of the SAME THING being
played over and over, so now with DJ JIMMIE JIM and the VIP CREW at The
Vault - you are promised brand new SALSA followed by the rest of the great
music that only DJ JIMMIE JIM can play.
- Gino "EL CAMPEON"
First of all I would like to wish good luck to
both clubs, after all there are here for us salsa lovers. And, so conveinent
that both are close by. Emily, so interesting that I was talking with
Yang last night and asked him if he would ever come to Cozy too. And,
I know he will, because after all Yang and Erin are the ones started the
Blue Cactus venue. For me, personally, Cozy/Blue Cactus means Yang and
Erin, we had so many wonderful memories. But, the way Blue Cactus ended
their service to us salsa lovers wasn't very friendly. I remember very
well, when they did not give Intosalsa any notice and dropped the salsa
night in a minute. I was there with Yang and Erin on that same night and
witnessed everything. After all, we all went to the dance studio and had
a wonderful salsa party of our own and thanks to Taz rushed to party in
the last minute to promote an other great salsa night for us. I am pretty
sure some of you remember that. So, I do understand them not going right
away to Cozy and supporting the Vault who opened the door when other place
closed it. But, what happened in the Vault, made all of us very uncomfortable,
and felt insecure. I am so glad that Taz moved his salsa night to Cozy.
I know it might not be fair to club or the owner but, everyone need to
think about their own people here. We are Taz and Nivanka's guests after
all and they did what is right and move the party somewhere safer perhaps,
even though it is not too far from the area. I know Yang and Erin would
do similar thing too if they were the ones hosting the salsa nights still.
Yang, Erin, you know you both belong to this salsa community and you are
very big part of it. I can not imagine any salsa night without you both.
Yang, Taz and you made a wonderful team once upon a time, remember? Since
I danced salsa I've been around you guys, and I love you all. Lets hope
that DJ Jimmy has the same success as Taz has and promotes another great
salsa party for us. My heart is in the Cozy due to my past memories and
my good friends Taz and Nivanka. But, I will give a visit to the Vault
every once in a while too. Erin, thank you for bringing up this important
subject to our attention. I know everyone have been wondering what happened
and where the salsa nights are. I hope we all give some visit to both
places and have a wonderful time full of salsa. Be safe.
- Bensu
While I feel it's great to have a choice of which
club to go to on Saturday night, I don't think that, in the long run,
Indy can support two Salsa venues on Saturday; not yet anyway. My personal
wish is to have one of the owners of either the Vault or the Cozy switch
their Salsa nights to Friday nights. There would be no competition from
the other club and I believe that either club would capture the Salsa
crowd on a Friday night. If I had my druthers, I would Vault into my Salsa
weekend on Fridays and be Cozy on Saturdays. I enjoy both venues but must
admit that I dance better at the Cozy. (Which actually presumes that I
can dance at all which is a physical and philosophical conundrum for another
day.)
- Roz Wells
I like Roz's comment. Dancing on Friday and Saturday
is always good! I hope this comment is passed on...
- carol
The owner of the Vault is NOT good person and has
openly called the salsa community many names not worth repeating. Are
we forgeting incidents like Jorge being treated like a common criminal????????
Let us get real!!! Issues with the floor were brought up week after week
and Mike did nothing. So why does he want to do something about it now?
Because a competitor has just opened their doors right down the street,
that is why. The salsa community can choose where they want to go on Saturdays,
but dont under estimate our intelligence by saying how "supportive"
the Vault has been.
- Jaime
I'm agreeing with Roz. We have no place to go dancing
on Friday nights and it would be great to have one of the clubs change
to Friday. If the Vault has stopped the hip-hop, why not have Salsa instead.
- Sylvia
I support Taz & Nivanka at the Cozy. It's just
a better venue and agree with Roz's comment. The sence is not able to
support two places on one night. Why not the Vault on Friday nights?
- Salsera
I read everyone comments and find all interesting
what every one thinks about all thats happened in the past. Nevertheless
I feel that nic picking different things that transpired at the vault
as well as in the cozy is all water under the bridge and isn't going to
change anything thats happened. All of us should just stop bring up old
dirt on both sides and just enjoy the venues we have and let it all be,
this town is so hung up on the people and who's who this is suppose to
be a big enough city who cares? whereever you feel like going it is the
same people any way same faces its like going to church you see the same
people over and over. Different venues different atmosphere differnt styles
of music go where you feel comfortable or go to both what's the big deal?
Bashing the owner of the Vault for whatever reason is stupid and bringing
up things that is in the past at the blue catus just as stupid we're all
adults and salsa is fun, so enjoy what we have because as we all know
it won't last forever. The savoy was great on fridays. I enjoyed it and
look what happened. The thing about one should change their nights is
crazy. Taz or Jimmie or anyone else isn't the King of salsa. If you're
a real salsa dancer the music should be whats inportant in whatever venue
sheesh people. People grow up start thinking like adults were not in high
school or college campus. Everyone that has attempted to do some thing
in the past with salsa or anything else in the past in Indy has been apart
of creating fun for all so stop creating friction between venues thats
not here.
- Sandra
Sandra, I really don't feel that people are acting
childish in regards to this article. There have been articles that Erin
have posted in the past where posters were attacking one another for no
validate reason which is very childish. The point of bringing up the past
for both venues is VERY valid. If a club owner did not care for the salsa
dancers in the past, I feel that the public should be informed of this.
We need knowledge to make a wise choice on which venue to support and
to spend money on. If we chose to look away at the problems of the past
it will hunt us in the future. Club owners are humble until the money
starts rolling in and then their true face is reviled. As for a venue
moving to another night, well you are not a promoter and may not understand.
When I was promoting the Savoy and the Vault was running on the same night
it caused more damage then good. It divides small group of salsa dancers
and forcing them to decide on whom to support. One of my friends does
not want to go out on Saturday because she does not want to “pick
a side”. Not trying to flame you post Sandra, but ignoring the past
and acting like everything is peaches and crème is just not the
right solution.
- Marques
I am in agreement with Sandra (except I won't call
anyone childish). People will go where they feel comfortable, and where
they are happy. Most importantly, people are going to go where the music
suits them best. I would hope that the salsa community is not so clickish
that it makes a decision on what party to go to based on politics. If
that is the case, the Latin music venues will never be forced to improve
themselves. They'll just become stale. It's called capitalism people!
Don't you love it! Sorry, I'll calm down now. I was getting carried away.
- Erin
First, I would like to say thanks to everyone for
coming to the Vault on Sat when Yang or Taz held the night. But the funny
thing is there are 3 sides to every story: one from each side and the
truth. Unfortunatly no one will really know the truth! I have always liked
salsa night at the Vault and never had anything bad or hard feelings about
anyone. Thanks Jaime for your input - I sure would like to know what I
said bad about salsa!! As for the floor, actually I have been working
on it for a while, it just takes a little time! To everyone out there
reading these comments thanks for the knowledge so I can better understand
everyone's feedback. And one more thing, have fun at wherever you decide
to go for the night!! Oh! And Fridays will be reggaeton at the Vault.
- Mike
Well, like everyone else, I have been reading the
responses. To Sandra, from what I understand, this article was written
to get people's thoughts on the venues of Saturday night. I feel, that
as a paying customer, they have the right to express how they feel about
a club rather it's about their past or the present. That is why people
make choices, from their experiences. Now, I have not been in the salsa
community that long, so I don't know about either club's past, their DJ's,
or their sponsers. I personally like The Cozy. I like the environment.
Last Saturday was my first time there. I had a good time. I've been to
The Vault a few times before and didn't really enjoy myself because of
the environment. Not too my experienced salsa dancers there either. Way
too much grinding going on. I'm glad that The Vault has gotten a new floor.
It was very necessary (for salsa dancers)! It is nice to have options
on saturday night. Honestly, I don't think that both venues will be continuously
successful on the same night because the salsa community is so small.
I hope the salsa community proves me wrong though. And please people stop
smoking in the clubs. I swore that smoking was prohibited in night clubs
and resturaunts. I have trouble breathing and get headaches when someone
is smoking. And happy birthday to Bensu's friend. The cake was very good!
Have fun with whatever choice you make on Saturday night!
- Chimere
Thanks Erin you said what I meant sort an sweet
we're all adults and every one has a past so leave it there and go where
ever you fell like to and do what every you feel like with out making
it a federal investigation. this city is nice, clean and minimum in crime
comparison to other citys enjoy yourselves and stop the who did what way
back when!
- Sandra
Well, once again here we go. People do make choices
on their past experiences (and have a right to). I've been friends with
Mike from the Vault and to my knowledge he's never said anything bad about
the Salsa crowd, what I did hear him say once was that he enjoyed the
Salsa crowd more than his other crowd. For those who know about good music
and enjoy great music, the choice is simple...The Vault. The changes to
the dance floor have been strongly influenced by my Brother, my self and
the rest of THE VIP CREW. So, it wasn't because a competitor moved down
the street, it's because someone who WILL GET IT DONE took over. It didn't
take but 1 Saturday to get Mike to do something with the floor. Enjoy
your choice but as for me (a person who enjoys good music and knows about
good music) I'll be at The Vault. PLUS YOU DON'T KICK PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE
DOWN, especially someone who was good to us (The Salsa Community)
- Gino
Long story short.. The Cozy is and will be the
best venue! Sorry.. but I can see the end to the Vault very soon. It's
not hard to see. It's not about what DJ is better. GET OVER IT PEOPLE!
I will strongly promote the The Cozy so sorry and find a new night! ;-)
- Salsera
I have been waiting and waiting and I can't wait
no more. First, let me start by thanking everybody who visited The Vault.
Secondly, I want to tell you that neither of the two venues are safer
then the other one. They are in the same radius within downtown when crime
rates are calculated. I also want to add that last Saturday we had 150
patrons at The Vault. Our goal is to have between 150 and 200 people every
Saturday. Last week in our second week we hit that goal. I want to say
that there is enough people in Indianapolis to support both venues. We
just have to be strategic in our marketing efforts and you can leave that
up to me and the rest of The VIP Crew. VIP Crew presents Caribbean Nights
at The Vault every Saturday night and we are not going anywhere. You now
have a choice on where to go on Saturday night. VIP Crew all day every
day, pa que, pa que lo sepan.
- VIP Crews Own AztecPrinz
VIP Crews Own AztecPrinz, the Vault meant their
goal of 150+? Are you sure about that? I stopped by around 1:00am at the
Vault and there was less then 100 (can anyone confirm this?). Maybe a
lot of people stopped by, but left early... What is this VIP Crew? I am
not sure if I have seen them. What is your propose and relation to the
Vault?
- Marques
Marques I have responded to you personally on myspace.
So by all means go check you inbox.
- Francisco aka Aztecprinz
Marques, What is VIP's purpose you mean (I think
you mispelled purpose on your comment). Well, our purpose with the Vault
is to play it right and give the people what they truly want and that
is a good mix of music and a good place to party, hang out and dance.
I know you've heard of the VIP CREW but you chose to say you know nothing
about us. I guarantee you will hear us next time we're in the building
at the same time as you. As far as what our purpose and relation to the
Vault is something that's going to be seen by the people who go. AND YES
IT CAN BE CONFIRMED THAT THE VAULT HAD 150 PEOPLE THERE.
- VIP CREW
It's great to have options on where to go dancing
on Saturday nights, good thing for the circle city. As to the Cozy, needs
to turn the dance floors light down a little bit to give more of a club
atmosphere. Also the nice floors were sooooo slippery last night, and
frankly a little too dangerous.
- La Brasilera
Sounds more like Marques has a personal issue with
the vault. Opinions are like A^%$ we all have one and this is all un necessary
this will make having fun difficult. here we go again with the clicks
in the city. grow up, why is this such a big deal? People, just to do
wherever you want. who cares which one every one goesto? paying customers
go where ever they want too...to their liking and if you like both venues
then go to both. All these personal issues, need to go to theraphy.
- Sandra
Sandra, I cannot afford theraphy, so I will just
have to continue to speak my mind.
- Marques
SIMPLY PATHETIC.....THIS CITY IS A JOKE. EVERYONE
JUST PACK YOUR PACKS AND HEAD TO CHICAGO AND REALLY PARTY LIKE YOUR SUPPOSE
TO.
- DANCING QUEEN
INtoSalsa, Indy's premier Salsa guide
|
|
|
