An evening with Flash In The Pan

Thinking of booking Flash In The Pan? This page is for you ...

We provide:

• The live music and dance callers for a thoroughly top-class ceilidh.
• All instruments, personnel, amplification, equipment etc. needed to provide the above.
• We can provide pre-event and interval recorded music playback - if you would like your own selection of CDs to be used please let us know, otherwise we'll bring something suitable.
• We will make every reasonable endeavour to ensure that all cabling, equipment and instruments are maintained and positioned in such a way that they do not obstruct exits and walkways, cause a potential trip or fire hazard, or cause any other potential obstruction or risk.
• In the extremely unlikely event of any problems or accidents, we have full Public Liability Insurance cover. Many halls and venues are insisting on bands of all sorts having PLI before they will confirm a booking: please get in touch if that is the case, and we can happily provide a copy of our PLI certificate.

We ask for:

• A stage (or equivalent space) at least 5m by 3m, directly adjacent to the area to be used as a dance floor. This ‘stage’ space shall be flat, comfortably able to safely bear the weight of up to ten people plus amplification and instruments, and completely clear of obstructions, passageways, staircases, through routes, doorways in use during the event (including emergency exit routes), serving hatches, furniture, miscellaneous clobber and detritus, etc. etc.
• Exclusive use of at least one (preferably two) electricity sockets, ideally situated on or immediately adjacent to the area designated as the stage.
• Access to the venue at least 45 minutes before the start of the event (one hour is preferred but negotiable) for setting up and soundchecks.
• At least 20 minutes after the end of the event to dismantle and remove our equipment.
• Provision for the unloading and loading of our equipment, some of which is simultaneously bulky, heavy, and valuable. This is not usually a problem in most venues with access doors and adjacent car parking, but we would be grateful of consideration being given in advance to this issue in venues with restricted or distant parking, events taking place in spaces above ground floor level, and so forth.
• Clear, up to date and accurate directions to the venue.
• The band does not expect refreshments: however, as we normally leave home in the late afternoon, and don't arrive home until the early hours of the morning, anything will be most gratefully received! We will not abuse any free bar or take more than our fair share of any buffet.

Please also note:

• We take the health and safety of our audiences and our members seriously, and will comply with any reasonable request from the event organisers in respect of adhering to a venue or organisation's health and safety policies. However ceilidh dancing is a physical activity which our audience takes part in at their own risk, and no liability shall be accepted by Flash In The Pan, its individual members, or any associates of the band, in respect of any injury sustained in the course of dancing to our music and/or following the instructions of our callers.
• Flash In The Pan have full Public Liability Insurance cover appropriate for a ceilidh band. Any risk assessments and other safety assessments are the responsibility of the venue and/or the event organiser, not of Flash In The Pan.
• Once we have arrived at the venue and commenced setting up, the designated stage area is to be considered out of bounds to anyone other than members of Flash In The Pan unless direct agreement from a member of the band gives permission otherwise. This specifically includes, but is not limited to, children under the age of 16, and obviously excludes emergency situations. This is for the safety of everyone attending the event, for the smooth running of the event, and for the preservation of our valuable equipment and instruments.

And having said all that:

We're very experienced, flexible, and amenable, and happy to discuss any aspect of the event in advance. Get in touch and we can talk it through.