Tag Archives: professional

Surprise artists at your event

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Hire singing waiters, policemen, firemen and a whole host of other comedy singing acts from Red Masque directory to make your event unforgettable. Discover what surprise entertainment we offer and how they’ll positively impact your event!

When you’re planning an event, you want to keep your guests entertained throughout, so the energy and enjoyment never dips. Giving them something new just when they are least expecting it is a great way to create a buzz, and to give guests something to talk about apart from the food or the football! And nothing fits the bill quite like a surprise act, be it singing waiters, firemen, or chefs.

The idea is really simple; your guests have no idea that the waiter who has been serving them, or the fireman who seems to be worried about the smoke alarms, are in fact highly talented singers, ready to grab a microphone and burst into song. As one waiter starts to sing, another suddenly joins in, and then a ‘guest’ can’t seem to resist joining in either. It’s particularly effective during a formal dinner.

It’s a great way of breaking up a meal and giving your guests something hugely entertaining when they are least expecting it!

Before the audience have had time to work out who might be part of the act, they are being royally entertained by superb singers performing anything from famous opera songs to the latest West End hits, often close up to their tables.

The voices, the energy, the performance, they are all something that you just can’t duplicate in any other way. The ‘singing waiters’ introduction is a light way to create a surprise and add a great deal of fun.

What the guests see, of course, is just the end product of a great deal of planning and preparation. Professional entertainment acts make sure that everyone behind the scenes is in the know and fully prepared, while the real guests haven’t a clue what’s going on! It’s also about preparing a scenario that is perfect for your event.

And it doesn’t just have to be waiters, guests or catering staff.

For example the client is asked to provide a photograph of one of the guests that one of the acts is going to pretend to “arrest” for non-payment of a parking ticket! Once the ‘policemen’ start singing, they perform an amazing act containing everything from opera to Rat Pack and Grease

Spectacular displays

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As a nation, we like to celebrate a hapless hero, and top of the list must be Guy Fawkes, a man famous for having failed miserably to do what he set out to do. Fawkes and his co-conspirators planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament but on 5 November 1605, Fawkes was discovered guarding a large stockpile of gunpowder in the cellars, after an anonymous tip-off to the authorities. Here’s five great ways to celebrate his non-achievement!

Attending an organised bonfire event ensures you can enjoy the very best of everything in safety, including a bonfire, the burning of the Guy, live music, tasty eats, and of course an awesome fireworks display. Red Masque have many good firework display artists for you to hire for hundreds of charity events every year, so that you can go along, have a good time and enjoy them to the max.

Guy Fawkes Night is a great excuse to have a party where the star attraction is a red-hot band or explosive new act rather than a soggy bonfire or a damp squib! Ditch the rockets and whizz-bang in favour of guitar solos and keyboard wizardry, for a night everyone will remember for a very long time. At Red Masque, we have some of the best up and coming bands in the business.

Bonfires are fun but they are also a liability waiting to happen. So, light up your bonfire party with entertainment that makes the most of fire, light and spectacle without the health and safety issues.

Fire acts create magical patterns in the night sky using fire and sparks, for a show that has deep, primeval appeal. Or opt for the high-tech solution, an LED light show where the ‘fire’ is actually LED lights twirled, swirled and whirled to create incredible coloured patterns and optical illusions. You’ll never look at a sparkler again!

You will have to book will in advance if you want to hire a professional firework display, as they’ve been booked up for months. However, you can book a professional firework display any day of the year through Red Masque so you can enjoy a spectacular display choreographed to your favourite track for your wedding, birthday party, anniversary celebrations, proms party, graduation ball, you name it. Call us for details, and try to book nice and early!

We might have been celebrating Fawkes’ success in July instead of November, had not the opening of Parliament been delayed by the threat of plague – the gunpowder was actually stored and ready from 20th July onwards. So if you’re planning a summer party with a difference, why not celebrate the 410th anniversary of the start of the Gunpowder Plot with a midsummer Bonfire Night party.

And if you do want your own bonfire party in the back garden, always follow the Firework Code keep bonfires small and under control, and warn your neighbours so they can keep pets safely indoors. Have fun!

Entertaining the kids

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So, the kids have stopped playing with their Christmas presents ages ago and they’re board (as usual.) Would you like some ideas on how to entertain them? We’ve come up with some great places to take them and also some DIY at home entertainment for you to hire.

A day at the museum
London museums open their doors again this weekend, and at the Science Museum there’s a fab exhibition on the birth of the space age; great for any budding cosmonauts.

But if you don’t fancy going out albeit only in the garden, build yourself a bubble-powered rocket fuelled by indigestion tablets. We are sure you will be able to find a great children’s entertainer that you can hire from Red Masque. The right entertainer will keep them amused for hours.

A Prima ballerina 
Make a budding ballerina’s dream come true with a performance of The Nutcracker by the English National Ballet.
Our suggestion: You can book ballet dance shows, with a prima ballerina teaching your child and her friends a ballet class, hair and makeup techniques and even giving a private performance. Move over Angelina mouse!

Ski Sunday
If, for you, a skiing holiday is as much about the après-ski as the slopes and wet stuff; it’s probably just as well this week. The European ski resorts are suffering from a lack of the white stuff, and you might spend more time perfecting your kids entertaining skills rather than your downhill! So, save a chalet-load of cash and take the kids to an indoor snow centre like Snow-Dome in Tamworth – other domes are available!), where they can toboggan, snowboard and freestyle to their heart’s content.

Red Masque’s suggestion: Hold a ski party! For inside parties, hire an ice sculpture and watch on a big screen some snow-boarding.  For outside events, hire an ice rink and even a snow machine if budget will allow. And, of course, you’ll need suitable music – a Snow Patrol tribute band perhaps?

Fun at the circus
Circus acts are definitely cool this year, and there are some excellent circus shows on offer this year. As Easter is fastly approaching Circus tents will be popping up all over the country which will include trapeze artists, clowns, jugglers, aerialists and acrobats.

Red Masque’s suggestion: If you think circus is impressive from the cheap seats in a tent, it’s utterly astounding close up! Hire an aerialist from Red Masque and all you’ll need is a high enough ceiling for their kit – they’ll provide the rest! Elegant, exciting and enjoyable entertainment for parties, promotions and more. Or for more circus for your cash, you can add jugglers, stilt walkers and acrobatic artists from us too.

Hopefully we’ve given you a bit of inspiration and made you think that next time, instead of you going to the fun; the fun can come to you… Have a great weekend!

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.

Setting the scene

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Beach Blanket Babylon is a decadent venue in trendy Shoreditch perfect for exclusive events and celebrations with an impressive capacity of up to 800 people. The venue has a number of opulent event spaces on offer that lend themselves perfectly to stylish corporate networking events, cocktail receptions, corporate dinners, gala events, conferences and fashion shows.

The Champagne Lounge is ideal for private parties of up to 300 guests with rich wooden surrounds, decadent mood lighting and unique decorations. The Gallery offers a versatile self-contained space, with rustic wooden floors and white walls it is the perfect blank canvas for conferences and exhibitions and can hold up to 175 guests. The Mezzanine and The Bar are both gorgeous spaces; The Mezzanine elegantly holds up to 70 guests while the vibrant cosmopolitan bar holds up to 250 guests.

To complete the look and enhance the atmosphere Red Masque entertainment have a few Jazz bands to hire on our books from London provide standout musical entertainment that will.

The floating cinema is one of London’s top 8 coolest art venues in 2013, the floating cinema is now available for private hire offering a unique event space for product launches, corporate away days, film shoots and special occasions.

This intimate venue has a capacity of 12 passengers when cruising and 20 people standing while static.  The Floating Cinema is a purpose-built wide beam barge with a flexible ‘whitespace’ auditorium that offers a unique and original experience for guests. The space can be easily reconfigured to accommodate meetings and team building sessions. As a cinema it offers state of the art high-spec lighting and surround-sound facilities, a fully equipped cinema auditorium space and a stunning central viewing deck from which guests can enjoy a new perspective of London’s most iconic views.

The Warner Bros Studio in London – home to Harry Potter film sets – offers an exciting event space not just for fans of the Harry Potter franchise. Corporate event organisers can choose to host exclusive dinners and award ceremonies in the Great Hall, sip cocktails and tankards of butter beer in the Three Broomsticks, and host networking events in Dagon Alley.

What better entertainment to accompany a corporate event in the place where Harry Potter was filmed than a string quartet that will create an atmospheric setting fit for the Harry Potter films and could even play the film franchise’s iconic theme tune!

Capital events

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London is one of the world’s most multicultural cities offering a whole host of exciting attractions and activities that you won’t find anywhere else. Amongst the bustling streets is a treasure trove of unique venues perfect for hosting corporate events and private functions. You can look forward to venues with stunning Birdseye views across the city, boudoir-style cabaret clubs, a floating cinema and the UK’s only permanent ice bar and to name only a few…

So let’s talk about this fabulous venue in London Ice Bar. This is one of the most unique venues that London has to offer; just off Regent Street. As the name suggests this stunning venue is made completely out of ice – the walls, bar, tables and even the glasses – kept at -5 degrees all year round, this venue isn’t just a seasonal occurrence.

Ice bar will give your guests a wow factor experience that will be a talking point for months to come. Ideal for receptions, hen and stag parties and even team building exercises as staff brave the environment with an icy cocktail in hand! After the 40 minute session you can recline in warmer areas outside of Ice bar. They can dine on delicious dishes in the restaurant which has a capacity of up to 180 guests standing. Enjoy drinks and canapés in the smaller lounge with space for 45 guests or the ground floor cocktail bar for up to 70 guests.

Using the clearest ice, a team of skilled ice designers and sculptors create this stunning ice landscape, which is completely reinvented once a year. Sessions are booked in 40 minute timeslots due to the low temperature inside the venue and guests are given thermal gloves and capes to wear when experiencing this amazing environment!

No corporate event is complete without entertainment to impress and engage staff.  Red Masque entertainment directory has a number of walkabout acts that would fit perfectly with this cool venue. Our canapé girls will look right at home wrapped in elegant furs handing out mini oeuvres will add to the winter atmosphere and create a great talking point.

Top entertainment

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What’s the one thing you remember about a great party, above all else? As a guest, you’re there to have a good time. And if it’s a good time you want your own guests to have, then you need to put a little thought into the entertainment. Gone are the days when you had to book a one-man DJ to play 70s floor-fillers all night. Now, you can find entertainment that keeps your diverse range of wedding guests happy, making the party start with a bang…

We at Red Masque entertainment have a limitless amount of options and inspiration. But what if you don’t have the time, will power or experience to trawl through the 17,500 female solo singers that Google throws up? Well, then it’s time to turn to the professionals. And that’s where an entertainment directory can come in handy.

If you’re in the process of planning something big, using an entertainment directory can really help. We feature only the very best performers and suppliers out there, saving you the time and trouble of trying to find them for yourself. Using a directory means that everything you could possibly want for your event can be found all in one place. From your food and drink entertainment to performers and even choosing your venue, the vitally important stuff that makes a party run smoothly.

There are plenty of experienced acts out there, but it’s not easy finding the right act for your requirements. Here at Red Masque each of our act have a review section on their profiles, we believe this helps our clients find the perfect entertainment for their needs. The best musicians aren’t necessarily the best hype men, the most amazing magician won’t necessarily be the best web designer – one of the changes in entertainment since the internet has been the focus on promo material rather than word of mouth or reputation. That means the bands with the flashiest websites and the slickest videos often get more attention than their less media savvy counterparts. Consequently, there are plenty of hidden gems out there who, instead of improving their Search Engine Optimisation or video editing techniques, have focused on just being great performers. We believe our review section will help you find exactly what you’re looking for, enabling your event to run as smoothly as possible.

It just goes to show there’s only so far your own web searches will take you. If you want something a bit different, something to appeal to all the ages and tastes of your guests, something to get your party started as it means to go on, Red Masque is definitely a good way to avoid a headache. After all, it’s your party too.

Make it an event to remember…

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Here at Red Masque we have the best artists, performers and suppliers to hire out for your special event; We know it’s quite hard to come up with different things to do so we have suggested some great things to consider to ensure you have the best possible party entertainment available. 

If you do decide for your party that you are going to travel into town and visit some extravagant wine bars why not hire a limo and be treated like a star all night too! You could include some true star quality and hire your own Paparazzi photographers to follow you wherever you go – you’ll be guaranteed to attract plenty of attention and have some fabulous shots of your night to treasure forever!

If your party group are the outdoors type and the weather is permitting then have you considered organise some giant garden games? Fun for all ages and guaranteed to keep your guests entertained for hours!

Another great idea is circus training… Your party can learn a range of amazing circus tricks taught by professionals and come away from the party with a skill to enjoy and show-off for life. These artists are so much fun and guaranteed to thrill all your guests. From basic juggling to learning the high wire, it’s a guaranteed winner for any event.

How about a Murder Mystery Night? Mingle your guests with brilliant characters and watch a murder unfold before your eyes leaving the guests as detectives trying to found out “who dunnit”! Hire some professional actors for your evening to make the night as realistic as possible. A professional team can organise the whole thing for you from costumes to invitations. It’s a superbly thrilling evening where you learn who to trust and who not to trust while you work out who committed the terrible crime but beware of twists in the tale….!

There are a whole host of event entertainers out there to book, just glance through our entertainment categories and see for yourself.

Stag & Hen party ideas

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If you have the task of organising a Hen or Stag night you are going to have to ensure it is a memorable one – in a good way! Of course you will know the Bride or Groom well and you’re aware of what they possibly would like to have. You probably have a list of ideas already bubbling away and you may even have some possibilities of a venue. However, if you aren’t sure what to do or you want to add something different into the mix, Red Masque entertainment directory may be able to help take some of the strain away as we have some great suggestions for Hen & Stag night themed evenings. Before you start you might want to consider the following factors:

Before you book anything, firstly, you need a good idea of guest numbers. Ask the Bride or Groom who they want to be invited and show them the list of names before you fire off an email so you are sure everyone who needs to be is included.

Theme – When deciding on the theme, try not to surprise the Bride or Groom too much of course, there should be an element of surprise but make sure that what you choose is something they will enjoy. For an example, your shy, retiring Bride might not want a male strip-o-gram or similarly a Groom with a love of opera may not want to spend the weekend riding on a bucking bronco.

Budget – the money that is spent is very important. Canvas the guest list and find out what everyone wants to spend. Don’t start sharing amounts with all the guests as some can afford more than others. Take an average and suggest that be the limit. It’s normal for everyone to contribute (if they can) but the Bride or Groom should not have to pay. At the same time as organising the budget, suggest suitable dates in advance. Once you have decided the guest list, date and budget you are ready to decide what to do! A good tip is not to make the hen or stag night too close to the wedding; leave at least a week for recovery time!

You could include some extra party entertainment…. Make it a night to remember with a Cocktail Night, perfect for Hens or Stags! Hire your own cocktail waiter for some added fun and enjoy the evening with a few cocktail games. Blow all the budget on champagne or even consider a cocktail making masterclass where you will be taught by a mixologist how to concoct great tasting, potent cocktails before drinking them!  Don’t just turn up at a series of bars or pubs, do the research first so you have an itinerary to avoid not knowing where to go next.

As far as party and event entertainment goes, it doesn’t get better than Red Masque!

Musical entertainment ideas

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Are you thinking about having a party?  It could be a large event or even a small one.  What about the music? You may have sorted out your playlist but what about a professional DJ, band or musician to get your party off the ground without a hitch. Top musical entertainers are very good a ‘reading’ a crowd and add a little bit of extra musical magic to an event making sure your guests have the best possible time.

How about a top Dj or VJ for a club launch or private party? Combine the two and have the ultimate party entertainment. Hire the best DJ’s with top technicians to put videos to music together and bring the party to life with the most amazing visual and musical combos. Give off that ‘night club’ ambiance; now that really is something to get excited about.

A solo musician can also be a great addition to any event. Whether you are having a corporate or private affair hiring a professional musician is worth considering to help keep guests happy and entertained and your party running smoothly. Performers can be booked for many occasions, themed nights, Rock nights, restaurants – you name it we think there are many more occasions that these musicians can be booked for as they are very versatile.

‘There is nothing like a Dame’ – so the song goes, and there is nothing quite like a female solo singer or a girl band to add some female fun to an event. From opera to pop their talents are endless. Hire a girl band for a ‘special birthday party’; or if a themed night is needed you could book your very own ‘Supremes’.

Or maybe you’re a lover of all things classical? If you are thinking of having such an event then why not hire some great classical musicians playing the very best from Mozart to Beethoven. There are many possibilities when it comes to your classical selection, from singers and choirs to string quartets and orchestras, be assured that here at Red Masque Directory we only advertise the very best.

Booking any musical entertainment for your event is very simple – find the performers suitable for your party and fill out their online booking form which is easily located within their profile. Once all details are sent your chosen entertainer they will be in touch with you directly to discuss all your requirements1.