Salsa dancers are very picky when it comes to attending events. This statement is especially true in New York City. Having said that, Salsa dancers are the most loyal people once they have become in love with an event. Just ask Jimmy Anton.
So the questions is: How do you keep and please Salsa dancers? La Vieja Guardia seems to have found the secret. Bring some good dancers and play good music for them. That’s it. The following video of Joel Dominguez dancing with Kim Torrence while DJ Antonio LaConga plays his best Salsa (from vinyl records) captures the spirit of La Vieja Guardia Social, which has become very quickly one of the most soulful socials in New York City. And THAT is saying something.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OYPusW9QCk
Saying that DJ Antonio LaConga plays good music is an understatement. And he plays Salsa from vinyl records!!! La Vieja Guardia Social takes place on a Sunday, usually once a month. The next social will be on Sunday December 28th. FYI, the LVG social and yours truly (moi) were featured in a New York Times article last August).
Actually, it takes more than good music to please Salsa dancers, but great Salsa music is absolutely necessary to host a great Salsa social. If you are looking to promote Salsa dancing in your local area or in your city, stay tuned because soon I will write an article about how to organize a successful and banging Salsa social.
In the meanwhile, I want to invite all the readers to leave a comment with thoughts on what makes a good Salsa social.
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I gave you some answers on another forum 
Let me jump start the discussion. 1) a great Salsa DJ that plays for dancers. 2) A good sound system. 3) Location, location, location. 4) A hardwood floor.
5) A place with ample parking (hopefully free).
6)no bachata or kizomba every second tune, or b/k multiple combos 7)club owner that knows that salsa dancers don’t come to drink all night his fancy 15$ cocktails, and they don’t order round after round;
no casino dancers on the floor hitting everyone around; 9)good localisation
Toronto has a great weekly salsa social – Toronto Salsa Practice. Hundreds of dancers come every Saturday to a mid-town church gym (great hardwood floor). No live DJ, but a good mix (no bachata, except on rare occasions). No pick-up scene. No booze. But lots and lots of dedicated salsa dancers at all levels, and everyone (pretty much) willing to dance with everyone else, regardless of their skill, looks or dress.
This is an interesting discussion topic.
Sometimes I feel like its a popularity contest, and no matter what a dance school/promoter offer dancers, (i.e. hard wood floors, great music, friendly people to dance with, reasonable prices, ample space, live bands, performances, etc.) its all about who you know and who is “it” in the salsa community. There is a lot of competition and in this a lot of respect amongst promoters is lost.
I love socials because of the no-pick up atmosphere, and the people who just want to dance.
La Vieja Guardia is da S***!!