Rick Hampton's Info
& Links
Home
Email
Rick
Rick's Schedule
Hall Directions
& Weather
Rick's
Blog
Caller Training
Oakhurst Fall Festival- A2
A2 Sundays
A1/A2 Class
C1 Class List
Pictures
Radio Bio
30
Years of Calling
Square Dance Parties
Rick's
poll
Learn To Dance
Dancing info links-These
open in a new window
Bakersfield
Fresno
Merced/Modesto
Sacramento
Northern
Cal.
Southern Cal.
Ventura/Oxnard
San Fernando
Valley
Club
Database
by Vic Ceder
Useful Links
Callerlab Definitions
A.C.A
Animated Moves
Caller Links
Eric Henerlau
Rod Shuping
Vic Kaaria
Phil Farmer
Ken Ritucci
Lorne Clayton
Skip Stanley
Charlie Robertson
Jet Roberts
Other Links
DJService/Weddings-Visalia/Fresno
May 2006 Blog
Rick Hampton Square Dance Caller
May 3rd
We folded the Tuesday class.
I hope now that all the pieces are in place to resurrect this group. I think
that if we can survive this 2+ year decline, we can survive anything. I hear a
caller change is in the works at a nearby group. I wish all parties well-I hope
they prosper-I also hope that with this change, the folks will begin to
participate in the only other area group that dances that level
May 7th
I find it ironic that most of those who are questioning the decision
to fold the Tuesday class, are many of the same folks who have left the
group-due to "we can't dance with that class"-Go Figure! Anyway a
fun trip to Southern Ca.- Thursday we started the process of re-thinking the
approach to square dancing in bedroom communities- Maybe it's as simple as ABC?-
Saturday was a small (but larger than usual) dance in Newbury Park- I hear
they're going to fold-Sad, but another example of how the wrong hall can kill
ya- In this case horrible echoes, in Visalia it's price. Sunday was a
blast at C1 class. I have a lite month then it's 9 days a week June-September.
Rick
May 8th
In the Neighborhood- The "Crazy Cat Lady" as she was called by a note found in
my mailbox- Hit a Nursing Mommy Cat in the head with a shovel- I know this as I
talked to the animal control people today- In fact this PsychoBi## was in my
Tuesday class a few years ago- A truly lousy dancer. I hope they haul her off
and flush her- I'm missing 3 cats-BIT$H -Fortunately the nut case signed a
statement admitting to todays shovel attack. The neighbors seem to be
aware as per the note I found in my mailbox. Sheez I sure attract the
psychos- There's a Dude (Ray Bodine) serving time for attempting to murder a
Tulare County Judge (H.Broadman) by firing shots at the Judge in court- He
Missed, He wasn't a very good dancer either- Spares & Pairs Club Member-Me the
caller-Also a Visalia club (folded now). In fact, before the shooting, while he
danced-not very well- this nutcase wrote threatening notes to the "cohabitating"
sinners-aka the President and Girlfriend. The dude had a strange set of moral
values-....i.e anti abortion fanatic- I think abortion is wrong in most cases, I
don't shoot at people, I also don't kill cats-Isn't that how Jeffery Dahmer got
started? (another nutcase with Valley ties- his mom lives in Fresno) Sheez
I've gotta move. So how was your day?
Rick
May 9th
A notable increase in attendance tonight!- This would lead me to FURTHER
believe the V area needs Dances-not classes-Too bad a Tuesday Night is a lousy
Dance nite- The incoming V Prez was there- didn't dance-seldom does anymore-too
bad it usually takes a few more than mid 40's to fully slide to the Dark
(politico not dance) side. Is the V area ready for 1) No Festival 2) No
dancing 3) still the V lives- I guess that in s/d, like life. one should
research what one votes for. After all the State (Oh yeah the bay area) turned
down the intelligent Arnold measures- So why not vote in those who wont
advertise a 50 year old festival-but will fold it. I hope crazy cat lady
gets a ballot.
Rick
May 15th
A wild few days at the Hampton Mansion- Lynn had a major medical scare,
Teenagers vs. Parents is a bear-We had to cancel the cruise-The Texas Nationals
is rapidly becoming more of a chore than a joy-I wonder if S/D had "promoters"
rather than volunteers-would we be better off?- Wait I don't wonder, I know.
Just compare a Winter Fest to most other festivals- Compare the dancing at
Caller Run events vs. The 45 minute long breaks at many club events-followed by
another 20 minutes of announcements (Ok so maybe I exaggerate-a little- It's
more like 30 and 10 minutes AKA 2 tips)
Monday nights are going GREAT!!!!! Tuesdays had 1 good night in a row.
Wednesdays are winding down for the summer hiatus. Thursdays are trying some new
recruiting tools. Sundays are doing well at both C1 and A2. BTW I haven't
seen "cat lady" in a few days
Rick
May 16th
I'm sad, I have to let my oldest make her own mistakes-out in the real
world. I wish I hadn't fought with her the other nite.
Say a prayer for her please. I hope she finishes School.
Rick
May 16th
I'm still sad but now I'm also MAD- The Morons who run the PPAV hall in
Visalia, The folks who have taken a once mighty hall and ran it into the ground,
have said $250 on a TUESDAY IN VISALIA -Finally the club
said................well no thanks.
I hope the PPAV board gets fired over running out a 30 YEAR tenant-and the LAST
regularly scheduled one-If you need a hall- DON'T RENT THAT PLACE- I hope their
sopas and festas suck- That they lose money and that the city take eminent
domain and condemns the place-Screw Em- (Sadly I've been trying for 5 years to
get the club to realize this was going to happen-I take ZERO joy that I was
correct)...................If anybody sees Jess-Tell her I love her and miss
her.
Rick
May 17th
Thanks to all the DADS who have shared their stories. I still hurt.
I see the SharpShooter Music project may have enough subscriptions to become a
reality-let's hope!!!!- I hear from a caller that he's worried about the future
of a "social" not a "square dance" club- I can think of 2 3/4 Thursdays
groups that fall into that trap-Not Mountain Squares-We have a GREAT workshop-
just not enough people- Thursdays in the mountains may soon go bye-bye, Tuesdays
in the V area may as well- Crap, and I wanted to call full time? Yeah it's just
obvious now that s/d will survive under professional/semi-pro management
and the existing will die off (in some cases , soon I
hope)............................If anybody sees Jess tell her Hi from Dad
Rick
May 19th
I went out to the V area's largest club tonight- Nice people- Long
announcements by the V chief politico and awards for 80 year olds who dance?
HUH? -
Plus the T.P. (top politico) announced the Aleve TV ad is a good thing- So the
5th largest city in California muddles along with one club and the T.P thinks
all is well. Oh well; Say hi to the kid if you see her
Rick
May 20th
I had another nite off so I was at The V area's Square 8's for a beginners
hoedown- 4 callers, 4 squares- Not a soul from the 5th largest city- No T.P.
either-at the ONLY regularly scheduled Square Dance in the V area -in fairness
no dancers to speak of either-Related????....................Hmmmmmmm? (The Mtn
Clubs have some regularly scheduled Sats. but we're talking almost 100 miles
away)- Thanks to the Visalia Gang (My tuesday club-the one without a home) for
almost 50% of this dance. At the home front I got to see and hear Cassie Hampton
sing today-GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Beatles songs at that!!-My niece and
nephew are staying the weekend (4 and 10) and finally If anybody sees my
other kiddo-tell her I love her!- Mountain Squares Tomorrow.
Rick
May 22nd
11 Squares at The Mountain Yesterday- LOTSA FUN and (shhhhhhhh) it was 100%
Mainstream-hehehehehe
We didn't tell. Graduation tonight (I hate those but don't fight
them)- HotDogs and cake-It was OK. I'm starting week 2 without hearing from JLH-
I miss you-LOVE DAD
Rick
May 30th
A relaxing Memorial Day weekend- A promised visit to the Sunday Dance fell
thru AGAIN- Folks just tell us you're not coming-we believe you when you say you
will, Plan for it and get screwed. This is the 5th time- Anyway my outreach to
your group has cost me a sizable number of my long time dancers (I lowered the
level for y'all-as you asked for-Whoops-I guess I'm an Idiot)
July is very likely the LAST DANCE at the advanced level in Fresno- Please for
once and finally-do what you say and start DANCING-(Don't you see that's what
has killed the Fresno area-No Dancing-Just Classes and workshops but no dances),
and with your new workshop caller-you will be actually able to dance the
level-Assuming that dancing-not perpetual Workshopping is your goal.
At Home my Kiddo has returned with attitude, but
she's here- Mom is now the basket Case-Mad and Hurt, I told her it's OK for me
to be the hurt one- as you've who've known me for years know -A case could be
made that I deserve it- Mom Does NOT! (I'm glad the kiddo is home-Thanks
for prayers-Now please pray for mending)
Rick