Hi All,
Some time ago as we contra dancers say, "Our dances are very social
events, we get to meet everyone in the dance line..." (and more) someone
pointed out that, in a way, going to a bar to dance, like a swing dance
or country western dance, people would sit and chat, drink a beer, get
up and dance, sit and chat, and spend more time socializing than we do
at contra dances. Since that time, I've appreciated the time people
want to chat with each other while lining up, and feel, if most of the
people in the room are chatting, I want to let them go. So I say, into
the mic, "Are you ready?" If no one responds, I wait 15 or 25 seconds,
and repeat it, "Are you ready?"
Eventually they are, and most quiet down. As Woody says, I never shush
the dancers. If there's a lot of noise in the hall, and someone says
they can't hear, I will point out that when it's quieter in the hall,
all can hear. Also, we have a dancer or two who will loudly say
"SHHHHH!" If someone does that I don't complain about it, I let them be
the cop...
I used to do more to try to get the next dance started, but now I think,
as long as people are getting together, enjoying themselves, and want to
dance, all is good.
As Eric Black pointed out:
Open to the public dance series are much different than occasional barn
dances or special parties.
At parties and events, take note of how the dance fits in: did people
come to dance? Or did they come to honor something -- a bride & groom,
a birthday person, the opening of an art studio, whatever -- if they
came to honor something, the dance is incidental to the purpose of the
gathering. It may be an important incidental, but it's not why people
came to the event, and thus more time for socializing, and other
activities may be needed to work around.
~erik hoffman
oakland, ca
On 8/13/2013 9:55 PM, Quiann2 wrote:
Hello,
I'm a new caller and have been noticing recently at some dances that the crowd
is quite chatty and noisy and it can take a long time to get them to settle
down and listen to the walk through. And then even during the walk-through the
noise level rises again so that some people in the hall can't hear the walk
through. I'll be calling my first full evening next month at a venue that is
known for the chattiness of the dancers. I want people to be able to socialize
but I also want dancers to be able to hear the entire walkthrough. Can you give
me some tips on how to balance socializing (i.e. how to judge when to start)
and ways to regain their attention mid-walk through without sounding like a
schoolmarm or raising my voice? Thanks much!
Jacqui
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