BRACKEN RIGG BARN DANCE BAND
TICKLIST TO ORGANISE A BARN DANCE OR CEILIDH
Question. What is Bracken Rigg?
Answer. A hill in the Lake District?
WRONG, It is South Yorkshire's most popular traditional accordion
band, playing for Barn Dances and Ceilidhs for over 40 years
TICKLIST TO ORGANISE A BARN DANCE OR CEILIDH
Naturally, we are very happy to advise on any aspect of organising a barn dance
Please feel free to get in touch and we will do our best to help
DISCO - SAY MAYBE NOT!
Over the decades, we have found it does not work to mix discos and Barn Dances.
It is a fallacy that under-twenties only want discos - why do we play for so many Youth Clubs?
Another fallacy - discos encourage everyone to get up and dance - if no one dances , the music just gets louder.
A disco and a band cannot fit into one end of a room or on to a stage.
The band need to pack up at the end of the evening and cannot to it in the dark, despite the flashing lights.
At the start of the evening, the band have instruments to tune and P.A. to check - this cannot be done whilst other loud music is going on.
As musicians we value our hearing and yours! - if you suffer hearing loss from the disco, you will not be able to hear us!
If you have come to a dance without a partner, does the disco give you the chance to dance with everyone in the room?
If you feel a desperate need for a disco, get a caller who does barn dances to records / CDs - You might enjoy yourself and book a band next time.
Rant over.
If you would like to use our PA for speeches etc. or to play your own music through, please enquire - we may be able to assist.
BOOK THE BARN DANCE VENUE
Pick a number of dates when the majority of people can attend.
- Is it holiday time?
- Are there clashing events?
- How many people are you planning for (a minimum 50 dancers is advised)?
- If only a small number, can you run a joint event with another organisation?
Is the venue available?
- MINIMUM PEOPLE - 50
- MINIMUM FLOOR SIZE
- Is the venue large enough for the number of people to sit around tables still with space to dance?
- Is the dance floor large enough to get everyone in a large circle without moving any tables & chairs?
- Does the venue have a portable floor 6 yards square - this is what many hotels try. Firstly, it is dangerous, we have seen any number of brides step off
raised floors and break their high heels. Secondly it is simply not big enough
- Minimum floor size is hard to guess, but we reckon one set of 12 people takes 2 yards X 4 yards
so 4 sets = 48 people = 4 yards X 8 yards
- So with a gap in between the sets, we are looking at a minimum 36 square yards of dance floor as a rough guide
- Do you need a kitchen or bar?
- Will you need to rearrange the tables to eat?
- What time do you need it to be open from? How long do the band need to set up?
- Where will you want the band? - Is there room? - Are there lights?
- Are there power points? Do they work? (No joke! - not all power points work in some halls)
- Outside? - What happens if it rains?
- Is it an 'L' shaped room - everyone will hide around the corner (no kidding - it always happens)
- Is the bar in another room - everyone will stop there - another certainty
Advertise the event a.s.a.p. in event listings everywhere so other organisations don't book the same date
Starting time - normally 8p.m. - be realistic on a Friday - will people actually come out at 7.30?
Finish time - do you need to clear up and be out for midnight?
LIGHTS OUT!
Wherever we play, without exception, someone wants to play with the lights.
This is not to be encouraged in the middle of a dance - bands have been known to stop playing.
At one venue, the mercury-vapour lamps take 5 minutes to come back on after being switched off - a long wait in the dark!
Candles are fine but please leave some light for the band - some bands even look at pieces of paper covered in tadpoles!
Barns especially - warn the band to bring their own if lighting is dim.
The caller also appreciates seeing if you are doing it perfectly!
BOOK THE BAND
Do you need to book a caller separately?
What type of band would you like?
- Electrified/Rock Guitars and Loud Drums
- Quieter Traditional Instruments
What type of music?
- Scottish
- Irish
- English
- Morris
- Playford
- EFDSS (English Folk Dance & Song Society)
- Local - Northumbrian, Cornish etc.
- Requests - let the band know
- Do the Bride & Groom want to start with a waltz? Which one?
- Some Scots like to start with a Grand March
- Do you have any favorite dances?
- Do you have any favorite tunes?
- Is there anything you don't want the band to play? (Birdie Song, Viva Espania etc.)
How many musicians / what instruments do you require? - discuss with the band
- Some bands charge per musician
- Some bands charge a set fee then see who is free
- Some musicians play more than one instrument
When / How are you going to pay the band?
Do the band need a deposit?
Discuss their cancellation procedures - just so you know where you stand.
Do the band need a contract signing?
How long do they need to set up?
Are the Bride & Groom leaving half way through the evening? - let the band know.
Do any of the guests sing / play instruments? Do they want to get up and have a go? - let the band know.
Is dress informal, smart or black tie - let the band know.
BARN DANCE REFRESHMENTS AND BAR
Refreshments
- No-alcohol venue - tell the band
- Bar or bring a bottle - tell the band
- License required
- Extension required
Food
- Everyone bring some
- Organise your own - organise helpers
- Outside caterers
- Tables
- Outside? - What happens if it rains?
- Set up beforehand
- Will there be room to dance?
- Will they need re-arranging before the dance or at half time
- Carpets etc. may need lifting after eating
Eating Times
- Are the band invited to eat - if not - let them know
- Eat beforehand
- Eat at interval
- Barbecues easily take over an hour to feed everyone - do you want all dancing to stop and everyone to queue?
- Weddings especially, can overrun by anything up to 2 hours!
FUND RAISING
- Advertise everywhere
- Posters
- Newsletters
- Shop windows
- Libraries
- Radio
- TV
- Internet - folk music / dance / village websites etc.
- Local magazines
- Tombola
- Raffle on the night
- Roll 50 pence at whiskey
- Number the tickets for a prize
FORM A BARN DANCE COMMITTEE
The most regular complaints from organisers of dances that have had to be cancelled are
- They went on holiday and when they came back, nothing had been done (The most frequent cause of cancellation)
- There is a clashing event
- Everyone else is on holiday
- The lady who bought a lot of tickets last time is away
- No one else is interested - they want a disco (have they ever been to a barn dance?)
- Its only a week away and tickets have not sold very well
If it's all going wrong - contact the band immediately - they might be able to help!
Don't be caught out - Appoint
- Treasurer
- Ticket sales monitor
- Refreshment organisers/helpers
- Door keepers - cash float required - they need to be first at the venue
- Raffle sellers - cash float required - sell tickets beforehand if possible
- Raffle prize press gang/providers
- Appoint understudies if people are going on holiday
Delegate work beforehand.
Check up they are doing it.
Check everyone is selling tickets.
Print tickets, posters.
Sell tickets beforehand (not on the door).
Don't rely on word of mouth.
Sell some more tickets.
Confirm in writing - double bookings and no-shows have been known to happen
Organise a joint-effort with a similar local organisation
Get on ALL Local Radio & TV stations - get an unusual angle so you are bound to get interviewed.
- Stunning beauty queen / millionaire cannot find a dancing partner
- Little old lady looking for partner she met at dance 75 years ago
- Blind person with dog as partner (dog prefers progressive dances)
- Attempt at world's longest ladies chain
- The list is endless!
Get in ALL local papers / magazines / folk listings etc.
Get on the Local Whats-On Guide(s) on the internet - they are free
Take heart, if all fails, even the highly organised sometimes get it wrong!
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Page Last Updated: 27th February, 2019