The bar

I’ve been caller at many ceilidhs and barn dances where no alcohol is served and the night has gone really well..because of the enthusiasm and willingness to participate of those attending. So alcohol is by no means totally necessary but it is preferable to have some sort of drinks available as refreshments since ceilidh dancing is pretty energetic!

However, being totally realistic, you’ll find that the majority of people expect alcohol to be available at most functions for social events (not just ceilidhs).

For ceilidhs, hoedowns or barn dances, try to make sure that the bar is in the same room as the dancing! We’d almost go so far as to say that this is a must ! Why is that ?

Well, we find that most men (particularly) will happily hide away in a bar and talk about anything..rather than join in with silly dances! If the bar is miles away from the dancing, lots of guys will think this to be the perfect world and will prop the bar up from the very beginning of the night! However, if the bar is in the same room as the dancing  naturally, they will stay in that room and they are instantly get-at-able.

And here is the crazy thing  after a couple of drinks lots of the men respond and actually become very willing participants, showing off and all that! God only knows what an anthropologist would make of some of our British male species!!

All the bands have a caller with them on the night – so novices or ‘first-timers’ need not worry if this type of dancing is entirely new to them! And on this page, we are presuming that your event will comprise mainly inexperienced Barn Dance or Ceilidh dancers.
At just about every event, the caller is the person who decides which dances will be danced and makes sure that the band know which type of music (jigs, reels, marches, hornpipes etc) is required to suit any particular dance.

To get the event started, the caller will invite/encourage dancers on to the dance floor, make sure that the dancers are in suitable sets (or otherwise) for the dance and briefly explain the moves/patterns that the dancers will need to know to make the dance work with the music. Usually, each move is given a ‘call’ – a shortened term for that particular move. Depending on the dance, simple verbal instructions may be enough – sometimes the caller may do a quick demonstration or ask a fairly experienced couple or set of dancers to quickly demonstrate the moves. This really does not take very long at all and makes sure that the dancers are not going to start the dance ‘blind’.
Generally, the caller will be ‘voice-amplified’ as well as the band – either with a stand microphone from where the band are sited or with a ‘wireless’ microphone or head-set which, of course, allows the caller to move around amongst the dancers both during the ‘walk-through’ and the actual dance itself and making sure that the calls can be heard by all the dancers.

The whole idea of this ‘walk-through’ before the music starts is particularly aimed at those who have never done the dance before! No previous experience should be needed by the dancers – the whole idea is that they pick up the basic moves during the ‘walk-through’. And it’s the caller’s job to try to make this aspect clear and concise and pretty damn quick! You don’t want the dancers nodding off……or being totally confused. So…(unless there are loads of experienced dancers on the floor)…most callers will work on the age-old KISS (Keep It Simple, Sweetheart!) principle for the first few dances of the night.
And it is rare that the caller will dwell on the actual dance ‘steps’ or techniques. Really, there just isn’t enough time for teaching such detail – and the dancers with natural rhythm will work it out anyway while the rest usually get by without falling over!

Now, the band is going to strike up the live music – so it’s for real, folks! The caller will be aware of any musical introduction and call the first move just that split second before the dancers make their first move and will continue to call the reminders throughout the dance just at the right moments until such time as the caller can see that people have got the hang of the dance – there’s no more satisfaction for a caller than ‘seeing the baby walk’!

Basically, that’s how it all pans out – and the caller (and the band) will expect some dancers to make mistakes…..see C’MON HAVE A GREAT NIGHT on our homepage

However, you should expect more from your caller than just dance instructions. The caller will often have a trick or two up the sleeve to encourage the more reluctant dancers up on to the dance floor and will act as the MC throughout the night. At events such as fund-raisers or charity events where the focus is very much on people coming to do some dancing, you can ask the caller to run the raffle, make important announcements (‘last orders at the bar!’) or introduce a speaker/votes of thanks etc. Some people may not be aware as to the degree of technique involved in public speaking or simply using a microphone properly – so it is often better if you ask the caller to perform these tasks.
The caller will also be accustomed to gaining the attention of everyone present, won’t be nervous when making announcements and will probably be heard better and more clearly (‘cos the caller knows that you should speak..just.. that..tiny..bit..slower..than in a normal one-to-one conversation…..Now! – did you know that?)

Importantly, always make sure that your caller is well aware of the proposed time-table of events throughout the night – food breaks, raffles, other performers, finishing times – so that the dancing can be planned to fall in with everything else. It’s a waste of time and effort for all if, say, 40/50 people have just walked-through a dance and somebody else (like the catering manager/event manager) comes along to call a halt because the buffet is just about to be served! Or, even worse, the last dance cannot go ahead because some grumpy caretaker for your hall is insisting that the whole night stops – like, NOW ! With just a little notice to your caller, such problems can easily be avoided.

FINALLY – use the caller’s experience! You will be taking advice from somebody who has done all this sort of thing before and is aware of any pitfalls and traps to avoid. For a slightly more tongue-in-cheek view on the caller’s role in proceedings.

The caller at wedding receptions and parties is very often expected to act as much as an MC for the night as well as being a dance instructor matters such as cutting of cakes, introducing speakers/speeches, getting the world to sing Happy Birthday, liaising with organisers and caterers as to buffet/food arrangements etc will arise – and to an experienced caller, there will be no problem in organising and adapting the schedule to make all these other events fit smoothly into the flow of the whole evening.

Also, such a caller would have more patience regarding the actual dancing  in the full knowledge that guests have not come along solely to dance to the exclusion of everything else! The caller would be sympathetic to the fact that the dancing is only a PART of an overall celebration and is not going to get upset if guests will do, perhaps, less dancing than at a ceilidh, say, where people have paid to get in and expect to do lots of dancing.

Often, callers who perform at wedding receptions will have a final dance designed to allow the bride and groom to say swift farewells to guests as part of the actual dance. Likewise, the caller can also advise on what many brides, particularly, see as the all-important first dance you could also have a look at http://www.jigsnreels.com/news.php?ID=14 where we make a suggestion for the first dance!

Essentially, the caller at these types of functions will not be too serious about the dances, knowing that they form only part of an overall celebration where the emphasis should always be on fun and guests having a relaxed night of seamless events (of which the dancing is just part and parcel).

OK – we�re going to frighten the living daylights out of you now!

Outside of Scottish Country Dance circles, it may come as a surprise that experienced Scottish dancers do not rely on the services of a caller! Simply, at such events, an MC presides by inviting dancers to take their partners as he announces the name of a particular dance. It is often the case that the dancers have already received, quite well in advance, the agenda of dances for that particular evening � and have even practised the dances in anticipation (if they weren�t already known) so that no instruction is actually required on the night.
RELAX !
If you�re reading this, it�s doubtful that you are experienced to such a level! Very few people are!

However, at Scottish ceilidhs, it would be fair to assume that people will expect to dance �.err�..some Scottish Ceilidh dances! But not every caller will have such dances in their repertoire. Some do�.some don�t���and some just won�t!

So it makes sense that the caller booked for Scottish Ceilidhs knows and enjoys these dances and can quickly, but clearly, explain the dances at the �walk-through� stage, giving enough direction to the inexperienced dancer so that they can really feel that they have taken part in �proper� Scottish dances like �Gay Gordons�, �Canadian Barn Dance�, �Dashing White Sergeant�, �Strip the Willow� and so on (whilst the more experienced dancers can �pas-de-basque� to their heart�s content, embellishing moves with the appropriate twirls and claps).

This is why it is important, when discussing your proposed ceilidh with us, to make it clear as to the standard of Scottish dancing to which you aspire. Then we can make sure that a caller with the right level of expertise for Scottish dances can be booked well enough in advance. Callers for the Scottish dances are a bit thinner on the ground and � thus � more in demand.

Alternatively, of course, you could just get up on the floor when the MC announces �Hamilton House�������..No???…….NO! Let�s book a band AND a caller!

Ceilidh ? Barn Dance ? Hoedown ? Twmpath?
Well, is there a difference between any of these ?
Err………YES ….and……Err……NO!

YES if you are an experienced dancer who prefers a particular type of tradition….but….

NO if your aim is to have a night of fun doing some dances that you rarely join in with.
Let’s concentrate on the NO vote!

Most people who approach us are looking for a band and caller who will introduce them to the fun aspect of traditional dances, mixing people up by involving them in relatively simple dance patterns to good, danceable music. Even if you are a complete beginner, you should be able to join in and have a go without the worry of making mistakes. So many different types of celebration nights, fundraisers and social events include folks who have never really tried any of this style of dancing before. For nights like these, the terms above could all equally apply! It’s just the musical style and background that varies – though most people, quite frankly, would not notice the difference between a jig or reel from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales or North America………..and the dances have such a big element of overlap between all the various traditions since they all involve circle dances, square sets, longways (or contra) sets, sicilian circles and so on! In fact, you could just as easily describe these dances as ‘Knees Up Dances’ to lively traditional music – it’s probably as fair a description as any other! The music is very often a mixture of the different traditions – and so are the dances.

SO………let’s put it like this

A CEILIDH is a gaelic term from Scotland meaning a ‘come ye all’, a night out of music, song, dance and even story-telling which has ,in the latter years, tended to concentrate on the social dancing especially. For a broader view please click on Scottish Ceilidhs. A more recent development has also been the explosion of English Ceilidhs (where, let’s be honest, the term Ceilidh has been hi-jacked in preference to using Barn Dance !) � more elsewhere in our FAQ�s.

A CEILI is the Irish equivalent and means pretty much the same as Ceilidh � more elsewhere in our FAQ�s.

A less well-known term, unless you’re Welsh, is TWMPATH. A twmpath, in Welsh, is a small hill or raised area (something like a village green or focal point) and musicians would often use such areas to gather and play traditional Welsh music either for songs, entertainment and, of course, dancing with the phrase coming to mean much the same as Ceilidh.

A BARN DANCE can possibly conjure up a couple of different images. Many years ago, dances to traditional music were often held in barns (often, barns belonging to local leading pillars of society/landowners ) and other rural community buildings or outdoors featuring nights of dancing traditional well-known dances with an air of revelry/songs – and we like to think that this is not lost altogether. (Of course, to some people, the image changes to country dancing on the village green/maypole dancing/almost ‘tea with the vicar’ – really, that’s not what we are about!). Alternatively, others see BARN DANCE as meaning a ‘hill-billy’ yee-ha type night, dressing up as �cowboys/girls� and dancing to dazzling fiddle music…………………..which leads us neatly on to

HOEDOWNS where just about everybody, we believe, understands that the dance music/songs will be of a traditional North American style featuring, predominantly, stringed instruments like the fiddle and banjo � more elsewhere in our FAQ�s.

Finally, if you voted YES at the beginning…..well, we won’t bother going there. You’ve probably made your mind up already! That’s not to say that you don’t enjoy your chosen preference ‘cos we know that for the more experienced dancers, there’s a great deal of fun in learning further and improving upon your own particular tradition.

Really, there should not be a problem with a sound limiter � as long as the limiter has been sensibly installed in terms of its settings and positioning within the room. Some sound limiters at some venues have given cause for concern with bands. So we do offer a few words of caution. Please read on !

Let�s just clarify what a sound limiter is. It is a sound-sensitive device installed in a venue to make sure that certain sound decibel ratings/levels are not exceeded. It prevents the continuation of sound above the set levels by cutting off, temporarily, the electrical power source to the PA equipment emitting the sound (in the case of bands, at any rate!)
Generally, the intention is to limit any harmful effects on ear-drums and prevent excessive sound levels reaching neighbours or others close by who do not want the music of others interrupting their own activities. Some hotels will fit them for the benefit of guests trying to sleep in bedrooms whilst a function continues elsewhere in the hotel. All of this makes perfect common sense.

However, sometimes the sound level settings on a limiter can be set very low which some may consider �dulls� the atmosphere which everybody is trying to create, especially for a party celebration. And many people book our bands for just such an event! It may be that the limiter has been deliberately fitted to achieve this result � or it may be that it was fitted by somebody who, quite honestly, did not really know what they were doing! Our advice would be to try and check out the effects of the sound limiter before booking the venue by doing a �dummy run�, if possible, with a portable sound system � or, ask the venue to give you a demonstration as to just how loud any music can be before the limiter cuts off the power supply. Your own common sense will tell you a lot � though do bear in mind that a room full of people will soak up more of the sound than when the room is empty. And if somebody at the venue says that the limiter is �no problem…bla � bla�…….remember……….he probably didn�t install it in the first place!

Many sound limiters have something similar to a �traffic lights� warning system � and if the red light stays on for more than, say, 5 seconds the power will cut and stop the music. Band members who are constantly looking at the warning lights won�t be fully focused on the dancers on the floor (which is where their real attention should be). And to have the music stop during the middle of the dancing is of no benefit to any body!
And, if the warning lights are placed above the heads of the musicians � or worse, behind their backs (and this has been known!) � you will have a very disgruntled band!

There are even some bands who will flatly refuse a booking if they know that a sound limiter has been fitted. Clearly it would be totally impractical for all band members to do a �dummy run� months ahead of the event. Rather than run the risk, therefore, of encountering a sudden loss of electric power during the event (which may damage sensitive and expensive equipment),the band may well decide against taking the booking.

Let�s remember that the vast majority of barn dance and ceilidh bands are not The Rolling Stones on tour! They have no wish to deafen the dancers/listeners (or themselves) and are experienced in knowing what are acceptable sound levels which encourage the right atmosphere without shattering the ears of others. Besides, the master volume control on the PA system can always be turned down if necessary to accommodate. In our experience, band members can dictate sensible sound levels simply by using their common sense……..which does not, unfortunately, always apply to sound limiters!

God Knows! (OK, let’s lie to you � ‘Course they will!!)
Quite honestly, prior to the actual day, nobody can say for certain!
In fact, you will have a far better idea than we will since, presumably, you know the type of guests that you are inviting. It works well if your guests are
1. willing to try the dancing
2. willing to act somewhat energetically, (maybe, even, sweat a bit above the usual call of duty!)
3. willing to make a few mistakes and not worry about it
4. happy to mix/dance with �strangers�
5. happy to listen to a few simple instructions.
It does not matter how many left feet your guests have ! Dancing ability varies from person to person. And Ceilidhs are NOT dance lessons, there just isn�t the time to teach any fancy footwork � the idea is to have some fun, mix people up a bit and get them to sweat a lot to some really good dance music! The caller�s instructions before each dance will be very brief so that you and your guests can get on with the dancing!
But � here�s a few �Tips� gained over our many years� experience

FIRST DANCE – The bride and groom should seriously consider a �first dance� to start the dancing. It might be some recorded music of your own choice. It might be a very simple few moves explained by the caller to the bride and groom to get the ball rolling � and, in turn, they draw others on to the dance floor. Or � try a simple Waltz to music played by the band (whether or not you can waltz is actually irrelevant!) and the caller gradually invites other guests to join in as well.

LEAD BY EXAMPLE – bride/groom (mums, dads, bridesmaids, ushers, best man) will encourage so many extra dancers on to the floor early if they, themselves, join in from the very start, even if they have never danced before! Also, encourage known ‘ring leaders/characters’ (bald Uncle Charlie, famous flag-pole painter, you know the sort) to join in as early as possible. You see, the earliest dances are the easiest – but it is also the time when people are most inhibited and need to see others enjoying it and getting the dances ‘wrong’. These dances can set the atmosphere for the rest of the evening. A BIG DON�T!! DON�T race straight off to the bar in another room or into that lovely sunny late evening outside and leave your guests to do all the dancing! ‘COS THEY WON’T! You will be amazed at how many other guests follow your example. They will probably do what you do! And ask yourself this � why would you ever book a Ceilidh band if you don�t want to do any of the dancing yourself? (We know that you have to �circulate�, but you’ll have plenty of time to do that a bit later in the evening)

MAKING MISTAKES: Never worry about making mistakes during dances! Just laugh it off, it’s all part of the fun and your laughter will rub off on others. People watching will not want to dance if those already dancing look miserable or harassed. Personally, I never call for ‘proper folk dancers’ on principle since many of them seem more interested in showing everyone present how clever they and their fancy footwork are. Our agency may be a business, but our business is in encouraging fun and relaxation. Above all, enjoy yourselves!

BOOZE AND BOOZERS! If alcoholic drinks are available, encourage people to drink early on and then slow down. Dancing will also help ‘sweat’ out alcohol. Early drinks loosen inhibitions, tongues and feet. Please be clear about this; we are not advocating irresponsible drinking sessions! And if someone is too drunk, leave them sat down, they become a liability to themselves and others on the dance floor.

FOOD BREAKS/INTERVALS: If food is to be offered, set aside a definite interval and inform your caller as soon as possible of your plans or schedule (especially if hot food is involved !). NEVER, ever have an ‘eat-when-you-like’ running buffet – it kills the dancing stone dead !

LIGHTING: Keep lighting fairly subdued (ish!). Not glaring bright to put people off standing up in the first place. Definitely not dark with flashing lights (it’s not a disco) or people cannot see too well when trying out the dance moves. Consult your band and caller before you get started.

FLOOR SURFACE: It is best to avoid slippery floors for obvious reasons. Conversely, carpets (and grass) are hard work for the dancers and should be avoided/rolled out of the way. And loose rugs could be fatal – MOVE THEM AT ALL COSTS !!! As for floor space, if there is ‘disco’ space for fifty people, you will only have room for twenty odd for barn dance.

CHILDREN: Actually, kids are often the stars of the show at Weddings – no inhibitions, showing up the adults! But, just a few words of warning to you and your guests – discourage young children from touching or playing with band gear. Not only are modern instruments very costly to buy and maintain but nearly all instruments and P.A. systems will be ELECTRICALLY WIRED – Need we say more? Everybody’s safety is a paramount concern and needless accidents can mar your special event!

An ENGLISH ceilidh? – surely, ceilidhs are Scottish or Irish? NOT ANY MORE!

English Ceilidh (E-Ceilidh) might sound an odd term – but it goes far beyond social display dancing and ‘tea with the vicar on the lawn’! Yes, the dances used are rooted in English Country Dance tradition – many of the dance patterns go back to the dances of yesteryear which you may have done at school in those ‘country dance’ classes. But the music is something else! The dances are simple BUT – the music is designed to get you to ‘lift them legs’ following a more pounding, rhythmic, ‘lumpier’ style of music than that usually associated with the ‘smoother’ Scottish style or ‘faster’ Irish or Hoe-down American music.

Around the 1970’s,a number of bands started to emerge in England – they took many of the ‘English Country Dance’ tunes and gave them a new vitality, a new emphasis which encouraged dancers to dance/step (rather than walk) to the simple patterns. What was once considered almost ‘stately’ in style became exuberant, bursting with energy !

Musically, many of these new style of bands use ‘squeezeboxes’ (principally melodeons) as key instruments backed by strings (fiddles, mandolins, guitars etc) and, importantly, bass sounds (bass guitar, brass, percussion of varying sorts) � not to mention keyboards or woodwind instruments – to create an uplifting, danceable style of music, which has been greatly elaborated by many various bands to this day. And influences of world music such as jazz, ska, reggae, African etc are also being absorbed into English Ceilidh music to help make the dancing uplifting but without making the dance moves difficult. All leads to a very ‘sweaty’ night! Music that befits our increasingly cosmopolitan nation!

Why English? Well, the dances haven’t changed enormously. (English/Irish/Scottish/American country dance still share many of the same patterns/moves) and the actual term ‘Ceilidh’ (being a Gaelic word) has, in all honesty, been hi-jacked by the English Ceilidh movement since most people in the British Isles associate �ceilidhs� with traditional type dancing. But E-ceilidh music is played to encourage �dancing� or simple stepping � as opposed to walking complicated figures/patterns. E-Ceilidh is, then, something of a relative new idiom � it�s saying��.�let�s dance, let rip – to simple figures where the music drives the night�!

Many of our bands have progressed through this relatively �young� tradition and consider themselves as E-Ceilidh bands in a different mould to the traditional Scottish and Irish bands. Though, of course, it won�t stop them nicking some of the Celtic tunes for dancing � but they give them a different �treatment�!

AND some of the E-Ceilidh bands are just as equally at home playing traditional Celtic music in a traditional style when it suits the event!
Never forget � good musicians (and callers) are adaptable and willing, in most cases, to put their own personal preferences aside to make sure that you have the right music and atmosphere for your night! BUT, if your night is crying out for �bouncy� (did I really say that?) music, then E-Ceilidh bands will make you wish that you had cancelled your gym membership!

Without doubt, we would recommend sprung timber flooring as the best dancing surface, for any kind of dancing. Dancing (properly) is mainly on the balls of your feet. And the feet respond better to a hard surface which has just that bit of �give� in it. But we are realistic enough to know that such floors are expensive to fit and are somewhat few and far between. But they are the ideal and far easier on the legs and muscles.

Next comes the solid timber floor � since timber, by its nature, has less �harshness� against the feet than, say. concrete or hard stone/terrazzo type floors (they have absolutely no give whatsoever!).
Conversely, what may appear to be the �softer� dance surfaces can become the most energy-sapping. Carpets and grass have no �bounce� in them to speak of � your feet hit the deck but don�t bounce back like they would on timber. After a few dances on such surfaces, you might think twice about getting up for another dance � �cos it seems like hard tiring work.

Inside many marquees, coir matting (those sort of �coconut-hair� type coverings) is laid out for receptions. As long as the grass/sub-base below is pretty level, this will work AS LONG AS the joints are well fixed down. Poor jointing will lead to hazards when ceilidh dancing. Let your marquee provider know beforehand that you intend holding a ceilidh or barn dance at your event.

Naturally, the worst case scenario is a very hard surface covered with rugs. Especially slippery rugs on slightly slippery surfaces. They are fatal � MOVE THEM/ROLL THEM UP/GET RID OF THEM! They are NEVER worth the risk of a dancer tripping/falling on a sliding surface!

You might also need to consider ‘raised floors’. What’s a raised floor? Well……..some hotels, particularly, are very used to providing a ‘confined’ disco area………meaning that they provide interlocking timber squares with slightly raised sloping edges surrounding the dance area. In barn dance or ceilidh terms, this is like asking folks to dance on a postage stamp and they are far from ideal! And, possibly, dangerous for guests wearing high-heeled shoes. If somebody stumbles on the sloping edge of these dance areas, there is a risk of sprained ankles or similar…. not a pleasant experience! Probably better that you decide to ditch this alternative if offered and stick with the level floor surface…….even if it is just carpet! Of course, some hotels might try to persuade you that these false floors are better to dance on than carpet….or are they, perhaps, thinking more about wear and tear on their carpet?

Beware also of dusty surfaces��like in a converted working barn! This might sound a bit daft when we are talking about barn dances! But, unless the floor surface has been really well cleaned prior to any dancing, dusty surfaces will result in too much dust flying around during the dancing � and anyone who suffers from asthma, for example, would be put off from joining in the dances. Excess dust makes throats dry (but the barman will be happy!) and some musicians will just refuse to play in such venues, fearful of the damage that excess dust may cause to PA equipment and some reed instruments like squeezeboxes!

For American style Hoedown bands please use the �search� database for American Hoedown Bands on the right hand of this page. But we also represent several other bands not yet currently listed – don’t ever be afraid to ask via our ENQUIRY BOX or telephone 0788 788 7917 and just leave a message – we WILL call you back !
The term ‘hoedown band’ can conjure up various different images to different people. So, on this page, we’ll try to explain what we mean.

For most events, hoedowns differ from ceilidhs/barn dances mainly by virtue of the style of music (and, of course, just about everybody expects to dress up in American ‘cowboy/girl’ style clothes – more later!). Essentially, it is the music that is the most noticeable difference since it leans more towards country and bluegrass style with North American roots.

Settlers who began migrating to North America in the early 1600s are considered to be the roots of bluegrass and country and Appalachian and ‘old time’ music – including dance music and ballads from Ireland, Scotland Wales and England, as well as African American gospel music and blues. (In fact, some sources suggest that slaves from Africa brought the design idea for the banjo, an instrument now integral to the bluegrass sound.) As the early settlers began to spread out into the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky and the Virginias, they composed new songs about day-to-day life experiences in the new land. Since most of these people lived in rural areas, the songs reflected life on the farm or in the hills and this type of music was called “mountain music” or “country music.”And settlers tended to not go beyond the long Appalachian mountain ridges range and stayed on this eastern edge of a vast area in the USA.

The instruments tend to be mainly ‘strings’ like fiddle, banjo or guitars rather than ‘squeezeboxes’ and the music is often faster (or appears to be faster) than much of traditional British dance music in spite of its original roots having spread from the British Isles many moons ago. Over the years, of course, styles of the music and dances developed into a music, song and dance tradition entirely of its own. (And it is not to be confused with Cajun or Creole music from the deeper south of America which owes its background to French-speaking settlers and where, musically, the ‘squeezebox’ is king! Originally, Cajun was an entirely different type of musical tradition – though, latterly, there are elements of overlap).

Most of the dances of this hoedown tradition are either ‘square’ dances (for 4 couples) or ‘contra’ dances (lines of dancers each facing their partners)………and are not to be confused with ‘line-dancing’! Our bands do NOT PERFORM FOR LINE DANCING (though some bands can work with specialist �line dance� callers if specifically required).
In the purer forms, contras and squares have become dances involving rather complicated moves and patterns. In the same way that, say, Scottish Country Dance needs to be practised and learnt, then this also applies to contras and squares – and these dances are not recommended for the inexperienced dancers.

HOWEVER, that doesn’t mean that you cannot have a night of fun. For most social events where dancers are inexperienced, the caller can keep the moves simple whilst the band still play the ‘yee-ha’ hoedown music. And for most ‘wild west’ and ‘cowboy’ nights that is exactly what happens! Simple dances with that ol’ hillbilly music can be a really cracking night! And………yes……..you can shout ‘yee-ha’ till your throat is dry………….and even have a burger and baked beans supper, if you must!

It’s interesting to note that it was this hoedown tradition that really gave rise to using callers – each move has a different ‘name’ or ‘call’. Whilst some of the dances follow the same pattern, say, eight times through to complete the dance, other dances were ‘patter-called’ or ‘free-called’. So, even the dancers who knew all the moves or patterns would not necessarily know what was going to happen next………..they had to rely on the caller who, of course, could alter the ‘called’ moves at his whim to suit the dance and music…and himself ! He would call, let’s say ,’box the gnat’ – and dancers would be expected to react immediately to the call and perform that particular move. Clearly, that level of dancing suited only the experienced dancers but it certainly made the dancing less ‘staid’ or predictable and far more of a challenge to the dancers. Literally……….thinking on your feet !!

Of course, for a lot of people, a hoedown is a good excuse for dressing up in the check shirts, jeans, neckerchiefs in an effort to re-create the ‘Oaklahoma’ feel or similar to the film ‘Seven Brides For Seven Brothers’ where the barn dance or hoedown scene was one of the highlights. Often, the cowboy outfits are used – even down to sporting a gun holster! Probably the most curious element about all this is the ‘cowboy’ thing. In Britain, lots of people associate this music with ‘cowboys/girls’ and ‘wild west’ theme nights – when, in fact, the music and dance tradition is from the east of the Appalachians and the cowboys roamed far to the west of this mountain range!!

To a large degree at private events, the client calls the shots as to the timings for an event. Generally, a time-frame of 3 to 3 � hours (with a break of approx 30/45 minutes somewhere in the evening) works well. That is usually enough for most dancers and about right for the musicians.

A typical night might run something like this � the band starts up at, say, 8pm sending out the message that live music and dancing is about to start. After about an hour of music and dancing has elapsed, a break for a buffet or �nibbles� or similar is commonplace�..which the band will also treat as their natural break (whilst the band�s recorded music plays in the background). Then, it�s back to the music and dancing until the end of the night at around 11pm or 11.30pm.The majority of the bands work on this type of model. In some cases, bands will play on until Midnight. Other bands consider that 2 x 1 hour dance sessions is plenty�.so this can vary a little from band to band. And sometimes, that is a good judgement, especially if the night is being mixed with a disco to follow the ceilidh. Of course, bands will play for far less time if that is the client’s wish but the fee will probably be unaffected. For bands to perform BEYOND Midnight is somewhat unusual and would probably involve extra charges. Also, most inexperienced dancers would find that four hours of dancing, with just a short break, is very tiring if they are not used to it.

Of course, ceilidhs for enthusiasts who regularly attend ceilidh events would probably involve more dancing and less break periods � but these folks expect dancing to that level where the dancing is the main focus and the socialising side of the night is somewhat secondary.

And maybe ,at this point, we should spare a thought for the musicians. Let�s assume that they have travelled one hour to get to the event. Somebody has already loaded up, travelled and set up the equipment, performed over a 4 hour period�then packs down the gear, loads up again, travels home and unloads the gear to a safe place. For somebody, performing 8pm till Midnight means�.loading the vehicle at 4pm and then his head hitting the sack at gone 2am !!!

This aspect can depend on the attitude of those attending towards �having a go�. I remember a really good night when only 30 folks turned up � but they all wanted to get stuck in and it was a great night. Of course, if half of them had taken the attitude of �over my dead body��..�, then it would have been a different matter altogether.

We would suggest a minimum of about 40 people��.but the more the better! If numbers are below 50/60,then we would suggest that it VITAL that the organisers or bride/groom join in from the outset � and be seen to do so. That�s very important. Why invite guests/friends to a night of ceilidh dancing or a barn dance when you can�t be bothered to join in yourself? What we�ve also noticed is this – if the organisers or bride/groom really do want to join in with a ceilidh or barn dance, their friends are probably of a similar attitude and it will work well. BUT if the hosts aren�t really too interested (�seemed like a good idea at the time�) the chances are that their guests will be like-minded�..and it won�t work so well for you! Why expect your guests to enjoy it if you�re not really that interested yourself? And why spend so much on a �live� band when recorded music will work just as well?

The majority of events attract between 70 and 120 folks. That should work well because the numbers work in your favour. The first dances will be kept simple � sending out the message that rocket science is not required. Once people see how easy the dances really are, they grow in confidence � hey, if only 30% of 120 people are on the floor, that�s still 36 dancers��(see what we mean by rocket science?) So the dancing still goes with a bang whilst others natter on in the background catching up on the gossip with their friends.

120+ guests ��..and you have the recipe for an absolutely cracking night!

How much space do we need for a ceilidh or barn dance?

Let’s think in terms of dancers..forgetting the band.

This can vary somewhat, depending on whether it’s a circle dance, square set, longways set etc. As a rough rule of thumb, work on about 1 sq. yard per dancer. But experienced dancers love to strut their stuff and might need a bit more space! But the sq. yard per dancer should work.

Then, add in whatever space you may need for seating/tables within the room.

Then, add in the space required to site the band… which often means
3 musicians + caller = 6 sq. yards approx (say 10 feet x 6 feet)
5 musicians + caller = 10 sq yards approx (say 16 feet x 6 feet)
Or even more if there is a drummer or keyboards in your band.

Of course, if there is a stage that is ideal and the band space is solved. But a stage is, by no means, essential and the majority of venues have no stage!

Then, add in the circulation area required around the bar area if the bar is sited in the same room as the dancing (and, hopefully, it is!!)

Don’t forget – not everybody there will dance every dance. Work on the basis that, for most dances, about 30/40% of guests (at parties, wedding receptions and similar) may dance at any given time.
We are big believers in ‘cramming ’em in’… meaning that it’s better to have LESS than the ideal space rather than TOO MUCH!! It’s just a bit of ‘kidology’ at work! You can always kick a few chairs out of the way to make extra space. As a caller, I prefer to tell latecomers that they’ve missed their chance to join in ‘cos there’s no room for them. They will make sure that they’re up like a shot for the next dance!

Consider the other side of the coin… you have booked a huge hall which, with 60 dancers on the floor, only looks about a third full….(what sort of message are you sending out to those watching in the wings?)

Irish Ceilis

For Bands suitable for Irish Ceilis please use our �Search� database. However, we also represent several other bands not yet currently listed – don’t ever be afraid to ask via our ENQUIRY BOX or telephone 0788 788 7917 and just leave a message – we WILL call you back!
Irish bands tend to be ‘string’ instrument based – fiddle or mandolin (County Clare has a fiddle tradition going back years and years), banjo (Barney McKenna/Dubliners – remember him?), latterly guitar and woodwind/whistles, occasionally backed up by some of the finest exponents of light-fingered (in the strict sense of the phrase !) accordion/melodeon (squeezeboxes)

The phrase ‘Irish Ceili’ can conjure up different things to different people! So, let’s try and define what we mean – the differences between Irish ‘set’ dancing, Irish display dance and Ceilis or Ceilidhs.

It’s possibly fair to say that Irish ‘set’ dancing for couples is dancing of a similar standard to Scottish Country Dance. Its roots go back quite a long way and Irish set dancing is enjoyed throughout the world by those who have practised or trained in schools or clubs with the emphasis very much on the stepping – if the term ‘3’s and 7’s’ means nothing to you, best that you don’t ask ! The dances are generally for four couples in ‘square set’ or ‘quadrille’ formations and usually involve several sequences of ‘moves’/patterns (not dissimilar to Scottish or English Country dance) where dancers follow definitive ‘stepping’ techniques. We do not represent Irish ‘set dance’ bands – and, to be perfectly honest, those who follow this tradition would already be familiar with such bands and would not need to resort to the services of our Irish bands. Those seeking an Irish set dance band can certainly call us and we can put you in contact with others who may be better suited to your needs. But this is a somewhat specialist field.

Irish display/performance teams are not really our bag either – think………..’Riverdance’ and light footed girls with masses of ringlets/tall willowy youths whose backs never bend but whose legs seem to fly in all directions in time to lightning jigs or reels. Mesmerising stuff ! If this is what you’re looking for, we do have connections in this particular sphere……….but the bands listed on our site are not suitable for this particular avenue.

Also……and this may surprise many English people……..Ireland itself is ‘very big’ into Country & Western and ‘Showbands’. Very few Irish people go around whistling ‘Wild Rover’ to themselves all day long !!

Our Irish bands are Irish within degrees………..and often include a vocalist (or two) familiar with the well-known favourite Irish songs. Let’s try and elaborate.

Some of our bands are very Irish in background and style – meaning that all their musical repertoire will be Irish, their dance music and dances will suit for the ‘Seige of Ennis’, ‘Walls of Limerick’, ‘Haymaker’s Jig’, Waves of Tory’ and ‘Bridge of Athlone� and the like. The band may also perform several popular Irish songs (think…….Dubliners or Clancy Brothers). But at least one dance band springs to mind who, whilst being very traditional in dance music, would not perform the ‘usual favourite songs’, preferring to perform ‘country’ type songs.
Some of the bands will do the above along with Old Tyme Waltzes and Quicksteps (where no calling instructions would be required) which have always been (and still are) very popular at Irish Ceilis in Ireland.

However ,the majority of the bands listed as Irish bands will include one or two of the dances above during the evening, interspersed with other dances which, to most people, would appear to be Irish Ceili dances because the whole musical style/flavour would be Irish – and often there is a vocalist to entertain with the popular Irish songs whilst dancers give their feet a rest.

And talking of songs……..the Irish bands nearly all include vocalists (as well as being dance musicians) which means that such bands can operate equally as well as ‘concert’ bands as well as ‘dance’ bands. Maybe this all says something about having the ‘craic’ !
Our advice would be to make sure that you talk to us about what you are looking to achieve on your particular night – and try to avoid dates close to St Patrick’s Night (17th March) which is usually a VERY BUSY period. Many bands of a traditional style can become ‘very Irish’ at this particularly busy period!

Scottish Ceilidhs

We have several Scottish Ceilidh bands listed on our �Search� database. But we also represent several other bands not yet currently listed – don’t ever be afraid to ask via our ENQUIRY BOX or telephone 0788 788 7917 and just leave a message – we WILL call you back ! Scottish bands tend to be led by the accordion, backed up by other instruments like fiddle, piano, guitar, pipes ……..and a percussive backing.

So, what are Scottish ceilidhs ? And, do they differ from Scottish Country Dance ? Some people argue over this sort of topic regularly. This page is a bit long-winded – but check it out if you REALLY think you need a Scottish Ceilidh band !

Scottish Country Dance is, arguably, a more ‘serious’ form of country dance originating in Scotland from time-honoured traditions and is to be treated with respect – by ‘serious’ we mean that the dancers step and dance ‘correctly’ using certain dance steps which they have specifically learnt either through school, dance clubs or some form of regular practise or tuition. Obviously, for the devotees of this tradition, there is a great deal of fun in dancing/stepping the dances as they were originally intended and Scottish Country Dances have spread throughout the world. Some of our Scottish bands are able to provide the musicianship (in fact, play regularly at Scottish Country Dance events and clubs) for such dancing.
However, if you are reading this, it is unlikely that you require a band that plays to such an exacting standard – since most followers of Scottish Country Dance already have contacts within this particular field without resorting to using our services. So we’ll move on…….
Scottish Ceilidh bands (especially those south of the border in England and Wales) fall into three different levels – which we will try to explain below.

(A) The somewhat more specialist Scottish Ceilidh bands will play only Scottish music in strict time which will appeal to those with a Scottish Country Dance background. There are dances such as ‘Hamilton House’, ‘Duke of Perth’, ‘Reel of the 51st’ etc which are popular dances for the more experienced Scottish dancers – so if there is a fairly high percentage of Scottish dancers attending, they would appreciate a band that can provide the correct Scottish music along with an experienced caller for such dances (as well as the regular Scottish ‘favourites’).A select number of our bands fall into this category of providing a true Scottish Ceilidh, capable of providing an exciting night for both the more (and less) experienced in Scottish Ceildhs.
However, not everybody will need (or expect) this standard of musicianship….but do ask !!

(B) At some occasions, there may be a number of Scottish dancers who are ‘out-numbered’ by many others who have little such experience. However, the whole evening can still be given the full Scottish experience/flavour with one of our bands playing, principally, Scottish music to the Scottish favourites such as ‘Gay Gordons’, ‘Dashing White Sergeant’, ‘Canadian Barn Dance’, ‘St Bernard’s Waltz’ etc, interspersed with other similar dances (if not always strictly Scottish – for example, ‘Cumberland Square Eight’ dance – which includes the ‘basket’ !! – seems to have crept into ‘Scottish nights’ somewhere along the line!) which are easy for inexperienced dancers to follow. Quite a number of our bands and callers will be able to meet these standards. And they would also provide the music for the famous ‘Eightsome Reel’ – though we do not recommend this dance to ‘beginners’ !

(C) Maybe, of course, your particular event needs to be kept a bit simpler but still begs for a ‘twist’ of the Scottish favourites (see above).Many of our bands will be able to cater for such a night! A few of the Scottish tunes, known and loved worldwide, mixed in with a wider range of music. This still allows your guests do ‘Gay Gordons’, ‘Circassian Circle’, ‘Strip The Willow’ and leave at the end thinking ‘Ain’t Scottish Ceilidhs really fun’ !

Of course, some of our bands are, in no way, Scottish !!

A point to consider, also, for receptions or parties where you want to mix people up a lot !
In most Scottish dances, you tend to keep your own partner throughout the dance (though you will, perhaps, step/dance with others briefly).However, there are many other dances which are more ‘progressive’ – meaning……………start the dance with your chosen partner but ‘progress’ after the first time through the dance to a new dance partner….and so on………all very tactile for those who have been nodding politely towards each other at a wedding earlier during the day!

Finally, we sometimes get asked if the band would also finish the night with their own disco service? In Scotland, this is fairly commonplace. So if you live in Scotland and your event is in Scotland….. then the answer is ‘probably, YES’. In England or Wales ?……..’probably,NO’
Not QUITE sure what that says about anything, really – it’s just a fact. That’s culture!

Accordion Content

What type of Venue works well for your Wedding Ceilidh?

Venues for Weddings are numerous, ranging from the large Country homes, large hotels, Conference Centres and Complexes to refurbished Tithe Barns, dedicated smaller houses and pubs with function rooms to private marquees to village halls (old and new) to standard working-type barns to even the great outdoors. We’re well aware that venues are picked for far more reasons than ‘will this place work for my ceilidh?’ We’ll let others discuss the merits of photo backdrops, standard of dining/meals, general hospitality, accommodation, children’s entertainment and so on! Endless list, isn’t it? On this page, we are more concerned on how matters may affect the dancing.

Lots of questions are also covered elsewhere in our FAQ�s on this website like numbers of dancers, dance room sizes etc.

We also cover types of flooring elsewhere – however, here’s an extended word of caution about a fairly common trend in hotels particularly…..the dreaded interlocking timber squares! Quite a number of hotels use these ‘squares’ as temporary ‘dance floors’. These floors are probably fine for Discos. But most of the time they only cover a limited area (often about 15′ x 15′ if you’re lucky) of around 20 square yards (meaning approx space for 20 dancers in Ceilidh-speak).The choice presented is to stick to the floor area or dance in the space beyond the ‘squares � that would be OK if it wasn’t for the ‘step’ in levels all the way round the edge of the flooring. This change in levels can lead to accidents, twisted ankles and the like. and we certainly do not recommend them. It’s better to remove them and use the wider space available, even if it does mean dancing on a carpet surface. Of course, the hotel may tell you that their ‘squares’ system works fine for dancing, even for Ceilidh dancing. That either means that they haven’t a clue about Ceilidhs (which makes you wonder, doesn’t it?) OR they’re fibbing and are more interested in protecting their own carpet!

If your venue has a sound limiter installed, check out its levels � sound limiters are also discussed elsewhere in our FAQ�s.

Drinks and bars can sometimes be worth a bit of fore-thought as well. Meaning � how far away from the dance area is the bar ? We can still picture venues where a room becomes almost deserted because the only bar serving drinks is out through the door, up a corridor and around the corner, about a minute’s walk from the dancing area. Might as well be in the next village, then! Men, particularly, are quite happy to prop up the bar. If the bar is in the same room or, at least, immediately adjacent to the dance area you have some hope of persuading them to join in the dancing. Consider this � you’ve probably paid more to have ‘live’ music only to find half your guests aren’t even in the room most of the night !

Open sided barns, large gazebos covering the band for outdoor events look great in good weather! When the weather is either rain or blowing a gale, that lustre very quickly fades � shivering musicians play far less enthusiastically than usual! Guests head for cover! It doesn’t take an enormous amount of imagination to see the money that you’ve spent hiring a ‘live’ band going. quite literally, down the drain.

It�s also worth thinking about power supply when considering outside venues like marquees and barns. Band equipment needs to be plugged in to a safe electric power source. Often this involves extension cables � if the cable extends a long way, voltage supply can drop which causes problems. If the venue is well away from a power source, do get qualified advice beforehand and explain that you intend using a �live� band for your event. Most marquee suppliers can advise on these matters. We would also mention that band equipment invariably uses �square-pin� (domestic standard) plugs requiring, of course, square-pin sockets.

Apologies if this all reads a bit negatively. But these are the pitfalls which can be avoided if you are already aware and we think it is sensible to point them out because it’s a bit too late to alter matters on your Wedding Day. You want to remember the latter end of the day for all the right reasons.

Thankfully, many venues are ideal for Ceilidhs � decent sized rooms, layouts, safe and sensibly placed electrical points, good cover for guests and performers alike.

And if you are considering organising your own catering arrangements then we would always recommend that you check out some of the more modern village halls. They usually have just about everything you need under one roof and often represent extremely good value for money. Your local district or county Council can usually provide lists/contact details of such halls (especially ask about halls that received Lottery Funding).

Well……..there are several variations

(a) Some bands will NOT perform if a disco is involved during the night. They are, however, the MINORITY.

(b) Most bands are happy to play�.followed by a disco (provided by somebody else entirely) after the Ceilidh. This means that the first part of the evening is devoted to a ceilidh or barn dance with, perhaps, a disco forming the second, latter end of the night. We are talking two totally different �ambiances� and our own experienced opinion is that �mix �n� match� does not work particularly well. Disco lighting/atmosphere is different to a ceilidh atmosphere. The aims are different. Our agency does not provide discos/DJ�s and they would have to be booked separately elsewhere. It is unlikely that ceilidh bands or barn dance bands will charge any less for their services�..disco or no disco…..since fees are not based on hourly services but reflect, rather, that a whole evening has been set aside by the band members.

(c) Some bands would be willing to play ceilidh and barn dance music/dances until an agreed time � then allow their own PA system to be used by others/clients afterwards for disco music. This music would be provided by others/client with their own music device (CD player/IPod etc) which can be plugged into the band�s PA system. There may be an additional charge involved but………probably far cheaper than engaging a separate DJ with a sound system. But don�t expect flashing lights and smoke machines!

(d) A few bands will provide the whole ceilidh/disco package (this is very commonplace in Scotland). Live ceilidh and barn dance music/dances for a good part of the night followed by the band supplying and playing playing recorded disco music through the band’s PA, some even with flashing lights etc. But they may not be considered a full-blown disco by some�.how would we know? Discos are not really our thing.

(e) Some ceilidh bands are also concert bands with a vocalist �.and may also have a repertoire of �Rock �n� Roll�/Covers Songs/music to bop around to��..not one single finger stuck in anybody�s ear, promise! But it�s best to ask about this, since playlists for songs vary from band to band. Also some of these bands will intersperse ‘Covers’ throughout the ceilidh quite seemlessly whilst other bands will start the night with their Ceilidh set and follow later with their dedicated ‘Covers’ session.

Why have a ceilidh? (instead of entertainment?)

Nearly every home in Britain has got a telly because they are a means of very cheap entertainment . Nothing wrong with that � we�ve got a telly as well!
But, let�s presume that a telly just will not do for entertaining your wedding guests! Then what?

Alternatives will often be a DJ and Disco�.there�s some cracking DJ�s/disco rigs/lights/pumping lively popular music and a good disco and DJ will get people dancing�..or �live� entertainment by way of comedy, magic, �covers� or function bands and novelty acts. We all know that some of these types of entertainment will �involve� your guests (disco,live music) and some will be extremely entertaining with repartee (comedians, magicians) which actively engage an audience. BUT, will they �break the ice� between people who have never met before until the day of your wedding? People who just nod politely to each other during the day without taking �the mixing� any further?

Ceilidhs and Barn Dances, on the other hand, are a participation thing � either for part of the night�s fun (along with a disco/ceilidh set-up) or a whole night�s celebration in it�s own right.
We believe that ceilidhs/barn dances will actively encourage �mixing up strangers� just a bit when they join in some of the �silly� dances. Quite a number of ceilidh and barn dance dances actually mean that you will dance with a new partner 6/7/8 times through the duration of the dance, all touchy-feely like, because the dances were specifically designed to do this! (What we call the progressive dances). Or maybe you�ll just keep the same partner throughout the dance (but dance opposite different couples).And your guests are joining in and participating rather than waiting to be entertained. It�s a bit like �what we did before the telly�!

And the best bit is that age matters not! Grannies/grandkids/mums/dads/sons/daughters/friends can all be put into the blender (as long as they can stand up) and be shown, very quickly, by the caller some very simple, basic moves that they can do in time to the music.

Will this work for your wedding reception? Well, elsewhere in our FAQ’s there are a few tips for the bride and groom which we think are important and will help the night go with a bang! We�ll be dead honest with you. Not every ceilidh at a Wedding Reception works out for a number of reasons�. Shape/size of room�.. venue chosen �.. poor planning before the event �.. misunderstandings before the event of what is on offer�.. timings �.. alcohol (no – we�re not banning it!)�.. rules,regs,laws ��.phew! time to move on to more FAQ�s

Why have a Ceilidh or Barn Dance or Hoedown ?
Loads of reasons�����

They are fun ! Apart from learning a few moves which you might never have done before, there�s no need to worry about making mistakes. More often than not, some people will go �wrong� at various points during the dancing and need a few times through before everything starts to click into place. Just laugh it off ! The BBC show �The Generation Game� was hugely popular simply because both the viewers and those participating enjoyed people making mistakes ………doing something which they had never attempted before � and they still had a good laugh about it. The caller (and, perhaps, any of the more experienced dancers) will guide you through.

They are a �participation� thing! Rather than just sitting back waiting to be entertained (like at a concert), the emphasis should be on �having a go� and burning off a few calories. It�s fair to say that, for most people, ceilidhs or barn dances will get you dancing more energetically than you might at a disco���and you can usually see and hear the person that you�re dancing with. Hey, it might be the only exercise you�ll take all week!

Inter-acting with different people! You may not always be dancing with your chosen partner (like in, say, ballroom dancing).Some of the dances are �progressive� � meaning that you are forced, by the very nature of the dance, to have a different dance partner at various points throughout the dance. Same moves as you�ve just learnt, but with a different partner � all that �touchy/feely� tactile stuff which is a great �ice-breaker� for mixing people up. Nodding politely to somebody new is one thing, actually dancing with them moves on the bond. They might even be a worse dancer than you!

Dancing at any age! As long as you can stand, you can join in, whatever your age. Kids, grandparents, mums/dads, teenagers or 80+ years (and all the decades in between) can interact without worrying about fitting in with a trend or latest style. These dances have been around for years and years and stood the test of time � because they are really quite simple and just about anyone of any age can pick up the dances once they�ve given it a shot.

The answer is YES and NO………….�cos so MUCH depends on you and your organising team……………and the reason for raising funds!

First, lets look at 2/3 examples of fund-raisers.

(a) We want to generate extra funds to cover the wages of an additional lollipop man/woman at our local school or pay towards extra speed bumps to be built in our village/expand the facilities in the local playing fields…….hmmm…….. different bands will take a different view over these sort of issues, important as they may be, locally

(b)We want to raise funds for additional dialysis machine(s) in the local hospital or some very expensive technological apparatus/machinery that will, generally, benefit members of a local community/area…….in an effort to extend the well-being, longevity and quality of life of local citizens……..an unarguably laudable aim.

(c) We want to raise funds for Miranda,4 years of age, whose extremely rare life-threatening disease has been treated with some success only in USA and paying for this treatment appears to be Mirandas only chance of realistic survival!

Everybody will have a different opinion over the importance of the examples above and they are only examples of the type of queries for fund-raising appeals that we receive. We are not here to act in judgement. However, in our experience, some of our bands may well consider (b) and (c) as higher priorities than (a)……..and may alter their quoted fees accordingly.

BUT  HERES THE REAL POINT……saving, say, 50 on the bands fee will not make an appreciable difference to the amount of profit raised……the amount of profit will be directly proportional to the amount of effort that you and your team have put in to…..

(i) realistically costing out your event = costs of venue, band, any food to be provided, provision of refreshments/drinks/bar, advertising and promoting your event, administration (how will you sell tickets for your ceilidh? how will you receive payment in advance, for example ?) and, perhaps, securing additional help on the night.

(ii) promoting your ceilidh or barn dance……this is a bit like that programme Location, Location, Location…..but read Promotion, Promotion, Promotion! Promoting ceilidhs or barn dances can take many forms…..but if it involves spending money? Take the costs into account! Don’t expect the band to do this for you. You have a far better idea of which people will be your potential audience/attendees than the band will have so, act/attract accordingly! The band, we must point out, are the performers who will probably be performing somewhere else on the following Saturday night! Your event will not be their sole focus for the coming year. It really is up to you and your team to promote!

(iii) using all the profit-raising potential available to you on the night raffles, silly fund-raising games (Irish Bingo ever played that or are we being politically incorrect?…dambusters?…..slide penny for a bottle of whisky? …. auctions of dubiously valued items?), profits from bar or food. Theres loads of options !

Bluntly speaking, your profits raised dont really depend on the band (unless their fee is truly exorbitant!) but far more so on the earlier efforts of you and your team. All our bands will provide the music and dance expertise to suit, especially for beginners or those who have never done any ceilidh dancing or barn dancing before!