Help: Burns night panic!

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: GUEST,Peregrine Scott
Date: 25 Jan 03 - 04:08 AM

you can also make vegetarian haggis (lentils and all the spices) or buy it from McSweens
for help with Burns night speeches see this Butns site
it's from the World Burns Club - sound apocalyptic or maybe revolutionary!

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: Schantieman
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 04:48 PM

...except that they're the big ones with orange flesh which many of us call swedes.   As opposed to Swedes, who are the ones with nice big and.........

(This embryonic joke has been withdrawn on the grounds of taste, public decency and the fact that I've lost the will to continue. Black pudding anyone?)

Steve

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 02:30 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: Morticia
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 08:32 AM

neeps are turnips, folks, traditionally served with haggis on Burns night.

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 08:15 AM

our Burns night went well, my reply from the lasses... went well too - got a few laughs...

Though I drank far too much Atholl brose....

hic!

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: GUEST,Murray on Salt Spring
Date: 26 Jan 01 - 11:48 PM

Morticia -- I love that joke. As for Jon's affair, it seems to have been a gas. One thing puzzles me though -- where did you hear about this Burns Tully?? I rack my brains and pore over my famous Scots song index and can't figure out what the dickens it might be.

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: LR Mole
Date: 26 Jan 01 - 01:59 PM

Neeps?

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 26 Jan 01 - 10:35 AM

I know the one you mean... my friends were photographed for the cover of it... much laughing at that one!

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: English Jon
Date: 26 Jan 01 - 10:30 AM

Nice one Dave. I'll keep my eyes peeled (ouch).

Best of Luck, Ella, although I'm sure you're a lot more prepared than I was!

I think they must make amp heads with knackered channels, specially to keep incompetents like me busy...

Cheers, Jon

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: NH Dave
Date: 26 Jan 01 - 10:23 AM

For those not wanting to be caught short next year, there is a Collins Pocket Reference book on Scottish Country Dancing, ISBN 0-00-470987-X, selling for about six pounds in Britain. They did it together with the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, so it must have some validity.

Dave

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 26 Jan 01 - 10:11 AM

Excellent job by the sounds Jon...

We have ours tonight, I am looking forward to it.. I have to do the reply from the lasses... THough I know ours is not going to be a calm affair... our lot are a mad lot... it is mainly the group, their family memembers and guests who were invited to come along...

about 56 of us in all...

Why is there ALWAYS a dodgy mic channel... I thought it was only us who have these problems...

Regards

Ella

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: English Jon
Date: 26 Jan 01 - 09:57 AM

Burns night report:

PA set up with little difficulty, one slightly dodgy mic channel, but that's about it. Audience of mature and sober persons quietly enjoying themselves. Out of sheer terror we played in a very focused sort of way. Went on till 3 in the morning. Guess who had to get up at 6 to be in work?...

Calling went pretty smoothly. Many thanks to all of you for advice. Some audience members reasonably up to speed with steps. Idiot Jon explained a few steps then messed up when it came to the dances, but apart from that pretty good.

HAGGIS was fabulous. Really very good indeed. Served with neeps/tatties and a slice of Venison. Mike piped it in very sucessfully (on his Jon Swayne Border half longs).

Toast to the haggis/ Toast to the Ladies/ Toast to the Laddies Dinner Dancing Some music to finish off.

Audience really enjoyed it. Bar staff insisted we did an extra hour, just for the staff (paid extra!).

Really good gig. Organisers want lots of return bookings. Great stuff.

Many thanks once again,

Jon

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 26 Jan 01 - 04:50 AM

English Jon....

How did it go last night?

I hope you had a good time....

Let us know...

Regards

Ella

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: bill\sables
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 02:48 PM

Or the one about Tony Blair who, after a visit to the White House with Bill Clinton was moaning to his wife as to how he would like the luxury of being US President. "Do you know" he said," Bill Clinton has a gold toilet in a room just off the oval office". Cherie Blair did not beleve this and so she phoned Hillary Clinton to ask if it was true. Hillary answered "No it was not true, but now we know who shit in Bill's saxophone"

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: bill\sables
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 02:43 PM

Or the one about Tony Blair who, after a visit to the White House with Bill Clinton was moaning to his wife as to how he would like the luxury of being US President. "Do you know" he said," Bill Clinton has a gold toilet in a room just off the oval office". Cherie Blair did not beleve this and so she phoned Hillary Clinton to ask if it was true. Hillary answered "No it was not true, but now we know who shit in Bill's saxophone"

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: Jock Morris
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 12:23 PM

Aye, especially if you get hit with the bill:-)

Good luck!

Scott

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: Morticia
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 11:13 AM

Just remember to duck if they hurl the haggis......those little buggers hurt!Good luck!

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: English Jon
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 11:07 AM

Great Gag!

Many thanks all for your help.

I've got to go and set up now, so wish me luck!

It'll be...interesting.

I'll let you know how it went tomorrow.

Thanks again.

Jon

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: Morticia
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 11:04 AM

ooooops, so good she told it twice!

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: Morticia
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 11:00 AM

And if you need to stall for time, try telling this joke:

Tony Blair is being shown around a hospital.

Towards the end of his visit, he is shown into a ward, containing a number of patients showing no obvious signs of injury. He goes to greet the first patient and the chap replies: "Fair fa' yur honest sonsie face, Great chieftain e' the puddin'.race! Aboon them a' ye tak your place, Painch, tripe, or thairm: Weel are ye wordy o' a grace As lang's my arm."

Tony, being somewhat confused, grins and moves on to the next patient and greets him. His response: "Some hae meat, and canna eat, And some wad eat that want it, But we hae meat and we can eat, And sae the Lord be thankit." The third starts rattling off as follows: "Wee sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie, O, what a panic's in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi bickering brattle! I wad be laith to rin an chase thee, Wi murdering pattle!" Tony can't take much more of this, so he turns to the doctor accompanying him, and asks, "What kind of ward is this? Is it a mental ward?" "No," replies the doctor, "It's the Burns Unit".

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: bill\sables
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 10:28 AM

Here is another easy one to do
Drops of Brandy or Strip the Willow

Four, Five or Six couples in longways set men on right of band

1st. couple swing right arms woman goes down line swinging 2nd. man left arm then partner with right and so on to bottom of the set. At the bottom man swings bottom woman then partner and so on back to top of the set Both man and woman swing eachother then 2nd. couple and so on down the set After 1st couple have gone about three couples down 2nd. couple start as before

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: bill\sables
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 10:07 AM

Sweedish Masquerade

Couple dance anywhere around room or in large circle

Man has partner on right holds nearest hand Slow march anticlockwise eight steps turn eight steps back

Music change! Waltz away and together twice then waltz round Repeat last part

Music change! Same movement to polka time twice

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: LR Mole
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 09:15 AM

a) Don't suppose you can get away with Auld Lang Syne all night, hey? b) Didn't Burns do that PBS special on Scottish Jazz? c) The word "lynch" is an irish reference, I believe.

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: Snuffy
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 09:10 AM

Cock o' the North (Aunty Mary) is the usual tune I've heard for the Gay Gordons.

But as the dance is only 16 bars most dance tunes have to be shortened from a 32-bar AABB AABB sequence to AB AB AB AB.

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: English Jon
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 09:07 AM

You're all fantastic. Thanks!

Burns Tully apparently is off, having spoken to the organiser. I'm still none the wiser...

We've just been and picked up the P.A. and the Highland Kit for the piper... Only two hours in which to organise dances...Arghhhhhhh.

Thanks again for all the advice.

Jon

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: alison
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 08:05 AM

For Gay Gordons.. we use Scotland the brave, Loch Lomond, Marie's wedding, Kelvin Grove etc...... most things in 4/4 work.....

we did a Burn's night last night.. the piper forgot to turn up so I "accordioned" in the haggis........ and very yummy it was too......

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: Mikey joe
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 08:01 AM

Yes The SM is march waltz polka. And that's all it is. Over and over and faster and faster and round and round. Apparently It's is actually Danish, the Danes regard the Swedes as basically having their head up their arse when it comes to dancing (better be careful here) So that's th eposh march waltz bit, and the crazy polkaing is the danish part. So I've been told (apparently)

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: Jock Morris
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 07:56 AM

Yes, Scotland the Brave does work for the Gay Gordons:

Couples dance anti-clockwise round the room, men to the inside. Hold is right arm round the back of the lady, about shoulder height; left arm in front about waist height. Dance forward for 4, turn round and dance backwards for 4 (still going anti-clockwise) then forward for 4, turn and backwards for 4 (to get back to where you started). Now the man walks forward while turning the lady under his right arm 4 times (count of 16?). Then waltz round (count of 16 again?).

Why is it so much easier to dance it than describe?:-)

Scott

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 07:49 AM

on the balance bit for the D.W.S... we do a paddy bar...

The scottish thingy where you put one hand up do a little shuffle, and then the other hand on the hip, then swap around and do the shuffle again...

Gay gordons... well - if it is a burns night... then most people would know it...

Find two people you can say to would they mind getting up on the floor to do the dance... and tell people to follow them... that's what usually happens...

dancers=

male on left, woman on right...

cross hands..man hold ladies right hand in their right hand - over the back of shoulder...

left hand to left hand up at shoulder level..

forward for 4 twist and back for 4 (heading in same direction)

men twiddle the ladies for 4

then a quick waltz hold turn for 3 then on again..

Can't be sure... I think I may have missed some out..

But best to get a couple to start it up for you...

And yes Scotland the Brave... was the tune I was thinking of...

Ella

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: English Jon
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 07:33 AM

Thanks Bill/sables.

Previously only called two dances in entire life!

so,

DWS is sicillian circle.

Mikey joe:

Swedish masquerade, isn't that: March:Waltz:Polka or something?

I'll try and find it.

Thanks guys.

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 07:33 AM

Scotland the Brave works for the Gay Gordons if I recall...

As for steps #, try a seacrh on Scottish Country Dance.. some sites also have midis of tunes..

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: Mikey joe
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 07:20 AM

The Swedish Masquerade is a handy one and easy to call. Good if your stcuk EJohn

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: bill\sables
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 06:25 AM

Dashing White Sargeant Sicillian circle of three dancers facing three any combination , odd one in middle

Circle left for 8 bars Circle right for 8 bars Middle dancer face right partner and balance and turn Middle dancer face left partner and balance and turn figure of eight in rows Foreward and back Foreward and back and pass through to next three

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: English Jon
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 05:33 AM

Excellent... Thanks Ella Have now found the tune for D.W.S. Good init? Anyone know the steps?

Cheers Jon

Subject: RE: Help: Burns night panic!
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 04:59 AM

There is a tune called the Dashing white sargeant... which is what we dance to locally around here...

Gay gordons has a good tune to off the top of my head I can't think of it.

Best of luck!

Ella

Subject: Burns night panic!
From: English Jon
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 03:33 AM

Help! got to do a Scottish gig at very short notice: Hence, I need to know:

Burns Tully: what is it?

Gay Gordons Eightsome Reel Dashing White Sergeant

Best versions (steps to call and best tune)

I think I'm going to get lynched... any suggestions?

Jon