After dancing for 20+ years.  I have decided to become a caller.  I have set a goal of one year to learn the art of becoming a square dance caller.  I am getting a ton of support from Debbie, my wife and from one of the callers that I have been keeping up his web site.  I even know two singing calls now, Mama Tried and Next Door to Alice.  I will keep this part of the blog and let you all know how things are going.

Brian

1. Norman Hangman Says:
   February 5th, 2009 at 6:58 PM

   Congratulations!

   I hope you know you have to have the hide of an Armadillo to become a caller.

   Don’t try to be like anyone, but just be yourself, and remember that Sight Calling is not Patter Calling. The hardest part of calling is remembering the modules, or if you lucky you can read off Cue Cards.(I always lost my place!) Patter is not made up as you go (although some try to do it!) It’s well choregraphed modules which are Zero’s, Technical Zero’s and modules that get you in, between Zero’s and get outs! Just because it’s a legal move doesn’t mean you should use it if the dancers are not dancing smooth!
   And, if you have your wits about you, you write down who you want to bring home. (I keep forgetting!)

   Main Thing is to have fun and let the dancers move to the music.

   But, I’m one of the weird ones! I could dance my favorite Songs to someone with a good voice and avoid the headache to many callers give me with a patter than is nothing more than a jerky Puzzle.

   As Cal Golden told us. If you can’t twinkle their toes with once and half through the Patter Record. Going twice and half won’t do it either, but never go more than twice and a half!

   Keep us Posted!