Re: [Callers] What makes a caller a great caller?

Can I offer another 2 cents worth? Every notice how when we have one of the great callers - the dancers listen to every words and follow the directions more readily? That is not an accident - but a real skill. Everything they say is important - even if they are just thanking the sound guy. They sound natural and sincere. There is no idle chat or filler. Confidence is very high. Often you feel like they are talking directly to you 1-1. This lets them 'get away' with shortened teaching intervals and more successful dances while complimenting and encouraging the dancers. These callers just make me feel better. Not sure how to make that happen - but pay attention next time you are privileged to dance to one of the top callers. Example - one square I like to call is the Chinese Fan. I have not found an effective way to teach it and usually struggle through a couple tries until I think everyone has the basic idea. I have listened to Kathy Anderson teach this several times (once I asked her to call the dance just so I could observe her teaching). She gives a couple quick directions that would never work if I did it and suddenly everyone is ready to dance - and I still haven't figured it out. Mac ________________________________ From: Greg McKenzie <grekenzie(a)gmail.com> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Sent: Mon, April 11, 2011 10:27:12 AM Subject: Re: [Callers] What makes a caller a great caller? What kind of calling? You pose a good question. The answer, however, depends on the kind of venue being discussed. I see at least three different calling venues that require very different skills: 1. Gatherings of dance enthusiasts: Festivals, dance camps, and other special events that are frequented almost entirely by dance enthusiasts. 2. Regularly scheduled open, public contra dances where first-timers are encouraged to attend without separate training. 3. Private "barn dance" events where few, if any, of the participants are dance enthusiasts. A caller may be a "great" caller at one of these kinds of venues while being a poor caller at another. The criteria for "greatness" at each type of venue are very different. - Greg McKenzie *********** On Mon, Apr 11, 2011 at 1:13 AM, Will Kruse <sideways(a)wcrews.net> wrote: _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers