Our aims
Our side exists to enable members to enjoy dancing and playing Manx and Garland dances; to promote the traditions of Morris as practised through the ages, both by teaching and learning, and taking our dances out into the community to entertain and to familiarise audiences with our hobby.
Payment
While recognising that some paid performances are valuable to maintain a healthy bank balance (which pays for hall hire, kit, music, publicity materials and transport expenses), we are not principally a money-making enterprise. Therefore, members should be informed about requests for our appearance at engagements, unless the distance is prohibitive or an engagement already in the calendar rules a request out. Thereafter, decisions about which engagements we are willing to consider are broadly collective ones.
Consultation
When speaking with event organisers on the phone, the Events Co-ordinator should ask first whether a budget is available. If this is the case, a fee can be negotiated, dependent on the size of the event (and budget) and the time slot envisaged. (Broadly, a sum between £100 and £50 is usual.) The the Events Co-ordinator should then give organisers a date by which the side will have been consulted and a decision made based on numbers willing/available to dance. Where no fee is possible, (for example, at an organisation’s charity fund-raising event) we will notify members of the request, and take each case on its merits. If sufficient members wish to participate, we may offer our services. Thus we are likely from time to time to dance without a fee, although where appropriate, we may ask about taking a collection.
Summary of types of engagements we will do
- If we can get sufficient dancers and musicians, we are likely to accept for no fee dance-outs organised by other sides, where we appear principally to enjoy the company of fellow Morris dancers and musicians (though food at a pub, for example, is always gratefully accepted).
- We may also choose to appear for a fee at engagements such as fetes and ceilidhs where our performance is one of the attractions laid on by the organisers.
- We may choose also to support a fund-raising event by appearing for no fee.
Officers
We acknowledge that the guidance of our Treasurer and the Events Co-ordinator should be sought as each request is considered, as they have close knowledge of the finances and the programme, and can advise members on our commitments for each season and the current financial position. Members should be aware that if they have not responded to an email consulting them about a possible engagement within three days, then it will be assumed they have no strong feelings either way. However, members are reminded that a response is necessary to allow the Squire and Bookings Secretary to know numbers for planning, and so members are urged to respond and to do so as promptly as possible. There is an expectation that all members and musicians bring their diaries with them to every practice.
Written 2016
Reviewed and updated September 2021.