9 Nov
2025
9 Nov
'25
4:11 p.m.
Hey folks,
I wonder what people's thoughts are on end-of-the night thank-you's for a
contra dance.
Folks you might thank or call-out for applause:
Band
Caller
Organizers/volunteers
Sound person
I feel like a lot of places go band->caller->sound person; hopefully
thanking the volunteers at the announcements.
I can see doing the final band thank you right after the band gets to play
their big closing number for the evening. Everyone's amped up, call out the
band and then tack the other ones on.
But I think about the theater, where at the end of the performance the
performers come out for bows. There, it's usually chorus->supporting->main
cast; and by that system I think we should thank the band last. But usually
in theater when all the cast is on stage they give a thank you and wave to
the tech crew and director. Which would imply
caller->band->sound+organizers.
Just wondering what folks' thoughts were on the subject.
Happy dancing,
Luke Donforth
(Burlington, VT)
11 Nov
11 Nov
9:21 a.m.
At our dance the callers generally acknowledge the band in a global way throughout the
evening. We take a few minutes before the last dance of the first half, after people have
lined up, to officially have one of the organizers introduce the band members and thank
them, as well as thanking the caller, the sound person, and the manager, and asking people
who might be interested in being managers or sound people in the future to speak to the
organizers. This way everyone is generally lined up and listening, and everybody involved
gets acknowledged.
Martha
On Nov 10, 2025, at 12:50 PM, Bill Olson via Contra
Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:i
Hi Loke and all, Keep in mind that not everyone makes it to the end of the dance,
sometimes not even half the crowd. So saving all the thanks to the end might be shorting
the "thankees". I often try to thank the band throughout the evening, often
saying at the end of each dance, "thank your partner, and thank the band". David
Kaynor, always prone to slightly off-color jokes, would often explain that thanking the
band got them "aroused" after which they would play better.. Seems to work. I
don't normally call for thanking the caller if I'm calling, hoping someone in the
band will figure a way to do it after the band gets thanked. I normally thank the sound
person, but once again not at the bitter end, and the organizers (if it's not me).
Of course the organizers often recognize the band and caller at the break and introduce
them if there are announcements at that time.
bill
From: Luke Donforth via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>>
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2025 12:11 AM
To: Shared Weight Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>>
Subject: [Callers] Order of thanks
Hey folks,
I wonder what people's thoughts are on end-of-the night thank-you's for a contra
dance.
Folks you might thank or call-out for applause:
Band
Caller
Organizers/volunteers
Sound person
I feel like a lot of places go band->caller->sound person; hopefully thanking the
volunteers at the announcements.
I can see doing the final band thank you right after the band gets to play their big
closing number for the evening. Everyone's amped up, call out the band and then tack
the other ones on.
But I think about the theater, where at the end of the performance the performers come
out for bows. There, it's usually chorus->supporting->main cast; and by that
system I think we should thank the band last. But usually in theater when all the cast is
on stage they give a thank you and wave to the tech crew and director. Which would imply
caller->band->sound+organizers.
Just wondering what folks' thoughts were on the subject.
Happy dancing,
Luke Donforth
(Burlington, VT)
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10 Nov
10 Nov
5:28 p.m.
I've heard the sound tech phrased like "if you're glad that more than 20
people are here you dance with you, thank [N] the sound technician! Let's
give a round of applause for N for helping us have so many friends and
dancers able to hear us here tonight. "
Pardon brevity; sent by smartphone.
On Mon, Nov 10, 2025 at 6:31 PM Rich Dempsey via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
It's not always obvious, but the sound tech has a
potentially large impact
on the event. The best are transparent. So, I think it's important to
recognize the sound tech close to the performers. We understand the caller
and groove to the music thanks to the sound tech.
Just saying,
Rich in Rochester, NY
On Mon, Nov 10, 2025 at 3:51 PM Bill Olson via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi Loke and all, Keep in mind that not everyone
makes it to the end of
the dance, sometimes not even half the crowd. So saving all the thanks to
the end might be shorting the "thankees". I often try to thank the band
throughout the evening, often saying at the end of each dance, "thank your
partner, and *thank the band".* David Kaynor, always prone to slightly
off-color jokes, would often explain that thanking the band got them
"aroused" after which they would play better.. Seems to work. I don't
normally call for thanking the caller if I'm calling, hoping someone in the
band will figure a way to do it after the band gets thanked. I normally
thank the sound person, but once again not at the bitter end, and the
organizers (if it's not me).
Of course the organizers often recognize the band and caller at the break
and introduce them if there are announcements at that time.
bill
------------------------------
*From:* Luke Donforth via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* Monday, November 10, 2025 12:11 AM
*To:* Shared Weight Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* [Callers] Order of thanks
Hey folks,
I wonder what people's thoughts are on end-of-the night thank-you's for a
contra dance.
Folks you might thank or call-out for applause:
Band
Caller
Organizers/volunteers
Sound person
I feel like a lot of places go band->caller->sound person; hopefully
thanking the volunteers at the announcements.
I can see doing the final band thank you right after the band gets to
play their big closing number for the evening. Everyone's amped up, call
out the band and then tack the other ones on.
But I think about the theater, where at the end of the performance the
performers come out for bows. There, it's usually chorus->supporting->main
cast; and by that system I think we should thank the band last. But usually
in theater when all the cast is on stage they give a thank you and wave to
the tech crew and director. Which would imply
caller->band->sound+organizers.
Just wondering what folks' thoughts were on the subject.
Happy dancing,
Luke Donforth
(Burlington, VT)
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
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4:25 p.m.
It's not always obvious, but the sound tech has a potentially large impact
on the event. The best are transparent. So, I think it's important to
recognize the sound tech close to the performers. We understand the caller
and groove to the music thanks to the sound tech.
Just saying,
Rich in Rochester, NY
On Mon, Nov 10, 2025 at 3:51 PM Bill Olson via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi Loke and all, Keep in mind that not everyone makes
it to the end of the
dance, sometimes not even half the crowd. So saving all the thanks to the
end might be shorting the "thankees". I often try to thank the band
throughout the evening, often saying at the end of each dance, "thank your
partner, and *thank the band".* David Kaynor, always prone to slightly
off-color jokes, would often explain that thanking the band got them
"aroused" after which they would play better.. Seems to work. I don't
normally call for thanking the caller if I'm calling, hoping someone in the
band will figure a way to do it after the band gets thanked. I normally
thank the sound person, but once again not at the bitter end, and the
organizers (if it's not me).
Of course the organizers often recognize the band and caller at the break
and introduce them if there are announcements at that time.
bill
------------------------------
*From:* Luke Donforth via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* Monday, November 10, 2025 12:11 AM
*To:* Shared Weight Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* [Callers] Order of thanks
Hey folks,
I wonder what people's thoughts are on end-of-the night thank-you's for a
contra dance.
Folks you might thank or call-out for applause:
Band
Caller
Organizers/volunteers
Sound person
I feel like a lot of places go band->caller->sound person; hopefully
thanking the volunteers at the announcements.
I can see doing the final band thank you right after the band gets to play
their big closing number for the evening. Everyone's amped up, call out the
band and then tack the other ones on.
But I think about the theater, where at the end of the performance the
performers come out for bows. There, it's usually chorus->supporting->main
cast; and by that system I think we should thank the band last. But usually
in theater when all the cast is on stage they give a thank you and wave to
the tech crew and director. Which would imply
caller->band->sound+organizers.
Just wondering what folks' thoughts were on the subject.
Happy dancing,
Luke Donforth
(Burlington, VT)
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
12:50 p.m.
Hi Loke and all, Keep in mind that not everyone makes it to the end of the dance,
sometimes not even half the crowd. So saving all the thanks to the end might be shorting
the "thankees". I often try to thank the band throughout the evening, often
saying at the end of each dance, "thank your partner, and thank the band". David
Kaynor, always prone to slightly off-color jokes, would often explain that thanking the
band got them "aroused" after which they would play better.. Seems to work. I
don't normally call for thanking the caller if I'm calling, hoping someone in the
band will figure a way to do it after the band gets thanked. I normally thank the sound
person, but once again not at the bitter end, and the organizers (if it's not me).
Of course the organizers often recognize the band and caller at the break and introduce
them if there are announcements at that time.
bill
________________________________
From: Luke Donforth via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2025 12:11 AM
To: Shared Weight Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Order of thanks
Hey folks,
I wonder what people's thoughts are on end-of-the night thank-you's for a contra
dance.
Folks you might thank or call-out for applause:
Band
Caller
Organizers/volunteers
Sound person
I feel like a lot of places go band->caller->sound person; hopefully thanking the
volunteers at the announcements.
I can see doing the final band thank you right after the band gets to play their big
closing number for the evening. Everyone's amped up, call out the band and then tack
the other ones on.
But I think about the theater, where at the end of the performance the performers come out
for bows. There, it's usually chorus->supporting->main cast; and by that system
I think we should thank the band last. But usually in theater when all the cast is on
stage they give a thank you and wave to the tech crew and director. Which would imply
caller->band->sound+organizers.
Just wondering what folks' thoughts were on the subject.
Happy dancing,
Luke Donforth
(Burlington, VT)
9 Nov
9 Nov
4:42 p.m.
I do thank yous for the band interspersed through the evening, often after
an especially great tune, or sometimes if we've paused for emergency
sweeping, to find a dance card, or any other stall moment.
I do thank yous for volunteers, sound, the venue, snack-bringers, and
organizers as we're lining up to start the first dance after the break.
More people are there and attentive at that time.
It might be worth noting that we're a by-donation dance, so several
thanks-to-the-band gives me a few extra opportunities to remind dancers of
the donation jar.
Pardon brevity; sent by smartphone.
On Sun, Nov 9, 2025 at 6:32 PM Casey Carr via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I hadn't thought of an order, but I do prefer to
do our thanks yous right
at the beginning of the second set vs at the end of the night. That
ensures most people being there. Sometimes we will have people leave the
dance early for a long ride home, darkness and older people getting tired.
Casey
On 11/9/2025 7:11 PM, Luke Donforth via Contra Callers wrote:
Hey folks,
I wonder what people's thoughts are on end-of-the night thank-you's for a
contra dance.
Folks you might thank or call-out for applause:
Band
Caller
Organizers/volunteers
Sound person
I feel like a lot of places go band->caller->sound person; hopefully
thanking the volunteers at the announcements.
I can see doing the final band thank you right after the band gets to play
their big closing number for the evening. Everyone's amped up, call out the
band and then tack the other ones on.
But I think about the theater, where at the end of the performance the
performers come out for bows. There, it's usually chorus->supporting->main
cast; and by that system I think we should thank the band last. But usually
in theater when all the cast is on stage they give a thank you and wave to
the tech crew and director. Which would imply
caller->band->sound+organizers.
Just wondering what folks' thoughts were on the subject.
Happy dancing,
Luke Donforth
(Burlington, VT)
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
4:32 p.m.
I hadn't thought of an order, but I do prefer to do our thanks yous
right at the beginning of the second set vs at the end of the night.
That ensures most people being there. Sometimes we will have people
leave the dance early for a long ride home, darkness and older people
getting tired.
Casey
On 11/9/2025 7:11 PM, Luke Donforth via Contra Callers wrote:
Hey folks,
I wonder what people's thoughts are on end-of-the night thank-you's
for a contra dance.
Folks you might thank or call-out for applause:
Band
Caller
Organizers/volunteers
Sound person
I feel like a lot of places go band->caller->sound person; hopefully
thanking the volunteers at the announcements.
I can see doing the final band thank you right after the band gets to
play their big closing number for the evening. Everyone's amped up,
call out the band and then tack the other ones on.
But I think about the theater, where at the end of the performance the
performers come out for bows. There, it's usually
chorus->supporting->main cast; and by that system I think we should
thank the band last. But usually in theater when all the cast is on
stage they give a thank you and wave to the tech crew and director.
Which would imply caller->band->sound+organizers.
Just wondering what folks' thoughts were on the subject.
Happy dancing,
Luke Donforth
(Burlington, VT)
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list --contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email tocontracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
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contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
6 comments
6 participants
participants (6)
-
Allison Jonjak -
Bill Olson -
Casey Carr -
Luke Donforth -
Martha Wild -
Rich Dempsey