Oh how I wish that would work. I've tried that technique over the years. They just ignore me. Shushing works, but I have to repeat the shhhhh into the mic lots of times. A big part of the challenge is the acoustics -- it's worse than being in a gym. For instance, I get them quiet and then teach them the first move -- there is a roar -- I get them quiet again -- teach the next move -- there is a roar -- I get them quiet again -- teach the third move -- there is a roar -- ad nauseam. The musicians crank up their music to the max for the dance, but even I can barely hear it over the din from the dancers. Short of hiring a person who can do that loud whistle, I'm at a loss. I've sort of grown used to it, but my temper is short and I really have to watch myself.
On Sat, Jun 17, 2017 at 7:42 AM, Jeremy Child <jeremy.m.ch...@gmail.com> wrote: > To quiet a room I use the Girl Guides technique: > > I raise my hand, and anyone who sees me knows to stop talking and raise > their hand too. More notice this (other peoples hands up and slightly > diminished volume). This snowballs quite quickly as peer pressure kicks > in, and is a very effective technique. You have to teach it to them first, > of course, but they pick it up quite quickly. > > Jeremy > www.barndancecaller.net > > On 16 June 2017 at 20:10, Linda S. Mrosko via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> I lead an annual dance for 200+ 18-year olds in a hall with terrible >> acoustics. Been doing it for 15+ years. If they all whispered at the same >> time, it would sound like a roar in that room. I can only do the most >> basic stuff most of the time...simple circles, longways with lots of >> sashaying, an easy folk dance. But I experiment every now and then, which >> lead me to come up with the following dances which, for the most part, >> worked. Am I stealing them from somebody? (I like to give credit where >> credit is due.) >> >> They call their dance "Swat the Flea". I searched for a long time for a >> very easy dance that had a Swat the Flea and finally wrote this one -- >> >> BOX'NSWAT (Circle) >> A1 Women into the middle and back; Gents into the middle & back >> A2 All make a quarter turn to the right and walk single file to the right >> B1 Women turn back to face partner -- all shake R hands with Partner & >> Box the Gnat; change hands, Balance & Swat the Flea >> B2 DSD Partner; Allemande R w/partner 1-1/2 to progress (women end >> facing into the center ready to go F&B) >> >> >> Since contra dances are almost impossible to teach to a loud, boisterous, >> energetic bunch of 18-year olds who have never heard of or seen a contra >> dance, I decided to give this a whirl -- and it worked -- mostly! It would >> probably be better with a smaller more sedate crowd. >> >> GREASE & GLUE (Contra formation -- Gender free -- all you need is a >> partner) >> A1 Couple 1 split Couple 2, return to places; Couple 1 DSD >> A2 Couple 2 split Couple 1, return to places; Couple 2 DSD >> B1 Star R; Star L (w/hands) >> B2 Couples face each other -- Couples DSD 1-1/2 ending back-to-back, >> facing next couple >> >> >> As an aside -- how do you quiet a room with terrible acoustics full of >> loud people? Thanks! >> >> -- >> >> >> >> *Looking forward,Linda S. Mrosko* >> >> *102 Mitchell Drive* >> >> *Temple, Texas 76501* >> >> *(903) 292-3713 <(903)%20292-3713> (Cell)* >> *(903) 603-9955 <(903)%20603-9955> (Skype)* >> *contradancetx.com <http://www.contradancetx.com>* >> >> *www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy* <http://www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy*> (Dance >> buttons, t-shirts, & more)* >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> >> > -- *Looking forward,Linda S. Mrosko* *102 Mitchell Drive* *Temple, Texas 76501* *(903) 292-3713 (Cell)* *(903) 603-9955 (Skype)* *contradancetx.com <http://www.contradancetx.com>* *www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy* <http://www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy*> (Dance buttons, t-shirts, & more)*