Frequently Asked Questions
For what sorts of events do you play?
The Reel Tyme Ceilidh Band is fantastic for corporate functions, engagement parties, wedding receptions, birthday celebrations, or fund-raising events, although we are flexible and will happily adapt for other occassions!
How big is the band?
You can choose to have any size of band, from one musician (accordion only) to five musicians (including fiddlers, pianists and pipe-whistlers). If required, we also have qualified dance callers who will teach the reel or jig to the dancers before each set.
How much do you charge?
Fees, depending on the location of the event and the size of the band, range from £100 to £900.
How far will you travel?
We have been to France and the Channel Islands, but as we are based on the Isle of Wight, we prefer to keep south of the M4 and M25. However, we are flexible and sometimes go a bit further afield, but this may increase costs due to travel expenses and the possibility of having to find somewhere to stay overnight.
Do you only play Scottish music?
No! The Scottish fishermen of yore would often meet foreign fishermen out at sea and would exchange songs and dances, forming an eclectic mix of tunes from various countries. As a result, while Scottish music forms the backbone of our repertoire, the band is used to playing a wide variety of dance music and will delight you with French, Italian, and Russian music as well as traditional American reels. We can also play a quiet waltz or two towards the end of the evening or when you want to take a break from the dancing. We find that a simple circle dance is the ideal way to draw the evening to a close, be it the classic Circassian Circle dance or even the Hokey Cokey!
We are never loud enough that conversation becomes difficult when taking a break from the fun of the dancefloor.
What's the difference between a barn dance and a Ceilidh?
Not a lot! They are much the same thing - Ceilidh is a Gaelic word which just means a party with music, dancing and often drinks. It is pronounced KAY-LEE and is frequently spelt incorrectly!
What about the venue?
The dance floor needs to larger than that of a disco of a similar capacity - to be safe, at least 1 sq metre for each dancer - but bear in mind that they will never all be up at the same time and a crowded floor looks better than a half empty one. As for the floor itself, a wooden dance floor is best but we have played on steel, grass (well cut), carpet, stone, and tiles.
Some of our guests won’t have done much dancing before. Will it be too much for them?
The dance sets performed by the group have something for everyone - for inexperienced dancers, children and the less physically fit, we intersperse simple jigs and reels, and laid-back waltzes and circle dances. For the more experienced dancer, we will also throw in more complex sets to give a bit more of a challenge! Some of our dances are so accessible, we have even had cases of wheelchair users participating!