Click here for Hannibal's Heroes introduction
Click here for Hannibal's Heroes line up
HOW DOES A CEILIDH / BARN DANCE / WHATEVER WORK?
It’s an evening of active fun and socialising to usually english, scottish, irish or american country dances. There’s someone - a Caller - who gets you to walk through every dance before you dance it. For example: “Bring your partner onto the floor and form a big circle, everyone holding hands. Now, four steps into the middle....” You don’t need any special skills - even two left feet will do.
There’ll commonly be two easy dances and then a quick sit down for a rest, then two more and so on in different formations - circle, squares, etc. Most dances you’ll do with whoever you’ve invited onto the floor that time (or who has invited you, of course), the odd dance being a mixer where you then get to dance with several other people in turn.
WHAT TO CALL IT?
To get the idea over to those who are going to come, call it what you like. The word used most frequently by those who go regularly to these things is Ceilidh, pinched from the Irish, and pronounced "kay - lee". It means a dance and music knees-up, so that's what I'm going to call it for the rest of this little article. If you call it a Barn Dance, most folks will get your drift. Folk Dance is OK, if a bit twee these days. English Country Dance often goes down well as a title. Country Dance alone may get confused with American curntry and western. Yee - ha!
The best way to plan a Ceilidh or whatever is to go to a couple first and blatantly steal the best ideas for your own. Besides having a good evening out and maybe picking up some good ideas, you'll probably have to sell the idea to others anyway, and you'll have an easier organising job if you know what to expect.
You may have a committee who you'll need to help with jobs or just people to sell tickets to. Even if you're running a "compulsory attendance" ceilidh at a wedding reception or birthday, you'll need to give everyone the idea of them having a good time by joining in and dancing rather than by watching (and sometimes getting tipsy at weddings).
WHERE DO I HOLD IT?
Anywhere big enough. Village and church halls are well liked by Bands because the acoustics are usually better than the average modern school hall, and the floor's often wooden and easier to dance on. Schools are sometimes warmer - an advantage in the depths of winter. Check out the costs and times available and don't forget to formally book the venue.
The room will need enough space for dancing - bear in mind that one "square" set of 8 dancers will take floor area of about 8 feet by 8 feet minimum. Hopefully, there'll be space for all of those attending to dance at once, and a seat for everyone to sit down at once to get their breath back. Seats around the dance floor are best - the nearer people are to the dance floor, the better atmosphere you’ll get. If they’re in another room, the Caller (M.C.) may have problems getting enough people up for each dance.
You don't have to have a stage for musicians, but if you have, it helps, otherwise leave plenty of room for them and clear their area. The Band will provide amplification and let you use it for raffle prize and other announcements. They'll need at least one 13 amp plug in easy reach, and their playing area to be completely dry (of water, that is). The Band must be under cover whether your dance is inside or out - a sprinkle of rain could make their amplifiers and microphones go up in smoke.
Country dancing can be done almost anywhere. Make sure that the floor's level over the whole dancing area, particularly if in a marquee. Any obstructions or loose carpets need sticking down. A rucked up mat could give you a nasty claim for personal injury damages. Dusty barns need sweeping out at least twice to save bronchial attacks. Thick carpets and/or central heating can make dancing like swimming in treacle, but still possible.
If you're thinking of holding the dance outside, or in a marquee or a barn of any sort, then you've got special problems to consider, starting with temperature. Even in a hot English summer, it frequently gets too cold to be outside much after 9.30pm, particularly for those sitting a dance out. So, start earlier, so that outside dancing can finish by then or sooner. For a marquee or barn, you've got the option of hiring one or two of those gas-turbine looking space heater thingies to give the place a blast of heat before the dance and in the break. Not when the band are playing, please, unless the heater is silent!
DO I NEED TO PROVIDE FOOD?
Up to you. If you do, work out the feeding arrangements beforehand as many a good Ceilidh's been spoilt by a one and a half hour's break for the food to be served, eaten and cleared away, and a raffle held. A 20 minute break is ideal if there's no food or 45 minutes, if you can manage it, if there is.
A common food at a Ceilidh these days is a Ploughman's but, whatever you choose, think about preparing or packaging it beforehand, so that you only need a couple of recruits to hand it out. Self-service from a table that can be accessed from both sides, to speed things up, is an idea. A Ploughman's, already plated up and covered with clingfilm, to be collected, with pickle on a table in the middle, for instance, or even fish and chips brought in from the local shop, can be quite successful.
The easiest way to disrupt the enjoyment of a Ceilidh is to have a badly organised barbecue. The food can be superb but human nature makes people join a food queue when they see one (there always is one with a barbecue), and the dancing stops for queuing, which is much less fun. If you have a barbecue, make sure all the food's ready to be instantly served before you declare it open, otherwise the queue may have to wait for more to be cooked.
You don't have to feed the Band, but it is normal to do so if everyone else is eating. Make sure that someone remembers and you could serve them early, so that they're ready to play before the dancers are ready to dance again. If you're going to need to book an outside bar, do it when you book the Band, and it goes without saying that the earlier you get your publicity machine into action, the more people will come.
BOOKING A BAND
Ceilidh Bands come in all shapes and sizes, from one person with a piano accordion through to a rock band line-up, via the more traditional instruments like the fiddle, melodeon (a sort of button-keyed accordion), flute, guitar, etc. See above for the likely Hannibal's Heroes line-up - this may change depending upon availability and the occasion. To locate a Band, you could ask around amongst friends for Bands they've seen - you'll get a report on them at the same time.
If you're within range of Lincolnshire, the East Midlands or East Anglia, ring me (my number is at the end) or email me. If Hannibal's Heroes can't do the dance, I'll usually be able to find you a Band and Caller that can.
Band prices vary and, like most things, you usually get what you pay for. Some events have the budget for a big band, whereas for others cost is important and they prefer the smallest number of musicians to do the job. We can arrange something to suit. Make sure that you book your Band early enough - many get booked up over a year ahead! Don't forget to send a map and precise directions, and have the hall open say one and a half hours before the dance start time, so they can set up.
The evening will need a "Caller" to act as MC. You don't need to know anything at all about country dancing to do it, as the Caller will walk the dancers through everything first, and then talk them as far as necessary through the actual dances all the way through the evening. Most Bands have their own Caller, or will find you one. Alternatively, you can book a Caller, who will organise a Band as well for you. You pay just one fee to include both. If you need any help or advice in planning things. or in finding a Caller, just ring or email me for advice - contact details at the end.
OTHER THINGS
How much should you charge for tickets? That depends on the cost of the hall, food, bar (if applicable), ticket printing and advertising like posters, and if you're aiming for a moneymaking profit, or just to have a social evening. See what other charge and what you get for the money. Don't be tempted to try and combine a disco with country dancing - it rarely works.
A Ceilidh can appeal to all ages but, if dancing with small children, check each dance with the Caller, as some dances are and some aren't suitable for them. For example, if changes of partner are part of the dance, the child may instantly get lost and distressed when Mummy disappears. In this case the Caller might suggest that the child goes round with an adult (ie not as the adult’s partner). The idea is for all to be happy. Some dances, like ones with a Strip-the-Willow movement, suit older kids and adults best.
Usually the Band will need paying in cash and on the night. This isn't because there's an Inland Revenue fiddle going on! Many Bands don't run a combined bank account. Others have a flexible line-up, depending on the size of the booking and who is available, so cash makes it easy for them to pay everyone at the time.
Unless you've specifically agreed payment by cheque when booking, make sure that you'll have enough cash to pay them, even if that ticket money you were expecting doesn't come in on the night. If the very worst happens, and you have to cancel the event beforehand, the Band will charge a Cancellation Fee, which they'll tell you about when you book - they may have turned down other work to do yours. Many Bands have a sliding scale, so give them as much notice of cancellation as you can.
You might want to check, before you book, that the Band you choose have both valid PI insurance cover and an up-to-date PAT Certificate. It is the law that all mobile electrical equipment (eg amplifiers) is subjected to an annual safety test, and a Certificate issued. This is called Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) and is for your safety and that of your guests.
Also, in the event of some unforeseen accident during the evening, you might be glad to find that your Band carries adequate Public Liability Insurance. In fact, some venues require proof of both of these before allowing a Band to play. Hannibal's Heroes has a current PAT Certificate and PI cover of up to £2,000,000 any one incident.
WEDDINGS (and other "enforced attendance" dances)
Some Bands won't play at weddings because of horror stories like everyone dressed up formally in high heels or suits, and unwilling to dance after hours of travelling and ceremonies, or those not driving going over the top with drink, and discouraging the others. On the other hand, a Ceilidh with everyone joining in can be the nicest end to a lovely day, with everyone being involved together, no matter what side of the family and what age.
Here are some tips. Everyone will take their cue from the bride and groom, so unless they and their friends and relatives are looking forward to spending most of their evening dancing, forget a Ceilidh and book the Palm Court Trio, a Rock Band or a Disco instead. Country dancing is for doing, not watching.
For a wedding or not, why not tell people to bring jeans and flat shoes for the the dance, and give them somewhere to get changed (a note with the invites?). This will make it easier for everyone to relax together after the formalities of the day. The Bride and party can of course decide whether to change or not. The Bride will have to weigh up wearing her dress a little longer against the pleasure of being able to dance with her friends and guests. If she can't dance because of her long dress, many others may sit out with her. In that case, how about her putting on her going-away clothes early, for the dance?
MAKING IT A SUCCESS
Whatever the reason for your dance, what's going to be the biggest factor in making it a success? It's the anticipation of the dancers. That's more important than the skill of the Caller and the Musicians. If people come prepared and expecting to have a good time then they most probably will. Over to you. Pete Shaw
To contact me and the Band, phone 01778 571563 or 07946 758197 or click here
Click here for Hannibal's Heroes introduction
Click here for Hannibal's Heroes line up