The Bellydancer, The Marketing Maverick and The Tech Guru

Over the last decade, Karen has been making it possible for people to learn and appreciate the art of belly dance wherever they are in the world through the power of technology.

Join us for a behind the scenes conversation with Kathy Swanson (The Marketing Maverick behind the marketing automation, Karavan Online, and everything digital) and videographer Gylon Jackson (The Tech Guru with all the toys and gadgets).

We explore Karen's journey, how she "didn't feel a thing" in her business when the pandemic hit the dance studio industry, and how dancing to live music (even remotely) has evolved with Project Band.

During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:

00:00 Wow! Kathy and Gylon are on this side of the studio

00:25 The evolution of the technology of Karavan Studio over more than a decade

01:34 How Gylon came on board with "Belly Dance Fun" and the video equipment

04:33 How Kathy met Karen -- with more than "pretty spreadsheets" ; )

06:38 How many times the website design and platform have been redesigned

08:03 Evolving the belly dance journey with someone who loves the live music experience

09:31 Realizing the possibility that anyone on (or off) planet can access learning how to belly dance on any level with Karen because of the technology

10:33 Sharing Karen's love of improvisation and live music

11:03 The evolution of content and creating a foundation -- beyond "YouTube learning"

12:51 Learning from a guide versus idolizing instructors as a dabbler

16:18 Moving forward, keeping up, and always changing with industry and technology

16:37 Kathy's "why-to" book and the value of focus in the face of choices

18:30 Guest instructors are students of Karen Barbee -- even with different styles

19:50 Karen's favorite part of the technology 

21:37 Why when everything tanked last year with COVID, Karen didn't feel a thing

23:02 Choosing to dance to live music for a live streamed event during a pandemic

23:48 When we almost got arrested because of murky City of San Antonio ordinances

25:31 In the face of adversity comes innovation -- and the dancers loved it

27:37 Making it easy for dancers to schedule and show up for private lessons

28:07 Having things already online and not having to educate the dancers

28:50 GBDAC2020 -- figuring out what were we going to do, Project Band dancers, and live music

30:11 Pulling off GBDAC202020 remotely and live across the country

38:20 Now dancing remotely to live music is not a big deal and we do it regularly

40:14 Now Project Band is open to people wherever they are on the planet

40:49 Changing expectations during a pandemic -- clear plexiglass is not the same

42:32 GBDAC2021 is looking good for October 1-3 in San Antonio and how we will do it

44:22 The Road to GBDAC2021 and creating content for our audience before and during the event

47:51 The tools for online marketing now are amazing, integrated, and more affordable

48:40 Letting technology and automation help you be more creative and do the (im)possible

51:15 A belly dancer with her own music on cassette and CD... and now on Spotify and iTunes

52:53 Self-publishing a coloring book of Sara's drawings and Karen's philosophy topics

53:45 The things Gylon and Kathy wish Karen would do

56:48 Ranting on belly dancing... the birth of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer video podcast

58:17 A great idea for YouTube -- do you think Karen should do it?

1:03:42 Being ahead of our time and the amazing tech at the UTSA Buena Vista Theater for GBDAC

Kathy thinks Karen should have a Patreon channel. What do you think?

In the meantime, on Amazon you can get a copy of Karen's coloring book "Kolor Your Perspective" illustrated by Sarah Jouett Martinez.

You can also get Kathy's why-to book "Automation Works" on Amazon.

You can also contact Gylon at VOD|POD Media [email protected].