I use the color card system, also, and am contemplating having a digital version. On the back of my cards, I note each time I call a dance so that as I'm planning a program, I can just flip the card over and see whether I called that same dance at that same venue last time I was there (keeps me from using only the favorites over and over!!!)
-cynthia > -----Original Message----- > From: callers-boun...@sharedweight.net > [mailto:callers-boun...@sharedweight.net]On Behalf Of William Watson > Sent: Monday, October 02, 2006 2:46 PM > To: Caller's discussion list > Subject: Re: [Callers] New Caller Assistance > > > Will, > > When I started calling, I wrote out dances by hand on 3x5 cards. I use > ruled white cards for "regular" contra dances, and colored cards > for dances > in different formations (mixers, four-face-four dances, whole-set dances, > community dances, and so forth). I've toyed on occasion with marking the > EDGES of the cards with colors to indicate difficulty, presence > of specific > features (heys, contra corners, etc), but have never found those of > consistent use. > > I regret not having my entire collection typed in, whether in a regular > document format, into a database, or some other form. I have enough cards > that sitting down to do it now would take considerable effort. Also, I > waffle over the format that I should use. In the mean time, as I add > dances, the problem only gets worse. > > As a stop-gap measure, whenever I plan out a complete program in > advance, I > type up the dances I plan to use, and cut & paste individual dances into a > text file. This gives me incrementally a file of dances that I actually > call, the core of my collection. In this text file I also copy > any thoughts > I provide to the bands for music for the dances. > > One advantage of having a stack of cards versus a database is that I can > rummage through a stack of cards, setting out ones that seem > appropriate for > an upcoming dance, sorting through those, etc. I can describe my process > for planning a dance evening at greater length, if you're interested. > > For the actual cards, I write them out by hand, with one line for every 8 > beats of time, noting A1, A2, B1, B2 on the apporpriate alternate > lines. I > use full words, written in upper and lower case, for maximum readability. > Thus I don't need to translate from "N B&S" to "Neighbor Balance > and Swing", > as it's written out. Of course I don't read from the cards to > walk through > or call a dance -- the process of planning an evening pretty much drives > into my head the specifics of the dances I plan to use. Thus, > the words on > the cards are the specifics of the figures, but not the words I use for a > walk-though, or the specific words I use when calling. > > I use a three-ring binder to keep track of dance evenings that > I've called, > one to a sheet, with a summary listing at the front. Thus, I can look to > see how long it's been since I called the dance at Coos Bay, for example, > and what dances I called there then. This can be handy ito find sets of > dances that worked well in one place and seem like they'd be useful for an > upcoming dance. I make notes on each sheet of points I learned, > rediscovered, or discovered as the result of an experiment in the > course of > calling that evening. Writing something down helps me remember > it the next > time, even if I don't go back and review the notes I made. > > > There are a couple of database programs set up for callers of contra > dances. Colin Hume has one available as shareware on his website ( > http://colinhume.com/download.htm), and has recently released a second > edition. It looks to have many features. He'd like $80 if you find the > program useful. I also know that someone in the Northeast US pulled > together a database program in perhaps 1999 or 2000 and contacted me for > permission to include a dance of mine, but I have no memory of > who it was or > what happened to the program. I think she worked with a programmer, and > hoped to sell the package. > > Please speak up if you'd like to know more. > > Good luck, and HAVE FUN! > > William > > On 9/29/06, Will <mainesail...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > I'm faced with how to develop dance cards that work for me, and > recording > > systems for previous dance programs, event planning aids etc. > > > > I'd like to know what systems works for other folks. It seems that each > > person has found their own sorting/grouping structure and recording > > systems-ie: grouping dances by difficulty or prominant dance > feature. I'd > > appreciate feedback so I can choose among a range of possibilities that > > might fit me best. > > > -- > wjw1...@gmail.com > William J. Watson > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > call...@sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > >
