Re: [Callers] Hello and a few questions...

Congratulations Don! I don't have a set routine when things fall apart. I may just tell them to take hands 4 from the top and wait until the top of the music comes around. If the dance has been running for a while, just say "Find your partner and swing" as you cue out the band with a raised foot. Then have a "go to" dance ready for the next one - one you know cold that works 99% of the time (like Nice Combination or Al's Safeway Produce). It restores everyone's confidence. Even a simple dance can be fun if the band plays a very lively tune. It's good to get the signals worked out with the band ahead of time. Typical ones are faster (palm facing and pushing up); slower (palm facing and pushing down); going out at the end of this phrase (the raised foot). Find out which of the band members can talk while they're playing. Not all musicians can. This is the one you can ask when you don't know where you are in the music. And if there's a clear musician in charge of keeping the rhythm, I've walked up to them during a tune and called out "I can't hear the phrasing" - hoping they'll make it clearer. If you have a few "ringers" in the room, they may be good to cue off of  - assuming they're almost always in the right place at the right time. Also ask the band how much notice they want before the end of the dance: 1, 2, or 3 times and then count it down instead of assuming they can keep track. I've only heard you call a couple of times, but both times you've been very clear and at least sounded confident. You'll do great, and it's about time you did more calling. Good luck. I look forward to getting a full report.     Lynn ----- Original Message ---- From: Don Veino <sharedweight_net(a)veino.com> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net Sent: Thu, December 1, 2011 10:20:18 PM Subject: [Callers] Hello and a few questions... Hi Folks, Brand new to the list. I'm one of the organizers for the MondayContras series at the Concord, MA Scout House and have been an avid dancer for just over 4 years now. Hi to those I already know and to those of you I'll get to know from here! I've been an occasional caller for dances on shared evening programs and camper nights, etc. but have my first full evening coming up later this month, which I'm excited about. This is for a smaller regional dance that attracts a mixed crowd of mostly periodic dancers. I've done some basic "how to call" workshops at festivals, etc. but have not taken a formal caller's course. I'm planning to tailor my dance selection to the expected crowd and build in some flexibility to address variability. I'm pretty confident in my dance selection skills but I'm definitely still counting my way through the music to call. So one concern is with making sure I stay firmly anchored to the music, without depending upon the crowd for cues. I craft my calls to fit the phrasing and rehearse with music to get confident but dance breakdowns are a fear. I've come close a couple of times early on but have been able to set things right somehow on the fly... however, I was not very confident doing so at the time. So with that concern, a couple of related questions: - Do you have practiced recovery routines (more than just "get home and swing your partner")? Is that common? Or do most callers just make it up on the spot? - In working with the musicians, are there any customary "I've lost track, where are we in the music?" signals? I look forward to learning from the shared wisdom of the group here and am open to any other tips you may have. Thanks, Don _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers