Re: [Callers] How to devise a program

Hi Maia, A number of folks have responded with some good advice, and I think Jack's is particularly insightful. Yes, there are some general principles, and some techniques are pretty tried-and-true. But I would like to come at this from a slightly different approach . . . To learn a lot about programming, once you have a few calling evenings under you belt and an array of at least 20-30 dance cards so you are familiar with some dance choreography and dances of different styles, here is my suggestion: go to other dances that are called by good callers. And that is a judgement call (sic) -- I'm talking about callers you know are superb and have very good skills -- people whose behind-the-scenes judgements you would respect. Go to their dances and talk to them about how they program that evening. Get to visiting with them prior to the beginning of the dance (maybe by phone so they know who you are). Then, just prior to the dance, maybe during setup, take a few minutes and ask the caller to go over the intended program (assuming he/she has a program). Do this dance-by-dance. Then dance through the evening as a dancer. But in addition to being a dancer, watch the crowd and the musicians and the caller with a caller's eye. See what you see. Have fun, but observe how the crowd is reacting/dancing/experiencing each dance. (BTW, I am not talking about dance weekends -- those programs and dancers don't represent typical dance gigs). Then, after the gig is over, at the end of the evening before you leave (if possible), go back to the caller and visit again. This is the review session. Ask him/her to review what actually happened, dance by dance. Particularly which dances/moments the caller felt worked well and which dances/moments did not, and why, and any changes that were made from the original plan, and why. Not be in any way judgmental -- just try to learn from that caller the hows and whys of the evening. And I am not talking about or suggesting that you copy that program or go through their dance cards. No, that is not the purpose of this visit. You would be talking to them to seek an understanding of their judgement calls and insights into their art. Do this a few times -- with a couple of different good callers. Each will have their own style and approach, and many may be very different from what you'll read on an Internet listserv. There are great subtleties here. It's all a matter of judgement, and rules are made to be broken. All good artists -- and good callers are artists -- know this and do it all the time. Good luck. Woody On 9/15/2013 10:34 AM, Maia McCormick wrote: -- <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Woody Lane Caller, Percussive Dancer Roseburg, Oregon http://www.woodylanecaller.com voice: 541-440-1926 cell: 541-556-0054 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>