Tag Archives: hire

The Postal Museum Venue

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If there’s one thing we love about London it’s the fact that there are always new and exciting things going on within its bustling confines. One of the hottest openings this year is undoubtedly The Postal Museum, a unique look at how London’s postal services have been ran for over 100 years. We don’t want to hype it too much but you do get to ride a two mile train underneath London so… Let’s see what we know!

The Postal Museum will offer a fascinating and often surprising look at the very first social network. London’s letters and parcels used to manoeuvred from place to place via a special train line, which has now been modified for guests to enjoy as they travel through this subterranean landscape. We ourselves have not ridden it yet, but we are pretty certain this will be cool as hell. And the best bit? You can book it for events!

We love providing ideas for entertainment for events but naturally having your very own private train is probably the best entertainment of all. What else can you get when you hire the Postal Museum for your event? Available for both corporate and private hire, the venue’s spaces include the Mail Rail depot and the Postal Museum itself.

The Mail Rail depot is a must-see for your exclusive party! Within captivating architectural features, guests will be able to dine and drink to their heart’s content and there can even be an opportunity to ride the train! A hugely adaptable space, you could hire a band for a dance or make use of the vaulted brick arches in a completely unique way. From receptions to product launches and even award ceremonies, this is a truly exciting new space in London’s event world and holds up to 275 people!

Perhaps you’d prefer your guests to stay above ground? No problem! The Postal Museum itself offers a contemporary space that’s light, bright and perfect for a stunning summer’s night. Featuring a private courtyard and innovative living wall, it’s ideal for cocktail receptions or summer parties. Looking to enhance the space by booking some entertainment? No problem! Holding up to 140 people, you may even like to enjoy a private museum tour whilst in attendance.

Retirement Party

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For almost everyone, music is the key to many wonderful past memories. And it’s one of the easiest ways to host some retirement home entertainment! Take your residents on a walk down memory lane with a musical group.

1. Crooner
Crooners were king in the ’40s and ’50s, with their smooth voices and sultry songs. Some of the best artists in history came out of this era, including Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Bing Crosby. Your residents are sure to feel some nostalgia with a performer like this! Whether you want an actual Rat Pack show or just a Frank Sinatra tribute, these performers love an older crowd that appreciates their act.

2. Beach Boys Tribute
Gaining popularity in the 1960’s, the Beach Boys launched a new type of musical sound with their “surf songs.” Their killer harmonies and clever lyrics helped them rise to the top of the music charts. Booking a Beach Boys tribute band is definitely one of our more energetic ideas for retirement home entertainment! If you want to see your residents groove to the music, you can’t go wrong with the Beach Boys.

3. Barbershop Quartet
With perfect pitch and harmony, a barbershop quartet can dazzle any crowd! They generally have a large repertoire of tunes from years past and love singing for older crowds. If your guests have a request, most groups are happy to oblige. And get ready to see the ladies swoon!

4.. Boogie Woogie Tribute
The Boogie Woogie is best known for those who lived through World War II. With lively patriotic songs, they entertained troops and kept their spirits up during a tough time in our history! Show your veteran retiree how much their service has meant with a Wartime tribute act. Songs like “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “Pistol Packin’ Mama” will keep the crowd swaying to the beat!

5. Gospel Group
Depending on the religious diversity of your guest, a Gospel group may be a meaningful performance for them. As people are nearing the end of their lives, faith begins to play a bigger part. Booking a Gospel group guarantees a great show!

Events for 2018

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High Impact Stage Shows
Gather your guests for bespoke shows that dazzle your guests with skill and spectacle from start to finish.

– Aerial artists create intricate patterns above the stage, fusing circus skills and ballet in a show that’s beautiful and breathtaking. Add in 3D projection, and you have something quite astounding; aerial acrobatics in an ever-changing landscape of light that responds to their moves with split-second precision.

– Dazzle your guests with your own custom-made light show, showcasing a whole variety of high tech acts, from the intricate patterns of LED light shows to the primeval appear of jets of flame and sparks of fire and glow performers.

– Project the ever-shifting creations of iPad artists, sand artists or silhouette artists, accompanied by acts that literally shine, such as the unique Swarovski Violinists, who play electric gold violins encrusted with jewels. Or combine lasers and violins with our Laser Violin Show, choreographing lasers, smoke hazes and even audience interaction.

– There’s no doubt about it, tech is here to stay and is looking to proliferate across the industry. We’ve already seen it in some instances; those attending various conferences have been given a barcode with their name imprinted on it upon entry and any stall whom you choose to engage with will almost certainly scan the code to add your information to their database. It’s quick and easy and these technologies are set to continue if the recent CES conference in the US is anything to go by.

Pretty much every item you use in your home is being connected to the internet in some form, so you can rest assured that before too long, there’ll be numerous new ways to interact at events. As for the entertainment, well last year there was a rise in drone use during performances – including one that garnered a lot of praise on Britain’s Got Talent.

– It makes sense that with the economic outlook uncertain, individuals and companies would get creative in order to receive the most bang for their buck. Whether this means creating their own act to best symbolise their business rather than hiring entertainment on the fly, or theming a party to make sure that it is as memorable as possible, creativity is the order of the day!

– Costumed Characters and various acts that be personalised to attendees. One final thing, don’t go for a tired theme – try and think of something you haven’t heard before and we guarantee that the event planners involved will be just as excited as you about your party!

Relive your School days

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Take yourself back in time by planning a school reunion where you and your colleagues can relive your memories. Getting a class together and pulling off a reunion party is no small feat.
There are always other school friends that you are still in contact with that will have school friends that you have forgotten about. Send everyone a paper invitation to get the initial word out and create a Facebook page or website for your event where you can post reminders, updates, and information for your invited guests. Take this opportunity to start getting your guests excited about the reunion!
You may have many school friends on facebook or such like, but if there are people you just can’t remember or if someone has disappeared off the radar then you old school should have a list with all this information.

Theme & Venue
Remember to consider your theme and potential decorations as you hunt for that perfect venue. Use Party suppliers and securing the venue makes planning decor that much easier, so you can begin creating your ideal atmosphere. Follow your general theme and have fun with it! Contact your classmates and request photos and keepsakes from the ‘good ole days’ to hang around the rooms or to create a nostalgia table!

Entertainment
You know the songs that just seem to recapture moments from your school experience? Have a DJ and the music bring you right back to those days with the perfect music to set the tone and liven up the party.
Keep the party going and conversation flowing with collages of old photos and videos. Everyone’s got those slightly embarrassing pictures of good friends they’d love to share. Stick with fun-inducing entertainment, give out prizes for games, or even have awards! Capture the new memories by booking a Photographer or even a photo booth!

We’re confident you’re ready to plan the best possible school reunion your classmates could have imagined!

Entertainment Venues

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Your corporate event or private party has come to a close, the food’s finished and it’s time to crack open another bottle of bubbly and get the party started. Unfortunately, it’s not always that easy. Get a function in a town hall and you might not have anywhere to set up a party band; have an event in a hotel and you might find your night winding to a rather quick close when the music is turned off at eleven to accommodate the other guests.

Here are some entertainment venues that are perfect:

Smiths of Smithfield

This venue is perfect right next to the City of London it’s conveniently located in the bustling hub of the city. The restaurant’s two private rooms can be opened out for larger parties and – most importantly – it is licenced for live music right up until 1am, so you can keep dancing as long as you’d like. The restaurant is even a short walk away from some amazing London clubs so, if you really aren’t ready to stop, you can head on over to keep the night going.

Southbank Centre
Ideal for any celebration – This world famous multi-art centre is known for its unparalleled festival programme, reaching 6.25 million people a year and featuring 5000 events by world-class artists.
For those of you looking to use the centre for your wedding reception, the rooms to hire are just as well equipped for musicians as their festival halls. The Level 5 Function Room is the largest of their events rooms; it comes with free Wifi, a fully integrated PA system and can be opened out onto a balcony for incredible views of the London skyline.

The room is accessible by lift – so you won’t have to worry about lugging heavy speakers up and down stairs – and comes with a variety of optional hired extras. These include: A sound technician to set up, two radio mics, a plug in and play system for background music. The room is licenced for entertainment until 2am, so the party doesn’t have to end.

Bush Hall
The talking point of this venue is definitely the famous faces that have graced it in the past. The venue has hosted such music legends as Adele, Amy Winehouse and The Killers. The hall’s curtained stage is an ideal place for your band and, if you’re planning on using the stage during the wedding speeches, the backstage area is perfect for storing the band equipment until you’re ready for them to setup.

The hall was originally created as a dance hall and so designed for incredible acoustics that have been preserved throughout all the hall’s renovations and changes and remain to this day. They offer a wide variety of musical equipment for hire and even provide use of their Green Room for musicians to use as a dressing room. They do have a live music curfew of 11pm but there’s no reason why you can’t link your playlist to the speakers and keep the music going a little longer.

Gibson Hall
For those of you who would love an outdoor reception, finding one in London can be tricky – unlike an isolated country venue in London you run into the risk of the surrounding neighbours putting in a noise complaint and getting the party shut down. Fortunately, Gibson Hall, a former bank transformed into a beautiful venue for hire, boasts a stunning courtyard garden and no noise restrictions – you can host a magical garden wedding beneath the stars without having to worry that you’re about to get told to ‘turn it down’.

Fairground rides at your event

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Fairground stalls are great fun; it may be a candy floss stall, hotdog stall or a skill game where you win a prize at the end or not forgetting ‘hook a duck’. These fairground stalls would be perfect for that something different for your event. These stalls could be just for fun or for profit.

Fairground rides are a firm favourite for old and young, they date back to the Victorian era where the carousels were a family favourite. Nowadays funfair rides can have a little bit more ‘thrill factor’ about them, whether it be whizzing around upside down that are not for the faint hearted – but even so lots of fun. Fairground rides can range from these white knuckle rides, ghost trains, dodgem cars, cup and saucers or the old favourite horse carrousels.

Rides such as these could be booked for a charity event, launch party, corporate party, private party or maybe a wedding with a difference if you were inviting a lot of ‘young at heart’ guests.
Fairground stalls and games

You may be organising a fete, charity event, corporate event or just a private party where you want to impress your guests with a few stalls and games. The smell of hotdogs and candyfloss will tempt your guests and then they can play a few games!!

This would be great for an older child’s party or a teenager. You would also probably get a lot of respect for organising such an event too!!

Music to suit all era’s

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If you are a music lover and appreciate all music from all decades, then a tribute band could be just the thing you want to hire for your next event.

Red Masque have a lots of great tribute bands that have extensive experience in dealing with the particular era you are after for example:

Motown Supreme

If you remember the swinging sixties where Rock n Roll bands caused a massive stir in that time, then you could have a tribute Beatles band, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd or the Everly Brothers. You could have a mix-up of all these sounds together to really make it authentic.

Motown Supreme are a fun, young tribute to the Motown genre. Featuring three gorgeous female vocalists (with their sassy, 60’s dance moves, and stunning three part harmonies), and a rhythm section that takes you right back to the good old days of Stevie Wonder, Martha Reeves and Tina Turner, this band is perfectly suited to Corporate Events, Weddings and other parties.

Disco Angels

With disco fever hitting everywhere and nowadays is a very popular era for dressing up, you will need a band to go with you themed night. With Motown making a big impact, you may want a tribute act to the Supremes and Marvyn Gaye. You can just have fun with this decade it’s all about flower power and sequins!!

Disco Angels The Disco Angels 70s Disco Band have been the highlight of many events and parties all over the UK and are a full time professional tribute band. All your favourite 70s Disco Band dance floor fillers from top selling artists like Gloria Gaynor, Candi Statton, The Real Thing, The Bee Gees, Abba, Labelle, James Brown and many more.

80’s Bands and Tribute Acts

Who can forget the 80’s from Wham, Culture Club, Spandau Ballet or Madonna – we can all remember the bouffant hairdos and dodgy clothes, where music became all digitized. If you want to have a themed party but not sure what it could be, then why not have an 80’s night. We are sure all your friends must have some old 80’s clothes tucked away somewhere?

Electronic 80’s

Your party would not be complete without hiring a perfect 80’s Band or Tribute Act – all the old songs playing will take you back to your old school days.

Electronic 80’s is an authentic and energetic five-piece band paying tribute to the best music of the 1980’s. Our dynamic and exciting show delivers the best in New Romantic and classic pop artists from the greatest decade of music.

Office Party Tips

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People get nervous at corporate event parties. Its that time of year again and nervousness can equal erratic behaviour so reduce the stress by setting some ground rules. Make sure you answer the following questions:

Whether you plan to host a big bash or a small gathering try these suggestions:
Be as generous as your budget allows. Your employees work hard and they are looking for a show of appreciation. They view your generosity as a barometer of their performance.

Try to go somewhere different. If there is a tavern or restaurant close by your employees are probably there all the time. Why not drive an extra 5 minutes and meet at someplace different?

If you have the party on premises, make sure to decorate. Telling them to meet in the cafeteria will excite no one. Asking them to join you on the beach (a decorated themed area) they’ll know it’s a special day.
Invest in a cocktail waiter. They’ll monitor and control drinking. They also can make attractive and fun “virgin” drinks. People like picking a non-alcoholic “cool” option. Letting employees pour their own can be a problem and asking an employee to tend bar may be putting them in a bad spot.

Have a theme for your party. We mentioned luau because it’s always a hit but casino and Mardi Gras are also real favourites that can be planned for 10 or a 100.

Will there be alcohol at the party and if so is it open bar or cash bar?
Are spouses and dates invited? This is particularly important if the party is off your property.
How long will the festivities last? Not everyone can get there at 5:30 so it’s nice to know people will still be there later in the evening.

What’s the proper dress? Not usually a big problem and not necessary in a majority of cases, but if you are hosting the party at a private club or a place no one has been to before a heads up about what to wear can save some people serious embarrassment.

Think about providing some great party favours or even door prizes. It’s nice to walk away with a remembrance of a great time. Finally make sure you have fun. If you’re a manager, mingle with your employees they’ll appreciate it and you’ll enjoy it.

Cheesy Party themes

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What’s Cheese? Well, it can mean totally different things to different people, but here are a few cheesy songs we’ve come up with.

Top 10 Requested Cheesy Tunes

MC Hammer – U Can’t Touch This
Dancer-cum-rapper Stanley Burrell (aka MC Hammer) is as famous for his harem pants as he is for his music! U Can’t Touch This is a must-play classic in any 80s set, loved by the boys as well as the girls. The song featured Rick James’ Superfreak riff.

Aqua – Barbie Girl
Popular late 90s / early 2000s pop band Aqua are best remembered for their global hit Barbie Girl, popular with the younger age groups even today. Follow-up number one singles Doctor Jones and Turn Back Time helped them become the best-selling Danish band in history.

Chesney Hawkes – The One and Only
Chesney’s 1991 hit single The One and Only still results in a rousing anthemic sing-along today, if carefully judged and played amongst the right tracks for the specific audience. Although he did have a few minor chart successes, Chesney was a bit of a one-hit-wonder.

Dexys Midnight Runners – Come on Eileen
A British pop group with soul influences, Dexys are best remembered for their hits Geno and Come On Eileen which has become a “love-it-or-hate-it” yardstick defining the “Cheese” category! Jackie Wilson Said was another popular early 80s track by the group.

Abba- Dancing Queen
Possibly the most commercially successful act in the history of pop music, Abba have several “Cheese” tracks in their catalogue … arguably the most requested being 1976s Dancing Queen which can be heard at private parties across the land every weekend!

Rocky Horror Show – Time Warp
One of any cheese-fest’s top action dances, Time Warp is taken from the 1973 rock musical Rocky to this song and are first on the floor when the opening bars are played!

Village People – YMCA
This costumed disco group formed in 1977, quickly scoring a number of disco and dance hits many of which have action sequences, including party favourites YMCA, Macho Man, In The Navy and Go West. They tour even today and are a popular addition to any festival line-up!

The Weather Girls – It’s Raining Men
Now comprising two daughters of one of the original band members, The Weather Girls tour today, singing early 80s hits including the dancefloor-polarising It’s Raining Men. Always a big hit with the ladies at any family party, this cheesy classic works well with any 80s set.

Whigfield – Saturday Night
The summer hit of 1994, Danish-born Whigfield’s Saturday Night is still a popular dance floor filler, with its easy-to-learn routine popular with ladies of all ages. Cue the blokes heading off to the bar!

Mud – Tiger Feet
The UK’s best-selling single of 1974, Mud’s Tiger Feet goes down a storm with party guests – perfect to follow a few jive classics, a twist, or in amongst a selection of 70s glam rock classics. Mud went on to have several minor hits throughout the 1970s.

Get down and boogie!

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When it comes to dancefloor classics you just have to have Motown on your playlist as a party wouldn’t be a party without some soul!!

These types of bands play music that is like the soundtrack of your life; up beat at one moment, soulful and heartfelt at another, but always delivered with style!

Rhythm and blues (R&B or RnB) originated from adding a strong beat to jazz and adding lyrics about life, love and freedom. Now it’s a genre of soul music that stretches from funk to ska, to hip hop, and encompasses artists as diverse as Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Elvis, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, and Mariah Carey.

Soul music is the love child of rhythm and blues and jazz, with American gospel as an auntie. Born in the late 1950s, soul music combines irresistible rhythms and powerful, heartfelt vocals that have defined pop music and funk alike. Think Little Richard, James Brown, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson. Otis Redding and the queen of soul, Aretha Franklin.

Motown is a type of soul music named after the Motown record label, based in Detroit USA. The Motown sound fused soul and fledgling pop into a string of massive pop hits that have filled dance floors and discos alike ever since. You’ll know the sound when you hear it and you’ll certainly know the Motown artists: Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Diana Ross and The Supremes, the Four Tops, Gladys Knight & the Pips, the Jackson 5 and Stevie Wonder.

These types of bands play music that is like the soundtrack of your life; up beat at one moment, soulful and heartfelt at another, but always delivered with style!

Soul, R&B and Soul can be in all sizes, from stunning solo vocalists to full-on soul party bands and everything in between. So, how can you tell the soulful stars from the R&B also-rans?

Wide range of repertoire Look for artists with a wide range of music in their playlist. The range and choice might sound a bit odd at first, as many mix modern and classic tracks in their sets. Actually, that’s a sign of great musicianship and will ensure every one of your guests has something they’ll
know and love in each set – and want to dance to.

As you might have gathered by now, the space required depends largely on the type of band your booking to hire. Since these acts specialise in providing a visual show as well as superb dance music, chances are they’ll need a larger space than comparative bands in other genres, such as jazz. What’s more, the more players and equipment they bring, the more space they will require both onstage and off. Also, don’t assume just because you booked a soloist they will come with just a small speaker and microphone. Chances are they will come with some very high-tech sound equipment for their backing tracks, to make sure they sound at their very best.