Category Archives: Artists

A Casino themed event

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You may well want to go all out at your event and have a ‘James Bond’ theme and have a few celebrity lookalike ‘Bonds’ or some ‘Pussy Galore’ lookalikes gracing your event.  

It doesn’t have to be an all adult affair either you could make it family orientated and hire some bouncy castles, children’s entertainers or some fairground stalls.

Just make it your own – we have some great ideas on our website which will fit into whatever you were deciding.  A birthday party or fund raising event which would be very unique and anyone receiving an invitation would be very curious and definitely want to turn up.  Use your imagination and your event could be the most talked about for many months to come.

Going back to a ‘Casino Theme’ you may have the roulette wheel, or the black jack table, but why not indulge in a few arcade games for the younger ones or indeed the older generation who love to have a go on retro ‘Pac man’ or ‘out run’. You may want some ‘slot machines’ where you will find that people will be hogging them for hours.

You could be organising a charity event where all proceeds go to your favourite cause, or you may want somebody to win big!!  The choice is yours and your event will be a very tempting invitation.

Don’t forget to hire some all-important Paparazzi for when your guests arrive, they will be ‘papped’ just like the stars of today, and after they will be able to see their escapades on a souvenir dvd, now that’s what memories are made of!!!

To book some of the ideas that we have listed or to get some more inspiration simply look within our Red Masque party and event entertainment directory to see which would be ideal for you. 

Spring surprise

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With spring is well and truly upon us and with the circus being a visual performing art and tents popping up over this period Red Masque will be looking at the history of circus….

The Bailey & Cooper circus was well known across Australia and New Zealand, touring to various islands around Oceania between 1876 and 1878. James Anthony Bailey then teamed up with P.T. Barnum to bring ‘the Greatest Show on Earth’ to Europe. Barnum died before being able to see the European reaction to the huge tents so well-known in his homeland; although impressed, many were bewildered and the venture was met with only muted enthusiasm

Menagerie owners were the main people to react to ‘the Greatest Show on Earth’ most favourably, sensing an opportunity to enhance their fading businesses. With this ‘new’ idea of combining animals with circus acts, they enjoyed renewed success for a few more decades, with the equestrian circus falling by the wayside and the travelling circus reaching the peak of its popularity between the two World Wars, most notably in Germany. With the larger cities still housing permanent circuses – Paris still had four – circus manufacturers strived to create comfortable seating that could attract the city folk away from the furnishings and production values to which they had become so accustomed.

The biggest innovation in the 1900s occurred within Russia after Lenin nationalised the Russian circuses in 1919, leading to an exodus of the country by many western performers. With the Russian performers needing to be trained, the government established the Moscow circus school, which developed training methods that incorporated gymnastics. The result was a free-flowing, innovative performance that proved to be a hit with crowds abroad, where any Russian-based circus was known as the Moscow Circus (a generic name adopted by travelling Russian circuses to this day).

Resistance to the changes of the modern world led to a decline in the industry throughout the 1960s, but by the 1970s and 1980s, circuses such as Cirque du Soleil had restored the flamboyance and spectacle to proceedings, ushering in the idea of circuses as performance art to sit alongside the more traditional travelling circuses, which continue to endure great popularity across Europe. A surge in teaching has also led to a circus revival in recent years and it remains to be seen quite where this interest shall lead.

Why not hire your own circus and have your very own ‘front seats’ the possibilities are endless for example if you would like to learn a few ‘circus skills’ then let Red Masque introduce you to some fantastic acrobats, aerial performers, and circus artists that are advertised on our website.

Let there be light!!

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Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are a major feature of most modern technology such as TVs, tablet computers, mobile phones and remote controls. Read this to find out why LEDs are so important to Red Masque’s party and event entertainers and even their existence…

It’s one of those little things we take for granted, the glowing LED light that shows us that something is ON. Be it red or green, it’s a light that says, “Notice Me”, and it’s probably the one thing you can see at a gig when all the lights go out on stage.

The Prize had been won by three Japanese scientists, who invented blue LEDs. Their work led to the development of today’s LEDs, as used extensively in screens for TVs, PCs, phones and tablets.

However, the acknowledged inventor of the red LED, was not recognized, and was allegedly miffed at being left out from the $1.1million prize.

It’s a sort of chicken and egg thing: without the red LED, there would be no blue LED, and without the blue, no LED screens. Just to confuse the issue further, the first LED was actually created by a Russian scientist who died in 1942.

The reason we sympathise with both sides of this argument is purely because LEDs play such a key role in our entertainment directory.

• Most of Red Masque directory musicians use a PA system, and try finding one of those without LEDs on it.

• All of our artists have mobile phones, so they can contact us and clients about bookings, wherever they are in the country. What lights the screens? LEDs.

• And, of course, you wouldn’t be able to see our website in all its glory on your mobile or tablet without LED technology either.

There is one set of performers, however, who literally wouldn’t exist without LEDS; our LED light show performers. By whirling and twirling LED sights, these talented artists create intricate patterns and optical illusions in light for both inside and outdoor venues, without the concerns over fire regulations and health and safety of their ‘real’ fire and glow counterparts.

Equally, any artists using a mobile device in their act, from iPad magicians, portrait artists and hired caricaturists to function bands offering iPod-based DJ services would quite literally be out of a job.

And DJ’s and rock band lighting would be heavier, more expensive and considerably less exciting, as LED lighting is lightweight, energy efficient, cool to the touch and can create a whole variety of colours without the need for coloured ‘gels’.

Surprise artists at your event

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Hire singing waiters, policemen, firemen and a whole host of other comedy singing acts from Red Masque directory to make your event unforgettable. Discover what surprise entertainment we offer and how they’ll positively impact your event!

When you’re planning an event, you want to keep your guests entertained throughout, so the energy and enjoyment never dips. Giving them something new just when they are least expecting it is a great way to create a buzz, and to give guests something to talk about apart from the food or the football! And nothing fits the bill quite like a surprise act, be it singing waiters, firemen, or chefs.

The idea is really simple; your guests have no idea that the waiter who has been serving them, or the fireman who seems to be worried about the smoke alarms, are in fact highly talented singers, ready to grab a microphone and burst into song. As one waiter starts to sing, another suddenly joins in, and then a ‘guest’ can’t seem to resist joining in either. It’s particularly effective during a formal dinner.

It’s a great way of breaking up a meal and giving your guests something hugely entertaining when they are least expecting it!

Before the audience have had time to work out who might be part of the act, they are being royally entertained by superb singers performing anything from famous opera songs to the latest West End hits, often close up to their tables.

The voices, the energy, the performance, they are all something that you just can’t duplicate in any other way. The ‘singing waiters’ introduction is a light way to create a surprise and add a great deal of fun.

What the guests see, of course, is just the end product of a great deal of planning and preparation. Professional entertainment acts make sure that everyone behind the scenes is in the know and fully prepared, while the real guests haven’t a clue what’s going on! It’s also about preparing a scenario that is perfect for your event.

And it doesn’t just have to be waiters, guests or catering staff.

For example the client is asked to provide a photograph of one of the guests that one of the acts is going to pretend to “arrest” for non-payment of a parking ticket! Once the ‘policemen’ start singing, they perform an amazing act containing everything from opera to Rat Pack and Grease

Messing about on the river…

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You don’t have to own a mega yacht to hold a party on the water! The UK has a great assortment of water-based venues for hire, from barges to battleships; Red Masque entertainment directory has a wealth of entertainment to make your event something really special.

We have listed a few ideas of maritime venues and entertainment that seem just made for each other!

HMS BELFAST IN LONDON
Yes, you can hire this iconic WWII battleship moored on the Thames. Hold an intimate drinks party in the Admiral’s Quarters, or enjoy great views of London from the Quarterdeck with 450 of your closest friends for your wedding reception. 

LIVERPOOL LUXURY YACHT
Why not party like a Lottery winner for your hen night on your own private luxury yacht, sailing from the famous Albert Docks in Liverpool out into the Irish Sea to the iconic Anthony Gormley statues (weather permitting). Perfect for you and your very own Ocean’s Twelve (i.e. 12 people max). Then why not book some dancing when you return back to the Albert Docks where you can hire a venue and dance the night away with some great female, male or group singers which will really make your party a night to remember!!

MANCHESTER PARTY BARGE
Manchester barge The Bohemia can whisk you and up to 60 guests along the hidden waterways of central Manchester for a birthday party or anniversary celebration with a difference. With space to enjoy live music on your travels, and a route that takes you past the iconic Old Trafford football ground, this is an evening to savour. Other iconic waterways offering party barges including the Tiverton Canal, Lancaster Canal and the city with more canals than Venice – Birmingham!

For entertainment ideas for smaller venues such as a barge, opt for a compact musicians that play all your favourite hits with the minimum of kit. If these aren’t appealing, why not look on our gallery of artists to see which suits your tastes as we have many to choose from. From singers to magicians, we have every entertainment option covered.

THE BRISTOL PACKET
Charter a boat to party on the River Avon as it flows through the Avon Gorge, under the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge and out to sea. The Bristol Packet company offer a choice of boats, including a traditional river steamer, an Amsterdam sightseeing boat, and an all-weather cruiser made for parties. All boats have a full bar and food can be provided. You will need some music so hire the perfect DJ from Red Masque entertainment directory.

SPITBANK FORT – THE SOLENT

OK, it’s not a boat, but it is very much on the sea! Spitbank Fort is a Napoleonic gun emplacement just 30 minutes boat ride off the coast at Portsmouth. It’s been converted into a luxurious party venue complete with roof top hot pool, sauna and fire pit. Start the fun with water sports during the day, then chill out in the pool before dinner with a drink from the bar, and dance the night away under the stars. No need for you and your best friends to worry about a taxi home either; the fort has nine bedrooms and sleeps 18! 

So what acts could you hire for this fort? Pretty much anything you like, as loud as you like – there are no neighbours to annoy! 

Get it right first time

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It’s never an easy thing to organise an event no matter how small the size. The event may be a wedding reception, concert, corporate meeting, fundraising and the like. You need to entertain the guests if you really want to make them happy at the event. You can’t do it all alone. You need to engage the services of an entertainment directory such as Red Masque.

There are many reasons for using an entertainment directory rather than searching for your entertainment on the net. In the first place, you may not have time to look into the best entertainers. We at Red Masque will have the perfect choice for you on our website and the hard work of filtering out the best from the rest has already been done. We can link you up with the best bands, musicians, entertainers and suppliers in town. You are sure to find a reliable and professional entertainment that can handle your event.

You can be sure of proper accountability when you engage a reliable entertainment directory. Red Masque will give you accurate details online regarding the entertainment aspect of the event.

Professionalism is our game and trusted services when you engage with us. Your guests will be thoroughly satisfied with the acts you have chosen. You don’t need to suffer sleepless night once you have one of Red Masques acts at your event or party. 

Indeed, there’s a lot to gain when you hire from a reputable entertainment directory. You don’t have to be in a hurry when searching for the very best. Now that you have found us we will guarantee that you will not book from anywhere else. Once you have chosen your entertainment you are able to contact direct. You are able to ask the officials some questions, and get it right first time.

Entertainment for 2015

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Red Masque entertainment directory brings entertainment to events all over London and beyond.  As an agency bursting at the seams with talent, here we look at just a few acts to look out for in 2015…

Party bands are picking up great feedback wherever they go! They have put everything in their set lists from the Maroon Five to Madonna, The Rolling Stones and Daft Punk so know how to make sure that everyone’s musical tastes are pampered to. With a completely authentic feel and sound, these bands deliver a full sound which is bound to keep the Dance floor full at many different types of event

2015 sees the 75th anniversary of The Battle of Britain and you might want to book some great entertainment for events that will mark the occasion. Vocalists will bring close harmonies and a vintage look and sound to any event with an extensive set list of the wartime classics. They can also tailor to suit any budget by performing with a full piece band accompaniment or let their vocals shine with a Capella set.

There’s no denying that when Dynamo and Derren Brown came onto the scene, magic got very cool again. Our illusionists works along the same ethos – sharply dressed and delivering amazing tricks using any number of items including phones, cash and other belongings and also engages with a persona that sees guests always trying to lure him back to their table to do “one more trick”!

You can be confident that whatever event you’re planning, we offer one of the biggest and most diverse choices of entertainment to hire to make sure you get the perfect act for your event in 2015 and beyond!

Musical entertainment ideas

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Are you thinking about having a party?  It could be a large event or even a small one.  What about the music? You may have sorted out your playlist but what about a professional DJ, band or musician to get your party off the ground without a hitch. Top musical entertainers are very good a ‘reading’ a crowd and add a little bit of extra musical magic to an event making sure your guests have the best possible time.

How about a top Dj or VJ for a club launch or private party? Combine the two and have the ultimate party entertainment. Hire the best DJ’s with top technicians to put videos to music together and bring the party to life with the most amazing visual and musical combos. Give off that ‘night club’ ambiance; now that really is something to get excited about.

A solo musician can also be a great addition to any event. Whether you are having a corporate or private affair hiring a professional musician is worth considering to help keep guests happy and entertained and your party running smoothly. Performers can be booked for many occasions, themed nights, Rock nights, restaurants – you name it we think there are many more occasions that these musicians can be booked for as they are very versatile.

‘There is nothing like a Dame’ – so the song goes, and there is nothing quite like a female solo singer or a girl band to add some female fun to an event. From opera to pop their talents are endless. Hire a girl band for a ‘special birthday party’; or if a themed night is needed you could book your very own ‘Supremes’.

Or maybe you’re a lover of all things classical? If you are thinking of having such an event then why not hire some great classical musicians playing the very best from Mozart to Beethoven. There are many possibilities when it comes to your classical selection, from singers and choirs to string quartets and orchestras, be assured that here at Red Masque Directory we only advertise the very best.

Booking any musical entertainment for your event is very simple – find the performers suitable for your party and fill out their online booking form which is easily located within their profile. Once all details are sent your chosen entertainer they will be in touch with you directly to discuss all your requirements1.

Artistic events

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If you wanted something a little different at your event, then why not hire an artist? From charicaturists to silhouette artists, hiring a portrait artist for an event is guaranteed to be a highlight at any function. Make sure that your guests are entertained and that everyone involved can leave with a fabulous memento of the occasion. The perfect party pleaser for any event.

How about a Graffiti artist? Think of Banksy; he is one great artist that certainly knows his stuff. If you were organising a street party theme then why not hire some Graffiti artists to really make your theme ‘come to life’. Graffiti artisis create stunning pieces, live in front of guests. Aerosol art is a fast growing form of recognised artwork in the UK and can be a visually satisfying treat appreciated and admired not just by the youth of today but by all ages.

Or what about human works of art? Human statues bring a stylish element to any event and add surprise and comedy when they come to life. A live Statue always make a great addition to any party and with themes from Hollywood to Halloween there is always something to suit every occasion.

Our directory provides a full profile for each listing with descriptions, photo galleries, price guides, reviews, videos, audio and more…


Put on a show

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Have you every wanted to put on your favourite West End show or Musical?

Well you can, with a little help tom Red Masque you can find the best performers available in the UK. Read their reviews, watch the videos and decide for yourself who would be the perfect choice for your event. From full west end productions to solo performances of your favourite songs, bring the theatre to you with and make your dreams come true with a show just for you and your guests in the comfort of your own home or venue.

Rein-acting a musical for a Birthday surprise would be a fabulous idea; Have front row seats always, and be safe in the knowledge that all of our entertainers her at Red Masque are only the finest performers around.

If you’d rather be more hands on with your party entertainment then why not actually be the entertainment?Karaoke has become great party and event entertainment, we are all closet singers but put a microphone in front of us when we’ve had a few sherbets and we turn into our favourite idols!!

Live band karaoke takes traditional karaoke to another level by making you the star of the show with a fantastic  live band to play your favourite hits. Surprise your guests by making them the entertainment for the day and sing along to your hearts content with a professional band of your choice.

You must admit this would be great fun to hire this at a Birthday or christmas party where everyone can have the chance to turn into a Diva for the night!!

You can be assured that all the groups you see are 100% professional and have been highly rated.  Simply fill out an online booking form and your chosen entertainers profile and they will be in contact with you to discuss your perfect event.