28 Jul
2021
28 Jul
'21
12:45 p.m.
As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and access
all my material virtually. I have 2 questions:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance
instructions and notes?
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet?
Susan [image: đ¶] [image: âș]
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com
28 Jul
28 Jul
1:09 p.m.
On Wed, 28 Jul 2021 12:45:19 -0400, Susan English via Contra Callers wrote:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for
accessing your dance instructions and notes?
I have my own Dance Organiser program which runs on Windows (including a Windows tablet):
https://colinhume.com/download.htm#DanceOrg
I use it for English, Contras, Squares - everything. I call from a lap-top.
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you
can't get on the internet?
I don't need the internet: it's all there on my lap-top.
Colin Hume
1:13 p.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Paperless Calling
What is your backup plan if your laptop runs out of power or breaks?
<https://app.oxford.emory.edu/WebApps/Directories/index.cfm?fuseaction=v.searchresults&searchname=tepfer>
________________________________
From: Colin Hume via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 1:09 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [External] [Callers] Re: Paperless Calling
On Wed, 28 Jul 2021 12:45:19 -0400, Susan English via Contra Callers wrote:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for
accessing your dance instructions and notes?
I have my own Dance Organiser program which runs on Windows (including a Windows tablet):
https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2FcolinhumeâŠ
I use it for English, Contras, Squares - everything. I call from a lap-top.
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you
can't get on the internet?
I don't need the internet: it's all there on my lap-top.
Colin Hume
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
1:28 p.m.
On Wed, 28 Jul 2021 17:13:29 +0000, Tepfer, Seth wrote:
What is your backup plan if your laptop runs out of
power or breaks?
I always have my cards in the trunk of the car (except when I'm calling abroad, of
course). I have the whole thing on a
USB stick so I can borrow someone else's Windows lap-top and run the program from
that.
Colin Hume
1:34 p.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Paperless Calling
That is smart!
Seth Tepfer
Director of Software Engineering, Oxford College
Schedule an appointment:
oxford.emory.edu/SethBooking<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/âŠ
770-784-8487
seth.tepfer(a)emory.edu
Use AskIT for fastest response:
Oxford.emory.edu/AskIT<https://app.oxford.emory.edu/WebApps/OCIT/forms/AâŠ
<https://app.oxford.emory.edu/WebApps/OCIT/forms/AskIT/index.cfm>
Pronouns: he, him, his
<https://app.oxford.emory.edu/WebApps/Directories/index.cfm?fuseaction=v.searchresults&searchname=tepfer>
________________________________
From: Colin Hume via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 1:28 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [External] [Callers] Re: Paperless Calling
On Wed, 28 Jul 2021 17:13:29 +0000, Tepfer, Seth wrote:
What is your backup plan if your laptop runs out of
power or breaks?
I always have my cards in the trunk of the car (except when I'm calling abroad, of
course). I have the whole thing on a
USB stick so I can borrow someone else's Windows lap-top and run the program from
that.
Colin Hume
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
1:46 p.m.
Hi Susan, This addresses #2, a potential BACKUP PLAN..... and also "paperless
calling" in general, though not in the way you were thinking...
Maybe 25-30 (sheesh maybe more!) years ago I had been calling for several years and also
played in a couple dance bands and also did sound at the North Whitefield, Maine 4th
Friday dance (this was Ted Sannella's dance for many years). One time the caller
didn't show up and I was asked if I could call the dance. I had no cards with me but
said OK and had to do it from memory. I got through the dance (barely) without having to
repeat any dances (hah hah) but found the experience very "freeing" not having
to look down at a card. (yeah there were a few tense moments there).. Anyway since that
time I resolved never to be tied down to paper (or recently to a computer or the internet)
and have always called from memory. This makes it easier to interact with the band and
more importantly to be aware of what is happening with the dancers out on the floor.
Before each dance I make a plan (which is rarely fully adhered to) with dances and
"spares".. I go through them in my head on the way to the dance.. There have
been several times, though not that many, when I had a brain fart and couldn't
remember the dance and had to bail but quickly called a no-brainer one walk-thru dance.. .
Before the pandemic (i.e. not calling for a year and a half) I had about 100 dances in the
memory bank. Of course to keep things fresh, I would call new ones which I would study for
a while before the dance. Some times they got added to the 100 some times not..
OK I understand not everyone trusts their memory like this.. BUT it's not a bad idea
to have an evening's program worth of dances that you can recall from memory (or even
two or three) just in case you forget your cards at a dance where there is no internet
access!!.. Rick Mohr used to have (maybe still does) a business card sized card in his
wallet. He developed a shorthand for annotating a dance and claimed he had 100 dances on
that card (the printing was very small!).. !! Larry Unger used to carry a set of dance
cards in his guitar case.. He wasn't a caller but would give them to the caller in
case "something happened", so the show would go on. I.e. it's probably good
to have a set of "emergency" dance cards in your wallet or car glove compartment
or heck on your smart phone. But I still like being to call from memory.. Good exercise
for my brain I guess..
my $.02 worth..
bill olson in Maine
________________________________
From: Susan English via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 4:45 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Paperless Calling
As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and access all my material
virtually. I have 2 questions:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance instructions and
notes?
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet?
Susan [??] [:)]
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=httpâŠ
2:13 p.m.
I enjoy teaching dances I have memorized, certainly! However all the ones
I have memorized are folk dances where the tune is always the same, such as
Levi Jackson Rag, several Scottish Country Dances and ECD and dozens of
international folk dances. Modern Contras elude me because of the lack of
a name tune.
One of the most discouraging comments I ever received during a contra
callers workshop was âif you canât memorize 12 dances for an evening, you
have no business calling contras.â (Robert Cromartie). But Iâve had lots
of fun since then, ignoring that advice.
My cards were stolen in 2006, but I reconstructed them with the help of
Chuck Roth and Rich Goss and many other callers. So now I scan my favorite
dances so I never lose them, but I still prefer cards when calling dances.
I get enough computer time! Makes it easier for someone to copy (or photo)
a dance they like, also.
Lissa Bengtson
San Antonio
On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 12:46 PM Bill Olson via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi Susan, This addresses #2, a potential BACKUP
PLAN..... and also
"paperless calling" in general, though not in the way you were thinking...
Maybe 25-30 (sheesh maybe more!) years ago I had been calling for several
years and also played in a couple dance bands and also did sound at the
North Whitefield, Maine 4th Friday dance (this was Ted Sannella's dance for
many years). One time the caller didn't show up and I was asked if I could
call the dance. I had no cards with me but said OK and had to do it from
memory. I got through the dance (barely) without having to repeat any
dances (hah hah) but found the experience very "freeing" not having to
look down at a card. (yeah there were a few tense moments there).. Anyway
since that time I resolved never to be tied down to paper (or recently to a
computer or the internet) and have always called from memory. This makes it
easier to interact with the band and more importantly to be aware of what
is happening with the dancers out on the floor. Before each dance I make a
plan (which is rarely fully adhered to) with dances and "spares".. I go
through them in my head on the way to the dance.. There have been several
times, though not that many, when I had a brain fart and couldn't remember
the dance and had to bail but quickly called a no-brainer one walk-thru
dance.. . Before the pandemic (i.e. not calling for a year and a half) I
had about 100 dances in the memory bank. Of course to keep things fresh,
I would call new ones which I would study for a while before the dance. Some
times they got added to the 100 some times not..
OK I understand not everyone trusts their memory like this.. BUT it's not
a bad idea to have an evening's program worth of dances that you can recall
from memory (or even two or three) just in case you forget your cards at a
dance where there is no internet access!!.. Rick Mohr used to have (maybe
still does) a business card sized card in his wallet. He developed a
shorthand for annotating a dance and claimed he had 100 dances on that card
(the printing was very small!).. !! Larry Unger used to carry a set of
dance cards in his guitar case.. He wasn't a caller but would give them to
the caller in case "something happened", so the show would go on. I.e.
it's
probably good to have a set of "emergency" dance cards in your wallet or
car glove compartment or heck on your smart phone. But I still like being
to call from memory.. Good exercise for my brain I guess..
my $.02 worth..
bill olson in Maine
------------------------------
*From:* Susan English via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* Wednesday, July 28, 2021 4:45 PM
*To:* contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* [Callers] Paperless Calling
As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and access
all my material virtually. I have 2 questions:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance
instructions and notes?
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet?
Susan [image: đ¶] [image: âș]
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com
<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwoosterdance.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7Cafddc1f019eb48b082f808d951e72047%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637630875430358334%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=%2B4sdnIaWMAt35OU9coLXXG5Ezc8SZFZBU1wGVwJ8Fjw%3D&reserved=0>
_______________________________________________
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To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
3:23 p.m.
I use Evernote (https://evernote.com/), which isn't perfect but can be
wrangled to work well enough. All the cards are on my computer AND in the
cloud AND I pay a little extra to have them on my phone without internet.
So if my computer breaks/is lost/is stolen I have my phone, and if the
computer *and *phone are gone* I could use someone else's computer or
phone. I can add tags to the cards, so I have a tag for each move, its
~flow~, and any quirks (e.g. no partner swing), which makes it easy to
search. I don't rely on my memory at ALL.
And I believe I have a bunch of word documents in google drive, too.
*I will be in a weeping puddle on the floor
On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 2:13 PM Lissa Bengtson via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I enjoy teaching dances I have memorized, certainly!
However all the ones
I have memorized are folk dances where the tune is always the same, such as
Levi Jackson Rag, several Scottish Country Dances and ECD and dozens of
international folk dances. Modern Contras elude me because of the lack of
a name tune.
One of the most discouraging comments I ever received during a contra
callers workshop was âif you canât memorize 12 dances for an evening, you
have no business calling contras.â (Robert Cromartie). But Iâve had lots
of fun since then, ignoring that advice.
My cards were stolen in 2006, but I reconstructed them with the help
of Chuck Roth and Rich Goss and many other callers. So now I scan my
favorite dances so I never lose them, but I still prefer cards when calling
dances. I get enough computer time! Makes it easier for someone to copy
(or photo) a dance they like, also.
Lissa Bengtson
San Antonio
On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 12:46 PM Bill Olson via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi Susan, This addresses #2, a potential BACKUP
PLAN..... and also
"paperless calling" in general, though not in the way you were thinking...
Maybe 25-30 (sheesh maybe more!) years ago I had been calling for several
years and also played in a couple dance bands and also did sound at the
North Whitefield, Maine 4th Friday dance (this was Ted Sannella's dance for
many years). One time the caller didn't show up and I was asked if I could
call the dance. I had no cards with me but said OK and had to do it from
memory. I got through the dance (barely) without having to repeat any
dances (hah hah) but found the experience very "freeing" not having to
look down at a card. (yeah there were a few tense moments there).. Anyway
since that time I resolved never to be tied down to paper (or recently to a
computer or the internet) and have always called from memory. This makes it
easier to interact with the band and more importantly to be aware of what
is happening with the dancers out on the floor. Before each dance I make a
plan (which is rarely fully adhered to) with dances and "spares".. I go
through them in my head on the way to the dance.. There have been several
times, though not that many, when I had a brain fart and couldn't remember
the dance and had to bail but quickly called a no-brainer one walk-thru
dance.. . Before the pandemic (i.e. not calling for a year and a half) I
had about 100 dances in the memory bank. Of course to keep things fresh,
I would call new ones which I would study for a while before the dance. Some
times they got added to the 100 some times not..
OK I understand not everyone trusts their memory like this.. BUT it's not
a bad idea to have an evening's program worth of dances that you can recall
from memory (or even two or three) just in case you forget your cards at a
dance where there is no internet access!!.. Rick Mohr used to have (maybe
still does) a business card sized card in his wallet. He developed a
shorthand for annotating a dance and claimed he had 100 dances on that card
(the printing was very small!).. !! Larry Unger used to carry a set of
dance cards in his guitar case.. He wasn't a caller but would give them to
the caller in case "something happened", so the show would go on. I.e.
it's
probably good to have a set of "emergency" dance cards in your wallet or
car glove compartment or heck on your smart phone. But I still like being
to call from memory.. Good exercise for my brain I guess..
my $.02 worth..
bill olson in Maine
------------------------------
*From:* Susan English via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* Wednesday, July 28, 2021 4:45 PM
*To:* contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* [Callers] Paperless Calling
As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and
access all my material virtually. I have 2 questions:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance
instructions and notes?
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet?
Susan [image: đ¶] [image: âș]
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com
<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwoosterdance.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7Cafddc1f019eb48b082f808d951e72047%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637630875430358334%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=%2B4sdnIaWMAt35OU9coLXXG5Ezc8SZFZBU1wGVwJ8Fjw%3D&reserved=0>
_______________________________________________
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To unsubscribe send an email to
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To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
3:55 p.m.
Emily --
Do you have a way that you can tag your dances in Evernote or easily search
looking for a particular combination of figures or that type of thing?
On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 3:23 PM Emily Rush via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I use Evernote (https://evernote.com/), which
isn't perfect but can be
wrangled to work well enough. All the cards are on my computer AND in the
cloud AND I pay a little extra to have them on my phone without internet.
So if my computer breaks/is lost/is stolen I have my phone, and if the
computer *and *phone are gone* I could use someone else's computer or
phone. I can add tags to the cards, so I have a tag for each move, its
~flow~, and any quirks (e.g. no partner swing), which makes it easy to
search. I don't rely on my memory at ALL.
And I believe I have a bunch of word documents in google drive, too.
*I will be in a weeping puddle on the floor
On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 2:13 PM Lissa Bengtson via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I enjoy teaching dances I have memorized,
certainly! However all the
ones I have memorized are folk dances where the tune is always the same,
such as Levi Jackson Rag, several Scottish Country Dances and ECD and
dozens of international folk dances. Modern Contras elude me because of
the lack of a name tune.
One of the most discouraging comments I ever received during a contra
callers workshop was âif you canât memorize 12 dances for an evening, you
have no business calling contras.â (Robert Cromartie). But Iâve had lots
of fun since then, ignoring that advice.
My cards were stolen in 2006, but I reconstructed them with the help
of Chuck Roth and Rich Goss and many other callers. So now I scan my
favorite dances so I never lose them, but I still prefer cards when calling
dances. I get enough computer time! Makes it easier for someone to copy
(or photo) a dance they like, also.
Lissa Bengtson
San Antonio
On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 12:46 PM Bill Olson via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Hi Susan, This addresses #2, a potential BACKUP
PLAN..... and also
"paperless calling" in general, though not in the way you were thinking...
Maybe 25-30 (sheesh maybe more!) years ago I had been calling for
several years and also played in a couple dance bands and also did sound at
the North Whitefield, Maine 4th Friday dance (this was Ted Sannella's dance
for many years). One time the caller didn't show up and I was asked if I
could call the dance. I had no cards with me but said OK and had to do it
from memory. I got through the dance (barely) without having to repeat any
dances (hah hah) but found the experience very "freeing" not having to
look down at a card. (yeah there were a few tense moments there).. Anyway
since that time I resolved never to be tied down to paper (or recently to a
computer or the internet) and have always called from memory. This makes it
easier to interact with the band and more importantly to be aware of what
is happening with the dancers out on the floor. Before each dance I make a
plan (which is rarely fully adhered to) with dances and "spares".. I go
through them in my head on the way to the dance.. There have been several
times, though not that many, when I had a brain fart and couldn't remember
the dance and had to bail but quickly called a no-brainer one walk-thru
dance.. . Before the pandemic (i.e. not calling for a year and a half)
I had about 100 dances in the memory bank. Of course to keep things
fresh, I would call new ones which I would study for a while before the
dance. Some times they got added to the 100 some times not..
OK I understand not everyone trusts their memory like this.. BUT it's
not a bad idea to have an evening's program worth of dances that you can
recall from memory (or even two or three) just in case you forget your
cards at a dance where there is no internet access!!.. Rick Mohr used to
have (maybe still does) a business card sized card in his wallet. He
developed a shorthand for annotating a dance and claimed he had 100 dances
on that card (the printing was very small!).. !! Larry Unger used to carry
a set of dance cards in his guitar case.. He wasn't a caller but would give
them to the caller in case "something happened", so the show would go on.
I.e. it's probably good to have a set of "emergency" dance cards in your
wallet or car glove compartment or heck on your smart phone. But I still
like being to call from memory.. Good exercise for my brain I guess..
my $.02 worth..
bill olson in Maine
------------------------------
*From:* Susan English via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* Wednesday, July 28, 2021 4:45 PM
*To:* contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* [Callers] Paperless Calling
As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and
access all my material virtually. I have 2 questions:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance
instructions and notes?
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet?
Susan [image: đ¶] [image: âș]
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com
<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwoosterdance.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7Cafddc1f019eb48b082f808d951e72047%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637630875430358334%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=%2B4sdnIaWMAt35OU9coLXXG5Ezc8SZFZBU1wGVwJ8Fjw%3D&reserved=0>
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to
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_______________________________________________
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To unsubscribe send an email to
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29 Jul
29 Jul
1:29 p.m.
Do you have a way that you can tag your dances in
Evernote or easily
search looking for a particular combination of figures or that
type of
thing?
I do indeed! So I can search on or click on various terms (e.g. mad robin,
full hey, half hey, bouncy A1) and bring up all relevant dances.
On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 3:55 PM Jack Mitchell <jmitchell.nc(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
> Emily --
>
Do you have a way that you can tag your dances in
Evernote or easily
> search looking for a particular combination of figures or
that type of
> thing?
>
> On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 3:23 PM Emily Rush via Contra Callers <
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> I use Evernote (https://evernote.com/), which isn't perfect but can be
>> wrangled to work well enough. All the cards are on my computer AND in the
>> cloud AND I pay a little extra to have them on my phone without internet.
>> So if my computer breaks/is lost/is stolen I have my phone, and if the
>> computer *and *phone are gone* I could use someone else's computer or
>> phone. I can add tags to the cards, so I have a tag for each move, its
>> ~flow~, and any quirks (e.g. no partner swing), which makes it easy to
>> search. I don't rely on my memory at ALL.
>>
>> And I believe I have a bunch of word documents in google drive, too.
>>
>>
>> *I will be in a weeping puddle on the floor
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 2:13 PM Lissa Bengtson via Contra Callers <
>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>>> I enjoy teaching dances I have memorized, certainly! However all the
>>> ones I have memorized are folk dances where the tune is always the same,
>>> such as Levi Jackson Rag, several Scottish Country Dances and ECD and
>>> dozens of international folk dances. Modern Contras elude me because of
>>> the lack of a name tune.
>>> One of the most discouraging comments I ever received during a
>>> contra callers workshop was âif you canât memorize 12 dances for an
>>> evening, you have no business calling contras.â (Robert Cromartie). But
>>> Iâve had lots of fun since then, ignoring that advice.
>>> My cards were stolen in 2006, but I reconstructed them with the help
>>> of Chuck Roth and Rich Goss and many other callers. So now I scan my
>>> favorite dances so I never lose them, but I still prefer cards when calling
>>> dances. I get enough computer time! Makes it easier for someone to copy
>>> (or photo) a dance they like, also.
>>>
>>> Lissa Bengtson
>>> San Antonio
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 12:46 PM Bill Olson via Contra Callers <
>>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Susan, This addresses #2, a potential BACKUP PLAN..... and also
>>>> "paperless calling" in general, though not in the way you were
thinking...
>>>>
>>>> Maybe 25-30 (sheesh maybe more!) years ago I had been calling for
>>>> several years and also played in a couple dance bands and also did sound
at
>>>> the North Whitefield, Maine 4th Friday dance (this was Ted Sannella's
dance
>>>> for many years). One time the caller didn't show up and I was asked
if I
>>>> could call the dance. I had no cards with me but said OK and had to do
it
>>>> from memory. I got through the dance (barely) without having to repeat
any
>>>> dances (hah hah) but found the experience very "freeing" not
having to
>>>> look down at a card. (yeah there were a few tense moments there)..
Anyway
>>>> since that time I resolved never to be tied down to paper (or recently to
a
>>>> computer or the internet) and have always called from memory. This makes
it
>>>> easier to interact with the band and more importantly to be aware of
what
>>>> is happening with the dancers out on the floor. Before each dance I make
a
>>>> plan (which is rarely fully adhered to) with dances and
"spares".. I go
>>>> through them in my head on the way to the dance.. There have been
several
>>>> times, though not that many, when I had a brain fart and couldn't
remember
>>>> the dance and had to bail but quickly called a no-brainer one walk-thru
>>>> dance.. . Before the pandemic (i.e. not calling for a year and a half)
>>>> I had about 100 dances in the memory bank. Of course to keep things
>>>> fresh, I would call new ones which I would study for a while before the
>>>> dance. Some times they got added to the 100 some times not..
>>>>
>>>> OK I understand not everyone trusts their memory like this.. BUT
it's
>>>> not a bad idea to have an evening's program worth of dances that you
can
>>>> recall from memory (or even two or three) just in case you forget your
>>>> cards at a dance where there is no internet access!!.. Rick Mohr used to
>>>> have (maybe still does) a business card sized card in his wallet. He
>>>> developed a shorthand for annotating a dance and claimed he had 100
dances
>>>> on that card (the printing was very small!).. !! Larry Unger used to
carry
>>>> a set of dance cards in his guitar case.. He wasn't a caller but
would give
>>>> them to the caller in case "something happened", so the show
would go on.
>>>> I.e. it's probably good to have a set of "emergency" dance
cards in your
>>>> wallet or car glove compartment or heck on your smart phone. But I still
>>>> like being to call from memory.. Good exercise for my brain I guess..
>>>>
>>>> my $.02 worth..
>>>>
>>>> bill olson in Maine
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------
>>>> *From:* Susan English via Contra Callers <
>>>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>>>> *Sent:* Wednesday, July 28, 2021 4:45 PM
>>>> *To:* contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <
>>>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>>>> *Subject:* [Callers] Paperless Calling
>>>>
>>>> As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and
>>>> access all my material virtually. I have 2 questions:
>>>>
>>>> 1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance
>>>> instructions and notes?
>>>> 2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the
>>>> internet?
>>>>
>>>> Susan [image: đ¶] [image: âș]
>>>> 330-347-8155
>>>> woosterdance.com
>>>>
<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwoosterdance.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7Cafddc1f019eb48b082f808d951e72047%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637630875430358334%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=%2B4sdnIaWMAt35OU9coLXXG5Ezc8SZFZBU1wGVwJ8Fjw%3D&reserved=0>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> 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
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> To unsubscribe send an email to
>> contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>>
>
5:24 p.m.
Wow, thank you! All these responses are interesting, putting my questions
into a broader context. Let me list the technical solutions suggested so
far to see which ones I want to try:
- Colin Hume's dance organizer
- USB stick
- Evernote w/ tags
- Dropbox
- Filemaker
- Photos
- screen shots
- word files
- PDFs on Kindle
- Google Drive
- Google slides
- Notion (?)
- Victor's Gascon's Contra DB
My story FYI: Since my start in 1990 (with Ted Sannella), I have carried
my trusty 4x6 cards in little 2-ring notebooks labelled Contras, Squares,
Novelty, and Community, plus separate full-sized notebooks, including sheet
music, for ECD and Civil War Balls. I plan a program by putting the name
of each dance on a sticky note on a single sheet of cardstock. This way I
can change the order, remove, and add dances as the evening progresses.
The next day I mark the date, location, and comments on the back of each
card (some cards are full!)
Several years ago I purchased (at some expense) Caller's Companion, but
today I can't get the software to open. During the lockdown I used Chris
Page's Caller's Box for finding (and submitting) virtual dances. Thank
you, Chris.
That's it. I look forward to trying some of the methods you all have
suggested, plus others to come!
Susanâșđ¶
On Thu, Jul 29, 2021 at 1:29 PM Emily Rush <em.rush(a)gmail.com> wrote:
--
Susan [image: đ¶] [image: âș]
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com
Do you have a
way that you can tag your dances in Evernote or easily
search looking for a
particular combination of figures or that type of
thing?
I do indeed! So I can search on or click on various terms (e.g. mad robin,
full hey, half hey, bouncy A1) and bring up all relevant dances.
On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 3:55 PM Jack Mitchell <jmitchell.nc(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
> Emily --
>
> Do you have a way that you can tag your dances in Evernote or easily
> search looking for a particular combination of figures or that type of
> thing?
>
> On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 3:23 PM Emily Rush via Contra Callers <
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> I use Evernote (https://evernote.com/), which isn't perfect but can be
>> wrangled to work well enough. All the cards are on my computer AND in the
>> cloud AND I pay a little extra to have them on my phone without internet.
>> So if my computer breaks/is lost/is stolen I have my phone, and if the
>> computer *and *phone are gone* I could use someone else's computer or
>> phone. I can add tags to the cards, so I have a tag for each move, its
>> ~flow~, and any quirks (e.g. no partner swing), which makes it easy to
>> search. I don't rely on my memory at ALL.
>>
>> And I believe I have a bunch of word documents in google drive, too.
>>
>>
>> *I will be in a weeping puddle on the floor
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 2:13 PM Lissa Bengtson via Contra Callers <
>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>>> I enjoy teaching dances I have memorized, certainly! However all the
>>> ones I have memorized are folk dances where the tune is always the same,
>>> such as Levi Jackson Rag, several Scottish Country Dances and ECD and
>>> dozens of international folk dances. Modern Contras elude me because of
>>> the lack of a name tune.
>>> One of the most discouraging comments I ever received during a
>>> contra callers workshop was âif you canât memorize 12 dances for an
>>> evening, you have no business calling contras.â (Robert Cromartie). But
>>> Iâve had lots of fun since then, ignoring that advice.
>>> My cards were stolen in 2006, but I reconstructed them with the
>>> help of Chuck Roth and Rich Goss and many other callers. So now I scan my
>>> favorite dances so I never lose them, but I still prefer cards when calling
>>> dances. I get enough computer time! Makes it easier for someone to copy
>>> (or photo) a dance they like, also.
>>>
>>> Lissa Bengtson
>>> San Antonio
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 12:46 PM Bill Olson via Contra Callers <
>>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Susan, This addresses #2, a potential BACKUP PLAN..... and also
>>>> "paperless calling" in general, though not in the way you were
thinking...
>>>>
>>>> Maybe 25-30 (sheesh maybe more!) years ago I had been calling for
>>>> several years and also played in a couple dance bands and also did sound
at
>>>> the North Whitefield, Maine 4th Friday dance (this was Ted Sannella's
dance
>>>> for many years). One time the caller didn't show up and I was asked
if I
>>>> could call the dance. I had no cards with me but said OK and had to do
it
>>>> from memory. I got through the dance (barely) without having to repeat
any
>>>> dances (hah hah) but found the experience very "freeing" not
having to
>>>> look down at a card. (yeah there were a few tense moments there)..
Anyway
>>>> since that time I resolved never to be tied down to paper (or recently to
a
>>>> computer or the internet) and have always called from memory. This makes
it
>>>> easier to interact with the band and more importantly to be aware of
what
>>>> is happening with the dancers out on the floor. Before each dance I make
a
>>>> plan (which is rarely fully adhered to) with dances and
"spares".. I go
>>>> through them in my head on the way to the dance.. There have been
several
>>>> times, though not that many, when I had a brain fart and couldn't
remember
>>>> the dance and had to bail but quickly called a no-brainer one walk-thru
>>>> dance.. . Before the pandemic (i.e. not calling for a year and a
>>>> half) I had about 100 dances in the memory bank. Of course to keep
>>>> things fresh, I would call new ones which I would study for a while
before
>>>> the dance. Some times they got added to the 100 some times not..
>>>>
>>>> OK I understand not everyone trusts their memory like this.. BUT
it's
>>>> not a bad idea to have an evening's program worth of dances that you
can
>>>> recall from memory (or even two or three) just in case you forget your
>>>> cards at a dance where there is no internet access!!.. Rick Mohr used to
>>>> have (maybe still does) a business card sized card in his wallet. He
>>>> developed a shorthand for annotating a dance and claimed he had 100
dances
>>>> on that card (the printing was very small!).. !! Larry Unger used to
carry
>>>> a set of dance cards in his guitar case.. He wasn't a caller but
would give
>>>> them to the caller in case "something happened", so the show
would go on.
>>>> I.e. it's probably good to have a set of "emergency" dance
cards in your
>>>> wallet or car glove compartment or heck on your smart phone. But I still
>>>> like being to call from memory.. Good exercise for my brain I guess..
>>>>
>>>> my $.02 worth..
>>>>
>>>> bill olson in Maine
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------
>>>> *From:* Susan English via Contra Callers <
>>>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>>>> *Sent:* Wednesday, July 28, 2021 4:45 PM
>>>> *To:* contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <
>>>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>>>> *Subject:* [Callers] Paperless Calling
>>>>
>>>> As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and
>>>> access all my material virtually. I have 2 questions:
>>>>
>>>> 1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your
>>>> dance instructions and notes?
>>>> 2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the
>>>> internet?
>>>>
>>>> Susan [image: đ¶] [image: âș]
>>>> 330-347-8155
>>>> woosterdance.com
>>>>
<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwoosterdance.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7Cafddc1f019eb48b082f808d951e72047%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637630875430358334%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=%2B4sdnIaWMAt35OU9coLXXG5Ezc8SZFZBU1wGVwJ8Fjw%3D&reserved=0>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> 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
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> To unsubscribe send an email to
>> contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>>
>
28 Jul
28 Jul
2:19 p.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Paperless Calling
I had a similar experience with forgetting my calling cards and then calling an entire
evening from memory. Completely changed the way I call. I still use cards, but having no
card in your hand means you are much more focused on the dancers during the teaching.
Seth Tepfer
Director of Software Engineering, Oxford College
Schedule an appointment:
oxford.emory.edu/SethBooking<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/âŠ
770-784-8487
seth.tepfer(a)emory.edu
Use AskIT for fastest response:
Oxford.emory.edu/AskIT<https://app.oxford.emory.edu/WebApps/OCIT/forms/AâŠ
<https://app.oxford.emory.edu/WebApps/OCIT/forms/AskIT/index.cfm>
Pronouns: he, him, his
<https://app.oxford.emory.edu/WebApps/Directories/index.cfm?fuseaction=v.searchresults&searchname=tepfer>
________________________________
From: Bill Olson via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 1:46 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>et>;
Susan English <senglish(a)umich.edu>
Subject: [External] [Callers] Re: Paperless Calling
Hi Susan, This addresses #2, a potential BACKUP PLAN..... and also "paperless
calling" in general, though not in the way you were thinking...
Maybe 25-30 (sheesh maybe more!) years ago I had been calling for several years and also
played in a couple dance bands and also did sound at the North Whitefield, Maine 4th
Friday dance (this was Ted Sannella's dance for many years). One time the caller
didn't show up and I was asked if I could call the dance. I had no cards with me but
said OK and had to do it from memory. I got through the dance (barely) without having to
repeat any dances (hah hah) but found the experience very "freeing" not having
to look down at a card. (yeah there were a few tense moments there).. Anyway since that
time I resolved never to be tied down to paper (or recently to a computer or the internet)
and have always called from memory. This makes it easier to interact with the band and
more importantly to be aware of what is happening with the dancers out on the floor.
Before each dance I make a plan (which is rarely fully adhered to) with dances and
"spares".. I go through them in my head on the way to the dance.. There have
been several times, though not that many, when I had a brain fart and couldn't
remember the dance and had to bail but quickly called a no-brainer one walk-thru dance.. .
Before the pandemic (i.e. not calling for a year and a half) I had about 100 dances in the
memory bank. Of course to keep things fresh, I would call new ones which I would study for
a while before the dance. Some times they got added to the 100 some times not..
OK I understand not everyone trusts their memory like this.. BUT it's not a bad idea
to have an evening's program worth of dances that you can recall from memory (or even
two or three) just in case you forget your cards at a dance where there is no internet
access!!.. Rick Mohr used to have (maybe still does) a business card sized card in his
wallet. He developed a shorthand for annotating a dance and claimed he had 100 dances on
that card (the printing was very small!).. !! Larry Unger used to carry a set of dance
cards in his guitar case.. He wasn't a caller but would give them to the caller in
case "something happened", so the show would go on. I.e. it's probably good
to have a set of "emergency" dance cards in your wallet or car glove compartment
or heck on your smart phone. But I still like being to call from memory.. Good exercise
for my brain I guess..
my $.02 worth..
bill olson in Maine
________________________________
From: Susan English via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 4:45 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Paperless Calling
As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and access all my material
virtually. I have 2 questions:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance instructions and
notes?
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet?
Susan [đ¶] [âș]
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com<https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=httâŠ
2:32 p.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Paperless Calling
YUP! BUT.. FWIW, Ted Sannella Always used cards (I am not sure he actually looked at them,
but...)
So, to Lissa's "Robert Cromartie comment", I think he was more just trying
to make a point! There are certainly many callers who don't completely memorize dances
who lead the way these days! I think the main point is to be familiar with the dance
choreography and not to be continuously staring down at a "card" and not
watching the dancers... From the point of view of a musician and singer, I look at it
this way: Some artists can recall several hundred songs or tunes from memory.. Why is a
contradance, which might have 10 figures at the most, any different from that?
Hi Seth, hi to Pam..
bill
________________________________
From: Tepfer, Seth <labst(a)emory.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 6:19 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>et>;
Susan English <senglish(a)umich.edu>du>; Bill Olson <callbill(a)hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [External] [Callers] Re: Paperless Calling
I had a similar experience with forgetting my calling cards and then calling an entire
evening from memory. Completely changed the way I call. I still use cards, but having no
card in your hand means you are much more focused on the dancers during the teaching.
Seth Tepfer
Director of Software Engineering, Oxford College
Schedule an appointment:
oxford.emory.edu/SethBooking<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.câŠ
770-784-8487
seth.tepfer(a)emory.edu
Use AskIT for fastest response:
Oxford.emory.edu/AskIT<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?urâŠ
<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.oxford.emory.edu%2FWebApps%2FOCIT%2Fforms%2FAskIT%2Findex.cfm&data=04%7C01%7C%7C4de1abb9f8294b9aeceb08d951f442c6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637630931798001302%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=3HyptU8Db4jwsRq0f4vAv%2BYPVEFUkFDoLHB%2Bg2YJBoE%3D&reserved=0>
Pronouns: he, him, his
<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.oxford.emory.edu%2FWebApps%2FDirectories%2Findex.cfm%3Ffuseaction%3Dv.searchresults%26searchname%3Dtepfer&data=04%7C01%7C%7C4de1abb9f8294b9aeceb08d951f442c6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637630931798001302%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=tZgfRghpfJgyhY3tIcToWzQjswr34fdpFBXHuhAMvJ0%3D&reserved=0>
________________________________
From: Bill Olson via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 1:46 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>et>;
Susan English <senglish(a)umich.edu>
Subject: [External] [Callers] Re: Paperless Calling
Hi Susan, This addresses #2, a potential BACKUP PLAN..... and also "paperless
calling" in general, though not in the way you were thinking...
Maybe 25-30 (sheesh maybe more!) years ago I had been calling for several years and also
played in a couple dance bands and also did sound at the North Whitefield, Maine 4th
Friday dance (this was Ted Sannella's dance for many years). One time the caller
didn't show up and I was asked if I could call the dance. I had no cards with me but
said OK and had to do it from memory. I got through the dance (barely) without having to
repeat any dances (hah hah) but found the experience very "freeing" not having
to look down at a card. (yeah there were a few tense moments there).. Anyway since that
time I resolved never to be tied down to paper (or recently to a computer or the internet)
and have always called from memory. This makes it easier to interact with the band and
more importantly to be aware of what is happening with the dancers out on the floor.
Before each dance I make a plan (which is rarely fully adhered to) with dances and
"spares".. I go through them in my head on the way to the dance.. There have
been several times, though not that many, when I had a brain fart and couldn't
remember the dance and had to bail but quickly called a no-brainer one walk-thru dance.. .
Before the pandemic (i.e. not calling for a year and a half) I had about 100 dances in the
memory bank. Of course to keep things fresh, I would call new ones which I would study for
a while before the dance. Some times they got added to the 100 some times not..
OK I understand not everyone trusts their memory like this.. BUT it's not a bad idea
to have an evening's program worth of dances that you can recall from memory (or even
two or three) just in case you forget your cards at a dance where there is no internet
access!!.. Rick Mohr used to have (maybe still does) a business card sized card in his
wallet. He developed a shorthand for annotating a dance and claimed he had 100 dances on
that card (the printing was very small!).. !! Larry Unger used to carry a set of dance
cards in his guitar case.. He wasn't a caller but would give them to the caller in
case "something happened", so the show would go on. I.e. it's probably good
to have a set of "emergency" dance cards in your wallet or car glove compartment
or heck on your smart phone. But I still like being to call from memory.. Good exercise
for my brain I guess..
my $.02 worth..
bill olson in Maine
________________________________
From: Susan English via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 4:45 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Paperless Calling
As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and access all my material
virtually. I have 2 questions:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance instructions and
notes?
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet?
Susan [??] [:)]
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=httpâŠ
3:02 p.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Paperless Calling
I once gave Ted Sanella an airport-to-dance-camp ride and had a good chat with him (late
'80s, early '90s, somewhere in there). He mentioned then that he liked to write
notes on his cards. If the band played something that worked really well for the dance
he'd ask what it was and write it down on the back of the card.
-- Alan
________________________________________
From: Bill Olson via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 11:32 AM
To: Tepfer, Seth; contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net; Susan English
Subject: [Callers] Re: [External] Re: Paperless Calling
YUP! BUT.. FWIW, Ted Sannella Always used cards (I am not sure he actually looked at them,
but...)
So, to Lissa's "Robert Cromartie comment", I think he was more just trying
to make a point! There are certainly many callers who don't completely memorize dances
who lead the way these days! I think the main point is to be familiar with the dance
choreography and not to be continuously staring down at a "card" and not
watching the dancers... From the point of view of a musician and singer, I look at it
this way: Some artists can recall several hundred songs or tunes from memory.. Why is a
contradance, which might have 10 figures at the most, any different from that?
Hi Seth, hi to Pam..
bill
________________________________
From: Tepfer, Seth <labst(a)emory.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 6:19 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>et>;
Susan English <senglish(a)umich.edu>du>; Bill Olson <callbill(a)hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [External] [Callers] Re: Paperless Calling
I had a similar experience with forgetting my calling cards and then calling an entire
evening from memory. Completely changed the way I call. I still use cards, but having no
card in your hand means you are much more focused on the dancers during the teaching.
Seth Tepfer
Director of Software Engineering, Oxford College
Schedule an appointment:
oxford.emory.edu/SethBooking<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.câŠ
770-784-8487
seth.tepfer(a)emory.edu
Use AskIT for fastest response:
Oxford.emory.edu/AskIT<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?urâŠ
<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.oxford.emory.edu%2FWebApps%2FOCIT%2Fforms%2FAskIT%2Findex.cfm&data=04%7C01%7C%7C4de1abb9f8294b9aeceb08d951f442c6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637630931798001302%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=3HyptU8Db4jwsRq0f4vAv%2BYPVEFUkFDoLHB%2Bg2YJBoE%3D&reserved=0>
Pronouns: he, him, his
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________________________________
From: Bill Olson via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 1:46 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>et>;
Susan English <senglish(a)umich.edu>
Subject: [External] [Callers] Re: Paperless Calling
Hi Susan, This addresses #2, a potential BACKUP PLAN..... and also "paperless
calling" in general, though not in the way you were thinking...
Maybe 25-30 (sheesh maybe more!) years ago I had been calling for several years and also
played in a couple dance bands and also did sound at the North Whitefield, Maine 4th
Friday dance (this was Ted Sannella's dance for many years). One time the caller
didn't show up and I was asked if I could call the dance. I had no cards with me but
said OK and had to do it from memory. I got through the dance (barely) without having to
repeat any dances (hah hah) but found the experience very "freeing" not having
to look down at a card. (yeah there were a few tense moments there).. Anyway since that
time I resolved never to be tied down to paper (or recently to a computer or the internet)
and have always called from memory. This makes it easier to interact with the band and
more importantly to be aware of what is happening with the dancers out on the floor.
Before each dance I make a plan (which is rarely fully adhered to) with dances and
"spares".. I go through them in my head on the way to the dance.. There have
been several times, though not that many, when I had a brain fart and couldn't
remember the dance and had to bail but quickly called a no-brainer one walk-thru dance.. .
Before the pandemic (i.e. not calling for a year and a half) I had about 100 dances in the
memory bank. Of course to keep things fresh, I would call new ones which I would study for
a while before the dance. Some times they got added to the 100 some times not..
OK I understand not everyone trusts their memory like this.. BUT it's not a bad idea
to have an evening's program worth of dances that you can recall from memory (or even
two or three) just in case you forget your cards at a dance where there is no internet
access!!.. Rick Mohr used to have (maybe still does) a business card sized card in his
wallet. He developed a shorthand for annotating a dance and claimed he had 100 dances on
that card (the printing was very small!).. !! Larry Unger used to carry a set of dance
cards in his guitar case.. He wasn't a caller but would give them to the caller in
case "something happened", so the show would go on. I.e. it's probably good
to have a set of "emergency" dance cards in your wallet or car glove compartment
or heck on your smart phone. But I still like being to call from memory.. Good exercise
for my brain I guess..
my $.02 worth..
bill olson in Maine
________________________________
From: Susan English via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 4:45 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Paperless Calling
As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and access all my material
virtually. I have 2 questions:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance instructions and
notes?
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet?
Susan [đ¶] [âș]
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=httpâŠ
3:16 p.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Paperless Calling
Let me tell you the story of hearing a band play "The Wren" and then marking
that down on my card. Later, I asked a different band to play "The Wren" and it
was a completely different tune with a different feel. Noting down a specific tune is
really useful for that specific band. Even a different fiddler could completely change the
way the tune feels.
More true for Contra than ECD, of course.
Seth Tepfer
Director of Software Engineering, Oxford College
Schedule an appointment:
oxford.emory.edu/SethBooking<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/âŠ
770-784-8487
seth.tepfer(a)emory.edu
Use AskIT for fastest response:
Oxford.emory.edu/AskIT<https://app.oxford.emory.edu/WebApps/OCIT/forms/AâŠ
<https://app.oxford.emory.edu/WebApps/OCIT/forms/AskIT/index.cfm>
Pronouns: he, him, his
<https://app.oxford.emory.edu/WebApps/Directories/index.cfm?fuseaction=v.searchresults&searchname=tepfer>
________________________________
From: Winston, Alan P. <winston(a)slac.stanford.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 3:02 PM
To: Tepfer, Seth <labst(a)emory.edu>du>; contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>et>; Susan English <senglish(a)umich.edu>du>;
Bill Olson <callbill(a)hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Re: [External] Re: Paperless Calling
I once gave Ted Sanella an airport-to-dance-camp ride and had a good chat with him (late
'80s, early '90s, somewhere in there). He mentioned then that he liked to write
notes on his cards. If the band played something that worked really well for the dance
he'd ask what it was and write it down on the back of the card.
-- Alan
________________________________________
From: Bill Olson via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 11:32 AM
To: Tepfer, Seth; contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net; Susan English
Subject: [Callers] Re: [External] Re: Paperless Calling
YUP! BUT.. FWIW, Ted Sannella Always used cards (I am not sure he actually looked at them,
but...)
So, to Lissa's "Robert Cromartie comment", I think he was more just trying
to make a point! There are certainly many callers who don't completely memorize dances
who lead the way these days! I think the main point is to be familiar with the dance
choreography and not to be continuously staring down at a "card" and not
watching the dancers... From the point of view of a musician and singer, I look at it
this way: Some artists can recall several hundred songs or tunes from memory.. Why is a
contradance, which might have 10 figures at the most, any different from that?
Hi Seth, hi to Pam..
bill
________________________________
From: Tepfer, Seth <labst(a)emory.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 6:19 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>et>;
Susan English <senglish(a)umich.edu>du>; Bill Olson <callbill(a)hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [External] [Callers] Re: Paperless Calling
I had a similar experience with forgetting my calling cards and then calling an entire
evening from memory. Completely changed the way I call. I still use cards, but having no
card in your hand means you are much more focused on the dancers during the teaching.
Seth Tepfer
Director of Software Engineering, Oxford College
Schedule an appointment:
oxford.emory.edu/SethBooking<https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.âŠ
770-784-8487
seth.tepfer(a)emory.edu
Use AskIT for fastest response:
Oxford.emory.edu/AskIT<https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?uâŠ
<https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.oxford.emory.edu%2FWebApps%2FOCIT%2Fforms%2FAskIT%2Findex.cfm&data=04%7C01%7Clabst%40emory.edu%7C4470f5a2709748ed679208d951fa51ea%7Ce004fb9cb0a4424fbcd0322606d5df38%7C0%7C0%7C637630957827894161%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=%2BDgEcUTHJsTW671jwVBkpBptx88H7oPwazPiEgOksvU%3D&reserved=0>
Pronouns: he, him, his
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________________________________
From: Bill Olson via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 1:46 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>et>;
Susan English <senglish(a)umich.edu>
Subject: [External] [Callers] Re: Paperless Calling
Hi Susan, This addresses #2, a potential BACKUP PLAN..... and also "paperless
calling" in general, though not in the way you were thinking...
Maybe 25-30 (sheesh maybe more!) years ago I had been calling for several years and also
played in a couple dance bands and also did sound at the North Whitefield, Maine 4th
Friday dance (this was Ted Sannella's dance for many years). One time the caller
didn't show up and I was asked if I could call the dance. I had no cards with me but
said OK and had to do it from memory. I got through the dance (barely) without having to
repeat any dances (hah hah) but found the experience very "freeing" not having
to look down at a card. (yeah there were a few tense moments there).. Anyway since that
time I resolved never to be tied down to paper (or recently to a computer or the internet)
and have always called from memory. This makes it easier to interact with the band and
more importantly to be aware of what is happening with the dancers out on the floor.
Before each dance I make a plan (which is rarely fully adhered to) with dances and
"spares".. I go through them in my head on the way to the dance.. There have
been several times, though not that many, when I had a brain fart and couldn't
remember the dance and had to bail but quickly called a no-brainer one walk-thru dance.. .
Before the pandemic (i.e. not calling for a year and a half) I had about 100 dances in the
memory bank. Of course to keep things fresh, I would call new ones which I would study for
a while before the dance. Some times they got added to the 100 some times not..
OK I understand not everyone trusts their memory like this.. BUT it's not a bad idea
to have an evening's program worth of dances that you can recall from memory (or even
two or three) just in case you forget your cards at a dance where there is no internet
access!!.. Rick Mohr used to have (maybe still does) a business card sized card in his
wallet. He developed a shorthand for annotating a dance and claimed he had 100 dances on
that card (the printing was very small!).. !! Larry Unger used to carry a set of dance
cards in his guitar case.. He wasn't a caller but would give them to the caller in
case "something happened", so the show would go on. I.e. it's probably good
to have a set of "emergency" dance cards in your wallet or car glove compartment
or heck on your smart phone. But I still like being to call from memory.. Good exercise
for my brain I guess..
my $.02 worth..
bill olson in Maine
________________________________
From: Susan English via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 4:45 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Paperless Calling
As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and access all my material
virtually. I have 2 questions:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance instructions and
notes?
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet?
Susan [đ¶] [âș]
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com<https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=httâŠ
7:27 p.m.
I started out calling contras but moved entirely into Community Dance (a little of
everything) and a much heavier emphasis this past year in International Folk Dance.
One of the best thing Beth Molaro ever told me to do when I was at a little music camp
many years ago, and I was the only one in a dance session with her, was to âlose the
cards.â
I practiced a simple dance over and over that afternoon till I had it down, and called it
that evening without my card, and it was the most freeing experience I had had up to that
point.
Since then I do write cards, and I bring them with me (ones that I think I will draw from
for my program), and I may refer to them during the walk-through, but rarely need to use
them when Iâm calling. (I end up laying them out and deciding on the spot which one feels
like the right next one to do.)
Meanwhile, I would love to know of a good, simple, easy-to-use program that works on
Macs/Apple products.
Patricia
Patricia Campbell
Newtown, CT
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 28, 2021, at 1:46 PM, Bill Olson via Contra
Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
ï»ż
Hi Susan, This addresses #2, a potential BACKUP PLAN..... and also "paperless
calling" in general, though not in the way you were thinking...
Maybe 25-30 (sheesh maybe more!) years ago I had been calling for several years and also
played in a couple dance bands and also did sound at the North Whitefield, Maine 4th
Friday dance (this was Ted Sannella's dance for many years). One time the caller
didn't show up and I was asked if I could call the dance. I had no cards with me but
said OK and had to do it from memory. I got through the dance (barely) without having to
repeat any dances (hah hah) but found the experience very "freeing" not having
to look down at a card. (yeah there were a few tense moments there).. Anyway since that
time I resolved never to be tied down to paper (or recently to a computer or the internet)
and have always called from memory. This makes it easier to interact with the band and
more importantly to be aware of what is happening with the dancers out on the floor.
Before each dance I make a plan (which is rarely fully adhered to) with dances and
"spares".. I go through them in my head on the way to the dance.. There have
been several times, though not that many, when I had a brain fart and couldn't
remember the dance and had to bail but quickly called a no-brainer one walk-thru dance.. .
Before the pandemic (i.e. not calling for a year and a half) I had about 100 dances in the
memory bank. Of course to keep things fresh, I would call new ones which I would study for
a while before the dance. Some times they got added to the 100 some times not..
OK I understand not everyone trusts their memory like this.. BUT it's not a bad idea
to have an evening's program worth of dances that you can recall from memory (or even
two or three) just in case you forget your cards at a dance where there is no internet
access!!.. Rick Mohr used to have (maybe still does) a business card sized card in his
wallet. He developed a shorthand for annotating a dance and claimed he had 100 dances on
that card (the printing was very small!).. !! Larry Unger used to carry a set of dance
cards in his guitar case.. He wasn't a caller but would give them to the caller in
case "something happened", so the show would go on. I.e. it's probably good
to have a set of "emergency" dance cards in your wallet or car glove compartment
or heck on your smart phone. But I still like being to call from memory.. Good exercise
for my brain I guess..
my $.02 worth..
bill olson in Maine
From: Susan English via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 4:45 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Paperless Calling
As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and access all my
material virtually. I have 2 questions:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance instructions and
notes?
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet?
Susan
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
7:44 p.m.
On community dances: When ceilidh caller Hugh Ripon visited the Bay Area in the early
2000s, I learned (and he left me a copy of) his piece of paper with his entire repertoire
on it. It was the names of about 50 dances, all of which he had completely memorized, but
he had the piece of paper so when he was thinking of what would be good to do do next he
wouldn't forget that he knew some of these dances.
When I, fairly rarely, call community dances there's never an advance program and I
only call stuff I know cold - I often have to dance in, I can't be looking at pieces
of paper, nobody cares if I called the same thing last week, the band doesn't need to
learn a tune.
Usually when I call English I've carefully organized a program with a pleasing
progression of dances whose tunes will be in a nice variety of meters and keys and take
advantage of what I know about the strengths of the particular band, and shared that with
the band long in advance, who have sometimes organized their music in order by the
program. There I really need a copy of my planned program to be sure I get the order
right whether or not I have the figures memorized - I've got notes for around 1000
English dances and I probably only have 100+150 memorized and I can't even always
remember the ones I wrote.
For contra with regular contra dancers where I can have some idea of what the floor's
going to be like and what the band is going to be like, I'll put together a program in
advance because when I just go with a dance I remember that seems like it'll fit I end
up using the same 20 dances all the time, and calling mostly locally there's perceived
value in changing it up. I have fully typed out notes for each dance but I've also
got a cryptic abbreviation that shows figures and where they show in phrases, compactly
enough to fit on a single line, so the first page of the program has enough to work from
unless there's something extra wacky about the dance. I strive to get my eyes away
from the program as soon as ever I can.
-- Alan
________________________________________
From: Patricia Campbell via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 4:27 PM
To: Bill Olson
Cc: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net; Susan English
Subject: [Callers] Re: Paperless Calling
I started out calling contras but moved entirely into Community Dance (a little of
everything) and a much heavier emphasis this past year in International Folk Dance.
One of the best thing Beth Molaro ever told me to do when I was at a little music camp
many years ago, and I was the only one in a dance session with her, was to âlose the
cards.â
I practiced a simple dance over and over that afternoon till I had it down, and called it
that evening without my card, and it was the most freeing experience I had had up to that
point.
Since then I do write cards, and I bring them with me (ones that I think I will draw from
for my program), and I may refer to them during the walk-through, but rarely need to use
them when Iâm calling. (I end up laying them out and deciding on the spot which one feels
like the right next one to do.)
Meanwhile, I would love to know of a good, simple, easy-to-use program that works on
Macs/Apple products.
Patricia
Patricia Campbell
Newtown, CT
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 28, 2021, at 1:46 PM, Bill Olson via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
ï»ż
Hi Susan, This addresses #2, a potential BACKUP PLAN..... and also "paperless
calling" in general, though not in the way you were thinking...
Maybe 25-30 (sheesh maybe more!) years ago I had been calling for several years and also
played in a couple dance bands and also did sound at the North Whitefield, Maine 4th
Friday dance (this was Ted Sannella's dance for many years). One time the caller
didn't show up and I was asked if I could call the dance. I had no cards with me but
said OK and had to do it from memory. I got through the dance (barely) without having to
repeat any dances (hah hah) but found the experience very "freeing" not having
to look down at a card. (yeah there were a few tense moments there).. Anyway since that
time I resolved never to be tied down to paper (or recently to a computer or the internet)
and have always called from memory. This makes it easier to interact with the band and
more importantly to be aware of what is happening with the dancers out on the floor.
Before each dance I make a plan (which is rarely fully adhered to) with dances and
"spares".. I go through them in my head on the way to the dance.. There have
been several times, though not that many, when I had a brain fart and couldn't
remember the dance and had to bail but quickly called a no-brainer one walk-thru dance.. .
Before the pandemic (i.e. not calling for a year and a half) I had about 100 dances in the
memory bank. Of course to keep things fresh, I would call new ones which I would study for
a while before the dance. Some times they got added to the 100 some times not..
OK I understand not everyone trusts their memory like this.. BUT it's not a bad idea
to have an evening's program worth of dances that you can recall from memory (or even
two or three) just in case you forget your cards at a dance where there is no internet
access!!.. Rick Mohr used to have (maybe still does) a business card sized card in his
wallet. He developed a shorthand for annotating a dance and claimed he had 100 dances on
that card (the printing was very small!).. !! Larry Unger used to carry a set of dance
cards in his guitar case.. He wasn't a caller but would give them to the caller in
case "something happened", so the show would go on. I.e. it's probably good
to have a set of "emergency" dance cards in your wallet or car glove compartment
or heck on your smart phone. But I still like being to call from memory.. Good exercise
for my brain I guess..
my $.02 worth..
bill olson in Maine
________________________________
From: Susan English via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 4:45 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Paperless Calling
As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and access all my material
virtually. I have 2 questions:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance instructions and
notes?
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet?
Susan [ïżœïżœ] [âș]
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com<https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=httpâŠ
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
2:38 p.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Paperless Calling
If you are using cards - what happens if your cards get left behind? If you are using
technology, what happens if your computer/tablet suddenly dies (not that they ever do
that)?
And your backup plan needs a backup plan!
Seth Tepfer
Director of Software Engineering, Oxford College
Schedule an appointment:
oxford.emory.edu/SethBooking<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/âŠ
770-784-8487
seth.tepfer(a)emory.edu
Use AskIT for fastest response:
Oxford.emory.edu/AskIT<https://app.oxford.emory.edu/WebApps/OCIT/forms/AâŠ
<https://app.oxford.emory.edu/WebApps/OCIT/forms/AskIT/index.cfm>
Pronouns: he, him, his
<https://app.oxford.emory.edu/WebApps/Directories/index.cfm?fuseaction=v.searchresults&searchname=tepfer>
________________________________
From: Bob via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 2:31 PM
To: Susan English <senglish(a)umich.edu>
Cc: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [External] [Callers] Re: Paperless Calling
My cards were stolen in 2006
So even cards need a backup plan.
\Bob
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
2:59 p.m.
The only time I've called in person in the last year was an outdoor English dance a
week or so ago and I just chose dances I remembered well enough not to need notes.
I've found myself, when calling contras particularly (especially in areas where the
dance is, say, monthly and gets lots of new people, and where the bands are, perhaps,
primarily concert/jam bands, have limited repertoires and limited ability to adjust tempi)
not being able to predict audience needs and music affordances well enough to be able to
stick to a program I made at home. So I like having a large pile of dances available. (I
don't use cards because my handwriting is terrible, I sweat a lot when I'm dancing
and ruin paper when I try to write down some dance someone else called, and because I
really don't want to have a single copy of anything important to me.)
So: I keep my dance "cards" in individual text files in a private directory on a
web server. When I do make a program I use a text editor to make a single file with the
program and cards; when I make a bundle (like "50 easy dances") I use the same
thing.
I used to print out the programs on several sheets of paper and staple them together, but
when I saw video of myself using that it was really painful how distracting that paper
flapping around was, so I quit doing that.
Now, I have two Google Nexus 7 tablets with SD cards and WiFi. (These are just big enough
for text to be readable on them, and they were pretty cheap.) I've populated both of
them with the useful bulk files (50 easy dances, etc). Before I leave the house I make
sure both are fully charged, download the program I've made for the event or events,
and then turn both of them off. (If I'm going on a plane both of thee devices go in
my carry-on bag.) At the gig I turn on only one of them and turn on the other one only
if something bad happens to the first one (battery dying, drop it crack the screen, etc).
So far I haven't had to do that. As a side benefit I have all the programs I ever
downloaded to that device available (the ASCII text files I use mean a file is only a few
k so I can store all of them and have plenty of room.
That's so far been good enough to not usually require access at the dance to my whole
set of dance cards. I do also usually bring my iPad Pro which is on a cell phone network
so I'm free of any requirement to use hall wireless, but that's just bonus
connectivity - it's not on the critical path for me calling a dance.
-- Alan
________________________________________
From: Susan English via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 9:45 AM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Paperless Calling
As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and access all my material
virtually. I have 2 questions:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance instructions and
notes?
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet?
Susan [đ¶] [âș]
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com<http://woosterdance.com>
3:33 p.m.
I store my choreo for dances in Word documents (one document per dance)
that I have online in the online file storage/sharing app Dropbox.
I use Word and Dropbox because these are commonly available programs that
will be available and supported for decades.
I avoid using specialized dance programs because they have a tendency to
stop being supported after a period of time, and I don't want to get into a
situation where I need to recreate a new electronic library of choreo and
deal with potentially problematic import/export/format issues.
I set the Dropbox directories so that they are stored offline on my phone
and iPad, so I do not need an internet connection at the dance.
I always have 2 choreo sources with me (a phone and an iPad) in case
something goes wrong with one of them.
I also frequently take the program for the evening and take screen shots of
the individual dances--in sequence--so that they will be in the Photos app
in addition to Dropbox.
I usually call from the Photos app, but I can consult Dropbox if I need to
go off program.
The fact the choreo is stored in Word docs allows me to easily edit them to
add notes, change things, etc., over time.
Hope this helps!
Jimmy Akin
San Diego
On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 9:45 AM Susan English via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance
cards home and access
all my material virtually. I have 2 questions:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance
instructions and notes?
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet?
Susan [image: đ¶] [image: âș]
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
7:59 p.m.
I use a FileMaker database to store my dances, with slightly different versions for Contra
and English.
I sync it to my phone and tablet (so donât rely on the internet).
I am happy to make empty versions of the database available to anyone who wants them.
However, FileMaker has gotten so expensive that I suspect this only makes sense if you
already own a copy.
I like having the database, for several reasons:
* I donât have to worry about losing my cards.
* Making updates doesnât require starting a new card (though cards are more flexible).
* I always have it with me.
I have called from the tablet, with the phone as backup, and it works fine.
But I admit that I prefer to call a full dance from printed pages (I keep all my dances in
a few 3-ring notebooks).
I find it easier when I want to change the program on the fly, and itâs annoying when the
tablet goes to sleep.
If you do go with a database please keep good backups, including on media not connected to
your computer, for protection against ransomware.
Regards,
Russell
On Jul 28, 2021, at 9:45 AM, Susan English via Contra
Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and access all my
material virtually. I have 2 questions:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance instructions and
notes?
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet?
Susan
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com <http://woosterdance.com/>
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
29 Jul
29 Jul
11:33 a.m.
I started my own ContraDB using Excel and Word merge files to create
printable files of my cards and programs. Someone also developed a website
at
https://contradb.com/
If anybody is interested in my offline files please send me an email at
vgcontra(a)gmail.com.
Like many here, I have physical cards I bring with me if I am doing an
event. I also have many dances on my phone and tablet. I also have an
emergency set of cards in my car.
Happy calling!
On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 21:24 Russell Owen via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I use a FileMaker database to store my dances, with
slightly different
versions for Contra and English.
I sync it to my phone and tablet (so donât rely on the internet).
I am happy to make empty versions of the database available to anyone who
wants them.
However, FileMaker has gotten so expensive that I suspect this only makes
sense if you already own a copy.
I like having the database, for several reasons:
* I donât have to worry about losing my cards.
* Making updates doesnât require starting a new card (though cards are
more flexible).
* I always have it with me.
I have called from the tablet, with the phone as backup, and it works fine.
But I admit that I prefer to call a full dance from printed pages (I keep
all my dances in a few 3-ring notebooks).
I find it easier when I want to change the program on the fly, and itâs
annoying when the tablet goes to sleep.
If you do go with a database please keep good backups, including on media
not connected to your computer, for protection against ransomware.
Regards,
Russell
On Jul 28, 2021, at 9:45 AM, Susan English via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and access
all my material virtually. I have 2 questions:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance
instructions and notes?
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet?
Susan [image: đ¶] [image: âș]
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com
_______________________________________________
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
--
-= Victor =-
âDo or do not, there is no try.â ~ Jedi Master Yoda
1:02 p.m.
What a fascinating thread this has been!
I use a combination of Google Slides and Notion, which is my new favourite life
organization tool.
Google Slides has my walkthrough and card, each dance as a separate file, and I can easily
drop dances into a program. Notion helps me catalog the dances and keep a history of
programs.
I display the cards on my iPad Mini, which is a nice size.
I have an iPad Mini case with a wrist strap and excellent drop protection for use in
person. Slides can display offline, so I donât need Internet. That said, I love Alanâs
idea of the backup tablet, and may adopt that myself, because my backup right now is paper
cards.
For virtual dances, Iâve had my iPad positioned just behind my camera, so when I look at
the card Iâm actually looking right at the camera, which increases the feeling of
connection with those attending. My backup for virtual is my laptop, and I keep the
presentations in sync, just in case.
Cheers!
Drew
On Jul 28, 2021, at 12:45 PM, Susan English
<senglish(a)umich.edu> wrote:
ï»ż
As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and access all my
material virtually. I have 2 questions:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance instructions and
notes?
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet?
Susan
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com
9:12 p.m.
Hi Susan and all you who have commented so far. In answer to Susanâs first question, Iâm
the developer of CallersCompanion which currently has over 120 registered users and has
been in development since 2008. It is a stand alone app based in FileMaker Pro and runs on
Mac/Windows, as well as iOS devices like iPad and iPhone using FileMaker Go (and yes FM Go
running on Android is coming but there is no release date as yet.) Some of the folks you
know who use CC are: Nils Fredland, Bev Bernbaum (early beta tester), Luke Donev, Cis
Hinkle, Claire Takemori, and the late Linda Leslie who tested many new features over the
years and had over 2500 dances entered plus a separate ECD file with several hundred
more.
There are literally hundreds of features and options in CallersCompanion but Iâll just
list a few here:
Dances:
Fast-entry buttons that allow you to enter a figure such as âPartner Balance & Swing
(16)" with a single click and using your preferred language
Smart search that allows you to find something like âAll Becket dances with a chain in B1â
or âall dances with a neighbor swing in A1 and a pass through in B2â
Role/Position Term switching: change Gents/Ladies <-> Larks/Robins with a single
click
Link a dance to other dances (variations, etc.)
Email a dance (or list of dances) to someone with a click
Import from âThe Callerâs Boxâ online database (just click the âDownload JSONâ link in the
upper right corner of the dance)
Sets:
Create an evening's Set list with color coding for Improper, Becket, etc.
Add âPlan Bâ alternate dances to the set list but hide them until you need/want them
Separate âOn-Screen Callingâ layout with larger text and ânext danceâ queue
âProgram Matrixâ - instantly see when you have âLarks allemande Leftâ in 3 dances before
the break!
Share the Set List via email, with our without full dance details, with one click
A note about security and updates: Due to ever tightening security on the Mac platform,
Iâm going to need to create a âcode-signedâ version of CC that will run as an app and be
allowed through the security gauntlet. If you have a new Mac or recently updated your OS
to Big Sur and are having issues, contact me directly and weâll see what we can do. Iâve
been able to find workarounds with most people that will keep them going until I can work
through creating the code-signed app.
Regarding backups, I keep a copy of my dance database base on my iPhone as well as my
computer and iPad, so even without internet or cell, I have everything there. The phone
interface is obviously smaller and harder to use for actual calling than an tablet or
laptop but it does work and it means you can have all of your dances available even just
as a reference if youâre talking with someone or want to look something up.
In addition, more than one CC user has had their iPad and or laptop crash, and has been
able to download a saved copy of CC from DropBox or other online storage area. It might
not have the set list for that nightâs dance (if you havenât updated the backup recently)
but it will have most of your dances and previous Set lists to work from.
You can check out CallersCompanion at http://callerscompanion.com
<http://callerscompanion.com/> The demo is free to use up to entering 50 dances.
Please contact me directly if you have any issues with the demo file (and Windows users,
be sure to do an Extract All on the downloaded zip file or you wonât be able to make
changes. Macs unzip this automatically.)
Will
On Jul 28, 2021, at 9:45 AM, Susan English via Contra
Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and access all my
material virtually. I have 2 questions:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance instructions and
notes?
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet?
Susan
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com <http://woosterdance.com/>
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
<mailto:contracallers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net>
--
Will Loving
1769 Thomas Ave
San Diego, CA 92109-4429
+1 413-221-8626 (iPhone)
+1 413-253-7223 (Pacific, GMT â7/8)
[he/him]
31 Jul
31 Jul
9:36 p.m.
This has been a fascinating thread, with a huge amount of valuable information,
perspectives, and technical options.
I am impressed by those callers who can call from memory. Since for contras I don't
have a good one. (Squares seem to come naturally to my memory; contras not so much). I
still use cards. And my backup is a potpourri of photocopies of the cards and a pile of
pdf versions of them. Although with all the ideas expressed in this thread for digital
notes and backups, I am considering expanding and trying some.
But I was thinking that, memorizing or not, using virtual or not, using cards or not --
this is a bit like playing jazz. There's no single best way to play jazz. Likewise, I
think there are lots of ways of creating a good evening with calling. Some rules -- like
watching the dancers and reacting to the them and the musicians -- are universal, but
every caller plays the way that works for them. All these techniques should not make a
caller feel bad or inadequate. On the contrary, they illuminate the wide array of tools
that we have access to, each in our own way to make the best of all that jazz.
Woody
--
Woody Lane
Caller, Percussive Dancer
Roseburg, Oregon
________________________________
On 7/28/2021 9:45 AM, Susan English via Contra Callers wrote:
As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and access all my material
virtually. I have 2 questions:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance instructions and
notes?
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet?
Susan [?] [:)]
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com<http://woosterdance.com>
1 Aug
1 Aug
9 a.m.
Woody's mention of jazz brought up a deep memory for me. I was
patter-calling a square in Ann Arbor, and the fiddle player walked over to
stand very close to me. He started playing a shuffle in harmony to my
patter. I got into the dance such that all my thought processes
disappeared. It was just me, the music, and the dancers. It was a
life-changing experience for me. I say my calling shifted from left brain
to right brain that evening. I wonder if this is what other callers
experience when they call without cards. I still refer to my cards for
contras, especially at the beginning and end of a dance, but the calling
comes from deep inside me. Susan
On Sat, Jul 31, 2021 at 9:36 PM Woody Lane via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
This has been a fascinating thread, with a huge amount
of valuable
information, perspectives, and technical options.
I am impressed by those callers who can call from memory. Since for
contras I don't have a good one. (Squares seem to come naturally to my
memory; contras not so much). I still use cards. And my backup is a
potpourri of photocopies of the cards and a pile of pdf versions of them.
Although with all the ideas expressed in this thread for digital notes and
backups, I am considering expanding and trying some.
But I was thinking that, memorizing or not, using virtual or not, using
cards or not -- this is a bit like playing jazz. There's no single best way
to play jazz. Likewise, I think there are lots of ways of creating a good
evening with calling. Some rules -- like watching the dancers and reacting
to the them and the musicians -- are universal, but every caller plays the
way that works for them. All these techniques should not make a caller feel
bad or inadequate. On the contrary, they illuminate the wide array of tools
that we have access to, each in our own way to make the best of all that
jazz.
Woody
--
Woody Lane
Caller, Percussive Dancer
Roseburg, Oregon
------------------------------
On 7/28/2021 9:45 AM, Susan English via Contra Callers wrote:
As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and access
all my material virtually. I have 2 questions:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance
instructions and notes?
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet?
Susan [image: đ¶] [image: âș]
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
--
Susan [image: đ¶] [image: âș]
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com
2:45 p.m.
Yes! Calling squares, especially straight-ahead old-timey squares, is definitely a
right-brain experience. Beth says that when she really got the hang of calling that kind
of square, it carried over into her contra calling.
I grew up with both squares and contras and learned to appreciate the merits of both. For
me, calling a contra is something like following a recipe and measuring every ingredient,
whereas calling a square is like tossing in the things I have on hand and tasting as I go.
I often get into what feels like an altered state of consciousness while calling a square,
whether during a memorized figure or an improvised break.
Tony Parkes
Billerica, Mass.
www.hands4.com
New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century
(available soon)
Sent from my phone.
________________________________
From: Susan English via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Sunday, August 1, 2021 9:00:51 AM
To: Woody Lane <woody(a)woodylane.com>
Cc: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Re: Paperless Calling
Woody's mention of jazz brought up a deep memory for me. I was patter-calling a
square in Ann Arbor, and the fiddle player walked over to stand very close to me. He
started playing a shuffle in harmony to my patter. I got into the dance such that all my
thought processes disappeared. It was just me, the music, and the dancers. It was a
life-changing experience for me. I say my calling shifted from left brain to right brain
that evening. I wonder if this is what other callers experience when they call without
cards. I still refer to my cards for contras, especially at the beginning and end of a
dance, but the calling comes from deep inside me. Susan
On Sat, Jul 31, 2021 at 9:36 PM Woody Lane via Contra Callers
<contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>>
wrote:
This has been a fascinating thread, with a huge amount of valuable information,
perspectives, and technical options.
I am impressed by those callers who can call from memory. Since for contras I don't
have a good one. (Squares seem to come naturally to my memory; contras not so much). I
still use cards. And my backup is a potpourri of photocopies of the cards and a pile of
pdf versions of them. Although with all the ideas expressed in this thread for digital
notes and backups, I am considering expanding and trying some.
But I was thinking that, memorizing or not, using virtual or not, using cards or not --
this is a bit like playing jazz. There's no single best way to play jazz. Likewise, I
think there are lots of ways of creating a good evening with calling. Some rules -- like
watching the dancers and reacting to the them and the musicians -- are universal, but
every caller plays the way that works for them. All these techniques should not make a
caller feel bad or inadequate. On the contrary, they illuminate the wide array of tools
that we have access to, each in our own way to make the best of all that jazz.
Woody
--
Woody Lane
Caller, Percussive Dancer
Roseburg, Oregon
________________________________
On 7/28/2021 9:45 AM, Susan English via Contra Callers wrote:
As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and access all my material
virtually. I have 2 questions:
1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance instructions and
notes?
2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet?
Susan [đ¶] [âș]
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com<http://woosterdance.com>
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list --
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net>
--
Susan [đ¶] [âș]
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com<http://woosterdance.com>
9:49 p.m.
Susan,
Was this fiddler Mike Gleason by chance? He often guided me onto new paths. I am now
retired from calling, but viewed a dance as a three-legged stool. The caller, musicians,
and the dances were each legs. When the stool was âlevelâ, all was tight with the world.
John B. Freeman, SFTPOCTJ
Disciple of Susanâs husband Bill Alkire
On Aug 1, 2021, at 9:00 AM, Susan English via Contra
Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Woody's mention of jazz brought up a deep memory for me. I was patter-calling a
square in Ann Arbor, and the fiddle player walked over to stand very close to me. He
started playing a shuffle in harmony to my patter. I got into the dance such that all my
thought processes disappeared. It was just me, the music, and the dancers. It was a
life-changing experience for me. I say my calling shifted from left brain to right brain
that evening. I wonder if this is what other callers experience when they call without
cards. I still refer to my cards for contras, especially at the beginning and end of a
dance, but the calling comes from deep inside me. Susan
1207
days inactive
1212
days old
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
28 comments
18 participants
participants (18)
-
Bill Olson -
Bob -
Colin Hume -
Drew Delaware -
Emily Rush -
Jack Mitchell -
Jimmy Akin -
John Freeman -
Lissa Bengtson -
Patricia Campbell -
Russell Owen -
Susan English -
Tepfer, Seth -
Tony Parkes -
Victor Gascon -
William M Loving -
Winston, Alan P. -
Woody Lane