Roddy the Piper goes live!

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.

Roddy piping on stage in Las Vegas

Picture Copyright Chris Watt Tel – 07887 554 193 info@chriswatt.com http://www.chriswatt.com

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

 

Roddy the Piper will go a long way for a good curry!

One of our great loves at Reel Time Events is promoting Scottish culture, produce and music with passion and enthusiasm.  Much of this is done here in Scotland, showcasing our great nation to visitors from far flung lands, but occasionally we are lucky enough to get the opportunity to promote Scotland on the International stage.

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

Rackspace visit Edinburgh for Incentive Trip

Reel Time Events were happy to welcome Rackspace to Edinburgh for their incentive trip with a selection of experiences to fully immerse the group in Scottish culture.

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 dicuss your requirements.

 

 

 

 

Reel Time Events and ThunderMark team up to welcome Momentum to Edinburgh

Reel Time Events, working with Thundermark, welcomed the Momentum group to the Edinburgh leg of their incentive trip.

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.

Scottish Conference for BGL in Edinburgh

Reel Time Events had the pleasure of entertaining the senior management team at the BGL group for their Gala dinner at Edinburgh’s National Museum of Scotland.

Held in the stunning venue of the National Museum in Edinburgh BGL’s senior management were treated to a Scottish show with a contemporary twist from Reel Time Events, where delegates were truly immersed in Scottish culture for the evening.

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Reel Time provided the ladies with tartan sashes to compliment the gentlemen in their kilt outfits to get everyone dressed for an evening of Scottish entertainment.  Delegates were welcomed in true Scottish style by a bagpiper as the arrived at the event.  Once inside there was a host of entertainment for everyone to enjoy.  Edinburghs Got Soul Choir wowed from the first level balcony with their powerful, passionate and professional performance to the party below with their rousing and high energy harmonies.

Then it was the Reel Time Bands turn to entertain with their own unique and rocking twist on a ceilidh.  Accompanied by both traditional and contemporary dancers the 7-piece ensemble, complete with singer, rocked the crowd with a Reel Time twist.

To close the night guests were treated to a spectacular “beat the retreat” by Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia Pipe band, marching through the museum.  An amazing finale to a very exciting and eventful evening.

For a sneek peek video of the event, and what goes on in the museum after hours click here.

If you would like a bespoke quote for your Scottish evening, tailored to you exact requirements contact us to discuss your requirements

Macbeth Premiere arrives in Edinburgh

Sunday evening Edinburgh welcomed the star studded film premiere of Macbeth held at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre, including Hollywood A-listers Michael Fassbender, who plays the title role, Paddy Considine and David Thewlis.

Reel Time Events were lucky enough to be involved in the premier afterparty held at the National Museum of Scotland, with Roddy and Johnny providing a rousing Scottish welcome on the bagpipes to the 1500 stars and guests.

Inside the museum guests were then treated to whisky cocktails served by Mark and the Reel Time Mixologists from the Diageo sponsored bar.

Reel Time also provided the DJ for the party, who was creating an amazing party atmosphere with his laid back and funky house grooves.

The movie was in part filmed in the beautiful location of Skye, showcasing the Isles stunning landscape.  Visit Scotland have produced a great site with lots of info on the true tale of the real King Macbeth, the historic sites and dramatic landscapes connected with him, and a fantastic map which seperates the true facts from the Shakespearean myths.

With support from Core Event Services setting up the event and Roseparks providing the flowers, the afterparty was a huge success with everyone having a great time, providing a fantastic conclusion to an amazing evening.

Sadly, no one at Reel Time was lucky enough to actually see the movie (well we did have to prepare for the afterparty!) but everyone in the office is mighty excited to see it when it goes on general release in the cinemas on the 2nd of October.

Edinburgh M&I Forum 2015 Entertained by Reel Time Events

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.

Burns Night the Reel Time Way

As always, Reel Time were out and about helping revellers celebrate and comemorate our great Bard  on Burns night across the country, with a diverse variety of entertainers.

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 humerous 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 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

Piper in Las Vegas

In October, Reel Times Roddy Deans went out to help Visit Scotland at IMEX America.

The first time this huge trade show has been held in America, to give the American market access on their doorstep to the destinations and companies to make their stay a success.

Roddy was working on the Visit Scotland stall, promoting the culture and heritage of Scotland.  With hourly haggis address, whisky tasting sessions and musical interludes.  ‘It is great to help out our national marketing board promote our country and traditions.  I look forward to working with Visit Scotland promoting our great nation, and what it has to offer the MICE industry.’

Visit Scotland: Scotland Means Business 2011

We were up at the Old Course Hotel on Tuesday for a fantastic event run by Visit Scotland  for their Scotland Means Business workshop. 150 companies from all over the world converged on Fairmont Hotel for face to face meetings, networking and of course a VIP Scottish themed gala dinner (held down the road at the Old Course)

Roddy Deans was comparing the event, introducing Bagpipers, celtic dancers and of course the energetic Reel Time Ceilidh Band.

Guests commented afterwards over a nightcap what a fantastic Scottish event it had been, letting them experience first hand the diverse range of Scottish hospitality, entertainment and culture on offer to companies in the MICE industry.

Reel Time Events was pleased to be an official partner for this event, and looks forward to helping Visit Scotlands guests organise their events all over Scotland.

IF you need some assistance planning your meeting, incentive, conference, or exhibition in Scotland, then get in touch with Reel Time Events, the MICE experts.