Swing Your Partners

Derek Kingscote, Barn Dance and Ceilidh Caller

A Brief Guide to Organising a Barn Dance/Ceilidh

Introduction

Venues

Music and Bands

I work with a large number of bands of different types and a variety of styles, from a three piece band to a seven piece ‘mini-orchestra’. All the bands that I work with are skilled, proficient and experienced musicians playing a wide range of different instruments.

The most usual line-up includes fiddle, guitar, and melodeon with other less usual instruments such as hammer dulcimer, oboe or saxophones depending upon the band.

The costs vary from around £225 to £600+ depending on the band and location of your event.

For small events, of say 40 people or less I can work using recorded music if necessary and although it does work, it is not as much fun as a live band.

One note of caution: I recommend that you don’t try to mix a disco and a barn dance, it doesn’t really work and it would be better to have either one or the other.

Be sure to book early to avoid disappointment.