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| + | ## What stepping is (authoritative definition) |
| + | Stepping is a percussive dance art form in which the performer uses their entire body as an instrument to create complex, layered rhythms through synchronized movements like stomps, claps, strikes, and spoken word. Developed by African American students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the early 1900s, it serves as a means of expressing pride, unity, and storytelling within Black fraternities and sororities, particularly the Divine Nine. |
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| + | > Scope note: this is **HBCU / Divine Nine (NPHC) stepping** - step shows, strolls, and step competitions - NOT Chicago "steppin'" partner dancing. Read every feature below through that lens. "Sets" / "events" map to **step shows, strolls, homecoming showcases, and competitions** (e.g. Atlanta Greek Picnic, HBCU homecoming step shows). |
| + | |
| | ## One-liner (what this app is) |
| - | A **steppin'-community companion app**: find classes, DJs, promoters, events and "sets", connect with local steppin' groups in each city, watch/stream videos, and get city travel info (hotels, restaurants, malls, hospitals) when traveling to out-of-town sets and weekenders. Community-driven with comments. |
| + | A **Divine Nine stepping community app**: discover step shows, strolls, and competitions; find classes/workshops, DJs, and promoters; connect with fraternity/sorority step teams and chapters in each city; watch and **live-stream** performances; and get city travel info (hotels, restaurants, malls, attractions, hospitals) for traveling to out-of-town shows and homecomings. Open community posting with comments. |
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| + | |
| + | ## Decisions & Scope (confirmed 2026-06-24) |
| + | - **Platform / sequencing:** **Web app first** (responsive web / PWA), then native **iOS (App Store)** and **Android (Google Play)**. Build the web app first; package native afterward. |
| + | - **Live feature:** **Live streaming** (live video of step shows / events). |
| + | - **Content posting:** **Anyone can post for now** (open contribution, no gated roles in MVP). Moderation/roles deferred. |
| + | - **Monetization:** **Undetermined for now** - design so it can be added later (promoter listings, ticketing, ads), but no paywall in MVP. |
| + | - **Launch cities:** start with the strongest Divine Nine / step-culture markets (see research below). |
| + | |
| + | ## Launch-city research (for "look into it for me") |
| + | Ranked by Divine Nine density + scale of recurring step-show/stroll events: |
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| + | 1. **Atlanta, GA - #1 launch market.** The epicenter of step culture. Atlanta Greek Picnic (AGP) is billed as the largest step competition in the Southeast and has drawn 350,000+ Divine Nine members with an estimated ~$25M annual economic impact. Home to the Atlanta University Center (Morehouse, Spelman, Clark Atlanta) and the densest D9 alumni base in the country. |
| + | 2. **Washington, DC (DMV) - #2.** Howard University held the first formal Greek step show (1976) and remains a flagship; dense Divine Nine population across the DMV. |
| + | 3. **Houston, TX.** Texas Southern University + Prairie View A&M nearby; large metro and big D9 alumni presence. |
| + | 4. **Greensboro / Durham, NC (Triangle).** NC A&T (largest HBCU in the U.S.) and NC Central - major step/stroll culture, big homecomings. |
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| + | **Phase-2 expansion candidates:** New Orleans (Southern, Dillard, Xavier), Nashville (Tennessee State), Jackson MS (Jackson State), and **Memphis, TN** - useful as the home/test market (LeMoyne-Owen + strong local D9 alumni), even if smaller than the top tier. |
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| + | **Recommendation:** launch with **Atlanta + DC** (highest density + the two biggest event anchors), add **Houston** and **NC Triangle** shortly after, and use **Memphis** as the local pilot/test market for the web app. |
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| | @@ -63,13 +89,20 @@ A **steppin'-community companion app**: find classes, DJs, promoters, events and |
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| - | ## Open questions to confirm with dad |
| - | 1. **Concert promotions** - does he want the app to *aggregate/display* local concert + stepping event promos, or let promoters *post* their own? (item is phrased as a question) |
| - | 2. **Live feature** - live-streaming sets (heavy: video infra), or just a "happening now / tonight's set" live feed (light)? |
| - | 3. **Per-city travel info** - is this a curated guide, or pulled live from APIs (Google Places, Yelp, hotels)? How much should be steppin'-specific vs general? |
| - | 4. **Comment section** - on what? Events, sets, videos, classes? Moderation needs? |
| - | 5. **Scope of "each city"** - launch cities first (Chicago/Detroit/Atlanta…), or national from day one? |
| - | 6. **Who posts content** - promoters/DJs self-serve (accounts), or curated by dad/admin? |
| + | ## Open questions - resolved vs remaining |
| + | |
| + | **Resolved (2026-06-24):** |
| + | - Live feature → **live streaming**. |
| + | - Who posts content → **anyone, for now** (open posting). |
| + | - Monetization → **undetermined for now** (deferrable). |
| + | - Platform → **web app first**, then iOS + Android. |
| + | - Launch cities → **Atlanta + DC first**, then Houston + NC Triangle; Memphis as pilot (see research above). |
| + | |
| + | **Still open (for the planner / dad to decide):** |
| + | 1. **Concert/event promotions** - aggregate/display promos, or let posters add their own? (default to open posting per the decision above) |
| + | 2. **Per-city travel info** - curated guide vs pulled live from APIs (Google Places, hotels). How much steppin'-specific vs general? |
| + | 3. **Comment moderation** - open posting means abuse/spam risk; what is the minimum moderation for MVP? |
| + | 4. **Identity/verification** - any verification for chapters/step teams/promoters, or fully open at launch? |
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