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January 2006 Blog
Rick Hampton Square Dance Caller
Happy New Year!!!
January 1st 2006
Rang in The New Year seeing Jay Leno Live-Cool show. Lynn and I got
home in time to countdown New Years with Jess and Cass. I just did my
annual inventory and as of 1/1/06 I'm scheduled for 250 Dates this year- I
always pick up a few along the way so it looks like another record year-Guess
it's time to raise my prices LOL
Rick
January 5th
I'm just trying to get into the swing of the new year- Monday nite we had
another New Dancer Hoedown and in spite of RECORD BREAKING gale force wind and
rain-We had fun!! I got to see power lines explode and trees falling down on the
way to Bakersfield, I saw a 10 mile long stretch of dark (power failure) and
then on the way home-wind and the whole part of Visalia north of my
house-Dark.... Tuesday we started dancing in the smaller, cheaper (not much
cheaper) side of PPAV and had one of the best nites in a loonnngg time!!! It
seems that when folks sit all together, they chat more during breaks and
dance more during tips. I even did 2 hexagon tips after 9:30pm 2 hexs the
1st tip, 1 the 2nd and we actually quit AFTER 10pm-Come out and join the NEW
atmosphere. Tonight a dry trip to Bakersfield for A2-Tommorow Frazier
park. Then one more off weekend before it's back to the normal (chaotic?)
schedule
Rick
January 8th
I called the Gandy Dancers Hoedown today (Filling in for Rod Shuping-Gail's
Mom Passed away-They flew to Texas for the arrangements/funeral etc.) It was a
FUN afternoon and we had CHILI DOGS afterward-It doesn't get much better than
that!!! I heard a caller missed a dance the nite before and fortunately
the club caller was able to cover (albeit the dance started late)- This would
worry me-EXCEPT the MIA caller had not returned confirmation phone calls and the
"Message machine was full" when the club attempted to find out whazzup. I've
shared my thoughts on missing dances (by the caller) and my SC@#W it-FIRE THEM
position-for repeat offenders. I was worried about this particular caller-were
they OK? Sick? Dead? and then a USDA representative mentioned in passing-"I had
trouble getting a hold of this caller before" HMMMMmmmmmmmmmmm???????????
I hope this caller and other "repeat offenders" are prepared to lose gigs cuz
this ain't helping the activity-Sheez have a cell phone and make arrangements-
Rod did, all were aware ,all understood and all had FUN-contrasted with the nite
before-Where's the caller?-Club Caller -HELP-Dance started 1 hour + late-What if
the Club Caller (Who Tours was out of town??) I feel strongly that a MAJOR
function of Associations would be to share this info-BY NAME- and suggest that
this behavior is a " Thanks but you're cancelled for ALL future dates
mistake-Unless You're sick- Another area caller had a massive coronary
incident-But the partner made sure ALL his dates were covered-He's OK and the
dances went on without a hitch
Rick
January 11th
4 Squares+ at the A2 Tonight- a Foggy Tuesday and slow nite-Thanks to Kathy
Racine ( A Caller from the Salt Lake City area) who stopped by and called a
couple of tips-Nice Job!!!!!!..... I hear a wild USDA meeting was held Monday- I
wonder if Ricky B's Idea of basing Fiesta $$ on CLASS Members would help 1)
Increase Numbers 2) Get Groups to start trying again?????- Welcome Fred and the
Ridgecrest gang to the fray. The first NEW "multi-cycle" class in the Central
Valley starts Thursday and I hope it will be the start of an upward trend in the
activity we ALL LOVE!!! C1 starts Sunday at Helen's Barn and the Label is off to
a 2 day recording session Fri and Sat. Finally if a declining club is
going to continue to REQUIRE S/D Clothes for the visitors they obviously
need-Shouldn't they spell the word right on the flyer- It may turn out that the
concerns of the Fiesta $plit won't matter if a new club takes the place of one
who "went away-via the old ways"- Sad
Rick
January 15th
A productive 4 day trip- Thursday was Frazier Park's 1st Nite of our
Multi-Cycle class and a nice attendance-Friday I was in the recording Studio
with Rod and we finalized "Easy Lovin" with Guest Artist Mike
Seastrom-THANKS!!!! Friday Night a meeting with Nasser about the Texas
callers school and Rod and I even "Picked up a cutie" at the Burbank
Airport-Gail I believe was her name-seemed to know Rod-Saturday it was back to
Ventura and the studio for Rod, Rick, Phil and Vic-We finalized "Is Anybody
Going to San Antone" called by Phil and made a major dent in Quando (With
a Q!!!!!!!).for Vic (Singing Call) and Shauna (Round) Vic seemed to be in
a tidying up mood as he kept wanted to do some SWEEPING-Phil was (as usual)
SLEEPING- (Told ya y'make the blog)-Finally C1 1st time with almost 3 Squares-A
FUN day-Then Dinner with Lynn and Jess-Cass come back from winter camp Monday
and after MLK day off-Back to the routine-It will get busy for me soon
Rick.
January 18th
Why do so many folks in the Square Dance activity expect different results
(Big Classes that Stay) from the same behavior (a year commitment-funny
clothes-poor image).....I once read that expecting different results from the
same behavior is one definition of insanity. I am glad to see that the groups
taking a different approach are succeeding-Still this 1 year commitment is a LOT
to ask. Why is a poor, rough "Plus" wearing horribly outdated attire better that
a smooth, complete MS dance in dinner casual attire?? In California we've got A1
becoming the "new Plus" with a lot of folks struggling with things they
should've learned in class-but these were never taught in the Rush to Plus and
Graduation. Frazier Park has started the USDA's first multi-cycle classes
and early results are truly promising. Visalia is re-thinking the whole
VASD approach to classes. Visalia has become a solid Plus Club at full speed and
is in a re-building phase. Thoughts or Comments?
CLICK
Rick
January 20th
Sure is fascinating that the clubs I've given deals to, Tried to help out
are the ones who generate the most trouble (remembering agreements/generally
being a pain). I've made a new years resolution- Live and Learn- and no
mo'.. Anyway back to the real world-A2 this Sunday, The usual M-Thurs the
Steppers party Fri and C1 on Sunday Have a great day and remember-Don't be
dumb-get it in writing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rick
January 21st
Well I got a communication from the above mentioned club indicating "we're
too far apart on this"-Huh?? I haven't changed a $ingle thing from any of the
last 6-8 time's I've called for this group. So I made it simple for them-I've
taken all tentative dates off my calendar and I now have nothing booked or
penciled in with this club-(i.e I'll save you the trouble-I ain't available)-Too
bad we had some fun there and on every occasional the club made a few bucks OR
in the recent case they chose to give out to many free passes-It was still a
great dance and it's sad it will not repeat. Again My New Years Resolution
is to not get into any particular club/area's issues and quirks-I'll just excuse
myself and keep having FUN at profitable dances for the sponsor and myself-It is
my Job y'know, I work very hard at it and I've got a fairly popular product.
Thanks to You for attending events and GOD for allowing me to make a living
doing what I truly enjoy-Square dancing- I truly can't stand political BS and I
choose not to "play". Back in the real world I've opened up 2009 for all
groups and it's starting to fill in nicely-2010 is open for Festivals and the
fiscally stable and proven track record clubs, Open to all others at the end of
2006
Rick
January 22nd
A GREAT Kickoff to the 2006 A2 Season.....A light crowd-(most were at
WinterFest w/@100 Squares) but a FUN day in Clovis!!!!!!! Remember it's most 4th
Sundays-Join Us. A full week looms and then Lotsa traveling in February-
Still can't decide if we're going to Squarama-It is my only Feb Sat off and a
BBQ is truly tempting... Stay Tuned
Rick
January 23rd
A good nite at Class-Lotsa questions about "So how does this multi-cycle
thing work anyway"? I was sure glad to see 4 people who had never been to
Squarama-wearing ribbons, Wonder where they got the flyers? I'm Still wondering
if I'm going, frankly , as I call 275+ dates a year I'm not really motivated to
have to buy ribbons for events I promote heavily- I'm always grateful to the
Fiesta for the complimentary ribbons and I will always promote and attend.
Squarama, however, will benefit from a Major promotional push I did this year
(and if I'm going to be just another $$ for them-No push next year) Before you
say ...wait Rick isn't that harsh....I changed the name of the caller who feels
that way to my name. PS I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY
-Still trying to decide if we're going, BBQ sounds good-Don't get many
nights off-No real sense that we're wanted there-S##T we'll probably go and pay
but for the life of me I can't figure out why-Then I realize-It's to support and
visit with dancers-not the Squarama committees-Then again, everyone I would
visit, I see regularly-many would not be at this festival if not for my publicity
push (That's Me -RICK's-Publicity This year Only if nothing changes-I have
events I CALL for that need my mic time) so....... BBQ still sounds
good.........................Hmmmmmmmm
Rick
January 24th
Thru the Grapevine I heard that my recommending some area "Part Time"
callers (To the earlier mentioned-pain in the A$$ Club) was in some way a dig/ a
bad-mouthing of these callers-That I thought they were inferior -Lesser than I,
ad naseum ......so Let's go thru who I allegedly don't have respect for:
Norm- My Best Man at my wedding-His Best Man at his- My earliest mentor and good
friend. Jan- Don't know her well but she teaches well, Is fun to be around
and is the DEAN of a Law School (aka Smart-real job)- Arlan- One of the BEST
marketers of s/d I know- This is after retiring- He was the dude who hired the
callers in the San Jose Area for festivals I worked..Another good friend.- I
really have to sadly chuckle at this (VASD) areas politics- I regularly call for
any group who will , in good faith, enter into an agreement with me-If there is
a problem-Ask me to help, I will. (I called some 275 dates in 2005-and
helped a few $$ when real problems happened) I do have issues with clubs who
don't try and will not "play" with groups that attempt to change the
arrangements for no good reason-(the above mentioned club decided our long term
IDENTICAL arrangements were too much $$ for the callers)- Go in peace but go
away!!!!!!!!!!!!!-Meanwhile a different area club has scheduled their
anniversary dance (Not actually the anniversary of their founding-It used to be
a beginners hoedown-ask Rick B. Me or Norm-we all called those dances for the
January gang-those who cannot attend the Fiesta) on the 3rd Sat of march- Less
than an hour and a half from the Bakersfield Fiesta- Whoever8's I really Love
y'all but are you NUTS??????????????????????????????????????????????- Sigh just
another day in the VASD area-Where the prez sez (allegedly) "we don't want
visitors to our festival-It's for us" I didn't hear it but I can picture it. I'm
leaning toward BBQ the 3rd weekend in Feb.
Rick
January 26th
I've got no voice-Lost it Wed, Quit Early Thursday-Gotta find it for the
"Doggie Doo" at Steppers. I was able to book the weekend that the above
posts refer to- Sad that they decided not to have another fun party (3rd year)
Oh Well- I'm hopeful they will learn that keeping your word is important.
I've decided to teach the C1 class 2/19, now the only other decision is to BBQ
or not on the rest of the weekend. I just don't understand this area- Why
expand the New dancers programs then label the levels so poorly that no one
knows what will be called-hence I'm not pushing the New dancer program-Last
year, this festival, cost us some really nice people who went to have fun and
were blown off a New Dancer Floor with Plus calls. By the way what exactly
is Easy Mainstream anyway???-Not any level ANY classes are at in February.-Go
Figure..... I am pushing the New Dancers to the Fiesta as I know what will occur
and trust they will provide an appropriate dance for the new kids.
Meanwhile our area has an anniversary dance on the Saturday of Fiesta (71 Miles
away) that ain't even their "anniversary"
of being created. I cannot imagine that will create ANY goodwill with an
area(USDA) that could bring enough folks to Squarama to have it make a $ or 2.
Travel is what I do- Above is a big part of why
Rick
January 29th
It's funny (ironic?) that angel "complaints" and "complaints" about angels
traverse all levels. I saw prime examples of how To AND how not to angel at
levels varying from 1st nite of beginners class thru C1 class his week alone.
Here's some good rules to follow when helping-as to actually be helpful
1) point/smile don't Shove and yell
2) Smile and Point-Don't push and "zip it"
3)Realize that in a teaching situation the caller MUST see if the students are
having trouble-The students MUST learn to rely on the CALLER (Not Corner) to
direct the square-A caller cannot direct the square if the square's attention is
directed elsewhere.
4) Point, Smile and (with a lot of love here from Rick)-Shut Up during the tip.
In all cases-THE VAST MAJORITY WERE TRULY TRYING TO HELP-
I've given everyone pointers as to How to do just that. If you
would like to comment for the blog
CLICK To chat Privately
CLICK
Rick
January 31st.
A fun New Dancer Hoedown for the Tuesday Class, I hope they will gain
confidence, hold hands and dance-not discuss each call. It was nice to see
Square 8's come out-Not new dancers but old friends. At the Hampton house it's
been a couple of days of -To quote Nirvana-"Smells like Teen Spirit" Mrs. Rick
Hampton is obviously an angel sent from Heaven to balance out "Old Grumpy Dad"-
I envy her relationship with the girls (Young Women) Once they start talking-
HELP I'm drowning in the Estrogen Sea
Rick