Les reckons around "Band members will probably leave home around 6pm"

I wish!! Most bands I know would prbably be setting up then for a 7:30 or 8:00 start. So distance dependent, add your journey time to that for leaving home. At the other end of thse scale, with a midnight finish, you'll be looking at leaving a venue "around 1 am once you've broken down the gear, packed the van or cars, and divid up the fee in the car park in the dark. 11 30 finishes seem a little more common these days... which helps a bit.

Yes, ceilidhs are both cheap and incredible value for money...good luck with organising yours Les... the band you book will at least be working for someone who understands/appreciates them

On another tack, I find it interesting that most bands who responded seem to charge more for weddings

Baz
ABU