The post Entertaining at VisitScotland’s Expo 2016 appeared first on Reel Time Events.

Burns Night is always one of the busiest periods of the year for Reel Time Events, and 2016 was no different.  Here is a quick roundup of this year’s events and what we have been doing to help celebrate our great Bard’s birthday

Roddy and the Scraggly Cats had the pleasure of entertaining the Builders Merchants Federation at Dalmahoy Golf and Country Club.  Roddy was on hand to address the haggis and then join the Scraggly Cats for their funky and up beat fusion of ceilidh and pop, giving all of the guests a fantastic party for the evening.

---

At Aberdeen’s AECC Roddy and the team were entertaining not one but two Burns Night events.  The first was a Burns supper for a corporate client, who were entertained by Roddy and the Reel Time Band and provided a bangingburnsnight for all the guests.

The second event at the AECC also included Highland Games Activities and a whisky tasting, giving guests a taste of all things Scottish, before being entertained by the Reel Time Band in the evening.

---

Back in Edinburgh Roddy was busy at various venues across the city.  Mansfield Traquair’s Burn’s night celebration was an intimate party in a grand venue, with Heritage Portfolio key staff, board of directors and invited guests from their parent company entertained by Roddy and the Scraggly Cats, and treated to one of Roddy’s characterful and animated Haggis Addresses.

---

At the EICC the Reel Time Ceilidh Band accompanied by our talented Highland Dancers entertained a group of hosted DMCs, to give them a taste of a Reel Time Burns night celebration and a night to remember.

---

Roddy offered up a contemporary performance at the National Museum of Scotland for the Burns Unbound event, playing a contemporary bagpipe set with a dance backing track and accompanied by the fabulous Tartanium dancers.  We were lucky enough to be given a video of the event by one of the guests, Mr K Bryce Morrison, which you can see here

---

And just when you though it was a hard life for a piper over Burns season, Roddy’s last job was to jet to Madrid for one final Burns night, playing at the Ambassadors residence for a secret client, where he treated guests to a rousing haggis address, and playing his pipes and encouraging some ceilidh dancing in the warmer climbs of a Madrid evening.

The post Burns Night and Haggis stabbing with Reel Time Events appeared first on Reel Time Events.

Held in the stunning venue of the National Museum in Edinburgh BGL’s senior management were treated to a Scottish show with a contemporary twist from Reel Time Events, where delegates were truly immersed in Scottish culture for the evening.

Reel Time provided the ladies with tartan sashes to compliment the gentlemen in their kilt outfits to get everyone dressed for an evening of Scottish entertainment.  Delegates were welcomed in true Scottish style by a bagpiper as the arrived at the event.  Once inside there was a host of entertainment for everyone to enjoy.  Edinburghs Got Soul Choir wowed from the first level balcony with their powerful, passionate and professional performance to the party below with their rousing and high energy harmonies.

Then it was the Reel Time Bands turn to entertain with their own unique and rocking twist on a ceilidh.  Accompanied by both traditional and contemporary dancers the 7-piece ensemble, complete with singer, rocked the crowd with a Reel Time twist.

To close the night guests were treated to a spectacular “beat the retreat” by Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia Pipe band, marching through the museum.  An amazing finale to a very exciting and eventful evening.

For a sneek peek video of the event, and what goes on in the museum after hours click here.

If you would like a bespoke quote for your Scottish evening, tailored to you exact requirements contact us to discuss your requirements

The post Scottish Conference for BGL in Edinburgh appeared first on Reel Time Events.

At the cutting edge of the Scottish events and entertainment scene, Reel Time Events provides contemporary and innovative Scottish events and memorable entertainment.  The office team comprises 6 of the finest entertainers in their fields.  The team is young and vibrant, helping to bring some fresh and exciting entertainment solutions for events.

Roddy Deans – Company Director, haggis stabber and bagpipe master.

Roddy has been entertaining audiences in Scotland and across the world for over 20 years.  Whether with the Reel Time Band, as a lone piper or compering an event, with Roddy on the job you are guaranteed a memorable Scottish experience.

Claire Weir – Wedding Coordinator, seamstress and gift bag stuffer.

Claire is our resident wedding coordinator, who will make sure that your wedding  goes to plan and is a fantastic experience for you and your guests.  With years of experience Claire works closely with all of our wedding couples to deliver the perfect day for everyone. Claires passion and enthusiasm for wedding planning is limitless, so much so she still has enough energy to produce our beautiful luxury giftbags, and as the only lady in the office keep all the boys in line.

David Fletcher – Conference Coordinator and fine whisky nose.

Dave is our conference planner and resident whisky expert.  Having worked as event planner at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, his knowledge and passion for whisky is incredible.  Along with planning and coordinating our conferences he often heads out to educate the masses on whisky tastings with his big fine nose.

Chris Findlay – Corporate event planner and highland dancer.

Chris is our corporate events planner and dancer extraordinaire.  With his 15 years of dancing experience working with Roddy we thought its about time he took it easy so we have given him a desk job!  He knows what makes the difference between a good performance and a truly memorable one, and is a great man to have planning and coordinating your event.  We do roll him out for the occasional dancing job too, just so he doesn’t get too comfy behind his desk.

Mooj – Kilt fitter and highland games heavy.

Mooj is our resident kilt expert and has several years of experience working within the kilt hire industry.  He is most likely to be found demonstrating to the uninitiated how to correctly wear a kilt, and convincing them how liberating a breeze between the knees really is!   His orange sporran (don’t ask!)  is often spotted on highland games events and artisan workshops, injecting some extra Scottish fun to proceedings.

Mark Gilligan – The Beardy Barman.

Mark is the man for all things alcoholic – as part of our team he is the one who looks after the bar and protects the whisky from Dave! An incredibly talented barman and cocktail maker he can create anything from classic cocktails to bespoke creations for your event, and he can even teach you the skills you need to create your own through his amazing masterclasses.

Everyone in Reel Time Events would like to say a big thank you to David Ho Photography for coming to the office and taking these great photos.  His relaxed and easy going style instantly put everyone at ease and got fantastic shots of the team together and individually.  Roddy and David have known each other for 15 years and been at several of the same weddings together, with David documenting many couples big day.  Now David is moving into a new area and taking fantastic images perfect for professional and social media profiles.  Check out a selection of his images here.

The post Meet the Reel Time Events Team appeared first on Reel Time Events.

Common with destination couples looking to give their guests an introduction to Scotland’s favourite tipple; we can offer guests three or four single malt whisky’s from all over Scotland. Tastings can be personalised if desired and all levels of expertise can be catered for. Whisky cocktails can be offered as a supplement for ladies if required and all whisky, crystal glassware and expert tasters are included.

A popular option during the drinks reception is falconry. Our falconer can treat guests to full bird displays as well as handling to allow for some bespoke photos. With everything from falcons and eagles to everyone’s favourite barn owl it is impossible not to get excited over these birds of prey.

Another highly desired piece of entertainment to provide some discussion over dinner would be a magician. Not one for a balloon animal our award winning magician can amaze you and your guests with pick pocketing, sleight of hand magic and of course dazzling card tricks. Often a slow burner but as soon as word spreads there is a magician the whole room becomes captivated and discussions about how it was done can lead to great debates during the wedding breakfast.

As you transition from day to evening you will need something to ensure the dancefloor is full all night. With a rocking, contemporary twist on ceilidh the Reel Time Band are here to help. With the option of a four or five piece band their expert caller can have guests dancing along to the Gay Gordon’s in no time. An excellent choice as an ice breaker for guests. If required we can also filter some disco classics throughout via iPod to give those feet a rest.

Or perhaps you fancy a surprise treat for your bride or groom as well as guests then why not consider a Beat the Retreat. This spectacular offering from one of Scotland’s leading pipe bands will leave you and your guests feeling seriously patriotic. The bands performance will last roughly fifteen minutes with some of everyone’s favourite tunes being played. Before the band march themselves out the Pipe Major will offer his final salute to the bride and groom.

Why end the celebrations after the big day itself? Get guests together the following day to relive the best moments and take part in some traditional Highland Games activities to finish everything on a high. Our enthusiastic events team are on hand to deliver some of the most authentic Scottish activities which can include caber tossing, hammer throwing, archery, welly wanging and even a bag pipe masterclass. We can supply the prizes and ensure that winners are treated to a champion’s reception.

Lastly, nobody wants their guests to go thirsty on their big day, does your venue not have a drinks licence? Then why not let Reel Time Bars supply you with everything you may need, with a great selection of beers, wines and spirits it can be as simple as you like. If required we can take care of the champagne reception and even offer some bride and groom themed cocktails.

For further inspiration and information please contact our wedding coordinator Claire at 0131 346 8393 or weddings@reel-time.co.uk

Photo Credits: Claire Weir, Jonathon Fowler, Bluesky and Roddy Deans.

The post Reel Time Events – The One Stop Wedding Shop appeared first on Reel Time Events.

Burns night is the annual celebration and commemoration of the life, work and spirit of Scotland’s great poet Robert Burns. From his humble beginnings on the family farm in Ayr, his passion and dynamic, contemporary vision has elevated him into one of Scotlands most loved and celebrated figures.  Every year, around the great Bards birthday on the 25th January, Burns night is celebrated across the globe. Remembering his famous and humorous poetry and songs, often aided with a generous serving of haggis and lashings of whisky – a celebration Burns himself  would have been proud of!  Reel Time had the pleasure and honour to help celebrate this great occasion across Scotland in a number of venues.

Starting in the granite city, in Aberdeen’s AECC, Roddy was piping and stabbing haggis for their clients evening.  The Scraggly Cats band wowed the crowd at an oil and gas industy Burns night with their blend of rocking ceilidh, rock, pop and soul music.  Keeping everyone on their feet with their dynamic and energetic performance, everyone danced and drank and thoroughly enjoyed their evening.

Tartanium also made their way north, to Ardoe House, creating a stir with their high octane performance.  Supported by the Tartanium dancers, it was a spectacular performance of music and dance that injected a new dimension into the Scottish celebrations.

Moving south to the heart of the country, working with Historic Scotland in Stirling Castle, Reel Time provided an evenings entertainment, with comedy from Fred MacAuley, Sandy Strang, and Jane McCarry, and music from Barluath – a new and exciting band from Glasgow who embrace the traditional and contemporary music of Scotland, and feature Ainsley V Hamill, finalist from Scottish Young Traditional Musician of the year.

In our beautiful capital, in the spectacular surroundings of The Hub, the Reel Time Band played their lively and energetic ceilidh music, keeping the Federation of Master Builders entertained for the evening, while Roddy was the evening’s compere, addressing the haggis, keeping proceedings on track and introducing “a toast to the lasses” “reply from the lasses” and “the Immortal Memory”.  The Full Burns night entertainment package! 

The Reel Time Band also played at the beautiful venue of Norton House Hotel, helping the Heineken crowd enjoy their celebrations and keep the them rocking into the early hours.

Burns Night is such a special and exciting evening, and it was truly a pleasure to help all of our guests enjoy and celebrate the life and poetry of our great Bard.  If you would like to book your event for 2016 and celebrate Burns night in style please contact us

The post Burns Night the Reel Time Way appeared first on Reel Time Events.

Reel Time Events has had a busy and varied year in 2014, and as it’s the end of the year, we would like to share some of our highlights from across the year.

Our corporate events and conferences have been as busy as ever, and in partnership with some of the best conference centers and 5 star venues in Scotland, we have had the pleasure of entertaining a great many delegates from a number of the world’s leading companies and organisations.  From Burns night with the Reel Time Band and highland dancers at Stirling Castle to highland games at Merchant Square for SUI, Reel Time Events has immersed delegates from far and wide in the spirit and traditions of Scotland while providing a contemporary and innovative twist.

Providing a full entertainment program to help Best Western Hotels “make the magic happen” at its conference at Glasgows Science Center, Reel Time Events arranged a variety of performers, including The Reel Time Band and The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, fire performers, magicians and stilt walkers across the 2 evenings.  The drinks reception, including whisky cocktails were provided by Reel Time Bars, and there was also a Scottish-made chocolate workshop, demonstrating the power of cocoa, giving delegates the chance to try chocolate sorbet and an indulgent hot chocolate shot.

Working alongside Visit Scotland, Reel Time Events also provided their own brand of contemporary Scottish entertainment for 1000 VIP guests at the Visit Scotland Expo networking event Scotland in the city, held at Merchants Square in Glasgow.  Performers included the Reel Time Band and Clanadonia.

We have also had the opportunity to help with team building and incentive events for various clients, including a highland games event for BMW/Mini at Dundas Castle, providing the opportunity for the company’s highest achievers to do some networking, while participating in highland games and other typically Scottish activities both inside and out.

Working with various conference partners we have helped deliver opening and closing ceremonies for conferences at the SECC, EICC and AECC, providing everything from whisky tastings, haggis shy and indoor curling as part of the newtorking entertainment to Scottish gala dinner spectaculars.

Our weddings business has been equally as exciting and varied, and we have been lucky enough to help many couples celebrate their special day, from providing pipers at premier locations across the country to evening entertainment for the reception to help celebrate the day in style.  The Reel Time Band, Scraggly Cats and Tartanium have all been part of creating a real impact for wedding guests with their fresh and funky twist on Scottish music, along with more traditional ceilidh, function and jazz bands.  With events at Dalmahoy Country and Golf Club, Mansfield Traquair, Fairmont St Andrews and The Hub, Reel Time Events has worked with some of the most prestigious venues in Scotland. The Teepee wedding in the grounds of the stunning Cluny Castle in Aberdeen was a particularly memorable event this year, for being that little bit more unusual, with the wedding taking place in a traditional teepee in the fairytail setting of the castle.   Roddy the Piper has also travelled to Germany and Egypt to provide a Reel Time taste of Scotland for weddings in foreign lands.

The post Reel Time Event’s 2014 Highlights appeared first on Reel Time Events.

Last week Reel Time Events were pleased to provide a comprehensive entertainment and events package for SIU (Société Internationale d’Urologie) In partnership with Meeting Makers, Reel Time Events helped immerse the delegation of over 1000 attendees from across the world in a truly Scottish experience, giving them a taste of our authentic and exciting culture as part of the conference’s social program.

As delegates arrived at Merchant Square they were welcomed by a lone piper, fire performers and 6-piece drummers, making a memorable start to the evening. With a spectacular start outside, there was plenty more to follow once inside Merchants Square.

The entertainment and activities inside were both spectacular and interactive, allowing everyone attending to really get involved and experience the true spirit of Scotland. With stilt walkers roaming the square clad in tartan, the guests were offered the chance to participate in some traditional and more innovative highland games events and Scottish activities, while being able to do some networking with the other delegates.
From tossing the caber (a foam one to toss, but a real one on display) with true highland games competitors, to indoor curling and Haggis Shy there were some physical events for everyone to try and prizes to be won.

For those less athletic, there was beer tasting, offering 3 different craft beers from the local Harviestoun Brewery, with the opportunity to experience the raw ingredients along with sampling the fantastic variety of tastes on offer. Various workshops were also on offer to get involved, with an opportunity to play the bagpipes, precussion instruments and ceilidh dance too. The Clann were also in attendance, getting everyone involved in dressing like a true Scot, and letting guests see and wear traditional kilts, armour and weapons from times gone by.

Once all the delegates had been fed by the various bars and restaurants around Merchants Square, organised by Meeting Makers, the Clann then went to battle – for 15 minutes sparks few and the guests’s breath was taken away as members of the Clann fought in the center of the Square, surrounded by a crowd of (often aghast) onlookers.

Once the battle had been fought (and everyone had a chance to regain their breath) the Reel Time Band, then took the stage, along with a team of Ceilidh dancers on the floor to lead all the guests in some traditional Scottish Ceilidh dances. Rocking the crowd with its own blend of traditional and contemporary ceilidh music, the evening continued with guests participating in all of the different and events, spread across the different areas of Merchants Square.

Guests had an incredible experience and huge amount of fun, trying new skills and learning about Scotland at the same time.  For a full gallery of all the images from the night click here

Along with providing the entertainment at Merchants Square, Reel Time Events also provided the entertainment for the opening ceremony at Glasgow’s world famous SECC, with bagpipers, pipeband and highland dancers to provide an authentic Scottish welcome. At Glasgow’s Kelvingrove, for the delegates gala dinner, Reel Time provided a Jazz band to give a different and more modern feel to the occasion.

“Now that we are home safe and sound I just wanted to send a very big thank you to you for providing all of the entertainment for the various SIU events last week. You really did capture what Scotland is all about and our attendees, as well as our staff, really got a great feel for it. So thank you once again for making our event an incredibly memorable one!

So, if you to would like to immerse your conference delegates and guests in a spectacular and entertaining event that they can be part of, and remember for many years to come, contact Reel Time Events to see how we can entertain you

The post Reel Time Events at Merchant Square appeared first on Reel Time Events.

Virgin Atlantic Brand Event

Last week Reel Time Events organised pipers to lead guests from the Radisson and the Missoni Hotel up The Royal Mile to Virgin Atlantic’s brand event.

Pipers were branded with Virgin Atlantic banners attached to their drones. Once all the guests reached The Hub one of the pipers addressed the haggis. This was followed by a dance performance by traditional highland dancers.

After this The Reel Time Ceilidh Band played some upbeat traditional Scottish tunes to get the guests dancing; the dances were called to give instructions to guests who were new to the Ceilidh dance steps.

At intervals, some of the 150 evening guests attended the branded photobooth organised by Reel Time Events to capture the moment!

Alongside the evening’s entertainment, the Reel Time Bar set up two branded bars for Virgin Atlantic.

Here is a photo from the event:

Addressing the Haggis

Reel Time Events enjoyed working in The Hub  and with Virgin Atlantic; it was a fantastic night!

The post Virgin Atlantic – Branded Event appeared first on Reel Time Events.

The post Secret Scottish Event in London appeared first on Reel Time Events.