3 Jul
2023
3 Jul
'23
7:07 p.m.
I agree with a lot of what was said. I'll just add a couple of things.
I always talk to the wedding couple, or mother or whoever is hiring me and make sure I
know their expectations and they know mine. If they are serious contra dancers, I always
make sure they understand that a dance like what they are used to is not probably going to
happen. I also ask that they pass on to wedding guests that it is the couples wish that
their guests will dance together and wear or bring appropriate shoes. I always start off
with something like La Bastringue. Keep it easy and fun. Don't go too long on any
dance, but long enough that they really get it and are having fun. I love doing mixers
because they keep the guests mingling together. I think that really pleases the B &
G.
I usually see a lot of people turned on to contra, so I do tell people that if they have
had a lot of fun they should "google" 'contra dancing near me' when they
get home, stressing that a regular contra dance can be found all over the country. I try
to stay as invisible as I can so it's really about the wedding couple and their family
and friends.
Spread the love!
Roberta Kogut
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On Jul 3, 2023, 5:44 PM, at 5:44 PM, Lorraine Sutton via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi
I have done a lot of weddings....
Keep it very, very simple...yes... Barn dance, family dance, community
dance dances,.
Never any contras ...too much work ...it all needs to be fun.
Have the Bride and Groom done any trad dancing before this event? If
not,
do impress on them that it is pretty essential that they dance the
full
first set otherwise their guests will not feel required to do so.
Two hand turn not a swing ...too hard to teach ( especially if they
have
been drinking)
Let the B & G know that they should let their guests know that there
will
be traditional dancing and their participation is expected. Have them
ask
the women to bring shoes for dancing ...flats , lace up s, NO FLIP
FLOPS
or stiletto hells.
Alcohol ...well ...Impress at some point that Booze does not help you
dance
.....
Space....the standard " floor" in a wedding tent is never big enough,
so
ask for a min of 40 square feet.
Charge what is a decent fee (and if you have to drive more than 1.5
hours
each way charge a gas fee)
or you will not be valued...Last Time I checked a DJ was charging about
$1,000 a night. Do you have a relaxed band (only need 2 fiddle and
keyboard) and if so can they bring the sound system?
Lots of mixers....long way sets ...1 active couple ( ie Virginia Reel,
Bridge of Athlone etc)
Easy Sicilian Circles...to have them practice right and left elbow,
do-si-do etc
Will there be small children ...another issue.
Timing ...Every wedding I have ever done is late ...speeches run over
time, catering gets delayed.etc. etc. etc. You may be invited to take
part
in the dinner, however that usually means another extra 2-3 hours
before
the dance... Once after waiting more than an extra hour I let the MC
know
that ( given we had been paid , and we each had a 2 hour drive home)
that
we would be leaving in 15 minutes if he did not get speeches wrapped
up.
Harsh but real.
Good Luck....
Lorraine Sutton Ontario, Canada
On Mon, Jul 3, 2023 at 4:30 PM Jerome Grisanti via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
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I would release any idea that wedding guests will
have any interest
in
dancing beyond this event. Keep things VERY
simple. You can do an
hour with
dances containing only allemandes, do-si-dos,
circles and promenades.
Maybe
a modified swing/2-hand turn.
On Mon, Jul 3, 2023, 3:53 PM Joe Harrington via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Any advice for calling weddings? I've been asked to call my first
one and
> I don't see a lot of wedding-specific
advice online. What do you ask
them
> in advance, how do you approach it, what are
good dances to call?
> I'm assuming that a workshop is
impractical, so it's barn dances and
> maybe working up to a contra by the end? Try to teach a swing?
Some
> advice I've gotten so far:
> Band - can they play contras, am I
DJing instead, if so what kind of
> music, trad or pop?
> Floor - make sure it's big enough, get length, width, and surface
> Sound system - what is it and is there a sound tech?
> Duration - how long they'll want to dance
> Dancers - how many, any experienced guests?
> Special dances - first, parents, bouquet, last?
> Will the bride and groom dance? (If not, nobody will)
> Will there be alcohol? (one person suggested doubling the fee if
there is)
> Will many women be in high heels?
> I welcome any advice! My main goal in
taking wedding gigs is
recruiting
new
dancers to our local scene, if that matters.
Thanks,
--jh--
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