Below are answers to some of the many questions we
get asked about the Capital Ceilidh Band
How many members are in the band? What
instruments? How many of them sing?
The core band has four members, between
us we play accordion,
fiddle, mandolin, whistles, guitar, banjo and bass (but not all at once). If a singer is
required a fifth band member joins the group.
How long have you been together as a
group, with your current personnel?
Although relatively new, the group has formed from the union
of two well established bands with over 20 years of experience in playing
traditional music.
Are we always the same members, or do
we use substitutes on a regular basis?
Same faces every time - but in the event of a band member being
incapacitated on the day of the gig, Capital Ceilidh has well established
links with three other bands that are each familiar with the others material (we
jam together!). It is unlikely that your guests will notice the
change.
Do we have a contract? Does the
contract specify the individual members of the band? Are we willing to make
additions to the contract to meet any special needs you may have?
Yes, we will send you a contract with our
booking form. It contains specific details of all members and conditions
of hire. Of course we will make additions and amendments to help make your
event a success.
How many songs on our song list? What
styles of music do we play?
At last count our singer could remember
all the words of about 40 songs, and was prepared to re-learn about 50
more on request. Most of her repertoire is traditional and contemporary Celtic
folk music, but twist her arm and she will cheerfully sing some Dire Straits or
Eric Clapton.
Do you play jazz?
No - hire a jazz band!
How much do we charge? Are there any
other charges above and beyond the quoted price? How much do we charge for
additional sets?
Depending on the duration, venue, and the number of guests, from
around £350-400 for the four piece band. If a caller or a singer is
required then these are charged as extra. Within the Edinburgh area no
charge is made for transport, beyond this a standard mileage rate is
applied. Within limits, Capital Ceilidh will extend a successful evening
into the wee small hours, the charge for this will be in proportion to the main
fee and details will be sent with booking forms.
What will we wear? (Will we wreck your
wedding video by turning up wearing Megadeath T-shirts, cut-offs and rope
sandals?)
Band members will dress appropriately -
but don't expect kilts, they aren't the best apparel to wear while shifting a ton and a
half of PA equipment. Black Watch trousers are out as well, they
itch. For formal gigs, white shirts and bow ties - for informal, Capital
Ceilidh T-shirts. This code doesn't apply to the ladies in the band - they
are always impeccably dressed!
Do we accept more than one performance
a day? (This could be a problem if a band is late leaving the first gig to
make it to yours).
No! We give it all we've got at every gig - it takes us a
couple of days to recover!
How long do we require to set up?
20 - 30 minutes on average - provided the stage isn't 200 yards
from the car park! Ideally the sound crew like to set up and 'sound check'
before guests arrive, but where this isn't possible the band can set up with a
minimum of noise and disruption.
Will we be set up and ready to play
when your guests arrive at, even if we are not supposed to start playing right
away?
This is not a problem, just ask. We know that sitting
through a meal wondering if the band are going to turn up is a major cause of
stress at weddings!
How long are our breaks, and do we
provide any music during the breaks?
Depending on the duration of the event, the band (and the
dancers) will need one or two breaks. These are around 15 -20 minutes long
and we can play material from our CDs if requested.
Can I request any special music during
the breaks?
Hey - its your event, just bring your
CDs. We're not a disco and there are some rules about public performance
of recorded material, but within limits we'll play it.
Will we learn any special songs for you
if they're not already on our song list?
Yes, but we may draw the line at some
material; the Spice Girls aren't us.
Do we expect to be fed?
We never refuse food! When the
distance or duration of a gig requires the band members to eat out, a
subsistence element will be added to the fee. You can avoid this by
offering hospitality instead.
What are our deposit and payment
requirements?
A £100 deposit is required on booking (not refundable if the
gig is cancelled by the hirer), the remainder is payable on the band's arrival
at the venue.
Do we expect payment in full before the
day of the event?
Not unless you want to pay the balance by cheque!
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