UU Bluegrass Festival - Gig 4

Karen and I got an actual gig. We were asked to call for Cross-Town Traffic since they learned belatedly that they needed a caller for their gig and they couldn't find any experienced ones who were available.

I called the first 2 dances and Karen called the last 2. The crowd included a lot of non-dancers intially but there were also a good number of experienced dancers to help out.

I called Berthas Landfall (Gene Hubert) and Small Potatoes (Jim Kitch). I managed to keep the walk-throughs short and simple and there were no melt downs. The only big problem was that I called let the dance go way too long. I think it was about 20 times through. The band had to come up with two extra tunes during the dance. However, everyone seemed to have fun and I discovered (I think) what I want to get out of calling. I wnat to make the dancers have fun and, thereby, get new people hooked on contra.

Anyway, follow-up comments from the band are below:

Bill Porter wrote:

We had a great time playing for you, and you really helped us out of a jam.
A hard weekend to find a caller. I had already made the phone rounds, at
one point rang up Janet to ask if she knew anyone who might do some pro
bono calling and, sweetheart that she is, she said she would have been
happy to come herself except she was gone too. UUCA might not have had a
real dance if you hadn't stepped in, so everyone is glad you were there. I
am so happy this worked out well for you! A perfect fit.

I wasn't paying full attention, but my impression was that what you did
worked very well. Nobody noticibly lost or confused. Early dances might
have gone on a bit long, but you already know that. It helped that there
was a sprinkling of folks that had done contra, a few that are regulars,
about what I expected. But there were complete beginners there, some very
young, and you got them through it fine and with great style. That is not
easy to do, but you made it look fairly easy, so you are both off to a
great start. Don't know for sure, but I suspect it felt good to share the
role - mutual support, more time to think and less strain for each. I
think other people liked the calling couple concept too.


Brian Baker wrote:

I was just amazed at how well the evening went. You had quite a few beginners, yet not any meltdowns...and mostly just good dancing.

I liked your efficiency in teaching (both). We can't really hear much on the band stand, but it looked good.

Hope we can work together again soon. Let's be on the lookout for opportunities.

I don't think the dancers could have had more fun even with the most experienced callers, so we all win.

Thanks again for jumpin in at the last minute.

And Michael Robinson said:

you did great keep it up

the 1st one went long but hey the dancers had a good time and
ummm the band got to try out winging 4 tunes in what was to be
a two tune set but hey we made it and you
made it and the dancers didn’t crash and stop so..... was great

this dance was a hard one to call for with all the different capabilities
of the dancers so.... you did wonderful in that respect

I have not heard you call for like the Tuesday night dance or a Friday
night with the more experienced dancers but I think after the 4 or 5th
time through the dance you could start not calling as much and by the 7-8 th
time though you could quit calling till the end like the last time through

I hope you will come and call with us some on sept 5 at the mesiah

Calling Night Number 3

Night number 3 was at the Messiah Lutheran Church in Decatur. I called E^ by Robert Cromartie, again, and things did not go that well. It was a small crowd and almost all experienced dancers so nothing fell apart. The problem was me getting off and also calling balances where none should be.

The band was Back Porch Rockers.

Cumberland Dance Week 2006 - A wonderful family camp set in the hills of Kentucky. The music is fabulous (Avant Gardeners, Berea Castoffs, etc.), the accommodations are great, the staff is the best.

That's where it all began. Chris Bischoff, a great caller, taught a calling workshop. I thought it would be fun to give it a try. I enjoyed the class and on Thursday night, I got a chance to call for a late night dance with Back Porch Rockers playing. This was my first chance. I called "Small Potatoes" by Jim Kitch. It was a simple dance I got from Seth Tepfer's website as a good dance for new callers. In my opinion, I sucked but the dancers were great and things worked out fine. I got a lot of support after the dance.

The next night was Friday and the last night of camp. There was no planned late night dance but the band was up for it and so I got another chance. I called E6 by Robert Cromartie (given to me by Seth Tepfer - my bestest calling buddy). The band this time was Avant Gardeners. I taught the dance quickly and asked the band which tune they wanted to play. When Laura Light told me they were going to play Tam Lin, my jaw hit the floor. That has to be one of my favorite tunes of all times. Needless to say I was psyched and scared to death that I would start grooving to the music and completely forget about calling. However, the band made it so easy to figure out where I was in the music that I had next to no problems. I can't explain the elation I felt as I finished calling my second dance ever. Avant Gardeners playing Tam Lin - for me - unbelievable. Anyway, that was how the camp ended and it was a fabulous experience.