Tag Archives: party-entertainment

Themed events

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The Great Gatsby has fast become one of the most glamorous movies of all times, Baz Luhrmann’s Great Gatsby is proving to be a big hit, bringing vintage glamour slap bang up to date! It’s therefore no wonder, everyone is wanting their very own Gatsby styled party.

Aside from the entertainment, (which is of course a vital part of your day!) a Gatsby event is going to incorporate everything that is wonderful from the 1920s! We’re thinking a colour scheme of black, gold and beige. Plenty of diamante’s and sequins adorning the ladies dresses. Glamorous cocktails and Ostrich feathers to decorate the tables! Take a look at some of our top ideas for party themed inspiration.

Just some of our Great Gatsby Theme Options:
Feather Fan Dancers
Jazz Bands
A Cabaret Show including Charleston Dancers
Aerialist
Hostess Flapper Girls
Singing Waiters
Large Martini Glass with a girl inside
A Range of casino tables including roulette and blackjack. · A DJ to finish off the evening
Gatsby style theming including backdrops, props and lighting.

Great Gatsby Decor
One of the biggest things watching The Great Gatsby was the amount of confetti constantly streaming through the air. It is possible to hire confetti cannons for parties and corporate events if you want that real Great Gatsby style flare.

There is also an abundance of large helium filled balloons throughout the parties in the film which look fantastic.

So why not let our very own Great Gatsby Cast take you back to the 1920’s, the swinging era of glittering Jazz and loosening morals……..After all, a little party never killed nobody.

What Makes A Great Party?

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Ask most of your guests and they’ll say they had a great time if they were up dancing all night to the music they love. But how do you know what music they’ll love? Surely everyone has varied tastes?

When guests decide to get on the dance floor at a party, there’s a certain process involved of losing their inhibitions as they escape into the exciting world of music & lights. Memories and emotions can be ignited by the DJ’s choice of music and songs, often taking people back to their youth. What a great journey this can turn out to be if the DJ perfectly judges all the right tunes to play for your guests.

A good DJ can read the crowd to ensure a full dance floor

A good DJ should have a passion for all genres of music so that he can predict the response of people in the room when he plays certain classic songs from his collection. It is important for a DJ to read his crowd and he should instinctively know what kind of music will get people dancing.

If you are providing a DJ with a playlist, it is advisable to allow the DJ some discretion to choose which tracks to play from your list and at what time to play them.

It can be quite a challenge for a DJ to get guests dancing, especially early on at a wedding where many of the guests might not know each other. Sometimes interaction over the microphone is required to help people feel more relaxed, and occasionally a little encouragement can be given to help create that essential party spirit.

There are a variety of different techniques which can be used and this is where DJ’s have varying styles and approaches. Some people like a DJ to be vocally interactive with their audience, whereas others prefer the more modern approach of minimal talking with the focus mainly on good music and taking requests.

When to book a DJ
If you leave booking a DJ for a party to the last minute then it is likely that you’ll end up with a less experienced DJ. The best and therefore most popular DJs get booked well in advance. If your event is on a Friday or Saturday night you should look to secure your DJ around one year in advance.

Toga party ideas

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If you’re wanting to go with a historical theme, going as far back into the past is perhaps the best way to ensure that guests really feel as if they’ve escaped the modern world for a few hours. We thought we inspire you for some toga party entertainment ideas.

Costume

Many people turn up with their own bedsheet but if you want this to be the best toga party of all time then smidgen of authenticity is key. Not only can you provide togas to each and every individual as they arrive, you can also provide them with a few ancient props to enhance the atmosphere. Laurels for the head, a bunch of grapes… You name it, it’s all possible.

Living Statue
The ancient world was absolutely obsessed with statues. Big ones, small ones, ludicrously huge ones—Statues really were the embodiment of the ancient world. Sculptors were just as revered as the finest painters and hundreds of years later, their works are paraded in museums such as the V & A and the Louvre. Enhance your party by hiring living statues; they don’t have to move but they’ll certainly add to the toga party vibe!

Harp
One of the most elegant instruments of all time. Invented sometime around 3500BC, they didn’t actually make it across to Europe until sometime around the 8th century, but why let that get in the way of some fine musical entertainment? If you’re looking to book music for a party, there’s nothing better than a harp to get people in the mood for your historical event.

Olympic Games
You probably can’t hold the actual Olympic Games in the ground of your venue, but you can certainly modify the ancient Olympics for your needs. By booking a few fun-filled garden games – croquet competition anyone? – you can ensure there’ll be laughs aplenty, especially once the drink starts flowing! If you so desire, there can be rewards for the winners including (chocolate) gold coins and yes, more grapes!

Team building games

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For years, It’s a Knockout held court as the UK’s most innovative and popular television program full of great entertainment. Undoubtedly the wettest, wildest, and wackiest competition imaginable. It combines the game’s traditional format with our own unique sense of fun to create the ultimate example of a motivational team-building corporate 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

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.
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 Wipeout 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!

Summer Garden Parties

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If the weather holds out next summer, you might be considering a traditional garden party. If it’s for a corporate event or even a private party, Red Masque has put together a list of summer garden party entertainment ideas for something with vocals and a touch of the familiar, how about music? Like a Swing Jazz band – often playing Rat Pack, Sinatra, Michael Bublé and Jamie Cullum. Unlike a Dixie band, they will need electricity for their amplification, but they can tone the volume to suit a garden party just fine.

Strapped for space? Try a duo, this is the easiest type of act to accommodate and makes more of a visual statement than a solo artist alone.

Steel drum band music stems from the Caribbean with a mixture of Calypso, Latin, Reggae, Pop, and Rock n’ Roll. Steel bands bring the Caribbean to your doorstep!

Traditionally, a string quartet gives recitals of works by the classical masters, but more recently has diversified into a more popular repertoire which includes pop, jazz, folk and ragtime. String quartets are ideal for summer garden parties. As they are generally acoustic (they require no amplification or electricity), they are portable and can change location during your event.

Whether it’s Giant Jenga, Giant Wii Sport, Giant Table Football or Giant Operation – Giant Games is the fun way to enhance your big event with a fantastic range of games and great entertainment for all ages!

For a lively garden party with plenty of dancing, a Salsa band is the ideal addition. Salsa encompasses a variety of rhythmic styles and musical forms. Think Rio Carnival, the Caribbean, South America and Latin Jazz. With Salsa music, the rhythm is infectious and the costumes colourful. Many acts can also include Salsa dance instruction as part of their package.

Getting your entertainment just right

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It’s important you consider the venue of your corporate event when sourcing entertainment. Make sure you choose from a good entertainment directory such as Red Masque who advertises great entertainment right from the venue,drinks or magic. Once you have chosen you are free to ask as many questions as you like and tailor make your wedding your way. A good point to remember is; you can easily make the right choice by asking proper questions.

Function bands are highly popular to make your private party very lively. If you’re thinking of making your upcoming event memorable; you really need to source for the best function bands. You need to engage a reliable entertainment directory that offers quality entertainment at all 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.

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 function 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 party music to hire for your event. 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.

Who doesn’t love a juggler?

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Spark Fire Dance

What do you get if you combine acrobats with jugglers? As you might expect, the result is the wonderfully named Spark Fire dance, a pair of party entertainers who combine their sporty and athletic nature with the art of juggling. Juggling fire at one another a few metres apart to managing to swap when one person is on the other’s shoulders, there is nothing these circus performers can’t do!

Arron Sparks

A brand new act, Arron loves sharing and discovering new ideas. Many of which are connected by his interest in Yo-Yo, juggling, circus, skeptical thinking and performance.

He has set a few records juggling (yet to be beaten). Arron performs in lots of different shows all over the place, suitable for different party venues and occasions. Arron is sure to be a crowd pleaser for any occasion.

Chris Marley

When you think of booking a juggler for your event, you’re probably thinking of something very similar to Chris Marley. Able to juggle with a whole host of props from juggling balls to cubes and axes, you’re sure to be impressed by his ability! Having trained at the National Centre of Circus Arts, you can be safe in the knowledge that you have booked a true master for your event. A gentleman juggler with a contemporary twist, you can’t go wrong with Chris!

Contact jugglers

A little bit different to juggling in the traditional sense of the word, contact jugglers have an incredible ability to make balls apparently levitate in the air. Well, not ‘levitate’ exactly, but making it appears as though a silver ball or two has a weightless quality. Very difficult to describe but just as hard to ever forget, hiring a juggler is one of the finest decision an event planner can make if they want an unforgettable experience for their guests!

Product launch entertainment

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We love a good product launch. When done right, a product launch brings in huge numbers and the feedback you receive is invaluable. Not only that but a good product launch will ensure that people remember your brand and you may just notice a number of people sharing your special hashtag all over social media. How to attract the public to your product launch though? Well, we have a few event entertainment ideas.

Sticks and Stones

You need only look at Sticks and Stones not only are these wonderful entertainers on stilts – so sure to draw a crowd from far beyond the eye can see at street level – but they can also offer up a drink or two to your guests as they arrive. A sparkling sensation for events far and wide, we highly recommend this entertainment and they have been particularly successful at product launches in the past!

Fake Faces

“Was that–?” “Is that–?” “I think I just saw—“ A celebrity lookalike is great for pulling in the crowds; just ask any marketing manager at Disneyland or Disneyworld! Not only will a good lookalike be able to pull off an uncanny impression of a popular character or celebrity, but they’ll also be more than happy to pose for photographs and video. Sneak your brand into the shot and hey presto, your product is going places! Fun for all sorts of brands and product launches, a celebrity lookalike is an absolute must.

Arbie the Robot

Stop for a moment and imagine what you’d do if a walking robot came out of nowhere, started dancing around to a hit pop tune and then managed to announce your product to the world. You’d be impressed, right? Arbie the Robot can do all that and much more! A hit at corporate events all over the world, crowds will instantly be drawn in by his antics and left scratching their heads quite how he works. Is he a robot? Isn’t he? You’ll just have to hire Arbie to find out! A brilliant example of strolling entertainment that is a little bit more unique than most acts in the industry!

Magic

Who doesn’t love magic? Rather than be specific by naming one of our brilliant magicians, we thought we’d go all-encompassing and simply suggest hiring a magician for your next product launch. Whether making your company business cards disappear and reappear or producing the exciting new product into your hands, magicians are a brilliant way to launch a product and it’ll certainly be a memorable moment for the members of the public lucky enough to see the magic first hand.

Ideas for hosting a private party

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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 hire 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.

Private parties based around a live 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.

Your next Halloween party

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Are you thinking about having a mystical event, where the thought of your future being read is very thought provoking? You will have to agree even if you were a bit sceptical you cannot fail to be a little intrigued?

Illusionists are getting more advanced with their clever tricks that will misdirect you to looking elsewhere even though you thought you had your eye firmly on the ball – these professional and extremely clever illusionists will fool you time and time again and you will believe in Magic!!!

Magicians work the same but if you wanted the more traditional magic tricks then you are able to hire from our Red Masque Directory, from Children’s magicians to adult ones we have got something for everyone.

Or for something a little daring? Why not hire an escapologist with there up-to-the –minute death defying acts that would amaze the most sceptical of us!! An edge of your seat performance which leave little time for the escapologist to escape unhurt. We all know they will make it but it still makes up wonder ‘what if?’

Contortionists on the other hand can amaze us with bending their bodies in the tiniest of places; these contortionists can be part of a magic act where they can fit into the most impossible places making us believe that they have disappeared.

Mind readers, as the name suggests, can put on an entertaining event by reading many of your guests minds who want to participate.

Another act to consider are Hypnotists for parties they can be used for medical issues but also for party entertainment – a night with a Hypnotist can be an absolute scream, you just need to select your guests who are willing to participate. They will swear blind nothing happened when they leave the stage but leave all your watching guests in stitches at the silly things that the participants did!!

We are sure that you have found what you have been looking for by reading this – once you have decided what you want for your event, simply book a few using an online booking form and make your event something special!!