DDR at school

Utsukushii Koumori · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 4:20 pm Post subject: DDR at school

You might be puzzled by the title of the topic, but its true, we have an official DDR club at my school, that even has the original members' photo in the yearbook. (Although I'm not in it, and I'm now the president, lol)

The wonderful Obi-sama (I have no idea what his username is here) started the Bemani club and had a teacher/fellow DDR player sponser it. At lunch, we all crowd into his room, and with my PS2 that I bring from home and the pads the teacher has so kindly provided, we play and talk and laugh 'till the bell rings. It's really great seeing both experienced and beginning players participate and mingle, and its a way to bring the middle and highschool students together (our school is 6-12). We recently had an ice cream sale at the school, and it brought in a lot of money for new equipment (I'm thinking of using it for for foam insert pads, but also considering Guitar Freaks). We charge $5 dues for an entire year, and $1 per game for non-members (but the first non-member session is free). It's a very large club now, and I'm kinda scared of running it next year without Obi-sama's wisdom.

I brought this up so hopefully you guys still in school will try to start a Bemani/DDR club of your own. I really enjoy it, and I think other people would too. Pitch it to your school as a way to get students in shape and teach them not only eye-foot corrdination, but also rhythem too. See what your school says. The only problem you would encounter is the PS2 and pads. I'm trusting enough to bring my PS2 (unlike most people), and pads are something you would have to buy soley for the club (well, maybe you could use your own at first if the club was a close circle of friends).

Anyways, so yeah. Hopefully I'll get some postive feedback on this, and I hope I wasn't bragging or anything.

Much luck to you.
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Favorite Songs (and attempting to freestyle on): Matsuri Japan [Light] and Exotic Ethnic [Standard]

Trying to Pass: Daikenkai [Heavy] (I need more stamina, I'm pathetic

)

Been playing since about 1999, but I still stink! XD

Zanneth · Trick Member Joined: 02 Jun 2004 Location: Tucson, Arizona

That would be awesome to have DDR at school. I was thinking about doing something like that in my new school. I don't know where I am going to get money to buy some pads, but selling stuff sounds like a good idea. Thanks for the inspiration!

G-type · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:03 am Post subject:

I think, at least from what I heard from another DDRFreak that lives near me ('bout my age, goes to the same school as me and has an older brother that just finished 8th or 9th grade) that from Junior high to the end of High school (8th-12th) there is either a gaming club or a DDRclub. Right now I'm contimplating which one to sign up for since I beleive you can only sign up for one (That is, if we have both. If we just have the gamer's club, then me and my friend wil sure as Hell bring DDR). But that's all I know right now....
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dj Tifaheart · Trick Member Joined: 02 May 2003 Location: Middletown, RI

Yea, we have an official club at one of our universities. (ASU).

I don't go there, but I have been to one of their tournaments.

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chibidjinn · Trick Member Joined: 11 Nov 2003 Location: Central Oregon

I would start a DDR club..but I don't know..

What would we do? How would things get planned? Would it turn out alright?

Advice?

Cata-Kai · Trick Member Joined: 11 Jun 2004

Me too. I would love to start 1. But I dont no how, if any1 would koin or not plz help me .

xequar · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 12:20 pm Post subject:

At Ferris State University, there is a Registered Student Organization called DDRSO. It is totally free, and in addition to weekly meetings, they (since I've graduated, it's not "we" anymore) have an annual 24 hour DDR marathon, and the proceeds go to charity (Most recent one was for Multiple Schlorosis (sp?). So yes, it's doable.

The first thing you need is about five to ten people who want to do it, as they can help keep things running. Then, procure a meeting place (officially through your university/college/school if it's going to be on their property), and set up regular meetings. Try to have your meetings in a central location that's easily accessible and can accomodate the number of people comforably. If you have enough people that are going to be interested from the offset, it makes it a lot easier to keep it going. Also, equipment is a concern. DDRSO has/had members willing to donate use of their stuff. At one point, there were four different people with Cobalt Fluxes, two with import PS2s, etc.

Once you get it running, have events, advertise like mad, and keep meeting regularly. That's how you get more members. Oh, and if you are the one running the thing, make sure there is someone else just as involved as you are, because then if you get too busy to hold meetings for awhile, the other person can fill in. Be careful about member fees, as I have seen them really help some organizations and kill membership in others.

I hope this helps all those who want to start an organization. It's not hard, but as the name implies, organization is of paramount importance. If you are not organized, you will either miss important deadlines for forms (required at most universities to be an RSO), have issues with meeting times or places, or whatever. Be organized. It makes a huge difference.

Good luck. I hope you all get AAAs. I really mean that.
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Well, the final total was 207, 342. The fuel pump went out, and since it would cost too much to fix, I donated the Buick to charity.

Fare thee well, Riviera, and God speed.

Kham · Trick Member Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Location: Canada

Cool man ! It seems like every school has his little DDR gang. My friends and I started everything in our town. DDR was unknown but now almost everybody knows about DDR. At first sight ppl thinks that its a gay game, but when they play they become addicted

We lunched our forum on june 19. Its a french one but there are some sections for others countries. So feel free to give us a visit, the url is in my signature. Peace !
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Our new regional forum ! www.ddrquebec.com

Shenjoku777 · Trick Member Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Location: Santa Ana, CA

I've actually really thought about starting a DDR club this year at my school. So far I know about 6 other people that would join, but if I do it idk if there's a single teacher that would sponsor us. Getting the money for pads and games and such isn't exactly easy either

. I just hope it works out...
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"Life is a dance floor, so get up and dance!"
~me
My DD:Recall | ITG Freak thingy

usamablackbelt · Trick Member Joined: 13 Mar 2004 Location: Duluth, GA

I, too, am thinking of starting a DDR club. The only problem for me would be the materials. IE: Pads, PS2, games, etc. I mean, everything else should be easy, right? Just show the principal a few articles about DDR Health, and BAM! Its set. Now, did you buy seperate pads? Or bring yours? And what kind are they? And if a teacher sponsers it, do you use school money or their money for buying stuff, and what did you do for a fundraiser? Oooo, I'm all giddy inside!!!

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dude: MYSTIC IS THE SH*T! HE MADE CATLS IN THE SKY
me: Ian Van Dahl made castles in the sky. ur just gullible
dude: no ian van dahl remixed it....this is different sounding
me: yeah, cuz hes a DJ, and remixed it
me: seriously, you thought DJ Mystik made Castles in the Sky?
dude: who cares
me: i do
me: i think its funny

Shenjoku777 · Trick Member Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Location: Santa Ana, CA

Seriously I haven't done ANYTHING but got a bunch of friends in on it lol. I still need to go to the office or something and ask for papers about it. Probably going to work out all of the kinks during band camp.
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"Life is a dance floor, so get up and dance!"
~me
My DD:Recall | ITG Freak thingy

Dr. Weird · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 8:12 pm Post subject:

This would seriously be awesome, especially since our arcade here in Decatur Alabama went out of business.

But unfortunatly, most of my friends are what you would call 'casual' players, and would not put their heart into doing it. But, there are two of my friends who have an older brother that is better or the same as I am, but, he and his friends play Stepmania, and they dont care much for the arcade machines or the PS2 games. So sadly, I am left alone.

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xequar · Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 4:25 am Post subject:

Utsukushii Koumori · Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 12:36 am Post subject:

Lol, Xeguar covered all the answers, and more. (Which I thank you for

)

Yeah, when the club originally started, the president (who started the club) brought in his pads and game, and I brought in my PS2 and game. We use the school TV that the teacher has in his room. We would have bought new pads, but the teacher donated two pads to use for club use. (O_O) But we still plan to buy Ignition pads and another mix (the one the president took with him when he graduated (it was his)) with the money we made from dues and fund raisers (we had an ice cream sale as soon as the temperature warmed up.

Also, I'd just like to mention that for those of you still in highschool, there should be some type of club form available through your Leadership group or your principal. If you're not sure where to get it, try to perhaps ask a president of an existing club where they got it from. Also, if you're looking for a sponsor, try to think of someone relevant to the game. We we're originally going to ask the Japanese teacher, but she already sponsored the anime club, but PE teachers also showed interest in DDR too. We went with the teacher who sponsors us now (a math teacher) because he is very friendly, flexible, a fellow DDR player, and has access to a television and classroom.
_________________

Favorite Songs (and attempting to freestyle on): Matsuri Japan [Light] and Exotic Ethnic [Standard]

Trying to Pass: Daikenkai [Heavy] (I need more stamina, I'm pathetic

)

Been playing since about 1999, but I still stink! XD

dancealot · Basic Member Joined: 21 May 2004 Location: geaorgia

DDR club sounds cool but knowing the society i grow up in where everyone wants to cut out PE and any other form of exercise or extra activity cause only education matters and not any other ethical thing of life does im at 0% chance here.

DDRdre · Trick Member Joined: 08 Feb 2004 Location: Fl

n2oxide · Trick Member Joined: 15 Oct 2003 Location: Vancouver, B.C.

ShadowAdvocate88 · Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 6:39 pm Post subject:

Ah yes, I was planning to start an DDR club, because our school occassionally does DDR as our "friday activity" but whatever... it proally isn't going to work out because the ANime club does a "little" bit of everything... I'm still trying to start an improve club though... But WHO KNOWS?!

Verified · Trick Member Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Location: Behind You!

Reading this gave me the spark to try it out, IT really would be interesting to start a DDR club, +, we have alot of people in our school that play DDR, just, they don't hang out. We must weave the web known as DDR to bring the world to a happy medium. *Hey if we have a chess club, we can have a DDR club.*
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xequar · Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 4:18 am Post subject:

Speaking of DDR organizations, yesterday, I submitted a How to Start a DDR Organization FAQ to Spike (you know, Spike, of the great admins of these humble forums) for approval and addition to the site. Keep an eye out for it, and in the meantime, feel free to ask me any questions you might have.

xequar
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Well, the final total was 207, 342. The fuel pump went out, and since it would cost too much to fix, I donated the Buick to charity.

Fare thee well, Riviera, and God speed.