Tech Squares Amateur Night is held one week in the summer, usually a week when the club's regular caller is on vacation. It needs an organizer/MC, who does not need to be a caller, but needs to be enthusiastic and able to recruit people to give calling a try.
For at least two weeks prior to the event, it needs to be publicized in the weekly email and in the announcements from the stage, and a sign-up sheet needs to be present at the gate table, where people can sign up for slots for patter, singers, and rounds. Some callers may want to do patter or singer but not both. Prospective callers/cuers should be directed to the organizer, or other known resources, for help in obtaining music and writing choreography. The organizer needs to gather up participants' music and have it on a laptop or other device, or see to it that the participants will have their music on their own device. The organizer creates the schedule for the evening and makes sure that it is communicated to the participants.
Amateur night itself is run by the MC, who is usually the organizer, but does not need to be. Because of possibly lower interest in amateur cueing, a professional cuer, usually the regular cuer for the club, is often hired. The MC does not need to be a professional caller, but needs to be familiar with the equipment and familiar with running a dance.
The MC must do these things:
*Make sure that the guest caller is on stage with music ready to go, fussing with cables as needed. Some callers might want music chosen for them by the MC.
*Make sure that sound balance is correct.
*Get people squared up (the guest caller might not be able to do so.)
*Make sure that the caller is comfortable holding the microphone and being on stage. Prevent anxiety attacks.
*Set the volume levels appropriately, intervening on the fly if necessary.
*Tell the caller how to start the music, if it is not from their own device.
*Then get off the stage and let them enjoy their moment of glory.
*If a tip is going far too long, use their best judgment about shortening it, but only as a last resort.
Because of all the extra commotion, amateur night runs more slowly than a regular dance, and it may run past the usual 10:30 ending time. The club should be informed of this in advance.
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