Re: [Organizers] matchmaking

As a caller, I've had to make decisions about whether to accept gigs when the band is already booked and I'd prefer not to work with them. Because the contradance community is so interconnected, I prefer not to be too public with my opinions about bands and other callers and such. If offered a gig with a band with which I don't want to work, I'll usually tell the organizer that I have other plans and work to try to find an alternative date. I would not tell the organizer that I don't like or otherwise don't want to work with a particular band. If I'm booked first and the band is booked second, I'll just view the dance as an opportunity to hone my skills for more challenging circumstances. For example, there is a local band comprised of very nice people, but several times over the course the evening, they will have tempo problems or will skip or add entire phrases of music. As annoying as that is, it causes me to really pay attention to the band and allows me to practice techniques for re-synchronizing the music and the dance. Yes, the evening is more challenging. But I always leave it as a stronger caller. Mark Hillegonds Email: mark.hillegonds(a)gmail.com Cell: 734-756-8441