Re: [Callers] dance guidelines

Here are two sets of (long) guidelines prepared by the Cambridge Thursday Night Committee. Lots of info, maybe more than folks want, but as most of you know, we are a particular committee with a demanding clientele ...). The first document is what I send out to callers and musicians as a confirmation. I also include a pointer to the flier on the web. The second document I send to callers who have never called for us before. Personally, I have never received such detailed info from a series; I have from some dance weekends. I'd like to point out that with attendance of over 200 people (more than half of whom are competent, opinionated dancers), our dance can be intimidating to new callers. Our aim in these guidelines is to explain what a new caller should expect, and to detail what we expect from a good evening of dancing. I'd welcome your reactions, good and bad. Yes, we are on the verge of micromanaging, but once the caller steps in the building, it's her show and we are hands off. However, I do send constructive feedback to callers if dancers ask me to. Enjoy! Lisa Greenleaf (now that there are two Lisa's on the list, it might be a good idea to sign or initial our last names :-) ---------------------------------------------------------- The Thursday Night Dance Committee Final Booking Confirmation To: Performers in the next cycle of the VFW contra series From: Lisa Greenleaf 978-779-6077 email: laleaf(a)verizon.net Thanks again for being a part of the VFW series in Cambridge. To see a copy of the current schedule, go to http://www.neffa.org/Thurs.html Those of you who are band contacts are responsible for sharing this information with your group. *Callers please read the reminder below! LOCATION The VFW is located in West Cambridge at 688 Huron Avenue, a little west of where Rte 16 splits from Rte 2. There is a parking lot behind the building and another across the street. If you would like more detailed directions, please call or email me, or use the web at www.neffa.org. Open up “Thursday Contras at the VFW” and then “Directions.” SET UP and SOUND A committee member will be at the hall by 7 PM. If you have a standard set-up procedure, arriving by 7:30 is fine; if you need to make more elaborate arrangements, you might want to aim for 7:15. We have arranged with Michael Bergman <eamil> and Peter Olszowka <eamil>, both experienced sound engineers, to provide sound services for our dance. Certain bands provide their own sound, but this is on a very occasional basis, and by prior arrangement. Feel free to correspond with Michael and Peter if you have special sound requirements beyond the norm such as a need for many channels, DI's, non-standard monitoring, etc. (You know who you are.) SCHEDULE The sound check should be completed by 8 PM, so we can start on time; ususally the band plays a warm up polka at about 7:55. The first half ends with a waltz somewhere around 9:30. The break lasts about 15 minutes; it's up to the band to get things started again. Dancers expect a hambo or other couple dance; ask a committee member for guidance on this if you have questions. The last waltz should start no later than 11 PM; we do need to clear the building promptly after that. REMINDER TO CALLERS We do not have a formal beginners session, nor do we expect you to belabor the teaching of basic figures. However, we do encourage you to be friendly and welcoming to the beginners and to be aware of their location on the floor. If more than half the hall is having trouble with a figure, then by all means please adjust your teaching accordingly. As for the experienced dancers, they tend to be a noisy yet happy crowd. They will respond well to you if you are upbeat and friendly. The committee likes to promote an attitude of "We're all in this together; let's have fun." If you would like more information on how to be a success at our series, please write me and ask for the committee's guidelines. PAYMENT We assume that all performers will be happy with an equal split. Our policy allows a caller who is teamed up with a musical group larger than a trio to request to be paid 1/4th the available performer money, with the band splitting the remaining 3/4 (in other words, a larger share for the caller). It is our experience that virtually all callers are happy with an equal split, but if you'd like a different arrangement, please notify our paymaster (usually Dan Pearl) before the break that evening. The available pay per person is a guarantee plus bonus (for sufficient attendance). The guarantee depends on the number of performers: 3 $155per person/$465 total 4 $145 / $580 5 $125 / $625 Larger groups don't earn additional guarantee group money, but they'll earn a larger percentage of any bonus money available. The House contributes $10 per person 'gas/time money' for performers traveling a 'distance'. HOUSING Most performers either live within easy driving distance or have friends with whom they can stay. If you would like help in finding hospitality, please let me know at least two weeks before your date. PROBLEMS If there is any question of a bad weather cancellation, or if any other problem presents itself, check in with me or Dan. In an emergency on the night of the dance, you can try the VFW pay phone after 7 PM; the number is 617-547-9771. COMMITTEE MEMBERS Please contact any of the following if you have any questions during the evening: Dan Pearl (Chair), Cal Howard, Larry Jennings, Sue Rosen, Ernie Spence, Victor Troll, Nell Wright, and Lisa Greenleaf. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Caller Information For The VFW Thursday Series in Cambridge The Thursday Night Dance Committee has prepared the following information to help each caller make the best possible impression when calling for us. It is our goal that both the caller and the dancers have a satisfying experience at our series. If you wish, committee members Sue Rosen <eamil >, Dan Pearl <email> and/or Lisa Greenleaf &lt;laleaf(a)verizon.net&gt; would be happy to talk with you about the vision of the series, perhaps in the context of a proposed program. What can you expect? • A committee member will try to be at the hall by 7:00. If anyone wants to set up in advance, the key is available from the bartender (entry at rear of building). • A sound system supplied and operated by the Committee. The sound check, to which the dancers customarily polka, starts a few minutes before 8:00 and ends at about 8:00 so we can start on time. • A hall with good acoustics, wood floor, stage and piano. It comfortably holds six contra sets of 16 couples. • Usually between 180 and 210 dancers. Although we expect to have a large number of experienced dancers, we encourage you to ask a committee member for a read on the crowd of your particular evening in case there are more beginners than usual. We do not have a formal teaching session before the start of the dance. •An attitude of confidence and enthusiasm on the part of the dancers (some might say they are over-confident and slightly rude!). What are the features of a typical dance? • The caller is in charge from the end of the sound check until the end of the evening. Of course, the Committee is available for advice on things like announcements (we discourage them) and length of the break (15 minutes). • An evening that can be reasonably characterized as a typical urban New England-style contra dance, featuring a balanced mixture of flowing dances and clear calling with a minimum of extraneous talk. • We don't have a formal teaching period for beginners, nor do we expect the caller to belabor the teaching of figures during the dance. Our expectation is that the new dancers will be swept in by the experienced dancers, aided by clear and concise instructions from the caller. Beginners should be made to feel welcome by the caller, and attention should be paid to their location on the floor. • A good amount of neighbor interaction, especially early in the evening. Please do not do two dances in a row with no neighbor swings. • Between 11 and 13 slots, no more than four of which are not contras. (Couples dances do not count as a slot.) • No more than one mixer. • A pre-intermission waltz starting at around 9:30 and a final waltz starting by 11:00. It is customary to end intermission with a couple dance, usually a hambo. Additional couple dances are not out of place, but the dancers are not expecting them. Please do not begin a new contra dance if it's 10:55. • No more than two dances so challenging that they seem a struggle. Remarks based on our experience: • It is the caller’s responsibility to make sure that each set is viably long. We tend to have a lot of crowded center sets which the dancers are reluctant to leave. One ploy, which the dancers don’t mind as long as it is not overused, is to form a new set (or move a short side set) near the center of the hall. Many of the reluctant dancers are willing to join such a set. • Our full hall can be noisy during walk-throughs. It is the caller's job to make sure that all contra lines are set up correctly (hands four, ones crossed over, for example) before teaching the dance. • Squares and other non-contra formations are perfectly acceptable to the dancers and to the Committee. However, the dancers are less familiar with the calls and conventions of squares. The dancers will happily do two sets of squares, but may grumble if there are more. • Occasional brief remarks which give additional insight into the dance or dancing are acceptable as long as the dancers do not perceive them as needless teaching or lecturing. • Our experience is that a caller whose reputation in Boston is not well established is better advised to offer a well-prepared program of current standard material rather than individualistic material. If you are unsure of your program, please feel free to talk with one of the aforementioned committee members. We hope you enjoy your evening with us!