February 2007 Blog Rick Hampton Square Dance Caller

February 1st
I hope Del Mar Goes well this weekend, Phil is ill and I pray he's OK for the weekend!!! I hope that The Visalia Senior Squares Survive the screwing the city has imposed on them ( doubling of price for the 10-12 participants)They're-80+ years old -often use public transportation to get there and are truly fixed income (Unlike the gang who gripes about s/d prices as they pull up in 3/4 of a MILLION dollar Motor homes ) Anyway the Callers (Norm-on medical leave-the caller for 7+ years-Rick B. Main Fill in guy and Me- when I can) call the afternoon for literally nothing ($25 on a good day) because these folks ENJOY and NEED the S/D.. The gang has wrote a letter to the editor (Visalia Times Delta) and I (along with a bunch Tuesday) Signed it. Check out your area- make sure that the veterans of s/d, who can no longer participate in MWSD- have some where to dance-slowly-but dance- Also make sure your area callers (The good ones) participate in this outreach- How? you ask- Ask them to do it (but quit whining that 200 bucks is too much for a #@%$# caller-Paraphrased from the last INTERCLUB meeting) If the Seniors in Visalia can survive a "doubling of the door rate" perhaps the SoCal MWSD can "pry" 14 a couple (should be 20-as in No Cal) out of the wallets- Value the S/D more and clubs and good callers can afford to stay in business- (as far as Callers who still "command" 90 bucks for a weekend dance- and as far as the clubs who hire such-You get what you pay for, and you get the crappy crowds you deserve) In fact the BEST teacher/caller that a particular SFV club currently has (after way too many years of a "famous caller" who screwed them) The new caller has decided to leave-I think it was because his/her head was hurting after banging it on the wall. Folks if YOU really want MWSD to succeed just 1) Hire the BEST to teach our future-even if to afford them it takes 2 bucks more a person!! 2) Drop the $$%^$%^#%^@# dress code (sorry to the closet clothing BUSINESSES that are the most vocal opponents 3) Offer more that one time a year for new folks to join and 4) GIVE THE NEW KIDS SOMEWHERE TO DANCE

Rick

February 2nd
COOL 13 students in Frazier Park and open one more week- Nobody was older than 50- 4 were teens. I hope that this will work, and the 2006 year from hell (Fires-Snow-Lost Hall) will turn into the 2007 "We're back" for the Mountain Squares- I'm calling the Seniors later today and the newspaper is sending a crew- Seems the above mentioned letter got some attention-Plus Norm (complete with a new leg) will be there. I see light at the end of the Seniors Tunnel- The Tuesday group is still iffy, at best- I also chuckle that the Fresno Friday group is (for 2 years now) putting flyers out for their party nights (The "V" area's closest thing to a regular dance) that mention the theme- the food but Nowhere does little details like, (It's a square dance-Has Rounds, Who's calling/cueing,level,time) appear on the flyer. The "V" area is truly a different planet- 2 weeks till Squarama- The festival that budgets a break even of 800 dancers, and has at the most optimistic best 300 registered and little publicity=little hope of 500 walk ins, So based on the presale price- a weekend $16K in the hole- How in the hell does a association get that pathetic?? Oh yeah I forgot who runs the "V" (and likely into the ground) Can we bury this "V" (who puts the FUN into DysFUNctional) and get on with s/d??? or will the 7 clubs bail out this lunacy (to the tune of 2300 bucks each) and bankrupt themselves- They are going to be asked to do just that.

Rick

February 3rd
A Fun afternoon with the Visalia Senior squares- It was refreshing to see them trying everything to put the 2nd square together-It didn't work but what a JOY to see folks wanting to DANCE so unlike other "V" area groups- There was a Photographer there to take pictures for the article that the Visalia Times Delta is doing for the ridiculous rate increase (for seniors at a senior center) It turns out that talking to the staff (They're as upset as the dancers are) The new parks and rec leader wants to make the senior center a "Community" center- Y'know stop gangs etc. There is 2 Senior Housing buildings on site-one built a mere 3 years ago to be close to the SENIOR center- I hope the article gets the attention needed to end this debacle. Norm (complete with his new leg) came out and called a tip-visited with his dancers (Remember Ricky B and I are just holding the fort down) and plans on a March 2nd return as the club caller YAY..... Speaking of Ricky B- He does a monthly email called "Ricks Ramblings" CLICK HERE TO ADD YOURSELF TO HIS MAILING and what a Sad reply he got (From a "V" area couple)- Quoting....Rick B in Blue, The dancer email in Red

........"The following is a response I received to this months ramblings. This is a sad commentary on our activity. I ask that you read this, and ask yourself; "Is this me, this person is talking about?" We all talk about the decline of people in our activity, but remember: when we point a finger, three more are pointed back at us.

Please, make it a special point this week to make EVERYONE feel needed, wanted, and appreciated. Then make it a habit every week. If you are an officer and feel burned out, and just don't have that kind of enthusiasm anymore, step down for awhile, and re-energize!

...."We, too, have felt like 'outsiders' throughout the months we've attended class & club dances even though we've tried to engage in conversation and activities. This year we decided to invite another couple to join us for the class hoping things would change. Unfortunately, we see the same kind of exclusionary treatment toward them as well and am (Highlighting by R.B) about to give up and move on to a more friendly type of group activity. I really don't know what more we can do. Thanks for bringing this problem to our attention; I hope someone will read & understand."

It's just Another Day in The "V"- Rick and I spoke today-He was flabbergasted by this- I was sad to let him know that this is not an uncommon comment from "V" area dancers- Not the "mucky-mucks" or the Old and Tired "sit out crowd" but from the few dancers (i.e those who try to dance) in the "V" HELP!!!!!!!!

Rick

February 4th
A Fun C1 Today- Everyone jumped back in after a couple of months off and did very well!!!
The reaction to the Visalia Senior Squares dilemma is overwhelmingly positive- I'll have a copy of the article on this page soon. I hope all is well.

Rick

February 5th
Message to ALL DANCERS in The "V" (those who actually enjoy s/d, y'know Showing up, then Squaring up) Do NOT let the completely, out of control, both politically and in one MAIN case physically out of control "board" drive you away. !! Don't let these IDIOTS keep you from Square Dancing- The Merced and / or Bakersfield areas would embrace you, If you're at the A1 Level- You come out any 4th Sunday to my CALLER RUN dance 3 New couples tried it in January and had a BLAST If enough true interest is there, I'll start a Bi-Monthly Plus Group in Clovis- Really   it will be 16 per couple and I promise to deliver fun s/d In the "V" area where not much dancing happens- And I'm willing to provide some and will bring in other callers for you to enjoy -but not a loss of travel dates/or money (See I don't run a deficit such as Squarama does-It would be nuts to do that)- so say y'make it worth my while- I'll absolutely make it worth your while!!! As far as Festivals go............PLEASE (again actual dancers) Choose the Wing Ding in Merced 3/2-4 over the Tulare Nightmare- That has to go away, before the IDIOTS in charge drive YOU from s/d. Vote NO when the hugely overrated chairman comes looking for $$. Bakersfield Fiesta is another great choice, as is State Convention in Riverside (The Politicos have issues but the callers keep it away from y'all).... By the way I'm still deciding whether to stay with SS on Tuesdays (nice class) or accept the 2 1/2 hour drive for a bit better "take home pay" I will quit SS if they were to send ANY money to bail out JT/TD- I don't even need to give notice, hell my contract expired 6 months ago Anybody want to dance???? ACA Insurance covers the event!!!!! Just let me know!!!! I'll do my best to fit in dances in hopefully soon to be "former V"

Rick

February 6th
A good night at SS- One tip during the Club time we had 4 squares dancing and only ONE COUPLE sitting out-
Talk about a Twilight zone moment- Maybe the new class is rubbing off??? Now if this were to keep up, and the few angels who are not helping ( Trying to score with a girl during a tip-Talking-Having NO CLUE of what's going on -in fact 2 people asked if this angel's mental faculties were OK- I hope he's OK but I wish he'd go away- this is not a new problem Perhaps a move to the senior squares is in order?? Speakin of the Senior Squares here's Page1   Page2 (THESE ARE PDF FILES) of the above mentioned article from the Visalia Times Delta-published Sat 2/3/07. Finally did any "politico" who aspires to State Council get asked to NEVER return to a workshop? Inquiring minds want to know... Sad but, oh hell he/she deserved it- What a Cluster Duck we have here in the "V" ....aghhh

Rick

February 7th
Read The Editorial from the Visalia Times Delta- This is GREAT!!!!! Click Here ..Read the last post and see the news article too.......I have the privilege to call again Friday for the Seniors (Unless the city has us arrested LOL-Kinda).............................Tonight...A Really FUN A2 nite- Most folks had attended a Bluegrass Festival-Which Featured an "Ol time Square Dance" Over the weekend- so I called some stuff they learned (Along with 150 or so Young/Old Bluegrass fans) "First couple Bow and Swing" "Rip and Snort" What a hoot- The Wed. A2 group is mostly doing Full Festival Speed Dancing- with the Workshopping of an occasional "all hell breaking loose" calls- Not too many of those anymore. I'm REALLY proud of this group's progress and for the very few having trouble- Just come more Often!!!! and REGULARLY It'll be OK. Thursday It's the Final Open Nite for Class in Frazier (14 new ones-a RECORD) Friday The Seniors, Sat. a Recording Session in the Ventura Studio and Sunday C1 (This all assumes we can bail out of jail from the crime of having an illegal Senior Square Dance)... Finally I had to smile when the prez of the SS Tuesday group finally realized that some of the WORST talkers/wannabe teachers in the Squares are Single Men trying to score (aka help) on the new single ladies- Same Dudes Every Year- 8+ years at least and today the prez said "really??"

Rick

February 13th
Man I've been busy, Thursday had most of the class return (1 couple called-emergency surgery-see you in 2 weeks)
Friday the Seniors, Sat all day in the studio, C1 Sunday- Monday was an above average crowd- Tonight I found out that Squarama (in 3 days) still has LOTS of the "commemorative dangles for the first 300 people "left-LOTS .. Year 3 now that the chief mucky-mucky forgot to tell the callers they're doing new dancers (in fact this year it's a one nite stand level w/Lines and contras) When I told the 2 callers scheduled to do this "intro" this week they BOTH said 1) Huh-Nobody told me and 2) I don't call contra...or lines. I spoke to another featured caller today and I was asked "How come there was NO flyers and NO ads in my area"-a major metropolitan area with a couple of thousand active Square Dancers!!   Time to switch off the life support. If you do go you WILL ENJOY the staff, You will be confused by the schedule- You might want to just wait 2 weeks and join Jet, Phil and I at Wing Ding

Rick

February 14th-Valentines Day
Happy Valentines Day, This would be a great Weekend to take your love Square Dancing, Unless You dance Basic or Mainstream- NO!! OK How about A2- Friday Nite has both A1 and A2 in 2 halls (Wonder how much the A1 hall costs, but divide it up among the 3 Squares, I'm sure it's worth it) Saturday Morning its Plus/Rounds and for the Advanced Gang an "Intro To Challenge" and an Intro to A1- Now neither of those may seem stupid, unless one considers 1) why the heck would the A2 dancers (that's the audience for a Challenge intro) get dressed for an hour- 2) Why would anybody schedule an intro to A1 (That's Only for Plus Dancers y'know) Opposite a Plus dance, OK another hall well worth the money-Then the Nighttime Intro to Square Dance with rounds, lines and contras..OK seems reasonable yet for the THIRD YEAR IN A ROW J.T forgot to tell the callers what level, They don't do rounds and only one does a lil bit of contra-Lines- Why the hell would you want to do line dancing/Contra Dancing/Round Dancing and Square Dance intros...For the public-seems reasonable except, Like the ZERO effective advertising for the MWSD portion of this festival ZERO for the intro- So that hall cost how much again????????? The committee
all of which duck the question "why do you let J.T kill this weekend" deserve the blame for this Cluster Flock. 5 callers/ 2 Cuers and 3 halls with no publicity??? Why not 2 halls 2 cuers and 3 callers and drop the BS of "intro to whatever"- spend the savings on publicity- and Not a Feb 1/8 page out of focus flyer, no one could read, in The Blue Book- Better yet, If the few actual square dancers in the "V" want a festival 1) FIRE the morons who have done this to you- Help can be arranged or 2) Let the SQ and the "V" pass away this weekend- then I'll put on a festival that doesn't lose money, alienate dancers or gets anyone slapped- The other areas are laughing at this, and those who've done it- Please quit dancing, go away, leave, get a life or ? but get the hell out-NOW!

Rick

February18th

Well it's over- The "V" folded the festival. Sad-Yes- Preventable-Absolutely- The big question is-How will the area respond-Tonight I got so many "This is what you've been warning us about....." comments that I lost count. Followed by "what do we do now"- Simple and If you read this blog regularly, you know the answer- Make the Square DANCE the priority, not the food/KP/meetings/RD classes etc- No the Square DANCE has to come first, The FUN of the DANCE.. I foresee this being a beginning, and not the end IF the DANCE part becomes the priority- Starting Monday!!!! Kudos to the calling/cueing staff for putting on a great dance program!!!!!! Too bad the "mucky mucks" were so mired in the minutia of the weekend (in the last 12 months) that they forgot to invite (publicize) anybody..
Sh#t happens

Rick

February 25th
My DSL Modem died and I've been having internet withdrawals. Let's catch up- The biggest buzz I hear over the demise of Squarama is tied between- "How did it happen" by dancers, and "It was an illegal meeting" by Politicos- the simple answer to how it happened is 1) look at the politicos "illegal" statement and 2) You dancers did elect these politicos -. Oh well, Let's see Monday was a good evening, Tuesdays are going much better-I think the club finally realizes I will leave if it stays a primarily social with little dancing group. Wed was light- Trips to Laughlin and Costa Rica-Thursday was snowed out- Friday the Seniors were happy the city council said No Changes and Sat a really Fun 52nd anniversary of the Whirlaways-with a full square from Visalia YAY!!!!!!!! The crowd was short due to no Mountain Folks (Tehachapi, Frazier Park or Isabella ) Seems I-5/178 and 58 Freeways have all had nighttime ice shutdowns lately- Oh well. Sunday in Clovis a lotta fun-nice crowd!! This week it's Mon-Tues (Wed is Dark-I'm going to Kid #2's concert) Thursday ? OK if no snow/ice/fire/flood or earthquake, but at this point I'm not taking bets- Then The WingDing Fri-Sun in Merced- Join Us

Rick

February 26th
Today I may well have broke a small bone in my foot. I did this while saving Nuns and Orphans from a burning building, or was it dropping a 20oz Mountain Dew Bottle on my foot?-I forget, I'm sticking to the Nuns and Orphans story. Thanks to Rob C. for covering Whirlaways tonite. I'll know for sure Tuesday if it's broke or badly bruised. I'm going back to bed now (8:17pm) I like pain pills.

Rick