Tag Archives: parties

Private party organising made easy

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One of the simplest and easiest types of party to organise is a venue or marquee with a live band. Nothing gets guests excited like a live music performance as it’s far more interesting & engaging than a DJ or background music. You’ll need to choose a band to suit to the occasion, your guests and the type of atmosphere you’re looking for.

Popular types of party band include tribute bands, rock and pop function bands, or for an older audience try Swing and Jive or Rock n’ Roll.

Any private hire venue with a cool bar and space to dance would be suitable, but bear in mind parking and accommodation for those guests traveling beyond a taxi ride. For something a bit different try the Hard Day’s Night Hotel in Liverpool, complete with a live Beatles Tribute band.

Parties based around a live party band, especially a lively band, are likely to be quite loud so consider how many elderly guests you might have. Venues with sound limiters can be a real pain so before you hand over any money, make sure the venue you choose doesn’t have a limiter fitted (or if it does, that the threshold is set higher than 95dB). Also, make sure there is a dance floor and if at all possible, try to avoid venues where the bar is in a different room to the dancing as this can split guests and leave you with a less party atmosphere.

Good quality function bands will provide all of the equipment you’ll need, so all you need to do is ensure they have enough space and some light refreshments. Expect to pay upwards of £1000/£1400 for a really good 4-5-piece band.

For most private parties a really early arrival is not necessary so if you ask the band to arrive around 6pm they should be set up, sound checked & ready for guests to arrive by 7.30pm – 8pm. Most function bands will play 2 x 60 minute performances, and we suggest the first to start no earlier than 9pm so guests have time to get a drink and have a chat before the music starts.

The Ultimate Winter Blues Party

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As winter is rolling in, lots of people want to organise the Ultimate Winter Blues Party. At Red Masque we like to give some great ideas to offer in our posts. Instead of using your own home, why not rent out private rooms from restaurants because they offer an economical alternative with certain party essentials (furniture and a great kitchen) already in place.

SIGHT and TOUCH: Smoke and Mirrors

If you want to create something wonderful for the ultimate winter blues party, think ‘smoke and mirrors’.

You see mirrors create the illusion of even more energy and action – you can literally see more people throughout the room but at the same time, the combination of clear and reflective materials instantly make the room feel more open. Even more importantly, they capture the striking beauty of the first chill of winter in clean, contemporary lines. Along with the ice-like surfaces and funky blue fabrics that would bring out the swing in this modernist vision of winter, spicy, flavourful tapas, and a hot sexy Latin soundtrack would raise the pulse and temperature of the space.

Capturing the smooth, glassy surfaces of icicles, and the shimmering icy blue hues of freshly fallen snow can be a difficult illusion to pull off; you don’t want to go overboard and end up with a truly cold hard and severe look. Instead you want to create a magical “FROZEN” castle of shimmering shapes and reflective surfaces that will make your guests feel as though they are surrounded by gorgeous crystal sculptures. .

SIGHT: Top Party Decorations

Table decorations for the ultimate winter party can be very classy with diamonds spread over the table sparkling with cut glass champagne glasses, if you wanted to go really overboard you could hire some ice sculptures to really capture the spirit of the winter month.

Be as imaginative as you like, blue tablecloths, and a sprinkling of fake snow and don’t forget vodka on ice!!!

SMELL: Engage the Senses

For winter, go nuts, literally, roasted pistachios, coconut and sizzle chorizo in the kitchen to create a wonderful tangy and nutty aroma for the room. What is more sexy than a few shapely ice cubes jostling in a glass tumbler or the pristine gloss of a newly frozen lake.

TASTE: The best Party Food

You could just put out some cured meats and cheeses but for larger and more elaborate appetites and we love the sociability of tapas. Tapas, also provide a variety of flavours. As a winter party, the emphasis needs to be a little more on food to quiet the hibernating impulse we have and avoid the urge to stay home, watch Netflix and chill.

When creating your own menu, think about what would tantalise the guests, think of exciting colours and combinations of sweet and smoky spices. Serve the food every hour or so and start with simple foods while gradually adding new and more complex flavours

TASTE: The best Party Drinks

Drinks it would be a selection of Martini opportunities, why not try my Winter Blues Martini:

Winter Blues Martini
1 ounce Vodka
1/2 ounce Blue Curacao
1/2 ounce crème de cassis
a splash of fresh lime juice and blueberries for garnish.

Rim the martini glass with white sugar. Shake, strain, and pour liquid ingredients into a martini glass. Garnish with blueberry kebob.

Display bottles of frozen vodka inside decorative ice blocks: cut off the top section of an orange juice container and fill it two thirds full with distilled water and sliced lemons, limes and oranges. Insert a bottle of Citrus Vodka and put it in your freezer overnight. In the morning, remove the orange juice carton and you’ve got yourself a stunning citrus ice sculpture that doubles as a “cooler” for your vodka.

To create a surprise kick, for your Martini who not rub the rim of the glass with a slice of hot jalapeño pepper and then dip the glass in sugar?

SOUND

Think about some chill out tunes, a bit of funk and soul that will cater to most tastes.  Whatever you choose we are sure you will definitely have the Ultimate Winter Blues party!!!

Themed event evening

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Event planners love organising a party around a specific theme. It makes sense since most guests turning should at least have some familiarity with the world they are about to experience. Perhaps the most popular party theme out of the many out there are parties based around Lewis Caroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Putting together Alice in Wonderland party ideas is something that simply requires imagination and a whole lot of fun. 

Alice in Wonderland

Well… No event is complete without an Alice, right? For many children’s parties, parents prefer Alice to simply be a walkabout costumed character allowing the kids to interact with Alice throughout the day. When it comes to Alice in Wonderland party ideas for adults though, there are a multitude of possible ideas, only limited to your imagination. You could hire a contortionist to play Alice, she could really squeeze into those small spaces then!!

With the UK seemingly more in love than ever with Alice in Wonderland (the theme has also been used for corporate events and Sweet 16 parties), the multitude of characters allows some truly inspired work.

Frozen themed parties…

One of the most popular films of the last few years, Frozen continues to take the world by storm, especially in the 2-7-year-old age bracket (if that’s an acceptable place to bracket off ages rather than the usual ‘3-5’) and you’ve no doubt been asked to host a Frozen party for your little one. But this is not just a theme for children, oh no! What with Christmas parties being upon us, this is the perfect time to ponder turning it into a Frozen theme but with a number of additions to ensure that any Scrooges at the party quickly turn into the embodiment of Christmas cheer!

Ice Sculpture

Any Frozen fan worth their salt will tell you that he is an iceman, responsible for cutting out blocks of ice for the people of Arendelle. Now since an actual iceman cutting out blocks of ice at a party probably isn’t that exciting to watch (and transporting the pre-cut ice is probably hugely expensive), what better way than to bring the magic of Kristoff’s profession to light with some Frozen ice sculptures! And by that we mean an ice sculptor creating a model of Olaf for your Christmas Party. 

Fake Snow

Because what could be more Christmassy than fake snow? You may be thinking that fake snow indoors just doesn’t work but cast your mind back to the very beginning of Frozen where Elsa first uses her powers, creating lovely little slopes of snow which she and her sister Anna play in. Naturally you can also make your own Olaf out of the snow and pose with it at a frozen photo booth too!

Costumed Characters

To be honest, this one is just a given. The very least that people would expect from a Frozen-themed Christmas party are some themed walkabout characters. Now you may be thinking, “But isn’t that more of a thing for children? Adults wouldn’t like that would they?” But you’d be very, very wrong for costumed characters are one of the most popular forms of entertainment. Guests can never get enough.

Naturally there are many, many more ideas that unfortunately couldn’t be included; from incredible Frozen-themed cocktails. To get some more inspiration look at our Christmas themed entertainment.

Acts to hire instead of a DJ

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It’s now well into Christmas and although we’ve been going on about booking Christmas entertainment early, there’s always a few private parties and companies who only get around to booking their Christmas entertainment in December. As such, many DJs are booked up on the key dates you’ll be wanting them for, but don’t let that get to you! Put down your mince pie, have a swig of mulled wine and take a look at these alternatives that just might be more perfect than a Christmas DJ.

Why not book your very own polar bear? Well it’s not actually a real one, (it’s themed walkabout artists in a polar bear costume) that can turn up at your Christmas party to liven up proceedings. This cuddly looking polar bear walks and poses with your guests.  What could be more Christmassy than that? Okay, so he won’t provide anything to dance to but who needs that when you can laugh and take selfies all evening? Exactly. We guarantee your Instagram will have more likes than ever after a cheeky pic with this wonderful Christmas bear. 

Why not go for a real animal? We all saw the Logo Reindeer last year and it was impressive, even featuring Santa and a sleigh. You could even order some elves if you’d like, but how about a couple of live reindeer to book for your Christmas event. They won’t arrive with presents and they’ll probably walk rather than fly, but there’s something fab about feeding a carrot to a reindeer.

What could be better than a Christmas Tree? You can sing Christmas carols around it, put presents beneath it and struggle to get rid of it once New Year rolls in. That last point wouldn’t be a problem with these incredible living Christmas trees however, the perfect accompaniment to any Christmas gathering. A festive treat nobody will be expecting, these trees stand by the entrance to your party venue and move as unsuspecting guests arrive. A lot of fun guaranteed to have your guests in stitches.

Christmas Party Band

Just because a DJ isn’t free, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some music! What party entertainment you go for depends entirely on you and what your guests might like. If you’re looking for a festive feeling, then Motown Supreme may be more your thing.  Or a trendy contemporary band; Kings Ov Leon. You don’t even have to book a band that melds perfectly with the Holiday season; various bands can play all the hits your DJ would have played and provide some originality and festive cheer on top. Perfect!

Illusionist

Or maybe without a DJ, you really are fixated on just using the iPod from Andy in Accounts. Since the rest of the office are scared of animals and possible living Christmas trees, in that case you are left with only one option, especially if everybody adores magic. Sure, you could go for an Illusionist – make your guests the centre of attention whilst the illusionist does his amazing magic before their very eyes, where everyone if trying to work out just how he does it!! 

Of course, none of this matters if you have your heart set on a DJ… So don’t delay, get in touch today!

Step back in time

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A great way to have a party with different genres of music is to hire some tribute bands. They can go all the way back to the 60’s up until the 90’s.  It would be fun to dress up to really make the evening really authentic. You may have a television company that need some by gone music to set your scene for your particular programme.

Music can be used to create nostalgia and to create the ambiance that you have been searching for, for whatever event you have lined up. Why not hire all types of music from all era’s and dance the night away to different decades, this is a great way to include all ages in your special event?

Tribute bands can also be hired which would be another great choice for your event again they can be tributes to the 60’s 70’s 80’s or 90’s or why not book all four!!!  

There is nothing better than the sound of a ‘big band’ where a crooner could be crooning along to some of your all-time favourites.

The thrill of the ‘big band sound’ wowing your guests being an altogether great event and just takes the edge of just about everybody else.  Why not be a talking point within your circle of friends and show your corporate guests a really good time.

Big Band and Swing are known for class and will be a firm favourite for young and old alike.

When you think of Brass musicians you think of the dulcet tones of the Salvation Army playing thought-provoking tunes and raising a bit of charity for the needy, or you could be thinking of a Marching band, whatever your memories or thoughts of Brass musicians, you cannot fail to love the sound.

If you needed some brass musicians at your event for a focal point or to raise some cash for a good cause then why not hire these great musicians, that are truly unforgettable and sheer joy to listen to. 

Character musicians bring a little bit of personality into their performance whilst playing an instrument or a number of instruments.  For example, it could be a ‘one-man band’ entertaining your guests at your corporate event.

It could be a comedian playing a piano very badly or a group of character musicians having a big of professional fun.

Be safe in the knowledge that all the musicians you see advertised on the Red Masque directory are of the most highest quality and are truly very professional and one of a kind.

2016 corporate party ideas

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It’s never too early to plan ahead. Many corporate and private clients often enjoy theming their larger parties (and smaller ones, as long as you can convince your mates to dress up) around national events happening that particular year. With this in mind, we thought we’d look ahead to see what trends might be coming up, which you may like to capitalise on. Without further ado, here are our popular party themes 2016

Rio 2016

Yes, like them or loathe them, the summer Olympics return next year with Rio 2016. Incredibly, it will have been four years since London 2012, where we all trekked over to Stratford to watch a game of Handball between a couple of Baltic nations and now it’s time to do it all over again next year. Coming live from Brazil in 2016, sporting entertainment is sure to be a big draw next year so get planning now!

According to Wikipedia, 2016 is set to be space crazy. You name it, it’s being planned. From a space hotel being launched for wealthy clients to various missions involving Mercury, Mars and Jupiter, there are huge plans afoot for 2016 and space travel. The sequel to Independence Day will surely only add to the fever in June, so get your thinking caps on if it’s space-themed event entertainment you’re after. What better venue than the Gherkin? There have been lots of space themes organised here already, so now it’s time to organise yours.

Harry Potter

Brace yourself, Muggles who love the young wizard are going to be out in force in 2016 with not one but two (or even three) new Potter releases thrust upon the world. But they won’t be in book form, oh no. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will be an adaptation of a JK Rowling spinoff starring Eddie Redmayne, whilst Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will open in the West End in two parts. Magic costume, crazy food—All will be great entertainment theme ideas for your Harry Potter event in 2016. You can even host your very own private party here where the Harry Potter films were made!

5 beautiful venues outside of London

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We all love London. Even those that claim they don’t still find something to enjoy, even if it’s for just one day a year when the London Marathon arrives or maybe even once every few years when it hosts the Olympic Games. Even so, it’s also nice to have a break from the capital city on occasion and these five venues are great places to hold your event if you’re planning to escape the M25.

Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons

Le Manoir is nestled in the picturesque Oxfordshire village of Great Milton and is renowned as one of Britain’s finest gastronomic experiences. Not bad, eh? It has held two Michelin stars for an incredible 29 years, so if you’re a foodie then we can’t think of many places that would be better to hold your event. Surrounded by smart lawns and stunning orchards, this really is a gorgeous venue to celebrate your anniversary or indeed get married!

Wrest Park

Most people’s commute through London is about an hour but what if you went the other way instead? Well, you may very well end up at Wrest Park is a French chateau-inspired building that affords breath-taking views of its fountains, statues and ornate Baroque buildings. Available for party events both inside and out, this is a magical setting for activities and team building days for up to 1,500 people.

Chewton Glen

What a photo. Blue skies, croquet, on the outskirts of the New Forest— What more could you want from an events venue? A bit of a ‘modern classic’, Chewton Glen provides an ideal setting for meetings, incentives and social gatherings. With a variety of function rooms and extensive facilities (which also include golf, tennis and a spa), this is the ultimate venue to impress. So be sure to dress up and make a day of it!

Hedsor House

Located within almost 100 acres of impressive parkland and situated on the doorstep of London, Hedsor House is one of the most picturesque and private wedding venues in the UK. When you book, it’s yours for the day with the only limitation being your imagination. Wow! Yes, it’s a blank canvas of a venue and you may recognise it from The Golden Compass, where Nicole Kidman was able to call it her home. Having rubbed shoulders with Hollywood, its next big event could be yours!

Pennyhill Park

Located just south of London in Surrey, Pennyhill Park is secluded within 123 acres of woodland and parkland, a 19th Century mansion framed by terraces, formal lawns and flower beds. Wonderful for a wedding or just a private party, it is an immaculate venue for an intimate party and allows up to 190 guests to help celebrate your big day.

After all that, it sort of makes us wonder why we’re based in London!

A Vintage affair

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Tuesday was what would have been the 125th birthday of Agatha Christie. As we all know, she has unfortunately not quite managed to live to 125 years old, but to celebrate the birth of the creator of Hercule Poirot and The Mousetrap, which is still going strong on the West End after 60+ years, we thought we’d pull together a few vintage acts to get you pondering a vintage party theme!

Upon entering what is no doubt a sumptuous English country mansion (for which you have booked for this occasion), the first act that will bring you beautifully into the vintage theme are a jazz band. As you whisk a Champagne flute from a passing tray and sample a posh canapé, these superb musicians will perfectly set the tone with some vintage-style background music at your event.

As you pass into the next room – perhaps even a private dinner – a party performer can be there to greet guests with his unique vintage vaudeville entertainment. Calling to mind the many talented circus performers and silent comedians of the past, mime entertainers can juggle, spin plates and use an assortment of items including tablecloths, hats and crockery, which will have you convinced you’ve stepped back in time. A vintage mime performer who can perform for up to thirty minutes at a time, you and your guests are sure to be impressed!

Who better to work the tables than a charismatic and charming event magician? Magicians for parties are known for their witty repartee and abundance of magic tricks to stun and amaze. Be it a signed and folded card appearing in his mouth or correctly mindreading colours that a guest has picked on a card. Magicians can do it all. Magicians are a great vintage entertainment that will fit perfectly with your party theme.

Yes, there’s always room for classical music at a vintage themed event all are classically trained acts and it simply comes down to whether you’d prefer a quartet or a duo. Spectacular music in a stunning setting, what could be better? Agatha Christie certainly enjoyed fine music and there’s nothing better than strings in a great hall.

Why not book a harmony band of the 30s and 40’s, they will Provide the perfect soundtrack to your event, harmonies have stunned audiences for years and never cease to go out of fashion?

Of course, there are numerous acts that are perfect for an Agatha Christie or vintage theme (Great Gatsby) so feel free to take a look around the Red Masque directory and see what takes your fancy!

We all love a bit of Marianne Cheesecake

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We would say that everyone cannot fail to love a bit a burlesque; they are provocative and humorous and very sexy but in a very classy way, and that is where Marianne Cheesecake comes in:

Marianne’s origins are from Hong Kong, but was born and raised in Canada. She has that special something that will make you mesmerised from the moment you set eyes on her.

She adds a little twist to her act (still in keeping with her burlesque roots) she reinacts memorable shows which is inspired by silver screen film characters from the 1920’s – 1950’s. Think of a Hollywood starlet or a glamour girl from that era. She has been inspired by the legends themselves and likes nothing more than to dedicate her acts to Charlie Chaplin, Josephine Baker, Anna May Wong and Kiki de Montparnasse.

Marianne will engage and indulge her audience with glamourous styles and delectable vintage wear. Acting out small part enactments of Hollywood classics and silent films.

She is a trained classical performer with over 15 years of theatre and creative dance experience. She has beautiful choreography and armed with her beauty and stage presence she will tantalise and tease and above all definitely entertain!! She is a master of burlesque party entertainment in her own unique classic way.

Marianne is hugely popular and has done many collaborations with others in this field at prestigious events.

A truly wonderful entertainer; she takes her work very seriously indeed and to her this is her life, which she lives and breathes and most importantly loves to entertain her adored fans.

Why not find out a little bit more about this act by looking on Red Masque Directory and clicking on Marianne’s profile and seeing a short clip of her work.

Make your boss happy!!

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

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.

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.

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. Now Daniel Craig is the new Bond the Bond stories lines are stronger than ever. People like 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.