Before you write
Common enquiries.
Practical information for those considering an engagement.
The occasion.
The Reeling Band plays to rooms where the dances are already known. There is no caller, and no instruction is provided. Guests are expected to know the forms of Hamilton House, The Duke of Perth, The Foursome Reel, The Eightsome Reel, and the other dances from the country dance canon. If that describes your guests, this is the right band for your occasion.
The programme is agreed in advance between the host and the Band. Four to six dances is typical for an evening. Each dance is played to the length the form requires. The Band does not extend or shorten sets to suit the mood of the room.
If an MC is required to announce the programme or call sets, the host provides one. The Band plays. It does not manage the room.
The Band does not play ceilidh dances. Strip the Willow, The Gay Gordons, and similar belong to a different tradition and a different occasion. They do not appear in a Reeling Band programme.
Practical matters.
The Band brings its own PA system. Given the acoustic character of the string trio, requirements are modest; the sound is designed to fill a room, not overpower it. Four 13-amp domestic sockets in the performance area are required.
Setup takes approximately 45 minutes. The performance area requires roughly three metres by two metres for the core trio; more for a larger lineup. The dance floor beyond that is a matter for the host and the venue.
The Band travels throughout Scotland. For the London season and other engagements further afield, travel is arranged by prior agreement. Nothing prevents an engagement abroad; several have taken place.
The Band carries full public liability insurance. All equipment is PAT tested. Documentation is available on request.
Where a venue operates under a sound limiter, the Band is experienced in working within those requirements. This should be noted in the initial enquiry.
Correspondence and terms.
Enquiries are made by private correspondence, either through the form below or directly by email. A response is made within 48 hours.
Fees are not published. They are confirmed in correspondence once the nature of the occasion, the lineup required, and the date are known. A deposit secures the date; the balance is settled in advance of the engagement. Full terms are set out in the confirmation of booking.
All correspondence is received in confidence. No information from any enquiry is passed to third parties, regardless of whether an engagement results.
Enquiries are welcomed as early as the occasion allows. Popular dates, particularly those in the summer season, around Burns Night, and the autumn ball calendar, are taken well in advance.
If the occasion is right, the Band is glad to hear from you.