The
Barndance Agency & Scottish Events
There
are two types of bands that
we can source for Scottish Events
The
Reels Band
In London and the South East there are probably
only ten or twelve Reels Bands and cost is anywhere from £550.00
upwards.
If
you hire a Reels Band they would expect a programme of dances
before the evening and the band leader or M.C. would usually just
announce which dance of the pre-selected list was to be played
and everyone would be expected to know the dance.
For
less formal occasions they would provide some minimal 'reminder'
assistance but would still suppose that most guests would know
what they are doing.
You
could have a 'caller' with a Reels Band but his choice of dances
would be limited by the knowledge (of lack of it) of his audience.
There is a misconception that Reels Bands would be dressed in
kilts and full scottish outfits. This is not true as most Reels
Bands dress in White Shirts and Black Trousers.
The
Band Line-up would usually be Button Accordion, Fddle, Bass and
Piano.
The
Ceilidh (kaylee) Band
This
type of band does not take the dancing so seriously, they come
with a caller who will walk through the dances before hand and
call over the top of the music as in a Barn Dance or Hoedown.
Because
of the complexity of most of the Reel Scottish Dances most Ceilidh
Bands would do the favourites, The Gay Gordon, The Dashing White
Seargant, Strip the Willow and the Eightsome Reel, other than
that the Band would fill the rest of the evening to easier dances
of no particular ethic origin which do not take long to walk through
but are fun to do. These dances would be danced to Scottish tunes
as this maintains the theme.
Most
of the Bands that this agency supplies play a mixture of English,
Irish, Scottish and American so they do not find it a problem
to sustain an evening of tunes with a Scottish influence.
©
Copyright 1999 Barn Dance & Line Dance Agency.