I never expect success from any endeavor while going alone. It’s the same for livingthe8count while writing and stepping in 2022. Every story, interview, and opportunity has happened for this brand while engaging with at least one or more of you and, most times, many of you. Thank you! 2022 was a sweet ride for “us,” and I look forward to all we can do together in 2023. In our story so far, there are eight things I have counted on that I know are critical for us to continue. Here is my flashback and fast-forward naming of what we counted on in 2022 and what will still be critical in 2023.
1. Readership and Support
In 2022, we published 27 new articles and interviews as we continued recording and sharing the legacy of Chicago Stepping. First, thank you to everyone who allowed me to share a personal story. Second, thank you to the readers, supporters, and fans. Our nationwide support has grown, and livingthe8count is nothing without you.
2022 Website Reach
Growing, and it’s showing. The numbers and website insights tell a beautiful story.
- Website traffic grew 54.3%
- Email newsletter subscribers increased by 63%
2. Conversation
Many of our editorial ideas come through conversation, whether on social media, on the set, or by phone. It’s how I understand what you want to read about and, equally importantly, what you don’t want to read on this blog. We launched our Facebook group in 2022, livingthe8count.com, A Chicago Style Steppin Community, and recognize that there is so much opportunity to tap into. Thank you for all the inspiration. For 2023, we are launching a “For the People, By the People” segment to continue that focus more intentionally. More details to come soon.
3. Interviews
I don’t always get the interview. The more and more years that I have been writing for livingthe8count, getting interviews have become the biggest challenge. There are eight women and two men that I want to interview but who have not accepted my offer to interview. I believe their perspectives are relevant to what steppers should understand about Chicago Stepping. I am working on all of it and will go where I have opportunities. No doubt, every year, I am pushed in directions that keep livingthe8count’s editorial calendar full and changing all year long.
4. Collaboration and Partnership
When I say there is no success alone, I mean it. In 2022, I developed new partnerships and collaborated on some projects that allowed me to write, speak, or be on TV. Other times, collaborative efforts organically came about and turned into long-term relationships. I am excited about our work and the chance to promote Chicago Stepping and tell our stories in different, meaningful, and powerful ways. Thank you to Cynthia Bean, Lloyd Johnson, Darrius Barron, Eric Gordon, Budland Network, and all the steppers who partnered or worked with me on something different in 2022. The content contributors and people inviting their friends to our group are also very relevant. Thank you for sharing, commenting, and contributing to our social media presence. Your work and engagement are valuable to us and what we do daily.
5. Affordability
In 2022 the price for everything went up during inflation, including the cost to go stepping. For weekend events, more than a few promoters and hosts had weekend passes for $100+. Thank goodness for early bird sales and flash sales. A special thank you to the promoters that found ways to keep reasonable prices and ways to still keep us on the wood despite the fallout from the COVID pandemic. Some events became more upscale or VIP to justify a price increase. Steppers will make the right decisions on what is affordable to pay and decide where they want to be. I shall continue my trips to Chicago because it is the most affordable city to go stepping any weekend of the year. And, of course, there are weekend events that I know I will not miss.
6. Staying on the Wood
In 2022, steppers were ready to socialize again with less fear. Generally, we were catching up on the lost time on the dance floor and reconnecting. For many of us, nothing could replace being on the stepper set. I was glad to see everyone’s smiles again and to touch a few people’s hands that I had not connected with in a long time. Without the dance and each other, there is no livingthe8count. I hope to dance through 2023 with no interruption.
7. Contests
2019 was my last year in the WLSC, but I am excited about World’s Largest “every” year. It is the most exciting blogging time because new readers engage and new topics emerge. A personal thank you to Pete Frazier and the Majestic Gents for hosting the contest every year and sticking to it with so many opinions and people to please. The WLSC has put steppers on a worldwide stage, and the Vogue.com feature article is a testimony of the exposure the WLSC platform creates for Chicago Stepping. More contests were held in different states, and more popular contests like Milwaukee’s Largest and the Texas Heat continue to bring steppers from everywhere to compete. I can’t wait to see who is on stage for 2023!
8. Opportunity
There is much more to do, and I love that livingthe8count allows me to dance, write, do other things, and grow. Writing will always be at the center of this brand because fostering and promoting literacy is at our heart. A special thank you to Gina Ellis, who coached me through a growth spurt and unearthed some new ideas. I have not met a woman like her in a very long time.
Opportunities to do more and different are always welcome because I know I don’t have all the ideas. I am open to new suggestions because together, we can do more. I’ve already locked in some special projects for 2023 and can’t wait to share the work. And the biggest part of the plan this year for livingthe8count is sharing a candid version of my personal story. All I can say now is, “Look for the book!”
Loving it at livingthe8count
2022 was a winning year for livingthe8count. The deeper thread across all of our 2022 stories was community responsibility. I think for 2023, the urge is to focus on and answer a question for every stepper. What’s next for us? Thank you for being a part of what we have done. I hope you continue with us for the next step in our journey and that you love it at livingthe8count. Happy New Year! I hope you are thinking about the year ahead and getting excited about everything it has in store for you.
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Welcome! I am the writer Sonji Stewart. These are my travel stories about my Chicago Stepping experiences, traveling from city to city to dance. I hope my stories encourage you to join me in the adventure.
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Kim Scott
Plz add me to the email listing.
Anonymous
Thank you and Happy New Year🎉