12 Jan
2013
12 Jan
'13
9:06 a.m.
Hi Folks,
The most basic of questions... does anyone write their dance cards with
pencil and if so, have they found that they smudge???
I'm quite a new caller and am a stage where I am figuring out my dance
organization. Until now, I've been keeping my dances on the computer.
However, I do almost everything on the computer and I really like the idea
of having my dances on physical cards I've written out.
But... I want to use pencil!
Is this a no no????
Thoughts???
Emily
12 Jan
12 Jan
9:34 a.m.
On Sat, 12 Jan 2013 09:06:21 -0500, Emily Addison wrote:
I'm quite a new caller and am a stage where I am
figuring out my
dance organization. Until now, I've been keeping my dances on the
computer. However, I do almost everything on the computer and I
really like the idea of having my dances on physical cards I've
written out.
But... I want to use pencil!
Is this a no no????
More of a why why!
I used to use a black ball-point pen, but once I put my dance
instructions on the computer I printed out the cards and they're
easier to read and amend. Now my eyes have got worse I call from a
lap-top using my Dance Organiser program and don't often get the cards
out.
So why pencil?
Colin Hume
Email colin(a)colinhume.com Web site http://www.colinhume.com
12:25 p.m.
On Sat, Jan 12, 2013, Colin Hume wrote:
I used to use a black ball-point pen, but once I put my dance
instructions on the computer I printed out the cards and they're
easier to read and amend. Now my eyes have got worse I call from a
lap-top using my Dance Organiser program and don't often get the cards
out.
What program?
I saw a caller recently using an iPad on a stand. Right now I'm printing
out my dances (with e-mail to my phone as backup).
--
Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://rule6.info/
<*> <*> <*>
Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html
3:59 p.m.
All the itinerant dancemasters of the 16th and 17th centuries kept their dances in their
heads.
We should strive for the same
Michael Fuerst 802 N Broadway Urbana IL 61801 217-239-5844
________________________________
From: Aahz Maruch <aahz(a)pobox.com>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2013 11:25 AM
Subject: Re: [Callers] cards - writing in pencil vs pen???
On Sat, Jan 12, 2013, Colin Hume wrote:
I used to use a black ball-point pen, but once I put my dance
instructions on the computer I printed out the cards and they're
easier to read and amend. Now my eyes have got worse I call from a
lap-top using my Dance Organiser program and don't often get the cards
out.
What program?
I saw a caller recently using an iPad on a stand. Right now I'm printing
out my dances (with e-mail to my phone as backup).
--
Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://rule6.info/
<*> <*> <*>
Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
4:35 p.m.
Itinerant is a key word there. I think it was Milton Berle who said
"If you've got 2 hours of material on the Vaudeville circuit you're
set for 10 years. ON radio you're done in 2 weeks."
That said, we had an instance last year where we had the same dance
(different callers) twice in one evening. Few noticed and few cared,
and it had a different feel with different music.
On Sat, Jan 12, 2013 at 3:59 PM, Michael Fuerst <mjerryfuerst(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
All the itinerant dancemasters of the 16th and 17th
centuries kept their dances in their heads.
We should strive for the same
9:08 p.m.
On 1/12/2013 12:59 PM, Michael Fuerst wrote:
All the itinerant dancemasters of the 16th and 17th
centuries kept their dances in their heads.
We should strive for the same
What do we know about itinerant dancemasters of the 16th and 17th
centuries? (I'm asking - that's not just rhetorical.) I've come across
stuff about the itinerant dancemasters of the 18th and 19th century.
Asa Willcox - who might have been more of a fiddler sometimes called
upon to call dances rather than a dancing master - kept a book of dance
notes. John Griffith published a book of dances and - one assumes -
tried to sell it to his students.
-- Alan
13 Jan
13 Jan
8:44 a.m.
Amen to that, Michael! Alas, it is error prone... And the proliferation
of dances since 'then' makes it impossible to keep all of them in one's
head..
Hanny, Danzmeestersche
All the itinerant dancemasters of the 16th and 17th
centuries kept their dances in their heads.
We should strive for the same
12:28 p.m.
New subject: Memorizing dances (was cards - writing in pencil vs pen???)
On Sat, Jan 12, 2013, Michael Fuerst wrote:
All the itinerant dancemasters of the 16th and 17th centuries kept
their dances in their heads. We should strive for the same
Why? Seriously. Calling is a hobby for me, it's something fun for me,
I get to help other people have fun.
There are literally hundreds of contra dances out on the Internet, why
should I restrict myself to the ones I have time to memorize?
--
Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://rule6.info/
<*> <*> <*>
Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html
12:49 p.m.
New subject: Memorizing dances (was cards - writing in pencil vs pen???)
I assune a big difference is the quantity and complexity of dances involved. I know some
of the rural community dances around here only dance a few dances over and over. It not
only allows the caller / dancemaster to memorize the dances - but so do the dancers and
that eliminates wasting a lot of time teaching.
Most communities we deal with have very different expectations. I do enjoy memorizing
dances so I don't have to bother with reading from cards when I am calling - but I
don't memorize my entire collection - just the ones I might want to call that evening
and a handful of really good ones I will always remember. It came in handy once when the
scheduled caller did not show up and I got nominated to call 5 min after the dance was
supposed to start.
I encourage our newer callers to try memorize some dances because I think they are too
reliant on the cards to the point they teach by simply reading the cards. I think this
exercise would help their confidence so the cards would become more of a reference or
security blanket rather than their main focus when at the mic.
So far, I have not had any takers - but continue bringing it up when the opportunity
presents itself. Surprisingly, we have had some new callers write some really nice dances
- but they aren't even interested in trying to memorize ones they wrote themselves.
Mac McKeever
________________________________
From: Aahz Maruch <aahz(a)pobox.com>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2013 11:28 AM
Subject: Re: [Callers] Memorizing dances (was cards - writing in pencil vs pen???)
On Sat, Jan 12, 2013, Michael Fuerst wrote:
All the itinerant dancemasters of the 16th and 17th centuries kept
their dances in their heads. We should strive for the same
Why? Seriously. Calling is a hobby for me, it's something fun for me,
I get to help other people have fun.
There are literally hundreds of contra dances out on the Internet, why
should I restrict myself to the ones I have time to memorize?
--
Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://rule6.info/
<*> <*> <*>
Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
3:19 p.m.
New subject: Memorizing dances (was cards - writing in pencil vs pen???)
Some callers call from handwritten cards; some let the computer print their
cards; some call from tablets; some call from memory. It truly doesn't
matter as much as you might think. What matters is whether the caller is
focused more on reading the card/tablet/memory or reading the dancers.
Having the dance memorized helps you pay attention to the dancers -- so I
do that -- but I still have a card in my hand (if possible) when I call
because my memory seems to enjoy a good joke at my expense.
And I wonder what happens to the tablet-folks when they forget to charge
their batteries (or turn of the screen saver.) grin.
Dale
--
*So if you knew what was broken...how long would it take you to fix it?*
2:27 p.m.
You really want to strive for 16th and 17th century customs?
Ditch your computer, car, and comforts of home. Get a horse, one or two changes of
clothes and hit the road. Don't forget to keep your Nosegay flowers handy. People
rarely bathed, plumbing was non-existant and clothing was seldom washed.
Me? I'll use my cards, backed up on my computer and drive to my gigs. :>)
Donna Hunt
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Fuerst <mjerryfuerst(a)yahoo.com>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Sent: Sat, Jan 12, 2013 4:00 pm
Subject: Re: [Callers] cards - writing in pencil vs pen???
All the itinerant dancemasters of the 16th and 17th centuries kept their dances
in their heads.
We should strive for the same
Michael Fuerst 802 N Broadway Urbana IL 61801 217-239-5844
________________________________
From: Aahz Maruch <aahz(a)pobox.com>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2013 11:25 AM
Subject: Re: [Callers] cards - writing in pencil vs pen???
On Sat, Jan 12, 2013, Colin Hume wrote:
I used to use a black ball-point pen, but once I put my dance
instructions on the computer I printed out the cards and they're
easier to read and amend. Now my eyes have got worse I call from a
lap-top using my Dance Organiser program and don't often get the cards
out.
What program?
I saw a caller recently using an iPad on a stand. Right now I'm printing
out my dances (with e-mail to my phone as backup).
--
Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://rule6.info/
<*> <*> <*>
Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
4:10 p.m.
On Sat, 12 Jan 2013 09:25:35 -0800, Aahz Maruch wrote:
On Sat, Jan 12, 2013, Colin Hume wrote:
Download a trial copy at http://www.colinhume.com/download.htm
Colin Hume
I used to use a black ball-point pen, but once I
put my dance
instructions on the computer I printed out the cards and they're
easier to read and amend. Now my eyes have got worse I call from
a lap-top using my Dance Organiser program and don't often get
the cards out.
What program? 
12 Jan
12 Jan
9:58 a.m.
Emily,
There are a few "no nos" for calling that are not obvious. For example:
"Never speak to an individual or small group while on mike." All such
comments should be off-mike or you risk looking unprofessional. What you
write on your cards with is up to the caller.
I always used a ball-point pen for my cards until I got them entered into a
Filemaker Pro database about 20 years ago. Now I print them out. My
penmanship is not great so this system is much better for me. Plus I can
print out multiple copies of a basic dance program and keep one in my dance
shoe bag, one in my car, etc. If someone is interested in a dance I call
I can just give them the dance card and print a new one when I get home.
- Greg McKenzie
****************
On Sat, Jan 12, 2013 at 6:06 AM, Emily Addison <emilyladdison(a)gmail.com>wrote;wrote:
Hi Folks,
The most basic of questions... does anyone write their dance cards with
pencil and if so, have they found that they smudge???
I'm quite a new caller and am a stage where I am figuring out my dance
organization. Until now, I've been keeping my dances on the computer.
However, I do almost everything on the computer and I really like the idea
of having my dances on physical cards I've written out.
But... I want to use pencil!
Is this a no no????
Thoughts???
Emily
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
12:36 p.m.
On 1/12/2013 8:06 AM, Emily Addison wrote:
But... I want to use pencil!
Is this a no no????
I wouldn't say this was a "no no." If it works for you go for it.
However, I can see some potential problems, such as the smudging you
mention. I use ink when I write cards by hand, but am trying to get
everything on computer and print them out. I'm at about 50% handwritten
and 50% printed right now. I haven't tried using a tablet or other
electronic display device, though I can see the advantages. I do like
being able to tuck the card in my shirt pocket when I'm calling a dance
and dancing it as well. I don't do this very often with contra dances,
but I tend to do so quite often when calling English dances. I'm not
sure why I make the distinction, probably some difference in the groups
that makes it more comfortable to dance and call at the same time at our
English dances, but not at our contra dances.
Jonathan
-----
Jonathan Sivier
Caller of Contra, English and Early American Dances
jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html
-----
Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
A: It depends on what dance you call!
12:54 p.m.
Hi Emily. I have my cards backed up on the computer, but use hand written cards. The cards
are written in black ink, but if I need to change something, I use white-out, if
that's why you want to use a pencil. I like the hand-written cards so I can add notes
to myself while calling if I notice things that I could have taught or called in a better
way.
Bottom line is, the system you choose for making your cards is very personal, and whatever
works best for you is "right".
--- On Sat, 1/12/13, Emily Addison <emilyladdison(a)gmail.com> wrote:
From: Emily Addison <emilyladdison(a)gmail.com>
Subject: [Callers] cards - writing in pencil vs pen???
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Date: Saturday, January 12, 2013, 6:06 AM
Hi Folks,
The most basic of questions... does anyone write their dance
cards with
pencil and if so, have they found that they smudge???
I'm quite a new caller and am a stage where I am figuring
out my dance
organization. Until now, I've been keeping my dances
on the computer.
However, I do almost everything on the computer and I really
like the idea
of having my dances on physical cards I've written out.
But... I want to use pencil!
Is this a no no????
Thoughts???
Emily
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
2:41 p.m.
I just adore the feeling of calling off handwritten cards. Plus, it leaves
room for notes to yourself and fun things like COLOR CODING! (One of my
projects over the holiday was to clean out my digital dance collection and
then put all the best ones onto color-coded cards for myself.)
As everyone said, use pencil if it works for you. However, I find pen more
legible, in general, and the number one thing you want on your contra cards
is ease of readability, no?
Of course, you could try making a handful of cards in pen and a handful in
pencil and use 'em for a while, and see which you like better and whether
they stand the test of time!
Luck,
Maia
On Sat, Jan 12, 2013 at 6:54 PM, lynn ackerson <callynn1(a)pacbell.net> wrote:
Hi Emily. I have my cards backed up on the computer,
but use hand written
cards. The cards are written in black ink, but if I need to change
something, I use white-out, if that's why you want to use a pencil. I like
the hand-written cards so I can add notes to myself while calling if I
notice things that I could have taught or called in a better way.
Bottom line is, the system you choose for making your cards is very
personal, and whatever works best for you is "right".
--- On Sat, 1/12/13, Emily Addison <emilyladdison(a)gmail.com> wrote:
From: Emily Addison
<emilyladdison(a)gmail.com>
Subject: [Callers] cards - writing in pencil vs pen???
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Date: Saturday, January 12, 2013, 6:06 AM
Hi Folks,
The most basic of questions... does anyone write their dance
cards with
pencil and if so, have they found that they smudge???
I'm quite a new caller and am a stage where I am figuring
out my dance
organization. Until now, I've been keeping my dances
on the computer.
However, I do almost everything on the computer and I really
like the idea
of having my dances on physical cards I've written out.
But... I want to use pencil!
Is this a no no????
Thoughts???
Emily
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
4332
days inactive
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days old
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
16 comments
14 participants
participants (14)
-
Aahz Maruch -
Alan Winston -
Colin Hume -
Dale Wilson -
Donald Perley -
Donna Hunt -
Emily Addison -
Greg McKenzie -
Hanny Budnick -
Jonathan Sivier -
lynn ackerson -
Maia McCormick -
Michael Fuerst -
Richard Mckeever