The following blog is a result of our findings after examining Midnight Rodeo as a culture of its own. 

The first steps in beginning our research separated Midnight Rodeo with a distinct share of nightlife based on a country western culture. While observing the unique dynamics of this popular two stepping bar in Austin, TX,  further divisions unfolded to expose three subcultures described below. In order to better understand these interactions and the characteristics of each group, we classified the differences into "The Country Dance-a-holics", your "Average Joe", and those "Just Looking for a Good Time". Each subculture hosts an age range of people collectively distinguishable by their stages, roles, costumes, and props. This framework provides the intangible structures within Midnight Rodeo that are combined with an overall wholesome atmosphere to create a culture of dancing and country fun.

Our research conceptualizes Conley's perspectives on subcultures, the components of culture, Goffman's Dramaturgical Theory and Impression management through the summation of participant observations, interviews and surveys.

The observations led us to individually associate with one of the three subcultures, which afforded us both direct participation as insiders within the group and onlookers of others. 

Interviews were performed face-to-face to establish qualitative data in order to describe the ways in which participants interact with this culture.

A voluntary Facebook survey gathered qualitative data to classify the behaviors and norms by frequency of visit and time/day.

Introducing Midnight Rodeo

We all know the weekend starts on Thursday night in college.  What better way to kick it off  than with a night at Midnight Rodeo?  So what is Midnight Rodeo?  It's a country western dancehall and bar open Thursday night through Saturday night.  Whether you are looking to dance or meet people, a fan of country music or hip-hop, this is the place to be.  The most observed type of dance you will see is the two step, the one step, and the occasional line dance depending on the song.  When hip hop music comes on, a new crowd of people flock the floor and dancing you would see at a night club or party takes place.  Thursday is college night and the party doesn't stop there, ladies get in free before ten o'clock.  Maybe dancing isn't your thing, that's okay because Friday is Texas music concert night and country artists and bands perform.  Tickets usually cost around $12, all general admission, and people surround the stage which allows them to have a more personal experience at the concert as well as opening up room on the dance floor for those who still want to dance.  Universally accepted theme:  college students=broke.  No worries, Saturday night is ladies night and girls get in for free all night long! BUT do not forget your ID because they do card 18 and up.  A certain colored bracelet is placed on the individual based on their age, over or under 21.  With Midnight Rodeo targeting young adults, it creates the perfect setting for college students to congregate on the weekends.  You can't call yourself a Texan without visiting a honkytonk a time or two.  With a young, exciting, and energetic atmosphere, Midnight Rodeo is a unique culture of its own and within it there is a place for everyone.

CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE => http://midnightrodeoaustin.com/

SUBCULTURES

Midnight Rodeo serves as a getaway for the college student to blow off steam and dance their worries from the week away.  The loud and energetic atmosphere attracts all kinds of people looking for different ways to interact.  In looking at Midnight Rodeo as its own culture we can distinctly see three subcultures emerging.  Conley defines a subculture as "the distinct cultural values and behavioral patterns of a particular group in society; group having social, economic, or ethnic traits distinctive enough to distinguish it from others within the same culture or society."  The people of Midnight Rodeo have one thing in common:  they came to dance dance.  However, with a mix of country and hip hop combined with different skill levels, subcultures emerge.


THE COUNTRY DANCEAHOLICS:  These people are the regulars.  You will see them Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night; they just don't stop dancing.  They can be recognized by their spins and flips.  Sometimes they tend to do more tricks than dancing and they ONLY dance to the country music.  Let's take a look...

YOUR AVERAGE JOE:  The average Joe's are the people who are familiar with Midnight Rodeo but not often enough to be let into the elite circle of the regulars.  They know the basics of two-stepping and maybe even a few line dances.  For the most part they are eager to learn new moves but will probably never master them since their visits to Midnight Rodeo are inconsistent.  Average Joe's tend to absorb the culture of Midnight Rodeo in its entirety, dancing to both country and hip hop.  Here's a peak at a typical two step....

JUST LOOKING FOR A GOOD TIME:  These are your party people.  It is rare you see them wearing boots or attempting a two step.  They tend to crowd the bars and tables and flock the dance floor when the hip hop music comes on.  The likelihood of them frequenting Midnight Rodeo is rare; they tend to be bar hoppers, just looking to dance and looking for a good time.  This is a typical breakdown of their skills....

From Observation to Participation

During our first visit to Midnight Rodeo, we were mainly outsiders observing the culture and its participants without partaking much in their activities. We tried to interview a variety of the patrons there to see how the experiences between the different subcultures compared and contrasted between each other.

Then during our second and third visits we each decided to embody one of the subcultures. This allowed one of us to be an insider for one of the subcultures and outsiders for the remaining two. This in turn gave us a wider range of interview responses that were not previously available to us during our first visit.

Hannah embodied the Country Danceaholic subculture. She had previous experience in the Midnight Rodeo culture and was able to two step dance naturally and dress in their attire so she was easily accepted into their society. Many of the regulars at Midnight Rodeo asked her to dance throughout the night and she was able to ask them questions about their time there. One guy, Zach told her that many of the Country Danceaholics looked down upon those people who were seen off the dance floor practicing spin combinations of more complicated lift sequences. "You don't come here to practice, you come here to show off what you can do" he told her.

Becca embodied the Average Joe subculture. She was asked to dance a few times by some of the less skilled dancers. Many times Becca noticed that these patrons were often unsure of their dancing abilities and were often the ones that were seen "practicing" off the side of the dance floor. As Becca interviewed some of these participants many mentioned that Midnight Rodeo was not one of their "regular" hangout spots, but that they enjoyed the atmosphere there.

Jessi embodied the Just Looking for a Good Time subculture. Most of her night was spent sitting at one of the tables off to the side with the other members of this subculture or standing near the bar. However, whenever the music changed from country to rap or hip hop many of these patrons flocked to the floor to get down. As Jessi talked to these patrons, many mentioned that they didn't care much for country music and that they rarely came to Midnight Rodeo.

THE INTANGIBLE AND TANGIBLE COMPONENTS OF THE MIDNIGHT RODEO CULTURE

As defined by Conley, the nonmaterial, intangible components of culture include values, beliefs, behaviors and social norms. While Material Culture is defined as everything that is part of our constructed environment, including technology. In regard to Midnight Rodeo it is the values, norms and sanctions of these actions that are most recognizable in visitors and regulars alike.

Values: guide the ideas of how the world should work.

      -Frequenters of Midnight Rodeo value typical Southern hospitality and gender roles of a night out. No matter how frequently one goes they expect an experience that is not connoted with"dirty 6th" but is generally a more wholesome atmosphere. They value the ideals expressed in the country melodies and dance in a manner that represents the simple intentions of good music and good fun. Midnight Rodeo plays a collection of homegrown Texas Country that creates the values by which the norms are created. 

Norms: are how values tell us to act. These widely observed behaviors may hold moral significance; mores, be seen as harmful to society; taboos, or lead routine common interactions; folkways.

     -The wholesome values commit men to initiating the dancing with formal invitations and conversation. In contrast to a normal downtown establishment or club, those at this honky tonk act more like gentleman and the women feel less threatened. People know to come dressed in some degree of back-country apparel, wanting to two-step. The subculture of those who come for a good time or concert may not understand every norm but dress more in accordance with this principle than they normally would, and adhere to other cultural norms as they try to fill the expected roles. The elevated respect for others is apparent as the dance floor moves methodically together. 

Sanctions: either penalize or approve of actions

Positive Examples:

-Approval of popular or classic songs yields greater participation on the dance floor by the collective group or by certain subcultures who are satisfied with the musical selections.

-Women who feel comforted by the male suitors approach will gladly accept a stranger's invitation to dance because they feel comfortable that the expectation is pure.

Negative Examples:

-Newcomers to Midnight Rodeo usually only experience negative sanctions from regulars if they are noticeably outsiders (not dressed appropriately) or disrupt the rhythm of the dance floor patrons.

-Inappropriate behaviors such as fighting produce conflict between the expected values and actions that confront the ideals and beliefs

-Sexually suggestive dancing is generally not approved of, especially by older crowds who react by vacating the dance floor or patronizing the younger participants.

DRAMATURGICAL THEORY

All the world's a stage... or maybe a dance floor
Dramaturgical theory (proposed by Erving Goffman) is defined as "the view of social life as essentially a theatrical performance". We (the actors) are constantly "performing" on the stage in front of us and we have different scripts, costumes, and sets depending on the role we are trying to fill.

At Midnight Rodeo there are several roles that the actors play. First, everyone at Midnight Rodeo is split up into one of two main roles: those under 21, and those over 21. Then once people assume one of those roles they also assume one of the roles corresponding to the subculture groups mentioned earlier: The Country Danceaholics, Your Average Joe, or Just looking for a good time.

Across all of these roles the overall Stage remains the same: the Midnight Rodeo facility. However, the costumes and props differ depending on the roles the actor is trying to fill. 

The Under 21 Role:
This role is clearly defined based on the props given to these actors. Each person who fills this role is given large black X's on their hands and given wristbands of a certain color to define their role of an underage person to the bartenders working at Midnight Rodeo. Since these people are also not allowed to drink alcohol on the premise, many are also seen holding/drinking water bottles or sodas.

Some of the Under 21 Props

The Over 21 Role:
This role is also clearly classified based on its props. These people are given a wristband of a different color signifying their ability to purchase and drink alcohol on the premise. Many of these people can also be seen enjoying an alcoholic beverage of their choice.

The Country Danceaholic Role:

The people assuming this role are clearly noticed based on their choice of costume. Men in this role often wear boots, a pearl snap or nice button down dress shirt, wrangler jeans accompanied with a belt and belt buckle. Women in this role wear boots, blue jeans or jean shorts, and some kind of top or blouse that they feel comfortable dancing in. 

The Average Joe Role:

The costume of the Average Joe is often a mix between country-western wear and what some would deem as "down town attire". Most wear blue jeans and there is a mix of footwear between those that wear boots and those that do not. Many times the attire of the Average Joe is seen as more casual than that of the Danceaholic. 

The Just Looking For A Good Time Role:

The costumes of people in this role often resembles that of someone who is going downtown. The guys often wear baggier pants and larger, untucked shirts. While the girls wear high heels and shorter dresses/skirts.

A Glimpse of Impression Management

BACKSTAGE:  where the actor prepares or can relax, they do not have to be in their performance

COSTUME:  the materials that support performance and guide impressions in the way an individual presents themselves to others 

FACE:  the esteem in which an individual is held by others

FRONT STAGE: where the main action takes place concerning impression management 

In these two pictures we see Keely and Zach in their backstage state.  They are practicing their dance moves outside of Midnight Rodeo.  Notice their costume.  They are both wearing tennis shoes and Zach is wearing athletic shorts.  This drastically differs from the costume they wear when they are at Midnight Rodeo.  Keely and Zach are able to relax and perfect their moves; there is room for mistake here.  Backstage, they are not concerned with saving face if they happen to mess up.  This prepares them for when they immerse themselves in the Midnight Rodeo culture and must perform on the front stage.  

Interviews => Qualitative Data

The following questions prompted the above conclusions, describing the cultural components and the roles satisfied within each subculture

THE SAMPLE:
                25 interviews
                             13: Males
                             12: Females

INTERVIEW FORMAT:

How would you describe Midnight Rodeo to a friend who is not familiar with it?

Who do you usually go with?
    Are you in the same subculture?

What do you wear?
    Why do you wear this?

Describe your typical routine before going to Midnight Rodeo...

Describe your typical routine at Midnight Rodeo...

What are the female behaviors you expect/think are appropriate?

What are the male behaviors you expect/think are appropriate?

Are there any other common behaviors you notice?

Reoccurring responses when separated into subcultures:

Just looking for a Good Time 
What do you wear?
"A club outfit typical of any night out.

Why do you wear this? 

"It is what I comfortable wearing and used to wearing."

Average Joes

What are the female behaviors you expect/think are appropriate?
"Everyone is really friendly but the girls are usually more reserved and wait for the guys to approach  them. They seem to be in groups."

What are the male behaviors you expect/think are appropriate?
"They are much more calm than at 6th Street bars! They are expected to act like gentlemen, even though they might not always do so."

Country Dance-a-holics 
Describe your typical routine before going to Midnight Rodeo...
"We try to get there before 9:30PM to avoid cover charge and a crowded dance floor."


Describe your typical routine at Midnight Rodeo...
"I always walk past the dance floor to see if I spot any of the regulars. I tend to avoid dancing to the    Top 40 songs and try to show up the new moves my partner and I have been working on."

Surveys => Quantitative Data

The following questions contributed to our quantitative analysis in categorizing the subcultures 

THE SAMPLE

THE SAMPLE:

                25 interviews

                             13: Males

                             12: Females

SURVEY FORMAT:

How often do you go to Midnight Rodeo?

What days do you go?

What times do you go? 

Reoccurring responses when separated into subcultures:

Just Looking For a Good Time (Have been less than 3 Times)

What days do you go?

"Either Thursday nights because it is college night, or Saturday Night because girls get in free."

Average Joes (Go at least One Time/Month)

What days do you go?

"Always Thursdays because that is when my friends go."

Country Dance-a-holics (Go every week)

What times do you go? 

"We are looking to dance so we try to show up early and avoid the crowds."

What days do you go?

"We only make it out on Thursdays if we can get there early enough. Fridays are more fun because our favorite bands perform."