Category Archives: Party Entertainers

Event magic

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Magic is undoubtedly an ancient art. The earliest reported magic trick (the ‘cup and balls’ trick) is almost 5,000 years old (2,700 BC) by Dedi in ancient Egypt. The same trick was performed over 2,000 years ago in ancient Rome.

The cup and ball trick has been used for centuries since by street hustlers to con people out of money. In fact, throughout time magic has often been used to trick people into believing that the magician held some other kind of ‘power’, such as great gambling skill, the ability to make mechanical objects that are ‘alive’, or the possession of almost miraculous skills at lock-picking, psychic abilities or psychological ‘mind-reading’.

Another example of an ancient magic trick is the ‘Indian rope trick’. The trick is performed outside. The magician throws a rope up into the air. The rope surprising stays standing up, reaching up into the air. The Magician’s boy assistant then climbs up the rope and apparently disappears into thin air at the top. The magician then climbs up the rope and also disappears. The audience hear them argue, then the limbs of the boy all fall down to the ground. The magician comes back down, places the boy’s limbs into a basket, and the live boy climbs back out.

Recent researchers have claimed that the magician hypnotised all the audience at once, and performed the trick at dusk, with the low sun in the eyes, near a tree with low-hanging branches, which could have held the top of the rope up.

A lot of ancient magic came out of tricks used to cheat people at gambling. Playing cards have long been used in magic tricks. Although their exact origin is a mystery, it’s widely believed that playing cards were invented in China. They then arrived in Europe, via Egypt, around the late 13th Century. The four suits of this pack were different to the ones we have today, they were polo sticks, coins, swords, and cups. The modern design originated in France in 1480.

The best modern example of the use of magic tricks to fool the public into believing that the performer has some amazing mind-reading skills. Sometimes, however, they act like they are not a magician but are genuine mind-readers, using advanced psychological, or even psychic techniques.

Whilst we should admire the ingenuity and skill of magicians who put on honestly described performances, we believe we should remain alert to those who claim additional powers when in fact they are just using the traditional effects of trickery

Planning New Year

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New year is that time of year when we start to reevaluate our lives, think about what the year has brought us and how we can smash the next with bigger and more exciting adventures. Whether you are having a small New Year party with close family and friends at home or planning a huge blow-out ball Red Masque have entertainment to suit all event shapes and sizes. So, we thought we would put together a list of fabulous acts up grabs for the 31st, that will really make your night shine…

Want to leave your guests begging for more? Busking Bellas are an exceptional, and are completely unplugged and acoustic who can get mingle with your guests on the dance floor by recreating some of your all-time favourite songs with flare, creativity and excellent fluidity.

Caricaturists are a brilliant way to entertain the guests and to salvage some memories from the year. They can work the room quickly and smoothly producing 10-12 full-body caricatures per hour, while you guests are chatting and soaking up with atmosphere. No matter what your event is celebrating, ensure your guests take home a memorable free gift from you. Caricatures for corporate events, weddings and parties. We highly recommend extremely talented artists for guests entertainment,

Get together enough people to fill a dance floor – then book Swing Patrol and we assure you – they will do the rest! The talented team of swing dancers can bring exciting floor shows, fun and friendly dance lessons or just a great group of dancing couples to social dance and add atmosphere to your event.

Calling all Dancing Queens! Abba’s Angels reproduce the original vocals perfectly whilst performing professional choreographed dance routines just like the real ABBA! Featuring some incredibly talented singers and musicians they offer one of the most captivating and authentic tributes to one of the greatest bands of all time.

Toga Party

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There are only a few requirements for throwing a Toga Party. First and foremost: dress code. No Toga, no party. To create your Toga, you will need white bed sheets, rope sandals, and an ivy headdress. Cut, wrap, and tie your bedsheets into a Roman-inspired dress. This is a universal look, but creativity is expected. Construct an ivy halo from materials found at your local craft shop. Throw on the hippie rope sandals you’ve been saving in your closet since freshman year, and you’re ready to go!

Organised games for your party-goers are a must. Expect your guests to be three sheets to the wind at this point, so keep game rules buzz-friendly. Choose games like Chariot Races, where participants will pair up for a piggy-back race to the finish line without spilling their beers, or Still As Roman Statues, where your party-goers will pose as Greek statues and see who lasts the longest. Beer Pong and Flip Cup are also acceptable.

Although Grecian-inspired games and drinking contests are entertaining in their own right, it’s best to have multiple forms of entertainment for your guests. Book a DJ or Band to keep the party alive all night long. Hire a Bartender to serve up Roman-inspired cocktails and beer.

Togas, drinking, and Roman-inspired games – it’s pretty hard to mess this up. Just have fun and drink responsibly, and don’t forget Toga! Toga! Toga!

Great exhibition ideas

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You’ve got your exhibition sorted, and you want everyone to stop and see what you have to offer. But how do you get them to stop? Make your exhibition booth unforgettable with some un-boring additions!

Party Entertainers
Want to create a buzz around your booth? Bring in a celebrity, of course. It starts with one person whispering to their friend, “Is that Lady Gaga?” and before you know it, everyone is checking out your booth. Celebrity Impersonators like Fake Faces can pose with guests for pictures, sign autographs, and add an air of glamour to what can be a dry event. Whether you choose a famous couple David and Victoria Beckham or fictional characters like James Bond or Austin Powers, you won’t regret it. And neither will the attendees!

Live Entertainment
Another great way to draw attention is a live performance at your booth. Close-Up Magicians can snag passers-by and get them involved with card tricks or other quick sleights of hand. If sound restrictions allow, you could even have a music performance like a One-Man Band or String quartet. Send a walkabout artist into the crowd with your company to recruit attendees for your booth, or have an illusionist or magician for a more compact performance.

Food & Drink
Every human loves food. It’s just a fact. If there’s food at your booth, you’re practically guaranteed to have a swarm of people. So if you choose to have food or drinks, be prepared with large quantities! You can usually get an estimate of attendees from the convention’s website or the salesperson who sold you the booth.

Also, check the restrictions of the exhibition, because sometimes food isn’t allowed unless it’s pre-packaged. If that’s the case, try attaching your business card to the packages so your prospects will know where it came from later.

If food & drink is allowed, try something a little more fun than a tray of quiches. Bringing in concessions like marshmallow machines or gourmet candy floss can add an adult twist on classic childhood favourites. If the exhibition allows alcohol, mini cocktails are another winner.

With a little creativity, you can have the best booth at the exhibition. Give people an experience that they won’t soon forget, and drum up some great relationships and potential new business.

Themed events

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The Great Gatsby has fast become one of the most glamorous movies of all times, Baz Luhrmann’s Great Gatsby is proving to be a big hit, bringing vintage glamour slap bang up to date! It’s therefore no wonder, everyone is wanting their very own Gatsby styled party.

Aside from the entertainment, (which is of course a vital part of your day!) a Gatsby event is going to incorporate everything that is wonderful from the 1920s! We’re thinking a colour scheme of black, gold and beige. Plenty of diamante’s and sequins adorning the ladies dresses. Glamorous cocktails and Ostrich feathers to decorate the tables! Take a look at some of our top ideas for party themed inspiration.

Just some of our Great Gatsby Theme Options:
Feather Fan Dancers
Jazz Bands
A Cabaret Show including Charleston Dancers
Aerialist
Hostess Flapper Girls
Singing Waiters
Large Martini Glass with a girl inside
A Range of casino tables including roulette and blackjack. · A DJ to finish off the evening
Gatsby style theming including backdrops, props and lighting.

Great Gatsby Decor
One of the biggest things watching The Great Gatsby was the amount of confetti constantly streaming through the air. It is possible to hire confetti cannons for parties and corporate events if you want that real Great Gatsby style flare.

There is also an abundance of large helium filled balloons throughout the parties in the film which look fantastic.

So why not let our very own Great Gatsby Cast take you back to the 1920’s, the swinging era of glittering Jazz and loosening morals……..After all, a little party never killed nobody.

Brilliant ways to remember your event

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Eyecon Art
Technically we’re breaking our own rule in that opening paragraph as Eyecon Art is essentially a photograph. But don’t go thinking that this is the same as hiring a photographer for an event. Rather than capture you standing awkwardly by the DJ as you ponder which canapés to chow down on, Eyecon Art will have you heading home with an incredibly close-up shot of your eye. Every iris is unique and dare we say it, look tremendous!

Caricaturist
If you’re looking to hire a caricaturist for an event, then you have got to make sure that you are fine with having your eyebrows accentuated and your nose looking a little larger than in real life. But that’s all part of the fun! A good caricaturist knows how to draw a cartoon-style representation of their subject without causing offence and the best part is that with modern technology being what it is, you can take home a paper or digital version.

Duke Box
Why does everything that provides a memory of an event have to be visual? The answer is that they don’t, especially when you’re dealing with a Duke Box, a fabulous box of audio delights which allows you to be the DJ! Selecting your favourite hits and making a party to remember from nostalgic tunes to more up-to-date current hits. A duke box not only looks good but sounds great too. Your guests will be gathered around remembering their favourite tunes of yesteryear.

Screen Printing
Whether you call it screen printing, letter pressing or something completely different, these fabulous contraptions can have you created your very own work of art in no time! Popular at Somerset House every summer, you too can discover the art of the print. Remember not to limit yourself to paper or card; should you so desire you can create your design on a T-shirt. Wear your creation and remember that party in style!

Get into the groove!!

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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 private party by accumulating a few fab acts inspired by the decade that brought us Bananarama, The Bangles and Bros.

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!

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.

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

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 party entertainment to have at your event!

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 entertainment.

Air Festival event ideas

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There’s nothing that signals summer like a beachside air show! Whether you’re going to be attending Bournemouth or Clacton, here are the ideas for you to ensure that when the planes stop flying, the party doesn’t come to an end!

Fantastic Fireworks!
Many people who attend air shows don’t just turn up for the afternoon to watch planes loop the loop; many attendees love to stay for the evening’s entertainment, long after the sun has gone down and boy do we have some party entertainment ideas for you. Fantastic Fireworks offer a Wow factor every time which will keep your guests entertained well into the evening…

Cirque du cabaret
Another act that looks stunning against a night time backdrop, Cirque du cabaret performers! That alone should be enough to convince you of the show’s quality and those in the crowd can expect special effects and stunts. We love all vintage forms of entertainment and try to pay homage where and when ever possible. These performers shows change current cabaret, circus and vaudeville formats as you know them, pushing the existing boundaries to create new parameters!

Red Masque are proud to be a source of unique kinetic cabaret sights, sounds and delights and we hope we can entertain and impress you with our amazing and talented performers.

Jenson Production
Jenson Production combines airborne entertainment with the circus as an aerial artist performs this modern show includes powerful and elegant parts of aerial and ground acrobatic in combination. These singular, modern presentations can be combined to a strong & elegant air-to-surface acrobatic, which can be realized and/or used in almost all kinds of shows! You can choose from a number of disciplines for the acrobat to perform including silks and hoop, giving a true feeling of bespoke entertainment.

Rob Roy
Many air festivals take place by the coast but as the night time rolls in, many people tend to avoid the sea and enjoy a warm summer’s eve.Rob Roy combines comedy, escapology and acrobatics, there is a perfect blend of laughter, danger and excitement. Improvisation, quick witted wise cracks and crowd participation create a unique atmosphere that leaves audiences both in amazement and hysterics and this highly polished show has made Rob a favourite among all ages and nationalities.for the ‘night air’ element of summer air shows.

Dare we mention Christmas?

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It will soon be almost that time of year when you dig out your fluffy jumper, drink mulled wine and enjoy the holiday with friends and families.　

Did you know that almost 11 million Brits will go to their works’ Christmas party this year? It is an annual event to let your hair down and have fun and what Christmas party would be complete without some embarrassing dancing?!?

So without further ado, here are some fun ideas for your corporate event or private party in 2017;

1. Santa’s Grotto

This can be a truly magical way to bring some fun into the office! Why not get the boss to hand out everyone’s Secret Santa presents in a grotto whilst dressed like Father Christmas himself against a Winter Wonderland backdrop?

2.Snow Machine.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Add some festive spirit to your event with fake snow. Activate it to sprinkle soft snow drops over everyone as they arrive to the party. Everyone loves snow and it can transform your private party into a magical wonderland.　

3. Rodeo Reindeer

Who can resist having a go on a bucking, spinning and twisting bronco reindeer? Great entertainment in the office will have a barrel of laughs trying to stay on as long as possible. The question is, who out of the team will win?

4. Santa and Elf hire

If you don’t want to dress up, why not hire Santa and Elf characters? They are the perfect addition to your Christmas event and can help liven up the crowd to create a fun, memorable
evening.

5. Santa’s Thrones

What better way to surprise the boss than hire an Elaborate Santa throne? Fit for a King (or Queen), these beauties would look amazing in your office and definitely create a festive feel to get everyone excited for the holidays.

6. Christmas Prop Hire

If you just plan on throwing the work’s do at the office during work hours, go to town with Christmas decorations! We have a fabulous range of Christmas props to hire including a cute frosty snowman, beautifully decorated presents to put under the Christmas tree, reindeer ornaments and much more.　　

7. Photo Booth

A better way to get all the staff together and have fun than in front of a festive background, wearing funny props and making fools of themselves? Hiring a photo booth can be the perfect entertainment idea and the staff can even record their own holiday cheer messages to each other with a video option.　

1920’s inspired events

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If you’re looking for that knockout concept for your next corporate event, why not take advantage of the popularity of the movie version of The Great Gatsby and people’s love of all things vintage?
Whether it’s a private party, product launch or corporate event, check out these ten event ideas inspired by the 1920s.

1.Cabaret Evening

The roaring twenties was an era full of decadence and entertainment, so a cabaret evening would suit the 1920s theme perfectly, and will be a whole lot of fun for guests! You have a whole range of fantastic entertainment ideas open to you, like lounge singers, aerial acrobats or even risqué burlesque performers.

2.Murder Mystery Night

If your client’s looking for something unusual for a smaller group (ten to twenty guests is ideal), a 1920s themed murder mystery night will definitely fit the bill. This works well for both private and corporate events, but will rely heavily on participation, so your client needs to be sure that their guests will be happy to join in!

3.Secret Speakeasy

The 1920s was an era when prohibition was in full force, and parties had to take place in secret. Why not make the most of this idea and plan a speakeasy themed event? Including a secret code-word on invitations that attendees have to use to enter adds an extra bit of authenticity and fun to proceedings.

4.Jazz Night

A live jazz band will really let guests get into the swing of things; the 1920s were, after all, known as the Jazz Age. Out of all the event ideas inspired by the 1920s, this is just the thing for music lovers.

5.Dance Event

A 1920s dance with live music is perfect for capitalizing on 1920s fever, and when you’re thinking about the perfect venue for this, don’t just consider the obvious. Maybe there’s a slightly run-down hotel in the area that you wouldn’t usually consider as a venue, but that could be hiding a fantastic art deco ballroom?

6.Cocktail Party

For a glamorous cocktail evening, think decadence and style. 1920s cocktails like Mint Juleps are sure to go down well, and a champagne tower will make attendees feel like they’re in the home of Jay Gatsby himself.

7.1920s Canapé Party

If your event needs to be dazzling but on the informal side, work with your caterers to produce a 1920s canapé menu. Canapés really came into their own during the 1920s, as they were perfect for soaking up all that bootleg liquor!

8.1920s-Inspired Formal Dinner

This would work from anything from a formal gala to an intimate corporate dinner, and you can combine food, cocktails and décor from the era for a fantastic atmosphere.

9.Gatsby Garden Party

Garden parties were all the rage in the 1920s, so if weather and location permit, go crazy with the fairy lights and paper lanterns for an enchanting outdoor event.

10.Dress to Impress

For any of these event ideas inspired by the 1920s, having a dress code will only add to the atmosphere and enjoyment. You may think that people won’t like the idea of adults playing dress-up, but you’ll probably find that they can’t wait to slip into flapper dresses, ostrich feathers and zoot suits!

These are just a few ideas for planning a 1920s inspired event; if you think creatively you can combine a number of elements of theme or style to produce an event with your own personal flair.