When the "swing" comes up, I'll often say "hook right elbows, or take 2 hands, or any other swing you like to do and just be careful not to *hurt* anybody else". That usually takes care of it. Sometimes I'm brave and just say "swing!" and most will automatically hook elbows, the rest either do the swing they like to do (like a regular contradance buzz-step swing), or look around and do what looks like it makes sense.. As the evening progresses, there will be a bit of a learning curve. It's hardly ever a problem.. DEFINITELY don't spend a lot of time TEACHING "how to do it right" here or any other time unless in a REALLY rare situation the dancers get into it and want that.. bill
> Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2014 09:21:57 -0800 > From: wo...@woodylane.com > To: call...@sharedweight.net > Subject: Re: [Callers] Calling weddings and private parties > > 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 sid > e > > is occasionally dealing with drunk people and sometimes being treated > > like 'the help'.. > > > > hope this rambling is helpful to some.. > > > > bill > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > call...@sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
