Tag Archives: find

Incredible Circus acts

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A circus event is great for all the family – we have some great circus acts for you to choose from. You could hire a full on circus or just a few acts. Here are some suggestions to really get you thinking:

A good juggler today can juggle almost anything from fire to dangerous objects with their complex routines that has been practiced and practiced over and over again. Have you ever wanted to learn the art of juggling?

If you needed a juggler for a children’s party or a grown up event then look no further than our choice of fine jugglers that are very professional and can put on a good show for your special event. You could be launching a new product, having a private party, corporate affair which will get the attention your event needed to be a success.

Another exciting entertainment act to book would be a Knife Thrower. If you were thinking that this would be a good way to get rid of your boss at this year’s Christmas party – think again, as we have the most professional Knife Throwers advertised with us here at Red Masque entertainment directory.

This act is terrifyingly dangerous and you will have one eye open when you see the Knife Thrower in action.  Toe curlingly good and great entertainment, we are sure you will love this act.

Another one to consider is a sword swallower it will be the most jaw dropping, show stopping, act that you could possibly see and everyone will want to watch it – it’s extremely clever and obviously well practiced and these guys are obviously a master in their field. From regurgitating, to swallowing razor blades we find it almost impossible to comprehend but ever so fascinating to watch.

A tightrope walker watched from great heights is breathtaking, these tightrope walkers will amaze you with their amazing balance where sometimes they can juggle, sword swallow or even knife throw all rolled into one amazing act.

So forget your normal clowns and have a circus event to remember which will ‘wow’ your guests and if your guests would like, maybe they would like to be taught the art of a few of these acts?

Be confident in Red Masque’s chosen party entertainment guide and believe that we have the best on the books advertised just for you…

A summer garden party for all…

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If you have the space, or even if you don’t and want a small an intimate garden party then we have all the party and event entertainment you will need for a great Spring or Summer Garden party.

With the general election coming up in May you could go all Patriotic and have a themed garden party with your favourite ‘parties’ colours or you could bring in some MP lookalikes along. Go head to head with Cameron or Miliband with a little bit of Farage mixed in, all doing the hokey cokey together will be a right laugh!!

Hiring a string quartet to play some thought provoking ‘losers’ music; or some upbeat ‘jazz music’ for your ‘winning’ side.

It doesn’t have to be a serious affair – just a group of friends or neighbours around allowing everybody to get to know each other that little bit better.   

If you are having more of a corporate event and space is no object go full on with food caterers, promotional staff, cocktail waiters or a big brass band welcoming your very important guests.

Big outside garden games to hire for everyone to join in and don’t forget to hire some Marquees and sometimes the British weather is a little bit unpredictable (as we all know)

Lighting for when the sun sets is especially important for ambience it could be some romantic fairy lights or some light changing LED’s that will compliment any ‘theme’.

Walkabout artists engaging your guests or illusionists there is loads of entertainment to choose from.  There will be something for everybody and nobody could say they were bored.

So don’t just book some outside caterers for some ‘limp cucumber sandwiches’ for your next Garden Party – have fun, and look on Red Masque to see what other entertainment is on offer.

5 mistakes Christmas party planners make

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Planning a Christmas party seems quite straight forward, but you’d be amazed at how many people leave it to the last minute. And it might seem a little early in the year to get started but you’d be surprised how much planning goes into creating the perfect Christmas even. So what are you waiting for? 

A few helpful hints to make sure your next Christmas event runs smoothly….

Not laying down a budget

OK, it’s not like Christmas parties – depending on the size of your organisation – are particularly cheap affairs, but foregoing a budget for some entertainment might make it seem more like one planned by Ebenezer Scrooge rather than Father Christmas.

What’s important, as with any budget is that you look to get the most value out of the event as possible and a common mistake is that many planners fail to get the most value out of the oft-overlooked centrepiece for the night’s festivities – the entertainment.

Budgeting the right amount for the entertainment can sometimes be the difference between a good Christmas party and a great one and setting a budget in place means that you won’t spend too much or too little on such a crucial aspect of the evening. 

Not booking it early enough

Christmas parties aren’t exactly surprise affairs and you’d be surprised at the amount of last minute entertainment bookings that take place in the run up to the big day.

Obviously, the festive season is a peak time for many acts, performers, bands, DJs, you name it to receive bookings and as such – the best ones will be snapped up by the early birds.

A common mistake that many Christmas party planners make is that they don’t book their acts early enough and as such; they miss out on the very best entertainers and acts at the best possible prices. Through booking your entertainment early, you ensure that you have more options at more prices levels than if you left it too late. 

Not taking any risks

No one’s an expert in entertainment (although Red Masque directory do have an array of great entertainment) but that’s no excuse for not jumping online and seeing what options are out there to book for your Christmas party – alas it’s a common mistake to just ‘go by the motions’ 

As well as tonnes of resources online (you’re looking at one right now), there are so many options for unique and creative twists on the usual. Christmas jazz bands, a walkabout snowman or a magician, a freestanding aerial artist that looks like she’s on top of a Christmas tree, we have a lot interesting acts to choose from. 

Taking the time to think about more creative and unusual entertainment options means that your Christmas party will be an extremely memorable, not to mention unique, event that will show you’re not afraid to take risks. 

Not thinking about how it can fit into your event

Well this one is a little bit trickier and it’s a common mistake with a lot of Christmas parties – and lots of events for that matter – but many planners forget that entertainment, much like the décor, is an integral aspect of the event’s theme and getting it wrong spells d-i-s-h-a-r-m-o-n-y.

Luckily, there are tonnes of entertainment options out there to help bring your event into blissful harmony. Think about your venue, what your aims with the party are, who your guests are etc… and then look at how you can match the entertainment to all of these aspects. 

For example; let’s say you’re holding a party in a grade II listed building; does a DJ really strike you as ‘vintage’? Well it might if you work with the act a little to get the look right, but surely your theme, and event as a whole is much better off with an act that’s almost tailored perfectly to the venue; a troupe of Christmas carollers or a jazz band that plays Christmas covers will combine for a much stronger impact. 

Not booking any entertainment at all

OK, it’s not like forgetting to book some entertainment for your Christmas party means that it will be the worst one ever and everyone will hate you for it – nor does it mean you’ve ruined Christmas. 

What it does mean is that you’re missing out on tonnes of opportunities to try and give your guests and experience that they will remember as, quite simply, being ‘the best Christmas party ever’. It doesn’t have to be big and it doesn’t have to be fancy, in fact it could be anything from hiring a DJ or a magician. But one thing that will make a good Christmas party great, is having a source of entertainment that has been well thought out and will ensure that your guests’ experience is unparalleled by any other. Do otherwise at your peril.

There’s no such thing as bad publicity

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Adding to the expanding list of controversial things Kanye West done in his career, he’s recently been reported to have told a disabled man to “stand up” at one of his concerts in Sydney!!!

But what can this self-proclaimed “god” teach us regular folk about being an entertainer that’s on the face of almost every news site going right now? Surely just that doing controversial things sells records?  

After thinking about the ridiculous concept that is Kanye West – a man who’s referred to himself as the “Steve Jobs of fashion” – here’s a list of 4 things he can teach you about being an entertainer

People love a villain

Just think of all of the times you’ve heard about Kanye West in the news and think about how many papers an article about him sells. Let’s take a look at his controversies throughout the years, shall we?

That Taylor Swift incident, hilarious outbursts on Twitter, ‘’George Bush doesn’t like black people”, calling himself Yeezus, marring Kim Kardashian, punching a paparazzo, several outbursts at members of the press and award organisations and now – apparently – heckling a disabled man.

And what’s the theme here? 

He sells papers, gets page views and gets people going – both those who love him, and those who hate him.

His persona isn’t just that of an egomaniacal idiot or “douche”, it’s a cynical, carefully honed personality that makes sure whenever he needs to sell some records or get in the press; journalists are hungry to write anything and everything about him.

So, we may not have Kanye West for hire at Red Masque entertainment directory but we may have a ‘celebrity lookalike’ or we may have some ‘comedians’ which could tell some rather controversial jokes that would really get your crowd talking; for the wrong reasons? Who cares? If they’re talking, that means you’ve made an impression…..right?

Hottest Corporate event trends

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For all 2015 Christmas corporate events, décor will be key. Your venue needs to wow your guests from the moment they walk in, creating a special and uniquely defined space for your event. Two highly contrasting themes for decor for Christmas 2015 are high tech interactive and natural materials, enabling your company to show off its tech prowess, or boost its eco credentials.

If you choose a high tech theme, your entertainment must be 100% integrated to the whole tech ambience. Look for entertainers that offer a tech twist in their act, such as iPad illusionists, LED light performers and street magicians that work with the latest phones and mobile gadgets. 

Turn your corporate event into a natural winter wonderland with ice sculptures. Christmas walkabout artists, pine forest greenery and seasonal winter menus. Welcome guests with the warming aromas of mulled wine, or entice people out into the crisp winter air with heated seating areas, piles of rugs and sweet chestnuts roasting on a real coal brazier.

Then, extend your ‘mother earth’ eco-friendly theme beyond décor and food into acoustic musical acts, for a more ‘natural’ sound. Entertain with acoustic performances by Christmas Carol choral singers or a gospel choir singing Christmas songs, cool and trendy A Capella group.

And when you want your corporate party to finally hot up, keep the theme with classic Christmas tracks that really evoke the sights and sounds of the season with top UK function and party bands who know their Slade and their Sleigh Ride!

Take lighting to the next level and illuminate your event to create spectacle and visual interest. Any venue can be transformed with clever and creative use of lighting even on the more limited of budgets. Use party lighting to throw unusual shadows, to colour tables rather than using flowers, and use wireless technology to alter lighting states to reflect the various stages of your event.

Your entertainment should be equally well lit! Look for party DJ;s with their own light shows, rock and pop function bands that provide their own lighting, and artists that use light in imaginative ways, from fire performers to bespoke firework displays.

For larger events, book artists that have a strong visual impact enhanced by theatrical style lighting, such as dance troupes, ballet dancers or aerial artists, or the outrageous wigs and costumes of drag act.

Every guest or delegate should find your event pleasurable. This might sound like a given, but this applies just as much to winter conferences and sales meetings as high profile product launches and Christmas hospitality events.

Wedding party ideas…

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Whether your special day is a small registry celebration, a large church gathering or a more personal, non-religious ceremony, start as you mean to go on by making the first day of the rest of your lives the best day of your lives.

For a truly unforgettable day Red Masque entertainment will fulfil all your musical requirements with the pick of the country’s coolest party bands for a swinging evening reception, or perhaps a jazz band or swing band or classical music artists to provide background entertainment during the meal or the signing of the register.

A whole day of music…

Starting with the wedding ceremony, a piper is traditional to play the bride in and out of the church. A string quartet or harpist are common choices to provide a beautiful musical backdrop during the wedding ceremony and immediately afterwards whilst photos are taken.

Your wedding drinks reception. 

A jazz or swing band is an ideal choice to provide light background music during the afternoon reception, helping to settle guests and create an exciting atmosphere. It is also quite common for the string quartet from your ceremony to continue playing during the afternoon reception.

Evening wedding reception.

And what evening reception would be complete without a party function band or DJ? Pop bands are by far the most popular choices, with soul, disco and salsa offering something a little different.

DJ’s are a cost effective solution if a band is out of your budget but are also often booked as well as a band to fill in the gaps between the bands performances. Also, ask if the band themselves can DJ in between sets as this is very often possible.

More than just music…

Don’t just stop at wedding music though as all manner of wedding entertainment can be arranged. From top caricaturist and illusionists to entertain your guests while they mingle, to traditional ballet dancers and stage hypnotists, there’s no end to the fun that can we can arrange for you.

Engage in the idea…

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Your engagement is a promise to marriage as well as the period of time between the proposal and your marriage. During your engagement you are said to be affianced, betrothed, engaged to be married, or simply engaged. Future brides and bridegrooms are often referred to as fiancées or fiancés respectively (from the French word fiancé).

Long engagements were once common in formal arranged marriages and it was not uncommon for parents betrothing children to arrange such many years before the engaged couple were old enough to marry. .

Engagement parties.

Some engagements are announced at an engagement party, traditionally hosted by the bride’s parents. These parties are given in the family’s usual style of entertainment. Traditionally, engagement parties were normal parties at which a surprise announcement of the engagement was made by the father of the bride to his guests. Therefore, it is not a traditional gift-giving occasion, as none of the guests were supposed to be aware of the engagement until after their arrival.

In modern times, engagement parties often celebrate a previously publicized engagement.

Because it’s often the case that many guests don’t know each other very well, it’s important to ensure you have plenty of ‘ice breakers’. When two families are coming together for the first time it can be a nerve racking experience and so the more you can put guests at ease the better.

Think about a magician or a caricaturist or maybe even a pianist to play light background music whilst guests arrive & chat.

If you have space then try a jazz band who could play up tempo lively music to keep spirits high and feet tapping whilst you great guests and show off your engagement ring!

Ensure the drinks are flowing throughout the party and in no time the two families will be getting to know each other and soaking up the party atmosphere.

Party themes…

If you got engaged in an interesting location, you might like to theme your engagement party to suit. Hawaiian or beach themes are relatively easy to put together, as are New York, Las Vegas, Mexican, Australian themes etc.

No party is complete without live music so if your budget can stretch to a party function band it will be a sound investment towards ensuring the success of your big night.

It’s important to consider the age range of the guests who will be attending your party as grandparents, although actually some of the ‘most-likely-to-dance’ members of the party might not be quite so keen on hard rock or gangsta rap.

Christening party ideas…

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The christening or baptism of a baby or child stems from the Christian religious practise of immersing oneself in water to wash away sins (The Greek word ‘baptizo’ literally means to immerse, plunge, dip, or bury in water) and in later years the ceremony became associated with the taking of a name to symbolize new life.

Adults may choose to be baptised later in life but whatever the age of the participant, the naming ceremony whether religious or otherwise is usually followed by a family celebration.

Regardless of the size of your christening or naming-ceremony, musical accompaniment will both enhance the atmosphere and entertain your guests throughout the day.

Classical music such as hiring a string quartete, harpists or solo singers are popular choices for the ceremony, with jazz bands, soul bands and pianists proving good choices for the drinks reception afterwards.

Many Christenings now also run on into the night with a party function band or DJ.

If you will have a good number of children attending then it pays to hire entertainers to keep them occupied. Check out Red Masque’s directory of great children’s entertainers, magicians & street entertainers. Also think about face painting & fancy dress costumes which are always a great way to keep them entertained.

Messing about on the river…

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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! 

Choosing a wedding band

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Wedding bands are highly required to make wedding receptions very lively. If you’re thinking of making your oncoming wedding event memorable; you really need to source for the best Wedding bands. You need to engage a reliable entertainment directory that offers quality entertainers for wedding 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 entertainment you will be guaranteed to find something that suits. If you wanted to hire some reliable wedding entertainment, we are sure you will be able to locate the best through our directory.

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. Once you have chosen you are free to ask as many questions as you like to your chosen entertainer 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.