Reel Time Events are pleased to announce the new Roddy the Piper website is now live!

The Reel Time Family of websites is currently undergoing a much needed refresh, the first of which to get a new look was Reel Time Bars which has been live since the start of the year.

Now the RoddythePiper website has had its much needed update, with a clean and simple design that is easy to navigate.  The new site has updated images and media including video and audio samples so you can see Roddy in action.

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Roddy piping on stage in Las Vegas

If you would like to discuss your event and hire Roddy to help make it an event to remember then please contact us.

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Last month Roddy was lucky enough to be invited by Visit Scotland, along with his colleague Will Marshall, to a week long tour of India where they helped promote Scotland as a destination to the Indian leisure industry.

Visiting Mumbai, Chandigarh and Delhi, it was a whirlwind of a week, with Roddy and Will providing an interactive bagpipe playing and ceilidh dance experience for all of the leisure buyers (DMCs, travel agents and tour companies) in attendance in each city. Along with the musical entertainment guests were also treated to a Reel Time whisky tasting experience, giving them a sample of Scotlands favourite tipple and aiding with the lubrication for ceilidh dancing.

From arriving in Mumbai  and a hair-raising taxi ride at 2am to the hotel, to an interactive whisky tasting with no whisky in Chandigarh and a very in-depth conversation comparing tea tasting to whisky tasting in Delhi, it was an exciting and interesting trip.  Roddy and Will were lucky enough to meet and work with some amazing people, Visit Scotland Staff and all the staff at the venues across India, along with all of the buyers that attended the 3 events.

Such an incredible trip was full of highlights – An evening at the Delhi High Comission,  avoiding the infamous “Delhi-Belly” or being involved in such an amazing and incredibly well-planned and executed adventure, helping promote Scotland on the international stage.  #Scotspirit

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To start their Scottish adventure guests were welcomed to the amazing location of Dundas Castle by a Reel Time piper.  Guests then had the chance to give the bagpipes a try themselves in our bagpipe masterclass, with our piper giving some expert advice and tuition, and also to test their dancing skills in our ceilidh masterclass.  With our professional dancers to lead the way as the accordion supplied the music, guests rocked and reeled with a real party atmosphere, before the evenings entertainment.

The piper then piped guests out to the fireworks in the grounds of the castle and then to dinner in the castle itself.

To conclude their trip, guests were treated to an afternoon of Scottish cuisine and culture.  As the group made their way from the hotel to Cabaret Voltaire they were met by Roddy the piper who let them up the bridges and to lunch accompanied by the rousing sound of the pipes.  On arrival at the venue guests were treated to a freshly prepared lunch supplied by local cafe August 21.  A selection of fresh produce including Scottish smoked salmon, Scottish venison, and a selection of salads and platters made from locally sourced and seasonal produce. A selection of drinks were available from Reel Time Bars, including locally produced wines, before the artisan tastings commenced.

Guests sampled a selection of Scottish produce from different providers, and led through the best way to taste and appreciate them by the expert tasters.  With a chance to sample a selection of 4 different Scottish cheeses, 4 varieties of Scottish Gin, a selection of chocolate made in Edinburgh and a selection of the finest malt whisky, guests had an opportunity to taste the best of what Scotland has to offer.  In this, the Year of Food and Drink it was especially pleasing to be able to introduce everyone to some of the best produce from around the country.

Once everyone was full to the brim with food and drink they were then wowed by our very own Chris Findlay performing the traditional “sword dance” and then it was the guests turn to get involved.  With Roddy on the pipes there was a farewell Virginia Reel for everyone to work off some calories for lunch and end the afternoon on a high.

If you are bringing an incentive group to Scotland and would like to see how Reel Time Events can make it memorable and give your guests a real taste of Scotland click here to contact us, or call us to discuss your Edinburgh Incentive requirements.

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Travelling from South Africa for their incentive trip Momentum were treated to a truly Scottish experience by Reel Time Events for the Edinburgh part of their journey.  With great collaboration between Reel Time Events and Thundermark in the run-up to the event, guests were treated to the best entertainment possible for their visit to Edinburgh.  To get both groups in the mood for the evenings entertainment they were fitted into kilt outfits for the gentlemen and sashes for the ladies – in all 80 kilt outfits and 70 sashes were successfully fitted across 2 venues over 6 hours, while the Reel Time team also offered some local knowledge and tourist info for how to spend the day, before the evening kicked off in Reel Time Style.

With entertainment at 2 different venues for the 2 groups it was a busy night for the Reel Time Team.  The first groups gala dinner and entertainment was held at the stunning Hopetoun House, where they were greeted by a welcome piper on arrival.  During the drinks reception there was a spectacular surprise Beat the Retreat, to give the guests a real rousing taste of Scotland before sitting down to dinner.  No Scottish gala dinner is really complete without a haggis course and whisky, and this was no exception, with Roddy addressing the haggis for the guests and William Wallace talking to them about the whiskies on offer.  After dinner to really get the pulses racing it was over to the Scraggly Cats, with their rocking ceilidh sound.  Accompanied by highland dancers opening the show with contemporary dance display, guests were treated to a mixture of funky ceilidh and pop from the band, through to conclude the evening on a high.

The second group were treated to their gala dinner and entertainment at the spectacular Ghillie Dhu, where they were treated to a truly exciting evening of entertainment.  With a magician performing street style, close up illusions and slight of hand over the drinks reception, guests were then wowed by Tartaniums high-impact, high-energy performance after dinner.  Blending bagpipes with electric guitar, keys and drums their exciting and innovative take on traditional Scottish ceilidh music created a real excitement with the guests.   Accompanied by their troupe of mini-kilted dancers performing their choreographed contemporary highland dance routine, everyone was treated to an exciting and contemporary twist on  traditional Scottish Ceilidh.

The following day both groups took the opportunity to head south for Scotland vs South Africa in the rugby World Cup, the result going the way of the visitors and adding to their great memories of their trip.

If you would like to discuss your incentive trip to Scotland and see how Reel Time Events can provide an exciting and memorable experience for your staff please contact us.

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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.

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Reel Time Events had the pleasure of being part of the M&I Forum held in Edinburgh, in conjunction with Visit Scotland, providing a rousing Scottish experience and entertainment for the hundreds of meeting and event planners visiting our city from across the globe.

The Meetings and Incentive (M&I) Forum is a speed dating-style networking event bringing together buyers and suppliers from the events industry across Europe and gives them a taste of what Scotland has to offer. Reel Time Events helped Visit Scotland showcase the best of Scottish entertainment as part of the social programme.

Across the week of the event, Reel Time Events provided stilted Scottish performers and fire performers, along with Roddy the Piper welcoming the delegates to The Assembly Rooms for their evening reception.  Rachel Hair was also there, providing beautiful background music on the clarsach during dinner.

Photograph: MAVERICK PHOTO AGENCY

Photograph: MAVERICK PHOTO AGENCY

For the delegates gala dinner many of the guests wanted to fully immerse themselves in culture and traditions of a Scottish Ceilidh and wear kilt outfits to the event.  With the help of our new “how to measure” kilt video, delegates were able to provide their sizes in advance so that kilt outfits could be provided for all those that wanted one.  Distributed in the afternoon during the Forum at the EICC, guests were able to view our “how to wear” your kilt video for a bit of helpful guidance and gave them the afternoon to get in the mood, ready for the evening of fun and frolics.

The gala dinner itself was held in the National Museum, where the delegates were treated to a rousing and upbeat performance from the Reel Time Band, with their modern and contemporary twist on a traditional ceilidh.  Gemma Donald, Young Traditional Musician finalist, also performed a rousing solo during dinner.  Along with the band, our highland dancers were in attendance, showcasing their skills on the dancefloor for the guests and helping guide them through the various dances called by the band, including one of the largest “Orcadian Strip the Willow” the band has ever seen!

Photograph: MAVERICK PHOTO AGENCY

Photograph: MAVERICK PHOTO AGENCY

Photograph: MAVERICK PHOTO AGENCY

Photograph: MAVERICK PHOTO AGENCY

Photograph: MAVERICK PHOTO AGENCY

Photograph: MAVERICK PHOTO AGENCY

Photograph: MAVERICK PHOTO AGENCY

Photograph: MAVERICK PHOTO AGENCY

For the grand finale, the evening was brought to a close by a “beat the retreat” by a band of pipes and drums, a spectacular end to the evening in a spectacular venue.

Photograph: MAVERICK PHOTO AGENCY

Photograph: MAVERICK PHOTO AGENCY

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To watch a video of the ceilidh and pipe band click here

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After such an amazing week organised by Visit Scotland, we are looking forward to welcoming many of the delegates organising their own incentive trips and meetings in our beautiful city.  If this is the sort of experience you would like visitors and guests of your conference or incentive trip to experience then please contact us for a tailored quote.

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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

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Reel Time Events provided first class Scottish entertainment for new year for many revellers in the lead up to Hogmanay this year. Starting early, Roddy the Piper provided some upbeat bagpipe tunes for New Zealand party goers awaiting the bells at 11am on the 31^st December and soon after for the Australians at 1pm at the Three Sisters Pub.

Later in the day Roddy the Piper and the Reel Time Ceilidh Band went to the Dalmahoy Hotel to play for guests awaiting the New Year. In the lead up to the bells the band played a mixture of ceilidh tunes to get the crowd in high spirits. Just before the bells, a Full Pipe Band played as did Roddy the Piper to signal the arrival of a new year. After this Roddy wished everyone a happy new year and the traditional ‘Auld Lang Syne’ was performed with guests joining in. Amidst the mayhem a dancer helped get the crowd dancing and assisted in ceilidh calling, creating a lively atmosphere at the dawn of 2014.

Meanwhile Reel Time’s Traditional Ceilidh Band played for guests in Forgans, St. Andrews. Guests enjoyed ceilidh dancing and traditional Scottish folk tunes before 2014 arrived.

After all the New Year celebrations Reel Time Bars served up drinks,  teas and coffees at the DanceBase in the Grassmarket on New Year’s Day. The hot coffee helped revive crowds after the events that took place over the past 24 hours! This event was part of the official Hogmanay

Scot:Lands festival that took place throughout Edinburgh’s Old Town.

Reel Time would like to thank everybody at these events for their Hogmanay cheer and wish everybody a Happy New Year!

If you need Scottish entertainment for New Year. Get in touch early to ensure the best Scottish performers.

Three Sisters Pub. Australian and New Zealand New Years Celebrations.

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Travelling with Visit Scotland to the IMEX American Convention Roddy helped share Scotland’s culture and tradition with the USA. IMEX is the largest conference for the MICE industry (meetings, incentives, conferences and events) representing 148 countries and 2,400 hosted buyers.

Visit Scotland travelled to Las Vegas to showcase Scotland’s tourism industry; it was a great opportunity to display Scotland’s potential to representatives from around the world.

Demonstrating Scotland’s cultural heritage Roddy led a Whisky Tasting session as well as stabbing and addressing a haggis in his unique style. Roddy drew crowds of international buyers to partake in the tasting of Scotland’s finest whiskies and wowed spectators with his classic recitation of Robert Burn’s ‘Address to a Haggis.’

Roddy also participated in a Hosted Buyer’s Party by playing the pipes alongside a saxophonist and electric percussionist at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. Roddy piped traditional Scottish tunes accompanied by the glamorous saxophonist to welcome guests to the Party.

Roddy and the talented Vegas entertainer beside the Wynn Waterfalls in Las Vegas

Thank you to Visit Scotland for heading to Las Vegas and to IMEX for hosting a fantastic conference; it was a great opportunity to share Scotland’s culture with the world.

Roddy piping on stage in Las Vegas

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Basically the idea was that the contestants on the show had to compete in highland games activities.  I was asked to pipe them on to the field, and then introduce the activities, caber tossing, archery and maide leisg.

It was a great day of filming, with a cast of 60 on site on the day, to make the production come alive.

If you are looking for Scottish acts or entertainers to work for your TV production or film, then get in touch. We work with a huge variety of Scottish cultural performers, and will help you produce the scenes you are looking to create. www.reel-time.co.uk

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