incentives Archives - Reel Time Events https://reel-time.co.uk/blog/category/incentives/ Scottish Events and Entertainment Wed, 12 Mar 2025 16:35:08 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://reel-time.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/cropped-reeltime-logo-32x32.png incentives Archives - Reel Time Events https://reel-time.co.uk/blog/category/incentives/ 32 32 How to Host your Own Burns Night Celebrations – Haggis, Address & Poem https://reel-time.co.uk/blog/2025/01/10/how-to-host-your-own-burns-night-celebrations/ Fri, 10 Jan 2025 21:22:34 +0000 https://reel-time.co.uk/?p=5515 Here’s everything you need to host your own Burns Night celebrations. Whether you’re planning to hire professionals or take charge of the evening yourself, this guide has all the tools and resources to make it unforgettable. The 25th of January each year is a cherished occasion to honour the life and legacy [...]

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Here’s everything you need to host your own Burns Night celebrations. Whether you’re planning to hire professionals or take charge of the evening yourself, this guide has all the tools and resources to make it unforgettable.

The 25th of January each year is a cherished occasion to honour the life and legacy of Robert Burns, Scotland’s beloved National Bard. We celebrate on the anniversary of his birth, not his passing, as his works celebrate the vibrancy, joy, and passion of life.

Robert Burns (1759–1796), Scotland’s National Bard, was a farmer’s son from Ayrshire whose talent for poetry and song captured the spirit of the Scottish people. His works celebrated themes of love, nature, and social justice, often written in Scots dialect. Despite financial struggles and a short life, Burns produced a prolific body of work, including classics like Auld Lang Syne and Tam o’ Shanter. His poetry reflected a deep humanity and egalitarian ideals, making him a cultural icon whose influence extends far beyond Scotland.

A Burns Celebration, Burns Supper, or Burns Night, is a heartfelt reflection on the poet’s life, his timeless works, and Scotland’s rich cultural heritage—shared with those gathered to celebrate.

While Burns Nights are a treasured tradition in Scotland, they extend far beyond its borders. From the United States to India, Spain to the Philippines, the enduring influence of a humble poet from Ayrshire speaks to the universal power of his words and spirit.

These gatherings take many forms, from intimate family meals to grand affairs with professional performers and elaborate catering.

No matter the scale of your Burns Night, certain timeless traditions lie at its heart. To help you create a memorable evening, we’ve assembled a comprehensive toolkit, packed with all the guidance and resources you need—whether you’re hosting a cozy supper for five or a grand celebration for five hundred. All that’s left to provide is the whisky and the haggis!

Burns Night Traditions

A traditional Burns Night evening often follows a set order of events, including:

  • The Parade of the Haggis
  • The Address to the Haggis
  • The Selkirk Grace
  • Dinner (traditionally haggis, neeps, and tatties)
  • The Immortal Memory
  • The Toast to the Lassies
  • The Reply to the Laddies
  • Ceilidh Dancing
  • Auld Lang Syne

Some of these traditions require more preparation than others. Depending on the size of your gathering or personal preferences, you might choose to include all of these elements or just a few.

For a simpler celebration, you could focus on key moments such as:

  • The Selkirk Grace
  • Dinner
  • A poem or reading
  • Auld Lang Syne

A more elaborate evening might expand to include additional highlights, such as:

  • A dramatic recitation of Burns’ epic poem Tam O’Shanter
  • Readings of other Burns works
  • Original poems written by your guests in the style of Robert Burns

Ultimately, there are no strict rules for a Burns Night. Burns himself, with his irreverent wit, would likely have scoffed at the idea of rigid guidelines! The evening is meant to be a joyous celebration, guided by tradition but open to personal touches.

To complete the experience, consider including classic Scottish food and drink. Shortbread is a must-have treat, Scotch whisky is the toast of choice for adults, and Irn Bru is a favourite for younger guests.

The Parade of the Haggis

When everyone is seated and ready for the main course, the Haggis enters. Traditionally, a Bagpiper plays and marches as the Chef follows, carrying the Haggis in on a platter. The Haggis is then ready to be addressed.

If you’re doing this at home, and you don’t know a Piper who can perform this service live, it’s easy enough to find some music to play over a speaker as the Haggis is carried in. See the first 50 seconds of this clip below:

Selkirk Grace

The Haggis is served. But before you can eat, someone must perform aloud the Selkirk Grace, by Robert Burns:

Some hae meat and canna eat,
and some wad eat that want it,
But we hae meat and we can eat,
And say the lord be thankit.

Extra verses were written long after Burns for Vegetarians by Richard Medrington

The Alternative Grace:

But some hate meat and girn and weep,
Resisting all coercion,
So bless the tatties, bless the neeps
And the vegetarian version.

Then filled wi’ fruits o’ field and vine
And feelin fairlie frisky,
The One who water turned to wine,
We’d ask to bless the whisky.

Address to the Haggis

The Address to the Haggis is one of the most iconic traditions of Burns Night, tracing its origins to Robert Burns’ 1786 poem To a Haggis. In the poem, Burns elevates the humble dish to near-mythical status, praising it as the “Great chieftain o’ the puddin’-race.” The address is a theatrical centerpiece of the evening, performed as the haggis is ceremonially brought to the table, accompanied by bagpipes.

The recitation, filled with dramatic flair, humour, and vivid imagery, celebrates the haggis as a symbol of Scottish culture and heritage. It reflects Burns’ gift for honouring everyday subjects with poetic grandeur and serves as a rousing reminder of his enduring connection to Scotland’s culinary and cultural identity.

After the Haggis has been addressed, the Speaker calls for a Toast to the Haggis, and guests all raise a glass of whisky “To the Haggis!”

The poem is best performed with vigour and drama. Most Bagpipers will be able to perform the Haggis Address. Here is Reel Time founder and Bagpiper Roddy performing the Haggis Address at the National Museum of Scotland:

Please feel free to play this video at your own Burns Night. Or, if you’re brave enough, we’ve provided the full text of the Address to a Haggis below, along with an English translation.

Original:

Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o the puddin’-race!
Aboon them a’ ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye worthy o’ a grace
As lang’s my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o need,
While thro your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An cut you up wi ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich!

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an strive:
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,
Till a’ their weel-swall’d kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
The auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
‘Bethankit’ hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout,
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi perfect scunner,
Looks down wi sneering, scornfu view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckless as a wither’d rash,
His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit;
Thro bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He’ll make it whissle;
An legs an arms, an heads will sned,
Like taps o thrissle.

Ye Pow’rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies:
But, if ye wish her gratefu prayer,
Gie her a Haggis!

Translation:

Good luck to you and your honest, plump face,
Great chieftain of the sausage race!
Above them all you take your place,
Stomach, tripe, or intestines:
Well are you worthy of a grace
As long as my arm.

The groaning trencher there you fill,
Your buttocks like a distant hill,
Your pin would help to mend a mill
In time of need,
While through your pores the dews distill
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour wipe,
And cut you up with ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like any ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm steaming, rich!

Then spoon for spoon, the stretch and strive:
Devil take the hindmost, on they drive,
Till all their well swollen bellies by-and-by
Are bent like drums;
Then old head of the table, most like to burst,
‘The grace!’ hums.

Is there that over his French ragout,
Or olio that would sicken a sow,
Or fricassee would make her vomit
With perfect disgust,
Looks down with sneering, scornful view
On such a dinner?

Poor devil! see him over his trash,
As feeble as a withered rush,
His thin legs a good whip-lash,
His fist a nut;
Through bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit.

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his ample fist a blade,
He’ll make it whistle;
And legs, and arms, and heads will cut off
Like the heads of thistles.

You powers, who make mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill of fare,
Old Scotland wants no watery stuff,
That splashes in small wooden dishes;
But if you wish her grateful prayer,
Give her [Scotland] a Haggis!

Burns Night Menu

Now you can eat!

The traditional main course, of course, is Haggis, Neeps, and Tatties. For those who don’t know, Haggis is a large sausage made of sheep meat (mutton), oatmeal, and spices. Neeps are mashed turnips. And tatties are mashed potatoes.

While Haggis is the traditional main course, some more classic dishes could be included on the menu

  • Cock A Leekie: a classic starter soup made of chicken, leeks, and rice
  • Cullen Skink: a thick Scottish soup made of smoked haddock, potatoes, and onions. A great starter for a Burns Night menu
  • Raspberry Cranachan: a Scottish trifle that combines raspberries, oatmeal, and whisky for a refreshing dessert

Be sure to have these to hand:

  • Scotch Whisky
  • Shortbread
  • Irn Bru

The Immortal Memory

The Immortal Memory is a cornerstone of Burns Night, serving as a heartfelt tribute to Robert Burns and his enduring legacy. Traditionally delivered as a speech, it reflects on Burns’ life, works, and the cultural significance he continues to hold. The tradition dates back to the very first Burns Supper in 1801, held by a group of his close friends in Alloway, marking the fifth anniversary of his death.

Over the years, the Immortal Memory has evolved from a personal remembrance into a broader reflection on the themes that defined Burns’ work, such as love, equality, and the beauty of Scotland’s landscape. Often laced with humour and personal anecdotes, the speech connects Burns’ ideals to modern life, ensuring his relevance to each new generation. Whether delivered by a seasoned orator or a passionate admirer of Burns, the Immortal Memory is a powerful reminder of the bard’s lasting influence on literature, culture, and the human spirit.

If you’re going to perform the Immortal Memory, it’s worth doing your research, because the standard is very high! For many, the Immortal Memory is the staple and highlight of the night.

Here’s a great one:

Toast to the Lassies and Reply from the Lassies

The Toast to the Lassies is a lively and humorous tradition at Burns Night suppers, originating in the mid-19th century as a nod to the women in attendance. Its roots are tied to Robert Burns’ own deep appreciation for women, evident in his poetry, songs, and personal life. Burns was a romantic at heart, celebrating love and the strength of women in works such as A Red, Red Rose and Ae Fond Kiss.

Originally, the toast was a lighthearted acknowledgement of the ladies, reflecting the convivial spirit of the evening. Over time, it evolved into a more formal, often witty speech that highlights the contributions of women to society, relationships, and the Burns Supper itself.

Following the Toast to the Lassies, a Reply to the Laddies is given and serves as a humorous yet gracious response to the preceding toast. While it often includes playful repartee and lighthearted teasing about the habits and quirks of men, it is also an opportunity for the lassies to have the final word. The tone can range from cheeky to heartfelt, depending on the speaker and the age group of the guests.

In its best form, the Reply to the Laddies mirrors the balance found in the Toast to the Lassies—a blend of humour, respect, and warmth. Together, these speeches foster camaraderie among the guests, showcasing the lighthearted yet meaningful connections that are at the heart of a Burns Night celebration.

This is another tradition where the standard is very high. Here’s a great example by ‘Taggart’ star Colin McCredie with former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon present:

Ceilidh Dancing

A Scottish Ceilidh is a great way to turn your Burns Night Celebrations from dinner into a party. As long as you’ve got enough guests, get hold of a ceilidh band and have a great time, whether you’ve done it before or not.

Auld Lang Syne

People all over the world know Auld Lang Syne, and sing it as the old year changes to the new. They may not know in places far away from Scotland that Auld Lang Syne is a song by Robert Burns. So as well as singing it on New Years Eve, we sing it as our Burns Night Celebrations come to an end.

The lyrics, if they’re not already in your bones:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stoup!
and surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes,
and pou’d the gowans fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,
sin’ auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl’d in the burn,
frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
sin’ auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere!
and gie’s a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak’ a right gude-willie waught,
for auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

It’s always an honour to celebrate the life of such an essential and talented figure from Scottish history. Each year, the work of Burns and the lessons of his life bring deeper meaning to the people all over the world who take the time to celebrate for a night in his name. We hope you can use this information and these resources to do the same and enjoy your evening of Scottish culture.

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]]> Conference Entertainment in Scotland for ICAM2019 https://reel-time.co.uk/blog/2019/04/17/conference-entertainment-in-scotland-for-icam2019/ Wed, 17 Apr 2019 16:29:53 +0000 https://reel-time.co.uk/?p=5440 Another amazing weekend for Reel Time! Some lovely clients asked us to provide great conference entertainment in Scotland for the 2019 AACSB. The conference was at the EICC, with many of the guests staying at the sumptuous 5* Sheraton Hotel, a mere 4 minutes’ walk from the registration desk! The Event The client approached [...]

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Another amazing weekend for Reel Time! Some lovely clients asked us to provide great conference entertainment in Scotland for the 2019 AACSB.

The conference was at the EICC, with many of the guests staying at the sumptuous 5* Sheraton Hotel, a mere 4 minutes’ walk from the registration desk!

The Event

The client approached us with a brief of spicing up registration day. They wanted to create a number of different networking opportunities around the day long check in on Sunday thus, fostering relationships between partner organisations as this is a key focus of the conference.

From 9.30am until 3.30pm, (on and off!) our Scottish accordion and guitar duo played some traditional Scottish tunes and there was definitely some toe-tapping going on.

Our Scotland Virtual Reality experience was available in the afternoon enabling guests to take a 5-minute tour of the rest of Scotland and see places they may not get the chance to see on this visit. The delegates were amazed by this new Scottish entertainment offering.

The VR technology used along with the high-quality Scottish video tour we have created, immerses guests in Scotland with one or two even worried they are going to get their feet wet!

Evening entertainment

On the Sunday evening, we had two of Scotland’s grade one pipe band players piping a welcome for guests on arrival and two of Scotland’s revered musicians in concert with clarsach and mandolin gracing the networking event.

For the opening ceremony of the conference sessions on the Monday morning, we had a piper and Scottish dancer display opening the conference with a Scottish spectacular bang and ensuring all the attendees were wide awake!

Later in the day, the client requested a conference session on Scotland and its heritage. They were looking for this to be a fun conference style speech.

The Moorfoot at the EICC was packed for this session as The presenter took the attendees through the history, uses and modern takes on some of the icons of Scotland; Burns, bagpipes, kilts and then all washed down with a bit of whisky tasting.

It was great to provide the Scottish conference entertainment for the AACSB Conference 2019 in Edinburgh.

If you would like some assistance with entertainment for your Scottish conference, then contact Reel Time Events for some inspiration.

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]]> Scottish Virtual Reality experiences https://reel-time.co.uk/blog/2019/03/13/scottish-virtual-reality-experiences/ https://reel-time.co.uk/blog/2019/03/13/scottish-virtual-reality-experiences/#respond Wed, 13 Mar 2019 12:30:07 +0000 https://reel.testpetchef.com/?p=2329 Events, incentives and conferences are always on the lookout for new ways to engage with their audience. Keen also to keep on top of new technology and using it in a relevant way to enhance the user experience. Reel Time’s new experience for the Scottish business tourism market is an immersive 360° video tour of [...]

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]]> Events, incentives and conferences are always on the lookout for new ways to engage with their audience. Keen also to keep on top of new technology and using it in a relevant way to enhance the user experience.

Reel Time’s new experience for the Scottish business tourism market is an immersive 360° video tour of Scotland. We deliver this bespoke virtual reality experience using new Oculus VR standalone headsets (Oculus is owned by Facebook). They don’t require the user to download anything or use their phone.

We filmed an experience that showcases the mountains and glens, the coasts and waters of Scotland. It takes guests on a journey around the beauty of Scotland.

Our 5-minute experience has Scottish castles, wildlife, standing stones and the mighty Talisker Distillery. All discoverable in 360° .

What we can offer our virtual reality experience for:

  • As a drop-in experience for conference receptions, where guests may not have the opportunity to visit any more than a conference centre and hotel room whilst in Scotland.
  • To support our Scottish whisky and gin interactive experiences. Gues can enjoy during networking and drinks at an event.
  • To help product placement for brands with branded experiences featuring product/ production.
  • Assisting sales people to sell Scotland “the brand”. Imagine taking your sales appointment to Scotland and providing a 360° tour of your hotel or business events attractions, all in 5 minutes. you will Leave an impression they won’t forget.
  • Working with visitor attractions and brands to deliver 360° experiences

Our Scotland virtual reality experience is flexible and can suit a variety of options such as;

  • An event: with 5-10 headsets, VR bar, 360° chairs and VR hosts to make the experience smooth for guests’ enjoyment.
  • VR 360° headset hire with Scotland experience, per day.
  • Branded or edited experiences, with 360° filming, editing and experience delivery.

Find out More

To find out how you can use our Virtual Reality experience at your event, contact the Reel Time Events team.

To find out more about our Virtual Reality Experiences, check our webpage.

Reel Time Events developed the Scotland Experience for an event attended by 1200 technical software specialists for Linux in late 2018 at the National Museum of Scotland. Read the event blog story.

We are delighted to bring this event opportunity to destination management companies, incentive creators and Scottish brands in 2019.

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]]> https://reel-time.co.uk/blog/2019/03/13/scottish-virtual-reality-experiences/feed/ 0 Incentive Highland Games. Hopetoun House highland fling https://reel-time.co.uk/blog/2019/02/25/incentive-highland-games-hopetoun-house/ Mon, 25 Feb 2019 12:48:15 +0000 https://reel-time.co.uk/?p=5683 For our first incentive Highland Games event of the 2019 season, we had a great turn out all round. We had the perfect Highland Games field. Well drained and flat, with picturesque views of the Firth of Forth on the approach, and the impressive, historic Hopetoun House to provide a stunning Scottish backdrop to [...]

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For our first incentive Highland Games event of the 2019 season, we had a great turn out all round.

We had the perfect Highland Games field. Well drained and flat, with picturesque views of the Firth of Forth on the approach, and the impressive, historic Hopetoun House to provide a stunning Scottish backdrop to the games.

We had perfect Scottish weather; for a February morning, it turned out crisp with some mist. By the time the games commenced, the sun was out and it was a blistering 13 degrees!

Our clients were Italian incentive winners in the swimming pool business, here for a 3 day Scottish incentive experience.

The Event

The guests were transferred from their Edinburgh city centre hotel after breakfast, arriving at Hopetoun around 9.30 am, to a bagpipe welcome. They were greeted by Donald from Hopetoun, who gave them a potted history of the Estate before the Highland Games briefing started.

The Games

The guests were split into clans to compete over the different events. They were piped on to the field, and the Highland Games commenced.

The clans of 10 had 25 minutes to learn and master each Scottish activity, with points being awarded for marksmanship, dancing ability, fun factor and accuracy.

The activities chosen for this incentive experience were:

Whilst the Highland Games activities were running, the sound of laughter carried through the air, punctuated with gun fire and the hearty smell of competition.

After the teams had competed around the activity field, they were piped in for their buffet lunch in the plush stables at Hopetoun.

Caterers to the Queen, Heritage Portfolio, presented a hot and cold fork buffet fit for the laird.

The menu was:

  • Artisan beef and vegetable stew
  • Vegetable lasagne
  • Pearl barley, feta, roast aubergine, roast butternut squash and spinach salad
  • Beetroot, orange, black quinoa and chilli salad

As guests enjoyed their lunch in the Stables, the activity hosts totted up the scores. Prizes were presented to the Chieftains Champion before the guests headed back on the coach to Edinburgh for an afternoon of sightseeing around Edinburgh Castle, the Edinburgh Old Town and shopping in the New Town boutiques.

The group were out for dinner in a city centre venue, Ghillie dhu and practised the ceilidh dancing they had learnt during the day. We had three highland dancers there to lead the action after they had enjoyed a Scottish banquet.

The professionals

For great Scottish incentive Highland Games experiences, have a look at our Highland Games page, or contact the reel time team for a tailored quote.

For other Scottish incentive entertainment, check out our pop up whisky tasting experience, Tartanium band or kilt hire packages.

Thanks to

  1. Donald at Hopetoun House
  2. Alistair at Heritage
  3. Viviana at Interopa, London agent
  4. Walter, Bruce and Colin the heavy athletes.
  5. Jonny the piper
  6. Lisa the dancer
  7. Pat the shot
  8. Stu and eccles the shooters
  9. Roddy the host

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]]> Scotland 360° Virtual Reality Experiences https://reel-time.co.uk/blog/2018/10/13/scotland-360-virtual-reality-experiences/ Sat, 13 Oct 2018 11:33:57 +0000 https://reel-time.co.uk/?p=5652 Providing our clients with bespoke entertainment for their events is our passion and we are always excited when we are asked to provide something a little different like the Scotland 360° Virtual Reality experience! We received one such request recently to provide a variety of entertainment at an evening reception for 1200 technology-focused, mostly [...]

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Providing our clients with bespoke entertainment for their events is our passion and we are always excited when we are asked to provide something a little different like the Scotland 360° Virtual Reality experience!

We received one such request recently to provide a variety of entertainment at an evening reception for 1200 technology-focused, mostly male, international delegates of the Linux Foundation.

You can see a preview of the night and what clients said about the experience here.

What entertains the IT crowd?

We offered them the chance to tour some of the amazing sights of Scotland from the comfort of a chair via Virtual Reality.

Using Oculus Go VR headsets, allowed the participants to immerse themselves totally in an amazing adventure and sightseeing tour of Scotland. They got the chance to stand with their feet in the sea on the Isle of Harris, take a boat trip, visit the Talisker Distillery, watch the making of Tweed on a pedal loom and then off to locations from Harry Potter, the Kilmartin Standing Stones and finishing at the Edinburgh Beltane Fire Festival.

We managed to offer 400 of the guests, over a period of just over 2 hours, the chance to enjoy the scenery of Scotland and then “meet the maker” of the footage to gain an insight into the 360 VR technology and more details on the where!

To further welcome the guests to Scotland and immerse them even further into the Scottish experience we had bagpipers at the door and Scottish Virtual Reality Highland Dancers doing their amazing dance routines in show spots!

Tartanium were on hand to provide the background music for the networking and a flavour of some of the toe-tapping music, unique to Scotland, in the show spots performed to showcase that music.

Find out about our Scotland 360° Virtual Reality events and more information about our Virtual Reality offering for your conference on our webpage!!

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]]> Reel Time Events Become Unique Venues of Edinburgh Supplier https://reel-time.co.uk/blog/2017/04/04/reel-time-events-unique-venues-edinburgh/ Tue, 04 Apr 2017 12:12:10 +0000 https://reel-time.co.uk/?p=5749 Here at Reel Time Events we are excited to announce that we have become an official entertainment supplier to the Unique Venues of Edinburgh. Having spent many years working individually with each Unique Venue, we are delighted to have become a recommended supplier to all of these fantastic venues collectively. [...]

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Here at Reel Time Events we are excited to announce that we have become an official entertainment supplier to the Unique Venues of Edinburgh.

Having spent many years working individually with each Unique Venue, we are delighted to have become a recommended supplier to all of these fantastic venues collectively.

We look forward to getting to know the venues we are not yet too familiar with, as well as continuing to enjoy great relationships with venues we regularly enjoy working with. We hope clients of the Unique Venues of Edinburgh will enjoy whisky tastings, clann battles, beat the retreats, Highland games and plenty of new and contemporary ideas of Scottish and Edinburgh entertainment.

Check out our listing on the Unique Venues of Edinburgh website here!

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]]> Highland Games at Cameron House https://reel-time.co.uk/blog/2017/03/31/highland-games-cameron-house/ Fri, 31 Mar 2017 12:30:53 +0000 https://reel-time.co.uk/?p=5772 If there is a more beautiful setting for a hotel anywhere in the world I have yet to see it.  We were lucky enough to have the pleasure of spending two days in March at Cameron House Hotel on the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond. Thursday afternoon kicked off with one of [...]

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If there is a more beautiful setting for a hotel anywhere in the world I have yet to see it.  We were lucky enough to have the pleasure of spending two days in March at Cameron House Hotel on the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.

Thursday afternoon kicked off with one of our superb Highland games experiences with six teams battling it out for glory, despite the changeable weather. As well as some caber tossing, we were very fortunate that our most celebrated national predator species, “Weeus Hairyus Haggis”, were in season so guests also had the rare opportunity of participating in a spot of Haggis Hurling***.

Across the hotel, (to protect the birds from a haggis attack,) guests also enjoyed some falconry, a farmers dash assault course, a bagpipe masterclass, and learned some new moves with our ceilidh and Highland dance workshop. It was a hard fought couple of hours with the Speyside Team eventually emerging victorious.

Things were equally as lively on Friday night for the gala dinner. As luck would have it, Robert the Bruce and his pal Rob Roy happened to be in Scotts Bar for a drink, so joined the guests pre dinner to chew the fat.  Both natural raconteurs, they kept everyone entertained until dinner was called.  Beautiful floral table centres were created by Plantation Florists and our Scottish gift bags were there to greet guests when they took their seats for a wonderful meal.

Robert the Bruce and Rob Roy were also on hand to join those keen to try out our Scottish themed photo booth.  They were then surprised by a “Beat the Retreat“, a full marching pipe band in No 1 military uniform.  To end the night in classic Reel Time style, the six piece Scraggly Cats band were joined by four traditional Highland dancers.  They took guests on a musical voyage through until midnight.  A mixture of the band’s signature, funky, rock ceilidh tunes and a solid helping of classic pop covers ensured a varied mix on the dancefloor for the rest of the night.

Our group were an absolute pleasure to entertain on both days and we hope they enjoyed the rest of their time in Scotland as much as we enjoyed having them here.

***Please note, no haggis were hurt during the hurling activity.

With thanks to Ewa Labuda for the photography and David Fletcher at Reel Time for the words.

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]]> New Job Vacancy at Reel Time Events! https://reel-time.co.uk/blog/2017/03/13/new-job-vacancy-reel-time-events/ Mon, 13 Mar 2017 13:43:04 +0000 https://reel-time.co.uk/?p=5809 Special Event Coordinator The Company: Reel Time Events is a fun and vibrant company which was founded in 2005.  We are a small team working in an office to the south of Edinburgh, right next to the by-pass and with fantastic views up to the Pentlands. The role: Reel Time Events organise events, entertainment [...]

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Special Event Coordinator

The Company:

Reel Time Events is a fun and vibrant company which was founded in 2005.  We are a small team working in an office to the south of Edinburgh, right next to the by-pass and with fantastic views up to the Pentlands.

The role:

Reel Time Events organise events, entertainment and mobile bars for corporate events, conferences, incentives, weddings and private clients and you can expect to deal with all of these sectors, specialising in one (or more) of them.  As this is a newly created role, there will be a degree of flexibility, though we envisage this being an administrative role with some/occasional onsite management of events/bars, attendance at wedding fairs and similar ‘out of normal office hours’.

We expect the successful candidate to start at the beginning of May 2017 and the position will initially be fixed term for 6 months, though we could look to extend this for the right candidate.

Day to Day

  • Prompt correspondence with clients and suppliers
  • Developing a fantastic rapport with clients and suppliers
  • Taking phone and email enquiries and converting into bookings
  • Sending out booking forms and ensuring prompt payments
  • Liaising with venues and actively seeking new venues to work with
  • Liaising with clients and exceeding their expectations from initial enquiry to after event follow up
  • Planning every aspect of wedding and event bars: Organising licences, staffing, logistics, stock
  • Working on events, which could be anything from regular onsite management of bars to occasionally helping out at a Highland Games. Some elements of the work can be quite physical and will involve lifting, working in muddy fields and in inclement weather!
  • Increasing sales, upselling and maximising company profit
  • Providing five-star customer service
  • Looking after one or more of our social media profiles
  • Helping out other members of the team as required

The person:

  • You have at least 2 years of high end customer service experience
  • You enjoy working in a sales environment and understand the importance of upselling for the benefit of the client
  • Flexible approach and ability to adapt as the role requires, especially at times of the year which are very fast paced and hours can be long
  • You are patient and can empathise with clients, but strike the right balance to get the required information from them before deadlines
  • You are polite, friendly, organised and have a great eye for details.
  • You have a can do, proactive attitude and enjoy taking control of your own tasks whilst at the same time working as part of a small team
  • Ideally you have experience of working in a wedding/event/bar environment and have some great contacts in the industry
  • Driving licence and willing to drive a van a definite advantage, as is a first aid certificate or personal alcohol licence
  • Knowledge of music, PA systems, whisky, ceilidh dancing, bagpiping, cocktail making…. would be great, though a positive outlook and willingness to learn new skills and the ability to pick things up quickly is also welcome.

How to apply:

Please apply with CV and cover letter answering all of the following questions:

  • Why you would like to work for Reel Time and how could your skills and personality best fit into our team, including what area(s) of the business would suit you best (eg Weddings, Corporate Events, Bars etc)
  • Which previous job have you most enjoyed and why – or – Which previous job have you least enjoyed and why?
  • What cocktail best reflects your personality and why?
  • How would you inject a bit of fun into the office?
  • If you do not currently live in Edinburgh (or nearby) please let us know about any plans to relocate here or commute
  • Do you have any holidays booked in the next 5 months?

Please email you CV and cover letter to Cath at: kilts@reel-time.co.uk

Closing date: 31st March 2017

Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted

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]]> My Contemporary Harris Tweed Kilt Outfit https://reel-time.co.uk/blog/2017/02/24/my-contemporary-harris-tweed-kilt-outfit/ https://reel-time.co.uk/blog/2017/02/24/my-contemporary-harris-tweed-kilt-outfit/#respond Fri, 24 Feb 2017 10:59:06 +0000 https://reeltimeevents.wordpress.com/?p=1001 Creating my Contemporary Harris Tweed kilt outfit Being a proud Scotsman and spending much of my time in a kilt, when the time came for a new one I really wanted to create something made in Scotland from Scottish materials.  Being such an exciting and rewarding experience I wanted to share it, and  some [...]

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Creating my Contemporary Harris Tweed kilt outfit

Being a proud Scotsman and spending much of my time in a kilt, when the time came for a new one I really wanted to create something made in Scotland from Scottish materials.  Being such an exciting and rewarding experience I wanted to share it, and  some of the knowledge I gathered during the journey.

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The first step in the process was deciding what fabric I wanted to use in the kilt.  I knew I didn’t want to go for a traditional tartan, and tweed seemed like a really interesting option but there was also the question of which mill, the weight, and whether the fabric is made in Scotland?  After lots of investigation and research into different manufacturers I finally decided on Harris Tweed, and requested several samples in different colours to try and finalise my choice of colour, weight and pattern.  With lots of advice from friends and family (particularly the well-heeled ladies in my life,)  which happily was the same as my gut instinct, I finally settled on a fabric which I ordered directly from the manufacturer.  One of the hardest things was to try and imagine how a full kilt would look from one of the small sample swatches, but when the full 8 yards of cloth was delivered I was certain that I had made the right choice.  It was incredibly satisfying and exciting to finally get an idea of how it would look as a complete kilt, despite being at the start of the process.

Step 2 was about getting the kilt made from the fantastic Harris Tweed.  Luckily I have a great contact who has made several kilts for me in the past, and I was happy to take the fabric to Cathy to make into one of her creations for me.  For every kilt Cathy takes measurements and also adjusts these to take into account the different heights which kilts can be worn at – some like their kilt to be worn traditionally, at navel height, and others prefer it to sit on the hips, more like a hipster style.  I opted for somewhere in between, to have some room for adjustment, and it also works perfectly with my waistcoat (more on that later.)  My excitement must have been very evident – Cathy kindly sent me images at various stages throughout the manufacture of my kilt which are below.  It is amazing to see all of the work needed to construct a kilt from just one piece of fabric – how the pleats are located and constructed and how that ensures the kilt swings properly, the sheer amount of sewing involved and how accurate it needs to be.

Step 3 was to then try and find the right jacket and waistcoat to go with my kilt, and it became evident very quickly that I wasn’t going to find anything that would do my kilt justice on the high street.  I decided that the only way to go was to have something made that would complement it perfectly, which meant finding the right person to create something special.  Edinburgh is lucky enough to have 21st Century Kilts, where Howie offers a unique take on the traditional Scottish style, which was exactly the feel and style I wanted.  Working together and discussing the different options available – I was keen to incorporate some of the remaining cloth in the jacket and waistcoat somehow – we decided on a design that was stylish and also practical.  With the weight of the kilt itself being quite heavy we decided that a lighterweight jacket, using the tweed on the front of the waistcoat would be a great design, keeping the theme of the tweed running through all of the different elements of the outfit.  The pink back to the waistcoat was picked to compliment the pink hue in the Harris Tweed of the kilt, accentuated with extra detail around the buttonholes.  For more about Howie and 21st Century Kilts click here

With the 3 main components of my outfit made, it was time to select the other accessories to complete the outfit.  The next big item in the kilt outfit is the sporran  and I have a one that has a great deal of sentimental value to me, so I will always wear that.  I also have a kiltpin which means a great deal to me, it was originally a brooch made for my grandmother by my jeweller sister, Jenny Deans.  She has since converted it into a kiltpin for me, and somehow its the perfect compliment to my kilt.  Her unusual range of contemporary kilt pins offers an interesting alternative to the traditional sword or thistle.  For more about Jenny Dean jewellery and her contemporary kilt pins click here.

Then it was a case of picking the last few bits and bobs up – shoes, kilt hose, shirt and tie, which I wanted to be as unobtrusive as possible so as not to detract from the kilt and jacket.

It’s been a great pleasure having such close involvement in the creation of my outfit, being able to put my preferences and personality into the outfit was incredibly rewarding.  Above all, the number of compliments that I have received over the past few months has made the process immensely rewarding, especially as it’s representing Scotland’s rich history with a contemporary twist.

If you are organising a Scottish event, why not dress your guests in a traditional kilt outfit?  It’s a great way to immerse your guests in Scottish culture and create a really memorable experience.  If you are unfamiliar with wearing a kilt, take a look at our “How to wear a Kilt” video, and get in touch for more details.

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]]> https://reel-time.co.uk/blog/2017/02/24/my-contemporary-harris-tweed-kilt-outfit/feed/ 0 Highland Games Team Building Events https://reel-time.co.uk/blog/2017/02/15/highland-games-team-building-events/ Wed, 15 Feb 2017 13:48:55 +0000 https://reel-time.co.uk/?p=5826 If you are looking for a truly Scottish team building experience then try our Highland games event.  It’s a chance to try out some of our great Scottish activities and full of hands on fun.  Watch our new Highland games video here to find out more about it. Our Highland [...]

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If you are looking for a truly Scottish team building experience then try our Highland games event.  It’s a chance to try out some of our great Scottish activities and full of hands on fun.  Watch our new Highland games video here to find out more about it.

Our Highland games experiences are also a popular choice for destination wedding packages.  This can be a great way of getting guests from different sides of the family interacting in a fun way.

Our entertainers and Highland games athletes will take you through each activity helping everyone to learn new skills.  From bagpipes, ceilidh dancing, whisky tasting and falconry to caber tossing, welly wanging, archery and throwing the Scot’s staine there are plenty of different activities to choose from.

We run Highland games experiences for groups from 5 to 1000 guests.  For more information on the different highland games packages we offer, do get in contact.  Give the Reel Time office a call or drop us an email with details about your group and requirements.

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