Swing Your Partners

Derek Kingscote, Barn Dance and Ceilidh Caller

A Brief Guide to Organising a Barn Dance/Ceilidh

Introduction Venues Times Music & Bands Food & Refreshments Discos The Process

The Process of Organising a Dance

Here is an outline process to organise a dance; the first three items need to be done in plenty of time to secure the date that you want, – think in terms of  9 to 12 months ahead.

What do you need for a successful dance ?
  1. Book a suitable venue


  2. Book the caller and the band


  3. Organise the refreshments and the bar


  4. If a fund raiser

    • Advertise


      • Print and sell tickets – don’t rely on people saying that they will pay ‘on the door’. Their attendance is not guaranteed and this approach makes catering arrangements difficult

    • How many people do you need ?


      • Fifty plus will be needed for a good evening; obviously more for a fund-raising event.

    • Sort out the raffle – if you’re holding a raffle - including the prizes, tickets and change
      • for the ‘float’

  5. Sort out the Committee roles (including someone on the door)

I can supply a list of local venues and have contacts who can provide a bar and catering.

All the band needs is one or two 13 amp mains sockets.
Be sure to book early to avoid disappointment.

Site Content Copyright © Derek Kingscote@SwingYourPartners 2004
Site Design Copyright © Ed Kingscote@YouN-EAK Software 2004