[Callers] Applause or Not...

[Perry Shafran via Callers]

Erik (and all),
You certainly hit on one of the issues for me.  I remember calling in one community with a pretty well-known popular band, and I gave the band their props, as I usually do, but I could not get the dancers to applaud the band.  Maybe a bit more at the end of the night, but not much during the dance.  OK, I might not be the most well-known popular callers but the band is and travelled a long way for not a lot of money and some appreciation would be nice.
OTOH, I was in another community, with a local band, and I and the band got TONS of applause that night.  It really made me special and as a result put that community in a special place in my heart.  I was grateful.  The other community kind of gave me that "eh" feeling.  Maybe I called better dances in the place I got applause, or maybe I explained things better, I don't know.  

I know that when I'm dancing I always give applause to all bands and callers.  Even if they had off nights.  They are all part of our community, too, and communities support bands and callers.
Perry

      From: Erik Hoffman via Callers <callers at lists.sharedweight.net>
 To: trad-dance-callers at yahoogroups.com; callers <callers at lists.sharedweight.net> 
 Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 10:08 PM
 Subject: [Callers] Applause or Not...
   
Hi All,

There are several places where almost no applause occurs after a dance. 
In some communities, when I've been subjected to that experience, I've 
asked, "were we off tonight?" The reply usually is something like, "no, 
the dance was fine (or even great), we just head for our next 
partner..." I know sometimes it's just the night. Sometimes, though, 
it's the community's habit. I spoke with a renowned musician the other 
day, who will no longer play for a certain series. One of the reasons: 
lack of applause -- lack of that palpable sense of appreciation.

I think dancers don't often know that applause really makes the band and 
caller feel better. If they feel better they play better. And, as a 
dancer, applause usually makes me feel better, too. Any ideas on how to 
encourage applause? Or, if you're in one of those communities where 
applause is minimal, does it bother you?

~erik hoffman
    oakland, ca


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