Our Side of the Mic

by Bob Riggs

This month please think about all of the activities to invite new people to join our square and round dance activity. How can you help welcome the new friends to the various square and round dance classes? How can you help the caller or round dance teacher? On the square dance side make sure you are an angel that is welcome to the class. The most important action you can take is to let the teacher teach by saying very little, being in the right position with the appropriate hand ready for the student. Most of all let the teacher teach.

As a dancer consider the following …

 ... As a person when you decide to go to a dance what do you think of?

  • Who's calling? 
  • Where is the dance? 
  • Will I have fun at the dance? 
  • Do I have the time of the dance open to attend?

 ... When you arrive at the dance location, what do you expect?

  • A welcoming, energized environment where it is obvious that you will have a good time.
  • That the facility is a modern, well-kept facility with appropriate amenities for advertised event.
  • That it was easy to find the dance facility
  • That you were able to park in a safe location and get to/from the facility in safety
  • That when you enter the door you will know you are in the right place
  • That you are welcomed to be there through a friendly greeting?
  • That the dances presented will be from an expected genre, i.e. square dance, round dance, and of the advertised program (basic, mainstream, plus, advanced)
  • That the social environment will make meeting and interacting people a positive experience.

... What do you expect not to occur or would be a big turnoff 

  • A facility that is either unsafe or does not meet the expected standard of quality
  • Apologies for the size of the event
  • Complaints about difficulty in getting people to attend, about not being able to find people to be officers, general negativism and grumpiness
  • Dance format that is different than advertised
  • Being ignored as a club member or as a visitor

These are thoughts to help you think about your club. How do those attending think of your club? How might you and your friends make each dance event even more desirable to attend?

Have a GREAT summer, DANCE somewhere, ENJOY!