Birthday Celebration Ideas

The tradition of holding a party to celebrate the anniversary of birth began centuries ago in Europe when it was feared that evil spirits sought out people on their birthdays. To protect them from harm, friends and family would gather around to bring good thoughts and wishes. Giving gifts brought even more good cheer to ward off evil spirits, and candles were placed on cakes to transport the birthday wishes directly to God.

Initially, only royalty was deemed important enough to have a birthday celebration, but the tradition soon spread with the introduction of the children’s party in Germany, the Kinderfeste.

For the trivia buffs amongst you; the lyrically astounding ‘Happy Birthday to You’ song was written in 1839 by sisters Mildred and Patty Smith Hill!!

Birthday party fancy dress themes work really well let your imagination run wild…

It’s good to ensure there are plenty of attractions to keep guests talking & mingling so you could also consider casino tables which can tie in nicely with a James Bond theme, for example, and create a space for guests to meet, mix and break the ice. Also check out our celebrity lookalikes who will work the floor & get people talking.

For a rocking party, you could book a party band to play songs fitting to that theme or just a general Rock, Pop, Soul, and Swing or even a hired Jazz band to keep your guests dancing all evening long.

Hiring a Celebrity lookalike of your favourite celebrity would be a great touch. For a great surprise you could hire some comedy music acts who can act “incognito” for part of the evening before bursting into song when your guests least expect it!

Want to make your CEO happy?

Here at Red Masque we think we are tooled with some of the best acts for your party which will capture your imagination. So, what are the best of the best for corporate event entertainment acts for your next corporate event in 2015? Red Masque directory have the hottest trends and acts for corporate, and company parties to ensure your VIPs are very impressed and your CEO is very happy.

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.

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.

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. The difference for 2015 is that people want to be Bond, 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.

Messing about on the river…

You don’t have to own a mega yacht to hold a party on the water! The UK has a great assortment of water-based venues for hire, from barges to battleships; Red Masque entertainment directory has a wealth of entertainment to make your event something really special.

We have listed a few ideas of maritime venues and entertainment that seem just made for each other!

HMS BELFAST IN LONDON
Yes, you can hire this iconic WWII battleship moored on the Thames. Hold an intimate drinks party in the Admiral’s Quarters, or enjoy great views of London from the Quarterdeck with 450 of your closest friends for your wedding reception. 

LIVERPOOL LUXURY YACHT
Why not party like a Lottery winner for your hen night on your own private luxury yacht, sailing from the famous Albert Docks in Liverpool out into the Irish Sea to the iconic Anthony Gormley statues (weather permitting). Perfect for you and your very own Ocean’s Twelve (i.e. 12 people max). Then why not book some dancing when you return back to the Albert Docks where you can hire a venue and dance the night away with some great female, male or group singers which will really make your party a night to remember!!

MANCHESTER PARTY BARGE
Manchester barge The Bohemia can whisk you and up to 60 guests along the hidden waterways of central Manchester for a birthday party or anniversary celebration with a difference. With space to enjoy live music on your travels, and a route that takes you past the iconic Old Trafford football ground, this is an evening to savour. Other iconic waterways offering party barges including the Tiverton Canal, Lancaster Canal and the city with more canals than Venice – Birmingham!

For entertainment ideas for smaller venues such as a barge, opt for a compact musicians that play all your favourite hits with the minimum of kit. If these aren’t appealing, why not look on our gallery of artists to see which suits your tastes as we have many to choose from. From singers to magicians, we have every entertainment option covered.

THE BRISTOL PACKET
Charter a boat to party on the River Avon as it flows through the Avon Gorge, under the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge and out to sea. The Bristol Packet company offer a choice of boats, including a traditional river steamer, an Amsterdam sightseeing boat, and an all-weather cruiser made for parties. All boats have a full bar and food can be provided. You will need some music so hire the perfect DJ from Red Masque entertainment directory.

SPITBANK FORT – THE SOLENT

OK, it’s not a boat, but it is very much on the sea! Spitbank Fort is a Napoleonic gun emplacement just 30 minutes boat ride off the coast at Portsmouth. It’s been converted into a luxurious party venue complete with roof top hot pool, sauna and fire pit. Start the fun with water sports during the day, then chill out in the pool before dinner with a drink from the bar, and dance the night away under the stars. No need for you and your best friends to worry about a taxi home either; the fort has nine bedrooms and sleeps 18! 

So what acts could you hire for this fort? Pretty much anything you like, as loud as you like – there are no neighbours to annoy! 

Celebrities & paparazzi

With the world crying out for celebrities and wanting to live like a celebrity it’s no wonder that hiring celebrity lookalikes are extremely popular at the moment. You can hire the most current lookalike celebrities or of days gone by – Hire them for a teenagers special birthday, a tribute band or hire a few lookalikes to mingle with your guests.

From the king of pop to the queen of England, having a celebrity lookalike at your party is always guaranteed fun and a chance for your guests to get some fun photos. Add the wow factor to your party by hiring a celebrity lookalike, they make the perfect surprise addition for any occasion.

Now all you need now are some authentic hired paparazzi photographers to really create the right ambience.  Each of your guests will get papped as they arrive at your venue, then they are able to take home a disk full of great moments captured by these great photographers.

Have the paparazzi at an event and you’re guaranteed to make your guests feel like movie stars as soon as they enter the party. Bring the hollywood feel to your party with a group of in your face spoof performers who start of any event with excitement, fun and mayhem!

Acrobats, Ariel performers & Tightrope walkers

You need to put on a show or want a different kind of ‘wow’ factor to greet your guests, or you want to use as a distraction when you are changing scenery.  Well why not hire some fabulous Acrobats that can put on an amazing choreographed performance jumping over your crowd or through fire. 

Another act to consider hiring is Ariel performers which can be quite beautiful to watch and guaranteed to please your guests. Imagine the scene, your guests have sat in their seats a few hoops or ribbons come down over your guest heads and the most dazzling display of performers gracefully move in sync like ballerinas in the sky. Hiring a tightrope walker could also be considered as an act to bring some adventure and excitement to an event. They can walk high up over your crowd’s heads taking entertaining to another level.

If we have inspired you to book any of these great acts, simply look on our gallery to see which acts would be perfect for your event. You can book online and your chosen act will be in contact directly soon after.