Category Archives: Entertainers

The Christmas Song that wasn’t

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If you can recall the very first lyrics to Jingle Bells sound eminently Christmassy; “Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh, over the hills we go, laughing all the way…” Horses aren’t really associated with Christmas and although snow certainly is, there’s not really anything else to link the song to everybody’s favourite Christmas holiday entertainment song. The reason for that? It isn’t a Christmas song.

You might think of Jingle Bells being a Christmas classics, it isn’t actually a Christmas song! Read on to find out more to the history of this festive tune. Or not-festive tune as the case may be.

The song we sing today was written by a man named James Lord Pierpont in or around 1850. Nobody is exactly sure of the precise time at which it was written or indeed, where. What we do know is that Pierpont was an American and although he hailed from Medford in Massachusetts, he only published the song when living in Savannah, Georgia. The only reason that this is of importance is that both towns lay claim to being the birthplace of Jingle Bells.

You see, although we only ever sing the first verse and chorus, there are many more lyrics to Jingle Bells that none of us really know. Some believe that the song was written for children to sing to the congregation at Sunday School. The verses none of us know go in a pretty intriguing direction with references to the sleigh crashing, a race with another sleigh owner and picking up women: “Now the ground is white, go it while you’re young, take the girls tonight, and sing this sleighing song. Would children sing that? Probably not, though one could easily argue for the innocence of youth.

Others believe that Jingle Bells is actually a drinking song. Historians are aware that it was a hugely popular song to sing at private parties, with guests ‘jingling’ the ice cubes in their glasses as they sang. Jingle all the way indeed! So which holiday is it about? If we go back to what we’ve previously written, the clue might be found in the history of Medford, Massachusetts. Back in the 1840s and 1850s, the Medford Sleigh Races were a hugely popular event with townsfolk cheering on the sleighs as they tore around the town. But they didn’t take place in December! They actually took place during Thanksgiving, which makes Pierpont’s classic ballad a song for the holidays, just not the one we all thought!

Russian party ideas

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If you want to have a Russian themed event, here are some great entertainment ideas for your party..

Cossack Dancers

Perhaps the most obvious option for your event, book Cossack dancers for a fabulously Russian experience! Able to perform a choreographed performance that is guaranteed to have guests thinking that they too can accomplish this most difficult of dances, they are the most sought after Russian entertainment act. Oh and don’t try to copy what you see; the dancers only make it look easy because they are professionals!

Ballet Performance

If you had to list famous Russian or Russian entertainment, we feel that Tchaikovsky would be quite high up on your list. Whether you prefer Swan Lake or The Nutcracker is immaterial because ballet dancers can perform both! How better to pay homage Russia than by enjoying a bespoke five to ten minute performance of a ballet in a stunning venue?

Moscow State Circus

Okay, we aren’t advising that you book the entire Moscow State Circus but many excellent circus performers are Russian and we can highly recommend booking an aerial silk artist, aerial hoop artist, an acrobat, etc. Booking circus acts always ensure shocked faces and a roar of applause so you can’t go wrong!

CSI

Okay, so this one is a bit of a joke entry due to the links between the UK and Russia in the news over the past six months or so! That being said, booking CSI is a great idea if you are looking for a team building activity that is also great fun. Climb into your Silent Witness-style jumpsuit, learn how to search for fingerprints and solve the crime! Unlike any other form of entertainment that we put out, booking CSI is a must!

Circus Entertainment

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When one thinks of circus entertainment, their mind often jumps to images of the big top, trapeze artists flowing to and fro and a unicyclist traversing a high wire. In short, not the kind of entertainment that you can book at most events. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Circus entertainment can fit pretty much anywhere, you just have to be careful which acts you go for. With that in mind, here are five forms of circus entertainment for intimate surroundings.

Hard Shoulder
A form of acrobalance, David and Jamie are a world class duo that pull off amazing feats of strength that have to be seen to be believed. They have travelled all over the world with their act, a superbly choreographed and intimate showcase of dynamic lifts and powerful balances. Set to a stunning soundtrack that captivates guests of all ages, they are a great choice for any event with their passion and intensity shining through.

Chris Marley
Juggling is one of those forms of entertainment that is synonymous with the circus. Not only can Chris juggle balls, but he can also toss bowling pins, blocks and many other props besides. What makes him so special? An ability to also perform many acrobatic feats as well.

Dangerous Productions
The beauty of fire performers is that ordinarily they can perform alone or as a troupe, needing only to light a couple of props to make for a stunning performance, especially as daylight disappears. You might be thinking that fire performers can only do their act outside, but Dangerous Productions use special chemicals to ensure that they can astound guests inside as well! A breath-taking and timeless form of entertainment for any event.

Hula Boy
We love a good hula show; there’s something absolutely mesmerising about the art form that has to be seen to be believed. Sure, we can also hula hoop around the waist for all of three seconds but Hula Boy bring together 10, 20, 30, 40 hoops all swinging in unison. Variants of the form abound with some involving LEDs and others even implementing a quick change effect whilst they spin. An incredible act to witness live.

The History of the DJ

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Whilst everyone knows what a DJ is, few people know the rich history regarding the rise of the DJ over more traditional forms of live music and entertainment. What most readers definitely aren’t aware of is that the history of the DJ goes back to the 1800’s before radio’s were even invented.

The precursor to the DJ was the invention of the phonograph, the first device ever invented to play music. Invented in 1877, it was closely followed by the gramophone records in 1892. Soon after, these records went into commercial production and marked the first time ever the public was able to purchase music.

The tipping point happened in 1906, when the first ever radio transmission was sent. This was not only a defining moment in the world of the DJ, but in human history itself.

1909, however, was the year in which the 1st ever DJ spun a record. Ray Newbie from California is officially recognised as the 1st DJ to ever hit the airwaves (and that is a pretty cool name to have by 1909 standards.) Although just 16 at the time, Ray or “DJ Newbie” used to pump the music, as him and his team kept the music going 7 days a week, with the exception of a bit of downtime during World War I.

It wasn’t until 25 years later, however, that the term DJ or Disc Jockey was ever coined. Prior to then, the guys behind the scenes were called “record men” instead of DJs.

Up until this point, the DJ was in charge of selecting music, not mixing it. What brought the DJ out of the shadows and into the mainstream however was the growth in bars, nightclubs and discotheques, as well as the fact turntables and DJ equipment became cheap enough for average people to afford.

Shortly after, DJs were transformed by the Hip Hop culture by Afrika Baambaata who invented the 5 pillars of hip hop music and culture, of which DJing and turntablism is one. (For those who aren’t aware, the 5 pillars are DJing, rapping, breaking, graffiti and knowledge.)

Today, however, the best DJs are from the electronic music genre, in particular trance music with DJs such as DJ Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, and Paul Van Dyk.

Wanna your track to be heard by thousands of people? Club Dance Mixes gives you the opportunity to promote your music!

Dance Origins

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History of dance entertainment is filled with interesting events that shaped its foundations, inventors that created new styles, periods of time when dance and music were put in the forefront of innovations, which all enabled it to become the popular social pastime of today.

History of dance closely follows the development of human race. Since the earliest times of our existence, far before the creation of first modern civilizations, dance served as an irreplaceable way of expressing human thought and emotion. As our civilization traveled through millennia, dance was modified to the point of being popular means of expression, health, communication and competition.

Elizabethan Dance
During the period of time in 16th century that is today remembered as an Elizabethan Era, dance and music received unprecedented attention, advancement and refinement that allowed it to become one of the most popular ways for socialization and exercise, and a foundation for the creation of all modern dances.

Dance in Religion and Mythology
Connection between dance and religion and myths can be observed from the dawn of our civilization to the modern times. Here you can find out how dance influenced the religion ceremonies, became storytelling device in describing tales of gods and myths, or in some cases become very integral part of some religions.

History of Ballroom Dancing
History of ballroom dancing started with the rise of European renaissance in 16th century. Ever since then, tradition of ballroom dancing expanded across entire world, pushing along its path creation of many popular dances that are in use today.

History of Waltz
Ever since it first appeared on the ballrooms of Venice, Waltz managed to revolutionize the way we dance. Here you can read detailed accounts of the way waltz was created, moved from folk roots to royal ballrooms, and helped to kickstart new era of social dances and music styles.

History of Salsa
Salsa is the Latin American dance that managed to revolutionize the way we dance and move one the dance floor. Here you can find out everything you need to know about history of salsa, its origins, popularity in Cuba, and spreading to United States and the rest of the world.

History of Ballet
Ballet is a formal dance technique combined with costumes, scenery, and music. Ballet integrated dance, music, stage design and poetry to make a dramatic storyline. It developed under the aristocratic influence as a formalized form of dance. At first its roll was a virtually component of the opera. In a time, it was formalized and codified, and there were founded popular ballet stages all over the world.

Themed party Ideas

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Themed Events are fun and exciting provided they are planned and thought through properly, and we have some great acts advertised, providing the right entertainment so that each event is truly unique and personal to you.

From elegant James Bond themes, through high-roller Casino themes to Halloween themes (not for the faint-hearted), you just need to browse through our various themes and choose any one that you like. Don’t worry if you can’t see one that takes your fancy, just take your time and read the biography and you can talk to your potential choice to go through details.

We want your themed event is the best it can possibly be. We have years of experience and extensive contacts, so we guarantee all acts you see advertised are the best and we are certain you will choose an event that will be just right for you and your guests.

Everyone works to a budget, and we appreciate that the budget cannot be unlimited, so a lot of artists work to your specification, producing an event that suits everyone’s requirements.

Themed events work perfectly for private parties, corporate events, weddings, theatres, nightclubs and hotels – the list goes on and on.

Your chosen act will be sure to attend to every detail, their main focus is on the quality of the event and professionalism to make your event perfect for you.

80’s retro party ideas

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The eighties appear to be everywhere at the moment and we thought we’d help you out in looking to hire entertainment for an 80s themed party by accumulating a few fab acts inspired by the decade that brought us Bananarama, The Bangles and Bros

Speedcuber

Alongside video games, the Rubik’s Cube is a classic image that embodies everything we remember about the eighties. Rigid corners and sides, incredibly dull colour schemes and a finale that’ll leave you amazed and overjoyed. Yes, speed cubers don’t just solve the blasted puzzle but do it so quickly that you’ll be desperate to learn the tricks of the trade! You get to mess it up and less than ten seconds later, you’ll get it back in perfect condition! How? We have no idea but it’s crazily impressive entertainment to have at your event!

Hula Hoopers

We were unsure if hula-hooping is more of a seventies or eighties thing, but whichever one you decide, we still think it’d look right at home at a 1980s themed evening. These amazing hula hoopers can revolve hoops around various limbs at the same time, all whilst chatting to you and posing for selfies. An incredible skill matched with a marvellous costume, Hula Hoopers make for tremendous party entertainment.

Retro Games

Let’s be honest, if you’ve arranged an eighties party and there’s no Pac Man, Dig Dug or Galaxian, then someone’s going to have to apologise! Yes, some of those games may very well have been created in the 1970s but the 1980s are when they really took off. With our Joypad retro game hire, you’ll be able to play all your favourite 8-bit hits including Super Mario, Sonic, Tetris and more!

Comedy dance groups

Nothing quite says the 1980s like questionable facial hair and the rise of the shell suit, which dominated high streets for some bizarre reason. Why not hire a comedy dance 80’s act who bring a touch of comedy to a routine and can actually dress in pretty much any way that you require. We’ve

Canape Girls

There’s just something about the 1980s, isn’t there? When it comes to picking a party theme, it has the right mixture of questionable cool alongside the ridiculous. Canape Girls are available to present your guests with a variety of flavoursome foods, Canape Girls will look right at home at your event with a flamboyance that wouldn’t look out of place in a Peter Greenaway film.

SAMBA!!

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From music to dancers, we have some great ideas for your corporate event or private party!

Brazilian Samba Dancers

Perhaps the first thing that people think about when they picture a Brazilian party, the Brazilian dance troupe actually specialise in a whole lot more than just samba, also able to dance Baile Funk and Brazilian Axé to get the party started! Their high energy routine can be presented as a stage performance or in a wandering Brazilian carnival style. Oh and to put you at ease, hiring Brazilian carnival dancers for your event doesn’t mean you have to dress like them, though we think you’ll agree that they look fabulous!

Bacara Drums

You could just have your colourfully costumed dancers jiving, but to really ramp up the Brazilian energy in the room, we recommend bringing in a few Bacara drummers or a Latin band to enhance the flavour of your party. With a multitude of instruments to choose from, the percussion will wow the crowd.

To end your evening, why not indulge in a little Capoeira dancing? An Afro-Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, music and dance is technical and graceful in equal measure. Incredible performed to live drums, the act can also perform to any music style desired. Though if you’re going for a carnival party evening, we recommend you steer away from the slow Classical numbers!

It’s all about magic

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When someone suggests to hire a magician for an event, you might conjure up images of a cheesy magician from the eighties. Perhaps even a children’s magician who will produce an incomplete colouring book at a corporate event, waving a literal magic wand and suddenly showcasing the pages full of colour. When we talk about it hiring magicians for corporate events, we mean something a lot more cool and a lot more enjoyable.

Ice Breakers
When people arrive for a corporate event, it’s fair to say that even if they’re from the same company, they might not know anybody there. As such, a magician is a brilliant way to break the ice, encouraging others to form a group around where the trick is performed and ensuring that people can talk after being introduced. As the magician moves on to another group, these two, three or even four people can chat about the miracle they’ve just witnessed! Magicians are great for breaking the ice at parties and events and best of all, getting people talking!

Social Media
A great trick is sure to amaze and to that end, magicians are very likely to have their performance shared on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram so that guests in attendance can share the magic with their friends online. This is brilliant for any corporate client because it means that not only is their event being shared but their company brand and logo might feature in the background of a photo or video, whilst they get the added benefit of looking like a fun company to work for who reward their employees with fantastic evenings out! How’s that for free advertising and PR?

It isn’t just magic…
When you book a magician for an event, you might be thinking only of card and coin tricks. Not so! We want you to think even further than that – magicians aren’t just able to pull of some incredible sleights of hand but are also able to provide some astonishing feats of mentalism as well. Think the most amazing tricks by Derren Brown! Combining familiar card tricks with displays of mind reading really does stun guests and are another great reason for having magic in attendance

When time is precious

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Entertainment is very important in corporate events. Different calibres of individuals are usually invited for corporate meetings and occasions. They deserve to be entertained all through the event. If you’re hosting an important corporate event, you need to plan everything concerning entertainment very well. You need to keep your guests happy and satisfied.

If you don’t want to use an entertainment directory, you can go ahead to hire a band by yourself. You have to create time to locate a reliable band. You need a band that has the best musical instruments. Such a band should also have the best artists. You need a band that has experience in covering different kinds of corporate events. You can be sure of entertaining your guests when you find such a band. Of course Red Masque has done all the hard work for you and you will find excellent artists just waiting to be picked by you.

The first step you can take is to engage a reliable entertainment directory. Such as Red Masque our website will help you organize every aspect of the entertainment required for the event. Our portfolio can help you choose the best music band that will entertain your guests. They will save you the headache of making choices by trailing through the internet as we have the best entertainment in one place. They will also save you time since we understand exactly what you need.

Again, you can decide to hire entertainers for the corporate event. It’s important you decide on the best attire for the entertainer, DJ or the band you’re hiring. Corporate event requires corporate attires. They must appear cute on the very day of the event. They have to entice the audience by their appearance.

Meanwhile, you need a good MC for the corporate events. You can hire a professional MC that renders quality services. You can also engage a DJ that also serves as an MC. This saves you some cash in the process.