Organising a ceilidh

Here are some things to consider when organising your Ceilidh or Barn Dance:-

1. Kingsfolk likes to start setting up about an hour before the Ceilidh begins.

If we are playing in an area that is separate from where the reception is taking place we can start to set up whatever is happening.

If we are setting up in the same area as the reception is taking place, then it's good if speeches are over by the start of set up. If not, we would either set up quietly during speeches (e.g. behind the drawn curtains of a village hall stage), or if that is not practical, move the equipment to as close as possible to where we are to play (e.g. to hallway outside the room in an hotel, or into the corner of a marquee, etc.) Normally guests are ready for a comfort break after the speeches, so may not want to go straight into the dancing.

2. The venue needs to clear a suitable are for dancing, ensuring there are no stray tables and chairs for people to trip on in the dance area. It helps to arrange things so that there are not big areas of table where people can hide if they are a bit shy, or separate bar area where people can lose contact with what is going on. It is best to have people fairly immediate to the dance area, so they feel they want to stand up and join in. In a marquee that has been filled with tables for the meal, typically at least half the marquee area is made available for dancing with some of the tables being removed and chairs put around the edges.

3. Flooring should be as even as possible over the entire available area. In a hotel, carpet or a completely wooden floor is ideal. In a marquee, WELL pegged down matting on reasonably even ground is fine. Small wooden dance floors laid on carpet or matting is not very good, as dancers go beyond the dance floor, and can trip on its edge. It is better not to have wooden dance floor at all.

4. We always do a sound check just before we start, which usually takes about 5 minutes. We play a few pieces and make adjustments to our sound desk to cater for the acoustics of the room.

5. Discos and Ceilidhs. Sometimes a disco will take over at the end of a Ceilidh. This can work well, BUT a disco before a Ceilidh or in the buffet break half-way through is NOT a good idea. Because of the loud and highly processed style of disco music, it can ruin the atmosphere of a Ceilidh, so that it never gets started or re-started. So, Ceilidh / Barn Dance first, Disco Second and you will have a great evening.