New subject: [Callers] More on Programming

23 Jun 2015

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

Re: [Callers] Buzz Step Swing