Re: [Callers] When the dancers aren't paying attention

It's interesting that "shut-up" and "quiet down" mean the same. Michael Fuerst      802 N Broadway      Urbana IL 61801      217 239 5844 On Wednesday, April 22, 2015 8:59 PM, Erik Hoffman via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: On the question of paying attention: A while back, in one of these e-groups, someone pointed out that we contra dancers keep talking about "community." This post pointed out that we contra dancers go to a dance, and, often forsaking applause (yet another topic...), run off to find our next partner and line up for a dance. This posting compared that to country-western dance, or swing dance, where they would sit around a table and talk, get to know others through chatting, and not dance every dance, but have other social things happen. It got me to thinking: Often, after people have lined up, they talk with each other, their partner, their minor set, or other people around them. Often callers strive to get everyone to shut-up so they can start the dance. I've come to believe this time of conversation is the main time we get to know a little about each other and is thus a "community building time." My practice now is to say into the mic in a regular talking voice, "Are you ready?" If the general banter keeps going on, I wait a couple beats, and say, again, "Are you ready?" After two to four times of asking the question, someone will say, "Yes!" Then another might do a loud, "Shhhh!" When people finally quiet down, I teach the dance. ~erik hoffman     oakland, ca On 8/4/2014 10:26 AM, barb kirchner via Callers wrote: #yiv9145554759 #yiv9145554759 --.yiv9145554759hmmessage P{margin:0px;padding:0px;}#yiv9145554759 body.yiv9145554759hmmessage{font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri;}#yiv9145554759 sometimes when dancers aren't paying attention, it's because there are too many other things going on in the hall. sometimes it's the band warming up or sound checking, but i've seen all kinds of things going on - bake sales, people on their mobile devices, a group of beginners coming in who don't yet know dance etiquette, or maybe the dancers are having trouble hearing you.  sometimes musicians talk loudly behind the caller (i'm a musician and a caller) and it's hard to understand the caller because the chatter can be heard through mics or pick-ups. you can't fix some of those things, but you can address retail events in the hall, cell phones, sound system, etc are your experienced dancers modelling good dance etiquette?  are you teaching efficiently, or are you spending so much time talking that people lose interest? sometimes, i just start the walkthru anyway.  as soon as people realize that most people are starting to swing, they get a little more interested :-) cheers, barb _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net