Traditionally a gold watch was given to prized employees retiring after 30 years, though long service medals and other gifts were often given depending on the nature of the job or the type of work carried out.
If you’re planning a party for a work colleague, a novel idea is to give a countdown clock which runs backwards for 6 months until the last day of work, ideal for someone whose retirement can’t arrive too soon!
These days the whole emphasis of working life is much more temporary than ever before in history, with few people expecting to stay in the same employment for 30 months, let alone 30 years!
If you, or someone you know, have been lucky enough to keep the same job right up to retirement age then they certainly deserve a fun-filled and exciting send off.
Party Themes…
To decide on a theme for your party, choose something relevant to the retiree, for example a favourite hobby, a work related topic, their favourite musical era or the place they’re retiring to, especially if this is abroad.
A popular theme is to dress up and hire a live band to suit the era when the retiree started work. For the 50’s choose a rock n roll band or Elvis Tribute singer for the 60’s go with a Beatles tribute band, for the 70’s how about a 70’s party tribute act? The options are endless.
We also have a great range of lookalike artists so why not surprise the retiree with a visit from their favourite celebrity or sports star?
Decorate to suit the theme…
You should dress the entire venue with memorabilia, ‘Happy Retirement’ banners and party decorations which follow the theme in seamless detail. Lots of companies supply party props and ‘scene setters’.
If you choose a golf theme for example then decorate the room as a golf course, with elaborate sand pits, flags, golf ball name settings and card board cut outs of famous golfers. Everyone should arrive in outrageous golfing trousers and pringle jumpers, and if your venue is a golf club why not include half an hour on the driving range before dinner?
This is your life!
A great idea for a surprise retirement party is to hold your own version of the TV show ‘This is your life’.
Friends, family and colleagues will love collecting stories, photos and tales of long-forgotten, and often best forgotten antics from the workplace or otherwise. Try and get in touch with old colleagues or long lost friends and invite them along in secret, introducing them at the perfect moment for an emotional reunion.
A confident younger relative or the retiree’s manager should compére the event. Buy a ‘big red book’ as an album for the collection and present it to the retiree at the end of the night.
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A work of art
Madame Tussauds Famous for its incredible wax works of celebrities and royalty from around the world, Madam Tussauds is also an award winning themed venue that has been hosting high-profile events for over fifty years.
Situated right in the heart of London, the venues offers five themed areas that can host events with up to 1,000 guests. Each event space can be adapted to suit your events exact requirements making it an ideal location for award dinners, presentations, gala events and press conferences. The World Stage Ballroom was designed to impress with a grand stage, back projected screen, full lighting rig and plasma screens. LED lighting can be programmed to display specific colours to suit your corporate identity or theme. The largest space in Madame Tussauds, it is perfect for a whole host of corporate events and can even accommodate smaller events with adjustable and removable walls that can be used to create a more intimate space.
Not forgetting that this venue’s main attraction is its spectacular collection of wax works, guests can walk through over 200 years of history and with the museum-style ropes and poles gone they can also get up close and personal with historical icons, A-list celebrities and sporting legends. Not only is Madame Tussauds a great venue for corporate event entertainment but it also offers team building exercises and incentives: staff also have the chance to go behind the scenes and see how a waxwork is made at Madam Tussauds, ride through London’s history in a mini black cab and battle with Marvel Super Heroes in a 4D movie experience!
A popular choice for high-profile celebrity launches, Madame Tussauds is an impressive event space twice voted the UK’s number 1 favourite venue! No entertainment is more apt to accompany your event at this exclusive venue than one of our real life lookalikes available for hire. Why not invite 007, or Elton John to entertain guests, as they pose for photos and suavely mingles with guests.
Capital events
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.
Make it an event to remember…
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.
Design & Decorate
Add a magical atmosphere to any occasion with professional, internal and external party and event lighting and special effects equipment for any occasion large or small. Bring your party to life with a huge range of event lighting for any type of occasion and create an atmosphere that will amaze the crowd and leave a lasting impression. A special party needs to hired Lighting to bring it to life and add that extra sparkle to the party. You can make your own but we guarantee it won’t be nearly as effective as professional Lighting that can be hired from our suppliers featured on Red Masque. Think big and you will have the most specular display of Lighting that far exceeded your expectations.
Decorations are also key to a good event, it could be that you have just opened up a new outlet and need some good décor for a contemporary or vintage look. Hire some professional decoration experts to really make your party or launch really take shape and really stand out from your competitors. Whether it’s a small intimate gathering or lavish and opulent event, setting the right scene for your event can make all the difference. From unique marquee overlays to funky bars and wedding venues, make sure your event looks the part with a stunning setting that will guarantee to leave a lasting impression on your guests.
Dance floors can also be hired for your party or event. From pure white dance floors with twinkling starlights to elegant oak parquet. Make your party really stand out from the rest with a funky dance floor that will entice your guests to dance the night away and help to create a truly memorable event.
Red Masque directory provides a full profile for each listing with descriptions, photo galleries, price guides, reviews, videos, audio and more…
Comedy & Drag
Comedy road shows are very current at the moment – as are the comedians that go with it. If you were arranging a Gala evening laden with great comedians, than look no further as you will be able to hire all your acts from us.
Comedians are able to cater for all genres; it could be a family show or an adult only themed evening. Hire a comedian for your party or arrange a medley of performers for your own comedy club night or event. For the most sought after performers on the circuit with outstanding and dynamic shows containing unique, and sharp off-the-cuff material.
Drag Queens cater for all but are at their best with their added ‘blue’ humour. With some of the most reputable names on the comedy drag circuit today these witty, quick tongued professionals are guaranteed to have your guests in stitches.
Find the very best professional comedians and drag queens for hire in the business. They provide a combination of stand up comedy, impressions and musical numbers for an evening of adult comedy you’ll be sure to remember.
So don’t delay book through Red Masque entertainment directory for the best entertainers and performers in the business,
Dress up your event
If you’re going to have a party make sure it’s a party to remember. Whether it’s a small intimate gathering or lavish and opulent event, setting the right scene for your event can make all the difference. From unique marquee overlays to funky bars and wedding venues, make sure your event looks the part with a stunning setting that will guarantee to leave a lasting impression on your guests.
If you want to create the best atmosphere at a special event then you need all the bits that go with it. Decorations will transform the dullest of rooms into something spectacular, or to create an out- of-this -world experience. Why not go all out and hire a bubble, smoke or snow machine. Whatever the season you can have snow in summer if you so wish? Continuous bubbles at children’s parties or smoke to create an eerie scene and help to really set the mood.
Hire Ice sculptures to make another impact on your guests. If you’re having a winter themed party then they are a great added extra. Have creative, innovative and dynamic works of art that can be designed specifically with your event in mind. Whether it be your company logo or something intricate and beautiful, they guaranteed to leave a lasting impression. Perfect for any event.
Point those toes…
You have to be a great athlete to engage in the dance they called Ballet it is extremely demanding and balletdancers don’t always have the recognition that they deserve. Their gruelling training is not for the fainthearted but it is worth it in the end as the shows these ballet dancers put on for us are breath-taking.
You could want a classy affair and have some beautiful ballet dancers dancing ‘swan lake’ or have an evening of artistic dance where you could hire a group of tap dancers which are always very entertaining and their choreography are second to none.
Whatever you wanted these talented dancers for you can be sure that you are hiring the best ballet dancers and tap dancers, we only advertise the most exquisite that have been highly rated by ourselves at Red Masque entertainment directory.
Simply find the act you most desire, fill out a booking form located within our site and your artist will in contact direct to plan your special event.
Bouncing fun
Young or old, everyone loves a bounce!! In fact you can hire bouncy castles for adults as they are not just for the young. Why not hire one of these fun castles for your own birthday party taking you back to your youth and have the greatest fun.
Bring the excitement to your event with some inflatable fun. Everyone loves a bouncy castle, no matter how old they are and with the huge selection of inflatables on offer, suitable for both outdoor and indoor venues, you’re spoilt for choice. Or you could be a parent wishing to have a birthday party for your little ones and this will definitely keep all the young guests entertained for hours.
All the bouncy castles are kept to a high standard and will be set up for you in minutes. All you need to do is see which size would be suitable for your event.
To hire a bouncy castle, just look at the inflatables on offer within our Red Masque Directory to see the perfect one for you, fill out an online form and the hirer will be in contact.
