Bill describes it well. This is exactly my experience also. And I've
also called lots of weddings, including many where all the "swings"
worked fine as elbow swings.
I have called at weddings where I've been paid well but only called two
or three dances during the entire evening. In the end, we flow with
event. It's THEIR wedding.
Woody
On 2/10/2014 8:19 AM, Bill Olson wrote:
Harold, I call a LOT of weddings and private parties.. It is very unusual that I would call a duple improper or other
"normal contradance" at such an event.. You're right, often the couple has been at another wedding or party which had
(let's call it) old time country dancing.. and it was really fun, so they want it at THEIR wedding.. Sometimes, in the process of
hiring a band or caller, they will come to a regular contradance to scope things out. It's at THIS point that I normally
"have the talk" with the couple and tell them that what they will get at the wedding "will be a LOT easier than
this". The dancers don't care, they just want to have fun, often have been consuming alcohol, and need something that is
accessible for everyone often KIDS too.... Some people won't want to dance at first, but often relent after a while if it looks
easy and fun and the bride "insists".. If there are "experienced contradancers" at the party they will be
happy to go along with what ever yo
u are calling just to be part of the fun..
So, that being said, you need a bunch of simple dances.. usually "WHOLE SET" contras , like Galopede, Virginia Reel, "Une deux trois poussez" (whatever the actual name of that dance is), there are a ton of them and many I don't even have names for.. There are some easy circle dances too (La Bastringue where you stay with your partner the whole time).. For a crowd that seems to "get it", I might call Haste to the Wedding as a "duple proper" dance.. proper so they don't have to worry about "crossing over at the ends".. but this would be only occasionally. I'm sure there will be TONS of dance suggestions following so I won't need to go into more specifics.. Some times at a wedding, (remember there are OTHER things on the agenda besides "contradancing") you might do only 2 or 3 dances the whole evening - honest! - and the bride and groom are TOTALLY happy, pay the big bucks along with a tip and on they go with the DJ for the next part of the party and off you go home.. Down side
is occasionally dealing with drunk people and sometimes being treated like
'the help'..
hope this rambling is helpful to some..
bill
