Especially at community dances, but also at contras, I look for was to encourage dancers to say thank you. At community events one of my first dances is usually a kind of Appalachian square dance. Couples do one or two simple figures to my calls with another couple, and then I go, "Everybody, face your neighbors. ... Say, "Thank you!" ... Take your partner and find new neighbors." People seem to enjoy the opportunity to say thanks. At contras, if there is a pre-dance lesson, I try to work in some experience on progressing, even if it's in a mini-contra. (E.g., Circle left, circle right, dosido your neighbor, say thanks to your neighbor, walk forward to a new neighbor.) And having the mic all evening I get opportunities to thank the band, sound personnel, organizers, and the dancers themselves. Squares and triplets (and other set dances) give us a chance to encourage people to thank their whole set as well as their partner. Richard On Oct 31, 2016, at 1:47 PM, via Callers wrote: Once or twice a night, remind the dancers to hydrate and tell them where to find the punch bowl, drinking fountains, etc. If there are a lot of newcomers, they may not know where the water source is located (and you can joke that it's included with the price of admission....who can resist!). Make it clear that you won't be starting the next dance for a few minutes - this encourages hydration, plus many dancers will be happy for the quick break and a chance to move to the side of the hall where they can mingle and find their next partner without fear that they'll be left out. Sue Gola -----Original Message----- From: Ron Blechner via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Sent: Mon, Oct 31, 2016 12:56 pm Subject: [Callers] Positive values on the mic Hi Shared Weight, I'd like to hear some examples of things you as a caller (or you as an organizer encouraging callers) say on the mic during a dance to promote positive dance values. I ask because I'm reviewing my own dance's "calling our dance" communication with callers, as well as evaluating my own statements on mic. I'll get us started. I like to say, a couple times per evening, for dancers to look to the sidelines for dancers who were sitting out, in considering a partner. In dance, Ron Blechner _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net