Category Archives: Wedding Entertainment

Female Solo Acts

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Our female solo artists are suitable for pubs and clubs, corporate events, parties, holiday sites, charity events and much more. Our female solo artists for hire can sing anything from country and western, contemporary, ballades; opera, classics or even soul the choice is yours…

Here at Red Masque your event/themed evening can perform a wide range of music that can span several decades or genres. Red Masque entertainment finder can help you choose the right female solo artist/singer for your party. Book a female solo artist, she could be the perfect complement to a nice chilled evening or makings of an upbeat party.

We have the very best solo artists available to hire in the Uk and will ensure that your event will be exactly how you imagined it to be and more…  Booking a female solo artist is very simple, you can look on our website and choose the female of your choice and fill out an enquiry form safe in the knowledge that our entertainment directory will do the rest. You can also contact your selected performer directly or sent us a contact form and we can help you choose the best female solo artist for your particular event.

Reliable wedding organisers

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If you wanted to hire some reliable wedding planners, we are sure you will be able to locate some great organisers through our directory.

Wedding bands are highly required to make wedding receptions very lively. If you’re thinking of making your upcoming wedding event memorable; you really need to source for the best Wedding bands. You need to engage a reliable entertainment directory that offers quality entertainment at weddings and events. You don’t need to crack your brain just to locate the right band. You simply need a little time to make the right choice. Red Masque has a high calibre of party entertainment to hire so you will be guaranteed to find something that suits.

It’s important you consider the venue of your wedding reception when sourcing for the best band. Make sure you choose from a good entertainment directory such as Red Masque who advertises entertainment at weddings right from the venue of your wedding reception. Once you have chosen you are free to ask as many questions as you like and tailor make your wedding your way. A good point to remember is; you can easily make the right choice by asking proper questions.

When searching for quality however, we can assure you that we have vetted all of our
entertainment and have had trusted reviews from each and every one. Of course you can easily find what you are looking for online but do they come highly acclaimed and are they from a trusted entertainment directory?

In any case, if you succeed in locating the best wedding bands, you can take another step by getting in touch with them. You can send emails or call them on phone. You can speak with the managers or the artists themselves. You need to ask them several questions before you make the right choice. You have to ask about their charges, style of music, duration, expertise and so on. You can easily pick the best from the responses you’ll get at the end.

In all, take your time when sourcing for Wedding music. You need to start looking for the right agency like Red Masque ahead of time. You really need to pick the best band that will make your wedding glorious. You’ll succeed if you choose the right directory in the first place – which by the way is Red Masque directory.

Stay Within Your Event Budget

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Planning corporate events or another major event can be expensive. The average cost of a wedding is moving closer and closer to £30,000. Even large private parties like an anniversary or graduation party can cost thousands. If you plan a corporate event, the cost can go up exponentially.
As a party planner, it’s important to work with your clients to stay on budget while also planning the event of their dreams.

Research Costs

Before you can create a budget, you need to have a good idea of what things cost. You may be shocked to learn what caterers cost, or you may have had no idea that a photographer could cost so much. Call around to get a few estimates based on some standard details, or do an online search to get a ballpark for what others have paid in your area. Once you have that information, you can get a rough idea of what you might like to spend for each item on your party planning checklist.

Create an Overall Budget Amount

Start by determining how much you can afford for your event. Create a couple of amounts: Set the amount you’d like to spend, and set the amount that you could spend if you stretched things a bit. By having a budget range, you will have some wiggle room for unexpected expenses. You’ll also give yourself some flexibility to indulge if you find a more expensive caterer that you love or you decide you want to spring for a nicer venue.

Create Estimates for Each Category

Break down your budget into categories for each item you will need for your event. For example, a typical event planning checklist for a wedding would include things like catering, venue, wedding cake, the officiant, flowers and wedding attire. Create a range for each budget item, ensuring that the total still falls within your overall budget range.
Don’t Overlook Small Costs
When you are shopping for party supplies, you might think their costs fall within your budget, but you might overlook the smaller costs than can push you over. For example, if you have £5,000 budgeted for catering and you find a caterer that gives you an estimate of £4,800, you might think you will be saving some money. However, after tax is added and you pay the tip, you could be well over your budget. Be sure to include these smaller expenses when calculating your budget.

Working within your budget also ensures that you stay on track and that you find ways to cut corners without sacrificing on quality.

The Wallace Collection

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The first thing to note about The Wallace Collection is that it is contained within 25 glamorous galleries as well as a contemporary glazed courtyard that has to be seen to be believed. All of these areas are available to be hired for your corporate event, private party or wedding a beautiful setting in central London for somebody who is a huge fan of the ‘hidden gem’.

Although located near one of the most famous roads in the world, The Wallace Collection somehow manages to retain its status as a location only the most informed local or tourist knows about. You and your guests are able to enjoy masterpieces in virtually every room and when you hire the venue, the money goes straight back into preserving the collection for future generations to enjoy.

If you’re looking to hire a venue for a reception or dinner then there a multitude of fabulous locations to pick from depending on the numbers of your party. To entertain guests of up to 160 then the aforementioned courtyard is a must, with pre-dinner drinks able to be enjoyed in the Drawing Rooms Suite on the first floor, allowing lucky attendees to enjoy a private viewing which includes the opportunity to see The Laughing Cavalier in person.

The courtyard itself offers an exceptional space with which to enjoy background music from a harp to guitar, right through to a four-piece jazz band for maximum party entertainment value! For those looking for a more intimate occasion, the Venetian Room caters to just 24, whilst the Dining Room can hold up to 40 guests.

But perhaps your guests aren’t attending with dinner on the brain? If this is the case, then perhaps they are here to enjoy your wedding day! There are a number of incredible venues in which to exchange vows throughout the capital, so The Wallace Collection focuses on the most important part – the evening wedding reception! Naturally as an event entertainment supplier, we would say this, but we must stress just how gorgeous a reception one can enjoy in the Drawing Room Suite. Decorated with French silk, you will be able to delight friends and family amongst treasures that previously belonged to Marie Antoinette and Madame de Pompadour, to name but two. Guests can then enjoy speeches, live music or a dance to a DJ in the courtyard.

The Wallace Collection really is a stunning space in which to enjoy entertainment and is truly beautiful in the way it blends different styles of the old and the new.

Your best mate’s Stag party

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Your best mate is getting married and you’re on the prowl for ideas to make his Stag party unforgettable. As hard to believe as it may be, not every man’s dream Stag party involves a stripper jumping out of a cake. For the men looking for something different for their parties, here are five unique suggestions.

Explore.

If there’s a place within driving distance that your friend has always wanted to go to, now’s the time to do it! Get your best friends together and explore. Go on a hiking expedition and climb that mountain he’s been talking about, or go white water rafting, rock climbing, or kayaking. Have some fun in the great outdoors

Viva Las Vegas

If Vegas is too far for you to travel, bring the excitement of the casino to you by hosting your very own Casino Party Blackjack, Roulette, Slots, and other games will get the competition started. Don’t forget to hire a cocktail waiter to whip up delicious drinks and Las Vegas Style Entertainers for the live show!

Go for a beach holiday weekend

Spend the weekend at the beach with your best friends! Take advantage of the waves by surfing or playing water sports. Have your very own party on the beach, complete with a pig roast!

Night Out On the Town!

Treat your friend to a night out on the town with his best mates. Grab dinner at that new restaurant he’s been dying to try, go to a wine tasting, and then finish the night off with a burlesque show! If there aren’t any burlesque clubs near you, you can hire Burlesque Dancers for a private party.

No matter what you decide, make sure that your last hoorah before the wedding is memorable and leaves the groom feeling lucky to have such great friends at his side!

Classical musician and what they do

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A classical musician plays an acoustic (unamplified) instrument usually found in an orchestra, such as a violin, flute, harp, cello, trumpet, and including other solo instruments such as piano, saxophone and classical guitar. Many people think of classical music as purely Western (i.e. from Western Europe), but almost every culture in the world has a ‘classical’ music tradition, from Japan to India, Indonesia to Bali.

While classical musicians do spend the majority of their time playing classical music such as you’d hear on Classic FM or at the BBC Proms, most also have a very wide repertoire (music they know). So, if you book a classical musician for a party or event, they can play music to suit all tastes, including arrangement of pop and rock classics, jazz, easy listening and musicals.

Hired Classical musicians can perform solo or as part of a group, such as a flute and harp duo, wind instrument trio or string quartet.

At Red Masque Directory, our classical musicians are in great demand for occasions where high quality music is required, such as weddings, dinners, receptions, product launches, society parties, VIP events, sporting occasions, etc.
* Opera Singers
* Classical guitarists
* Pianists
* String quartets
* Harpists

What to look for in a quality classical musician?

The best classical musicians will have trained at a music college or university and have a diploma or degree in music. Traditionally, graduates from the UK’s major music colleges such as the Royal College of Music, Trinity Laben, RSAMD, etc. are considered the elite performers, but this does a major injustice to the many excellent players who graduate from UK universities, or who train abroad. So, look for a qualification, yes, but don’t worry too much about the differences between them.

Experience counts for a lot in classical music, but like most professions it can be hard to get a foothold on the career ladder. So, if a player or a group has experience performing in concerts at famous venues or major festivals, great. However, that doesn’t necessarily automatically mean that they will be perfect to entertain at your wedding reception. Check your classical musician has experience performing at the type of event you’re holding.

Classical musicians study for years to perfect their playing; even top professional will often still have lessons with a teacher to keep polishing their skills. In addition, they will spend hours practicing to ensure they know their music well, and of course, also performing as often as possible! This doesn’t mean they will necessarily perform without sheet music in front of them, but it ensures they always sound the best regardless of what style of music they are playing.

Top tips for organising an event

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Organising an event may seem like a scary and overwhelming task, but with good planning it needn’t be, and the rewards of a successful and memorable occasion will eclipse the efforts involved. Here are some basic top tips for organising a triumphant event.

Choose an Event that you will enjoy

Successful events are organised by people who believe in the occasion and who want to put a smile on everybody’s face. They are also run so smoothly that not only do the visitors want to repeat the experiences, but organisers too. 

When choosing an event, it therefore important something that you would enjoy attending. If you don’t like the occasion then the role will quickly become a chore and be evident to everybody.

Plan Carefully

Well organised parties and events leave people with positive experiences and make them want to come back for more. Events that are poorly organised will probably still be remembered, but for the wrong reasons. 

If an event is not carefully planned it will flounder. With event management it is not simply a case of crossing your fingers and hoping for the best – too much is at stake. One simple error regarding the organisation of such aspects as the toilet facilities or the catering might be secondary to the main event, but it could ruin the whole occasion for many people.

Consider drawing up an event manual or a calendar to chart let you and everybody involved know what needs to be done, by whom and when. This will also help you to chart your progress. It is useful to plan in reverse, by starting at the event date and working backwards.

Don’t take on too much work

Very few events are one-man missions, they are largely realised by people working together in a team headed by a manager or an active small committee. This is the most effective way because event organisation involves a great many different tasks, some occurring concurrently. The organisers should therefore not be afraid of getting as many people involved as they need. The less people have to multi-task and more they can focus on one job at a time, the less chance there is of something going wrong.

Budget Carefully

A key aspect of the event plan is the budget. The initial plan should be accompanied by an estimation of the total costs. This will enable you to firstly see whether the planned event is economically viable, and then whether you need to modify costs and plans, and how much funds need to be raised. 

The basic budget plan needs to include all the expenses and the all money coming in to pay for them. To avoid any damaging financial mishaps, it should be diligently followed. Records of what has been paid for and when should be maintained, and receipts and invoices kept. 

Timing

Timing is another vital factor in successful event organisation. The occasion needs to be planned for a date that gives you plenty time to plan and action it, and save any last minute panicking. The day must also be appropriate for the event type and its audience – if it’s aimed at children then school day afternoon would for instance not be advisable. It should also not clash with any other occasions that might steal its thunder and its attendees, such as a major sporting event.

Contingency Planning

Even if your plans are very sensible and thorough, you cannot anticipate everything, there is always the ‘what if…?’ It is therefore important not to overlook contingency planning, and consider a wide range of potential problems during the planning stage.

All about the Bride

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The big day is almost here and things can get a little stressful and hectic. Planning a wedding can take up months of a bride’s life and can leave her feeling more relief to get the day over with than excitement for the day to come. Because of this, it is important for the bride to take a day off. A day to relax, eat cake, spend time with friends and family, play games and receive some gifts. Throwing a great bridal shower will be just what the bride needs to regain some of her sanity after months of wedding planning. Red Masque has everything you need to help you plan the perfect Bridal Shower. 

Plan Ahead

Usually the maid of honour, bridesmaid, mother or sister will be responsible for throwing the bride her bridal shower. It does not all have to fall on one person though. It is actually a good idea to have two or three people assist in the planning and covering costs. You should allow yourself about 6-8 weeks to plan the shower. Some of the first things you need to work out: What kind of party will this be? Formal or casual? Where will it be hosted? Your home, someone else’s home, a restaurant, a park, etc.? Will there be a theme? Sometimes it can be fun to have a gift theme; such as, lingerie, travel items or kitchen ware. Once you have these basics nailed down, send out the invitations as quickly as possible. Purchase generic ones and fill them out or have specialty invitations printed that match the theme or colours you have chosen. This is a special day to be shared with people that are special to the bride, so have her help with the guest list. 

Entertain (and Maybe Embarrass) Her

Primarily, bridal showers are about both relaxing and getting gifts that are both fun and useful for the bride and groom. However, it is also important that everyone, both the bride and the guests, have a lot of fun. The most popular form of entertainment for a bridal shower are games. There are lots of resources online with lists and lists of different games to play. It’s important to choose games that match your bride’s personality. If she’s a shy person by nature, don’t pick the games that will embarrass her and make her uncomfortable. If the bride does not want games at all and wants the shower to be more of a party, then book entertainment. For a larger party, you might want to hire a jazz band classical ensemble or strolling violinist to provide background music as your guests mingle. It would also be interesting to hire an impersonator of one of the bride’s favourite celebrities for a meet and greet and to take photos with the guests. If the location for the shower is appropriate for it, perhaps you could hire a comedian or hypnotist to put on a short show for the guests. 

For a smaller bridal shower with just a handful of guests, you might instead want to consider something other than a party. Take the bride and small group to the spa for the day, go antique shopping or maybe even plan an entire weekend out of town somewhere the bride loves or has always wanted to visit. Really, it all comes down to what the bride wants, so it’s a good idea to keep her involved. 

Filling in the Details

No matter why time of day you have chosen for the shower, you must provide refreshments. Of course, the most important food to be present is the cake. Hire a cake decorator to design a cake that matches the theme or wedding colours. If the time of the shower lands between meals, then cake may be all you need in regards to snacks, but be sure to provide beverages as well or an alternative treat for those crazy guests that might not like cake. If budget allows, have the shower over a meal and hire a caterer to plan the menu and a waiting staff to handle all the work involved. If the caterer does not provide a bar service and you do want drinks provided, you might want to hire a bartender to serve cocktails, wine or champagne. Or to spice things up a little, hire a cocktail waiter! The guests can be entertained by juggling, flipping and magic tricks while also enjoying professionally mixed drinks! 

Once you have all your ideas and plans in place, it is time start putting them into action. Set the scene with some great decorations that match the theme you’ve chosen, or if there is no theme, then just decor or flowers that match the wedding colours. It is also a good idea to provide some sort of party favours to give to the guests as a thank you for their attendance and contribution to the bride’s special day. Some good favours for a bridal shower would be candy, candles, picture frames or for smaller gatherings, something personalized for each guest. One fun idea is to have each guest take a picture with the bride-to-be and have a copy of the picture for both the bride and for the guest. You could have the photos printed on the spot, perhaps in a photo booth style set up, or just have them printed after the shower and the bride can send each picture to the guest with their thank you card. You can handle all the picture taking yourself, assign it to another guest, or for a bigger event, you may want to hire a photographer to be there so that everyone can focus on the fun and no one has to worry about capturing it all through a lens. 

If all of this sounds like a lot to take on, you could always hire a party planner to handle it for you. However, with the right resources, and maybe a little help from friends, you can do it yourself and have a lot of fun doing it!

The best day of your life…

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It has been stated that a wedding is one if not the most memorable day in a woman’s life.  As either the bride or the groom, you want to ensure that your wedding is iconic. Where a great many weddings focus on the flowers, seating, gowns, and such essential elements, many times one of the most critical aspects of a wedding is overlooked until the very last minute. This is a practice which very much needs to be avoided. Music is a critical part of a wedding. It sets the mood for all the events which occur.

Romanticism is found in live string instruments, whether these are harps or a beautiful string quartet. The very presence of a live band brings a level of sophistication to your ceremony which is not present from “pre-recorded” tracks. Live musicians of any merit will be able to play both the classical styles and modern music with ease and their own flare. These live originals give new perspectives to older cliché songs. For example: How many times have you heard “Unchained Melody”? Where there have been many different versions, a live band will have their own take on how to present the song adding a nice uniqueness to the wedding.

Regardless of how you choose to present your music, considerations need to focus on three main key times in the wedding event. These three areas are the arrival of the guest, the arrival of the bride, and the post ceremony music.

THE ARRIVAL OF THE GUESTS

Before the Ceremony starts, the mood for the entire day is being set. Like a fragrance which permeates the air, the welcoming music will set the overall mood for arriving guests. What music will welcome arriving guests? Will you choose to use the enticing music of harpist or choose something more engaging such as a gospel choir?

Guest entering the ceremony should experience a relatively sombre and soothing arrangement of music. It is a formal event and so you do not want to have your guests too relaxed (which could cause them to be drowsy while waiting on the bride) or too engaged (meaning that the respect due to the ceremony is lost).

When choosing music for the arrival of your guest, it is always best practice to have a live musician which can accommodate the needs of those attending. This does not mean that the musician is taking request, but that the musical entertainment can focus on the overall mood of the room. For example: If the musician sees that the room is getting restless, they may choose to play something that is a bit more upbeat or vice versa.

THE ARRIVAL OF THE BRIDE

The bride is the focus of the whole event and therefore the music for the procession must reflect that. The processional music is played upon the bridal party entering the events entrance. If you are going for the more “traditional” feel, the procession will enter to a classical tune either played by a string quartet, harpist a song sung by a gospel choir. However, if choose to go with a more modern feel you would have your entertainer play a dedicated track for the processional party. This song does not need to be played at any other time during the ceremony. For those that are wanting to have something truly unique may want to consider hiring a Scottish Piper?

Once the wedding procession has entered the event and the bride is ready to make her procession, the music needs to have a dynamic shift. Whether using stringed instruments or a choir, it is essential that the crowd understand that this is the moment in which the key figure is entering the wedding. Traditionally, a pianist or a live performer will start the “wedding march”.  More modern weddings have the person overseeing the ceremony to formally announce the bride’s arrival and ask for the members to stand. Either way, you need to ensure that the music demands that the bride is the focus.

Bridal music should be slow and soft. You want to capture the beauty of the bride.  Slower music makes the viewer look at the bride and time the beats (subconsciously) with the movements of her steps. Upon arriving at the place where vows will be taken, the music should fade out nicely. Do not abruptly end the song.

After the ceremony, you may choose to have your Scottish Piper (if you opted for such to lead the procession) to lead the wedding party out of the event.  If you do not choose to use a piper but rather a quartet or a choir, then the music should be a bit more upbeat than when the party arrived. You are going from anticipation to celebration.

At the reception, your music should be upbeat and festive. This does not mean that you have to abandon sophistication. Your live musicians should be able to play musical selections from most genres and with variations which meet the overall theme of your wedding entertainment needs.

Have some BBQ fun

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The sun is shining; the radio is turned up to full volume and the smell of BBQ’s start to fill the summer air.

The BBQ Party season has started. That’s when you know it’s time to bring out the BBQ and host your own party. But why not make your BBQ party unique and fun by incorporating some BBQ Party Ideas in the form of entertainment and games throughout the day and evening.

Underneath are a few simple ideas to make your BBQ party the highlight of the summer.

BBQ Party Entertainment 

 BBQ Party Games

Become a child again at your BBQ party by hiring some large outdoor games such as giant jenga, archery, giant connect 4 and even twister. This will keep your guests entertained throughout the BBQ party and will give them a chance to mix and mingle as well. Giant games are such an easy and effective style of entertainment that will definitely make your BBQ party the talk of the street. Other BBQ Party ideas could include bouncy castles, rodeo, or even bubble machines.

BBQ Drinks Delight

Beverages at a BBQ party are of high importance. Here are some BBQ party ideas to make your catering that little something different. To save you money and time ask your guests to bring their own drink. Or try out the new craze sweeping across the nation relating to beverage catering at BBQ parties, your very own Cocktail artist and bar. Hire a cocktail artist to greet your guests with some freshly made cocktails at your BBQ party. You could even name the cocktails to fit in with your summer BBQ. Trust me when I say this… you and your guests will love sipping on a cold cocktail in the warm sunshine.

BBQ Party Music

Every BBQ party needs music. But sometimes a playlist being played on a MP3 player can be quite monotonous and played out. So why not put that extra spark (pun intended) into your BBQ party and hire a musician or a DJ. A classical guitarist would create the perfect atmosphere at your BBQ party and give it that extra wow factor… seriously, how many BBQ’s have you been to with a professional guitarist playing just for you. Not many, so get on it. Also hire a local DJ to provide the evening music, this gives you the chance to mingle with your guests knowing that the music is in safe hands.

 BBQ Party Ideas – Extra Tips

. Send invites 2 weeks before the BBQ party
. Make a note of any special dietary requirements
. Ensure you have all necessary equipment (plates, cups, cutlery, BBQ!!)
. Purchase the food the day before the BBQ party and prep as much as you can.
. Overall, have fun, smile and enjoy your party!

So kick off the summer season in style with a fun and lively BBQ party. Take some inspiration from our BBQ Party Ideas and enjoy the long evenings with your closest friends and family. Summer won’t last forever so if you’re going to have a BBQ party, have it in style.