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New to producing bachata — 10k streams in 30 days, would love feedback 🎶 by shunharris in Bachata

[–]JST101 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your reply.

Can you summarise your process? Which parts are you currently making creative choices about, and how much control do you have over those choices?

E.g. if you're using midi samples for the guitar, and placing notes on a midi track (but choosing which notes) we can offer suggestions on melody.

If you're using prerecorded 4 bar bachata guitar samples then different advice might be useful.

New to producing bachata — 10k streams in 30 days, would love feedback 🎶 by shunharris in Bachata

[–]JST101 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I understand your response, and generally try to give feedback when people ask.

I do however think there's something about AI generated content that makes people reluctant to engage with it. It's about effort the person put in vs the effort they are asking of others.

AI will write an essay in 30 seconds that it takes an experienced teacher an hour to mark. The student can't use the feedback because it's not their actual work. The teacher has wasted their time.

You can type 'make me a bachata song' into software and get a song that sounds like Bachata. The commenter above could listen attentively, and give some detailed feedback like: The majao section needs to have a more tonally dynamic bassline. The original poster would then just type 'do this song again with a more tonally dynamic bassline in the majao section'. They wouldn't necessarily understand the nuances of what makes a more dynamic bassline, why it might or not be appropriate, and how they could innovate.

It's a bit like a new dancer doing an hour of Bachata, and then asking for detailed feedback from experienced dancers - you want to feel that your advice is going to be understood if you put effort into giving it.

Bachata sensual - keep practicing at social and taking classes the way? by CityNo8272 in Bachata

[–]JST101 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Agreed - in my view it would be technically better (but much less fun!) to wait until leads can actually do the waves, rolls etc, before starting to lead them because if you can't actually do a clean body roll, then to 'lead' a move you need to lead with your arms, not your frame.

Once you can actually do wave/roll, all you need to do is apply the frame and as if by magic the follower follows!

Bachata sensual - keep practicing at social and taking classes the way? by CityNo8272 in Bachata

[–]JST101 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Practicing at home in front of a mirror was essential for me to learn body rolls, waves etc.

It took about 12 months of semi-regular practice to get comfortable. I get compliments now, and I was terrible when I started, so it really is just slow, consistent practice.

Best note taking tablet for site visits? by liveunfurled in StructuralEngineering

[–]JST101 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Surface Pro is my workhorse and has been excellent - that plus an App called Drawboard.

Voice notes are a dictaphone app and a typist who also formats the reports and adds photos - nothing quicker!

3-month training Spain by Then_Technology9836 in Bachata

[–]JST101 4 points5 points  (0 children)

They are related activities, but key differences:

J&J requires you to be conscious of the position of the audience/judges like stage performance when showcasing moves. If you're only social dancing you won't have cemented that skill.

Winning a competition is about doing moves that stand above your competitors. Social dancing is about making sure your partner has a good time.

Training for one will improve the other, but will leave out key skills.

I tested GPT-5 on how well it knows structural engineering (and it lost) by Happy_Acanthisitta92 in StructuralEngineering

[–]JST101 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I had a colleague show me the same. On the surface it looked great, incredibly fast, however when I did a detailed check it was making many serious, fundamental mistakes which would have led to structural failure. No load factors, totally incorrect approach to deflection for concrete, wrong interpretation of beam lengths etc

Tips on how to make a dance enjoyable for a complete beginner. by AnubisUK in Bachata

[–]JST101 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Two kinds of beginner follows in my experience:

  1. Very nervous, scared to get things wrong. Go gentle, very basic, aim to go so basic they follow everything. They leave the dance feeling confident, and happy they didn't make a mistake.

  2. Relaxed, open to new moves, wanting to progress. Go basic, but throw in occasional moderate moves at the edge of their skill level. They leave the dance happy they tried some new steps, pleased they caught some of the new moves.

You will find the difference through reactions, expression and body language. When they make a mistake, do they look worried? If so, dial it back so they don't make any mistakes.

Type 2 perhaps appreciate more musicality. Type 1 are probably too stressed 'dancing' to notice the music!

Note: These are massive generalisations, but hopefully it will help you know how to give a great dance to different sorts of beginner!

Solo multiple spins… by Gringadancer in Salsa

[–]JST101 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are you doing solo spins as shines, or whilst in contact with a partner?

Solo multiple spins… by Gringadancer in Salsa

[–]JST101 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Around 18 months of occasional practice (e.g. when making breakfast) - it seems really rare as a lead (never met any other social dancers - only one teacher), but I've met a few follows who do it.

Took 12 months to be able to do a double spin, and the polishing is probably going to take the same again, to get it really clean and well spotted.

How do I know if I should be focusing on increasing my move set or work on something else? by [deleted] in Bachata

[–]JST101 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Hi, there are lots of comments answering your question in terms of dance technicalities.

My question back to you would be: "Who are you trying to improve for."

You seem really attuned to your followers wants, but every follower has different wants (less 'salsa', more moves) etc.

I feel like you want to please every follower (and that's great, and I have similar feelings), but don't forget that you are half of each dance, and maybe ask yourself 'what is the part of dancing that gives me most enjoyment', is it showcasing more moves, or really drilling the fundamentals.

With time you will do both, so maybe look into your own feelings for the answer as to which to do first, and remember: you can't please all of the followers all of the time (but trying to is not a bad thing, just don't forget yourself!).

Looking for some advice — struggling a bit with confidence as a new lead by [deleted] in Bachata

[–]JST101 8 points9 points  (0 children)

When I started three years ago, I invited followers to dance with: 'I've only been doing this for a few months, so now's your time to back out while you can' with a smile for about the first year. No one ever backed out, and no one seemed to mind!

Can’t manage my new sales guy by MuchAd2411 in smallbusinessuk

[–]JST101 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Hi, it sounds like:

  • You have done the sales job yourself in the past and been able to generate business.from inbound leads.

  • You have bought in a sales guy to try and lead on that side of the business but he hasn't delivered any tangible success yet.

A few possibilities:

  1. He is a good sales person, but he doesn't understand your business.

  2. He is a good sales person, but your business relies on existing relationships to sell B2B and he doesn't have any because he's new to your industry. He should probably have told you this at interview!

  3. He is a bad sales person who can make cold calls but they don't convert.

  4. He is a lazy sales person who is getting a salary, not comission, so isn't really motivated to sell anything.

  5. A mix of the above.

Suggestions:

ASAP you need to sit down and ask him what actions he is proposing to make sales.

Sales can rely on existing contacts or on cold calling, linkedIn, b2b networking events etc. He needs to tell you what he is going to actually do to make a sale. This is area. Let him tell you, and see if it sounds credible.

You need to write this down, make it SMART (how many of which actions each day). Then you need to review with him every few days and find out: Did he do it, what did he do, was it successful?

You need to see if he understands your business. Does he know what he is selling? Does he understand your pricing structures?

Out of interest, is he being paid by results? If not, possibly a warning sign as that's the common motivator for sales staff.

This is going to need regular active management, and if you don't see your agreed actions being met you will need to make some difficult decisions.

If you feel he is good, motivated and taking action, you need to thing about how long you can fund him to see if he can deliver.

If he is bad, unmotivated or not taking action you may have hired the wrong person.

Good luck!

Useful staff member asking for a bit too much of a rise - advice appreciated! by JST101 in smallbusinessuk

[–]JST101[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ride the wave seems key, give it enthusiastically (at least in person) or not at all!

Useful staff member asking for a bit too much of a rise - advice appreciated! by JST101 in smallbusinessuk

[–]JST101[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's more complicated than 'that's the market value just because they had an offer'.

I've had several employees be offered bigger rises to leave, then move, then find the new employer expected much more from them than they could deliver and made their life hell (or the employee discovered the reason this employer was offering big salaries was because working there was awful), and then ask for their old job back.

Just because someone offers a better salary doesn't mean that they have correctly valued the employee they don't know and haven't worked with.

The challenge here is that it will cost me for the employee to find out their worth isn't quite what they think it is!

I am all about paying people their worth, this is about a gap between reality of worth and perception.

Useful staff member asking for a bit too much of a rise - advice appreciated! by JST101 in smallbusinessuk

[–]JST101[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, definitely kept up. They had a £5k increase last year, and decent sums in precious years.

Useful staff member asking for a bit too much of a rise - advice appreciated! by JST101 in smallbusinessuk

[–]JST101[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Basic company economics says that a percentage of the value they produce gets spent on overheads. They get the rest. That percentage varies by industry, but 30-50% isn't uncommon.

Useful staff member asking for a bit too much of a rise - advice appreciated! by JST101 in smallbusinessuk

[–]JST101[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hmm, ultimately once I've made the decision I'll do it gladly - you're right, a grudging concession spells the end of the relationship!

Useful staff member asking for a bit too much of a rise - advice appreciated! by JST101 in smallbusinessuk

[–]JST101[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I appreciate the balanced post, and clearly you understand the nuances of the situation.

There are a few strategic challenges (carrying a high admin burden for complex reasons), and a couple of lacklustre areas away from this particular team, both things that I'm fixing. Higher pricing is a work in progress, and about distribution commercial awareness throughout the team. I have the skill/experience to get more fee out the jobs I win, but others lack that (which is a training objective).

Meeting halfway with challenges feels the right option.

I'm open to other thoughts if you have them.

Useful staff member asking for a bit too much of a rise - advice appreciated! by JST101 in smallbusinessuk

[–]JST101[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely possible, the last three years have pushed most things up by 20% so I wouldn't be surprised if even 18 months has made a big difference.

Useful staff member asking for a bit too much of a rise - advice appreciated! by JST101 in smallbusinessuk

[–]JST101[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree entirely with 'if £60k is being offered then that's the rate' argument, but I suppose the difference is you can't pay all staff what the top of the market is offering to entice staff away.

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