Re: [Callers] Booking Ahead - (was ideas for callers about sidelines)

Ron wrote: No, actually. Booking ahead is not inherently a destructive thing. It depends upon the purpose of the booker. Booking ahead can be a way of securing a dance with a first-timer who might, otherwise, be preyed upon by "icky" guys who favor young, innocent first-timers who are attractive...for various reasons. For example: A young woman may have learned to swing incorrectly which brings her into particularly intimate contact with every gent who swings her. This woman may be "descended upon" by a few "icky" guys who perceive this intimate contact as something the newcomer actually enjoys when, really, she would love to learn that there are other ways to swing that are less intrusive. Booking ahead may be the only way to get a dance with this woman to show her a more comfortable swing position. Yes, I have done this, and the women always seem relieved to learn that this is not a "normal" sort of contact at a contra dance. If I did not book a dance with such a woman she might leave the dance early deciding that the dance is "much too intimate and familiar" for her tastes. There are other valid reasons to book ahead and they can be in support of a generous and wonderful dance community. It might be true to say that "excessive booking ahead" should be avoided. I book ahead only rarely, but when I do most of the time it is with newcomers I want to encourage. It is good to see that many folks book ahead so rarely. It is worth noting that someone who *always *books ahead will probably *never *have the pleasure of dancing with these folks. The dedicated bookers and dedicated non-bookers occupy different partnering dimensions and almost *never *dance together. - Greg McKenzie