[Callers] Rolling Starts?

Fri Oct 2 11:15:10 PDT 2015

Hi Maia,
I agree with everything Jack and Dave wrote! Successful rolling starts have comprised some of my most memorable dancing moments, so I'm always seeking opportunities to work on them as a caller. Some more thoughts:
-Preplanned vs spontaneous rolling starts. When I decided to start working on rolling starts, I preplanned with a band that I knew loved them. We discussed: timing, signaling, what to do if things failed to sync or fell apart. To my total delight, both rolling starts worked. My next rolling start was a surprise to me- the band just jumped in behind me! Some bands can and love to do this. Some callers love this, others don't. I've stopped bands from vamping behind me if I knew I had a lot of explaining to do.
-Working with a band comfortable with rolling starts and comfortable with you. I've only tried rolling starts with well-established bands; I've never taught a band how to do a rolling start (trying to work on this now, actually). Consider first exploring them with bands that you've seen execute rolling starts. These bands often have a caller in them (ie Dave). Several musicians I've asked have expressed a dislike of rolling starts, so don't take it personally if you're turned down. Also, there are several style of rolling starts, so make sure that you and the band define what you're aiming for. 
-Picking the right dance. If it's easy enough to call as a no walkthrough, why bother with a rolling start? Conversely, if it's complicated enough to deserve two full walkthroughs with complete attention, probably not a great choice either. I look for a dance that has a clear A1 (for the called potatoes, as Jack suggests, and for clueing the band in), and just one or two "teaching points." This teaching point depends on the crowd; it could be something such as a left diagonal move or a fractional hey. This allows me to start the walkthrough in dance time, with, say, a neighbor balance and swing, pause the action while dancers identify their left diagonal next neighbors, and then resume the walkthrough at dance pace. If needed, I'll wait an extra eight beats for people to complete moves on the first walkthrough. Once the dance is "rolling" at dance tempo, you'll need to make sure that you and the band are synced. This very much depends on the band:
-Signaling. There are lots of options here; find out what your band likes. What I've done in the past: I tell them what my B2/A1 moves are, line dancers up, and let the band start vamping. Once there is an established groove, I focus on the dancers and face away from the band vamping behind me. Then, when approaching the A1 at "go time," I turn to the band (making sure I have my mic in my hand, not on the stand- may have forgotten that once!), make eye contact, and with deliberation, bounce on the potatoes while delivering the vocal potatoes to the dancers. Also, a common signal is to tap the top of your head at the A1. Explore this with your band- lots of options! When bands just start vamping behind me, this ignore until I'm ready trick seems to work as well.
-Troubleshooting. Things go wrong! I try to hold myself responsible for any hiccups, regardless of whether or not the error was *really* my fault. Easiest fix: stop the band, reset people up for potatoes. Other caller-initiated fixes for syncing: tell the band where A1 needs to be, ask them to play an additional B part, have dancers swing an extra eight beats, cut a long line one time through, etc. Fundamentally, fixing a rolling start error is no different than fixing any timing error made while calling. My worst error was when I found myself eight beats off from the band; they "launched" after I expected. Amazingly, my band figured this out and fixed it before I had the chance to panic! Musicians are amazing. :) Like any caller error, handling the situation with poise, grace, and humor will placate most of the grumbles.
I'm sure I'll think of more I forgot to write, but I hope some of this rambling is helpful!
Lindsey      From: Jack Mitchell via Callers <callers at lists.sharedweight.net>
 To: Dave Casserly <david.j.casserly at gmail.com>; Maia McCormick <maia.mcc at gmail.com> 
Cc: "callers at lists.sharedweight.net" <callers at lists.sharedweight.net> 
 Sent: Friday, October 2, 2015 9:11 AM
 Subject: Re: [Callers] Rolling Starts?

If the band can play a repeated 8 count chord progression from which they can easily go into the top of the tune, it gives you a phrase to call to, but if you need to slow down, or fix something, you have that option too -- then you can just get yourself back on the phrase.  Other than the fact that I flubbed the first call of the dance, I am pretty happy with the one in this video of me with Atlantic Crossing.  It wasn't a planned thing (and planning is definitely a good idea the first time you do it.  In particular, planning how you will cue the band in, whether you want them to actually do potatoes, or just use your first call (WITH your NEIGHbor BALance NOW, with some good punch) as the potatoes.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq1tKJb7z-Q

At it's best, it gives you a chance to do two walk thrus if needed, without the dancers feeling like you're doing too much teaching.  The first time, you can be teaching completely off the phrase, or the band can sneak in halfway through the first time.  Then the second time, you move to being more on the phrase.  Once you're on the phrase, you have effectively agreed with the band on a tempo and can stick with that as you move into the dance, so there's really not a need for actual potatoes.  As long as you have your sign worked out with the band (beating the last 4 beats with your hand, calling with some punch for the first call, patting the top of your head (to indicate that you're coming up on the top of the dance) or whatever.)  Please note, that if you don't have things worked out with the band, it can be pretty messy and awkward.  Rather similar to the first time I tried to do one -- the band just started playing a bit under the walk through and I had no clue of how to cue them in! 

J

On Fri, Oct 2, 2015 at 12:01 PM Dave Casserly via Callers <callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

I also like rolling starts.  One of my bands has a few sets where we greatly prefer it, and try to work with callers to make it happen.
What has worked well for me in the past is having a tune where the start of the dance can happen every two bars or so (in other words, a tune that is not harmonically complicated).  Making walkthrough prompts in time with the music, but not giving a particular set amount of time to each call seems to work well.  Dances that end with a move that can be extended (allemande, swing, etc) can help sync if you need that extra beat or two.  I've found that rolling starts work well with a dance that starts with a balance, as that can make it very clear where the dance starts.  Otherwise, asking the band for four soft potatoes at the end of the rolling start can be helpful.
Hope that helps!-Dave
On Fri, Oct 2, 2015 at 11:53 AM, Maia McCormick via Callers <callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

I think that rolling starts (seamless transition from walkthrough into the dance, as the band just starts playing music during the walkthrough) are super neat if done properly! But I'm still not quite sure how to do them properly. So I ask you all:1) tips on how to execute a rolling start well, making sure all the dancers are on board etc.?2) thoughts on what dances/tunes will/won't work well with a rolling start?
Cheers,Maia
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