Spectator - Organizers

8 Jun 2016

As the primary "door" person for the past several years this has fallen on
me to resolve on many occasions.  As a board member I know how costly it is
to have too many "freebies"  but I am also very aware of the good customer
service, the kindness to new potential dancers, the spouse/sig. other of
the band who has helped to heft and tote, the relative that would otherwise
possibly not get to hear their family member perform, etc.  We need to hold
all of this and how our response will be translated in the re-telling of
the experience.  If we are to be open and welcoming we need to be flexible
as well.

Here are some of my judgement calls (all, some or none are not necessarily
the policy of the group) -

*Low Income* - Please pay what you can afford.
*Family group* - charge adults, if the children are small...free.  If they
are older and dancing, the student rate is $5, if there are many I may let
them in for a prorated "family rate" TBD.
*Lookie Lou's* - Come in!  See what we are about, maybe you'd like to try?
(If possible, I steer them toward an experienced dancer)  These people
often come back for a whole evening of dance.
*Family of the band/caller* - I generally leave it up to them especially if
they are not dancing. They very often ask what they can pay or just pay for
the evening.
*Non -dancer spectator* - I tell them the entry rate and if there is
balking or comments about "but I'm just listening"  I explain that we all
pay for concerts and that we do need to pay the band.  Please make a
donation of what you can.

I try to never turn anyone away - we need every body we can get!

Hope these are helpful.

Mary Collins, Dance Caller
Board Member, QCCD.org

“Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass ... it's about learning
to dance in the rain!” ~ Unknown