Re: [Callers] slow down...

This is all very interesting. Most of my contra calling experience is in the UK where each dance is typically 13 times through, and only occasionally longer. However, with a booking coming up at Glen Echo on Friday, I have been paying particular attention to this subject! Last Friday at Glen Echo the band was Swallowtail and the pattern was: 19,21,17,17,19,17,17,17,17,17 ie 10 dances in 3hrs with a 30 minute interval including Waltz and Hambo. Lines formed in 2.5-4 minutes and instruction was typically 1.5-2.5 minutes. On Sunday with Laura Brown calling to The Love Mongrels the pattern was: 15,17,21,sq,sq,21,17,19,17,sq,16,17 ie 9 contras and 3 squares (about 9.5 contras). Lines formed in about 1.5-2 mins and instruction was typically 1.5-2.5 minutes. The dance was also 3 hrs but the interval was shorter and with fewer people it took less time to form lines and take hands 4. The data shows that 17x through was typical and I did not get any sense from those present that this was too long. Michael Barraclough Itinerant C17 & C21 Dancing Master, eCeilidh and Contra Caller http://www.michaelbarraclough.com -----Original Message----- From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Jeffrey Petrovitch Sent: 29 May 2007 19:28 To: Caller's discussion list Subject: Re: [Callers] slow down... Dear Chris: Time management is an interesting subject. As Dan as suggested there is a great selection in Larry Jenning's book Give and Take and I would recommend all callers to read it. Essentially, the Larry Jenning's model is 12 mintues from walk-through to dance to next dance, that is about a 2 minute walk-through and about 12-14 times through the dance. I use this model and for a three hours dance program 14 dances with a 12 minute break. And will map out the dance program like: 8:00pm - 8:12pm 8:12pm - 8:24pm 8:24pm - 8:36pm... etc. So I know where the start and end time of every dance should be. My thinking is that dancers are there to dance, so that is what I am going to provide for them. And before the dance when I am talking to the band, trying to get a feel what they are about, I am usually relaying that I am looking to do 14 dances and looking to go 14 times through and also warn them I usually do a quick walk-through (no more then 2 minutes) and I am ready to go. Even amounts of time (12, 14, 16) all that the top couple be in the for the last time of the dance. As a dancer, I never want to dance a dance more then 16 times through. Honestly I tend to get bored with that dance and want to move on. So all and all I never in favor of the slow down. I have never been faced with a musician expressing to me, that they wanted me to slow down, so I don't know exactly how to handle the situation, but when I talk to the band about tunes, I will usually talk to them about three dances @ a time. For example: I will say the next dance I would like reels with short phrases in the A part, because there are a lot of balance and turns and a smooth B part, for the next dance just some smooth dreamy jigs, and the third dance more reels, but smooth A and short phrases in the B. I will talk to the band after every dance, but in that is case it is just a reminder of what I have already asked for and have given them more time to think about what they are going to play. Peter brings up an interesting point about the David Kaynor Friday Greenfield Dance. That dance simply just moves on a slower pace. It goes from 8-12 with a long break and you only dance maybe 12-14 dances the whole night, because the band is going 16-24 times through. That is just a nature of that dance. So of course in varies from dance to dance, but I usually keep a firm 14 dance program. Jeff _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers