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May Heydays Update
by Announcements for May HeyDays 26 Jan '20

26 Jan '20

Dear Supporters IT’S ON THE UP! Come all ye festival supporters, toe-tapping sons and swinging daughters, All those who’ve not yet filled the urge to book a ticket, make a splurge, The time is nigh so act at once, delay no longer, be no dunce The ‘Early-bird’ will soon take flight and disappear on Br*x*t night - From Feb the 1st the cost gets higher - read it on a May Heydays flyer. We want you, one, we want you all, we’re waiting here to take your call Come book in droves, you dancing host, online, by email, pigeon post, Remember though, the deadline’s tight, Jan 31st, at 12, midnight! A weekend ticket for May Heydays costs £85 until Friday, then moves to £97! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Further news: 1. Workshop Preferences Those who are booked and have not yet done so are invited to pick their preferred workshops: by Carol Ormand <http://www.mayheydays.org.uk/choices.html#Carol> and Joanna Reiner <http://www.mayheydays.org.uk/choices.html#Joanna>. Just reply to this mail with your selection. 2. Costume Balls The Saturday ball has now reached its pre-bookings limit. However, it will be up to Joanna to decide when we have a full house. Dancers who have not booked are welcome to queue in the hope of getting in. The good news is that Rhodri's Sunday evening ball still has pre-booking places left. Dancers can also queue on the night (last year everyone who wanted got in). 3. New Callers Keeping up the Eastbourne tradition of offering new festival callers a training experience, we have a double session "New Callers' Showcase" on Saturday afternoon. If you wish to take part, please reply to this mail and we will pass your name on to Rhodri and John who will be your mentors in 2020. So far, these sessions are under-subscribed - we'll pinch the second slot for a surprise workshop if numbers remain low (last year we had 6 callers). 4. Callers' Forum For the first time, this year we are offering a double "Callers' Round". These are two workshops where callers can discuss issues close to their heart. Colin Hume has volunteered to facilitate one of these, we are not sure yet who will do the second one. We're open to offers. 5. Sorry Love, Tea Dance is Off! The tea dance will not be happening this year as too few of last year's 'trainee' callers wished to take part. With a shortened weekend, we'll to use the hall for other things. We are all really pleased by our weekend numbers so far (currently 170, with 37% new to the festival) but please don't worry about space. We have a spare hall!!! Mecki and the team Tel 01308 423 442

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Points of Interest
by Announcements for May HeyDays 13 Jan '20

13 Jan '20

An Update on How We Are Doing - and Points of Interest. 1. Attendance It's a pleasure to report we have just received our 150th weekend booking - ahead of last year at this time (131). Over 35% of these are newcomers to us - including two from Brisbane! But, we'd like at least 50 more (100, says Mecki !). Lots of our regulars are still to put pen to paper - so, remember you have until 31st January to book at £85 a ticket - then it goes to £97. 2. Callers' Showcase As in the past few years, we will be running the Callers' Showcase. So, if you are a newish caller who would like to call at May Heydays, please reply to this mail, and we'll pass your name on to Rhodri and John who will be leading the workshop. Feedback will be given behind the scenes, while the next caller starts explaining their dance. That way we'll get through more dances than was the case last year, and it should be a more satisfying experience for everyone involved. 3. The Hard of Hearing We've had a mail from a dancer affected by hearing loss, and we want to ensure all can enjoy the weekend. The points raised have been discussed with callers, the sound team and the school; all will do their level best to make our weekend a pleasurable experience for EVERYONE, not just those who have no trouble with their hearing! An advice sheet has been developed for callers and the sound team which will give tips on how to facilitate the process of enabling everyone on the dance floor to have the chance to hear what the caller is saying. This will include using a microphone on the dance floor when demonstrating a figure, for example. However, it is important that everyone in the room is considerate and keeps the noise down, especially during walk-throughs. As we all know, noise levels can be high and difficult for all dancers, not just those with hearing issues! From looking at the venue pictures, fears were raised that there will be reverberation issues with some of the halls. We have spoken with - and been round - the school twice, with a member of the sound team. The smaller gym has had some remedial work done which, we have been assured, has addressed reverberation issues in that particular hall. The only other hall known to suffer from reverberation is the Large Gym. This is a space suitable for over a hundred dancers but in view of current number expectations we do not anticipate its use this year. Should numbers rise substantially, such that we need this Gym, we'll look into working on the reverberation issue beforehand. The guide for callers regarding hearing loss issues will be published shortly on Facebook. The whole team is keen to hear of further points anyone would like to see added. 4. Carol's Workshop Programme. Once you have booked to come, you get the chance to participate in the Programming Process! Carol Ormand has sent us a list of 9 possible workshops. Unfortunately, we only have space for six! Have a look at this page: http://www.mayheydays.org.uk/choices.html. It gives you the chance to state your preferences. Voting closes on 31 January! Mecki Testroet, Director Monty Crook, Ticketing -- Tel 01308 423 442

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Update
by Announcements for May HeyDays 20 Nov '19

20 Nov '19

Dear Festival Supporters, I'd like to give you an update on how May Heydays is doing. The good news is that we've just had our 100th + 101st bookings; so, thank you, Elizabeth and Sheila from the Cardiff area – a complimentary bottle of bubbly awaits you at May Heydays! That's over 100 dancers not counting stewards, concessions, performers and other helpers (like the committee). This number is 60% higher than the number of bookings we had at the same time last year; it’s just lovely that you have booked so early and especially gratifying that over 25% of bookings are newcomers. We can all discover the delights of Evesham and the De Montfort School together! The current main points of interest are: We still meet dancers who haven't heard that the 2020 May bank holiday date was moved from Monday 4th to Friday 8th in 2020. That is the only reason we will have to stop on Sunday evening. We look forward to going back to a full bank holiday weekend in 2021. Preparations are going well. One good bit of ‘news for campers’: if you have a dog you would like to bring along, you can. Naturally, they have to be kept under control at all times and can only be walked in the designated areas (this will be made clear when you arrive). No pet dogs are allowed in the school buildings. Dance display news: we will have the Stratford Renaissance Dance group performing Sunday lunchtime; they are also leading a workshop. I have invited Black Adder Morris, a team with a vigorous and original style, to come along and entertain us. To add yet more colour, the Polish folk dance group Wieśniacy (roughly, ‘Veeshnatsa’, = Folks) has expressed an interest in performing. I'll keep you informed once we know the details. We still have vacancies for stewards. As we are a completely new team, we do not know you as well as the previous team did. So, if, for example, you are quite happy to chip in a bit of your time and help stewarding at a workshop or dance without becoming an "official steward", can you please make yourself known to Jeannie (stewards(a)mayheydays.org.uk) or me (director(a)mayheydays.org.uk). That would be really helpful. Thanks. Please help us to keep spreading the word and if you are interested and haven’t done so, do book soon. We have plenty of dance space in reserve should numbers rise above 250, which is one of the attractions of our exciting new venue. We look forward to seeing you there! Mecki Director

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May Heydays Tickets sales
by Announcements for May HeyDays 30 Sep '19

30 Sep '19

It is very satisfying to report that sales are going well with numbers more than double the number for the corresponding period last year and including about 25% of newcomers to the festival. Many thanks to those who have got in early! Remember, today is the last day for Super Early-bird tickets with the opportunity to buy 2020 T shirts at cost price (£7.50) and post free. From tomorrow, Early-bird tickets will be on sale at £85 per person with our T shirts at £9.50 plus postage. Don't delay, buy today! Monty Crook May Heydays Ticketing

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May Heydays
by Announcements for May HeyDays 08 Sep '19

08 Sep '19

Dear Fellow Dancers, Now that most of the festivals are over for 2019, it is time to look ahead to 2020. Where better to look than at May Heydays? http://mayheydays.org.uk Remember, we've had to shorten the festival by one day due to the government moving the bank holiday from 4th May to 8th May next year – but we’ve had to lose only one band. We will finish at 22.30 hours on Sunday night. We have a full programme ready and waiting (not set in stone yet, obviously). In addition to last year's programme, we will have Scottish dancing, we have a walks organizer who will prepare local walks of various lengths and there may be singing and music workshops but that is dependent on enough people booking. We will have camping on the school field (for tents, caravans and camper vans) with 24/7 accessible shower and toilet facilities a few yards away. Hook-ups will be available on a hard standing area for disabled campers. (Please let Monty have your requirements when booking.) Dogs ARE allowed on the field (but not in the school). Obviously, they need to be supervised, you need to pick up after them and a walking area will be designated. The school is being extremely cooperative and we are confident that any issue arising concerning the facilities will be sorted out there and then. For those of you who wish to stay in hotels or elsewhere, there is info on our "Where to stay" page . Bookings are open, but the Super Early-bird ticket sales will close on 30th September. Please consider also the time-limited offer of 2020 T shirts at cost price and with free postage, to help us get the message out there in your area. Early-bird online bookings will open October 1st. If you're sending in postal applications, please be patient during September, as replies may be delayed due to holiday commitments. All applications received by the end of the month will, naturally, be eligible for the lowest prices. As every year, we need stewards. We have made some changes regarding the organisation of stewarding activities. Please go to the stewards page for further info. As people who have stewarded at Eastbourne will tell you: stewarding is fun! We have photos to prove it! So, don't delay, send off your booking form today! Mecki Testroet Festival Director

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May Heydays 2020 arrangements
by Announcements for May HeyDays 25 Jul '19

25 Jul '19

Dear Dancers, An update on 2020 arrangements We have now heard back from the school. Word is that we cannot use the school on Monday, 4 May, if it is not a bank holiday. However, indoor campers and camper vans on hard standing will be able to stay until Monday morning, 7.30am; campers who are on the playing fields will have to leave by 10am. A number of people wrote to their MPs and signed this petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/242483. The petition has over 6000 signatures now (do sign and pass it on by all means) but all the MPs' replies so far were noncommittal or negative and the relevant ministry sounds adamant that they will not change their minds on this. With the change of prime minister, parliament has other things to worry about. So, we think, we have to resign ourselves to the fact that we can't have the Monday. This means that we will dance until 10.30pm on Sunday night, so, what you will be missing out on are the Monday morning workshops and the afternoon dance. We will adjust our ticket prices downwards to reflect the loss of dancing time. We shall reopen ticket sales at the beginning of September. Keep an eye on the website for further information to be put up once we have finalised the modified programme and confirmed the adjusted ticket prices. It is very unfortunate that this is happening to us at the time of moving the festival. There's only one thing for it: we'll just have to dance faster! The Committee -- Tel 01308 423 442

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Change of May Bank Holiday 2020
by Announcements for May HeyDays 11 Jun '19

11 Jun '19

Dear May Heydays/EIFF Supporter With the news that the May 4th Bank Holiday in 2020 is being moved to Friday May 8th, we would like to update you on the plans for the festival. The school is seeking to keep Monday 4th May as a holiday and have a normal school day on Friday 8th. However, they will require the permission of the local educational authorities to do this, which may take some time - perhaps until the end of this school year. We have advised the school that the input we have received so far from performers and attendees is to stick to the original dates. Programme re-scheduling would allow us to release performers having to work a normal Monday. We are thinking of offering a reduced season ticket price for Friday to Sunday for any attendees who also might have to work Monday 4th. We are discussing with the school the possibility of a reduced Monday programme with fewer halls if indeed children would have to be in school that day. Not ideal, but an option. Catering on the Monday might be an issue and we are looking at options for that. Likewise indoor camping Sunday night would become an issue, as would outdoor camping. All of these are part of ongoing discussions. We are sure the school will be as helpful as they can be to resolve issues. One less preferred option would be to end the festival on Sunday evening, which would have many implications: our cost/income structure, bookings already made for hotels, etc. In view of these current uncertainties we have decided to suspend our sale of Super Early-bird tickets until we are clear on what we can offer. We know of two petitions to the government to keep May 4th as Bank Holiday, with or without Friday 8th as well. We also know that some supporters have written to their MPs on the matter (a draft could be mailed to you if of interest). If you feel strongly enough about this wholly unnecessary complication dumped on the nation by short-sighted government action we can only suggest that you consider doing likewise. Rest assured, this festival will go ahead and be as good and comprehensive as we can make it! Mecki Director

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May Bank Holiday 2020 and May Heydays Festival
by Announcements for May HeyDays 08 Jun '19

08 Jun '19

Hi This comes from Mecki Testroet as director of May Heydays 2020. I am writing to all EIFF/May Heydays supporters, booked performers and other interested parties with respect to May Heydays 2020 at Evesham, in light of the government decision announced yesterday to move the May 2020 Bank Holiday from Monday 4th May to Friday 8th May. My apologies if some of you get a similar mail more than once due to being on more than one list. As organisers we now have the added complication of having to decide whether to stick with the 1st – 4th weekend or move the festival to Thursday 7th – Sunday 10th May. The Evesham school will let us know shortly if they can close on the 4th to honour our booking. We will also ask whether they could host the festival from Thursday 7th to Sunday 10th May. If the school CAN still accommodate us from 1st - 4th May, we are inclined to stick to those dates but appreciate that some artists and supporters may actually have to go into their work on the Monday. For performers we could try to counteract that with programming on Monday those who would still be able to attend that day. Could you let us know as soon as possible what your own situation as a possible attendee might be if we stick with 1st – 4th May AND if we move to 7th - 10th? Thank you for that and any other comments. We are astounded at this late decision by the government which is bound to affect adversely thousands of people and you might be interested to know a petition has already been started to try to get 8th May declared as an additional not a re-scheduled Bank Holiday. If interested, click this link to sign the petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/263961/sponsors/new?token=IoDnyddN… Regards Mecki Testroet Please reply to director(a)mayheydays.org.uk

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