Re: [Callers] Crowd noise during walk through

Hi All, Some time ago as we contra dancers say, "Our dances are very social events, we get to meet everyone in the dance line..." (and more) someone pointed out that, in a way, going to a bar to dance, like a swing dance or country western dance, people would sit and chat, drink a beer, get up and dance, sit and chat, and spend more time socializing than we do at contra dances. Since that time, I've appreciated the time people want to chat with each other while lining up, and feel, if most of the people in the room are chatting, I want to let them go. So I say, into the mic, "Are you ready?" If no one responds, I wait 15 or 25 seconds, and repeat it, "Are you ready?" Eventually they are, and most quiet down. As Woody says, I never shush the dancers. If there's a lot of noise in the hall, and someone says they can't hear, I will point out that when it's quieter in the hall, all can hear. Also, we have a dancer or two who will loudly say "SHHHHH!" If someone does that I don't complain about it, I let them be the cop... I used to do more to try to get the next dance started, but now I think, as long as people are getting together, enjoying themselves, and want to dance, all is good. As Eric Black pointed out: Open to the public dance series are much different than occasional barn dances or special parties. At parties and events, take note of how the dance fits in: did people come to dance? Or did they come to honor something -- a bride & groom, a birthday person, the opening of an art studio, whatever -- if they came to honor something, the dance is incidental to the purpose of the gathering. It may be an important incidental, but it's not why people came to the event, and thus more time for socializing, and other activities may be needed to work around. ~erik hoffman oakland, ca On 8/13/2013 9:55 PM, Quiann2 wrote: