What happens when an event director spills his pre-event anxieties and post-event relief? When toilet paper becomes a weapon of war? When a dance weekend prioritizes joy over competition results and accidentally creates magic?
Join Harold Baker for a raw, honest conversation with Hieu, the mastermind behind Swingsota 2025. This before-and-after interview captures the emotional rollercoaster of event directing - from pre-weekend nerves about venue changes to post-weekend euphoria about community success.
The Journey Includes:
- Hieu's philosophy: "Maybe the results don't matter" and why that's revolutionary
- The move from children's theater to hotel and what that meant for the vibe
- Harold's severe FOMO about missing everything while filming
- The legendary Toilet Paper War of 2025 (historically accurate according to Harold)
- Why Swingsota aims to make people "refreshed, rejuvenated, and happy about dance again"
- The philosophy of prizes that aren't first place (including the coveted Altman prize)
- Harold's realization he needs camera people to follow him around Disney World style
The Swingsota Philosophy:
- "Maybe the results don't matter"
- Creating space for people to be "joyful and let go"
- Building a weekend that people "didn't know they needed"
- Supporting everyone who "makes any sort of attempt"
People Mentioned:
- Hieu - Swingsota Event Director and philosophical mastermind @swingesota
- Robert Royston - Instagram: @robertroyston (Science piece participants puller-inner)
- Casey Margules - First place comedy gold winner @case_face_dance
Event References:
- Swingsota 2025 - The low-pressure, high-creativity dance weekend @swingesota
- The Open - The serious competition people need to decompress from @theopen_swingdancechampionships
- TAP - Post-Open decompression essential @tapwcs
Warning: Contains honest discussions of event director anxiety, severe FOMO about missing Between Two Ferns, and historically questionable battleship tactics
Host: Harold Baker - Affinity Swing Instagram: @affinityswing
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