Various stuff

So is it nice to tell a caller (not me) 3 days before a gig that the gig has substantively changed , a mere 3 days before the gig, and only after the caller asked for info, as no one had called this caller-the contract was signed 2 years ago, by a still active member of the sponsoring group??

I went visiting the only remaining plus club in the Fresno metro tonite- It was nice to see a few old friends- The format was as follow Tip 1 for class-30 minute break to eat, Tip 2 for class-A costume show and 20 minutes later Tip 3-for class-a short teach tip- Then announcements, I called a "plus" tip, then folks started putting away the tables- followed by a 8 minute final "plus" tip

I hope all have a safe Halloween-be sure to dance somewhere this weekend and don't steal too much candy from the kids/grandkids.

Rick

Wonderful vs sad

It's so nice to enjoy, young,new folks trying Square dancing and for the 4th year in a row for some. 100 some folks tonite and I'm doing again next year.

While I'm enjoying 2 good classes (by today's standards) the writing remains on the wall- If MWSD want people, the MWSD must change-not the other way around.

Meanwhile keep supporting and promoting Mainstream and New Dancer events in MWSD- that may save us for another year or 2- The rush to Plus has failed!!

Rick

A slow painful death

Here's the buzz in the USDA area- (All quotes) "How's your group doing?.. ours is way down, we're losing folks and (THIS IS A QUOTE) some have lost it over the summer"

"If we don't start breaking even on dances, we're going to drop Saturdays"

"Why is there so much politics, why can't we just square dance?"

sigh

I've been trying to prevent the fate the VASD area suffered from happening in USDA thru subtle (and not so subtle) means over the last 4 years- It's not too late to fix it-but it's close!!

1-PUT DANCING as #1- that means stop worrying about the small stuff- I.E If food is a problem, quit serving it.

2-PRICE workshops/dances at a break even point- Most of Northern Ca, and East Coast successful groups it's 10/person

3-PUT DANCING FIRST- If one choses to spend most of their time in the kitchen "discussing how SD should go"- trying squaring up

4-Kudos to groups who dance over the summer (some for the first time) That will help in the long run!!!!

PLEASE don't let the Kern area go they way of the Fresno area

By the way if you want to discuss this- let's not print it out for a meeting- click comment

Rick

Oakhurst is in the books

Wow What a wonderful FUN weekend in Oakhurst- Nice attendance ( I hope the folks who had to roll over get well soon-Cya Next year) Great Weather and always fun to work with my good friend Jet- Maryann and Brian added a lot of spark on the rounds and the Wiener/Marshmallow roast campfire afterparty was super- (Never hurts to have Jet sing a few with guitar)

Don't miss next yeat at this A2 weekend- Details very soon at my website.

Now Let's hope my 2 classes stay strong and look forward to a better SD season than last year.

Rick

Back to 110% busy

2 New classes in Progress, 2 Advanced groups, 1 new plus group- Festivals, Parties and Normal weekend dances- That's the schedule for this season- Fun! Hopefully their will be less political BS this season- Anybody care to take bets?

Rick

2010 classes

If you'll look at the comments on my last post-One struck me
-paraphased- we've danced before, we had "angels" but we're looking for friends otherwise we'll drop out again-
Now this stikes me in 2 ways 1) SD is a social activity, so make sure your "angels" are there to make friends-not just to get them thru-ALSO the "angels" (or in Central ca. the Club Members) don't sit and stare at new folks dancing-The new folks will wonder why "the club" is not dancing too-The new folks will wonder "Is it us?"
2) If other "club" activities (Such as RD) make it too tiring-perhaps these should be on a different nite
I was recently AMAZED by a scheduled 1/2 hour pre-rounds (early rounds for my East Coast readers) somehow got morphed into 2 1/2 HOURS?????????????????
I could not imagine how these folks were tired and reluctant to fill up another square
Dance/Class Sponsors MUST adhere to a predictable schedule -Be it an optional (not part of SD) co-event, then insure that the SD event doesn't suffer from the optional
OK I'm braced for the "Rick hates Rounds Crap"- NOPE I just think that co-mingled events must focus on whatever priority they wish (ever Heard of 2 1/2 hours of Pre-Squares before a RD party-Didn't think so)
Rick-Let's discuss not cuss

New class

The first nite of the Visalia class had 9 new folks, 2 squares were dancing and 2 club squares sitting out (That drives me nuts-why show up to sit) I've always pointed to the bakersfield area to show that Club members have been up and dancing in Kern- PLEASE keep it up (although lately the trend has been swinging toward what has basically killed SD in the Fresno area- More chatting than dancing)- PLEASE don't let that happen-Please!!! I've seen it- So has Jay

Monday the Whirlaways class starts-I hope for a good turnout- I know that the club will do everything to make as many squares as possible.

Rick