Not Just Another Ball: The Other Ball, Reviewed

The Other Guys are a staple, and somewhat of a symbol, of St Andrews culture, and their events have quickly become notorious for their frivolity, classy atmosphere, and of course, fantastic entertainment provided by the all-male acapella singing group themselves. TOG ball perhaps reaches the pinnacle of all this: a night of fine wine-ing and dining laid on for an intimate group of friends and fans, a night spent enjoying the sultry tones and home-composed songs of the group, culminating in a raucous disco to finish the evening.

The dinner itself takes place in Lower College Hall, arguably one of St Andrews’s best and most prestigious venues. Guests arrive in black-tie dress at six, already a little merry from a host of pre-drink events, to be greeted with champagne that seemed never to cease flowing. After a time of milling around, they take their seats, and are treated to a sumptuous three-course meal, consisting of a delightful mozzarella and tomato hors d’oeuvres, tender chicken breast for the main, and chocolate fondant and ice-cream for something sweet, all washed down, of course, with generous helpings of the wine of your preference.

It is fair to say that the party then degenerated: guests moved up stairs, thrilled for the impending arrival of one of the finest aspects of the evening – that in which we are treated to an intimate gig by the guys themselves. And of course, who can resist knocking back another glass when drawn in by the dulcet, charismatic tones of St Andrews’ premiere acapella group.

The night was chiefly organised by Thomas Halvorsen, who spent his time that night, as well as enjoying himself and singing, as playing the perfect host. He wandered around, engaging all in pleasant conversation, and making sure all he meets is supplied with a top-up of generous quantities of complementary wine or prosecco. Of course, one of the bugbears of such an event is its exclusivity; it is easy to become bitter about the scarcity of tickets and places, but this too, is part of the charm. Its small and intimate nature allows this kind of personal touch exactly, something impossible to find in the admittedly grander, but far less warming events put on in some of the larger settings. The tone of the evening was fun, whimsical,

And so my advice to you: should you have the opportunity to attend an Other Guys event, go, whether it be for the musical talent always displayed, for their attentive hosting or for their pleasant company.

Comments

comments