Convention scheduling ramblings

Scheduling name-brand callers for IAGSDC conventions is tricky at best.  It's certainly a feather in the cap to get asked to call, but the end result can be wacky.

I'm not calling for the next 3 conventions, and possibly not after that for a long while.  Next time I am asked to call for convention (if ever), maybe I'll have mastered C3A*.  But I'm certainly not going to put that on my caller resume for IAGSDC conventions.

Here's what happens to 'general skills' callers that can call from Beginners through C2 (like me):

2 Specialty hours (Mainstream lite)
no Plus
1 A2 hour
2 C1 hours
2 C2 hours

Pretty top-heavy on the higher levels, but that almost has to be.  At least 3 of the name-brand callers in Denver didn't call beyond A2, and their preferred program for calling is Plus (mine, too!)

I know the discussion has happened before about booking callers where their preferred programs are C1 and up for those parts of the schedule, but caller schedulers still seem to book every caller  as if all callers are strong up through every level they advertise as calling.  I know two popular convention callers that had to learn to call Mainstream and Plus years ago, since they are mostly known for higher level calling.  The caller schedulers just drop a name into a slot and call it 'done.'

Sometimes the event scheduler will get input that some callers like duets and trios, but they don't often think of that when scheduling.

But again, putting together event schedules is difficult.  I did it with krisjensen's help for 1992.  Tough job.  I would have preferred more Mainstream and Plus calling this year, but there ya go.

* long ago, I committed to learn to dance and teach all the Callerlab sanctioned lists in case the Wilde Bunch needed those programs taught (over time, they did).  I was dismayed a few years ago when I saw C3A was added.  There is no C3A within hundreds of miles of here, so it's a limited skill set.  I'm doing it, but it's not easy for me.  I think Kris only gets to dance it at convention and GayAC...she took the lead several years ago in learning the program.  I had/have other irons in the fire!

Convention scheduling ramblings

Scheduling name-brand callers for IAGSDC conventions is tricky at best.  It's certainly a feather in the cap to get asked to call, but the end result can be wacky.

I'm not calling for the next 3 conventions, and possibly not after that for a long while.  Next time I am asked to call for convention (if ever), maybe I'll have mastered C3A*.  But I'm certainly not going to put that on my caller resume for IAGSDC conventions.

Here's what happens to 'general skills' callers that can call from Beginners through C2 (like me):

2 Specialty hours (Mainstream lite)
no Plus
1 A2 hour
2 C1 hours
2 C2 hours

Pretty top-heavy on the higher levels, but that almost has to be.  At least 3 of the name-brand callers in Denver didn't call beyond A2, and their preferred program for calling is Plus (mine, too!)

I know the discussion has happened before about booking callers where their preferred programs are C1 and up for those parts of the schedule, but caller schedulers still seem to book every caller  as if all callers are strong up through every level they advertise as calling.  I know two popular convention callers that had to learn to call Mainstream and Plus years ago, since they are mostly known for higher level calling.  The caller schedulers just drop a name into a slot and call it 'done.'

Sometimes the event scheduler will get input that some callers like duets and trios, but they don't often think of that when scheduling.

But again, putting together event schedules is difficult.  I did it with krisjensen's help for 1992.  Tough job.  I would have preferred more Mainstream and Plus calling this year, but there ya go.

* long ago, I committed to learn to dance and teach all the Callerlab sanctioned lists in case the Wilde Bunch needed those programs taught (over time, they did).  I was dismayed a few years ago when I saw C3A was added.  There is no C3A within hundreds of miles of here, so it's a limited skill set.  I'm doing it, but it's not easy for me.  I think Kris only gets to dance it at convention and GayAC...she took the lead several years ago in learning the program.  I had/have other irons in the fire!