Cynthia Bean of The Steppers 411 Celebrates 22 Years

On my first trip to Chicago, I heard about The Steppers 411 email. I’ve relied on it ever since to keep me connected to events in Chicago while hundreds of miles away in Virginia. I never miss an issue and it is my go-to for every trip I plan to Chicago. Cynthia Bean is the author of The Steppers 411 and has published her newsletter weekly since 1999. She is originally from Chicago and was attracted to Steppin’ because she wanted to do something different. “At the time I was into house music and decided that I wanted to do something else. Steppin’ was the next thing for me.” That feeling was just the beginning that opened more doors for Cynthia to share her love for Steppin’. I know her as the author of The Steppers 411, however, she has done much, much more. Cynthia has been a trailblazer and created a significant legacy in publishing and marketing for the Steppin’ community.

A Brief Bio on Cynthia Bean

Cynthia Bean was not only involved with The Steppers 411.  At one point, she was the co-host of the “ClubSteppin.com” radio show on Thursdays with Lamont Watts. They broadcasted out of radio station WKKC 89.3 FM. WKKC 89.3 FM is an educational non-profit radio station in Chicago, Illinois licensed to be operated by Kennedy-King College. Cynthia was the Marketing Director for Inside Steppin Magazine and the host of the Internet TV show “Stepping Chicago Style” with Vernon Estes. 

Cynthia was also in the Steppers Club “Fulson Cool Music”.  Oh, and she was working, but had to give all that up and just focus on The Steppers 411. “I still call WKKC to give Ray Neal the Old School guy 3 Steppers Cuts.. that easy because I can call him when I’m on my way to an event on Saturdays @ 8:40 pm.” She has a rich background and involvement in talking and knowing about stepping. This vantage gives her a close perspective on the history of Steppin’ and the community. However, Cynthia sees her role simply as ” I am the Steppers Internet Connection letting Steppers know where the Steppers Events are around the country.”

The Interview with Cynthia Bean

July 6 marked the 22nd year of The Steppers 411. I am still surprised at some of the responses when I mention The Steppers 411 to some steppers. Many don’t know what I am talking about or know Cynthia Bean. I hope this interview sheds some light on one of the key historians who has kept me locked in with steppin’ in Chicago for years. The Steppers 411 is a big part of steppin’ history and hosts a wealth of information on steppin’ events. It even shares tidbits on the pulse of the steppin’ community in Cynthia’s “Where Did I Go This Weekend.” During the pandemic when no events were happening, her newsletter shifted focus to publishing the list of virtual steppers events. Let’s talk about Cynthia and her newsletter some more.

Why did you start publishing “The Steppers 411”?

I started publishing the Steppers 411 in July 1999.  It all started when I joined a Steppers Group called “Fulson Cool Music Productions”  We gave parties on 1st Friday’s at Mr. G’s.  I started picking up the different pluggers/flyers on the table because I knew that I would have to go to other Steppers’ events to promote our party. Two people saw me doing that (Donna Harris and Tim Alexander). They asked me to email the event information and I did. Then they told other people what I was doing and they started calling it the Weekend update.  Then other people from other cities started looking up Steppin and my name was coming up because at that time I got a Yahoo Group page after 100 people were on my email list. That is how it started to get around the country.

Why have you continued publishing the newsletter for more than two decades?  

When I say I want to stop, people tell me “No, we need that information.”  So I kept doing it. This year marks 22 years.

“Where Did I go last weekend” and “Cynt’s 2 Cents” are so comical and then informative at times. Why do you include those sections? 

Some people want to know what’s happening at the sets so if something funny happens or interesting I will mention where I went.  It is also my way to thank the promoters for their hospitality.

Here is an excerpt from one of her newsletters

How do you advertise and promote “The Steppers 411?”  

I promote my newsletter by going out and meeting people.

How has social media and the internet impacted what you do for steppers?  

The internet has helped get The Steppers 411 to people outside of Chicago.  

I notice that you don’t often have any Monday steppers events listed in your publication, why is that?  

The sets that happened every week are not listed because if I do that the newsletter would be 20 pages long.  I am not trying to do that.

Having a pulse on events weekly for so many years, what can you share as the two biggest changes that you have seen in events local to Chicago?  

The venues have changed. Mr. G’s closed and other venues closed as well.  Then different DJs and new Steppers.  

How about outside of Chicago?  

Outside there are more events happening outside of Chicago but I noticed that some Cities outside of Chicago only do one event per year.  How are they going to grow their market only doing one big set and not really promoting their event in their own city?

Congratulations Cynthia Bean on your 22nd year of publication. I know this takes heart and dedication. Thank you for all you do because I need your information and read it every week. I wish you much more success for years to come.

How do Steppers subscribe to “The Steppers 411?” 

Email Cynthia Bean @: cyntbean818@gmail.com 

Visit:  www.cyntbean818.wixsite.com/Steppers411

Google: Cynthia Bean Newsletter 

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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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