I use Evernote (https://evernote.com/), which isn't perfect but can be wrangled to work well enough. All the cards are on my computer AND in the cloud AND I pay a little extra to have them on my phone without internet. So if my computer breaks/is lost/is stolen I have my phone, and if the computer *and *phone are gone* I could use someone else's computer or phone. I can add tags to the cards, so I have a tag for each move, its ~flow~, and any quirks (e.g. no partner swing), which makes it easy to search. I don't rely on my memory at ALL.
And I believe I have a bunch of word documents in google drive, too. *I will be in a weeping puddle on the floor On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 2:13 PM Lissa Bengtson via Contra Callers < contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I enjoy teaching dances I have memorized, certainly! However all the ones > I have memorized are folk dances where the tune is always the same, such as > Levi Jackson Rag, several Scottish Country Dances and ECD and dozens of > international folk dances. Modern Contras elude me because of the lack of > a name tune. > One of the most discouraging comments I ever received during a contra > callers workshop was “if you can’t memorize 12 dances for an evening, you > have no business calling contras.” (Robert Cromartie). But I’ve had lots > of fun since then, ignoring that advice. > My cards were stolen in 2006, but I reconstructed them with the help > of Chuck Roth and Rich Goss and many other callers. So now I scan my > favorite dances so I never lose them, but I still prefer cards when calling > dances. I get enough computer time! Makes it easier for someone to copy > (or photo) a dance they like, also. > > Lissa Bengtson > San Antonio > > > > On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 12:46 PM Bill Olson via Contra Callers < > contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> Hi Susan, This addresses #2, a potential BACKUP PLAN..... and also >> "paperless calling" in general, though not in the way you were thinking... >> >> Maybe 25-30 (sheesh maybe more!) years ago I had been calling for several >> years and also played in a couple dance bands and also did sound at the >> North Whitefield, Maine 4th Friday dance (this was Ted Sannella's dance for >> many years). One time the caller didn't show up and I was asked if I could >> call the dance. I had no cards with me but said OK and had to do it from >> memory. I got through the dance (barely) without having to repeat any >> dances (hah hah) but found the experience very "freeing" not having to >> look down at a card. (yeah there were a few tense moments there).. Anyway >> since that time I resolved never to be tied down to paper (or recently to a >> computer or the internet) and have always called from memory. This makes it >> easier to interact with the band and more importantly to be aware of what >> is happening with the dancers out on the floor. Before each dance I make a >> plan (which is rarely fully adhered to) with dances and "spares".. I go >> through them in my head on the way to the dance.. There have been several >> times, though not that many, when I had a brain fart and couldn't remember >> the dance and had to bail but quickly called a no-brainer one walk-thru >> dance.. . Before the pandemic (i.e. not calling for a year and a half) I >> had about 100 dances in the memory bank. Of course to keep things fresh, >> I would call new ones which I would study for a while before the dance. Some >> times they got added to the 100 some times not.. >> >> OK I understand not everyone trusts their memory like this.. BUT it's not >> a bad idea to have an evening's program worth of dances that you can recall >> from memory (or even two or three) just in case you forget your cards at a >> dance where there is no internet access!!.. Rick Mohr used to have (maybe >> still does) a business card sized card in his wallet. He developed a >> shorthand for annotating a dance and claimed he had 100 dances on that card >> (the printing was very small!).. !! Larry Unger used to carry a set of >> dance cards in his guitar case.. He wasn't a caller but would give them to >> the caller in case "something happened", so the show would go on. I.e. it's >> probably good to have a set of "emergency" dance cards in your wallet or >> car glove compartment or heck on your smart phone. But I still like being >> to call from memory.. Good exercise for my brain I guess.. >> >> my $.02 worth.. >> >> bill olson in Maine >> >> ------------------------------ >> *From:* Susan English via Contra Callers < >> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> >> *Sent:* Wednesday, July 28, 2021 4:45 PM >> *To:* contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net < >> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> >> *Subject:* [Callers] Paperless Calling >> >> As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and >> access all my material virtually. I have 2 questions: >> >> 1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance >> instructions and notes? >> 2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet? >> >> Susan [image: 🎶] [image: ☺] >> 330-347-8155 >> woosterdance.com >> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwoosterdance.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7Cafddc1f019eb48b082f808d951e72047%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637630875430358334%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=%2B4sdnIaWMAt35OU9coLXXG5Ezc8SZFZBU1wGVwJ8Fjw%3D&reserved=0> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net >> To unsubscribe send an email to >> contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net >> > _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net >
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