I’ll never forget what Bruce Williamson and Tom Miller did for me when I was a newer, needle-shaking caller. First of all, Brucie was very encouraging and supportive of me calling even at a young age. He always advised me to bring my records each week to the dance and told me to always practice. He would give me ample mic time at his dances. I was so gung ho about it. And, was making progress. There was another dancer, who had a speech impediment, and he also wanted to call. Bruce, being the kind soul that he is, let this fellow call a lot too. 

 

Sadly, the squares would break down because the dancers could not understand him. And, every time I went on stage, he wanted to call, either with me or before or after me. It was turning off dancers. So, at a young age, I decided to back down from dancing, and this fellow stopped too. It was torture. I really wanted to call. But did it for the team.

 

The other caller in town at another club never let me call at his club. He must’ve been intimidated by me. I would ask kindly and he turned me down each time. Some of these old guys felt threatened by us young guns. Years later, when I asked him to help me, he said no again. But, he helped two other callers. This man was always very selfish.

I didn’t want to nag Bruce again, because he had been such a help before, and I didn’t want the other guy to start up again. I know that sounds mean, but it was very difficult when I was a teenager and wanted so much to be a caller.

 

When I was away at college, a lady caller helped me out quite a bit. She was an incredible choreographer, but she was tone deaf. So, I did all the singing calls each week and she did the patters. Those were the warm up dances, and I did the sing alongs.

I learned timing, styling, showmanship, music and articulation. But I yearned for choreo.

 

When I returned home from school, I wrote down a list of area callers who I thought might be able to lend me a hand. My first choice was the best in the business, Tom Miller. But, like a dumb 21 year old, I put him at the end of the list because I thought ‘Why would Tom Miller want to help little old me?” Tom, if you read my other BLOG is and was and always will be ‘the Walt Disney of square dance callers’. 

 

I had a list of about 6 or 7 callers who all rudely, crudely and lewdly turned me down. Funny thing, they weren’t very good at the calling craft, so why the heck did I try asking for help. I just needed a mentor. Quite discouraged I sat there with the cordless phone on my lap, and my best friend said to me, “why don’t you call this Tom Miller guy? If he’s as good as you say he is, and if he’s a real professional, he’s the guy who will be in your corner.  he's your main man.  he's at the top of your list, don't put him on the bottom.”

 

Boy, that sounded so good. So, I picked up the phone, and with a nervous shake dialed Tom, whom I had known but not very well. He said ‘absolutely’ and right away. He offered and said “get me a square and a place to practice and I’ll be down to help out.” Wow! What a lesson I learned that day. Think big, and stay there. Don’t fence yourself in with other excuses. Go for the gold. We danced in my 2-car garage with Tom Miller as the Captain, and me being his first mate. What a blast. I can’t believe I ever thought about asking any one else. And, till this day, I’ve asked Tom and Bruce for favors and assistance and they never let me down. Interesting note; Bruce taught Tom how to call about 13 years before me.

 

One of the coolest things these two ever did with me was a Red Cross fund raising dance a few months after the 9/11/01 disasters.  Tom and Bruce were on stage with me calling.  Something they hadn't done in years before that night.  Most recently, I've recorded a new singing call record with Brucie Baby, and Tommy has been assiting me with the HAKUNA MATATAS handicapable square dance club.  Thanks, fellas!