Are you a stepper who frequents Twitter?  Do you Tweet?  Do you have Tweeps?  I do.  How about Facebook?  I’m on Facebook with 728 friends and I just added one more which makes my body count 729.  I can’t believe that I have all those friends.  More than half of those are steppers from as far west as Washington State and as close demographically as the hardwood is to a steppers leather bottoms.   With the exception of classmates and my family I couldn’t tell you who those folks are.  I don’t know them from Adams house cat.  So what links us is Chicago Style Steppin’.   If I didn’t step I wouldn’t have more than a third of those friends.  What’s ironic is that a handful have become folks I communicate with everyday and we have actually become good Facebook friends.

I receive all of my steppin’ set  information through the social media networks.  I can’t recall the last time I went to a steppin’ organization’s website to see what’s doing.   But steppin’ websites were spread all over the bed during my infancy in steppin’ and that was around 2006. I would Google “Chicago Style Steppin’ during my night shift’s down times at work.  I would research my new social outlet.   I could not believe how much information was out there and what I was able to retrieve.  The heavy hitters, steppin’ DJ’s, steppers with opinions and the proverbial stepper sets was  just a Google search away.  And Chicago had more going on than a county fair.   Currently, there is no need to search for a steppin’ website because  most steppers are either Twittering their thoughts or posting their pluggers on Facebook for their local weekly event in Chicago,  it’s so-and-so’s birthday they are celebrating it at one of the many sets over the weekend, and I would be remiss if I left out  the grand steppers ball with the mandatory color theme. Ya’ll know the over zealous newby who wants to rep their cities hospitality and to clock a dollar or two all at the same time.   So you must bless it with your presence and don’t forget to purchase that table.  No VIP…just a seat at a table.   All on Facebook.  Facebook has become my virtual periodical when it comes to steppin’ news and beefs.  Yeah that’s right I said it.  Ya’ll know a pissed off stepper with and ax to grind will cuss you out in a minute on Facebook.

 The DJ Shorty Smooth Show (DJSSS) is a Facebook group with over 1,000 members.   Deon Farr the group page’s facilitator asked a question and I’m paraphrasing “should you give the ring back…” this one post alone garnered more than 250 comments.  That is sick.  But in terms of reliability from group members and in being able to cultivate a constant flow of personal ideology, the tie that binds this is steppin’.  I would place a wager on this fact, and  that is, more than half of the members of the DJSSS group have never met each other in person.  But the DJSSS group page is home to them and the warmth of family blankets the group.  In my personal life I have never seen so many civil debates.  Only in steppin’ and only on Facebook.  Who needs a website when we can link up on a group page on Facebook and find out what steppers think about masturbation and whether in God’s eyes it’s appropriate or not?  Yeah, that was a post and you know what, that thread had 30 plus comments.  My mother raised me not to speak about religion and politics in a public forum.  Boy have times changed.  Mommy, I’m sorry. 

How we as steppers obtain information as it relates to steppin’ events  and so forth is through the social media networks and they aren’t going away any time soon. I frequent my Facebook page more than my Twitter account.  As I make my way through my Facebook  page and when checking my Twitter account I have  new steppers following me on Twitter daily.  My steppin’ Facebook friends are now obtaining dual social media citizenships.  They are going from Facebook friend to Tweep.  Social media networks are becoming the main source of advertisement for steppers mainly because it’s free.  I see that some Facebook page groups are requesting that you pay to post your plugger on their group page.  How ridiculous is that?  You created the page for free and now you wanna make money off it, be careful there.  That young white boys is gonna ask for a cut.  When I first read that post chastising someone for posting without paying and was told, inbox me so I can send you an advertising package.  I was like, damn are you serious.   Anything for money.  More importantly though, steppin’ groups are getting their information out to the steppin’ masses without having to pay a dime.  What’s sweet is that stepper RSVP.  Create an event page and see what happens.  Not gonna get into how many invites get sent out in one swoop on an event page once it’s been created.  Again, no cost to you.    If I created one all 729 of my friends would get it and I would not have to expend any funds.  Invites out and no postage purchased, loving that.   So, if you want to get some info out to me, hit me up on my Facebook page at  www.facebook.com/ilove2step  or my Twitter @ilove2step and you know what, all 729 of my Facebook friends will get it.  Just as I stated earlier social media networks are here to stay and  they have become the best friends of those who love and participate in Chicago Style Steppin’.

Until next time, Warmbrownshugga sending you all sweet steppin love.