By Chris Froggatt

It is essential to establish a rapport between yourself and your dancers - a communication that extends beyond your calling. It is necessary to talk to people, not just call to them.

Have you noticed that some callers seem to have a knack of making people feel welcome and relaxed. In a way, they are entertaining people with their personality.

This is not always easy, as some people (including callers) are very private or shy. However, I find that it is very beneficial to come down from the stage and talk to people –for me and for them. I need to break the tension of concentrating on my calling program, and I want people to know that I am a real person, not just somebody doing my thing up on the stage.

Everyone has interests outside of square dancing, such as their family, what’s happening in the world, sports and other social activities. The dancers talk about these things all the time, but usually you are on stage and don’t get to hear it. But you should make the best of your time between brackets by occasionally coming down to the floor to join in the conversation.

I know there are a hundred things to do in the few minutes that you have before you call the next round-up –selecting your music, planning the right way to explain a complicated sequence, wondering if you need to change your program, how to fit in the request for a certain singing call etc. But every now and then you also need to sacrifice this thinking time, and mingle.

Of course this is not easy if you are "flying by the seat of your pants" when you have had a busy week and are planning your night as you go along.

Although it is impossible to continually maintain a high level of excitement at a weekly square dance club, it is essential that there be never a dull moment. By this I mean that you cannot allow the dancers to become bored.

This is particularly true if you run a multi-level club – such as Beginners and Mainstream, or Mainstream and Plus on the same night. Many of us do not have the time or indeed the facilities may not be available to run the different levels on separate club nights.

It is a big challenge keeping the more experienced dancers happy, both when you call their level and when they dance as angels. At the same time it is vital that you don’t confuse the newer dancers, by rushing them through the basics before they are ready.

But remember, your dance is also a place where people come to forget their troubles. They don’t need to be under pressure all the time, and they will vote with their feet if they are not happy.

I have known callers who never leave the stage, staying cocooned in their own little world of calling. I have also known callers who never spend enough time on stage, preferring to socialise. It is just as wrong to keep people waiting, as it is to dance them to death.

The problem is, knowing how to keep a balance. You can usually judge by the "buzz" in the hall. If all the people in the hall are happily chatting, don’t rush into the next bracket. On the other hand, if the hall is quiet, it’s usually time for a dance.