Category Archives: Uk

And if your event doesn’t go to plan?

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It’s the nightmare we’ve all dreaded. The band that you have your heart set on can no longer perform at your event. They were perfect in every way but alas, are already booked/ill/otherwise engaged.

So what can you do now? They were all you ever wanted! Well, here are a few tips.

Don’t Panic

It may be cliché to say it but let’s calm down a moment. Let’s think this through rationally. It’s just that the music won’t be provided by your first choice band. But nobody except you knows that. ‘Don’t Panic’ is the number one rule in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy for a reason. Because panicking causes rash decisions and you definitely don’t want to do that. So breathe. In, out. That’s it. Now you’re getting it. Let’s think about what we can do to ensure that your event is just as perfect as you imagined.

Listen to the Band Again

Although you don’t realise it right now, this is shrewd advice. Listen to the band perform again with an analytical ear. Watch the videos. What is it about this band in particular that you liked? A three-piece? Acoustic? Their style? See if you can pinpoint exactly what it was that made you fall in love with their music in the first place.

Look on the Red Masque Directory

We have a wealth of party and event entertainment that you can book. Just look on our gallery. It’s true, some of our most popular acts are hugely popular for a reason and may not be available, but there are many bands who are just as good, ready to perform, aren’t quite as well known and may even save you a bit of a cash along the way. How’s that for a good deal?

But you want only the best

We only advertise the best event entertainers and we wouldn’t advertise a band you won’t be happy with. Just because some bands are more expensive than others, doesn’t mean they are necessarily better musicians. They may be just starting out they may be seasoned musicians who are starting a new band or they may have recently lowered their fee for a multitude of reasons. Either way, be assured that you are getting an incredible deal on your event entertainment.

Relax

In the days preceding your launch party, wedding or event, you may be fretting that this band still aren’t totally perfect but come on now, it’s time to think about something else. Sure enough, the day arrives and the band go down a storm. And that extra £200 can go behind the bar for all to enjoy. What a day, eh? All’s well that ends well.

Entertainment that will wow your guests

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Events are meant to be fun but also inspiring. Seeing the same sort of act at each function can perhaps make things a bit samey, so here are a few imaginative entertainment ideas that your guests may not be expecting.

Cirque du Cabaret

A unique act they are proud to be a source of unique kinetic cabaret sights, sounds and delights Cirque du Cabaret incorporate vintage circus themes to create visually arresting stage shows unlike anything you may have seen before. It is an imaginative act that has to be seen to be believed.

Cirque du Cabaret performed at the Canterbury Festival in 2014!

Living Statues

The ultimate in terms of a fun, imaginative, wandering act that will have even your most sullen of guest smiling, living statues are exactly what the name suggests. The living statues could be shaped as almost anything but imagine the surprise when what appears to be human-shaped hedges are in fact hedge-shaped humans.

A wonderfully creative act with detailed costumes, the strolling performers are sure to be a talking point for any evening.

Tropicalia

Tropicalia is a multi-award winning London based dance group. This high-impact dance show which can feature anywhere from 2 to 20 dancers.

These Brazilian and Latin dancers, singers, musicians and performers are all available to entertain you and your guests. They are all choreographed superbly and whatever the weather you can bring a bit a sunshine to any event.

D.J or V. J’s

VJ’s interact with DJ’S which brings together sound, lighting and video controls into a single user interface.

With 40 carefully selected snippets of sounds, players select and mix bass, drums, melodies and vocals by moving an object across a surface to create one of 10,000 possible playable combinations.

A must for any club or new bar on a weekly or promotion.

The Cheek of it

This international Burlesque star certainly has a lot of cheek!! She can mix and mingle with your guests or model your product. Lady cheek is very versatile and of course very unique.

This vivacious lady has wowed audiences with her captivating storytelling and silver screen elegance with a little comedy thrown in.

If you also wanted to learn the art of Burlesque, Lady Cheek has trained over 700 ladies each year the art of being fabulous.

A perfect talking point for your event – you won’t find better.

5 beautiful venues outside of London

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We all love London. Even those that claim they don’t still find something to enjoy, even if it’s for just one day a year when the London Marathon arrives or maybe even once every few years when it hosts the Olympic Games. Even so, it’s also nice to have a break from the capital city on occasion and these five venues are great places to hold your event if you’re planning to escape the M25.

Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons

Le Manoir is nestled in the picturesque Oxfordshire village of Great Milton and is renowned as one of Britain’s finest gastronomic experiences. Not bad, eh? It has held two Michelin stars for an incredible 29 years, so if you’re a foodie then we can’t think of many places that would be better to hold your event. Surrounded by smart lawns and stunning orchards, this really is a gorgeous venue to celebrate your anniversary or indeed get married!

Wrest Park

Most people’s commute through London is about an hour but what if you went the other way instead? Well, you may very well end up at Wrest Park is a French chateau-inspired building that affords breath-taking views of its fountains, statues and ornate Baroque buildings. Available for party events both inside and out, this is a magical setting for activities and team building days for up to 1,500 people.

Chewton Glen

What a photo. Blue skies, croquet, on the outskirts of the New Forest— What more could you want from an events venue? A bit of a ‘modern classic’, Chewton Glen provides an ideal setting for meetings, incentives and social gatherings. With a variety of function rooms and extensive facilities (which also include golf, tennis and a spa), this is the ultimate venue to impress. So be sure to dress up and make a day of it!

Hedsor House

Located within almost 100 acres of impressive parkland and situated on the doorstep of London, Hedsor House is one of the most picturesque and private wedding venues in the UK. When you book, it’s yours for the day with the only limitation being your imagination. Wow! Yes, it’s a blank canvas of a venue and you may recognise it from The Golden Compass, where Nicole Kidman was able to call it her home. Having rubbed shoulders with Hollywood, its next big event could be yours!

Pennyhill Park

Located just south of London in Surrey, Pennyhill Park is secluded within 123 acres of woodland and parkland, a 19th Century mansion framed by terraces, formal lawns and flower beds. Wonderful for a wedding or just a private party, it is an immaculate venue for an intimate party and allows up to 190 guests to help celebrate your big day.

After all that, it sort of makes us wonder why we’re based in London!

A Vintage affair

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Tuesday was what would have been the 125th birthday of Agatha Christie. As we all know, she has unfortunately not quite managed to live to 125 years old, but to celebrate the birth of the creator of Hercule Poirot and The Mousetrap, which is still going strong on the West End after 60+ years, we thought we’d pull together a few vintage acts to get you pondering a vintage party theme!

Upon entering what is no doubt a sumptuous English country mansion (for which you have booked for this occasion), the first act that will bring you beautifully into the vintage theme are a jazz band. As you whisk a Champagne flute from a passing tray and sample a posh canapé, these superb musicians will perfectly set the tone with some vintage-style background music at your event.

As you pass into the next room – perhaps even a private dinner – a party performer can be there to greet guests with his unique vintage vaudeville entertainment. Calling to mind the many talented circus performers and silent comedians of the past, mime entertainers can juggle, spin plates and use an assortment of items including tablecloths, hats and crockery, which will have you convinced you’ve stepped back in time. A vintage mime performer who can perform for up to thirty minutes at a time, you and your guests are sure to be impressed!

Who better to work the tables than a charismatic and charming event magician? Magicians for parties are known for their witty repartee and abundance of magic tricks to stun and amaze. Be it a signed and folded card appearing in his mouth or correctly mindreading colours that a guest has picked on a card. Magicians can do it all. Magicians are a great vintage entertainment that will fit perfectly with your party theme.

Yes, there’s always room for classical music at a vintage themed event all are classically trained acts and it simply comes down to whether you’d prefer a quartet or a duo. Spectacular music in a stunning setting, what could be better? Agatha Christie certainly enjoyed fine music and there’s nothing better than strings in a great hall.

Why not book a harmony band of the 30s and 40’s, they will Provide the perfect soundtrack to your event, harmonies have stunned audiences for years and never cease to go out of fashion?

Of course, there are numerous acts that are perfect for an Agatha Christie or vintage theme (Great Gatsby) so feel free to take a look around the Red Masque directory and see what takes your fancy!

Motown Supreme

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Why not book from Red Masque Directory ‘Motown Supreme’? Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a bit of Motown, so why not organise your Christmas party and add a bit of class. This featured act is above all the best our there, drawing in crowds and being booked time after time.

With acts as polished as this one you’ll find it hard to book better. They are able to sing a genre of music for all tastes in that era and will make sure that they sing all your favourite tracks.

They are most suited for Corporate, Birthdays, Weddings or really anything you wanted; (just make sure you book a big venue, so you can invite lots of guests). This band is getting more and more popular they are even taking International bookings. This group really do have the ‘likeability factor’ and it clear to see that they really are close friends.

They are able to engage their crowd and make your guests smile.

So what else can this band offer?

This band is young and fun and as we mentioned is a tribute to the Motown music. The three beautiful female vocalists really go to town with their enthusiastic 60’s dance moves, and stunning harmonies.

They have a rhythm section that takes you right back to the Motown days of Tina Turner, the funky Stevie Wonder, and the Supremes, this band is suited to Weddings, Office Events and other parties.

They come as a fully live 7 piece band, or can become a smaller three piece vocal trio, who will perform 2 x 70minutes sets of classic Motown songs.

During their breaks, for no extra charge, the band provides a professionally mixed playlist, which can feature music along the same genre. They can also design you an ‘Ultimate Playlist’ of your favourite party tunes (they just would like to know beforehand so they can get it organised for you).

There is also an option to have the ‘Motown Supreme’ DJ, who will work alongside the band and take requests from your guests on the night.

So don’t delay book Motown Supreme before somebody else snaps them up!!

Make your boss happy!!

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Here at Red Masque we think we have some of the best acts for your party which will capture your imagination. So, what are the best of the best for corporate entertainment for your next corporate event? Red Masque directory have the hottest trends and acts for corporate, and company parties to ensure your VIPs are very impressed and your boss is very happy.

Aerialists use aerial circus and dance theatre with dynamic lighting and music to create evocative shows using trapeze, ropes and silks. Available as a solo artist for smaller venue, or as large a troupe as you wish, their show can be tailored to create the atmosphere you require, whether humorous, quirky, elegant. With a range of associated acts, including aerial champagne pouring, we are sure you will find your perfect act on our website.

Circus act entertainers have given the world of corporate entertainment a whole new generation of aerial artists, defying gravity to present unique. Even if you haven’t got a skyscraper to use as your stage, these circus-inspired artists can perform in almost any space, for any corporate event.

It may be 52 years since Sean Connery first appeared as Ian Fleming’s ultimate spy, but the fascination with all things 007 is as strong as ever. Now Daniel Craig is the new Bond the Bond stories lines are stronger than ever. People like to immerse themselves in a world where tech is top, and glamour is king.

Offer your guests a total 007 experience: an elegant stately home or iconic venue, set up as a celebrity lookalike James Bond complete with elegant hostesses serving martinis (shaken not stirred by expert cocktail waiters). Then add musical entertainment combining iconic Bond movie soundtracks and characters with dance and spectacle, such as a top party function band with a James Bond set.

Add in some more celebrity lookalikes and a John Cleese lookalike the ‘new’ Q, who sets your guests site-specific missions to test their skills.

Bespoke dance groups provide a superb spectacle that transcends language, and can be precisely tailored to your corporate event theme. From ballet dancers to contemporary rock dancers, your guests can enjoy a show full of energy, passion, augmented by state of the lighting and sound systems.

Whatever the occasion, you’ll find a dance troupe to suit; that can offer themed events such as Arabian Nights, Argentinean Tango, Burlesque, Flamenco, Irish Dancing, Ballroom Dancing, and Vegas Showgirls for example.

Throw and Black and Orange Halloween party

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Looking for a festive and fun kids Halloween party theme this year? Throw a black and orange themed party, complete with pumpkins, spiders and witches – oh my! Here are few tips on how to get started:

Invitations: Send perfectly themed Halloween invitations that feature the black and orange colour scheme and will appeal to kids. Don’t forget to remind your guests to wear their costumes! Free online invitations are the easiest, fastest way to invite guests to your party.

Treats: Serve up some delicious black and orange snacks and desserts that kids will love! Make pumpkin shaped Rice Krispies treats with orange frosting, Oreo cookie spiders using thin pretzel sticks for legs, or dark chocolate-dipped apple slices.

Drinks: No Halloween party theme entertainment is complete without a signature punch! This black-coloured punch goes well with the overall black and orange party theme, and can be served over dry ice for an extra spooky effect. Try this quick recipe to impress all your witches and goblins!           

Witch’s Brew Punch

• 1 can grape soda
• 1 can frozen orange juice
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 litre of ginger ale
• 2 pints of cold water

Mix all ingredients together, and serve over ice in a large punch bowl.

Games: Incorporate black and orange themed games into your Halloween party! Play Pumpkin Ring Toss, Pin the Spider on the Web, or have a Monster Mash costume parade around your neighbourhood or garden!

Decorations: Use creative Halloween decorations that complement your colour theme. Pumpkins are a natural choice to incorporate orange into your party, and they provide both decoration and an activity. Encourage guests to decorate them with markers, paint, glitter glue, and more. No carving needed! You could also draw spooky faces on orange and black balloons with black and white paint markers! Place them around your party space at various heights for an easy way to decorate.  If your party is in the evening, hang orange glow sticks from the trees for a creative backdrop to all the fun!

This classic Halloween theme allows for a lot of creativity as your plan your child’s next Halloween party.  Use these spirited ideas to help bring your party theme to life, and enjoy the haunts and thrills with your little ones this Halloween season!

Teenager ideas for Halloween

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Halloween party games for teenagers are super to add to any teen party or even just a family party where teens will be present. Though teenagers can be easily bored, these Halloween games for teens will keep them entertained all night long! Games that require preparation are also fun to plan and think up! If you need a few ideas for Halloween party games for teens, take a look at the list below:

Bob for apples: That’s right—though this classic game may seem childish, it’s actually fun for people of all ages! Just set up a big barrel full of water and apples to challenge your teenagers to see if they can pick the apples up without using their hands!

Costume dance contest: This is a quick and easy way to get everyone on their feet. You can do contests such as the limbo or just award funny prizes for guests’ costumes. Make sure to have prizes on hand!

Murder mystery: This game requires a lot of thought and planning, but it is well worth it! It’s similar to a live action version of clue. For this game, you’ll have to create a story, character list and solution to a murder mystery. Just be sure not to tell any guests about it! Assign everyone at the party a “part” and hide clues around the house. Have them act out the story as they figure out who’s the murderer together!

Halloween night sweet hunt: Plant sweets around the outside of your home. Once it’s dark out, have guests go on a night-time sweet hunt. Give them bags for the sweets and flashlights and split them up into groups of 3-4. See how daring they’ll be on Halloween night!

Halloween Fear Factor: For this game, play a guessing game! Blindfold guests and have them put their hand into a bowl or jar filled with something horrible to the touch. Then have them guess what they just touched. Some ideas include Jelly, peanut butter and crushed biscuits. Award prizes for the people who have the most accurate guesses

Halloween trivia: Before the party, make up Halloween movie, TV show and history trivia cards. During the party, host a trivia session complete with prizes!

These Halloween games for teenagers are just a few ideas to get you started. These ideas are also Halloween party games for tweens too, so feel free to get as many people in the family involved as you can!

Halloween party ideas

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Halloween lands soon this year, so there’s no excuse not to make the most of it! You can throw together a masquerade-themed Halloween bash in a flash. This Halloween, throw the most interesting masquerade party in the world — 

Setting the Mood.

The trick to instantly creating a mood is to focus on overall effect rather than intricate decor details. Simply dimming the lights in favour of candlelight (electronic or flame) will immediately infuse the room with spooky ambiance. A quick draping of black netting over existing furnishings — tables, seating, etc. — provides instant spook factor with minimal effort, and a scattering of decorative masks will dress up everything from the food table to the bar. Finally, a scary film with a mask-related plot point (think Phantom of the Opera or one of the Saw movies) playing on the TV surround sound is a clever, effortless way to emphasize the theme.

Serving Drinks. 

The two most important things to remember about party drinks are quality and presentation. A choice of excellent lagers offered in ice-filled black cauldrons is much more interesting than a bunch of average Fosters crammed in the fridge. Serve a single signature cocktail jazzed up with themed stirrers or glassware and made with a premium spirit to make it feel special. Margaritas on the rocks are super easy and don’t require a blender (plus the mix can be made in batches in advance for easy pouring over ice once guests arrive).

Party Food.

A spicy pot of chilli served with tortilla chips instead of bread works perfectly with lagers and tequila, and a buffet of toppings allows guests to personalize their bowls. For snacks, a sweet-and-savoury dipping bar of crisps, fruit, and dips provides visual impact as well as variety. Salsa, hummus, and sour cream-based dips are must-have classics, while melted chocolate and/or caramels mixed with heavy cream make great accompaniments to strawberries and apple slices (just rub the apple slices with lemon juice to keep them looking fresh).

Playing DJ. 

Soundtracks to scary movies are a quick and easy way to infuse the room with doom. Extra points for playing spooky sound effects at the front door or in the bathroom. If you have extra time, make a playlist of your favourite horror movie themes and make a game of guessing which film goes with each tune.

Keeping Party Guests Entertained. 

Give the classic games you played as a child a slightly more sophisticated spin to keep guests happily occupied. Replace pumpkin carving with decorating lanterns with stickers, markers, and chalk that guests can take home with them, and trade bobbing for apples in water for bobbing for caramel apples on ice. Pick up a horror-themed video game for bonus points.

Dressing Up. 

Invite guests to simply add a decorative mask to whatever they’re wearing for the evening. Feel free to set a dress code (casual or cocktail attire) if you like, but letting guests come as they are makes it easy to accept your invitation. You can also set out masks on tables and let undisguised guests know that they can put one on.

Business event ideas

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There are many ways to create a unique experience for your employees, customers, and potential customers. Hosting a business event like a happy hour or networking event is a great way to get in front of people and learn more about them at the same time.

Plus, who doesn’t love an excuse to have a party? But first ask yourself, “what are the goals of this event?” Is it to gain more customers, is it to show your employees that you appreciate their hard work, or are you thanking your customers for their loyalty? Who is this event for, and what’s the benefit for you and your attendees? Once you have your goal(s) in mind, like every event, you have to plan ahead. Use these tips and ideas to make business event planning a breeze:

Planning Your Event Entertainment

Set your budget – How much can you afford to spend for the event? What will you need? Some of the usual costs associated with events include the venue, food, drinks, decor, marketing (printing/postage), giveaways and labour.

Create a guest list – How many people (and who) will you invite? How many people do you expect to show up? These answers will help you with the rest of the items on this list. Start by looking at your customer base and work from there. Use other networking events that you attend to pass out info about your event, if appropriate.

Select a date – When is the best time for your event? Select a few dates that work for you your potential invitees. Most people won’t be able to take time out from work just for your event. Keep in mind that your date needs to coincide with your venue availability. The more flexible you are, the better your chance of getting a great location, and a good price.

Scout locations – Should your event be held at your business, or do you need to check out other locations that might work? How much room do they have? What does the venue include (i.e., food, drinks, staff, audio equipment)? Can you use their venue in exchange for getting more people in their door or in trade for something from your business?

Pick a theme – Having a theme can help brand your entire event from invitations to decorations, food, and drink ideas. Remember, the holidays are right around the corner and people LOVE holidays. Use Pinterest to your advantage for finding inexpensive and fun ideas for your theme.

Promoting Your Event

Questions to ask yourself: How are you going to promote your event? What’s the right way to reach your target attendee, email, social media, print invitation? What will you offer people to get them to attend?

Send invitations – Try using different methods (paper, email, social media) to send out your invitations. You know your audience, what will work best for them? You may want to use multiple methods.

Additional Tips

Find a similar or complementary business to co-host an event with you. You can use their customer list to gain more attendees for your event and possibly more prospects for your business.

Get donations from other business that might benefit from your event. They can sponsor different aspects of your event or help with giveaways.

Have invitations available at your place of business (if you have one), and on you all times to pass out. You never know when you’ll need them.

Social media is free! Make sure to use it to your advantage. You can offer invitees a deal for sharing your event with their friends.

Last but not least, play the host/hostess. Make sure during the event that you work the room and keep the event, conversation, food and drinks flowing!

Have a business event of your own coming up? Share your planning tips with our readers in the comments!