Choosing suitable entertainment for a wedding celebration or evening get-together on the day can be one of the trickiest organisational tasks you'll ever have to perform.

Just think of all the things you have to consider;

• Firstly you'll have to provide something that appeals to a wide range of age groups, from your elderly aunt to your 12 year old second cousin who has more energy than sense and is hyper-active from the excitement of staying up late.
• Next you have to consider that many of the guests will be complete strangers to each other, two different families as well as friends from work and your social circle. Ideally you want to give your guests a chance to mix, something that can 'break the ice' in the easiest possible way without putting them 'on the spot'.
• Finally, if you're organising one of the biggest days in your - or a member of your family's - life, then you want to have an event that won't take up too much of your precious time on the big day - believe me you'll have other things on your mind!

So what can you choose that will cover all the above bases? Some kind of entertainment that has stood the test of time . . .

Why not choose a Ceilidh or a Barn Dance?

What is a Ceilidh or Barn Dance?

A ceilidh - pronounced 'kay-lee' - or barn dance (the terms are pretty much interchangeable), consists of a band who will play a selection of danceable tunes, a 'caller' who entices people onto the floor and then teaches the them the simple 'moves' they need to do for the next dance, and of course your wedding guests - the dancers. It doesn't matter if you or your guests have never been to a barn dance or ceilidh before, the movements are so natural and the dances so thoroughly explained that anyone can do it, the caller even keeps calling the moves after the music has started to help you along as you dance. No-one is excluded because dancing this way is the most natural thing in the world - as many countries and generations can affirm. The music is lively, even funky, so that everyone moves to the groove and gets into it and does not feel embarrassed or awkward and no-one worries if you make mistakes - it's all part of the fun!

The caller selects the dances, organises the dancing, encourages the guests to participate - and generally acts as a master of ceremonies during the musical part of the evening. The dancing gives the guests a chance to meet each other naturally during the course of the evening, especially during the progressive dances. The dancing is pitched at the level of the dancers, and can last for as long or short a duration as you wish. It is quite common for the newly-wed couple to lead the first dance - which is a nice start to their married life and some callers even have specific wedding dances that can help break the ice. If you specify exactly for whom your event is being held - an experienced, professional band or agent will select a caller who will be ideally suited to your audience.

Maybe you're put off by the idea of the music? Well don't be. The music produced by a barn dance or ceilidh band can come in a variety of flavours - from full electric line-ups with drums and electric guitars to more traditional ensembles or bands with a continental flavour. The music can be lively and energetic or sedate and refined, possibly both during the same set! It's your choice. The choice of band will usually determine the flavour of the evening, so if you're into English, Celtic (Irish, Scottish or Breton) or French music, or hot Louisiana Cajun and Zydeco or Scandinavian music, there are bands available who specialise in your preferred style of music.

From over 20 years experience with playing for wedding celebrations on both sides of the globe I've found that the older members of the audience are at home with the traditional elements of the barn dance while the younger folk just want to leap about and have a good time. This kind of event is the most inclusive form of entertainment available - suitable for all ages.

What is the difference between a Ceilidh and a Barn Dance?

Essentially not very much. Both are traditional social dance gatherings, using a caller and folk (or folk-influenced) music to accompany an evening's dancing. The name Barn Dance comes from America where the dances were held in the largest suitable local venue - usually a barn. In Australia the same kind of events are called Wool Shed dances for the same reason. On this side of the world the Gaelic word 'ceilidh' is often used - it simply means 'party' which works for any location! A ceilidh tends to be more lively than a barn dance but either way it is more spontaneous than folk dances at school and all about enjoying yourselves.

You are likely to encounter a wider range of music at a ceilidh. Barn dances tend to mainly use jigs and reels, whereas at a ceilidh you could well hear polkas, waltzes or schottisches and maybe a bit of Rock 'n' Roll. Ceilidh bands also often play musical interludes between the dances to keep up the atmosphere while the audience has a well-earned rest. The music is usually based on traditional tunes from the British Isles and Western Europe - especially the Celtic nations - though more musicians are now drawing on wider influences - either from across the Atlantic with Bluegrass, Cajun and Zydeco styles or from eastern European, Gypsy and music from the near east. Also, more bands are writing their own tunes thus ensuring a perfect match between dance and music.

What do you need to stage a ceilidh?

Nothing too technical or extravagant, really. Most wedding reception venues can accommodate ceilidhs or you can find a local village hall or assembly rooms that is convenient to the locale of the wedding meal. If you are having your reception in a marquee you might want to ask the contractor to supply a dance floor, though this may not be necessary if the ground is flat and there is a firm footing. No matter where it is, you must make sure you can provide a safe power supply consisting of at least one 13 amp mains socket.

The ideal situation for a wedding celebration is to have a separate room within the same venue (i.e. hotel, function suite etc.) where the band can set up while the meal and speeches are taking place and then the guests can move through to the area where the dancing will take place when they've finished the toasts. If you do need to use the same room for the wedding breakfast and the dancing then you will need to allow more time - both so that the caterers can clear the room and that the band can set up their instruments and amplification.

Most bands are entirely 'self-contained' which means that they provide their own PA (amplification) systems, and even lighting if that is required. Professional bands will be members of the Musicians' Union which means that they are fully insured against accidents or other mishaps. Otherwise, just ensure that your guests know what they are coming to, and everyone is sure to have a great time. A real night to remember.

Before the event.

The first thing you need to do is select a band and caller. There are Entertainments Agents who specialise in this kind of event - like Hemlock Music (www.hemlockmusic.com) - or you can use the Internet to search for suitable bands. There are a number of useful lists of links to suitable bands such as Roots66 (www.roots66.co.uk) and Folk Roots List (www.folkrootslist.co.uk). One advantage of the Internet is that bands can put demo sound clips and even video clips so you can hear and see what they look like, take a look at the MoonDance web site (www.moondance.org.uk), if you want to see an example. Once you've found a band you like then contact them either directly, or through an agent, to see if they are available.

It is a good idea to book your chosen band as early in the planning process as you can since there is often a lot of competition for particular dates - especially in the in spring and summer - so be sure to plan well in advance. Remember you're not the only wedding taking place on that date so book early to avoid disappointment. The fee charged will depend on the size and popularity of the band - the minimum you'd expect to pay is £50 per musician/caller for a three hour dance plus a bit extra for travel and administration. This really is a minimum - popular bands will charge £75 to £100. If you go through an agent then they will add their commission on top of the band's fee so factor this into the equation. Be a bit wary of booking a band that charges substantially less than this as they may have a more 'amateur' approach to your special day - or even worse - let you down at the last minute.

Once you've selected your band you need to talk them about your requirements for the evening. They will be able to give you sound advice on how the evening should be structured and it gives you a chance to ask for any special requests - favourite tunes or dances for instance. Most professional bands will be very accommodating and will even research and learn new material if requested. Before you confirm your booking you need to ensure that they are suitable for the venue and that they have public liability insurance and you should give them a contact at the venue so that they can check the technical requirements - power/space etc.

What happens on the night?

When the band arrives the caller/MC will link up with one of the wedding party, usually the Best Man or one of the parents and find out how the schedule is going. This ensures that the band can be ready at the appropriate time to start the dancing. The dancing often follows directly on from the wedding breakfast which, needless to say, often overruns the allotted time so it is a good idea to have a location where the band can wait while you finish off the speeches. In an ideal world, your wedding reception venue will have a separate room for the dancing so that the band can be set-up and ready to go, but many don't have the space for this.

So be sure to allow enough time for the catering staff to clear the room and the band to set up. Depending on the kind of music you've selected, the band will need time to set up their amplification equipment, tune their instruments and do a quick 'sound check'. Even fully 'acoustic' ensembles will need to have microphones and amplified sound reinforcement for any gathering of more than about 30 people and even for this small number the caller will need to be amplified. Most bands specify that they need 45 to 60 minutes to get organised so you need to factor this into your schedule. It is always worthwhile to discuss this with your venue management and/or caterers as they will almost certainly have experience in this field and will be able to offer advice. Obviously if the band are playing in a different room they can setup during the speeches which means that you can move straight on to the dancing after the coffee.

Once everything is ready to go the band will usually strike up a tune to get everyone's attention. The caller then walks the audience through the dance and, when the music starts, calls the figures the first few times through the tune, and then lets everyone get on and enjoy it. Each caller has their own special way of engaging the audience - ranging from hyperactive showmanship to a more relaxed, laid-back approach. Usually there will be two dances followed by a short break during which the band will play a tune, followed by another couple of dances and so on. Unless it's a very short gig the band will need to take a brief break - normally when the food is served - and don't forget to feed the band as they usually won't have been able to get a meal otherwise. If you want music played during the break make sure you let the band know before the event so they can bring along a CD player. At the end of the evening it is traditional for the guests to line-up and see the bride and groom off on their honeymoon and it helps the atmosphere if the bands plays some suitable music while this is happening.

Other Options?

As well as having a live band for the evening event you may want to have music played during the wedding ceremony or whilst your guests are eating at the wedding breakfast. Quite often you will be able to book a subset of the band for this purpose. This may well be more economical than hiring musicians solely for this task as the band members will already be coming to your wedding. Live music through the day can make your special day even more memorable.

In some cases, wedding parties opt for a disco as well as a barn dance and this can work well as long as you have the live music and dancing at the beginning of the evening and let the disco take over as the evening draws on. This allows the audience to loosen up and get to know each other while the disco can cater to the hardened party people amongst your friends and relations.

A night to remember?

Everyone can get into ceilidhs, be they young or old. The band selects music - and the caller chooses dances - to suit the audience. Most bands and callers can tailor their performance to suit the energy and experience of the audience. So whether your guests are beginners or experienced dancers (who might be regulars at public ceilidhs or folk festivals) with the lively music and easy steps, it is a great way to get all your guests dancing and enjoying themselves. It breaks the ice when the audience may not know each other, which is especially important at weddings.

Useful links;

• MoonDance ceilidh band - www.moondance.org.uk
• Hemlock Music - www.hemlockmusic.com
• Roots66 folk music resource - www.roots66.co.uk
• Folk Roots List - www.folkrootslist.co.uk
• Webfeet dancing on the web - http://www.webfeet.org

---

© 2001 - Brian Heywood