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August 2008 Blog
Rick Hampton Square Dance Caller
August 11th
It's been a while since I wrote. Let's see what's new....., My kid #2
joined the Navy (Yay-sorta)- The summer has been HOT, Yet GREAT crowds on
Mondays- Plus DBD, Tuesdays are typically summer light-YET a pile of "old"
friends have come out- Many dropped when kids were growing and now they're
back!! I've had some great "Square Dance Parties" and a good MWSD summer!
I have a question...... Why do Festivals "Dancer Run" do not see the fact that
there is ZERO need for 5 levels, 5 callers, 3 cuers, 3+ halls and the costs-
Gang the predominate attendance at these events are Plus and A2- 2 Halls, 2,
maybe 3 callers and 2 cuers. Face it NOBODY GOES TO THE CONTRA HALL or
The MS hall (Except for events Late February-Early April- i.e Bakersfield, Wing
Ding). Please, if YOU are involved in a "dancer run" event- reconsider the
need for 1980's costs against 2008 reality....Anyway I'm off doing a swing thru
socal this weekend after a YMCA camp (5th year for me 20 years for them) which
will have 200 people Square Dancing (ages 15-40)
THINK PLEASE
Rick
August 18th
A great trip thru socal and FUN!!- Nice crowd at Valley Trailers and
Ichabods!!........ I notice that, while many groups are realizing the need for
adjusting their budgets ( A door price increase for example, working with
another club to bring in a caller for 2 nites etc.) a few are still "burying
their head in the sand"- Gang the days of 4 dollars a person are over- Smart
groups will realize that a minimum of 10 per person is what's needed to instill
"pride of ownership" (quoting a dancer commenting on door prices-i.e VALUE) I
hope the groups will "come up for air" and see the light- The Future of the
activity demands "we" put a higher value to it. I am hopeful for many
groups, and sad to see that other groups are going to fold- due 100% to " we
cant charge more- We aren't worth it" F&C comes to mind
Stuff Happens
Rick
August 25th
I'm actually excited about my 30th class reunion ( Of course I'll miss the
actual reunion- I'm calling- But I will be at the day after BBQ) ..............I
wonder how many folks who Square Dance realize the effort, time, money, missed
events, etc. that callers put in for their enjoyment. For example The SGV
BnB's couldn't be bothered to return a Yay or Nay call-(after all They called me
to book the event) Yet the caller (local-ish) who was subsequently booked
for the date did- and this was all over "I have to get board approval to pay for
a tank of gas" FOR A DATE OVER A YEAR AWAY
I hope they have a fun dance (RS is a great caller) but Sheez- call back and be
polite or say #@#K You .........but do what y'say you will do---Call back---- Oh
well I really don't care about a lethargic club which (Even at the price I
quoted) I would have lost money on- I'll pray that SGVBNBS...will ......RIP- I
also wish the LnL/Fnc the same consideration, Stiff me once "shame on me" Try it
twice more in less than 2 months-??? Why did you call me? (PS I think
Wilkenson would be a great venue for a Caller Run Monthly event- Let me know
when the hall is open- I'm guessing soon
Rick
August 26th
I participate in various caller groups (CALLERLAB, American Callers Association,
South Valley Callers Assn, as well as internet groups such as ABC and sd-callers)
I wanted to share a posting I made on the sd-callers forum tonight- In regards to a month long discussion of 2 important issues- 1) How many weeks to teach Mainstream, Plus or ACA's One floor and 2) Why do folks drop out.
I WILL SHARE THE RESPONSES- With names deleted to protect the guilty..
Here is my posting to the discussion list (In Blue) Replies will be in
red- If you want to comment (I'll share to the discussion group-minus your name)
CLICK
I've been trying REALLY hard not to comment on this 16
week to MS question, and how this may(likely) relate to the dropout question.
Yet I am semi-amused by the list responses (Sad actually) that the California
"rush to Plus" has morphed into a "Rush to MS"
The reality is, a 16 week "rush to MS" (actually MS-ish) is just as doable
as the same accelerated 25 week period that the "rush to plus-ish" is doable
Here are the consequences and /or alternatives IMH yet long term Opinion (
The rush to MS/{Plus- IMHO the dropout stuff is a consequence of how a caller
deals with the below options)
1) A caller could say no (Yet another "caller" will likely agree and often at a
cheaper rate)
2) A caller could say yes and ignore the dropout rate- (Please Dont)
3) A caller could say "that's a great idea-let us start an 16 week ( or 25 week
for Plus) intro group- Please realize that we will need to workshop the list
further after "graduation" (Yet this is a big reason we lose newer dancer-
verified by "market surveys' and "gut feels" (I like this approach and #4- with
the additional WS to the hard core)
4) A caller could teach a RGV50 (as an MS class) or an ACA "one Floor" (as a
plus class) - In the US likely no one would notice.....MOSTLY THIS IS WHAT IS
ACTUALLY HAPPENING-In the US, and maybe that's the reason for RGV and ACA to
have come up with these lists
5) A caller could start his/her own group-rent the hall/advertise/and teach
his/her "idea" of Square dancing
The bottom line is that a Caller with perspective (Say one who calls for a
couple of successful local/regional groups- A Caller who dances a few times a
year at larger events-And dances a few times "down the street" A caller who
strives to improve his/her craft (be it music/choreo/marketing/visiting with
dancers/etc.- Or hopefully all of the above) is in the best position to LEAD
situations like these. They are also in the best position to share info and in
many cases credibility.
A newer Caller has resources (such as this list) that we "ol farts" never had,
and has the ability to learn what has not worked sooner that "we old dudes" had
to do by trial and error. I HOPE the newer gang will continue using list email
for info but MORE IMPORTANTLY pick up the phone, go see a mentor,ask for
clarity, as email often gets "lost in translation"
My telephone # is readily available on my website for any newer caller to
chat (Or reply private and I'll give ya buzz), I see the "ol' farts" on the road
and we chat often- but y'all feel free to call also-If you can find your glasses
and I can find my phone LOLOLOL
Disclaimer- I do NOT speak for the other 6 partners in Fine Tune/Gold
Wing/Sharpshooter music( or maybe I do-They will choose to reply or not)- Yet I
did include that label mention in the below "resume"
Those who know me know that I have been fighting to make SD work in 2008 and
beyond...........HELP PLEASE and please reply to the entire list, not just
privately- I get lots of private replies-(A funny one was don't swing at pitches
in the dirt) Yet a conversation is what this forum and activity needs-
I many (most?) areas the new classes are starting and can we at least try
not to lose another year?? Please
.
One last thing- As many have replied privately- My Typing and paragraph
formatting sucks- But I did try some indents this time.
Rick "FY_ My brief Resume-I dance as often as I can w/Lynn at New Dancers
thru C1- 2 new dancer classes this season- 1 Adv Class- 300+ calling dates a
year- Feb 1985 "caller of the Month in Sets in Order/ ACA and CL Member- ABC
team member YMCA/School events and ONS and continues to produce music via FT/GW/SS
(at a loss-like 99.9% of tunes released from all labels)"Hampton
Rick
August 28th
Hmmmmm, The only replies I got were PRIVATE-DON'T SHARE, It would seem that
"callers" are afraid of rocking the boat.
FOLKS THE MWSD BOAT IS SINKING- Perhaps you would care to comment to this list
from your perspective- I'd be happy to facilitate that.
Sigh
Rick