Hi Greg et al., Yeah, good point. I'm calling one of a regular (monthly) contra dance series in the Berkshires. It's open to all and has a beginners warm-up for any who are interested. Attendance runs maybe 14-26 (ish), including a fair number of people who have danced before but aren't super-experienced/"hotshot" dancers. There'll be a live band. The expectation will probably be mostly contras with a waltz at the end of either half--I doubt people would object to or necessarily expect other formations/types of dances.
That help at all? Interested to hear what you have to say! Maia On Sun, Sep 15, 2013 at 12:53 PM, Greg McKenzie <[email protected]> wrote: > Miaa asked: > > > how do you go about putting together a program for > > a full (or partial) evening of calling? > > > Yes. This certainly is a broad question. For me it would require multiple > approaches depending upon: > > - Is it a square dance, a contra dance, a "barn dance" a "family dance" or > a "community dance" and what exactly do these terms mean to the organizers? > > - Is the event open to the public or is it a private party, a weekend dance > camp session, a festival? > > - Who is the "Client" and what do they expect? > > - Is this an ongoing series "hosted" by a group of "regulars" who know one > another? > > - If it is an ongoing series what is the local dance culture? Will they > expect in terms of dance formations and variety? > > - What is the purpose of the event? > > - Will there be live musicians? If so, who is the band? > > The different approaches you see will depend a lot upon the answers to > these--and other--questions. Depending upon the answers above some of us > would not accept the gig because we don't have the skills or material to > provide what the dancers and the organizers are looking for. Or because we > are not interested in doing that particular kind of gig. > > You might get more useful answers if you narrowed your question to a > particular "real" situation that callers can respond to. But that's just > one way to approach it. I can't really respond without knowing at least > some of the answers. I see a variety of different roles for the caller in > a variety of different situations. Other callers may not see it this way. > > - Greg McKenzie > > West Coast, USA > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers >
