Post convention musings
May. 30th, 2007 08:03 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
billeylerI should go back to the convention schedule to nudge my memory of the events after Friday night. I really enjoyed my time there this year. Being part-time staff made it a treat, since I could socialize or rest or whatever in the long breaks; I only had 7 hours of scheduled calling. Of course, the first 10 minutes of each hour was GCA scheduled callers, all of whom did a very decent job (Dave Decot, Michael Maltenfort in particular). One other GCA caller went on and on, thinking I hadn't shown up yet, but there I was dancing C1 in the square in front of him. Surprise! He was a bit embarrassed, since he was not looking at the floor while calling off of cards (doing a LOT of clip timing, which I made a point in telling him about, since it was also brought up in the GCA school).
As always happens when there are several staff callers that don't (or won't) call beyond Plus or Advanced, the bulk of my calling was at C1 and C2. I never had standard Mainstream or Plus (except for the Bear and Hexagon hours), only 1 Advanced tip and the rest C1 and C2. I've never considered myself a strong C2 caller, since I don't get much practice at it, but since I kept it reasonably light, it seemed to go okay. No Dave Wilson here!
The Hexagon hour went surprising well, considering it was scheduled at 1pm Sunday just after the overlong brunch. We have to let All Join Hands know that a very quick synopsis is more suitable than that 15 minutes or so of yakking Gordon and Gary did. By 1:20, the Mainstream hall was completely filled with 6 Hexagons, and there were dozens of dancers that just watched, since they couldn't get into a set. I had to keep it REALLY easy, since there were so many newbies scattered around; an attempt to do an 8 chain 2 was a disaster. I'm happy that Denver (Linda Harry) scheduled this in. I always think we need more non-standard sessions for variety at conventions.
I felt bad that the A/V for the brunch for the Cleveland and DC presentations cost $7,000. For that, they should have gotten some quality professional help. I couldn't believe the problems Cleveland in particular was having with the computer and with the audio. Bah.
I did enjoy the vibrancy of the 16th Street Mall area, although I didn't do as much exploring as I would have liked. The cold I thought I was getting didn't materialize. A blessing! We've been to Denver so many times (and again coming up in September) that I felt a little like a local.
On Sunday evening, I had a couple of beers with dinner, then a couple more at the hotel. That was when I made the perhaps-not-smart decision to go dance. Oops! The Plus and Advanced tips (withapparentparadox being my opposite), I danced were fine, but then I attempted one of Mike Jacobs thought-provoking C2 tips and realized that ya really SHOULDN'T drink and dance in public! Yeeks! I had warned the other dancers in advance, and they were kind to me...mostly C4 dancers.
I sat with Richard Tuck for a bit during the C2. He was suffering from the effects of a really nasty staph infection, and had just come down from his room for a bit to watch the goings on. I felt really bad for him, since most of his convention was ruined. The room was not cool, but he was bundled up as if it were winter. Warm thoughts for a speedy recovery for him.
I'm always a bit taken aback when I find I intimidate dancers by being in a square with them. I got that a lot, especially with the Mainstreamers. It's certainly not because of my top-notch dancing skills! OMG! A staff caller in the square! Maybe they've all heard the rumor that callers can't dance.
The closing ceremonies were "okay"...maybe a bit too much Bear Miller-isms going on. I had suggested he tone down the raunch early on, but I don't think he did. Maybe it's just me, but when (supposedly) straight callers are so overtly gay-friendly, it sets some minds to wondering. Takes me back to calling with Paul Waters in 1991 in Cleveland BEFORE he came out, a weekend which prompted me to start his nickname, PING (Paul I'm Not Gay) Waters. Hmmm....
Bear had put Kris, Bobby Poyner and me together as a triplet calling for the closing. At least we had a chance to pick our music and we kept our little tip short. I know the dancers were just wanting to go! At the end, I pulled all the available callers out into a circle to dance the very last tip. Anne had a little stumble and fall and injured herself a little, but came back smiling.
The rest of Sunday evening was a fun wandering about with Danny in the lobby yakking with other dancers. I did get a chance to tease Eric Mulder a bit about flirting with Marc Coen, one of Albuquerque's mainstream hunks. Danny got caught up in a wonderful conversation (one-sided?) with Freeman Stamper about his history as a drag star...THAT needs to be documented! Said all the appropriate and lengthy goodbyes and went upstairs to pack, since we had intended to make an early start on the road.
The family reunion was over for another year...and I'm looking forward again to my 24th convention in Cleveland, where I'm not even going to sign up for GCA tips.
The rest of the story past Sunday night has been recounted elsewhere. We saw a bunch of dancers in the lobby as we were leaving Monday, but they didn't have a clue what was going on with Danny, and we didn't stop to tell anyone.
As always happens when there are several staff callers that don't (or won't) call beyond Plus or Advanced, the bulk of my calling was at C1 and C2. I never had standard Mainstream or Plus (except for the Bear and Hexagon hours), only 1 Advanced tip and the rest C1 and C2. I've never considered myself a strong C2 caller, since I don't get much practice at it, but since I kept it reasonably light, it seemed to go okay. No Dave Wilson here!
The Hexagon hour went surprising well, considering it was scheduled at 1pm Sunday just after the overlong brunch. We have to let All Join Hands know that a very quick synopsis is more suitable than that 15 minutes or so of yakking Gordon and Gary did. By 1:20, the Mainstream hall was completely filled with 6 Hexagons, and there were dozens of dancers that just watched, since they couldn't get into a set. I had to keep it REALLY easy, since there were so many newbies scattered around; an attempt to do an 8 chain 2 was a disaster. I'm happy that Denver (Linda Harry) scheduled this in. I always think we need more non-standard sessions for variety at conventions.
I felt bad that the A/V for the brunch for the Cleveland and DC presentations cost $7,000. For that, they should have gotten some quality professional help. I couldn't believe the problems Cleveland in particular was having with the computer and with the audio. Bah.
I did enjoy the vibrancy of the 16th Street Mall area, although I didn't do as much exploring as I would have liked. The cold I thought I was getting didn't materialize. A blessing! We've been to Denver so many times (and again coming up in September) that I felt a little like a local.
On Sunday evening, I had a couple of beers with dinner, then a couple more at the hotel. That was when I made the perhaps-not-smart decision to go dance. Oops! The Plus and Advanced tips (with
apparentparadox being my opposite), I danced were fine, but then I attempted one of Mike Jacobs thought-provoking C2 tips and realized that ya really SHOULDN'T drink and dance in public! Yeeks! I had warned the other dancers in advance, and they were kind to me...mostly C4 dancers.I sat with Richard Tuck for a bit during the C2. He was suffering from the effects of a really nasty staph infection, and had just come down from his room for a bit to watch the goings on. I felt really bad for him, since most of his convention was ruined. The room was not cool, but he was bundled up as if it were winter. Warm thoughts for a speedy recovery for him.
I'm always a bit taken aback when I find I intimidate dancers by being in a square with them. I got that a lot, especially with the Mainstreamers. It's certainly not because of my top-notch dancing skills! OMG! A staff caller in the square! Maybe they've all heard the rumor that callers can't dance.
The closing ceremonies were "okay"...maybe a bit too much Bear Miller-isms going on. I had suggested he tone down the raunch early on, but I don't think he did. Maybe it's just me, but when (supposedly) straight callers are so overtly gay-friendly, it sets some minds to wondering. Takes me back to calling with Paul Waters in 1991 in Cleveland BEFORE he came out, a weekend which prompted me to start his nickname, PING (Paul I'm Not Gay) Waters. Hmmm....
Bear had put Kris, Bobby Poyner and me together as a triplet calling for the closing. At least we had a chance to pick our music and we kept our little tip short. I know the dancers were just wanting to go! At the end, I pulled all the available callers out into a circle to dance the very last tip. Anne had a little stumble and fall and injured herself a little, but came back smiling.
The rest of Sunday evening was a fun wandering about with Danny in the lobby yakking with other dancers. I did get a chance to tease Eric Mulder a bit about flirting with Marc Coen, one of Albuquerque's mainstream hunks. Danny got caught up in a wonderful conversation (one-sided?) with Freeman Stamper about his history as a drag star...THAT needs to be documented! Said all the appropriate and lengthy goodbyes and went upstairs to pack, since we had intended to make an early start on the road.
The family reunion was over for another year...and I'm looking forward again to my 24th convention in Cleveland, where I'm not even going to sign up for GCA tips.
The rest of the story past Sunday night has been recounted elsewhere. We saw a bunch of dancers in the lobby as we were leaving Monday, but they didn't have a clue what was going on with Danny, and we didn't stop to tell anyone.
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no subject
Date: 2007-05-30 03:05 pm (UTC)I started a couple more paragraphs of comment here but then decided that I should cut it and paste it into an entirely new post, so I'm doing that now. :-)
Poor Danny! I feel so terrible for him. I hope he has no lasting effects from his fall! Here's to a speedy recovery...
no subject
Date: 2007-05-30 03:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-30 05:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-30 05:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-30 05:17 pm (UTC)Dave's calling is wonderful, but too often he relies on surprises and gimmicks.
Your choreo is more than reasonably smooth, logical, fun, and ... reliable.
Yes - I said the "R" word! - you're Reliable. And many people prefer to dance to a reliable caller.
Have you ever considered that many people enjoy dancing to you specifically because you're a "Bill Eyler"? ;)
And I'll dance in a square with you any time (at least at sea level)... I'm not the slightest bit intimdated.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-30 05:40 pm (UTC)"Old Reliable" Eyler
rather than what Danny wants:
"Eyler's Smilers"
(titter)
Hope you're feeling better!
no subject
Date: 2007-05-30 05:47 pm (UTC)My $0.02
Date: 2007-05-30 11:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-30 07:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-30 07:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-30 11:04 pm (UTC)Bear was doing way too much of the "as I was saying to my DARLING WIFE" thing that some straight men feel compelled to do in gay contexts. Okay, yeah, we get it.
Intimidation
Date: 2007-05-30 11:25 pm (UTC)I've never laughed so much as watching those faces.
Re: Intimidation
Date: 2007-05-30 11:34 pm (UTC)