Hi folks - I'm down to the wire and resorting to desperate tactics. *PLEASE PASS THIS ON. Send it to your entire dance-booking email list if you can.* The Putney School - venerable, progressive, historic, selective, visionary, but not always clue-ful prep school - decided a few days ago it would be REALLY COOL to have a dance THIS SATURDAY NIGHT OCTOBER 15 as the kickoff to the big Harvest Festival /parents/alumni weekend, here in Putney, Vermont. They have been warned that booking a band/caller on one week's notice is difficult and likely to be expensive. I have a certain amount of flexibility with money. The dance will run from 8:ish to 10:00. Sound system provided. I can call or play fiddle or piano, at this point I don't care which. I just need two people. There are 10 student fiddlers and a dozen mixed tinwhistle/guitar/mandolin/irish harp players on campus and about 20 VERY enthusiastic contradancers who are thrilled that we're having a dance right here , so the student body of 200 will be well seeded with supportive folks. If you're traveling I've got a guest room, and dinner at the school will be excellent. The Harvest Fest next day is a lot of fun too, and I'll lend you my kayak if you want to get out on the river. This is a bright crowd. The kids are smart and responsive, the alumni all danced under Ralph Page. Expect to do one longways and one haste-to-the-wedding type, then "real" contras. Other formations welcome. Thanks, Amy (does anyone have Fred Breunig's current phone number?)