Re: [Callers] spiking the 'booking ahead'

Seth and All, That's some interesting question Seth posed and some equally interesting responses. I believe that Mark's coments on community customs went to the heart of the matter. We, as callers, have shaped the customs by the choice of dances we present. Much of that effort on our part has been, I suspect, to please the dancers. But, as Chris wrote, a steady diet of ice cream is not good for the body and we have helped create this somewhat unhealthy state. I say unhealthy beacuse I don't believe that dancing only with our established friends encourages new folks to become regular dancers. What to do? As callers our options are limited since leaders are only leaders so long as someone follows and folk dancing is a voluntary activity. I make a concerted effort to vary the dance forms used, circles (mixer & non-mixer), squares, couples and contras (with & without partner swings) in an evening. A circle mixer may or may not appear but several contras may not have partner swings. Not all contras need be duple improper. I think that keeping the dancers slightly "off-balance" in this way has kept the booking ahead to a minimum. It is not always the popular thing to do and I have been told as much but I'm looking for the long term health of my community and it seems to be working. Booking ahead is not a phenomenom that developed recently. Most of you should already know about dances, call them what you will, held as late as the 1940's (perhaps later) where participants had dance cards and all dances were booked ahead. These things come and go but I'd hate to see us let the community become as fragile as it was when Ralph Page came along and began to revitalize things. Thinking about the issue and participating in this discussion is a good move to healithier communities. Cheers, John McIntire, Unity Maine ps: perhaps I'll see some of you at NW Folklife this weekend!