Is head staff....?

WhoMe · 09-14-2006, 03:25 PM

Is the head staff necessary and vital to the success of a powwow?

If some are and some aren't, which ones?

For instance, could a powwow work without host singers and head dancers?

**wardancer** · 09-16-2006, 09:20 AM

Who would lead ? Who would sing ?
I think it would be quite un-organized without leaders ! Head dancers maybe , but the Drum ? They are responsable for the proper songs at the proper times....I think we need both ! Could a dance get along with out an A.D. ? An M.C.?

**WocusWoman** · 09-16-2006, 01:48 PM

YES, but only if the powwow committee and it's emcee are highly organized.

**WocusWoman** · 09-16-2006, 01:50 PM

OH yeah, and I forgot to add... I believe the larger the powwow, the more need there is for some of the work and responsibilities to be distributed among head drums, head dancers, whipmen, etc. A small powwow can do with out these things successfully, if good people are running it. OK, that's what I had to add. WW

CHEROSAGE · 09-16-2006, 10:27 PM

I believe that a dance could be successful without a Headdancer but as was mentioned the Headsinger would be quite another thing.

I think that in todays world of new dancers not knowing how things are to really be, would have things all bumbled up. The Headdancers keep the dancers in a some what orderly mass. I could imagine a dance without a Headdancer(s) would have people dancing during times when they shouldn't be out.

An MC helps to keep the onlookers/spectators and many not in the know informed of what they are doing.

The AD is a necessity, he is the so called Whipman.

crazywolf · 09-17-2006, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wardancer

Who would lead ? Who would sing ?
I think it would be quite un-organized without leaders ! Head dancers maybe , but the Drum ? They are responsable for the proper songs at the proper times....I think we need both ! Could a dance get along with out an A.D. ? An M.C.?

Boozhoo niji,

I have been to various pow wows down here in florida with all of the exceptions you have named.

One pow wow had no headstaff and it was not too bad, kinda small, but i got my dancing fix.

One pow wow we had a different pair every day, one day we got someone that didnt know how to lead a two step, that was interesting.

There was one with no A.D. Utter chaos! They even let a dog into the circle, was supposedly a service dog but I know better, the woman just wanted attention and threatened to sue the pow wow committee if they didnt let her dog in.

Whip man, to me thats an optional role, have only ever been to one pow wow that I know of that had a whip man. So he poked and prodded me to get me dancing. At the time I didnt know what the heck a whip man was so I poked back lol.

M.C. Wiithout this person you might as well not have a pow wow. It might as well be a family gathering with no public attendance, either that or an educational thing were someone on the drum or maybe one of the dancers comes up and speaks, but even then you almost always have an emcee.

At most of the pow wows down here we have a head veteran. Its really important at these because he gets things organized among the veterans, and usually carries the staff in. He also lists the names of the flag bearers for the AD.

Most of the pow wow around here can do without the pow wow committee, basically because of all the political BS that goes on down here, athough, no pow wow committee, no pow wow.

Derek

ndngirl70 · 09-18-2006, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazywolf

,

There was one with no A.D. Utter chaos! They even let a dog into the circle, was supposedly a service dog but I know better, the woman just wanted attention and threatened to sue the pow wow committee if they didnt let her dog in.

We had a powwow up here that let a dog in. When we spoke to the organizer about it, she supported the dog being in the arena by saying that it was time to change traditions. We never went back to that powwow.

WhoMe · 09-18-2006, 12:00 PM

I am involved with a contest powwow that will not have host drums. The organizers told me this is experimental and hope that they can attract drums to compete with decent prize monies.

This is the first time they are having a drum contest.

___

I remember a powwow where they let a dog in....

but, he was in the stew.

*L

j/k

ndngirl70 · 09-18-2006, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhoMe

___

I remember a powwow where they let a dog in....

but, he was in the stew.

*L

j/k

**WocusWoman** · 09-18-2006, 12:17 PM

UMM, Fido stew...

WhoMe · 09-18-2006, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndngirl70

and too boot...

When somebody asked me how it tastes....

I barked out, "ROUGH! ROUGH!"

stillrezin · 09-18-2006, 03:56 PM

i knew that smell was something i recognized. i'm a dog lover.LOL.

I hae been to a pow-wow where there was no host drum. well no traveling host drum anyway. there was just local tribal drum being host.

the drum contest drew alot of top guns(drum groups) there.

there wa still alot of dancers and of course the recorders.

i still think that if there is a (big name) drum group as host drum then that attracts alot of ppl.

WhoMe, let me know how that pow-wow turns out. with no host drums.

Coyot_In_The_House · 09-18-2006, 06:04 PM

With the ever growing definition of the word Powwow i'd say it depends?

actually some of those iffy kind of powwows wouldn't count or would they? Okay i'll stop being a knucklehead....Sure you need a Head Staff. Kinda gives it that right feel....As four drums....you need to have someone designated to take care of certain particulars....As well an Emcee can make or break a Powwow! I've seen some Arena Directors who were clueless....OOPS! There I go again....

09-14-2006, 03:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
WhoMe PauWau Coordinator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Land of 370 Broken Treaties Posts: 5,505	Is head staff....? Is the head staff necessary and vital to the success of a powwow? If some are and some aren't, which ones? For instance, could a powwow work without host singers and head dancers? __________________ "Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture." WhoMe

09-16-2006, 09:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
wardancer Don't be skurred ! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: S.E. Kansas Posts: 11,092	Who would lead ? Who would sing ? I think it would be quite un-organized without leaders ! Head dancers maybe , but the Drum ? They are responsable for the proper songs at the proper times....I think we need both ! Could a dance get along with out an A.D. ? An M.C.? __________________ *I believe blood quantums are the governments way to breed us out of existance !* *Never wrestle with a pig....you both get dirty and the pig likes it !* Have A Stress Free Year ! The parties over...Back to work ! I'm not as good as I once was , but I'm as good once as I ever was !

09-16-2006, 10:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
CHEROSAGE Pow Wow Committee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: , mo Posts: 1,330	I believe that a dance could be successful without a Headdancer but as was mentioned the Headsinger would be quite another thing. I think that in todays world of new dancers not knowing how things are to really be, would have things all bumbled up. The Headdancers keep the dancers in a some what orderly mass. I could imagine a dance without a Headdancer(s) would have people dancing during times when they shouldn't be out. An MC helps to keep the onlookers/spectators and many not in the know informed of what they are doing. The AD is a necessity, he is the so called Whipman. __________________ BOB

09-18-2006, 12:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
WhoMe PauWau Coordinator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Land of 370 Broken Treaties Posts: 5,505	I am involved with a contest powwow that will not have host drums. The organizers told me this is experimental and hope that they can attract drums to compete with decent prize monies. This is the first time they are having a drum contest. ___ I remember a powwow where they let a dog in.... but, he was in the stew. *L j/k __________________ "Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture." WhoMe

09-16-2006, 01:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
WocusWoman N8tiffUmatillaMAMA Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Interior Alaska Posts: 2,709	YES, but only if the powwow committee and it's emcee are highly organized.

09-16-2006, 01:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
WocusWoman N8tiffUmatillaMAMA Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Interior Alaska Posts: 2,709	OH yeah, and I forgot to add... I believe the larger the powwow, the more need there is for some of the work and responsibilities to be distributed among head drums, head dancers, whipmen, etc. A small powwow can do with out these things successfully, if good people are running it. OK, that's what I had to add. WW

09-18-2006, 12:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
WocusWoman N8tiffUmatillaMAMA Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Interior Alaska Posts: 2,709	UMM, Fido stew...

09-18-2006, 03:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
stillrezin I'm shy like JD Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: 3rd tipi on the left just past the broken down car and the pack of rez dogs chasing horse's Posts: 30,510 Blog Entries: 4	i knew that smell was something i recognized. i'm a dog lover.LOL. I hae been to a pow-wow where there was no host drum. well no traveling host drum anyway. there was just local tribal drum being host. the drum contest drew alot of top guns(drum groups) there. there wa still alot of dancers and of course the recorders. i still think that if there is a (big name) drum group as host drum then that attracts alot of ppl. WhoMe, let me know how that pow-wow turns out. with no host drums.