Registration Modes

Why is registration needed?

Of course, regular milongas don't need registration.

However, event types with more advanced offerings or restrictions require pre-registration; either because a closed guest list is part of the event concept (role-balanced guest list, or workshops), or the organizer wants to restrict her risk by incentivizing people to register beforehand.

What kind of registration modes are known?

Generally, registration modes can be seen on an event level, and on each registration's level.

On event level, these modes are known:

1. First-come, first-serve
2. Apply, and be confirmed
3. Invitation-only
4. Suggestions
5. Friends of the organizers

Of course, these modes can also be combined. Often these modes are also not strict since the organizers can make exceptions as they please.

On the registration level, these modes are known:

1. Single or couple registrations possible
2. Single registrations, only
3. Couple registrations, only
4. Singles, or romantic couples

When does registration usually start?

Somewhere between 3 and 6 months before the event.

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A 2019 analysis of events shared on TMD shows that most events fall between a 3-6 month pre-registration phase.

Event-level modes

First-come, first-serve

Slots are given away based on the time of registration. Whoever registers first gets their ticket first. If the event has a managed guest list, certain additional criteria might be relevant.

Examples

El Corte's International Week has an additional country quota. When the list for one country is full, then registrations that might be later could still be preferred due to the country restrictions.

Apply, and be confirmed

Registration opens on a certain day. Dancers submit registrations, and the organizers chose from the applications to create a guest list, according to the event's criteria.

Invitation-only

Only people who have been invited can register. This can be done, for example, by sending email invitations, or adding people to a closed facebook group.

Often invitation-only is combined with the Apply, and be confirmed workflow. Some events use true invitations, where everyone who receives and invitation is confirmed to be in the event.

Suggestions

Many organizers use suggestions by their friends, or by people who are already accepted into the event to select dancers they don't know well, or not at all. It's a form of vouching for people.

Friends of the organizers

Usually a non-communicated criterium.

Registration-level modes

Why?

If an event has a role balanced guest list, it is important that an equal number of leaders and followers register. The modes as described below all have certain advantages, and no perfect mode that is fair and useful has been found yet.

Couple registrations mean that a leader and a follower register together. Usually, if one is accepted into the event, the other is also accepted. This is especially useful in cases where one would not want to attend the event without the other, like in romantic couples.

Advantages and Disadvantages from the organizer's perspective are described below. The section criticism takes into account the view of the guests. Generally, balanced guest lists are not easy to achieve, especially for new events, or on weekends where a lot of competing events are happening. Especially for single followers, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get accepted into events.

Single or couple registrations possible

This is the “anything goes” mode.

Advantages

Same rules for anyone. Single followers have the chance of finding a partner to sign up with to increase their chance of acceptance.

Disadvantages

Usually a long list of single followers. Less freedom for the organizer to partner desired single followers with suitable single leaders.

Criticism

Very frustrating for single followers.

Single registrations, only

Couple registrations are not expected by the organizers. Romantic couples will need to communicate separately to the organizers if they want to make sure to be accepted together.

Advantages

Same rules for anyone.

Disadvantages

Romantic couples need to communicate with organizers to be selected together. The whole “find leaders” responsibility lies with the organizers.

Criticism

Single followers have no way to increase their chances to be accepted by recruiting leaders to sign up with as a couple.

Couple registrations, only

One of the easiest modes to generate a role-balanced guest list.

Advantages

Easiest mode for organizers.

Disadvantages

Frustrating for single followers.

Criticism

A lot of the recruiting of leaders is put into the hands of followers. This is perceived as a very frustrating experience for followers.

Singles, or romantic couples

A variation of the Single registrations, only mode.

Advantages

Gives romantic couples an easy way to signal they want to be considered together, not individually.

Criteria for a managed guest list

Role-balanced

Role-balanced events accept an equal number of leaders and followers.

Additional criteria

Some organizers don't just balance by role, but also by other criteria, such as:

• Age
• Height
• Skill-level
• Country or origin
• Experience
• Friendship
• Other