[Callers] Applause or Not...

[Donald Primrose via Callers]

Good morning,

Its been my experience that dancers routinely applaud after each set.. I do
so as well even when calling..turning to the band and acknowledging them. I
go one step further and ask for additional acknowledgment/applause not just
for the band, I ask for a hand for the hall. Paying respect for the hall,
reaches out to the community at large and acknowledges the contribution
from those whom preceded us making the dance possible.

-don primrose
Nelson, NH

On Thu, Apr 23, 2015 at 11:24 AM, Linda Leslie via Callers <
callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> This is a great topic! Thanks for bringing it up, Erik.
> A few thoughts:
> **I introduce the band before the first dance. "Let's give a warm welcome
> to....."  I like to gently set up expectations.
> **If the dancers don't remember to applaud, I remind them, even if it
> means doing this more than once in an evening.
> **Especially during the waltz, I will get off the stage, and mix among the
> dancers, and then applaud like crazy when they end. I've also been known to
> hoot. Nothing like a role model!
> **I, too, have stopped calling for a few series because of not getting
> anything back. I'ld rather spend my time and energy calling for a group
> that has decided that it is just as important to take care of me and the
> band, as it is for me and the band to take care of them., even for a lot
> less money.
> **And for this last reason, I respectfully disagree with Barb, who said "you
> were rocking - but i just needed the community tonight.  don't be offended
> :-D"    I don't think these two things are mutually exclusive: dancers can
> get their needs met, and still help the band/caller have their needs met.
> Linda Leslie
>
> On Apr 23, 2015, at 8:57 AM, Perry Shafran via Callers <
> callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> 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
>
>
> 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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>


-- 
Don Primrose
Founder, Board Chair
Hundred Nights Inc.  Cold Weather Shelter and Open Doors Resource Center
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