It might be a good idea, but failing that the simple question 'have you done this sort of thing before', or 'where do you usually dance' would be a helpful starter. That's what I say when someone new comes to club, and might get an answer 'not for years', or the name of another club or sort of dance which gives a clue.

I don't know about newcomers 'selecting' partners, I think they often either dance with those they come with or hang back and wait to be asked to dance - it is up to club members to recognise new faces and include them.

Some would say that it's the callers job to explain the basics (though when I'm calling I try to pace my walk-through so that experienced dancers can show their neighbour a figure if most know it).

----- Original Message -----

Sent: Monday, November 23, 2015 8:24 PM

Subject: [trad-dance-callers] "Frequent Flyer" ID badge or item

Twice in as many months I've attended out-of-town events that included a pin or button used to identify experienced dancers.

One was at a Jane Austen ball, where the local ECD group brought in acetate convention name badges that contained an illustration of two dancers. The other was a Civil War event where the dance troupe floor managers wore small cloisonne badges.

This seems like a good idea to have at events with lots of visitors. At the Austen event, everyone who "knows what you're doing" was invited to wear a badge, and newcomers were encouraged to select them in partnerships. At the other event, dance troupe folks were busily explaining the basics to folks who already knew the drill, and having something available for the public could have advanced the conversation along.

If you were designing something to use in this regard, what would it look like, and be made of?

Thanks for ideas!

--Karen D.