Category Archives: Entertainment

Joker in the pack

Posted on by

We have all shuffled a pack of cards. Most probably own at least one, just in case we want to practice a couple of magic tricks to entertain guests. You normally take the playing cards from the pack, take out the Jokers and start dealing the cards. But have you ever stopped to wonder where the Joker comes from and why it is there? Well we have the information that you require!

The Joker itself was invented sometime around 1860 by players of the card game Euchre, a trick-taking trump card game for four players. Relying on memory, tactics and good communication, you don’t use the entire deck but somewhere between 24 and 32 cards. It was believed to be introduced to the US by German settlers, though this is in dispute and it may also have been introduced to the American mainland by immigrants from Cornwall and Devon.

In the 1860s, some American card players of Euchre devised some new rules for their beloved game. The problem? It required an extra card. Sure, they could have used one of the spare cards from the deck, but since all the face cards are part of the game, this wouldn’t have been a ‘good fit’. They referred to the new card they came up with as the Best Bower, adding it to the game where it became the highest trump card available.

Looking to make a quick buck from these variation rules, American card manufacturers quickly jumped on the trend by including a couple of extra cards in their decks. The British were a little slower to catch on though, only adding them in during the 1880s.

The Best Bower card was slowly phased out to become the Joker or Jolly Joker that we all know and love today. Like the Ace of Spades, it was typically branded with the company logo or with a unique floral motif that connected it to the manufacturer. It wasn’t until the Joker title for the card became more common that it was almost always represented by a performing jester.

Despite the fact you may think the Joker is connected in some way to the Fool in Tarot cards, you might be interested to know that there is no connection at all. Tarot cards have been around since the 15th century when jesters were still a possible career option and there is no link to the Jokers in a pack of cards.

Go gospel

Posted on by

Gospel singers are best known for singing worships songs in church, but in more recent years, the exuberant sounds and rich harmonies have been heard on pop recordings and as backing vocals for major artists on tour. Gospel music can be joyful, soulful or romantic and is a great for party and event entertainment with that added wow factor.

Gospel singers and gospel choirs tend to include a wide variety of music in their repertoire, from classical and jazz to soul, rock and contemporary pop. Gospel music however has its roots in the spirituals and work songs sung by 18th century slaves in the US, enabling them to join in religious worship at a time when few could read or write. Most songs were sung ‘a cappella’ (unaccompanied), or with basic rhythm, so over time, distinctive harmonies developed to embellish the sound. By the early 20th century, gospel was going mainstream, with the first gospel recordings made in the 1920s, and gospel songs then taken up by high profile performers such as Elvis, creating the fascination and enjoyment of gospel that continues today.

Today’s gospel choirs usually perform with a piano or keyboard and sometimes a drummer, and can be led by a choirmaster. They sing an infectious mix of music including traditional gospel, plus jazz, blues, soul, classical and Latin sung in the gospel style. For most functions, including weddings, corporate events, flash mobs, product launches, award ceremonies and parties, the best choice is a gospel choir rather than a soloist, as both the visual and sound experience of a choir delivers a real impact.

What to look for in quality gospel singers and gospel choirs?

A quality gospel choir has three key elements; a great sound, a coordinated look, and an infectious sense of enjoyment!

So, when judging the quality of a gospel choir, first of all, listen to their demo tracks, and consider:

• Do you prefer the cleaner arrangements with harmonies, or the more flamboyant vocalizations

• Does the accompaniment (piano or band) add to the overall sound?

• Does one voice/performer dominate, or does the choir share the lead vocal around, for more variety?

This last point is probably not as important if your choir is only singing a few number during your wedding service, but if you then book them to entertain at your reception or party afterwards (a great idea for guests to enjoy more), consider how they will sound in a 30-minute set or longer.

Now, look at their promotional photos :

• Do they perform in matching outfits?
• Do they look traditional or trendy?
• Do they vary their look to fit the performance type? (Hopefully, yes!).

Finally, do they look and sound as if they are enjoying themselves? While every song doesn’t have to be upbeat, the general feel should be one of energy and excitement bubbling under. Gospel music should dance, not amble!

Events for 2017

Posted on by

Tech

There’s no doubt about it, tech is here to stay and is looking to proliferate across the industry. We’ve already seen it in some instances; those attending various conferences in 2016 will have been given a barcode with their name imprinted on it upon entry and any stall whom you choose to engage with will almost certainly scan the code to add your information to their database. It’s quick and easy and these technologies are set to continue if the recent CES conference in the US is anything to go by.

Pretty much every item you use in your home is being connected to the internet in some form, so you can rest assured that before too long, there’ll be numerous new ways to interact at events. As for the event entertainment, well last year there was a rise in drone use during performances – including one that garnered a lot of praise on Britain’s Got Talent.

Intimacy

With companies and organisations still a tad uncertain about the political landscape thanks to Trump and Brexit, it appears that events will come across as a little more subdued, especially at the start of 2017. Gone are the parties where attendees number into their thousands and it’s intimacy which is the order of the day. With a small number of invited guests, companies are able to more effectively align the evening to those in attendance. Dinners are proving exceptionally popular with harpists and other background music naturally being booked to enhance the occasion, whilst we also expect larger companies to not have a number of smaller events across rather than one larger one. It keeps people in their industry talking, there’s more fun to be had and incredibly, it may even be cheaper in the long run!

Creativity

It makes sense that with the economic outlook uncertain, individuals and companies would get creative in order to receive the most bang for their buck. Whether this means creating their own act to best symbolise their business rather than hiring entertainment on the fly, or theming a party to make sure that it is as memorable as possible, creativity is the order of the day! We have a whole host of unique entertainment to hire whilst there are numerous ways in which to help make your chosen theme the best it can be including Costumed Characters and various acts that be personalised to attendees. One final thing, don’t go for a tired theme – try and think of something you haven’t heard before and we guarantee that the event planners involved will be just as excited as you about your party!

Was this year’s office party one to remember?

Posted on by

The office party can be looked upon with dread or with happiness. Of course it all depends on what the office party will include. Office parties have a few main principles; these include food, entertainment and drink. This blog is to give you a couple of unique extra ideas on these areas and they are sure to keep you onto an office party winner.

Jazz your office party by hiring professional party catering. Yes sandwiches and tea cakes are perfectly fine, but don’t you think they are quite mundane and well… boring? Your food should taste amazing and memorable so why not hire a fish and chip van. The fish and chip van could arrive at your venue and serve all your lovely team with scrumptious traditional fish and chip food. This is a fun twist on office party catering and nothing creates positive talk than good food.

Your party entertainment depends on your budget and also party style. In most cases office parties have quite refined budgets which can make it quite tricky to find top class entertainment. But please, from my own experience… do not cut corners when it comes to your entertainment. This will only end in heartbreak, and nobody wants that. Research what others office parties have and shop around your area for the best. You could hire a DJ to come into your office to really get the party going. Most DJ’s will also know various party games, so again this is an extra bonus. Another unique idea would be to hire a fun casino. The fun casino will come into your office venue and set up various casino tables for you and your fellow employees to play. Games include Blackjack, Roulette and Poker. Each casino table will have a trained croupier dealing the cards who will also explain each game to your team. This is fun source of party and event entertainment and also a great ice breaker

Your drinks will depend on whether your office party is consuming alcohol or not. But whether your drinks or alcoholic or non-alcoholic a perfect source of beverages is to hire a cocktail artist. The artist will set up your personal bar in your venue and make fresh and unique drinks and even serve them to your guests. This is the perfect idea to make your drinks really stand out from the crowd.

Start Your Event With A Bang!

Posted on by

A typical illusion show tends to last for around 30-45 minutes meaning it’s a great way to kick start your event being long enough to include a range of laugh out loud comedy moments and astonishing magic but short enough to ensure that there’s still plenty of time for guests to enjoy the rest of the evening you have planned for them.

Interactive, Unique And Amazing!
Suitable for all ages, our Illusion Show is interactive and will have everyone on the edge of their seats!

Featuring epic grand illusions that have been custom designed for you alone, live show offers bizarre, strange, hilarious and unique routines unlike anything you have seen before!

The Illusionists bring you a show you’ll remember forever! Original and exciting, this unique act will leave your guests in astonishment with amazing illusions and laugh out loud comedy!

To book illusionists just look on our Directory where you will see a whole choice to choose from. Booking from Red Masque has never been easier.

Summer Garden Parties

Posted on by

If the weather holds out this summer, you might be considering a traditional garden party. Red Masque has put together its top 5 list of summer garden party entertainment ideas for something with vocals and a touch of the familiar, how about a Swing Jazz band – often playing Rat Pack, Sinatra, Michael Bublé and Jamie Cullum. Unlike a Dixie band, they will need electricity for their amplification, but they can tone the volume to suit a garden party just fine.

Strapped for space? Try a duo, this is the easiest type of act to accommodate and makes more of a visual statement than a solo artist alone.

Steel drum band music stems from the Caribbean with a mixture of Calypso, Latin, Reggae, Pop, and Rock n’ Roll. Steel bands bring the Caribbean to your doorstep!

Traditionally, a string quartet gives recitals of works by the classical masters, but more recently has diversified into a more popular repertoire which includes pop, jazz, folk and ragtime. String quartets are ideal for summer garden parties. As they are generally acoustic (they require no amplification or electricity), they are portable and can change location during your event.

Whether it’s Giant Jenga, Giant Wii Sport, Giant Table Football or Giant Operation – Giant Games is the fun way to enhance your big event with a fantastic range of games for all ages!

For a lively garden party with plenty of dancing, a Salsa band is the ideal addition. Salsa encompasses a variety of rhythmic styles and musical forms. Think Rio Carnival, the Caribbean, South America and Latin Jazz. With Salsa music, the rhythm is infectious and the costumes colourful. Many acts can also include Salsa dance instruction as part of their package.

A few things to consider when organising entertainment for a summer garden party.

Electricity – some acts don’t need electricity as they play acoustic instruments, and are therefore easier to move around the garden. Any act with vocals, electric guitars or keyboards will need electricity and you’ll need to ensure a safe supply.

Cover – in case of bad weather (or even in case of full sun) most musical acts will need a provision of cover such as a gazebo or marquee.

Noise – make sure you warn the neighbours if you book a band later in the evening, as you won’t want the police turning up and dampening the mood.

Lawn Protection – as the musicians will likely be moving around on one small spot of garden, if the ground is at all damp it would be wise to cover the lawn in that area. A ground sheet would be fine, but even better, you can buy “ground protection mats” from places like Homebase. For a small band you’ll need to cover roughly 3 x 3 metres

Christenings: A Brief History

Posted on by

The christening or baptism of a baby or child stems from the Christian religious practise of immersing oneself in water to wash away sins (The Greek word ‘baptizo’ literally means to immerse, plunge, dip, or bury in water) and in later years the ceremony became associated with the taking of a name to symbolize new life.

Adults may choose to be baptised later in life but whatever the age of the participant, the naming ceremony whether religious or otherwise is usually followed by a family celebration.

Regardless of the size of your christening or naming-ceremony, musical accompaniment will both enhance the atmosphere and entertain your guests throughout the day.

Classical music such as string quartets, harpists and singers are popular choices for the ceremony, with jazz bands, swing bands & pianists proving good choices for the drinks reception afterwards.

Many Christenings now also run on into the night with a live party band or DJ.

If you will have a good number of children attending then it pays to hire entertainers to keep them occupied. Look at our directory for great children’s entertainers, magicians & street entertainers. Also think about face paints & fancy dress costumes which are always a great way to keep them entertained.

Anniversary Party Planning

Posted on by

The word anniversary, meaning returning with the year or the annually recurring date of a past event, derives from the Medieval Latin word anniversarius, where annus means year and versus, which is the past participle of vertere, means to turn.

In modern times an anniversary celebration is usually held as a day of remembrance to commemorate a special event, particularly one of historical, national or personal importance: a person’s death, the anniversary of the founding of Rome or more usually a wedding anniversary.
hire the best Live Music For Your Anniversary Party
With music being one of the most important aspects of any party you might think about a themed band or DJ to play music from the era of your wedding. For example why not book a swing band or jazz quartet for your 50th or 60th wedding anniversary party or a traditional rock and roll band for all you 1960’s or 70’s newlyweds.

Many of tribute bands will perform in costume which can lead to even greater amusement if you make it compulsory that all your guests must dress up in gear that was trendy in the year you were married, especially if any of them still have original items of clothing from those days!

Maybe you were married abroad, be it Ireland, the Caribbean or Greece so why not ask Red Masque to provide a band who will perform music traditional to that country; a Ceilidh band to get everyone jigging, or a top class steel band to re-invoke the sound of the sea and the swaying palms you enjoyed on your caribbean wedding day.

Many people choose to organise a 1st, 2nd or 3rd year wedding anniversary party featuring the same band they hired for their wedding day. Your guests will have loved them the first time around so it’s a pretty safe bet that the next performance will be just as great.

A Night To Remember
If you’re asking guests to wear fancy dress then your room should be decorated in a similar theme. The Essential Party Planning Supplies box below contains useful links to many high quality suppliers. From balloon displays to historical memorabilia, unusual cocktail ideas to table decorations or fireworks, Red Masque can put you in touch with everything you need.

For a personal treat you should ask all your friends to bring photos, anecdotes and tall tales about your years as a married couple. You can later compile these into an album to look back on a savour for years to come.

80’s themed ideas

Posted on by

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

Retro Games

Let’s be honest, if you’ve arranged an eighties party and there’s no Pacman, 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!

80’s Circus entertainment

Nothing quite says the 1980s like questionable facial hair and the rise of the shell suit, which dominated high streets for some bizarre reason. Did nobody have a mirror back then? Go for an eighties-inspired theme by hiring some circus entertainment at its very best.

Canapé 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 and with that idea firmly in your mind. Why not hire some Canape girls. Available to present your guests with a variety of flavoursome foods, the 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.

Speed Rubix Cuber

Alongside video games, the Rubik’s Cube is a classic image that embodies everything we remember about the eighties. Rigid corners and sides (see those 8-bit games we talked about earlier), 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!

Eighties tribute bands

There are lots of eighties party bands that we are happy to promote that can play music from a variety of decades, but if it’s the 1980s you’re after then it’s probably best to just ask for tunes from the era of Michael Jackson, WHAM! and Madonna. If you’re looking to hire a band from the 80’s, you can’t go wrong with our advertised bands.

LED entertainment

Posted on by

Let’s be honest, when you hire entertainment for an event, you want the act to be visual, something which nobody has ever seen before and which nobody will forget in a hurry. And if it looks great in photos? Well, that’s a plus too. Bearing all that in mind, it’s no wonder than people love acts with a lot of lights and LEDs.

Circus

Circus come with the normal jugglers etc.. but now some circus acts come with LED acts too, with hypnotic juggling skills across an immaculately choreographed show more than enough to recommend them. LED Hula Hoops will also wow you, this time with hoops rather than LED batons. Incidentally, with these acts, all of the LEDs can be pre-programmed to show a company logo. the Light Stilt Walkers are a stunning and serene light act, which utilises a rainbow of colour to great effect. Feeling peckish? Why not head to the LED Canapé Girls.

Dance

Everybody dance now! You’ll certainly be wanting to after first looking at the Light Dancers, who are another LED act that provide an elegant atmosphere to any party. A lot less elegant though are Neon, who are like a cross between Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity and cult 1980s film, TRON.

Music

LEDs aren’t really seen that much in our musical acts to hire but they do appear occasionally! An LED dance band are perhaps the best example of this, with each member of the band wearing vibrant costumes, with LED strips carefully placed across their instruments.