A day at the races?

There’s no need to take a gamble with your company party, with a race night you’ll be odds-on to have a great evening. Dust off your best top hat or poshest dress and have a flutter on the sport of kings.

Your event could be made complete with betting booths and white picket fences to add a more authentic feel to the event. All of the excitement and glamour of the races will be brought to your event by a charismatic host who’ll keep you updated with the latest odds, and the glamorous Tote girls who’ll circulate around the tables taking your bets. There’s no need to worry about blowing your life savings as you’ll be gambling with fun money, so take a punt, lady luck might smile on you.

A giant screen will show 8 races on the flat and over jumps and you’ll have to study the form and place bets on whichever steeds take your fancy. The race commentator will call the action ensuring maximum drama and edge-of-your-seat tension. The team with the highest winnings (or smallest loss!) at the end of the evening will be presented with champion tipster medals.

What you could hire/buy for your Races day:

· Costumed Host
· Costumed canape girls
· Fun money
· Betting Slips
· Projector and screen
· Bottle of bubbly and medals for the winning team.

Make sure all your guests dress to impress, after all, it is a day at the Races!

The Generation Game

The Generation Game was part of British Saturday night television for many years, the Generation Game is a fun filled interactive event. This ultimate day of games, quizzes, and challenges will have your group in fits of riotous laughter and mayhem!

Imagine your colleagues competing to decorate their very own cake in the style of ‘The Great British Bake Off’ while others try to outdo each other in table cloth whipping! And for trivia boffins the events proceedings kick off with a quiz and rounds off with a memory challenge.

The Generation Game could be run during the day or for evenings (between courses of a meal or after-dinner entertainment.) Each round could be presented by a professional compere, all of whom come from a comedic background to make sure your event is filled with laughter. Groups of between 8 and 10 compete head-to-head, with each round designed to include every member of the team. After each round you will present the famous ‘scores on the doors’ so teams can see where they sit on the leader board.

Party Game ideas.

How well can you guestimate?
21 second challenges
Great British Bake Off – Cake decorating
Whippit- whip the table cloth away from a set dining table
Conveyer belt
What are the benefits of this team building exercise?

Laughter Guaranteed
Professional comedic host
Rounds to appeal to everyone
Real back to school childish fun
Can run during the day or evening
Something completely crazy and different
Prizes for the winning team

This event will please the most serious of people and get them to show their true fun side!

It’s the Knockout

For years, It’s a Knockout – Undoubtedly the wettest, wildest, and wackiest competition on TV in it’s day. It combines the game’s traditional format with our own unique sense of fun to create the ultimate example of a motivational team-building event.

This is a great idea for team building because it’s:

BIG, bright and crazy fun
Something completely different
Everyone involved
Great head-to-head team competition
Amazing inflatables in a huge arena
A chance to be big kids again

So what could happen?

With everyone in the right frame of mind, teams of 8 to 12 people will be established, and the games can commence in earnest! Competing against each other for points and to avoid the dreaded booby prize, players will accept a range of unusual challenges to a relentless varied soundtrack.

Party Games ideas.

PENGUIN PURSUIT – Wearing giant penguin costumes you’ll race against other teams to catch the most fish!
THE SWEEPER – Taken from the famous Total Wipe-out TV show, teams must be quick to jump and avoid the rotating sweeper arm.
TROPICAL SCRABBLE – Teams race through an inflatable obstacle course collecting letters, the quickest team to spell a word wins!
BUNGEE RUN – Run as far as you can down an inflatable bungee runway with a large elastic cord tied to your waist. See who can get the furthest.
GLADIATOR DUEL – Knock your opponent off of their podium before they knock you off of yours!

So there you have it, fuel for thought. Amazing fun and will see your staff in a different light!

Crime Scene Investigation

Are you looking for some team building exercises? How about putting yourself on the other side of the crime scene tape? Under the guidance of experienced professionals teams will become Crime Scene Investigators for a day. Participants will learn actual forensic science and detection techniques, and use authentic Crime Scene Investigation equipment to locate and extract evidence, interpret findings and “solve a case.”

You could have a variety of crime events with different scenarios, and the techniques you will learn are based on your choice of event. These are great ideas for corporate event entertainment and help to get that team spirit ignited.

Crime Scene Investigation events are engaging and practical – teamwork, critical thinking and problem solving skills will be put to the test. They are specifically structured to improve communication and relationships between participants, and in a way that encourages full participation by everyone. Teams must manage themselves to ensure they come to a conclusion and solve the crime.

For an engaging, challenging and special event, beneficial to everyone involved, a Crime Scene event is exactly what you are looking for.

So next time you want to hold a corporate event, think about this idea, we sure it will be very popular.

Entertainment for your next Christmas party

Sorry. We really are sorry. We know it’s still only August, which is still more than 3 months away. More than a third of a year away. But personal assistants and office managers are already being asked to book Christmas entertainment for the office party and it’s our job to help them out. Plus, between just the two of us, choosing to hire a Christmas DJ in advance may keep your costs down. For those who are looking to book even more festive entertainment, here are a few ideas to get you thinking.

Wonderland

Who doesn’t love Christmas lights? You might not attend the Oxford Street Christmas lights switch on and yes, the Regent Street Christmas lights has turned into a weirdly commercial venture promoting some Hollywood film for the past few years, but people still love a good light show and Wonderland put on one of the best! As the photo shows, holly leaves appear in LEDs around the performers and you can also expect to see snowflakes, stars and reindeer.

Ballerina in a Snow Globe

In terms of visual acts, they don’t get much better than a full size snow globe with a dancing ballerina inside. A beautiful idea that has been executed perfectly, the ballerina performs amidst a flurry of snowflakes. A male and female dancer can also be hired for a short performance and you can rest assured that none of your guests will have seen anything like it. A wonderful idea for the office Christmas party!

Christmas Carol Choir

A Christmas carol choir is probably more up your street. We advertise choirs from just a few people right up ten or more and if you like, you can sing along with the performance! Christmas carols are a timeless form of entertainment and can you really call your event a Christmas event without one.

Ice Queen

We advertise a whole host of Christmas characters for your party but for the Scrooges amongst you, we thought we’d profile the Ice Queen. One of the best bits about the Ice Queen character is that it can be good on its own or as part of a Christmas party theme (like Narnia for instance). A perfect idea to ensure that your Christmas party will be talked about well into the New Year!

Best-selling songs of the 2000s

If you hire a party and function band for an event and they can play most of these then you should be certain of convincing a large crowd to the dancefloor.

1. Happy – Pharrell Williams

With 1,813,000 copies of Happy sold, you’d probably expect a function band to play this song from 2013.

2. Anything is Possible/Evergreen – Will Young

You might find it a little harder to find a function band that have this Will Young classic in their repertoire even though it sold 1,790,000 copies in 2002. That being said, if you’re looking for a band or a solo singer to play this hit then you can always request it, thereby making sure that your wedding or party is as special as it can possibly be.

3. Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell Williams

To be involved on two of the top three best-selling songs of the 21st century must bring in a pretty packet and this one sold 1,630,000 copies. Alas, when it comes to this song, the writers were forced to shell out a lot of profits to Marvin Gaye’s estate. Even so, it’s a song that is sure to have people on their feet and dancing and we know of a good number of bands who can sing it.

4. Someone Like You – Adele

Is there a better song to sing when you’re thoroughly on course to drink the bar dry? We think not. Adele is a hugely popular star and this song in particular is requested by huge amounts of clients. Perhaps more popular with bands who specialise in ballads, we still think you’ll have no problem finding this in an act’s repertoire.

5. Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5 feat. Christina Aguilera

If you’ve ever wanted to dance and sing along to having the moves like a famous Rolling Stone, then this is the song for you. It’s probably our favourite on the subject. Maroon 5’s song is a proper dance floor filler. Interestingly, this is the only song on this list that never reached number 1 despite spending 64 weeks on the chart.

6. Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars

Do you remember when this song was everywhere? You could barely escape it even after turning off the radio because your flatmate would be singing it through the walls.

7. Somebody That I Used to Know – Gotye feat. Kimbra

We haven’t heard it a lot recently but if you request it, we’re certain it’s probably etched in the recesses of the minds of any party function band.

8. Wake Me Up – Avicii

Swedish DJ Avicii may have retired but his music lives on in the form of this fab hit from 2013. Wake Me Up has to be slightly tweaked for function bands to play it – it is a song by a DJ after all – but it works brilliantly when played live and various corporate events and parties have been seen dancing to this throughout the last few years.

9. I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas

Tonight’s gonna be a good night if you hire a function band who can play this classic from 2009. Considering just how big a hit Where is the Love? was, it might be somewhat surprising to find that this is the one that makes the top 10. Not every function band has it currently in their repertoire but like Somebody That I Used to Know, it’s fair to assume that they’ll be able to play it if asked.

10. Get Lucky feat. Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers

The drinks are on Pharrell! Three songs in the top ten?! A huge hit from 2013, Get Lucky has amassed 1,436,000 purchases and continues to be popular at events today. A perfect hit for the summer, we’re pretty confident that it’ll be played by at least one band at one of our events in the next week. If we’re wrong, we’d be very surprised!

How to best remember your event

Be it a corporate event, private party or wedding there are a number of ways to look back on your event that don’t include photography. Here, we run through some brilliant ways to remember your event!

Caricaturist

If you’re looking to hire a caricaturist for an event, then you have got to make sure that you are fine with having your eyebrows accentuated and your nose looking a little larger than in real life. But that’s all part of the fun! A good caricaturist knows how to drawn a cartoon-style representation of their subject without causing offence and the best part is that with modern technology being what it is, you can take home a paper or digital version.

Silhouette Artist

The heights of the vaudeville era are in full display in the form of a silhouette Artist, who can snip your profile into a piece of black card in the space of a matter of minutes. The best bit about this incredible form of entertainment is that you can go home and frame your silhouette later, with each individual creation being stuck onto a quality back lining.

DJ

Booking the right DJ for your event is key to good memories and making sure that the DJ plays your perfect playlist. A good DJ knows how to communicate with the crowd and knows how to get your guests up on the dance floor. We have many DJ’s advertised on our site that our just right for you.

Screen Printing

Whether you call it screen printing, letter pressing or something completely different, these fabulous contraptions can have you created your very own work of art in no time! Popular at Somerset House every summer, you too can discover the art of the print. Remember not to limit yourself to paper or card; should you so desire you can create your design on a T-shirt. Wear your creation and remember that party in style!

Get up and dance!!!

Dance floor are perfect for any occasion when you want to get up and boogie! You wouldn’t have a wedding party without a dance floor, a corporate event or a private party. You may be having a talent show night and want the perfect dance floor to stage it. From light up dance floors to chequered dance floors or romantic pretty ones the choice is yours.

Wow your guests with your amazing choice of dance floor. You can fit these dance floors into almost any venue, be it a marque, hall or if you can think it, we are sure our dance floor hirers will have all the solutions. We are sure you will agree a dance floor is the perfect accessory for any up and coming fun event.

Dance floors are very advance nowadays you could have a dancefloor with LED’s which can change colour, mirrors, or even rotating ones. You could have an elevated dance floor, there are so many to choose from all personalised for your particular taste and party. A dance floor will make a venue come to life and your guests will be happy that there is somewhere to get up and dance!!!

Hiring a dance floor is easier than you think, simply scroll down our Red Masque Directory page and see which dance floor takes our fancy. If you need any advice you are always welcome to give us a call and we will be only too happy to help, but we think that the booking process is very simple, just fill out the online booking form and it will go straight to your chosen one. The dance floor hirer will be directly in contact with you to arrange finer details and dates.

Have fun with a Bucking Bronco

Bucking Broncos are a very wild way to have at your event or party. They can be booked for a number of events. It could be a way to generate income at a fete or carnival – the one that stays on the longest wins a prize!! It could be that you would like to have a bucking bronco for your private party which will amuse your guests no end, when drinks are flowing even the shyest of guests will participate!

You may have a Wild West themed party with cowboy and cowgirls and having a bucking bronco would tie your theme altogether. You may have a new business that has just opened and having this attraction will definitely draw a crowd or want a saucy night at a new night club opening! The possibilities are endless.

Most Bucking Broncos for hire are used in nightclubs where after a few glasses of bubbly, inhibitions go out the window and your best friend Tracey hitches up her skirt to see whether she can stay on for more than 30 seconds. Great for videoing and putting on Facebook!!

Bucking Broncos could be hired for an Office Party where staff at the annual Christmas Party get a bit wild and of course there will be a lot of embarrassing photos taken. It is just a bit of fun, and great fun at that!!

To book this guest pleaser we are sure that you will find the perfect bucking bronco for your event. You will find situated an online booking form within the website where you are able to fill out your requirements to your chosen ‘bucking bronco’. Once information has been received the hirer will be in contact with you direct to finalise all details.

Who wants a bit of bubble, smoke or even snow?

Bubble machines can be hired for any special effect that you had in mind, it maybe for the theatre, private party, Christmas magical make believe land or even a night club.

Children love bubbles and hiring these machines could be just what you are looking for. Children will play with bubbles for hours frantically trying to catch them, you can definitely can’t have too many bubbles where children are concerned.

Smoke and Snow machines can be hired for the same reasons as above. Smoke can make a dramatic entrance for a ‘baddy’ at a pantomime or a launch night at a new night club, or used in a magician’s trick to create ‘misdirection’.

Snow machines are great for creating that winter wonderland scene, you may need some snow in the middle of summer when filming or it could be for a Father Christmas grotto, where snow is very unpredictable in England and it would be worthwhile ‘hiring’ some artificial snow.

All these special effects can make your event even more spectacular and magical, bringing the whole scene you had in mind ‘come to life’. We at Red Masque entertainment directory have a wide range of all these machines for hire, which we are sure you will be happy with your selected choice.

Booking is very simple, you just need to decide whether you’d like, Bubbles, Smoke or Snow machines? It maybe all three!! You can enter you details on an online booking form situated within our website. The form goes straight to the hirer and they will be in contact with you direct. Red Masque will answer any questions regarding filling out your form if you need.