AboutJohn Gordon Expertise Stuck for ideas? I can help with ideas on theming, entertainment and anything creative. I specialise in the unusual and have created party experiences for small gatherings right up to large international corporations. I have a great original idea that is totally flexible and personalises the party in a way that touches people.
Experience I have been involved with Corporate and Private Events for many years. I both organise and provide entertainment at a wide range from house parties, anniversaries, celebrations, fun days, conferences, seminars, workshops and street parties.
Expert: John Gordon Date: 9/27/2007 Subject: St Andrews day Ceilidh Party HELP!
Question QUESTION: Hiya
I am on the school PTAand we are having a St Andrews Day Ceilidh Party in our school hall. We have a band booked but am struggling with ideas on how to decorate the hall/tables/entrance. I would really appreciate your help.
Many thanks in advance
Ellie
ANSWER: Hi ellie
pologies fro the delay but I have been away running workshops for the summer.
Hard to give any ideas without knowing the scale of the problem. What problems are you facesd with? What is the breakdown of the event? Are they having a reception? Sit down dinner? Also dance floor in same or separate area?
Let me know what's to be solved, how big, what wall problems are, what lighting you have / have not got available etc and I'll see what I can do.
John Gordon
PartyMagic
PS Also what ideas you have already had or rejected.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: hiya
It is an oblong school hall with windows on either side and a stage at the end. The idea was to have tables around the dance floor and have the band on the stage. There will be a meal and wine, but I envisage tables baaing pushed back or positioned carefully in the first place to allow space to dance. We are doing it on a shoestring, so will have to beg/borrow equipment. The main problem is making the hall look festive and dressed up without a big budget. I had thought balloons on the tables to give some colour as you walk in..but was wondering how you could hang streamers, muslin? to create some atmosphere? Also would appreciate some cool ideas for the St Andrews day/ ceilidh theme that we might be able to incorporate. I am not sure about lighting, but would imagine it is usual school hall stuff (sparse track lights along the long edges of the ceing)with the focus on the stage.
Hope this helps.
Many thanks
Ellie
Answer Hi Ellie
Some observations an thoughts on your ideas:
1) I personally dislike balloons on table or (worse) strung to chairs. Any large centre pieces obscure the view unless they are strung high up and then they only look OK when standing back ... wasted once people are in the gig.
2) IF you are moving tables etc then heliyum displays are a further problem and grouping tables will create a balloon visual barrier.
3) The muslin vertical banners work great but you will need someone with a ladder or tower to affix the top poles to the ceiling or lighyt rig structure (deppending what you have) with fishing line.
4) I am no expert on St Andrews Day or Celidh themes but Google Images will give you ideas and Wikipedia and other resources are crammed with them. I will say that simplicity is the key. Just take 2 or 3 ideas and graphics and play those big and simople don't overdo it.
5) Images you find can then be printed on to paper and affixed to muslin or card for center peices, table identification, seating plan, banners etc etc.
6) Speak to the band ... they do these events all the time and will have a store of ideas that they believe work and don't work.
7) Good lighting can make a venue. Low light levels with uplighters around sytrategic points (like banners) looks great esp[ecially if a gel is put on them in themed colors.
8) Very often lighting can be 'refocussed' so speak to the venue and see if you can redirect any spots perhaps one on each table? This is time consuming and will have to be changed back so allow time and be nice to them :o)
That's all for now .... come back if this progresses and still levaes some ideas needing attention.
