[Callers] Dance length/dances per evening

[Ann Fallon via Callers]

Very interesting discussion.  

 

One thing I try to pay attention to is the music and whether the band will be playing two-tune or three-tune medleys.  If I think the dance will not run for a long time (short hall, time running out, etc.) I’ll let the band know so they can make their changes sooner rather than later.  I always feel badly if I have to cut the dance short and the band hasn’t gotten a chance to play the last tune at least four times through.  If I have to make an “emergency” stop I always try to apologize to the band for cutting them short.  If I lose track of the changes I’ll ask where they are.  

 

Ann Fallon

Annapolis, Maryland

From: Callers [mailto:callers-bounces at lists.sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Ryan Smith via Callers
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2015 10:25 AM
Cc: callers at lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: Re: [Callers] Dance length/dances per evening

 

"If you decide on a number of times through and actually count, you can stick to that pretty well, but if you decide a running time, it is much more difficult to stay on track of the time and warn the band three times before you want to end, etc."

 

I couldn't disagree more.  I have always used a stopwatch to keep track of how long I'm running the dance, and since one time through the dance is close enough to 30 seconds as to make it not matter, I signal the band 3 more times at whichever B2 is closest to one and a half minutes (usually 6.5 minutes since we started) from my target time (usually 8 minutes).  I don't count times through or use marker couples or anything like that because I don't need the distractions.  If I were counting, I would definitely have a moment where some couple needed my help and I'd be figuring out what calls would best put them back on the right track and forget whether I was on 5 or 7, and then I'd probably end up running the dance too long thinking I was on 16 times through, when it was really 20.

 

If counting works for you, that's great.  For people like me, having a target length is much simpler.

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