The problem is that what they are apparently delivering is not what they advertise. Their website gives the impression that they are an established band with a more or less fixed lineup, whereas reading between the lines the reality seems to be it is a net for attracting bookings for which they will then put together a scratch band from local musicians. How can that equate with their claim to be "the UK's premier ceilidh and barn dance band"?

As I said before, I don't doubt the bands provided are good musicians or that their clients go away happy. However they won't have got what was advertised. Just because it's aimed at a market which may be fairly undiscerning, does that make it acceptable?

My own band will use deps from time to time, but usually not more than one in a lineup. Sometimes we'll agree with a client to go out with reduced numbers for a lower fee in order to meet their budget, but we'll tell them that's what we'll be doing so there's no misucnderstanding. If we can't get enough regular members to do a gig, then one of us will sometimes put together a scratch band, but that doesn't then go out under our band's name. It's about being honest with your customers.

I don't think this band's marketing practices reflect well on them. More worringly, it doesn't reflect well on the ceilidh band scene as a whole. They obviously don't care much about that, but it is alarming that we might all be tarred with the same brush.