So you're going to your first feis?
In an effort to ease the suffering endured by all who have gone before you, we have put together some basic rules for Feis survival. On this page we will cover: Feis fashions, dress and hair information:
Feis Schedule: What to do and when to do it.
Feis Checklist: What to (and not to) bring.
Costume
Girls will typically wear the Johnston School junior dress of white and green with the school emblem on the cape. As they progress in skill they may advance to the more ornate senior dress and, eventually, to the individually marked "Solo Dress". They will also need a set of dance briefs or "spankies", preferably green. Then there is the brooch to pin the cape in place, a headband in the school colors, several sets of white "poodle" socks, and of course the soft shoes (ghilles) or the hard shoes, once Ann tells you your child is ready. Boys will usually wear a shirt and tie with slacks or a kilt and knee socks. They may also wear a blazer or jacket. The boys will also need a pair of soft or hard shoes depending on their level of experience. There are some other items you will need but we will touch on those in the checklist.
Where do I get this stuff?
Dresses can be bought new from a couple of people who make them according to Ann's requirements. Ann can put you in touch with them. There are occasionally used costumes to be had from other school members who have out grown them. Check with Ann or on the school web page for availability. Shoes can be bought from Alice Johnston. Her phone number is listed in the classified section of the web page. She maintains a stock of new shoes as well as the socks. She usually has some used shoes available as well. Again, as students out grow their old shoes they sometimes advertise them in the classified section of the web page. Shoes, socks, brooches, and other paraphernalia of the dance can also be had from vendors at the Feis. There are also Irish importers here locally and on the internet where some of these items can be gotten. I have links to some of these sites on the schools links page.
Hair
A girls hair is worn in ringlets, the curlier the better. Hair is as individual as the individual is. You will have to experiment to find what works best for your child but here are some recommendations. Prepare your child's hair no less than 12 hours in advance. Wash the hair (avoid conditioner) and dry very thoroughly. If there is time for the hair to dry completely while in rollers there are some advantages to doing so but be warned...if there is the slightest dampness when the curlers are removed the curls will droop immediately. The following is a suggested list of ingredients to obtain the perfect "Trinity Curls":

Alcohol based mousse (dries faster. Pretest in case of allergy)
Dippity-Doo, White Rain mousse/hairspray work well
Sponge hair rollers and end papers....more hair needs more rollers
Figure 50-60 rollers as a minimum
"Soft Spikes", available at most Feises, work best
Sponge only...hard curlers don't work as well
short or naturally curly long hair use medium rollers
long or straight hair use small rollers
Small rubber bands or flat barrette
Hair nets
Headband
Part the hair from the back of the ear over the top of the head to the other ear. Use a small rubber band or barrette to hold the ponytail on top of the head so it will be covered by the headband when the curlers are removed. Clip the pony tail up and out of the way. Section the hair off starting with the very top of the head directly behind the pony tail. Sections should be no wider than the width of the roller. The desired effect is lots of bouncy curls so you want to use many small strands of hair. Apply some mousse to the whole section of hair all the way to the very end. Starting at the very end of the section, roll it all the way to the top placing the roller vertically against the head. Be sure to roll all the way from the end...don't wrap the end around the roller and don't forget to use the end papers. Direction in which you roll doesn't matter. Roll the top section with the latch end of the roller up and the hinged end down. The pony tail may be set after this section is done. This will take many, many rollers and each curl should be the same tightness when pulled as the rest of the curlers so be careful not to use too much hair in each. Use the same technique to do the section directly below the first and work your way around to the front on each side all the way to the front before going on to the next section below. Continue in this way until the whole head is rolled. When done there should be sets of concentric half circles surrounding the top section with no gaps between, above, or below each roller. Wrap the whole head in a hair net to keep everything in place while sleeping and traveling.
Taking the whole thing down
Be sure to be wearing something that does not slip off over the head. Actually at this point she should be wearing her costume with a wrap or smock over it. Put the headband on over the neck. Starting at the bottom row unlatch each roller and pull it straight down....do not unroll it. As you remove each roller split the curl into 3 or more strands and curl each around your finger as you separate it...this will multiply the curls for each roller. Use hairspray on each row as you finish then move on to the row above. If your daughter has bangs and is not on a team the bangs can stay down...just make sure they look neat. A curling iron works well for this. If she is on a team and there are short hairs that won't work into the ponytail brush them back into the hair and apply liberal amounts of hairspray to hold in place. Pull the head band up from the front and bobby pin in place. Now step back and admire your handy work. If you have any problems or question ask someone nearby. Chances are they or someone they know have been there and can help you.
When you arrive
A Feis has been called organized chaos. With 500 or more competitors, their accompanying parents, grandparents, and friends not to mention the judges, feis workers, and associated personnel all in a confined area things get crowded fast. Most feises are scheduled to start about 9:00 and given the nature of the event generally start late but do not count on it. After spending the entry fee, admission fee for non competitors, and the travel time it is no fun to find you missed you first scheduled dance. A couple folding chairs arranged around a blanket in an out of the way corner will be a much welcomed respite about midway through the day. Plan to arrive at least 30-60 minutes early to stake out your "spot". After setting up camp the first thing to do is check in at the registration desk. Your competitor will be given a number card. This is to be worn by the competitor as their ID for the rest of the day. It is generally worn about the waist on a length of ribbon, pinned, or in a plastic holder. On the back is the list of dances they are registered for. Check this against what you signed up for, if you pre-registered, to make sure they match. Next check out the stage layout. There are generally 4 or more stages at a Feis. Each stage will have a group of individual classes assigned to it and they will be listed either on the program, on a sign at the stage, or both. There will be dances going on at each stage simultaneously. You will need to find which dance is at which stage and in what order. REMEMBER: YOU AND ONLY YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING TO YOUR ASSIGNED STAGE ON TIME. Check your list of dances for possible conflicts between stages and dances. If you find you will be late to your next scheduled dance because of a conflict, tell the stage manager...they will help. Listen carefully to the PA announcements for class cancellations and last minute schedule changes. When you arrive at your stage for a dance check in with the stage manager. They will have you line up and be ready before the previous dance is complete. This is to save time. Stand quietly and calmly while you wait. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SPEAK TO THE JUDGE OR MUSICIAN UNLESS ASKED TO. Any comments or questions should be addressed to the stage manager. Generally the awards will be announced at the end of each dance. Awards may be handed out right then and there or may be claimed at an awards table later depending on the feis. Bring your number with you to claim your award. Most feises allow for the competitor to have their scores and judge's comments sent to them after the event. You have to sign up to have them mailed and there is generally a fee.
The List
The following is a checklist of things to bring and not to bring to a feis. Not every item will apply to every feis but it will give you a place to start.

Bodysuit and shorts. Between dances the costumes get hot. The bodysuit can be worn under the dress and shorts slipped on during lulls in the action. Put your name and phone number inside shoes, dress, etc. If lost will have a much better chance of getting returned
A cover up. Something you can put on over the costume (not a pullover) to keep clean when there isn't time to change.
Repair Kit. A small sewing kit with appropriate colors of thread, safety pins, shoe polish, duct tape, length of black elastic, spare shoe laces, bobby pins, brooch, and ribbon
Folding chairs. The type that fold up and fit in a pouch are great.
Large thick blanket. Functions as a mattress, work area, etc.
Stocked cooler. Water bottles, sandwiches, high energy snacks. Food is generally available from vendors but lines can be long and time precious. Running out to eat is seldom a possibility.
Activities to keep everyone occupied. Simple travel games, books, knitting, coloring books, etc. Avoid games with alot of pieces. They'll get lost.
A still camera. VIDEO CAMERAS ARE NOT ALLOWED. VIDEO TAPING THE DANCING IS NOT ALLOWED. This is a rule from the highest feis authority in Dublin. This is strictly enforced to protect the choreography of individual teachers.
What it's all about
Yes, a feis is a competition but it is meant to be fun. Just having the courage to get up on stage and dance a complicated set of steps in front of a multitude of strangers deserves an award in and of itself. Just do your best, have fun, and make new friends.