Back to Dance Setup Procedures Page
HMFS Board
YWCA Dance Host Duties
Arrival -- Arrive by 6:45 to have a comfortable amount of set up time, 7:00 at the absolute latest. Beginners start arriving at 7:15, sometimes earlier. The back door is typically open.
Supplies (in the storage closet behind the tarp):
- Get out the shopping bag with supplies like flyers, pens, tablecloth for the money table.
- Get out cups and the mat for on the floor under the water jug.
- Get out dispenser for blue water cooler.
Front of house:
- Arrange the money table with tablecloth and chairs. Use judgment about leaving the money box untended by the front door.
- Tape a flyer or sign saying "Contra Dance" over the sign on the back door that says "Use the front door."
- Check the bathrooms for toilet paper or whatever.
Stage area:
- Arrange chairs for the musicians and caller, caller's mound, and one of the round tables for the caller's cards and paraphernalia.
Hall set up:
- Set up chairs and tables along the back and side walls, if they aren't already in place.
- Set up one long table for the water. Use a mat on the floor under the jugs. Set out cups.
- Fill water jugs.
- Set the caller's mound to Stage Right of the band, if it's not in place.
- Be sure that two of the four light switches (located on the back stairs) are on. This is the lighting scheme we prefer, and it is usually already set up.
- Determine whether the floor needs to be swept. Usually it's fine as is, but if it needs a sweep, you can find a large broom in the janitor's room off the back hallway or in behind the tarp.
Dance time:
- Greet the band and caller and orient them, as it's a new place to most of them. Tell the caller what to expect in terms of number of people (around 100), number of beginners (15 or more), and number of lines (three to start, then three gradually dwindling to two or one after the "break").
- Tell the caller and band the scenario for the dance - essentially, it's waltzes and immediately into the second half of the dance.
- Beginners at 7:30.
- Dance at 8.
- Announcements at 9.
- Last contra before the break at 9.
- Waltz played by band at 9:15ish.
- Two recorded waltzes.
- Begin second half NO LATER than 9:30.
- Make announcements at 9.
- Introduce yourself as host.
- Welcome to Y Dance.
- Welcome to beginners.
- Acknowledge the band and caller.
- Announce the next Y Dance dates, music, and caller.
- Announce the next RFL dance.
- Start counting and reckoning the money about 9:45. The wicker table by the drink machines is a good, private place to do the job. Use caution about leaving the money box sitting around in view of everyone.
After the dance:
- Pay out the shares and/or the sound.
- Pack up the tablecloth, cups, etc. in the shopping bag and put it in the storage room.
- Pick up trash, lost and found. We keep small lost items like jewelry in the shopping bag or the money box. Larger items we leave there.
- Help the sound person load equipment and wait until he's finished for safety sake.
- Wendy's son locks up and turns off the lights. He usually checks on us
once but otherwise stays in the front office. We are out by 11:00.
Other:
- Make the deposit.
- Send Elaine the deposit slips and tally sheet.
- Replace large bills with $1s and/or $5s as needed.
- Make a note of supplies needed, like cups.