The New Caller's First Steps

Ideas to help the brand new and/or wannabe caller

Rich Reel 17 Jun 1999

This is all the stuff I did, and all the stuff I wish I would have done, that helped me early on

The big question: Can you sing?

Yes: Good news! ... you are way ahead
No: Hmmm .... Are you interested in calling Challenge?! How about a career in teaching or workshop?! But before you give up altogether - What makes you so sure you can't sing? I thought I could not sing. Sure I did a little choir stuff when I was a kid, but sing solo? - no way! ....so I thought....

What I discovered were these few most important rules that transformed me into a singing caller...

Learn each song so well that you are relaxed and every note and every syllable is crisp and clear
Breathe - good posture, big deep breath from low in the abdomen, mouth wide open, project confidence!!
Sing a lot - learn many, MANY singing calls and just keep singing to yourself every chance you get

These few simple things made an amazing difference in my calling.

The Very First Step - I highly recommend...

If you can sing: Learn a singing call and ask to perform it for your club

Make a tape of songs you think you might like: record the called side of the record followed by music-only I may be able to help you with this. Send me an e-mail: reelrt@pebio.com
Listen and practice (while driving etc.)
When you can sing it perfectly (even while changing lanes!) you are ready!

Can't sing, no way, no how: Write some cards and ask to call patter for your group

Actually write patter that you are 100% happy with before asking to call
Write a lot of material and select the top 10 to 20%
Spend a lot of time - expect to spend an hour or two per card

When you are ready, ask your caller to feature you as a specialty tip. You may also want to ask him to look over what you are planning to do and give you feedback.

So you tried that and are ready to go forward!? The next steps are big steps. Plan to spend a good long while developing your calling. One of the reasons calling is so rewarding is that it demands you do so many fairly difficult things all at the same time. Many of these things

Subscribe to a tape service

Even if you don't plan to buy any records for a while, at least keep track of the ones you like.

Get a set of checkers to practice your calling

You might also get a checker moving computer program

Try to write a complete sequence

Start with just a few calls and a simple resolve - an "opening biggie"
Go back and analyze your sequence for flow and difficulty
Write another this time try to think about flow and difficulty while writing

Make a list of formations and calls from each

List 10 formations and 5 legal calls from each
Identify "standard (zero) arrangement" for all 10 formations
Now list calls that move dancers through your 10 formations and keep them in standard arrangement at all times

Practice resolving while dancing in the square

...a great way to practice sight resolve techniques and enjoy dancing at the same time!

Track the arrangement - note when the arrangement is standard and when not
Identify your partner and corner and watch either or both of these folks while you are dancing
Verify (to yourself) that either you and your partner -or- you and your corner are correct when the caller issues the RLG, AL, or final call to end at home
Verify that you and your partner and your corner are correct
Now make sure either your corner's partner or your partner's corner (whichever method you choose to use) is in the correct relationship to the 3 of you
See if you can recognize a common strategy your caller uses to resolve (e.g. get dancers in [0L1p])