Get planning for Valentine’s day..

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Whether you’re planning a private party where you get to play Cupid or perhaps a romantic offering for those already coupled up, Valentine’s Day can be a great party theme and here are some brilliant ideas (and one novelty one) to get you thinking and keep the fun flowing throughout the night.

An Amazing Band!

Come on! If you’re wallowing in the corner watching a couple dance a slow waltz around the room, then it’s time to get on up for the next song because the music is set to rock! Hiring a band for your party is an absolute must and we have a whole host of amazing bands perfect for weddings and parties who know how to combine the romantic ballads with something a little heavier for those just wanting a good dance. No party is complete without one.

Chocolate

Chocolate fountains are brilliant for parties as the melted chocolate just keeps coming and an assortment of fruit and marshmallows are always available to dip into the goodness. And when you’re done with that, why not wash it all down with some carefully selected wines, learning about what to look for in a good bottle of plonk? Your partner or future partner is sure to be impressed!

Colour Profiler, Numerologist and Graphologist

Let’s say you’re flying solo at a Valentine’s Day party and thinking to yourself that maybe you should update your dating profiles as you swipe over yet another questionable person on Tinder. A colour profiler and numerologist can help narrow down exactly who you’re after by telling you a little about you! Determining your aura and discovering which numbers are important to you could well help you out en route to a satisfying relationship. A graphologist is also able to be booked; often used in criminal cases, a graphologist also has a capacity for romance – they might even be able to tell you who else at the party has handwriting that suggests a perfect match with you!

Wonderful London Galleries

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If you’re looking to hire the 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 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.

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.

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 party entertainment and is truly beautiful in the way it blends different styles of the old and the new.

Remember, remember…

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Fireworks Night, otherwise known as Guy Fawkes’ Night or Bonfire Night, is a quintessentially UK celebration, marking the time that Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators didn’t blow up the Houses of Parliament on the 5th November.

To many that haven’t grown up with this ‘holiday’, it might not seem an event worth celebrating but as many of us in the UK know, it’s become more of an excuse to watch some fireworks and have a party, wrap up in cosy clothing, eat hearty food and drink warming beverages, all whilst getting toasty by the bonfire.

Fireworks

It’s an obvious one of course, but if you’re hosting a Fireworks party, fireworks are a must! If you don’t think you’ll feel safe running the display yourself, you could hire a company to come in and do them for you.

If you do tackle the display yourself at your private party or corporate event, make sure you do so responsibly and safely, and adhere to Government safety rules. And with fireworks, must come sparklers too, so make sure you get plenty of these, as people do love them!

Bonfire

Another staple of any Fireworks Night is the bonfire. Although this was originally to burn the Guy,
this is a great way to keep everyone toasty during the night and can even be used to cook some bonfire treats.

There are different options of sizes, from the huge centrepiece fire, to little ones, to the smoke-free burning log pictured. Whilst staring into fire can be mesmerising, why not add some colour to your flames to add something extra special to your event?

Guy Fawkes

As mentioned before, this is the traditional origins of the night. People would make Guy Fawkes, which we call ‘a Guy’. This would normally be made out of old clothes stuffed with newspaper, or hay and added onto the bonfire as the main event.

If you’re not looking to be as traditional as this, you could always have some of the masks of Guy Fawkes, that feature in the film V for Vendetta, or why not make a bonfire cake with a little Guy
Fawkes on top?

Bonfire Night Food

Catering at events is important; mainly because it’s a great way of warming up the crowds with some hearty food. Serving jacket potatoes has always been a classic, but why not take this further with these shepherd’s pies, cooked in a baked potato shell?

Cooking a large dish of chilli is always a crowd pleaser and is easy to make in a big batch. Or why not consider cooking up some bangers with a bit of fire (keeping it on theme) by adding some chilli for chilli sausages?

Decorative food

Whilst hearty food may keep everyone warm, it’s worth making some visually pleasing treats that fit in with the theme of the night, like bonfire cakes, firework cookies and chocolate sparklers. To save hassle you could hire caterers.

Conclusion

There are different ways to approach Fireworks Night, whether you decide to go for something traditional, with traditional food and drink; or decide to go all-out and add a few twists and turns to surprise your guests, creating more of a spectacle. Whatever you do, make sure everyone is warm, cosy, safe and enjoying some of that autumnal fresh air!

Does music affect behaviour?

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We constantly consume music, whether we are aware of it or not, and we will end up in situations where we participate in subconscious listening every day.

This could be at the supermarket, with music playing over the loudspeakers, during TV ads or programmes, where music often sits in the background to augment a mood. It could also be at an event or conference, where there is either a hired live band or background music being played in the venue. All of this subconscious or inactive listening has an impact on how we behave.

We mostly think of music as pure entertainment, but marketers have been using it to influence our behaviour for decades. It’s a particularly prolific strategy in consumer goods industries, but the principles can easily be applied to the event industry.

Using the right type of music at an event can potentially be very profitable, and as such there’s been a lot of research into exactly how different types of music affects behaviour within a specific environment. Certain types of music can make us move through a space faster, linger longer, change our perception of queue times or makes us spend more.

Unsurprisingly, fast paced music makes people move faster, and so does loud music. Slow music generally makes people slow down. It might be basic, but it’s an important factor in creating a specific mood for an event. Do you want people to be energised and buzzing, or relaxed and laid-back?

So if you’re putting on a race or sporting event, you’ll want to increase the volume and get some dance or rock music blasting out to energise your participants. However, if you’re running an exhibition and want people to linger and chat at stalls, you’ll probably want to opt for slower, softer sounds to keep the pace steady and encourage more conversations.

If you like to listen to music, like most of us, you will have experienced how it can impact your mood. This is something the media and marketers know how to take full advantage of. In addition to our emotional reactions, they also play on the associations we attach to different types of music.

Classical music might be thought of as sophisticated and classy, while Jazz might be thought of as artistic and refined. When putting these general assumptions to the test, several experiments show that playing specific music can impact perceptions too. For example, classical music can temporarily increase the perceived value of an item. In these situations, people projected some of the associations they had with classical music, e.g. sophistication, onto the item itself.

So for your next corporate event maybe you want to welcome attendees with a spot of classical music, or introduce your keynote speaker with it playing in the background, inferring sophistication and intelligence on everyone in the room as well as your speakers.

Music for your event

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Live entertainment during breaks can be a good energy booster for conference attendees. Chart toppers like the ones in our ‘most played’ list can work well in this environment, and can easily be played over an in-house speaker system at a reasonable level.

Here, a live band or DJ can really add something to your conference. Stay clear of big sounds and opt for a smaller set-up, as delegates still need to be able to network and recharge for their next seminar.

Music in exhibition halls

Using a hired musician in large exhibition halls can be a great way of creating a good vibe.

At the same time the room is likely to be very noisy from all the delegates networking with each other and talking to exhibitors. The latter of course, is exactly what you want.

After parties

Out of all the areas of your conference where you might add music, this is definitely where your delegates will be most relaxed, and might even venture out on the dance floor.

After parties are all about networking and having a really good time. This is also where the ‘most played list’ will feel most appropriate. You can hire a party band or DJ who incorporates them into their usual set-lists, or you could go for a more tailored option.

Use music at your corporate event

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It’s probably not the main type of event you associate with music, but musical entertainment during seminar breaks and background music played in exhibition areas are both popular choices.

To help you use music as effectively as possible at your next conference we have collated a list of the most popular songs, and will also talk you through how to use them to your advantage.

Music entertainment is an important element of any event, whether it’s in the form of a playlist, DJ or live performance. We’re not just talking about parties and product launches: conferences can benefit hugely from music.

Here are the Top 10 songs played at conferences last season:

Sex on Fire – Kings of Leon
Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
Locked Out of Heaven – Bruno Mars
Signed, Sealed, Delivered – Stevie Wonder
Happy – Pharrell Williams
Get Lucky – Daft Punk
Rather Be – Clean Bandit Ft. Jess Glynne
Treasure – Bruno Mars
You’ve Got the Love – Florence + the Machine
Forget You – CeeLo Green

So, that’s how can you use them to create a great atmosphere at your corporate event or private party…

A Stag weekend in Scotland

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If you are planning a private party, Stag weekends don’t always have to be about strippers. Edinburgh is glorious, gory, glamorous and great at kicking off its shoes and dancing on the bar. Just think of the city like an oh-so-respectable auntie – leading light of the WI and runs a bordello out of her back room. You’ll love it.

At a glance:

– From the glowering bulk of its infamous castle to the skinny Scott Monument, few cities have as many historic sights to see
– Cosy bars, ‘private’ clubs, haunted pubs, cocktail hour, real ale, drams and dives – Edinburgh’s love of a ‘wee swallae’ is legendary
– Scotland’s capital is shameless about its shameful past and happy to creep you out for as long as you can stand it

Local knowledge:

George Street – smart shops and serious clubs
This is where you’ll find Edinburgh’s smartest bars and clubs and crowds of sleek locals looking lovely.

The Royal Mile – land of the untamed tourist

Its tartan by the acre and you can’t move for tourists, but Edinburgh without a walk up The Royal Mile is almost illegal. Shameless souvenirs, lone piper (not even sure if he’s human), haunted tours, the whisky museum, closes, wynds and miles of cobbles, it’s all a bit stunning. But just go for it. Get into the spirit.

Tollcross – a down and dirty mix of a good time

If you like your pubs cheap, your takeaways plentiful and your entertainment eclectic, Tollcross is happy to help. If you’re up for a gig or a great club night, the mighty Picture House plays Tollcross hard and fast Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Bruntsfield – café society and a village vibe

Independent coffee are Bruntsfield specialities. Dodge the baby buggies and well-heeled Edinburgh mamas and grab yourself a large cup of caffeine and a window seat. This is where to take your raging hangover and soothe yourself back to life, ready to do it all over again.

Make your own Animation

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Have you ever wanted to learn about Animation and maybe make your own small Animation film? This a great way to arrange a corporate event and to figure out what strengths and weaknesses each member of your team has.

A good idea is to get 10 delegates together and appoint their own personal animation leader who is always on hand to guide them through the concept and storyboarding stage, solve problems and answer animation queries!

Every delegate receives a pre-made plasticine model, ready for them to customise and create their own characters. The mini-me models are a great way to ensure everyone can make their own fantastic looking character and makes for great party entertainment, regardless of whether they’re a naturally arty type! Delegates also receive additional model making materials to really bring their characters to life. The group’s animation leader is always on hand to offer advice and ideas.

Your animation leader introduces them to the stop motion software and is there to make sure the process runs smoothly with animation tips and tricks of the trade, all of which help the group create an animation they can be really proud of. Every delegate’s model will be involved in the film, with each delegate working together, communicating and rotating roles including director, animator, software operator, continuity, props, etc.

When the animations are complete and the groups has called it a wrap, all the groups get together for a premiere screening of their work. We then take the films back to a post production studio, where music, titles and effects are added before being sent to you within 2 weeks of the workshop. These films are great to share with colleagues, internally in large organisations or externally on the company website/social media as desired. Delegates also get to keep their plasticine characters as a memento of the day and their achievements!

Corporate team building

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One of the great benefits of corporate events team building is that it offers participants the opportunity to indulge their deepest desires and longstanding aspirations. Why not indulge in some film making activity entertainment which challenges teams to create their own unique commercial, which are then reviewed before a winner is announced.

Each team could be set the same creative challenge, while they are also equipped with an array of dazzling props, purposeful resources and even film production software. These teams then collaborate throughout the day to create their film, with a view to winning the grand prize in a ceremony.

With this in mind, what challenges will each team have to face through the course of the task? Consider the following: –

• Determining Roles and Responsibilities: While this is primarily a fun task, there are also a number of professional and leadership based challenges involved. Firstly, participants within each team must determine individual roles, with the selection of director, camera operator and actors particularly important!

• Creative Thinking and Visualization: The ability to think creatively and visualize concepts is crucial, especially when it comes to driving businesses forward. Your film making task will challenge team members to develop innovative themes and bring them to life, testing their judgement and ability to think outside of the box!

• The Correct Use of Props and Filming: The fact that each team has the same equipment is telling, and they are also given a single shot to film their commercial. This challenges the ability of each individual’s ability to work in harmony, while under intense pressure and strict time demands.

Once these challenges have been met, each participating team will present their adverts to their peers and judges. Appraised on the quality of their advert and a series of additional criteria that are set beforehand, the winners will receive their very own Oscar and experience the unadulterated excitement of a red carpet, silver screen experience.

When time is precious

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

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

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

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

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