[Organizers] 2 Questions - Musicians

19 Sep 2011

Hi all,

2 Questions; one easy one not so easy.  

(1)    Easy question:  I am involved in trying to restart the dance that
takes place in Deerfield, NH on the first Saturday of the month. It was
started and maintained by Marianne Taylor for 7 or 8 years before her recent
death, and it for her as well as for the dance that we want to continue the
event.  We have a little seed money (I am not sure how much) and hope to
attract callers, musicians and perhaps a sound person for a share of the
gate.  It seems to me that as organizers we probably should not give the
talent all of the gate.  There might be gas money, but if I understand the
current situation correctly, that might be the only guarantee.  Anything
else will probably be a share of the gate.  What percent of the gate would
you give to the talent?  Would you retain any for the organization?

(2)    Realizing a vision:  There are other dances within an hour or so at
the same time. These have tended to attract serious dance gypsies.  The
Deerfield dance had always been a more low key dance with some older
dancers, some pretty young dancers and a larger share of beginners.  We need
to attract a solid core of dancers but do not want to hurt attendance at
these other dances.  Speaking just for myself, we may want to try to
continue to fill the niche that this dance always used to.  If in fact this
is the vision that others helping to organize this wan,t how do you
recommend we convey that to potential dancers?  I am asking about how to
realize a vision once that vision has been developed?  This is a big
question and one that I hope those of us going to the "Puttin' On the
Dance"
conference might discuss.  But I would love to hear your thoughts on this
here as well.

So, one small fairly urgent question that we need to settle very soon, and
one larger question that we will probably need to work at for a while.

Thanks for being there,

Cheers,

Rickey Holt, Fremont, NH