At 11:38 AM 5/18/2006, Lisa Greenleaf wrote: One of my favorite stories, and the reason I really stopped booking ahead. I was trying to avoid it previously, but this was a public slap on the wrist (read: humiliation) that permanently cured me. One of the bands at SnowBall 2004 was Moving Violations (MV). I forget the other band - Babes in Tuneland, maybe? One of the fiddlers in MV was Van Kaynor, of whom I have a high affection for. We passed each other in the lines early in the dance, and I asked him for the next dance. He said sure. Lisa announced the next dance was a square. Bobbie Jo and I have an agreement to do most of the squares together, as both are avid squares lovers. We found each other and setup in a square. You can see where this is headed, I am certain. Suddenly, I hear Lisa's voice of the mic: "Paging Seth Tepfer. Paging Seth Tepfer. Your partner is looking for you." I turn around to face the stage saying "But I already have my p...." And there on the stage next to Lisa is Van, anxiously scanning the room for me. Oh. The entire room said "uh oh!" and had encouraging laughter. This event has been burned in my memory. The reason I had been previously trying to avoid booking ahead was because of this very thing - I keep forgetting, and hurting people's feelings (and feeling ashamed when it happened - though not usually so publicly). Although the community reason to not book ahead is more powerful in my opinion, personally, my memory is the strongest motivator. I'm sure that minor hypocrisy is worthy of some soul searching. I've been told to not call people out from onstage. I personally think callers (at that moment dancing) are exempt from rule. Callers are subject to much worse from dancers who speak their minds; callers need to have the ego to withstand criticism - especially when they are caught not modeling good behavior! Anyway, Lisa, I cherish the memory fondly, and have used it a catalyst to change my behavior.

On May 18, 2006, at 5:11 PM, Troll / Wright wrote: You may do whatever pleases you! I just notice that men who are already dancing have an advantage over men who are sitting out (because the dancing men have access to all the women in the line), and I'd rather make a point of going to the sidelines and including those men who didn't make it into the mix. I once remember telling a beginner I'd just danced with that he had to head for the middle of the crowd and make contact because with the surplus of men there, he might go otherwise unnoticed. I've also discovered great new partners by purposely going to the sidelines on men-heavy nights. And, boy, is it nice to have someone smile and be happy you asked him to dance! I certainly don't feel I have to take care of everyone when I'm at a dance, but a little inclusive energy goes a long way. Once the genders balance out, then I do whatever pleases me; I might book ahead or I might not. Lisa

On May 19, 2006, at 8:56 AM, Seth Tepfer wrote: More importantly, it's the domain of the community itself. Callers aren't the only ones who influence the atmosphere at a dance, and the dancers are the ones who 'own' the dance, in a sense. -- Lisa

Community, and the customs that go with a particular community, and how and who can influence those customs appears to be the larger topic. We've arrived at our community customs for particular reasons. Understanding that history, and how influence is effective, I believe, will aid any perspectives on the topic of booking ahead...and more than a few other topics. Another view, and community norm, is described by caller Colin Hume, about dances in the England, in his advice to Americans visiting England. See: http://www.colinhume.com/american.htm For many dances in England, the norm and custom is to dance with the one you came with, for the evening. You may well understand that this norm permits a great deal more flexibility for the caller for the program to have non-partner-swing contra dances, and even whole genres of dances, over the course of the evening. Our current American customs of changing partners often is one component of the several influences that tend toward a particular kind of uniformity. Another community custom most of us are familiar with: all contra dances for the evening. I'd like to note Caller Tony Parkes's post to the news group "rec.folk-dancing" entitled "Absolutely no Contras" which was posted Thurs, Mar 2 1995. His post may well give perspective on our usual customs and the community that comes with it. See (long URL): http://groups.google.com/groups/search?q=absolutely+no+contras&hl=en&am… All of our customs took time and effort to create and sustain. Any changes in custom will take a similar kind of effort, and might require the effort to create completely new dance events, and new community to support those new events. ~Mark Jones

At 11:45 AM 5/18/2006, Chris Weiler wrote: Thanks. Will do - and will use separate e-mails. I just want to respect the nature of the two lists, and the moderator's vision in creating the lists.