Re: [Callers] How to Devise a Program

As a new caller, I've received lots of advice on this topic, and I want to make sure I've been doing it right. I generally try to have an arc of difficulty, starting with an easy dance, getting gradually harder, peaking around the 2nd or 3rd dance after the break, then ending with a simple dance as a cool-down. The actual difficulty you start and peak with is dependent on the skill level of your local dance. I also try to have a few extra options if I find the dancers on a particular evening are newbie-heavy or experience-heavy. In my programs, that generally means having an extra dance in the arc, then skipping either an easy dance early on (if there are not many newbies), or a harder dance later on (if there are lots of newbies). I also put all my dance cards next to each other and try to make sure that I don't put very similar dances consecutively, and that I have a good variety of figures throughout the evening. More experienced callers: feel free to tell me if this strategy is good or bad. Cheers, Ben (Houston, TX)