Organizers

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Next CDSS web chat: Increasing Youth Involvement - registration open now

by Emily Addison

Hi fellow organizers, I'm sending this out on behalf of Linda Henry (Community Resources Manager at CDSS). Registration is open for the next Web Chat ---> topic: Increasing Youth Involvement! More details below. With thanks, Emily Addison Wearing my CDSS hat this morning ===================================================== We have been thrilled that participants from over twenty states and two provinces have joined each of the first two CDSS web chats! If you are interested in *Increasing Youth Involvement* at your dances, please join our next web chat on *Wednesday, January 16 from 8:30-9:30 pm EST*. The following guests will share successes from their communities on this topic: Louise Siddons (English country dance organizer from Stillwater OK), and contra dance organizers Bradley Smith (Louisville KY), Lisa Faryadi & Kenneth Bartholow (Charlotte NC), and Max Newman (Boston). We’ll also include time for Q&A. To join the web chat (by computer or phone), use this link to *submit an online RSVP form by WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9th*: goo.gl/vPTTQ6 <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12jD6DCNgZ6tTISa3qF5ED7yaKIL_kGjwRW6q8kNxbz…>. We will send instructions via email on Friday, January 11th about how to join the call on the 16th. Please fill out the form even if you can’t join us but want to hear about future webchats. Recordings of the first two CDSS web chats are available on our website. To hear groups from coast to coast sharing their experiences with *Boosting Attendance* and *Creating a Thriving Open Band*, check out: /resources/howto/organizers-resources#cdss-web-chats <https://www.cdss.org/resources/how-to/organizers-resources#cdss-web-chats>. Please share these links with any organizers you know who might benefit from this valuable resource.Hi

6 years, 7 months

Re: [Organizers] Emily’s reply

by Claire T

Emily Can you describe or send a photo of you collect emails from your 2nd dance free cards? I am just switching from first time ever trying contra with the intro lesson can dance free to 2nd time free pass. I have heard that other dances collect emails from new dancers when giving out the pass but not sure how is best. Thanks Claire Takemori Sent from my iPhone On Dec 21, 2018, at 6:41 AM, organizers-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net wrote: Send Organizers mailing list submissions to organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/organizers-sharedweight.net or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to organizers-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net You can reach the person managing the list at organizers-owner(a)lists.sharedweight.net When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Organizers digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: Organizers Digest, Vol 44, Issue 16 (Emily Addison) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2018 12:21:24 -0500 From: Emily Addison <emilyladdison(a)gmail.com> To: organizers shared weight <organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> Subject: Re: [Organizers] Organizers Digest, Vol 44, Issue 16 Message-ID: <CAD7WKUXfrhO_j8G9DbzCoLBBxc5DV+Y6UhFjx-DEECgYWdMVUA(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Sorry it's taken a bit to chime in here from Ottawa! Some of the ideas below are likely repeated by others but here are a few ideas that we have found successful for the Ottawa Contra Dance: - *Beginner lesson:* We always have a beginner lesson... some of the messaging that is part of that includes the practice of asking anyone to dance, long-time dancers liking to dance with newbies and how that is beneficial if a first-timer, that the terms lady & gent are for positions in the dance and that anyone can dance whatever role they wish... ... We don't have it as a policy but some of our board members participate in the lesson. Modelling for the other regulars to do so. - *Board ID:* Our board all wear a different colour of button and our pictures (with roles) are posted at the back of the hall so that we are easily identifiable. We announce that we love to hear from all. - *Board members model dancing with a wide range of dancers: * We try (to differing degrees) to model dancing with partners of all experience levels, genders, etc. - *Name tags for all: *This includes buttons for members, sticky name tags for others. ... ... colourful markers to make them fun - *More about beginners in particular: * - Welcome at the start of the dance: We introduce the band and caller (enthusiastically!) at the start of the dance and at that point one of our board members gives a warm welcome and a few tips to the brand new folks. - We have a second dance free card (announce why on the mic). However, we also have quite a new handout to us for beginners explaining a bit about our community.. .... I see this as inclusion as a contra dance community is SO different from many other communities that we experience in daily life. Thus, having a bit of an 'in' to read about us and an invite to volunteer, etc. - *Last spring we started having small colourful smiley stickers on the name tag table. We promote these to brand new folks as a way to self-identify as a new dancer (if they want). It's been FANTASTIC as I can quickly glance around in a room of 100 people and find folks that want me to know that they are new... ... then I can go ask them to dance. (For those who want to self-identify as new, it also takes some pressure of them as they then know that all the experienced folks will know they are new.) - As president, I send an email to all new folks who have provided us their email through the second dance free card or our email sign up list. I welcome them, ask them for feedback, etc. - *Re inclusivity around gender*, we are not a larks and ravens community. However, as mentioned above, we talk about the terms of gents/ladies being danc roles/positions and anyone welcome to dance any role. We are trying larks & ravens twice this year. Many of our experienced dancers model dancing with same-sex partners and taking on different dance roles. - *Mixer + squares in an evening:* We offer/encourage callers to call a mixer early in the evening and also a square or two to provide not only a bit of variety but to create a different sense of connection throughout the community of dancers there that night (e.g., squares work as a team). There's lots that we do in terms of building a strong sense of community (e.g. lots of potlucks) which adds to the sense of inclusion. I think I'll stop rambling now though... Hope this is helpful. :) Emily Ottawa Contra Dance

6 years, 7 months

Re: [Organizers] Organizers Digest, Vol 44, Issue 16

by Emily Addison

Sorry it's taken a bit to chime in here from Ottawa! Some of the ideas below are likely repeated by others but here are a few ideas that we have found successful for the Ottawa Contra Dance: - *Beginner lesson:* We always have a beginner lesson... some of the messaging that is part of that includes the practice of asking anyone to dance, long-time dancers liking to dance with newbies and how that is beneficial if a first-timer, that the terms lady & gent are for positions in the dance and that anyone can dance whatever role they wish... ... We don't have it as a policy but some of our board members participate in the lesson. Modelling for the other regulars to do so. - *Board ID:* Our board all wear a different colour of button and our pictures (with roles) are posted at the back of the hall so that we are easily identifiable. We announce that we love to hear from all. - *Board members model dancing with a wide range of dancers: * We try (to differing degrees) to model dancing with partners of all experience levels, genders, etc. - *Name tags for all: *This includes buttons for members, sticky name tags for others. ... ... colourful markers to make them fun - *More about beginners in particular: * - Welcome at the start of the dance: We introduce the band and caller (enthusiastically!) at the start of the dance and at that point one of our board members gives a warm welcome and a few tips to the brand new folks. - We have a second dance free card (announce why on the mic). However, we also have quite a new handout to us for beginners explaining a bit about our community.. .... I see this as inclusion as a contra dance community is SO different from many other communities that we experience in daily life. Thus, having a bit of an 'in' to read about us and an invite to volunteer, etc. - *Last spring we started having small colourful smiley stickers on the name tag table. We promote these to brand new folks as a way to self-identify as a new dancer (if they want). It's been FANTASTIC as I can quickly glance around in a room of 100 people and find folks that want me to know that they are new... ... then I can go ask them to dance. (For those who want to self-identify as new, it also takes some pressure of them as they then know that all the experienced folks will know they are new.) - As president, I send an email to all new folks who have provided us their email through the second dance free card or our email sign up list. I welcome them, ask them for feedback, etc. - *Re inclusivity around gender*, we are not a larks and ravens community. However, as mentioned above, we talk about the terms of gents/ladies being danc roles/positions and anyone welcome to dance any role. We are trying larks & ravens twice this year. Many of our experienced dancers model dancing with same-sex partners and taking on different dance roles. - *Mixer + squares in an evening:* We offer/encourage callers to call a mixer early in the evening and also a square or two to provide not only a bit of variety but to create a different sense of connection throughout the community of dancers there that night (e.g., squares work as a team). There's lots that we do in terms of building a strong sense of community (e.g. lots of potlucks) which adds to the sense of inclusion. I think I'll stop rambling now though... Hope this is helpful. :) Emily Ottawa Contra Dance

6 years, 7 months

Re: [Organizers] How do you, as organizers, support/encourage/manifest inclusivity at your dances?

by Luke Donforth

I tossed a few bullet points up there, but figured I'd elaborate here; since it's more conducive to discussion. Having everyone who is currently in the hall involved in any lesson before the regular dance does a lot to help inclusion. It lets everyone meet more folks than during the mill around between dances, and sets the expectation that new dancers will dance with experienced dancers and vice versa (assuming you're including partner mixing, which I strongly support in most circumstances). I try to keep my lesson to less than 15 minutes, so it's not a big obligation to the experienced dancers in the hall (and continue to welcome people to join if they get there late). Wherever your dance falls in terms of the terms used for the different roles (i.e. where you are after a swing), you can emphasize that anyone can dance either role. Modelling that as dancing organizers (two folks who present as male dancing together), as well as asking callers to announce it from the mic "I'll be using the terms Gents and Ladies to refer to dance roles, but anyone can dance either role." On Mon, Dec 17, 2018 at 3:51 PM Luke Donforth <luke.donforth(a)gmail.com> wrote: > I tossed a few bullet points up there, but figured I'd elaborate here; > since it's more conducive to discussion. > > Having everyone who is currently in the hall involved in any lesson before > the regular dance does a lot to help inclusion. It lets everyone meet more > folks than during the mill around between dances, and sets the expectation > that new dancers will dance with experienced dancers and vice versa > (assuming you're including partner mixing, which I strongly support in most > circumstances). I try to keep my lesson to less than 15 minutes, so it's > not a big obligation to the experienced dancers in the hall (and continue > to welcome people to join if they get there late). > > Wherever your dance falls in terms of the terms used for the different > roles (i.e. where you are after a swing), you can emphasize that anyone can > dance either role. Modelling that as dancing organizers (two folks who > present as male dancing together), as well as asking callers to announce it > from the mic "I'll be using the terms Gents and Ladies to refer to dance > roles, but anyone can dance either role." > > On Sun, Dec 16, 2018 at 10:50 PM Winston, Alan P. via Organizers < > organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> Organizers -- >> >> What do you do or have seen others do to build inclusivity at your >> dances? >> >> What is your vision of inclusivity? >> >> Culturally, how do you balance a culture of consent (nobody *owes* >> anybody else a dance, you can refuse without explanation at any time and >> dance with somebody else) with a culture of inclusion where anybody who >> walks in the door, whether they're new dancers, middle-aged women, newish >> dancers in the zone between "let's take care of the first-timers" and being >> experienced dancers who can take care of themselves, etc. can be genuinely >> welcome and can dance as much as they want to without feeling like they're >> part of an out group? >> >> I was discussing this with Seth Tepfer and he set up a google doc to >> collect ideas. It'd be rude to make people on the list go there to >> participate in this discussion and that format is bad for clarifying >> questions anyway, so you may certainly update that document but you can >> also just post here and I'll try to add new ideas to the doc. >> >> >> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vwc-weK43t9nJ94LJIQg6UxiUeP8iqT1_VvqZO7… >> >> Doc contents right now: >> >> ' >> >> 1. >> >> Caller can be encouraged to program circle and scatter mixers. After >> the circle or scatter mix, the caller can say 'keep this parter for the >> next dance. >> 2. >> >> Callers and dance organizers can reserve the first 1/3 of the evening >> to only dancing with new dancers. Role model this behavior for other >> experienced dancers >> 3. >> >> During the early 1/3 of the evening, the organization can welcome >> everybody, and applaud the new dancers >> 4. >> >> Nametags for everyone. >> 5. >> >> We used to have nametags saying (it's my 1st/2nd/3rd time here: ask >> me to dance) >> 6. >> >> Caller's can remind folks to ask the people sitting out to dance. >> 7. >> >> Try to discourage booking ahead. Talk about why booking ahead is >> detrimental to your community - on listservs, in signs, at post dance >> gathering. >> >> (I'm an organizer for the Palo Alto Contra dance, an English dance >> series, and some camps, and an English/Victorian/Regency/Contra caller. >> Even if what organizers can do is what callers can do, the organizers can >> tell the callers to do what they can do, so caller suggestions are >> appropriate here.) >> >> >> >> -- Alan >> _______________________________________________ >> Organizers mailing list >> Organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/organizers-sharedweight.net >> > > > -- > Luke Donforth > luke.donforth(a)gmail.com >

6 years, 7 months

How do you, as organizers, support/encourage/manifest inclusivity at your dances?

by Winston, Alan P.

Organizers -- What do you do or have seen others do to build inclusivity at your dances? What is your vision of inclusivity? Culturally, how do you balance a culture of consent (nobody *owes* anybody else a dance, you can refuse without explanation at any time and dance with somebody else) with a culture of inclusion where anybody who walks in the door, whether they're new dancers, middle-aged women, newish dancers in the zone between "let's take care of the first-timers" and being experienced dancers who can take care of themselves, etc. can be genuinely welcome and can dance as much as they want to without feeling like they're part of an out group? I was discussing this with Seth Tepfer and he set up a google doc to collect ideas. It'd be rude to make people on the list go there to participate in this discussion and that format is bad for clarifying questions anyway, so you may certainly update that document but you can also just post here and I'll try to add new ideas to the doc. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vwc-weK43t9nJ94LJIQg6UxiUeP8iqT1_VvqZO7… Doc contents right now: ' 1. Caller can be encouraged to program circle and scatter mixers. After the circle or scatter mix, the caller can say 'keep this parter for the next dance. 2. Callers and dance organizers can reserve the first 1/3 of the evening to only dancing with new dancers. Role model this behavior for other experienced dancers 3. During the early 1/3 of the evening, the organization can welcome everybody, and applaud the new dancers 4. Nametags for everyone. 5. We used to have nametags saying (it's my 1st/2nd/3rd time here: ask me to dance) 6. Caller's can remind folks to ask the people sitting out to dance. 7. Try to discourage booking ahead. Talk about why booking ahead is detrimental to your community - on listservs, in signs, at post dance gathering. (I'm an organizer for the Palo Alto Contra dance, an English dance series, and some camps, and an English/Victorian/Regency/Contra caller. Even if what organizers can do is what callers can do, the organizers can tell the callers to do what they can do, so caller suggestions are appropriate here.) -- Alan

6 years, 7 months

Re: [Organizers] Looking for innovative door pricing model

by Claire Takemori

Hi Heitzso, Can you tell me how you pay for the dances since you are losing money every time hiring a top band and paying them well? Thanks for sharing. Claire Takemori (campbell CA) Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2018 16:00:14 +0000 From: heitzso(a)growthmodels.com <mailto:heitzso@growthmodels.com> To: "Emily Addison" <emilyladdison(a)gmail.com <mailto:emilyladdison@gmail.com>>, "organizers shared weight" <organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:organizers@lists.sharedweight.net>> Subject: Re: [Organizers] Looking for innovative door pricing models! Message-ID: <91caddc0b02f075dccca48ed4a2d2bd3(a)growthmodels.com <mailto:91caddc0b02f075dccca48ed4a2d2bd3@growthmodels.com>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" (Heitzso for Gainesville, GA, @gaga http://atgaga.com <http://atgaga.com/> responding) We aim for a simple pricing structure that encourages families to attend, so we end up with several family groups attending as an inexpensive, fun, family outing at most of our monthly dances. $20 family (any size, any combination) $10 adults (somewhat in line with area pricing for contra dance, makes it easier to pay at door) $ 5 students teen and up (nice even number, again easy for door to make change) free for children 12 and under. free for non-dancers I regularly offer to comp people I meet in (with their friends) but that offer is rarely taken up so I don't worry about undercutting the dance with hordes of free comp'ed dancers. We are a small (average 35-50) dance but with good energy and a slowly building base of dancers who consider us their home dance. We're in our 6th year as a dance. Roughly half of our dancers drive a distance to come (20-60 minutes) and would consider another dance as their home dance. I try to book regional to weekend quality talent (Toss the Possum is our next band, then George Paul & Ben Schrieber, then ContraForce, then RushFest). So we lose money every month that I cover. BTW, I do pay the musicians well, we have good sound in the hall, and I record multi-channel 24/48 on an RME interface, along with good dancer energy that helps to pull in good bands. Not uncommon for us to tag team with Atlanta who dances on Fridays so a band comes in and plays for the Atlanta dance Friday, then our dance Saturday. The main contribution of this email may be the limited family price because it does bring in families and that means elementary, middle, high, young adult ages at our dance. Heitzso http://atgaga.com <http://atgaga.com/> December 14, 2018 11:09 AM, "Emily Addison via Organizers" wrote: Hi fellow Shared Weight members, I'm back wearing my CDSS hat this morning with a question that overlaps somewhat with the ideas that were shared last week. (I expect that I will be VERY quiet after this question given that there are so many ideas to pull together.) ANYWAY: HERE IS THE QUESTION.... .... What door pricing model do you use for your events (i.e., what do you charge participants)? Does your group do something innovative/creative that works well for your context? There has been a lot of recent discussion on the use sliding scale. I'm hoping to capture how this can be effectively implement. However, there are also many other innovative ideas such as group/family pricing, pay-it-forward, free dance after so many paid, etc.... If you have a model you'd like to share, please include a few ideas on why you think the model works well. For instance: --->Do you have effective signage explaining the pricing model? If so? what does it look like? --->What do the door volu nteers say to make your pricing successful? (If you have door volunteers) ---> How have you explained the pricing (e.g., on-mic announcements; email; website) to your community? Do you connect it to your broader financial goals? If you are committed to being transparent about your organization?s finances, how do you do that? ---?What/how do you communicate to first time attendees? (There's a lot to taken in when you're brand new walking in the door!) If you have ideas you think would benefit other dance, music, and/or song communities, please either share them back onto the list or you can email me directly (Emily(a)cdss.org <mailto:Emily@cdss.org>(mailto:Emily@cdss.org <mailto:Emily@cdss.org>)). (If you share on the list, they have the potential to help others immediately.) It may take me a few days but I'll definitely follow up with you. Then, once I have a completed draft of the resource, I will circulate it among all contributors before it is finalized and made public. With thanks! Emily PS -> I will also be posting th is question on the ECD and Pourparler lists to gather ideas from organizers involved in other traditions. Apologies if you see the message more than once.

6 years, 7 months

Looking for innovative door pricing models!

by Emily Addison

Hi fellow Shared Weight members, I'm back wearing my CDSS hat this morning with a question that overlaps somewhat with the ideas that were shared last week. (I expect that I will be VERY quiet after this question given that there are so many ideas to pull together.) ANYWAY: HERE IS THE QUESTION.... .... What door pricing model do you use for your events (i.e., what do you charge participants)? Does your group do something innovative/creative that works well for your context? There has been a lot of recent discussion on the use sliding scale. I'm hoping to capture how this can be effectively implement. However, there are also many other innovative ideas such as group/family pricing, pay-it-forward, free dance after so many paid, etc.... If you have a model you'd like to share, please include a few ideas on why you think the model works well. For instance: --->Do you have effective signage explaining the pricing model? If so… what does it look like? --->What do the door volunteers say to make your pricing successful? (If you have door volunteers) ---> How have you explained the pricing (e.g., on-mic announcements; email; website) to your community? Do you connect it to your broader financial goals? If you are committed to being transparent about your organization’s finances, how do you do that? ---?What/how do you communicate to first time attendees? (There's a lot to taken in when you're brand new walking in the door!) If you have ideas you think would benefit other dance, music, and/or song communities, please either share them back onto the list or you can email me directly (Emily(a)cdss.org). (If you share on the list, they have the potential to help others immediately.) It may take me a few days but I'll definitely follow up with you. Then, once I have a completed draft of the resource, I will circulate it among all contributors before it is finalized and made public. With thanks! Emily PS -> I will also be posting this question on the ECD and Pourparler lists to gather ideas from organizers involved in other traditions. Apologies if you see the message more than once.

6 years, 7 months

Update on alternative sources of revenue resource

by Emily Addison

Hi fellow Shared Weight Organizers, A quick update as many of you were very generous in sharing ideas for the upcoming CDSS resource on "Alternative Sources of Revenue". Over 30 different organizers/communities have contributed ideas thus far - there are some fantastic suggestions for alternative sources of revenue. I'm currently following up with all of the contributors to flush out details for some of the ideas. It will take a good month or more to write the document as I have a few other CDSS projects on the go and the holiday season is almost upon us. After the draft document is compete, it will be reviewed by contributors before it is considered final. However my goal is that we'll hopefully have the resource out within the first few months of the new year! In the meantime, if you have ideas/thoughts to share, please feel free to send them along to my CDSS email (emily(a)cdss.org). I'll actually be sending a second email within the next day or two asking for ideas on a related topic as it overlaps with this one and I might as well tackle two topics at once right????! With thanks, Emily Addison Wearing my consultant's hat this morning on behalf of CDSS

6 years, 7 months

Wowweee ----> Lots to follow up on regarding alternative sources of revenue!

by Emily Addison

Hi fellow Shared Weight organizers, Wowweeee --- there are sooo many fantastic ideas out there! Thank you Alan, Claire, Terri, Mac, John, Jonathan S & Jonathan R, Jim, Don V and Don P, Lisa, Terri, Nick, and David!!!! I'm sorry I've been quiet the last few days. My CDSS work gets condensed into a few days a week so it sometimes takes me a little bit to catch up. That, and I have a few other CDSS projects on the go at the same time. I've read all your messages and will be follow up individually early next week to see if you're comfortable having your ideas shared as part of the large collection and if so, to find out additional details. With much thanks! Emily Addison writing from Ottawa, Ontario

6 years, 8 months

Ideas for revenue BEYOND the door entry price

by Emily Addison

Hi fellow shared weight organizers :) Wearing my CDSS hat, I'm wondering ----> Does your dance have sources of revenue BEYOND the door entry price??? A few great ideas were shared at the October CDSS Executive community meeting in Toronto and we're looking for more! Do you have successful experience with: - sponsorships (individual/company/other) - grants - donations (collected at the dance OR one-off/ongoing donor programs) - other fundraising (e.g., pie/cake sales anyone?) - membership - merch … that make money? - special events … that make money? - other? I'm pulling together a curated collection of success stories on this subject for CDSS that will then be shared back out early in the new year. I would love to hear your ideas and if you know of someone I should talk to about this, please let me know. Thanks! Emily PS - I asked shared weight about posters/flyers last month and so wanted to update you that that collection will be available in January. I'm just waiting on a few more contributions.

6 years, 8 months

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