Here’s some information to help get you started.  Keep in mind that all the feisanna are a little different.  Read the feis comments in the binder at the studio – but everyone has a different experience, so you may want to try each one and make up your own mind. 

What to Bring to a Feis

Suggestions:

*If possible – put the wig or bun cover on before you leave the house. 
** Sometimes the cape comes unhooked while dancing. Safety pins can be used to secure it.
*** The competitor number needs to be worn in front of the costume. If you don't want to put a hole in the costume, make a little hole in each corner of the card. Thread the ribbon through each hole and tie around the waist. Some feisanna have a hole puncher at the check-in desk – or bring your own! 

Arriving at the Feis

• Arrive at least an hour before your scheduled time (more if you need to put your wig on) – they are rarely early – but they just keep going if they are. 
• Go to the check in/registration table to get the competitor card if you didn’t get one from your teacher. 
• Buy a program – this usually has the stage sheets (or check outside the doors of each stage area)
• Find the stage where your child will be dancing and an area where you can put all your stuff.   
• Eat a little snack/use the rest room
• Get your costume on and warm up!!

Suggestion:
Point out a meeting place if you and your child get separated. There are HUNDREDS of people at these competitions.  Make sure your child knows what the school dress/sweatsuit look like – if they can’t find you, they can find someone from the school. 

Competing in an Event

• Each stage will have a poster or white board stating the current event and next event.
• Each stage will have a check-in person, a "launcher", a judge and a musician.
• When your event is next, send your child to the check-in person.
• The check-in person will check the competitor card to verify it's the right event.
• The check-in person will direct your child to the standby location next to the stage.
• When your event begins, the "launcher" will take a group of competitors onto the stage.
• The competitors will then stand in a line at the end of the stage.
• The "launcher" will tell the first 2 children to come forward.
• The music will start.
• At the beginning levels, the "launcher" will begin counting measures so the kids know when to start dancing.
• The launcher will tell the next pair to get ready when the prior pair are almost done.
• When all the competitors have danced, they will bow to the judge and walk off the stage.

Suggestions:
If possible, try not to stand next to another Murray dancer on the stage. Any differences in performance, intentional or not, will be apparent to the judge.
Keep dancing even if you make a mistake - DON'T STOP!

After Competing

• Results from each event will usually be posted on large pieces of poster board/or sheets of paper. 
• The location of these posters varies with each feis.
• Results are posted about 20 minutes after the event. It varies with each feis.
• Look for the event number in the left column of the poster.
• Reading across, there are boxes for first, second, third and possibly honorable mention.
• Depending on the level, there may be a few competitor numbers in each box.
• If your child's number is in one of the boxes, go to the trophy table with the competitor number card (they won’t check your results without it!!)
• The volunteer will verify things and present the medal or trophy.   

Getting the Marks or Scores

• Once the results have been posted, you may get the scoring results if available. 
• Results are usually next to the medals and cost about $2-$3
• Get in line early as it can be a long wait.  Some schools will send them to you through email – you just give them the money and sign a form. 
• These results will detail the score for each place and what your child scored.
• In addition, it may contain comments from the judge – which are very useful. 

  HAVE FUN!!!!