March-in
The guests (except the head table) will proceed into the dining room and remain standing behind their chairs; the closer to top table, the higher the rank or seniority. You may be requested to pipe in the guests. The head table forms up in order of seating, led by the host and the principal guest. When cued, lead the people of the head table into the dining room playing an appropriate tune; "Roast Beef of Old England", "A Man's A Man for all That", "Prince of Denmark's March", or the regimental march. If space permits, parade counter clockwise around the room. This is particularly important when flying a drone banner. The regimental crest on the obverse of the banner is always displayed first. When everyone is in place, continue to march, and finish playing at the halt near the dining-room entrance. At a signal from the host, stop playing and remain at attention until grace has been said. If you are not to provide the music during dinner, march from the room after grace is said.
Posting the Colors
An honor guard may post and retire the colors; as a piper you may be requested to pipe them in and out. As the American and Canadian national anthems cannot be properly played on the pipes, other appropriate patriotic tunes must be selected. If you march in with the color guard, make sure that you're well rehearsed in their drill first; they march in close order with wheeling movements to change direction. Of course, if not playing stand at attention with pipes down for the National Anthem(s). If you're flying a drone banner, watch the color guard and drop your bass drone from horizontal when they dip the colors.
The Lament
In some military and veterans organizations it is customary to remember comrades killed in action, sometimes with an empty place setting, sometimes with a small table before the head table. You may be requested to play a lament in their memory. "Flowers of the Forest" is traditional, but other laments may work equally as well if the host has expressed no preference.
Piping in the Beef
In some traditions, the main course (traditionally beef) is ceremoniously piped in to the head table (or "Mr. Vice"), which will sample it and formally announce it fit for consumption. "Roast Beef of Old England" or "A Man's a Man For All That" may be used if not played previously to pipe in the head table. You may pipe the beef out as well.
Piping in the Haggis
If haggis is served (such as a Burn's Dinner), pipe the haggis to the head table to "A Man's a Man For All That". Stand at attention for the recital of Burn's "Address to a Haggis", and participate in the toast to his "immortal memory". Pipe the haggis out to "Neil Gow's Farewell to Whisky".
Main Course music
Wait until all at the head table has been served before beginning to play suitable selections intermittently throughout the main course. A piobaireachd is often considered customary. If parading around the room, it is customary to start "widdershins"; counterclockwise. If flying a pipe banner, it may be appropriate to countermarch as well, in order to display the unit crest on the obverse side. Prior to the port wine being served, the host/delegate will signal you to stop playing.
Piping in the Port
An old custom is the piping in of the port wine for the Loyal Toast. After dessert and Coffee are served, tables are cleared except for the table decorations and wine glasses. No special music is required, but it should be short and appropriate. On cue, lead the wine stewards into the dining room, positioning yourself at a predetermined spot, and continue to play until the wine is about to be sampled and declared potable by the host. Sometimes the piper will play as the port is passed down the tables as the guests charge their glasses. Remain at attention until the Loyal Toast is drunk and then march from the room, unless required to stay for the Toast to the Corps.
Loyal Toast
If a Commonwealth dinner (or if UK guests are present), you may be requested to play "God Save the Queen" before the Loyal Toast. The person proposing the toast will ask everyone to stand and join him in a toast to the Queen. The member will then raise his/her wineglass shoulder high and say: "The Queen". The assembly will respond: "The Qu
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