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March 2007 Blog
Rick Hampton Square Dance Caller

March 5th
I'm a bit better with my foot, although the Weekend took it's toll. Speaking of the weekend, It was a GREAT time by all, and well managed.  The festival was a bit concerned about the finances and with thoughtful adjustments and planning it made a few bucks and they're  going into next year with no deficit (Whatta concept) The Tulare weekend, which lost so much money, for so many years with lousy management is trying to re-start- Step 1) Lose the folks who did this to you! if not Step 2) Don't bother.  So many "politicos" sit on the fence, waiting to see which way the wind is blowing-That approach just doesn't cut it. In fact I know a VIP that has many times taken a stand, the correct stand and S/D has benefited. In the case of this leader-even if he's realizes he's on the wrong side of the fence- He's willing to climb over. hehehehe

Rick

March 9th
My foot is better, now it's a dental issue- sheez they shoot horses eh'.... We're keeping the class (literally all the class) on Thursdays-despite having the worst luck with schedules- Snow, Hall cancellations etc.  The Tuesday class is going well, the angels are dancing more- not yet great but a heckuva lot better. Mondays are OK, although I worry that the 2 weeks at kern city might have hurt us. Lynn and I are dancing this weekend at Los Banos.

Rick

March 11th
A very fun weekend. Lynn and I got to dance a LOT! and even a couple of C1 tips.  This Los Banos weekend is growing and I highly recommend it!!!- Jet and I called a bit together Sunday Morning and that was fun, We even got a few folks coming to Oakhurst out of that-cool!!  Jet asked the floor for a Bakersfield "show of hands" and the vast majority said "we're there".  Next Friday the Fiesta Starts-more FUN!!

Rick

March 12th
If you see Lynn-Congratulate her on being a "Teacher of the Year"................I'm soooo PROUD!!....Now to doseedo
A Fun but screwy nite(Mon) - Between "Time Changeitis" and "Festivalitis" it was amazing we had anything succeed.
Tuesday is Dark (Hall loss) Wed-Thurs is dark (Fiesta prep) It sure seems like groups go dark a lot????
Thursday is the "S/D attire required" Trail in- It would seem to me that for the out of town folks, who arrived in their RV, That a come as you are party would be more welcoming- But seeing as how the mucky mucks of the group that puts this thing on SEW S/D CLOTHES FOR MONEY- I don't think that will change, I think the sentiments of the folks I saw in Los Banos, who have gone to this trail in before, sum it up This is a full quote " You mean the dance way over on the other side of town with the crappy transportation and wanting us to put on pettipants, No we will never go again" No worries-they will be at the fiesta , where the dress is relaxed at every session but 2.  Hmmmm for being a 'maverick' bunch they sure seem pretty tied into old, tired, yet money making ways, Oh well SEW be it.

Rick

March 15th
A long day, Please keep Lynn in your prayers as a medicine she's been taking has quit working, and the further options are not pleasant.  I spent 2 1/2 hours in the dentist chair and I hurt, although my smile is a LOT prettier.
I heard the trail in had a nice crowd, I wonder how many more chose to stay away and I'm certain that , if the foo-foo dress requirement had not been in place-No one who was there would have not attended (except for 2-3 people who are SEW involved in the dress BS- after all these folks make money on the foo-foo clothing......SEW what to do?)
It would be nice to see these guys dancing but they don't SEW why is that? Oh well stuff happens, kinda like the "local" caller policy of the festival- No local caller except.................................??????? can call the festival.  It's like watching a serial (soap opera) hehehehe

Rick

March 19th
Happy Birthday to me!!- Pizza with Lynn and both kids 4:30-5P then everyone off to life (A GREAT Party)
Lynn's medical has neither worsened, nor improved over the last year-so the meds are not helping or hurting- This is good and bad news eh'? Please keep her in prayer.
The Fiesta went well, I am concerned (and have been) over a few currently small and easily fixable issues to keep this weekend on track, however, with each passing year of no "course corrections" the path to truly bad problems is possible....PLEASE look to the north-see what happened to the "V" and fix now. Small price increase, A better look at who calls where, and a re-evaluation of Callers who call weekly in the area being excluded (Save One) are the areas that need addressing- Remember I warned Squarama about these SAME issues 10 years ago, They ignored it.   Ego's aside please- Let's have Fiesta hit at LEAST 60 (41 this year) Also remember the last blow up at fiesta was due to the committee who had to do it all too...That was replaced by the current nice folks- PLEASE no blow up this time, let's work together to make (at this point) minor, prudent changes..........PLEASE

Rick

March 20th
I got a letter today canceling a date in 6 weeks , They cited over a year's worth of issues as to why the end had come. So why did they wait to fix it??, Why did they not even try??, 12 months to adjust, to charge a bit more,re-negotiate with halls/callers/Cuers- Nope  They waited till the end and said shuck's we're done. Is your club going to say hell with it in 12 months or will you adjust now????  Bye Bye Santana Swingers, Please learn from their mistake- Adjust now for the future- Relax dress, Charge More, Advertise, Plan and we'll see you strong in the future (Don't blame the hall floor condition, as they did, for the demise- Stuff happens-Don't panic, Don't change successful nites-There are a pile of halls out there-deal with it)- The nice person I spoke to today said "we also are a singles club and now the couples club allows singles" OK did y'all outreach to the couples?????Kids????Families???. PLEASE readers-Learn from this, S/D will work if you adjust now, not wait till the end-Just ask Squarama By the way I'll now be calling with Tex Gipson that nite in the O/C-Life goes on

Rick

March 21st
A great workshop tonite- A "buzz" that some minor changes in the area are needed to keep the GREAT weekend on track for many, many, many years- I Hope that happens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Lynn has some new meds to try-Please keep praying, and while you're at it Pray for my good friend's kid-she needs it!!!!- The Southern Cal. groups need to look at how they arrived at the situation they're in- It once was that if you saw a Caller's name on a flyer, That caller was  there-Now they swap dates at the last minute and wonder why nobody cares who's calling-  Sheez y'all THINK!!!!!!!!!!
PLAN!!!!!!!!!! and occasionally deal with the cheaper gig-But show up, Then folks will know who's actually calling and the marketplace will dictate who's a "draw" and who's not-Like it used to be, and like it used to work well. My rule of behavior is I don't not swap dates (without a year or better notice, and only if publicity is NOT out) Sometimes I drive a loooooonnnng ways to fulfill a 3 day swing that 1-2 of the clubs have folded-But I do it- If I'm not dying, and my name's on the Ad's-Rest assured I'll be there- Callers can YOU say that????- I cannot comprehend double bookers and Triple???? Yet I see a few morons screwing up the activity- But are the morons the callers who do this or the clubs that hire them- I vote it's the clubs- After all the few callers who do this would be out of work pretty quick if the CLUBS stopped it.- And these few callers would stop in a head spinning timeline- Just say "NO"

Rick

March 25th
A great swing thru Northern California- A way above average crowd at Whirlaways in Roseville, A nice visit with the Roberts, An amazing group in San Jose, some 25+ squares and circus theme-FUN, A nice afternoon in Clovis (a little light on the crowd but it's SO GREAT to see new faces having fun at A2)- A dinner with Lynn and both kids (and a boyfriend-nice kid)- Just a great but exhausting full weekend ( I have Friday off this week YAY) Then full speed ahead for a few more weeks.

Rick

March 30th
A fun week in doseedo.  A sad week as well, we lost 2 dancers. We MUST attract a new generation to s/d or it will be over soon. My Wed. club (A2) has been hard hit by "aging out" this year- however we have made a few minor changes now for long term health ( I agreed to accept a few bucks less per week- They agreed to pay monthly) These small changes will tide us over till the new class in October- This is a recurring theme-small changes now=long term success.  I hope others will see the wisdom in this approach. I'm off today YAY- and Tomorrow it's the "U" area 5th Saturday.

Rick

March 31st
Boswell has had another (and a MAJOR) heart attack.  Prayer is a really good thing to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tonight's USDA 5th Sat. dance was translated into a benefit (we raised 1250 bucks) and that will pay for lunch in the ICU.
He's a very, very sick puppy and again pray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sh*T

Rick