Re: [Callers] Applause or Not...

Good morning, Its been my experience that dancers routinely applaud after each set.. I do so as well even when calling..turning to the band and acknowledging them. I go one step further and ask for additional acknowledgment/applause not just for the band, I ask for a hand for the hall. Paying

Re: [Callers] Forum vs email list?

Good morning, Leave it the way it is.. Greater wisdom does not come from contributing to every topic that is floated through this forum. Sometimes a question is answered to death.. I see no reason to pile on advice. Thus we are called "lurkers". "User Ranks" takes the community out of the

Re: [Callers] Appropriate Tempos

Jim, Larry carried a stop watch... many a night I would sit there with Larry and count not only beat/seconds but also how many revolutions and steps in different swing positions... and compare one dancer with another's footwork etc.. He loved to break down the dance/movement to its smallest

Re: [Callers] Request about requests

When I am asked to call a dance.. I assume the organizer has an idea what my deal is. If I am asked at the dance for something specific either from a dancer or the host I will accommodate them if I know the material, feel it works with the energy in the night and that the band knows the tune (if

Re: [Callers] Easy and Fun

Something to check on.. depends on the day of the week, and is there a potential that students have been drinking. Changes the dance. & go with the normal stuff.. no need to dumb it down, after all they asked you to call a contra.. I assume, -don On 12/26/11, hol...@comcast.net

Re: [Callers] The Beginners' Lesson Tips?

"The tactic of "springing" a mixer on the dancers " We dance every Monday night in Nelson and the regulars understand that a circle dance is the "norm" during the sumer season. Not only do we regularly have a third of the hall "new dancers".. we have had up to 14 different countries and several

Re: [Callers] The Beginners' Lesson Tips?

Not a fan of lessons prior to a dance (although the best pre-dance is done by Steve Zakon-Anderson). My first dance with a large crowd of beginners is a circle mixer. A great dance to use is "Cabot School Mixer" by Ted Sannella. It quickly.. and forgivingly introduces the new dancer to several

Re: [Callers] cast off

Good morning Tom, In regards to uncommon moves: In Nelson NH, the dance floor slopes several inches from one corner of the hall to the other. Whence we have four or five lines, havoc occurs fore dancers start drifting to the low side of the hall. Some dancers have been reported missing, never to

Re: [Callers] Mary D.

Good morning Lisa, I would like to participate if there is space.. Thanks, -don On 1/21/11, Lisa Sieverts wrote: > Here are the upcoming benefit events for Mary DesRosiers in the Monadnock > Region > > Saturday Feb 5 Contra Dance (contact me off list if you want to

Re: [Callers] Telling couples to switch at the end of a contra set

The prompt "hands four from the top" should always be said, I would never assume, nor do the dances I call on a regular basis make that assumption. The instruction.. Cross over when at the foot of the set.. I leave out of my walkthroughs.. and they have always figured it out. On occasion when

Re: [Callers] Strategies for changing skill levels

Having to deal with large numbers new dancers every week at a regular dance (Nelson) I go forward, try to have the regulars mix/dance with "new ones" and do not hold back.. It is hard at times but the learning curve is shortened and they keep coming back. When I do go out to dance I expect most

Re: [Callers] dance db

Another trick to keeping the chatter down is to have the light level down a tad. It works.. as does walking through the beginning of a dance un-miked. On Thu, May 27, 2010 at 9:02 AM, Greg McKenzie wrote: > > I am also concerned about the decibel levels at our area

Re: [Callers] dance db

Surprisingly it can be damaging over a prolonged time. Decibels are measured ( logarithmic scale) from a base line (the existing sound) Nelson's baseline for instance would be 40 to 45 decibels, add the crowd talking, add another 15-20 and the music and the caller.. total, a scary 95 plus

Re: [Callers] Putting Out Fires

Hello Jo, I announced one day that the next dance was new to all of us, hence it being written/inspired on the way to the dance. All four lines had no clue during the walk through X3 try's (something I do not do). So I took the card and announced that it was not going to happen and tossed the

Re: [Callers] New dances

Its an individuals choice. I see my dances, some published some not as "folk" to be shared and changed as needed. We are part of that chain. I choose to pass it along for otherwise it has no real worth. On Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 4:17 PM, William Watson < williamcallscont...@gmail.com> wrote: > On

Re: [Callers] card stand for callers

They come in two sizes... actual card size 3x5 and page size 81/2 x 11. The 3x5 works for me. Any music store. . usually needs to be ordered. -don On Sat, Mar 6, 2010 at 11:35 PM, aawoodall wrote: > Hi, > I am looking for a stand that attaches to a mic stand to hold my