Ooooh, that looks like a good one. I'll add it to my list of potential methods. I also thought of using a chant...like, "If I say Quiet, you say Right Now -- Quiet -- Right Now" Can someone think of a better chant? On Sun, Jun 18, 2017 at 11:12 PM, Jacob or Nancy Bloom &lt;jandnbloom(a)gmail.com > It isn't necessary to hire a person who can do a loud whistle - you can > buy a loud whistle for a few dollars, and hang it from a lanyard. > > Here's another technique for calling for quiet which I have seen work, > although I haven't used it myself. > > "If you can hear my voice clap once. <clap> If you can hear my voice clap > twice. <clap clap> If you can hear my voice clap three times. <clap clap > clap> ... " > > The few people who hear you the first time clap, and that attracts the > attention of people near them, so more people hear you calling for them to > clap twice, which attracts more attention. Repeat until you have the > attention of the room. It won't solve the problem of keeping them quiet, > but it doesn't hurt to have more than one technique to draw on. > > And it's easier on the ears than that loud whistle. > > Jacob > > > On Sat, Jun 17, 2017 at 12:50 PM, Linda S. Mrosko via Callers < > callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> >> Oh how I wish that would work. I've tried that technique over the >> years. They just ignore me. Shushing works, but I have to repeat the >> shhhhh into the mic lots of times. A big part of the challenge is the >> acoustics -- it's worse than being in a gym. For instance, I get them >> quiet and then teach them the first move -- there is a roar -- I get them >> quiet again -- teach the next move -- there is a roar -- I get them quiet >> again -- teach the third move -- there is a roar -- ad nauseam. The >> musicians crank up their music to the max for the dance, but even I can >> barely hear it over the din from the dancers. Short of hiring a person who >> can do that loud whistle, I'm at a loss. I've sort of grown used to it, >> but my temper is short and I really have to watch myself. >> >> On Sat, Jun 17, 2017 at 7:42 AM, Jeremy Child &lt;jeremy.m.child(a)gmail.com&gt; >>> >>> To quiet a room I use the Girl Guides technique: >>> >>> I raise my hand, and anyone who sees me knows to stop talking and raise >>> their hand too. More notice this (other peoples hands up and slightly >>> diminished volume). This snowballs quite quickly as peer pressure kicks >>> in, and is a very effective technique. You have to teach it to them first, >>> of course, but they pick it up quite quickly. >>> >>> Jeremy >>> www.barndancecaller.net >>> >>> On 16 June 2017 at 20:10, Linda S. Mrosko via Callers < >>> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>>> >>>> I lead an annual dance for 200+ 18-year olds in a hall with terrible >>>> acoustics. Been doing it for 15+ years. If they all whispered at the same >>>> time, it would sound like a roar in that room. I can only do the most >>>> basic stuff most of the time...simple circles, longways with lots of >>>> sashaying, an easy folk dance. But I experiment every now and then, which >>>> lead me to come up with the following dances which, for the most part, >>>> worked. Am I stealing them from somebody? (I like to give credit where >>>> credit is due.) >>>> >>>> They call their dance "Swat the Flea". I searched for a long time for >>>> a very easy dance that had a Swat the Flea and finally wrote this one -- >>>> >>>> BOX'NSWAT (Circle) >>>> A1 Women into the middle and back; Gents into the middle & back >>>> A2 All make a quarter turn to the right and walk single file to the >>>> right >>>> B1 Women turn back to face partner -- all shake R hands with Partner & >>>> Box the Gnat; change hands, Balance & Swat the Flea >>>> B2 DSD Partner; Allemande R w/partner 1-1/2 to progress (women end >>>> facing into the center ready to go F&B) >>>> >>>> >>>> Since contra dances are almost impossible to teach to a loud, >>>> boisterous, energetic bunch of 18-year olds who have never heard of or seen >>>> a contra dance, I decided to give this a whirl -- and it worked -- mostly! >>>> It would probably be better with a smaller more sedate crowd. >>>> >>>> GREASE & GLUE (Contra formation -- Gender free -- all you need is a >>>> partner) >>>> A1 Couple 1 split Couple 2, return to places; Couple 1 DSD >>>> A2 Couple 2 split Couple 1, return to places; Couple 2 DSD >>>> B1 Star R; Star L (w/hands) >>>> B2 Couples face each other -- Couples DSD 1-1/2 ending back-to-back, >>>> facing next couple >>>> >>>> >>>> As an aside -- how do you quiet a room with terrible acoustics full of >>>> loud people? Thanks! >>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> *Looking forward,Linda S. Mrosko* >>>> >>>> *102 Mitchell Drive* >>>> >>>> *Temple, Texas 76501* >>>> >>>> *(903) 292-3713 <(903)%20292-3713> (Cell)* >>>> *(903) 603-9955 <(903)%20603-9955> (Skype)* >>>> *contradancetx.com <http://www.contradancetx.com>* >>>> >>>> *www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy* <http://www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy*> (Dance >>>> buttons, t-shirts, & more)* >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Callers mailing list >>>> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >>>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >>>> >>>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> >> >> >> *Looking forward,Linda S. Mrosko* >> >> *102 Mitchell Drive* >> >> *Temple, Texas 76501* >> >> *(903) 292-3713 <(903)%20292-3713> (Cell)* >> *(903) 603-9955 <(903)%20603-9955> (Skype)* >> *contradancetx.com <http://www.contradancetx.com>* >> >> *www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy* <http://www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy*> (Dance >> buttons, t-shirts, & more)* >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> >> > > > -- > jandnbloom(a)gmail.com > http://jacobbloom.net/ > View my Arlington Food Pantry fundraiser at https://www.youcaring.com/ > arlington-food-pantry-621657 > -- *Looking forward,Linda S. Mrosko* *102 Mitchell Drive* *Temple, Texas 76501* *(903) 292-3713 (Cell)* *(903) 603-9955 (Skype)* *contradancetx.com <http://www.contradancetx.com>* *www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy* <http://www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy*> (Dance buttons, t-shirts, & more)*