Barbara “Chocolate Girl Production LLC” Hawk has just hosted her third successful year of the Stepping Into Fall Affair earlier this September hosting approximately 150 to 200 people over the weekend. Her first introduction to steppin’ was through Andrew Bellamy and A.J. Dease in Philadelphia. She has been steppin’ for eight years but really started traveling and going to Chicago in her second to eighth years of steppin’. Although everyone thinks she is from Philadelphia, she actually lives in New Jersey. As the mind behind Chocolate Girl Productions and host for The Stepping Into Fall Affair, I thought Barbara was a good person to talk to about getting your feet wet in hosting steppin’ events.
Why did you start the Stepping Into Fall Affair? I started the Stepping into Fall Affair after having traveled to Chicago and other cities. After three years one night I had a conversation with someone in Chicago:
- You know Barbara you’re always coming here, don’t you guys do something where you live?”
- No. I have to travel to New York and DC.
- So why don’t you do something?
- Well, I don’t know.
That is where the idea started, but it didn’t really take off until right now. This is my third year I just finished and it came through.
Where did the name Chocolate Girl Productions come from? The name came from the Whispers’ song “Chocolate Girl.” I used to dance to that song as a little girl in front of the record player. I told my mother, “Well, I am a Chocolate Girl!” Somebody suggested to me that I don’t want to just use the name Barbara for my event and I should come up with a name. So I stuck with Chocolate Girl Productions.
Why did you start hosting steppers events? I love to dance so I am everywhere. When I was introduced to steppin’ I fell in love with the dance, the people and then of course the music. Steppin’ is such a sexy dance and the people have a connection. I marvel at how a man by just a touch or a tap can get the lady to do multiple turns or have the lady move up and down the lane without verbally communicating. My first venture into hosting the weekend was with Andre Bellamy when we hosted the first Philly Steppers Weekend in 2012. From there we broke and I started to do my Steppin Into Fall Affair. 2018 will be the fourth year. I love the idea of people coming to our tri-state area (New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania) to step in just a room full of steppers. I wanted to feel like I was out of town at a set but.. when I opened my eyes I was home.
What determines the success of your event? When I set out to plan the event a year out there are 3 goals I have. 1) When my guests come are they going to have a great time?; 2) While guests are there, are they enjoying the event?; and 3) When guests leave, will they tell someone about the event and tell what a great time they had so next year they return with a friend or two.
What two factors are important to your guests? Folks attending want a great venue where they feel safe and secure and are going to have a great time. Guests, for the money they are spending for my event or anyone else’s, expect in return their money’s worth – if they want food, a workshop, etc, just parties – whatever the case may be.
What was your biggest challenge when venturing out on your own to plan your weekend? My biggest challenge was looking at the whole yearly calendar of stepper sets and figuring out where on the calendar no one else was doing a set and where and what time would be a good time to do a set. And, I wondered if people would even come to our area to step. When I would go out of town, people would ask me where I am from and when I would say New Jersey, the first response would be, they step in New Jersey? Of course, I would say yes, they step in New Jersey. I wanted to get people to come so they could see that we actually do step in this area.
What is unique about The Stepping in Fall Affair? I focus on making sure that everybody, but primarily the ladies, gets a dance all weekend long. I love to invite a few of my male stepper friends to come every year to dance with the ladies. I enjoy my friends dances throughout the year so I know the ladies would enjoy as well.If I ask the question has everybody received a dance this weekend there is no one in the audience that can say they didn’t receive a dance. Ladies say “My feet hurt! Girl I am so tired. I can’t wait until next year.” Also, the men don’t feel obligated that they paid to get in and that they had to work the floor as if they came to do a job. It’s a win-win. The women get to dance and the men can relax.
Why do steppers choose to come to your event? The topnotch hospitality they receive and a great price for the weekend. I look for a venue that my guests will enjoy, that I will enjoy. I try to get DJ’s like Black Cool and Calvin out of Chicago, friends that have had my back from the beginning. Then for food, I try to make sure that at the venue the food is delicious. Guests should have a good taste in their mouth and their feet should get so tired that they want to rest up for next year to come back.
Which night is the best? All three nights are the Best. What I hear from the guests is, “Your Friday, Saturday and Sunday sets get better every time. I can’t wait to see what you have for us next year”.
If there is one thing you could change about the event, what would it be? NOTHING. If I could clone myself to be in two places at one time for anything that arises. There really are only some mediocre fires to put out at the event because I have such great people behind me of friends and family. My daughter, Talaya Hawk, my son, Daniel Hawk, Jr and my right and left hand teammates, Steve Childs and Lenny Nutter. Without them, OOOOooweee! I would not want to change a thing about the event. It is exactly what I plan it out to be. The first year was a wing and prayer. Everyone said the weekend was so great, and they just didn’t know the effort and prayer behind it. Being a nurse helped me to be able to triage the situation like my patients. I can triage, delegate and keep going.
What is the extra step you do to keep your guests happy and looking forward to your next event? I try to get out there and promote the set everywhere and go to various states just trying to get myself, name and face known. I try to answer questions that people text or call. If folks stop me at a set when I am passing out flyers and they have questions, I answer the question. And of course I take suggestions. This year I messed up. This young man told me two weeks ago at the event, “Barbara I’ll be back but I have just one suggestion. Can you have some turkey bacon or sausage on the menu for the breakfast please?” I apologized. I wasn’t even thinking, but yes a turkey option will be on the menu for 2018. Without people giving suggestions and positive criticism, how can I make the event grow and get better?
Is planning a stepper’s weekend just planning a party? For me it is about the people that patronize my steppers weekend. For those that attend we want to make it a memorable time. I try to pay attention to every detail when planning the event. For a party I only have to focus on one day but I use the same blueprint when I plan.
Barbara Hawk “The Chocolate Girl” personally invites any and everyone to the 2018 Stepping Into Fall Affair!! Come out and give us a try. You will enjoy yourself and you will want to come back year after year. We are planning for great hospitality, a great venue and food, fantastic instructors like we had this year and of course a wonderful steppers weekend. In 2018 all the weekend events will be inside the host hotel!!
September 7-9, 2018
- Sheraton Bucks County Hotel, 400 Oxford Valley Rd, Langhorne, PA 19047
- October 10, 2017. 100 early bird passes sale starts for $70.
- Guests that book the hotel for Friday night, receive a free Saturday morning breakfast at the hotel.
