In order to pull off a dance you need:

• A room big enough, hopefully with a wood floor, second best is tile, carpet is pretty much hopeless.
• A adjoining room for refreshments and a place for people to gab and not disturb people trying to learn.
• A band. Old time bands were sometimes nothing more than a fiddle and a banjo.
• A caller.
• A sound system. A really small dance can get by with just a system for the caller. Originally callers just hollered, but they didn't have to teach, just cue. It's natural for people to jabber as they are learning, and you've got allow the caller to punch above it.
• Some brave people that have absolutely no memory of their high school dances to get started.
• To be able to identify your left hand in two tries.
• About 90 minutes. Although a traditional ball involves 20 dances, started at 8pm, had a full supper at midnight, (after 12 dances) and continued well into the morning hours, most beginner's are mentally and physically ready for a break after 90 minutes.
• Up to four people need to be pre-arranged to either fill in or drop out. Dances have either even groups of two or four. It's bad to make the caller spend 15 minutes trying to get that one additional person to fill in a group when NOBODY else wants to dance.

The dancers need:

• Comfortable clothes they can peel off to the basics. You will warm up the room.
• Comfortable shoes that slip and slide some on the floor. Rubber soled shoes that grab the floor can be tough on your knees.
• Something to drink, like Gatorade.