I've been presented with some interesting guidelines relating to programming: End the evening with La bastrangue Include 1 contra with contra corners in the evening Don't call squares Don't call contras (at the Blacksburg square dance).
As a person booking the dances in C'ville I noticed that during one summer, ALL of the callers called an entire evening composed of dances in the pattern of: A1 swing neighbor (variations of) A2 some easy moves in order to.... B1 swing partner (including all the variations) B2 some easy moves in order to......... The experienced dancers got really bored. So I had to request that callers vary the story lines and actually include some meat in their programs. We've moved to a smaller hall that requires short lines. I suggested no double progression dances and a circle mixer as the 3rd or so dance- people tickled in and this is when the numbers were too many for one line and too few for 2 lines. Tom [email protected] wrote: > Send Callers mailing list submissions to > [email protected] > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > [email protected] > > You can reach the person managing the list at > [email protected] > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Callers digest..." > > Today's Topics: > > 1. dance guidelines (lynn ackerson) > 2. Re: dance guidelines (Lisa Sieverts) > 3. Re: dance guidelines (Lisa Greenleaf) > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2005 15:04:13 -0800 (PST) > From: lynn ackerson <[email protected]> > Subject: [Callers] dance guidelines > To: callers <[email protected]> > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > During the past month, I've had more exposure to dance guidelines and people > wanting to write dance guidelines than I've ever had before. What I'm talking > about is guidelines that the programmer/organizer of a regular dance series > provides to callers who will be calling at that dance. I've found some to be > very helpful, especially when I've never been to that dance. Others provide > way too much information and almost feel like micromanaging. > > So, my questions for you all are: 1) Have you ever received a set of such > guidelines (or sent them out from your dance), and if so, would you be > willing to share them with us? 2) As a caller, what information would you > like to have included in such a document? 3) As a dance organizer, what > information would you like to convey to incoming callers? 4) How much detail > would you like such documents contain? > > Thanks, > Lynn > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > http://www.sharedweight.net/pipermail/callers/attachments/20050126/e4b44dee/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2005 18:18:07 -0500 > From: Lisa Sieverts <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Callers] dance guidelines > To: [email protected] > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > On Jan 26, 2005, at 6:04 PM, lynn ackerson wrote: > > > 2) As a caller, what information would you like to have included in > > such a document? > > Here are my standard questions to booking coordinators. Some of it > relates to guidelines, some of it is just information that I like to > know ahead of time. > > Band? > Advertised theme for the dance? > What level of dancing? > About how many dancers? > Is there a teaching session prior to the dance? If so, when and for how > long? > What time should I plan to be there? > What time does the dance end? > Is there a break, and if so at what time and for how long? > Is there a tradition of couple dances at the break? If so, when, what > kinds of dances, and how many. > Is there a time set aside for announcements, and if so, when? > In general, do you like to keep dancing (short time between dances) or > do you like time for socializing (unhurried interval between dances)? > Directions to the hall. > Place to sleep > > Lisa > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2005 19:25:24 -0500 > From: Lisa Greenleaf <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Callers] dance guidelines > To: Lynn Ackerson <[email protected]>, [email protected] > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; format=flowed > > > So, my questions for you all are: 1) Have you ever received a set of > > such guidelines (or sent them out from your dance), and if so, would > > you be willing to share them with us? 2) As a caller, what information > > would you like to have included in such a document? 3) As a dance > > organizer, what information would you like to convey to incoming > > callers? 4) How much detail would you like such documents contain? > > > Here are two sets of (long) guidelines prepared by the Cambridge > Thursday Night Committee. Lots of info, maybe more than folks want, > but as most of you know, we are a particular > committee with a demanding clientele ...). > > The first document is what I send out to callers and musicians > as a confirmation. I also include a pointer to the flier on the web. > > The second document I send to callers who have never called for us > before. > > Personally, I have never received such detailed info from a > series; I have from some dance weekends. > I'd like to point out that with attendance of over 200 people (more > than half > of whom are competent, opinionated dancers), our dance can be > intimidating to new callers. Our aim in these guidelines is to > explain what a new caller should expect, and to detail what we expect > from > a good evening of dancing. > > I'd welcome your reactions, good and bad. Yes, we are on the verge of > micromanaging, but once the caller steps in the building, it's her show > and we > are hands off. However, I do send constructive feedback to callers if > dancers ask me to. > > Enjoy! > > Lisa Greenleaf > (now that there are two Lisa's on the list, it might be a good idea to > sign or initial our last names :-) > ---------------------------------------------------------- > The Thursday Night Dance Committee > Final Booking Confirmation > > To: Performers in the next cycle of the VFW > contra series > From: Lisa Greenleaf 978-779-6077 > email: [email protected] > > Thanks again for being a part of the VFW series in > Cambridge. To see a copy of the current schedule, > go to http://www.neffa.org/Thurs.html > Those of you who are band contacts are responsible for > sharing this information with your group. > > *Callers please read the reminder below! > > LOCATION The VFW is located in West Cambridge at > 688 Huron Avenue, a little west of where Rte 16 splits > from Rte 2. There is a parking lot behind the building > and another across the street. If you would like more > detailed directions, please call or email me, or use the > web at www.neffa.org. Open up Thursday Contras at > the VFW and then Directions. > > SET UP and SOUND A committee member will be at the > hall by 7 PM. If you have a standard set-up procedure, > arriving by 7:30 is fine; if you need to make more elaborate > arrangements, you might want to aim for 7:15. > > We have arranged with Michael Bergman <eamil> and > Peter Olszowka <eamil>, both > experienced sound engineers, to provide sound services for our > dance. Certain bands provide their own sound, but this is on a very > occasional basis, and by prior arrangement. Feel free to correspond > with Michael and Peter if you have special sound requirements beyond > the norm such as a need for many channels, DI's, non-standard > monitoring, etc. (You know who you are.) > > SCHEDULE The sound check should be completed by 8 PM, so we > can start on time; ususally the band plays a warm up polka at about > 7:55. The first half ends with a waltz somewhere around 9:30. > The break lasts about 15 minutes; it's up to the band to get things > started again. Dancers expect a hambo or other couple dance; ask a > committee member for guidance on this if you have questions. The > last waltz should start no later than 11 PM; we do need to clear the > building promptly after that. > > REMINDER TO CALLERS We do not have a formal beginners session, > nor do we expect you to belabor the teaching of basic figures. > However, we do encourage you to be friendly and welcoming to the > beginners and to be aware of their location on the floor. If more > than half the hall is having trouble with a figure, then by all means > please adjust your teaching accordingly. As for the experienced > dancers, they tend to be a noisy yet happy crowd. They will respond > well to you if you are upbeat and friendly. The committee likes to > promote an attitude of "We're all in this together; let's have fun." > > If you would like more information on how to be a success > at our series, please write me and ask for the committee's guidelines. > > PAYMENT We assume that all performers will be happy with an > equal split. Our policy allows a caller who is teamed up with a musical > group larger than a trio to request to be paid 1/4th the available > performer money, with the band splitting the remaining 3/4 (in other > words, a larger share for the caller). It is our experience that > virtually > all callers are happy with an equal split, but if you'd like a different > arrangement, please notify our paymaster (usually Dan Pearl) before > the break that evening. > > The available pay per person is a guarantee plus bonus (for sufficient > attendance). The guarantee depends on the number of performers: > > 3 $155per person/$465 total > 4 $145 / $580 > 5 $125 / $625 > > Larger groups don't earn additional guarantee group money, but they'll > earn a larger percentage of any bonus money available. > > The House contributes $10 per person 'gas/time money' for performers > traveling a 'distance'. > > HOUSING Most performers either live within easy driving > distance or have friends with whom they can stay. If you > would like help in finding hospitality, please let me know > at least two weeks before your date. > > PROBLEMS If there is any question of a bad weather cancellation, > or if any other problem presents itself, check in with me or > Dan. In an emergency on the night of the dance, you can try > the VFW pay phone after 7 PM; the number is 617-547-9771. > > COMMITTEE MEMBERS Please contact any of the following if > you have any questions during the evening: > Dan Pearl (Chair), Cal Howard, Larry Jennings, Sue Rosen, > Ernie Spence, Victor Troll, Nell Wright, and Lisa Greenleaf. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Caller Information > For The VFW Thursday Series in Cambridge > > The Thursday Night Dance Committee has prepared the following > information to help each caller make the best possible impression when > calling for us. It is our goal that both the caller and the dancers > have a > satisfying experience at our series. If you wish, committee members Sue > Rosen <eamil >, Dan Pearl > <email> and/or Lisa Greenleaf <[email protected]> > would be happy to talk with you about the vision of the series, perhaps > in the context of a proposed program. > > What can you expect? > > A committee member will try to be at the hall by 7:00. If anyone > wants to set up in advance, the key is available from the bartender > (entry at rear of building). > A sound system supplied and operated by the Committee. The > sound check, to which the dancers customarily polka, starts a few > minutes before 8:00 and ends at about 8:00 so we can start on time. > A hall with good acoustics, wood floor, stage and piano. It > comfortably holds six contra sets of 16 couples. > Usually between 180 and 210 dancers. Although we expect to > have a large number of experienced dancers, we encourage you to ask a > committee member for a read on the crowd of your particular evening > in case there are more beginners than usual. We do not have a formal > teaching session before the start of the dance. > An attitude of confidence and enthusiasm on the part of the dancers > (some might say they are over-confident and slightly rude!). > > What are the features of a typical dance? > > The caller is in charge from the end of the sound check until > the end of the evening. Of course, the Committee is available for > advice on things like announcements (we discourage them) and > length of the break (15 minutes). > An evening that can be reasonably characterized as a typical urban > New England-style contra dance, featuring a balanced mixture of > flowing dances and clear calling with a minimum of extraneous talk. > We don't have a formal teaching period for beginners, nor do > we expect the caller to belabor the teaching of figures during the > dance. > Our expectation is that the new dancers will be swept in by the > experienced > dancers, aided by clear and concise instructions from the caller. > Beginners > should be made to feel welcome by the caller, and attention should be > paid > to their location on the floor. > A good amount of neighbor interaction, especially early in the > evening. > Please do not do two dances in a row with no neighbor swings. > Between 11 and 13 slots, no more than four of which are not contras. > (Couples dances do not count as a slot.) > No more than one mixer. > A pre-intermission waltz starting at around 9:30 and a final waltz > starting by 11:00. It is customary to end intermission with a couple > dance, usually a hambo. Additional couple dances are not out of place, > but the dancers are not expecting them. Please do not begin a new > contra > dance if it's 10:55. > No more than two dances so challenging that they seem a struggle. > > Remarks based on our experience: > > It is the callers responsibility to make sure that each set is viably > long. We tend to have a lot of crowded center sets which the dancers > are reluctant to leave. One ploy, which the dancers dont mind as long > as it is not overused, is to form a new set (or move a short side set) > near > the center of the hall. Many of the reluctant dancers are willing to > join > such a set. > Our full hall can be noisy during walk-throughs. It is the caller's > job > to make sure that all contra lines are set up correctly (hands four, > ones > crossed over, for example) before teaching the dance. > Squares and other non-contra formations are perfectly acceptable to > the dancers and to the Committee. However, the dancers are less > familiar with the calls and conventions of squares. The dancers will > happily do two sets of squares, but may grumble if there are more. > Occasional brief remarks which give additional insight into the > dance or dancing are acceptable as long as the dancers do not perceive > them as needless teaching or lecturing. > Our experience is that a caller whose reputation in Boston is not well > established is better advised to offer a well-prepared program of > current > standard material rather than individualistic material. If you are > unsure > of your program, please feel free to talk with one of the aforementioned > committee members. > > We hope you enjoy your evening with us! > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > End of Callers Digest, Vol 5, Issue 9 > *************************************
