​We went a long way in solving that problem here in St Louis, MO, by holding a series of "Honking Parties," where each caller was given 3 minutes to teach a dance (okay, maybe another 3 to teach a favorite move, or a pet peeve move)​. If they went over the 3 minutes, anyone in the room could walk over to our lovely taxi horn, which beautiful to look at but horrible to hear, and honk the caller, who then had to stop calling and start the dance, with no more teaching.

At first, people were sure they couldn't manage it, but we just said "teach simpler dances." Everyone, thankfully, thought the honking was funny rather than offensive, and once people got used to the idea, they found they could call even more complicated dances efficiently, and we hardly ever suffered those interminable 20-minute walkthroughs we so often had.

That which is measured, improves.

Martha

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