[Callers] More on Programming

Some thoughts on this: I go to callers workshops and sometimes I hear different things from different people.  I went to a caller's workshop one time where the leader told us that the best dances are ones that have a partner AND a neighbor swing, AND that the partner swing MUST come second because it's more satisfying.  I think some callers suggest programming to satisfy the experienced dancers and some callers (like Tom) suggest programming that is mainly targeted to help new dancers come along. FWIW, I prefer Tom's approach.  You don't know how many times that I have seen callers - good, well-respected callers - start off with somewhat of a challenging dance that is not very approachable for beginners.  I know as a caller I like to build up my program from super brain-dead easy at the start and build from there.  Nice Easy Contra is an excellent choice.  Variety is important to me too.  I think in a hall like Glen Echo that an unequal dance MAY not be a good idea but in most halls, why not?  And I agree with Tom's thoughts about dances with only one swing.  Someone once said if your dance only has one swing it had BETTER contain enough interesting moves to make it worth it.  I think this goes to Tom's point of being afraid of dancers.  I think there are some callers who teach new callers to be afraid of dancers so you'd better give them what they want if you expect to be hired again. I do think that today's dance crowd really desires certain types of dances and I don't see anything wrong in giving them what they want.  But the dancers also need to understand that this is brand new for new dancers and that we need to start slow and brain-dead before we move on to more intricate figures.  These "anchor" dances are very important even though to the experienced dancer it's not very interesting, but to the new dancers it might be the hardest thing they've ever done.  As for Tom's notes about people not complaining, it's pretty much a fact that some of the most well-known callers (like Tom) don't hear griping because they have some "political capital" to spend because of their respect in the dance community.  Some of us who don't have that yet hear it.  I once called a program with maybe 3 dances with no neighbor swing, and I heard it from several people.  I have heard others callers with more of a national brand come through and call similar dances and no gripes.   Perry From: Tom Hinds via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> To: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2015 8:21 PM Subject: Re: [Callers] Buzz Step Swing I'm going to describe my newish ideas on programming.  But I think it  will have much more meaning if I also explain how I came up with it.  For some of you, reading this may be a little uncomfortable.  I'm not  picking on anyone.  I want you to know that I learned calling the  hard way (no formal class) and made every mistake you can imagine and  then some!  And I'm still learning. When I re-joined the dance board I began doing the sound chores.  While doing sound for the last 2 1/2 years I sat and watched callers  and studied what they did.  I watched how they interacted with the  band and I watched the reactions on the floor.  I was all ears and  all eyes.  I made copious notes.  From these observations I wrote  what I consider an advanced calling manuel called The Complete  Caller.  It's coming out maybe at the end of the summer. Our attendance at the dance has been going down hill for some time.  Part of the reason is the hall.  The other reason I believe is the  lack of training/awareness on the part of many callers.  On many  occasions the majority of the dancers simply left during the break  leaving 6-8 dancers for the second half.  It's been that bad. My newish way of programming may not be for every dance community.  It may be of some value to those trying to retain beginners. In terms of programming here's what I've noticed: 1)  All callers, both local and out of town call dances that are  accessible to the new dancers.  However, almost all of the dances  called are just barely accessible.  The new dancers NEVER have a  chance to relax and enjoy.  The effect is that experienced dancers  see newbies as always stiff and nervous. 2)  almost all of the callers observed either didn't teach the swing  or taught it in about 30 seconds.  I think these callers like  torturing the experienced dancers.  Watching the newbies swing with  each other and the experienced dancers was very, very painful.  I saw  every possible body hold and footwork imaginable. 3) most callers called programs that were extremely predictable- all  contras, all with two swings.  This predictability is for myself and  others a bit boring.  How can you have cold without hot or night  without day?  I'm currently thinking of making a rule:  at-least one  contra in the evening can't contain the combination circle left 3/4  and swing! 4)  I would say 99% if these callers never discuss tune selections  with the musicians AND never slow the band down or speed them up even  when it's OBVIOUS there's a problem.  On many occasions I've asked  the caller, "do you want me to slow them down?" and the response is  always "yes". This is my newish way to program.  There's more to it but this is the  core: The first three dances of the evening must be accessible to the new  dancers AND must allow them to relax and have a good time.  Perhaps  it's the latter part of this requirement where you and I are very  different. When I mention this to other callers their response is usually "ok  I'll just do Nice Combination for the first contra"  NOPE.  AINT  GOING TO WORK, DEAD WRONG.  There's too much swinging and no  anchors.  The progression out of a star is not a good thing.  That  much swinging is counter productive to keeping new dancers.  Newbies  also need anchors.  Anchors are people keeping their place while  others dance.  A dance that contains anchors is gooder. Examples: Sides are anchors if the heads circle left.  In Scout House  Reel, the twos are anchors while the ones swing.  The men are anchors  while the women do-si-do etc......... So dances like Scout House Reel, Nice Easy Contra and some circle  mixers are good choices for the first three or so dances.  It's not  the number of dances it's the emotional response you need to look for! This doesn't mean that once the dancers relax that you can start  calling material that's going to wow the experienced dancers.  No,  you have to dunk and dry 'em.  Don't wear them out physically or  mentally. One of the skills the newbies need is the ability to listen and  immediately (or almost immediately) respond.  So in the beginning  workshop I use short drills or modules to teach one move or concept  at a time.  A series of say 5  modules will teach all of the moves  that are in the first dance.  To really understand my modular method  you'll have to watch one of my lessons or buy the booklet.  It's way  too much to write.  The modules are constantly changing so the  newbies have to learn to listen.  We don't end one module and go onto  the next until they have slightly over-learned the current one- the  beginners are constantly learning in the lesson but I watch them and  make sure they are never overwhelmed.  My voice is always clear and  direct but relaxed at the same time.  If they survive the lesson the  rest of the evening is a piece of cake because I slowly introduce  move that are new to them.  The first dance of the evening is taught  so they might be a bit confident after dancing it as the first dance. I value a dance series with good dancing.  Good dancing to me means  good, safe style and if physically able, buzz step swinging.  The  buzz step swing is in the last module.  It is last because newbies  are (as you know) always coming at the last minute.  I include what I  consider to be a descent list of skills/concepts in a half hour and  never run out of time. My impression is that most of you are afraid of the dancers.  You're  afraid of calling an unequal dance or a square for example.  Don't be  afraid of them.  Good, effective leaders make good choices not always  what you perceive to be popular ones.  And many of the experienced  dancers will notice the new way and welcome it.  They are very bright. All of my evenings contain some contras that only have one swing.  No  one has every complained.  I usually start with an unequal dance.  I  haven't heard any gripes.  Maybe there're afraid of me. Early in my calling career it sometimes happened that a dancer would  come up to me and say, "some of us don't like square".  My response?  "then stay home when I call".  They stopped whining. T _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net