Tag Archives: entertainers

Get planning New Year’s Eve early

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Because most pubs and restaurants get booked up and rammed to the rafters, many people prefer to throw a private party. If you decide to hire a party venue it pays to book well in advance.

It’s also important to recognise that people expect something a little special on New Year’s Eve so don’t be afraid to go all out. Why not have a look at some of the best party themes we have listed to get some inspiration for some great party ideas.

It’s good to ensure there are plenty of attractions to keep guests talking and mingling so you could also consider casino tables which can create a space for guests to meet, mix and break the ice. Also check out some mix and mingle acts who will work the floor & get people talking.

Party Bands

For a rocking party, you could book a live band. Live bands are perfect for NYE parties and work well with a Scottish Hogmanay theme. Hire a band with a caller to shout out the dance moves and you’re away!

Other popular choices include/swing bands, soul bands, rock n roll or jive bands to keep your guests dancing all evening long.

Also traditional for the stroke of midnight, book a Bag Piper!

Fireworks

It’s now become traditional to set off fireworks at midnight on new year’s eve. You could arrange a professional fireworks show or you can buy DIY firework kits from recommended suppliers.

Travelling

If you’re prepared to travel it’s well worth a visit to Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations!!

But, whatever you decide to do, make sure you do what’s right for you.

Generate Interest

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If your event is a product launch, you’ll be looking to generate interest from the audience. Most product launches occur at large exhibition centres or conferences, where many a brand is competing to show off their wares to attendees and receive the most ‘buzz’ for their product. But how can you entice someone over to your booth? Entertainment such as stilt walkers or live music incorporating drums is sure to grab people’s attention from across the room. Once they’ve wandered over, keep things visual. Nobody will share your product on Instagram or other social media networks if there isn’t something for others away from the exhibition to enjoy. Make no mistake about it, entertainment is crucial at product launches.

Reinforce Brand Values

Perhaps you’re looking for a bespoke form of party entertainment that reinforces the brand values of your company. Maybe you’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of the company’s inception. Whatever it may be, brand entertainment is brilliant at reinforcing the values of a corporation. If a company is wanting to appear very cool, then there are numerous bands who would fit the bill. Looking for a classy affair? Circus entertainers such as aerial silk dancers are perfect for just such an occasion. Entertainment doesn’t have to be showy or pushed to the foreground, but utilised correctly, it can be a superb way of maximising brand value in a subtle manner.

To Entertain

We could name a whole host of reasons why corporate entertainment is important without stating the obvious but we thought we should really. The main purpose of entertainment in any setting is to entertain! You don’t want invited guests leaving after one free drink and a couple of canapés, bored out of their mind after speaking to Darren from Accounts for the last hour. If you break up the evening with a few headline entertainment choices (with a few strolling entertainers like magicians and caricaturists thrown in), then everybody will remember your event or party much more fondly than if you simply leave attendees in a room with nothing else planned.

Forging Links

This is a clever one! We just mentioned strolling entertainment but when it comes to networking, there really is nothing better to help break the ice between two parties who might be hoping to have a chat but have no idea how to get talking informally. With a magician, both people can be amazed and use the tricks as a springboard to ‘talking business’. Other forms of entertainment like a caricaturist or silhouette artist often get people talking as well, whilst also enticing a small crowd when reactions are positive. Hiring entertainment might just land you that next big deal!

Enhancing Morale

If you’ve had a long and difficult year, staff may be looking for a reason to stay at the company. A well-timed dinner or office party can do wonders to revitalise your staff and there is nothing better than allowing them to dance to a live band or providing a magician to blow their minds. Hiring entertainment is a sure fire way to increase morale and staff satisfaction.

Stop searching

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If you’re in the process of planning something big for example like a corporate event, using an entertainment directory uses only the best out there that are reputable and highly acclaimed

We at Red Masque entertainment have a limitless amount of options and inspiration. But what if you don’t have the time, will power or experience to trawl through the 17,500 female solo singers that Google throws up? Well, then it’s time to call in the professionals. And that’s where a party and event entertainment directory can come in handy.

What’s the one thing you remember about a great party, above all else? As a guest, you’re there to have a good time. And if it’s a good time you want your own guests to have, then you need to put a little thought into the entertainment.

You can find party entertainment that keeps your diverse range of guests happy, making the party start with a bang.

The best musicians aren’t necessarily the best hype men; the most amazing magician won’t necessarily be the best web designer – one of the changes in entertainment since the internet has been the focus on promo material rather than word of mouth or reputation. That means the bands with the flashiest websites and the slickest videos often get more attention than their less media savvy counterparts. Consequently, there are plenty of hidden gems out there who, instead of improving their Search Engine Optimisation or video editing techniques, have focused on just being great performers.

We, like many entertainment directory’s, make it our business to know as much about our entertainment as possible. by reading up on new performers and much more. We know the best act for your event and 5 equally brilliant alternatives if the first choice isn’t available.

It just goes to show there’s only so far your own web searches will take you. If you want something a bit different, something to appeal to all the ages and tastes of your guests, something to get your party started as it means to go on, Red Masque is definitely a good way to avoid a headache. After all, it’s your party too.

Lookalikes galore

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Putting a smile on your guests’ faces is guaranteed to make your special day one that stands out in everyone’s memory. When you book a celebrity look alike that’s exactly what you’ll achieve, adding a real wow factor to your event’s entertainment mix. And, there are so many recognisable faces that will get everyone talking at your wedding reception, private party or corporate event…

The beauty of hiring lookalikes is that you can introduce them to your party at various points. There are no rules. How about at the start of the evening, perhaps for a short time while guests mingle with drinks? During dinner service, as part of the music or DJ set, or maybe someone who simply adds an element of surprise midway through your event.

Lookalikes are a brilliant addition to your wedding plans, and they can be the perfect solution for a red carpet event, grand opening or corporate evening.

We say mix it up a bit. If you’re hoping to keep your party or corporate event on the light-hearted side, there are so many possibilities when booking a look-alike that could inject some real fun and creativity into the day, or later in the evening. So here are a few ideas:

The Drinks Reception is a wonderful opportunity for friends and guests to meet-up, chat and remember old times. Throw in the most absolutely fabulous lady to really liven the mood, with a Joanna Lumley look alike who not only looks the part, she can act as well.

How about a real splash of comedy to have your friends, family and guests in stitches? It could be at the hotel when your nearest and dearest meet on the evening before your special day, or how about having the Fawlty Towers team involved in the Breakfast Reception? Madcap fun, a fabulous trip down Memory Lane for lovers of the show, and a polished feel to your celebrations.

Of course one of the key elements to any entertainment mix is the music. That’s especially true at a wedding reception where you want guests to be engaged, feel part of the experience and, ideally, up on the dance floor. So why not hire a hip lookalike artist like Lady Gaga, Madonna, or Whitney Houston?

We love the food theme at Red Masque Directory, so a man who not only cooks up a storm but can serve your guests could be a real winning combination. Hire a Gordon Ramsay lookalike who could offer an impressive menu, either meeting guests over nibbles and drinks, presiding over the main course or maybe remonstrating with diners if you’d like to generate a little harmless drama. He’ll look and sound the part.

And finally, an old favourite sure to remain in the hearts of all Only Fools and Horses fans forever is the Del Boy Lookalike. Now he could hustle with guests if you wanted, offering his amazing range of hooky watches, but how about a dramatic entrance in his clapped-out old three-wheeler yellow van.

Questions to ask

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We know that many of you have never planned a party before. Perhaps you’re planning a corporate event or a Birthday Party. This list is a product of many years of providing private event entertainment (but this list is applicable to most forms of entertainment). These are the questions you should be asking your performers before you sign on the dotted line.

1. Where (and for whom) do you do the majority of your shows?
What you are trying to find out is how experienced and equipped the performers are for working private parties. Many bar performers represent themselves as party entertainers but may not have the experience working with venues and professional event planners, or they may lack the equipment or insurance that is necessary, especially for larger venues.

2. Can you show proof of insurance?
While we’re not convinced that this is always necessary for event entertainers, this speaks to the professionalism of the entertainer. If the entertainer does a lot of private events in nice hotels and country clubs, they will be more likely to carry liability insurance, as many of the higher-end venues require this. If you entertainer is not insured, then perhaps they are not working many of these venues, which could mean that they are not attracting the top end private event clients.

3. What is the cancellation policy?
Most entertainment acts will penalize you for cancelling a performance that has already been contracted. They look at dates on the calendar as inventory. If you reserve your date, they can’t sell it to anyone else. So if you cancel, they may not be able to rebook. It’s similar to how event venues or photographers view their calendars. If you think there may be a need to cancel or change your date, discuss this with the entertainment BEFORE signing a contract and see if there is any flexibility on their policy. I’ve written contracts for clients that allowed them to cancel up to 4 weeks after entering the contract to suit a particular situation.

4. How much is the deposit and is it refundable?
This goes hand in hand with the previous question. Usually deposits are not refundable. This serves as incentive for a client not to cancel or reschedule. A common deposit structure is 50% upon signing and 50% upon arrival at the venue.

5. Do you bring stage lighting?
A pretty standard thing for entertainers to supply, but some of the smaller groups won’t have this, and some of the higher-tier entertainers may expect that this would be supplied by an outside production company. You should ask.

6. How long do you need to set up?
Make sure you coordinate this with your venue. If the venue is using your space for another client prior to your time slot, you want to ask the venue ‘what is the earliest time that the entertainment can load in’. Then verify that this is sufficient with your entertainment.

7. Ask the venue if there is specific wording they require on the performer’s insurance certificate.
Some venues just want to know the entertainer is insured, but many require that they, the venue, (and sometimes the parent company) are listed on the entertainer’s insurance certificate as Additional Insured.

8. Ask for space (and staging) requirements from your entertainers. This includes length, depth, height and placement. Verify with the venue that this can be accommodated. If it can’t, find out how flexible your entertainers are regarding these dimensions and placement. Many performers can do their show with no staging platform at all if necessary but they will all need a certain amount of space to set up. Know what this is.

Lets run away with the circus

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Back in the day, ‘running away to join the circus’ seemed to be a pretty viable career option for many a young person if children’s books were to go by. Enid Blyton wrote a whole series of books on the idea and the circus segment in Big Fish is certainly one of the most memorable. But what if you want to join a circus now? How on earth do you go about joining a circus and becoming an acrobat or unicyclist or something else entirely? How do you do that? Well, you’ll have to learn and we know a brilliant place for that!

The National Centre for Circus Arts is one of the leading European providers of circus education. What’s more, it’s based in London! Hooray! You don’t even have to go abroad to enjoy its facilities. A registered charity, the Centre is housed in a fabulous Victorian power station meaning no matter how high-flying you want your act to be, you’ll definitely be able to learn it! From aerial silk to hoop and perhaps even walking a tight rope, you’ll be able to become a circus performer with the help of numerous teachers and students alike.

Depending on your age, there’s a whole host of options to consider as well. If you’re looking to attain a degree in Circus Arts, then the Centre offers a BA Hons degree in the subject. You’re also able to learn as part of a training programme if you’re under 18 whilst there are many development opportunities for those just starting out right through to those who simply want to enhance their already established circus careers. That’s right! As an aspiring circus performer, you’ll be able to rub shoulders with those who have already experienced the excitement of wowing a crowd at events up and down the country!

You might be thinking that signing up for an entire course isn’t really your thing. You might be unsure if the circus is truly for you. I mean sure you’ve thought about joining the circus for a while but the real thing might be completely different to how you’ve imagined it. Can’t you just dip your toe in? Have a bit of taster session? Of course you can! There are a range of recreational classes available for both adults and children alike, whilst the National Centre for Circus Arts also provides workshops and away days for corporate clients.

Running away to the circus might not really be a viable way to become a circus performer in the UK these days, so the National Centre for Circus Arts provides that opportunity for those looking to give circus ago. Work on all things equilibristic, acrobatic and aerial and we suspect you’ll become a circus performer in no time. Many circus acts trained in London so we know just how good they are! So what are you waiting for? Get down to Hoxton as soon as possible and see just how you can accomplish your dream of joining the circus, impressing at the Olympics and performing at parties all over the world!

What theme will you go for?

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A theme will generally make a party or event a lot more memorable for those who attended, so in a lot of ways, we strongly recommend going for a theme. Not only that, but once you have settled on an idea, the party becomes a lot easier to visualise.

Would you hire circus performers in your venue ordinarily? Perhaps not. But if your theme is perfect for them then there’s an instant chance to wow your guests! Just think about the possibilities! We love the idea of ‘dare to be different’. Nobody wants the same thing all the time, so why not have a go at making your event or party extra special? Very few successful people got to where they are today without doing something a little differently.

With this in mind then, what theme should you go for? That is of course up to you! You may wish to go with something broad that is in keeping with the time of year or commemorating the reason for the event in the first place.

The most memorable corporate and private parties however, tend to be those with a clear theme like the Harry Potter, or 70’s themed inspired parties. These will be the most memorable that you probably will recall but anything goes with costumed characters and all acts decked out in superb Victorian/Sci-Fi clothes. Would you theme your event when it could look like that? We’ll leave that up to you!

Tips for organising a special event

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With music being one of the most important aspects of any private party, or corporate event, you might think about a themed band or DJ to play music from the era of your wedding. For example, why not book a swing band or Jazz Band for your 50th or 60th wedding anniversary party or a Rock N Roll band for all you 1960’s or 70’s newlyweds.

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

Maybe you were married abroad, be it Ireland, the Caribbean or Greece so why provide a band who will perform music traditional to that country; which will get everyone jigging, or a top class steel band to re-invoke the sound of the sea and the swaying palms you enjoyed on your Caribbean wedding day.

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

If you’re asking guests to wear fancy dress, then your room should be decorated in a similar theme.
For a personal treat you should ask all your friends to bring photos, anecdotes and tall tales about your years as a married couple. You can later compile these into an album to look back on and savour for years to come.

Dance, dance, dance!

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Dancers are very entertaining, and if you had an event that demanded some dancers then why not consider hiring some great dancers from Red Masque entertainment directory.

A Dance Group could be hired to dance in sync where the choreography would be done to perfection, it could be any style of dance that your taste desires from Street Dance to River Dance, Male to Female Dancers. We think we have just about all Dance groups covered advertised within our Red Masque entertainment directory.

If you having a corporate event that would require some eye candy of the female variety? If so, why don’t you hire some Podium dancers, a risqué burlesque dancer or some showgirls that would be quite a classy type of Le Lido but here in the UK.

These girls are professional, classy and have trained for hours to put on the perfect show for you.

You will be dazzled by the splendid costumes which will be worn by the Showgirls and Podium Dancers even though they’re maybe little of them!!! The burlesque will titillate and tease but done in the best possible taste!!

Salsa and Tango dancers are very now, most people want to learn the art of these sexy, sensual dances. You could hire some dancers to teach. Or if you are quite familiar of these dances you could simply hire to put on a quite splendid show that would be breath-taking and remarkable, leaving you wishing you were indeed as talented as these dancers.

Snake and Belly dancers of course seem to go hand in hand, these amazing creatures – love them or hate them have something mesmerising about them that you cannot fail to be intrigued to watch or even (if you dare) handle them.

Belly dancers have been around for centuries and it’s also a great way to keep fit. If you ever wanted to master the art of Belly Dancing, then why not hire a Belly Dancer to teach you. You will have great fun, and if your tummy is not your most favourite part of your body – well rest assured a rounded belly is considered sexy in some parts of the world!!

Or, if you wanted some themed dance acts for your special event, then why not look on our gallery of special dance acts that will enlighten your guests and create that nostalgia needed for your themed evening.

They will be dressed in the most appropriate costumes and do all the dance moves from that era it will be truly like stepping back in time and feeling the past again.

Have a look on our directory to see which dance act you could hire for your next party!!

Professional services every time

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There are reasons for engaging a corporate events entertainment directory. In the first place, you may not have time to make the right choice when hiring a band or a DJ. We at Red Masque entertainment agency will have the perfect choice for you on our website. We can link you up with the best bands in town. You are sure to find a reliable DJ that can handle your event.

It’s not an easy thing to organize an event no matter how small the size. The event may be a private party, corporate event or meeting, fundraising and the like. You need to entertain the guests if you really want to make them happy at the event. You can’t do it all alone. You need to engage the services of an entertainment directory such as Red Masque.

Often at times, some entertainment agencies offer band and DJ services. They do have artists who specialize in different areas of music. Such an agency can offer DJ and band services at affordable price. They also have MC’s that can make people happy at events. All you need is to get in touch with the right agency like Red Masque that can tailor make your special event.

You can be sure of proper accountability when you engage a reliable entertainment directory. Red Masque will give you accurate details online regarding the entertainment aspect of the event.
Professionalism is our game and trusted services when you engage with us. Your guests will be thoroughly satisfied with the acts you have chosen. You don’t need to suffer sleepless night once you have one of Red Masques acts at your event or party.

Indeed, there’s a lot to gain when you hire from a reputable entertainment directory. You don’t have to be in a hurry when searching for the very best. Now that you have found us we will guarantee that you will not book from anywhere else. Once you have chosen your event entertainment you are able to contact direct. You are able to ask the officials some questions, and get it right first time.