Re: [Callers] When the dancers aren't paying attention

[Maia McCormick via Callers]

I also think it's worth mentioning that we can model as dancers the
behavior we'd like to see as callers. Socializing and catching up with
friends is excellent, but when I'm dancing, I make an effort to always
quiet down and listen to the caller whenever they start speaking, and
perhaps gently direct others' attention to the caller (not with a "shh",
but by excusing myself from conversation and looking at the caller). My
hands-4, and sometimes those around us, will generally take the hint. I
think this modeling is especially important around new dancers--we want to
send the message that the walkthrough is something to be listened to, not
something to be chatted through (which is just rude, and even if you're
experienced and don't need to be paying full attention to the walkthrough,
other dancers in the hall do need to pay attention, and you're making
things harder for them).

Another thing I try to do, and try to encourage my friends to do: if I do
need to teach from the floor as a dancer (say, some beginners are getting
hung up on a new move), *do it with as few words as possible, preferably
non-verbally. *Again, the more you talk in line--even if it's for a good
reason--the harder it is for the people who most need to pay attention to
the caller to do so. Teaching verbally from the floor also diverts
attention and authority from the caller in ways that nonverbal teaching
does not. So often as a caller I've seen a problem in the room (in a
walkthrough or a lesson) and tried to correct it, only to find multiple
different experienced dancers explaining the move to small groups, so that
I can no longer get the attention of the room, and it takes much longer to
solve the problem.

On Thu, Apr 23, 2015 at 12:47 PM, John W Gintell via Callers <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> I certainly agree that a "s" or similar utterance is not a good thing
> to do.
>
> One of the consequences of people talking during the walkthrough  is that
> it sometimes hard to hear the instructions - especially at the back of the
> hall. And of course it is at the back of the hall where there are more
> inexperienced dancers who need it more.
>
> Another problem is that if the musicians are noodling - and of course out
> of synch with the walkthrough -it also makes it harder to hear the caller.
>
> So, it is important for callers speak clearly and loudly during the
> walkthrough and make it clear that it has started;
> and sound people listen at the back of the hall to see what it is like.
>
>   John Gintell
>
> On Apr 23, 2015, at 12:24 PM, Donna Hunt via Callers wrote:
>
>  Erik wrote:
>
> Often, after people have lined up, they talk with each other, their
> partner, their minor set, or other people around them. Often callers strive
> to get everyone to shut-up so they can start the dance. I've come to
> believe this time of conversation is the main time we get to know a little
> about each other and is thus a "community building time."
>
>  I, personally, love hearing dancers talking amongst themselves.  To me
> it's a reflection that they are having fun and that they feel comfortable,
> relaxed and are "building community".  If they aren't talking enough (by my
> expectation) I'll prompt them early in the evening to say "hi" to their
> neighbors and introduce themselves and this gets them chatting a bit.
> Later in the evening I might begin a dance with a Right Allemande and I'll
> say "Give your right hand to your neighbor and introduce yourself (pause)
> and Allemande Right.
>
> On the other hand I find it rude and detestable for a caller to "s"
> the crowd.  If the caller tries to begin a walkthrough (ie, "Are you ready"
> as Erik suggests) for a time or two, the dancers will "shhh" themselves.
> This (extra time) allows folks to finish their conversations and be ready
> to listen.  The positive benefits to dancers politely socializing is
> tremendous, even if it means the caller needs to call one less dance in the
> evening.
>
>
>  Donna Hunt
>  
>___
> Callers mailing list
> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>
>
>
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>
>

Re: [Callers] When the dancers aren't paying attention

[John W Gintell via Callers]

I certainly agree that a "s" or similar utterance is not a good thing to do.

One of the consequences of people talking during the walkthrough  is that it 
sometimes hard to hear the instructions - especially at the back of the hall. 
And of course it is at the back of the hall where there are more inexperienced 
dancers who need it more. 

Another problem is that if the musicians are noodling - and of course out of 
synch with the walkthrough -it also makes it harder to hear the caller.

So, it is important for callers speak clearly and loudly during the walkthrough 
and make it clear that it has started; 
and sound people listen at the back of the hall to see what it is like.

  John Gintell

On Apr 23, 2015, at 12:24 PM, Donna Hunt via Callers wrote:

> Erik wrote:
> Often, after people have lined up, they talk with each other, their partner, 
> their minor set, or other people around them. Often callers strive to get 
> everyone to shut-up so they can start the dance. I've come to believe this 
> time of conversation is the main time we get to know a little about each 
> other and is thus a "community building time."
> I, personally, love hearing dancers talking amongst themselves.  To me it's a 
> reflection that they are having fun and that they feel comfortable, relaxed 
> and are "building community".  If they aren't talking enough (by my 
> expectation) I'll prompt them early in the evening to say "hi" to their 
> neighbors and introduce themselves and this gets them chatting a bit.  Later 
> in the evening I might begin a dance with a Right Allemande and I'll say 
> "Give your right hand to your neighbor and introduce yourself (pause) and 
> Allemande Right.
> 
> On the other hand I find it rude and detestable for a caller to "s" the 
> crowd.  If the caller tries to begin a walkthrough (ie, "Are you ready" as 
> Erik suggests) for a time or two, the dancers will "shhh" themselves.  This 
> (extra time) allows folks to finish their conversations and be ready to 
> listen.  The positive benefits to dancers politely socializing is tremendous, 
> even if it means the caller needs to call one less dance in the evening.  
> 
> 
> Donna Hunt
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

Re: [Callers] When the dancers aren't paying attention

[Ron Blechner via Callers]

>
>  are your experienced dancers modelling good dance etiquette?  are you
> teaching efficiently, or are you spending so much time talking that people
> lose interest?
>
>  sometimes, i just start the walkthru anyway.  as soon as people realize
> that most people are starting to swing, they get a little more interested
> :-)
>
> cheers,
> barb
>
>
> > Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2014 13:05:57 -0400
> > To: maia@gmail.com
> > CC: call...@sharedweight.net
> > Subject: Re: [Callers] When the dancers aren't paying attention
> > From: callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> >
> > It depends why the dancers aren't paying attention. Are there lots of
> > experienced dancers, such that the walkthrough isn't really necessary?
> > Are they ignoring walkthroughs the first time through because they
> > know there will be a second one? Are they just having a lot of fun
> > with their friends and prioritizing that above listening to the
> > caller? How does the dance go once it starts?
> >
> > A few strategies I might try:
> >
> > * Not bother with the walkthroughs entirely. If the crowd is ignoring
> > the walkthroughs because as a whole they don't need them, then just
> > call the dance. This means only picking dances that can be called
> > no-walkthrough, but there are still a lot to choose from.
> >
> > * Give the dancers a bit longer between dances before starting the
> > walkthrough. If they're chatting with neighbors and catching up, let
> > them do that for a bit. Then once you start the walkthrough go
> > quickly.
> >
> > * Ask the band for rolling starts, where they play music under the
> > walkthrough. This makes it harder for people to talk and feels more
> > like dancing. You don't have time to explain complex things, so you
> > have to give that up, but it's much more forgiving than straight-up
> > no-walkthrough.
> >
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Aug 4, 2014 at 11:08 AM, Maia McCormick via Callers
> >   wrote:
> > > At Falcon Ridge this weekend, I saw a couple of different styles of
> dealing
> > > with that frustrating state of affairs when 50%+ of the hall just isn't
> > > paying attention to the walk-through. I'm curious if you all have any
> > > particular strategies you employ here, thoughts on how to deal with
> this,
> > > how to get the attention of the hall, etc.
> > >
> > > In dance,
> > > Maia
> > >
> > > ___
> > > Callers mailing list
> > > Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> > > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
> > >
> > ___
> > Callers mailing list
> > Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>
>
> ___
> Callers mailing 
> listCallers@lists.sharedweight.nethttp://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>
>
>  ___
> Callers mailing list
> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>
>
>
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>
>

Re: [Callers] When the dancers aren't paying attention

[Donna Hunt via Callers]

 Erik wrote:


Often, after people have lined up, they talk with each other, their partner, 
their minor set, or other people around them. Often callers strive to get 
everyone to shut-up so they can start the dance. I've come to believe this time 
of conversation is the main time we get to know a little about each other and 
is thus a "community building time."  

 I, personally, love hearing dancers talking amongst themselves.  To me it's a 
reflection that they are having fun and that they feel comfortable, relaxed and 
are "building community".  If they aren't talking enough (by my expectation) 
I'll prompt them early in the evening to say "hi" to their neighbors and 
introduce themselves and this gets them chatting a bit.  Later in the evening I 
might begin a dance with a Right Allemande and I'll say "Give your right hand 
to your neighbor and introduce yourself (pause) and Allemande Right.


On the other hand I find it rude and detestable for a caller to "s" the 
crowd.  If the caller tries to begin a walkthrough (ie, "Are you ready" as Erik 
suggests) for a time or two, the dancers will "shhh" themselves.  This (extra 
time) allows folks to finish their conversations and be ready to listen.  The 
positive benefits to dancers politely socializing is tremendous, even if it 
means the caller needs to call one less dance in the evening.  



Donna Hunt

Re: [Callers] When the dancers aren't paying attention

[Martha Wild via Callers]

Good point Erik. Also, if you travel, different groups can have vastly 
different cultures. Some years ago I was asked to call a zesty contra in 
another state. I assumed they would want to do a lot of zesty dances and 
planned accordingly. The food was placed outside the dance floor in a long hall 
from the start. After the first dance, which seemed to go well, everyone 
disappeared outside to eat and talk just as I was saying "take partners for the 
next dance". After a five minutes while I worried that they hadn't liked the 
dance I'd called, people drifted back and lined up again and about 10 minutes 
later I did the next dance. Same thing. I finally realized that it was their 
custom to break after each dance, and relaxed and stopped trying so hard to get 
them back and lined up. I got through about four dances in the first half and 
four in the second, where I had expected to do more like 11 or 12 total for the 
time. At the end of the night, people came up and said, Wow, you really got us 
through a lot of dances! 

Martha

On Apr 22, 2015, at 6:59 PM, Erik Hoffman via Callers wrote:

> On the question of paying attention:
> 
> A while back, in one of these e-groups, someone pointed out that we contra 
> dancers keep talking about "community." This post pointed out that we contra 
> dancers go to a dance, and, often forsaking applause (yet another topic...), 
> run off to find our next partner and line up for a dance. This posting 
> compared that to country-western dance, or swing dance, where they would sit 
> around a table and talk, get to know others through chatting, and not dance 
> every dance, but have other social things happen. It got me to thinking:
> 
> Often, after people have lined up, they talk with each other, their partner, 
> their minor set, or other people around them. Often callers strive to get 
> everyone to shut-up so they can start the dance. I've come to believe this 
> time of conversation is the main time we get to know a little about each 
> other and is thus a "community building time." 
> 
> My practice now is to say into the mic in a regular talking voice, "Are you 
> ready?" If the general banter keeps going on, I wait a couple beats, and say, 
> again, "Are you ready?" After two to four times of asking the question, 
> someone will say, "Yes!" Then another might do a loud, "S!" When people 
> finally quiet down, I teach the dance. 
> 
> ~erik hoffman
> oakland, ca
> 
> On 8/4/2014 10:26 AM, barb kirchner via Callers wrote:
>> sometimes when dancers aren't paying attention, it's because there are too 
>> many other things going on in the hall.
>> 
>> sometimes it's the band warming up or sound checking, but i've seen all 
>> kinds of things going on - bake sales, people on their mobile devices, a 
>> group of beginners coming in who don't yet know dance etiquette, or maybe 
>> the dancers are having trouble hearing you.  sometimes musicians talk loudly 
>> behind the caller (i'm a musician and a caller) and it's hard to understand 
>> the caller because the chatter can be heard through mics or pick-ups.
>> 
>> you can't fix some of those things, but you can address retail events in the 
>> hall, cell phones, sound system, etc
>> 
>> are your experienced dancers modelling good dance etiquette?  are you 
>> teaching efficiently, or are you spending so much time talking that people 
>> lose interest?
>> 
>> sometimes, i just start the walkthru anyway.  as soon as people realize that 
>> most people are starting to swing, they get a little more interested :-)
>> 
>> cheers,
>> barb
>> 
>> 
>> > Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2014 13:05:57 -0400
>> > To: maia@gmail.com
>> > CC: call...@sharedweight.net
>> > Subject: Re: [Callers] When the dancers aren't paying attention
>> > From: callers@lists.sharedweight.net
>> > 
>> > It depends why the dancers aren't paying attention. Are there lots of
>> > experienced dancers, such that the walkthrough isn't really necessary?
>> > Are they ignoring walkthroughs the first time through because they
>> > know there will be a second one? Are they just having a lot of fun
>> > with their friends and prioritizing that above listening to the
>> > caller? How does the dance go once it starts?
>> > 
>> > A few strategies I might try:
>> > 
>> > * Not bother with the walkthroughs entirely. If the crowd is ignoring
>> > the walkthroughs because as a whole they don't need them, then just
>> > call the dance. This means

Re: [Callers] When the dancers aren't paying attention

[Erik Hoffman via Callers]

I've used the statement, "when did SHUT UP become impolite to say?"

~erik hoffman


On 4/22/2015 7:48 PM, Michael Fuerst wrote:

It's interesting that "shut-up" and "quiet down" mean the same.
Michael Fuerst  802 N Broadway  Urbana IL 61801  217 239 5844



On Wednesday, April 22, 2015 8:59 PM, Erik Hoffman via Callers 
 wrote:



On the question of paying attention:

A while back, in one of these e-groups, someone pointed out that we 
contra dancers keep talking about "community." This post pointed out 
that we contra dancers go to a dance, and, often forsaking applause 
(yet another topic...), run off to find our next partner and line up 
for a dance. This posting compared that to country-western dance, or 
swing dance, where they would sit around a table and talk, get to know 
others through chatting, and not dance every dance, but have other 
social things happen. It got me to thinking:


Often, after people have lined up, they talk with each other, their 
partner, their minor set, or other people around them. Often callers 
strive to get everyone to shut-up so they can start the dance. I've 
come to believe this time of conversation is the main time we get to 
know a little about each other and is thus a "community building time."


My practice now is to say into the mic in a regular talking voice, 
"Are you ready?" If the general banter keeps going on, I wait a couple 
beats, and say, again, "Are you ready?" After two to four times of 
asking the question, someone will say, "Yes!" Then another might do a 
loud, "S!" When people finally quiet down, I teach the dance.


~erik hoffman
oakland, ca

On 8/4/2014 10:26 AM, barb kirchner via Callers wrote:
sometimes when dancers aren't paying attention, it's because there 
are too many other things going on in the hall.


sometimes it's the band warming up or sound checking, but i've seen 
all kinds of things going on - bake sales, people on their mobile 
devices, a group of beginners coming in who don't yet know dance 
etiquette, or maybe the dancers are having trouble hearing you. 
 sometimes musicians talk loudly behind the caller (i'm a musician 
and a caller) and it's hard to understand the caller because the 
chatter can be heard through mics or pick-ups.


you can't fix some of those things, but you can address retail events 
in the hall, cell phones, sound system, etc


are your experienced dancers modelling good dance etiquette? are you 
teaching efficiently, or are you spending so much time talking that 
people lose interest?


sometimes, i just start the walkthru anyway.  as soon as people 
realize that most people are starting to swing, they get a little 
more interested :-)


cheers,
barb


> Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2014 13:05:57 -0400
> To: maia@gmail.com <mailto:maia@gmail.com>
> CC: call...@sharedweight.net <mailto:call...@sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] When the dancers aren't paying attention
> From: callers@lists.sharedweight.net 
<mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>

>
> It depends why the dancers aren't paying attention. Are there lots of
> experienced dancers, such that the walkthrough isn't really necessary?
> Are they ignoring walkthroughs the first time through because they
> know there will be a second one? Are they just having a lot of fun
> with their friends and prioritizing that above listening to the
> caller? How does the dance go once it starts?
>
> A few strategies I might try:
>
> * Not bother with the walkthroughs entirely. If the crowd is ignoring
> the walkthroughs because as a whole they don't need them, then just
> call the dance. This means only picking dances that can be called
> no-walkthrough, but there are still a lot to choose from.
>
> * Give the dancers a bit longer between dances before starting the
> walkthrough. If they're chatting with neighbors and catching up, let
> them do that for a bit. Then once you start the walkthrough go
> quickly.
>
> * Ask the band for rolling starts, where they play music under the
> walkthrough. This makes it harder for people to talk and feels more
> like dancing. You don't have time to explain complex things, so you
> have to give that up, but it's much more forgiving than straight-up
> no-walkthrough.
>
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 4, 2014 at 11:08 AM, Maia McCormick via Callers
>  
<mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> > At Falcon Ridge this weekend, I saw a couple of different styles 
of dealing
> > with that frustrating state of affairs when 50%+ of the hall just 
isn't

> > paying attention to the walk-through. I'm curious if you all have any
> > particular strategies you employ her

Re: [Callers] When the dancers aren't paying attention

[Michael Fuerst via Callers]

It's interesting that "shut-up" and "quiet down" mean the same. Michael Fuerst  
    802 N Broadway      Urbana IL 61801  217 239 5844 


 On Wednesday, April 22, 2015 8:59 PM, Erik Hoffman via Callers 
 wrote:
   

  On the question of paying attention:
 
 A while back, in one of these e-groups, someone pointed out that we contra 
dancers keep talking about "community." This post pointed out that we contra 
dancers go to a dance, and, often forsaking applause (yet another topic...), 
run off to find our next partner and line up for a dance. This posting compared 
that to country-western dance, or swing dance, where they would sit around a 
table and talk, get to know others through chatting, and not dance every dance, 
but have other social things happen. It got me to thinking:
 
 Often, after people have lined up, they talk with each other, their partner, 
their minor set, or other people around them. Often callers strive to get 
everyone to shut-up so they can start the dance. I've come to believe this time 
of conversation is the main time we get to know a little about each other and 
is thus a "community building time." 
 
 My practice now is to say into the mic in a regular talking voice, "Are you 
ready?" If the general banter keeps going on, I wait a couple beats, and say, 
again, "Are you ready?" After two to four times of asking the question, someone 
will say, "Yes!" Then another might do a loud, "S!" When people finally 
quiet down, I teach the dance. 
 
 ~erik hoffman
     oakland, ca
 
 On 8/4/2014 10:26 AM, barb kirchner via Callers wrote:
  
 #yiv9145554759 #yiv9145554759 --.yiv9145554759hmmessage 
P{margin:0px;padding:0px;}#yiv9145554759 
body.yiv9145554759hmmessage{font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri;}#yiv9145554759  
sometimes when dancers aren't paying attention, it's because there are too many 
other things going on in the hall. 
  sometimes it's the band warming up or sound checking, but i've seen all kinds 
of things going on - bake sales, people on their mobile devices, a group of 
beginners coming in who don't yet know dance etiquette, or maybe the dancers 
are having trouble hearing you.  sometimes musicians talk loudly behind the 
caller (i'm a musician and a caller) and it's hard to understand the caller 
because the chatter can be heard through mics or pick-ups. 
  you can't fix some of those things, but you can address retail events in the 
hall, cell phones, sound system, etc 
  are your experienced dancers modelling good dance etiquette?  are you 
teaching efficiently, or are you spending so much time talking that people lose 
interest? 
  sometimes, i just start the walkthru anyway.  as soon as people realize that 
most people are starting to swing, they get a little more interested :-)
 
 cheers, barb
 
 
 > Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2014 13:05:57 -0400
 > To: maia@gmail.com
 > CC: call...@sharedweight.net
 > Subject: Re: [Callers] When the dancers aren't paying attention
 > From: callers@lists.sharedweight.net
 > 
 > It depends why the dancers aren't paying attention. Are there lots of
 > experienced dancers, such that the walkthrough isn't really necessary?
 > Are they ignoring walkthroughs the first time through because they
 > know there will be a second one? Are they just having a lot of fun
 > with their friends and prioritizing that above listening to the
 > caller? How does the dance go once it starts?
 > 
 > A few strategies I might try:
 > 
 > * Not bother with the walkthroughs entirely. If the crowd is ignoring
 > the walkthroughs because as a whole they don't need them, then just
 > call the dance. This means only picking dances that can be called
 > no-walkthrough, but there are still a lot to choose from.
 > 
 > * Give the dancers a bit longer between dances before starting the
 > walkthrough. If they're chatting with neighbors and catching up, let
 > them do that for a bit. Then once you start the walkthrough go
 > quickly.
 > 
 > * Ask the band for rolling starts, where they play music under the
 > walkthrough. This makes it harder for people to talk and feels more
 > like dancing. You don't have time to explain complex things, so you
 > have to give that up, but it's much more forgiving than straight-up
 > no-walkthrough.
 > 
 > 
 > 
 > On Mon, Aug 4, 2014 at 11:08 AM, Maia McCormick via Callers
 >  wrote:
 > > At Falcon Ridge this weekend, I saw a couple of different styles of dealing
 > > with that frustrating state of affairs when 50%+ of the hall just isn't
 > > paying attention to the walk-through. I'm curious if you all have any
 > > particular strategies you employ here, thoughts on how to deal with this,
 > > how to get the attenti

Re: [Callers] When the dancers aren't paying attention

[Erik Hoffman via Callers]

On the question of paying attention:

A while back, in one of these e-groups, someone pointed out that we 
contra dancers keep talking about "community." This post pointed out 
that we contra dancers go to a dance, and, often forsaking applause (yet 
another topic...), run off to find our next partner and line up for a 
dance. This posting compared that to country-western dance, or swing 
dance, where they would sit around a table and talk, get to know others 
through chatting, and not dance every dance, but have other social 
things happen. It got me to thinking:


Often, after people have lined up, they talk with each other, their 
partner, their minor set, or other people around them. Often callers 
strive to get everyone to shut-up so they can start the dance. I've come 
to believe this time of conversation is the main time we get to know a 
little about each other and is thus a "community building time."


My practice now is to say into the mic in a regular talking voice, "Are 
you ready?" If the general banter keeps going on, I wait a couple beats, 
and say, again, "Are you ready?" After two to four times of asking the 
question, someone will say, "Yes!" Then another might do a loud, 
"S!" When people finally quiet down, I teach the dance.


~erik hoffman
oakland, ca

On 8/4/2014 10:26 AM, barb kirchner via Callers wrote:
sometimes when dancers aren't paying attention, it's because there are 
too many other things going on in the hall.


sometimes it's the band warming up or sound checking, but i've seen 
all kinds of things going on - bake sales, people on their mobile 
devices, a group of beginners coming in who don't yet know dance 
etiquette, or maybe the dancers are having trouble hearing you. 
 sometimes musicians talk loudly behind the caller (i'm a musician and 
a caller) and it's hard to understand the caller because the chatter 
can be heard through mics or pick-ups.


you can't fix some of those things, but you can address retail events 
in the hall, cell phones, sound system, etc


are your experienced dancers modelling good dance etiquette? are you 
teaching efficiently, or are you spending so much time talking that 
people lose interest?


sometimes, i just start the walkthru anyway.  as soon as people 
realize that most people are starting to swing, they get a little more 
interested :-)


cheers,
barb


> Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2014 13:05:57 -0400
> To: maia@gmail.com
> CC: call...@sharedweight.net
> Subject: Re: [Callers] When the dancers aren't paying attention
> From: callers@lists.sharedweight.net
>
> It depends why the dancers aren't paying attention. Are there lots of
> experienced dancers, such that the walkthrough isn't really necessary?
> Are they ignoring walkthroughs the first time through because they
> know there will be a second one? Are they just having a lot of fun
> with their friends and prioritizing that above listening to the
> caller? How does the dance go once it starts?
>
> A few strategies I might try:
>
> * Not bother with the walkthroughs entirely. If the crowd is ignoring
> the walkthroughs because as a whole they don't need them, then just
> call the dance. This means only picking dances that can be called
> no-walkthrough, but there are still a lot to choose from.
>
> * Give the dancers a bit longer between dances before starting the
> walkthrough. If they're chatting with neighbors and catching up, let
> them do that for a bit. Then once you start the walkthrough go
> quickly.
>
> * Ask the band for rolling starts, where they play music under the
> walkthrough. This makes it harder for people to talk and feels more
> like dancing. You don't have time to explain complex things, so you
> have to give that up, but it's much more forgiving than straight-up
> no-walkthrough.
>
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 4, 2014 at 11:08 AM, Maia McCormick via Callers
>  wrote:
> > At Falcon Ridge this weekend, I saw a couple of different styles 
of dealing
> > with that frustrating state of affairs when 50%+ of the hall just 
isn't

> > paying attention to the walk-through. I'm curious if you all have any
> > particular strategies you employ here, thoughts on how to deal 
with this,

> > how to get the attention of the hall, etc.
> >
> > In dance,
> > Maia
> >
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> >
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