[Callers] Is it possible to have more 2s than 1s in a pinch?

That is, in a pinched space. I don't know how else to phrase it. Is it possible to wait out an extra turn or two at the bottom so that the number of couples actually dancing is smaller than the number of couples in the contra line? (I couldn't look up the question in the archives because explaining it is wordy.) Has anyone tried it? Are there other methods for dealing with not enough room? Background: I'm calling a house party contra with room for one contra line of 16-18 dancers but need 24 paying participants (to cover the band and me). Given that some people will be late, others chatting around the food, there won't be four extra couples dancing but maybe one or two or maybe none. There is a "waiting area" off to the side that doesn't take space away from the contra line. thanks, this forum has been invaluable to this newbie caller Leslie Gotfrit