The Reel Blog

Here is a link to some video we have posted on You Tube. Yes I know we look like the Wooden Tops but it adds a bit more to the examples of music we have on line.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W686AxxWbTQ

Here is a small sound sample from a round of recent recordings we are working on. It’s a rough mix so please don’t be too critical. As it is titled, it’s for a Canadian Barn dance. We are also planning some video which we will post here when ready.

barndance.mp3

Had a great night at Dunure thanks to our client Mrs Kennedy.It was her parents golden wedding and they had traveled up from Somerset. It is always a privelage to meet such nice people at all the gigs we do. We handed out quite a few biz cards on the night so we hope we are asked back to Dunure in the near future.

Gavin is playing over on Arran next weekend helping out Terry Stevens.

The Reel-Thing are out again at the Piersland House Hotel the following weekend for a wee wedding. Not ours you understand, someone else’s.

Colin

Another great night for The Reel Thing. Another successful wedding function this time at the Blairquahan estate just outside Kirkmichael and Straiton if you know where that is. If you click on the link you will find the Blairquahan website. Lovely place for a wedding or any other special function.The client was of course very pleased. Mrs Piper of Kirkmichael said they had a great night and thanked us very much.

We have another function coming up next week in Dunure. After that it’s sunny Troon!!

While I am sure many of you have considered using or have used an agency to find a band for your function, you might want to consider the cost to the band and the inflated price you have to pay. Some agencies charge up to 25% commission to the band which of course is passed on to the client. This means that bands have a choice to either hike up their own fee to ensure they get something close to what they need to earn or be forced to accept a substantial cut in order to get the work the agent offers. Most bands including us have used or are using agencies to find work but it’s not necessarily the best option for the client.

As you the client browse agency web pages looking for bands why not consider looking to see if the band has a web page or a  phone book entry of their own and contact them directly. You might be surprised by how much money you save by removing the agency commission and at the same time get a personalised service from the band. For example, of the agencies we have used, none of them pass on any details of what the client needs by way of special requests or arrangements such as what would you like for your first dance or what kind of music you don’t want to hear during the disco.

Using agencies can be convenient for customers looking for entertainers but if you can try and contact the entertainers themselves for a more personalised service.

If you use the agency, they are the ones who win the most and whose only talent is taking money for nothing.

Yes after much deliberation Gavin has purchased a new accordion. Err it a Borsini something or other. Cost a proverbial arm and a leg but even to me as a guitar player it’s absolutely fantastic. You can view Borsini accordions here.

Colin

We were sorry to hear our friend Terry Stevens and the Boguille Band
have called it a day. Gavin and Colin wish them all the best and hope they keep making music in whatever form they may take in the future.

They were a tour de force on Arran particularly in relation to weddings and functions. They will be missed.