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Swing Your PartnersDerek Kingscote, Barn Dance and Ceilidh CallerA Brief Guide to Organising a Barn Dance/Ceilidh |
| Introduction | Venues | Times | Music & Bands | Food & Refreshments | Discos | The Process |
VenuesTypes of venue
Considerations when looking for a room that is suitable for dancingThe room layout and shapeThe dancing area needs to be a good size and typically should be rectangular or square.For circle dances you will need enough space for the dancers to make a reasonable sized circle shape rather than two long lines facing each other. For set dances, to give you a rough idea, one six couple longways set (i.e. a row of six men facing six women) dance requires approximately two metres by four metres. Therefore, for four sets of six couples (48 people) arranged two sets across and two down you will need a minimum area of about four metres by eight metres. A clear dance area the size of a badminton court will provide sufficient space for a ‘dancers’ dance. Tables at the sides of the dance floor are perfectly acceptable provided there is enough room left to make good sized circles, or a number of square or longways sets. It is important that you try and avoid barriers of any kind, such as :
LightingA grand light show is not required for barn dancing, but you do need to be able to see where you are going!Fluorescent (strip) lighting gives out a very ‘cold’ light, and is not at all helpful if you are trying to create a warm and friendly atmosphere. Standard lighting controlled by a ‘dimmer’ can reduce stark lighting to produce something more subtle. Strings of coloured light bulbs are very effective, particularly for a true barn dance. AcousticsThis is an important topic, and too vast to deal with properly in just a few sentences. However, it is essential that the room does not suffer from severe reverberation since it will be very difficult to hear the caller’s instructions.The worst type of room has hard walls, a hard floor and is twice as long as it is wide. In these circumstances the sound bounces around and there is little that can be done on the night to rectify the problems that this causes. These types of room are best avoided. Special ConsiderationsMarqueesMarquees can be decorated to look very attractive for the wedding breakfast, however the seating arrangements usually mean that there is major furniture re-organisation required after the meal to create the space for dancing.Often the ground is covered with strips of sisal matting, and if this is not very securely fastened down it is a serious hazard during the dancing. There is also the matter of providing a safe electricity supply for the band, at a suitable location within the marquee. BarnsBarns may seem ideal but these are really only suitable during warm summer months and they can be draughty and cold particularly for the musicians during the latter part of the evening. To create the right atmosphere for your guests, it is essential that the barn is clean and dry.For the band, it also needs to be dust free; melodeons and accordions have bellows that suck air (and dust) through the reeds and this can cause problems and lead to potentially expensive repairs. Some bands prefer not to work in barns for this reason. If your venue is likely to be a barn, please let me know at the time of booking and I will select a band that can accommodate this type of venue. There is also the need to comply with fire regulations, especially if you plan to use straw bales for decoration or seating. OutsideIn the British climate you are very much at the mercy of the weather.If you plan to have the dancing on grass this is very hard on the feet and it will be slippery when the ground becomes damp as the dew rises in the evening. It also gets very cold and damp at the end of the evening for both guests and musicians. |
Be sure to book early to avoid disappointment.
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