I appreciate the different suggestions. I especially like hearing from callers who are also musicians.
I definitely like to point out where balances are... that's usually after initial questions and when I send a program. Thanks! Ron On Feb 20, 2013 2:29 PM, "Dave Casserly" <[email protected]> wrote: > I should add that I, too, like to know where the balances are. But other > than that, I'm fine with a description. > > -Dave > > On Wed, Feb 20, 2013 at 2:15 PM, Jeffrey Spero <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > Well, I'll be the counter-weight here! > > > > As another caller/musician, i love to see the card when I'm playing. I > > find it DOES matter more than just a generic description, as I like to > know > > precisely WHERE the bounciness is, or WHERE the smooth part of the dance > > is. There are specific tunes that I keep out for specific moves in > dances > > - for example, if there are many balances in the A parts, I'd choose a > tune > > like Kitchen Girl that fits those balances perfectly. As a musician, I > > like to see where the balances and heys are. > > > > As a CALLER, i hardly ever request a specific tune because bands play > > tunes differently. And though I do use words like slinky, playful, > > driving… I also let the band contact know where the balances are, and > where > > the smooth parts are. > > > > Just another perspective! > > > > Jeff > > > > > > On Feb 20, 2013, at 8:12 AM, barb kirchner <[email protected]> > > wrote: > > > > > > > > hey ron - some good points! i think what we're coming up with here is > > that it doesn't exactly matter WHAT you ask the band, as long as you set > up > > some good communication with them. take the time to talk, to ask who is > in > > charge of what, what they reallly like to do most, etc., etc., etc. > ron - > > i have a slightly different approach if the caller doesn't give me good > > clues. i watch the walk-through. seriously, i program the music like > the > > caller programs dances (start out easy and straightforward, kick up the > > energy, change the tempo, up the energy again, change the tempo again, > big > > ending number). i USUALLY know what i want to play next, or at least > have > > it narrowed down to two or three sets (ie, i have three different sets > that > > i could use to "change the tempo"). if the walk-through goes well, i > play > > whatever my first choice was. if not, i'll pick a more laid-back set :-) > > >> Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:59:14 -0500 > > >> From: [email protected] > > >> To: [email protected] > > >> Subject: Re: [Callers] What to ask a band before the gig? > > >> > > >> Hi Ron, > > >> > > >> When I was first learning to call, Becky Hill suggested that, instead > of > > >> simply telling bands what kinds of tunes you want using the wide > > vocabulary > > >> at your own disposal, ask bands what kinds of adjectives they'd find > > >> useful. As a musician, hearing that the caller wants a "marchy" or > > >> "slinky" or "driving" tune set is very helpful, but hearing that they > > want > > >> a "bubbly" tune is really not all that helpful. Ask what language > > they'd > > >> like to communicate in, and it can go much smoother. > > >> > > >> I agree with Barb that simply sharing the dance card isn't the best > > >> approach. In dances where I play, apparently unlike Michael F.'s > > >> experience, this is an extremely common practice. But, in my view, > it's > > >> the caller's responsibility to decide how the dance should be. Many > > dances > > >> work well either with smooth, flowing reels, or bouncy jigs, and the > > mood > > >> of the dance should be something the caller selects to fit in with the > > >> evening's program. That said, if the caller isn't giving me helpful > > >> adjectives, I'll ask to see the cards, just so I can at least make > sure > > we > > >> won't be playing the bounciest set ever when there's a hey into a > gypsy > > >> meltdown, etc. > > >> > > >> Also, I would echo other people's suggestions to find out which band > > member > > >> you should be communicating with, and at the very least, what style of > > >> music the band plays. Getting a recording or two is even more > helpful. > > >> You should know ahead of time not to ask an old-time band to play a > > polka, > > >> and you should also know not to ask a band with no strings in it to > > play an > > >> old-time tune. It's a particular pet peeve of mine as a musician > when a > > >> caller asks for an old-time tune with every square dance, regardless > of > > >> who's in the band. It might require actually looking at the moves and > > >> figuring out what other music would work best with that particular > > dance, > > >> but it's always going to be a better experience for the dancers if the > > band > > >> plays music that they're good at playing. > > >> > > >> -Dave > > >> > > >> On Tue, Feb 19, 2013 at 10:58 PM, Ron T Blechner <[email protected] > > >wrote: > > >> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> What sorts of questions do you ask bands prior to the dance, > > especially by > > >>> e-mail / phone? > > >>> > > >>> A couple I like are: > > >>> - Do they have particular music sets they like to play at certain > > times, > > >>> like, to end the night, etc? > > >>> - Especially if I haven't heard them before in person, what overall > > types > > >>> of music do they enjoy playing the most? > > >>> > > >>> I'd love to hear your thoughts. > > >>> > > >>> Best, > > >>> Ron T Blechner > > >>> contradances.tumblr.com/ron > > >>> _______________________________________________ > > >>> Callers mailing list > > >>> [email protected] > > >>> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > >>> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> -- > > >> David Casserly > > >> (cell) 781 258-2761 > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> Callers mailing list > > >> [email protected] > > >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Callers mailing list > > > [email protected] > > > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > > _____ > > Jeffrey Spero > > Web: www.syncopaths.com > > Facebook: www.facebook.com/syncopaths > > CDBaby: www.cdbaby.com/Artist/Syncopaths > > Contemporary California Celtic music > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Callers mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > > > > -- > David Casserly > (cell) 781 258-2761 > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers >
