Stephen’s Square Dance Blog

I just had a moment to read the newsletter from the Mount Baker Council.  It is a small publication that comes out (I think) monthly with news, updates to schedules, and club business/ads and the meeting minutes of the previous council meeting’s minutes.

In the front of the newsletter there was an article published by the current council president(s) Oren and Lew Gaskill.  (Oren is working at becoming a caller, but is very active in the dancing community.)   They offered thanks to the various officers and volunteers that support the square dance activity, and then they brought up the topic of club responsibility.

“The club is responsible for scheduling club events (dances, potlucks, etc.), contracting with callers and cuers, renting facilities, etc.  One of the unpleasant responsibilities is the matter of enforcing discipline on those rare occasions when it is necessary.  If a dancer (member or guest) is behaving in an inappropriate manner, it is the club’s responsibility to take appropriate action.  The club may designate who will act for the club in this situation, but it is ultimate, the club’s responsibility.”

Truthfully, I’m not sure exactly how I feel about the above paragraph.  (I expect I’ll know when I sleep on it.)  However, at a dance, people look to me as the dance leader.  Frequently, dancers come to me for information before they go to their own club leadership.  If someone is misbehaving, shouldn’t I be the one to deal with it?  Granted, that makes me look like the bad guy, but it might be part of the job.  Personally, I’ve had to (more than once) have to talk to people about personal hygiene.  Something that I wouldn’t think I would have to do, but alas…  I will say, healthy is the club that has policies in place to address situations involving “inappropriate behavior” *before* it becomes an issue.

The next paragraph continues.  “If the caller or cuer is not performing as expected, it is the club’s responsibility to take corrective action.  That includes tips that are too long, music choices that are not appreciated, or anything that diminishes the enjoyment we expect at a dance.  Most callers and cuers are more than happy to accomodate the preferences of a club, but he/she cannot make a change if that information is not provided.”

This is very true.  When I started my calling career in the Seattle area, I made the mistake of making a sarcastic comment over the micrphone.  I didn’t know that I’d offended anyone until SIX MONTHS later.  By then the damage was done.  Now, years later, I’ve been invited to come back and call dances from time to time, but there are, I think, a few that remember and this has prevented me from getting bookings.

Urban legend has it that another caller in the area didn’t do himself any favors when he called: “Boys Trade, Girls Trade, Same Sex Trade, If you like Sex Trade.”  Funny gimmick?  Yes.  Appropriate for all venues.  No.

Personally, if I do something that offends I will try to correct it.  I heard once that a happy customer is a repeat customer.  Though, it helps to get some things in writing.  My word is my bond, but having things in writing helps keep things clear.  Especially if it is in advance.

This goes both ways.  Club leadership needs to also respect boundaries.  Once upon a time, I watched a club president ask to do a guest tip.  This president was a new caller and wanted some floor time.  The hired caller was a guest, and what was he going to do, say “no?”  Especially when the president was controlling future bookings.  So, the president gets up, does his tip, and it is awful.  No rhythm, no musical control, and it sounds as if he’s got marbles in his mouth.  Today, I’m strong enough in my skills to be able to speak up in a situation like that.  Back then, I sat with my mouth shut.  The president was inappropriate. 

In this case leadership is about understanding and respecting boundaries.  It is about common (or, is it uncommon) courtesy for a greater good/goal.

I guess that the best thing is that we all have to remember that we’re in this together and that leadership is something that can be, and probably should be, shared.  I’ll sleep on this and post more later.

~S~

The following was published in the June edition of Footnotes, the  magazine of the Square and Folk Dance Federation of Washington.

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As a caller in the metro-Seattle area I’ve been giving a lot of thought to our activity’s decline over the years and, like all of us, am working to reverse the trend.  There are a number of little things I do regularly but there is something that I think would help at the state level and, in this regard, I have a challenge for you. 

In its most basic form, my idea is simply “having more dance leaders will result in more dancers.”  The thought is if we have more square dance callers, those callers have to call to *somebody*.  Great callers are made, not born.  They are made through a lot of hard work and study.  That study is often aided by a caller’s school/college run by a Callerlab Accredited Caller-Coach. 

My long term goal is to see a scholarship fund set up to support caller education at the state level.  It might take some time to establish an endowment fund that is self-sustaining, but I’m sure that a number of “fund raising” dances could be done on a regular basis to offset the costs of such an endeavor.  I’m not talking about just one dance.  I’m talking about regular dances (once or twice a year) in EVERY council.  If twelve councils raise $150 each a year that would be $1,800.   By itself, that would cover the tuition costs for 5 to 6 people.  (With nothing left over, but still it is a start.)  Having a fund “raising dance” means that it also is an “awareness raising” dance.

I am really for supporting local resources and feel strongly the tuition should only be for schools run in, or by caller-coaches from, our state.  I believe that the Cascade Callers College at Circle 8 Ranch (in July) is the only one in Washington.  Doug Davis, from Spokane, also runs (in November) the Silver State Callers’ College in Nevada.   If, for whatever reason, Washington state resources (location or coaches) are unavailable, other schools would be eligible.  But, that is something to consider another day. 

Like recruiting new square dancers, the hardest thing to do is get potential (new and experienced) students to the school.  Awareness is part of it.  The other part is cost.  The Cascade Callers College at Circle 8 now runs $299 and the Silver State Callers College is $340.  (This figure does NOT include room and board.)  For those that want/need the training, it can be daunting. 

I feel STRONGLY that having our youth trained to be qualified callers to be important for square dancing’s long term survival.  Yes, we might lose said youth in their 20′s, but if we train them properly, square dancing will always be with them.  One really easy way to get youth involved would be to make them awards for the champion callers for the Senior and Intermediate categories at the Pacific Northwest Square Dance Festival.  Now that is what I’d call a PRIZE!  Though, it wouldn’t have to be those categories.  It could be a random draw out of the hat.  The important thing is that we get new callers trained.

Until we can get something established with the state federation, I have a personal challenge for EACH AND EVERY CALLERS’ ASSOCIATION IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.  Sponsor a caller to go to school.  Just one.  Put together a benefit dance (or two, or three) and send someone, with no strings attached, to either the Cascade Callers College or the Silver State Caller College.  If you don’t have a new caller that is willing, send an established caller. 

The dance you save may be your own.

Welcome to my blog.  In this space I’ll be commenting on events in “Square Dance Land.”  Specifically, I’ll be talking about my own experiences and thoughts, but I’ll probably add other things as time goes on.