Category Archives: Artists

Great ways to remember your event

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Be it a corporate event, private party or wedding there are a number of ways to look back on your event that don’t include photography. Here, we run through five brilliant ways to remember your event!

Caricaturist

If you’re looking to hire a caricaturist for an event, then you have got to make sure that you are fine with having your eyebrows accentuated and your nose looking a little larger than in real life. But that’s all part of the fun! A good caricaturist knows how to draw a cartoon-style representation of their subject without causing offence and the best part is that with modern technology being what it is, you can take home a paper or digital version.

Silhouette Artist

The heights of the vaudeville era are in full display in the form of a silhouette artist, who can snip your profile into a piece of black card in the space of a matter of minutes. The best bit about this incredible form of entertainment is that you can go home and frame your silhouette later, with each individual creation being stuck onto a quality back lining.

Screen Printing

Whether you call it screen printing, letter pressing or something completely different, these fabulous contraptions can have you created your very own work of art in no time! Popular at Somerset House every summer, you too can discover the art of the print. Remember not to limit yourself to paper or card; should you so desire you can create your design on a T-shirt. Wear your creation and remember that party in style!

History themed events

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Who doesn’t love a bit of history? When it comes to themed parties, many people tend to pick something based on a television show, film or book series. They might even theme it around the current time of year or something that’s currently in the news. But why not have more historical parties? History themed events can be great fun and here we’ll run through a couple of good ideas to get you up and running.

Location, location, location

It’s no good holding your historical party in a venue that doesn’t suit what you’re aiming for. Sure, you could probably hold your event in the local village hall but it doesn’t exactly scream Henry VIII and grandiose, does it? What we’re trying to say is that it doesn’t really scream ‘ye olde’ when it was built in the 1970s. No, what you need is to hire a venue for your event that actually has a bit of history to it! We’re thinking Historical Royal Palace Hampton Court Palace, Banqueting House or even the British Museum, which has a fine catalogue of ancient items nestled within its walls. So if you want to go historical, start with the setting.

Costumes

We know that not all people like fancy dress, deeming it to be a lot of effort compared to just turning up in your work clothes. But not every event has a historical theme affixed to it! Costumes are a must if you want to take guests back in time properly and if you’re really wanting to make your party stand out, why not hire costumed characters to complete the look? Coming with astonishingly detailed costumes that make for fabulous photos, we provide actors who can play anyone from history be it a poor peasant worker through to royalty!Don’t forget to hire a costume for yourself as well.

Royal Footmen and Jesters

Well it’d hardly be a historical affair without some form of comedy would it? The royals famously enjoyed being entertained at their banquets by many a fool and you can recreate this by hiring royal footmen or jesters to add to the flavour of your historically themed event. They don’t just meet and greet either; the jesters are able to perform on stilts, entertain with incredible acrobatics too.

Lutists

It Isn’t really a party if you don’t have music now, is it? We acknowledge that the idea of long summer nights is now a couple of months behind us, but that’s no excuse not to have some form of olde entertainment front and centre for guests to enjoy. Be they providing background music or a short and intimate show, lutists are sure to impress. With full regalia as standard, you’ll almost certainly believe that you have gone back in time.

A Private Detective event

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Are you a fan of Sherlock Holmes or do you love a good detective series? Whichever person you are; you’ll still love our fabulous ideas to create an un-missable Sherlock Holmes party theme.

CSI

This game basic format allows for a variety of guests to ultimately solve a crime through a variety of teambuilding activities. Do you have what it takes to be a resident of 221b Baker Street or are you resigned to simply writing about the case in a style of Rd. Watson?

Violinist

Aside from cracking crimes, Sherlock Holmes is also known for his love of music, in particular gazing out at London’s clientele whilst playing a good old-fashioned violin. a violinist will no doubt go down a storm at your Sherlock party.

Costumed Character

Now what about putting that violinist into a costume? We can see it now. Deerstalker hat? Pipe? Whether you’re thinking the old fashioned version of Sherlock Holmes or the new Benedict Cumberbatch infused creation, we’re more than confident that tweed will get a look in. But which other characters should be present? Rd. Watson? Mrs. Hudson? An appearance from Moriarty wouldn’t go amiss either.

Silhouette Artist

These amazing silhouette artists can even cut in various props should you desire them. So yes, every guest could be posing with a Sherlock themed prop if you so wanted! All that’s required is paper, scissors and a little time to stand still and your guests can go home with a wonderful original prop to remind them of the evening!

Eyecon Art

Eyecon Art is one of the coolest new acts on the entertainment events circuit. Sitting down with your guests, a photographer will take a photo of your eye, which you can then be sent at a later date. Now in terms of looking for clues, it’s all about seeing the bigger picture…and who hasn’t seen a famous drawing of Sherlock Holmes with a magnifying glass to his eye?

If you’re holding a Sherlock Holmes party or have been inspired by some of the various acts, then do have a look on our website to inspire you even more!

Your very own BAFTA award ceremony

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With the BAFTAs, Oscars, BRIT and MOBO Awards all getting everybody excited let’s take a look at how you can have our very own awards show, and how to make it extra special!

Here are five fabulous ways to improve the awards evening using event entertainment.

Live Show

This goes without saying but many people don’t really ever think about it, despite the fact that every famous awards show tends to begin with one hell of an exciting opening. Simply look on Twitter the day after a big awards bash and no doubt an eight-minute host –led song and dance routine will have had the crowd in raptures. You might not have the budget to hire Ellen DeGeneres , but there are always other options. An indoor fire display is sure to get the pulse racing ahead of the nominations.

Awards Stings

We’ve all seen awards shows on television and to be honest, they all do the same frustrating thing when somebody wins an award. The lucky winner stands up, hugs a few people nearby and then proceeds to the stage whilst a brass band play. A brass band? This is 2017! Let’s liven it up a bit. If you hire a beatbox crew, you get an astonishing slice of party entertainment every few minutes.

Cocktail Maker

Why not make getting a drink a little bit more fun than usual? The easy way to do this is to hire a cocktail maker who understand the art of theatrics and entertainment in putting together a cocktail. It is not simply pouring a few liquids together but perhaps setting it alight, throwing it up and down and adding an umbrella at the end.

Vintage Paparazzi

With vintage paparazzi at your event, everybody will get their photo taken and feel like their privacy is being invaded just like the celebrities you see in the paper. Great fun and you’ll get to sigh with relief that it doesn’t happen to you every day!

Take the headache out of searching

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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 call in 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 uses only the best out there that are reputable and highly acclaimed

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 party entertainment that keeps your diverse range of wedding guests happy, making the party start with a bang.

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, like many entertainment directory’s, make it our business to know as much about our party and corporate event entertainment as possible. by reading up on new performers and much more. We know the best act for your event and 5 equally brilliant alternatives if the first choice isn’t available.

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.

Diwali entertainment ideas

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One of the most important holidays for Hindu is a five-day festival called Diwali: The Festival of Lights. Spiritually, it signifies the victory of light over dark, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair. The first night, Dhanteras, kicks off the festival with new clothes, houses being cleaned, and laying of traditional floor decorations. The second day is Narak Chaturdasi, and includes henna hand tattoos prayers, food preparation, and more decorating. On the third day of the festival, Diwali night, people put out candles in windows and doorways to welcome the goddess Lakshmi, who represents wealth and prosperity and is believed to roam the earth on this night. The festival also includes more prayers, fireworks, feasts, and exchanging of gifts. If you’re throwing a Diwali Party, we’ve got some ways to make it great!

Decorations

As mentioned above, lights are a huge part of decorating for Diwali. It’s the Festival of Lights, after all. The traditional candle is called a diya, and is an oil lamp made from clay with a cotton wick. You can also use traditional jar candles, tea lights, glass oil lamps, twinkle lights, or other decorative lighting instead.

Diya lamps.

Another traditional type of decoration is rangoli, which are elaborate patterns made on the floor with coloured flour or powder, or kolam which are made of flower petals. They are placed near the entrance of the home to welcome the goddess Lakshmi and guests.

Kolam floor decoration with flower petals.
Rangoli floor decorations, made with coloured powder or flour.

Food and Drink

Diwali is all about the fried sweets! And there are plenty of them to choose from. Try serving some traditional desserts!

Gulab Jamun: Fried dough rolled in chilled sugar syrup.
Jalebi: Fried wheat flour, twisted into pretzel or swirl shapes, and dipped in sugar syrup. It’s also dyed orange with food colouring.
Laddu: A ball-shaped dessert that’s made from flour and sugar, dyed with orange or yellow food colouring.
Kheer: A South Asian version of rice pudding, made with milk, sugar, and toppings like almonds or cashews.
Karanji: A dough pastry filled with coconut or sugar and fruit.

Dress for Diwali

Diwali is all about “dressing for excess” in order to give thanks to Lakshmi for your good fortune. To stick with tradition, everyone should be dressed in new, brightly-coloured, and elaborate costumes like saris or robes. Also, don’t hesitate to pile on the jewellery, with gold and silver being preferable.

Decorate your hands and feet with henna. Traditions state that body art is to be treated as a blessing that lights up the soul. Hiring a Henna Tattoo Artist will keep everyone looking festive with elaborate designs that will last for a few days after the party ends.

Entertainment

The final touch on a fabulous Diwali celebration is entertainment. Fireworks are a huge staple, so pass out sparklers to your guests, or set up a show to top off the evening.

Take the party a step further by bringing in Bollywood Dancers or Belly Dancers to entertain the guests with an upbeat performance, or hire a Choreographer to teach everyone some traditional dance steps.

The spirit of Diwali is celebrating good fortune, so gather your closest loved ones and throw a party they’ll never forget!

School fundraising ideas

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Raising money for schools and colleges are always needed and worthwhile. We are sure you have some great ideas of your own, but a few more ideas wouldn’t go amiss!!

School Garage Sale
At least once a year, people clean out cupboards, attics and garages to discover things that are accumulating dust. A community garage sale is a great way for people to get rid of these items while donating to a great cause. Organising an event like this also brings parents, teachers, students and members of the local community together in a social environment. There can be virtually no costs to hosting the event especially if it’s held at the school. All people do is drop off their items, and then organize a group of volunteers to help with sales. Consider adding a coffee and cake-sale as part of the event so people can eat and drink as they shop.

Student Serve-a-thon:
Create a twist to your typical walk-a-thon or jog-a-thon event and host a serve-a-thon where parents and students work together to serve their community. Instead of walking for a cause, students donate their time mowing the lawn for an elderly neighbour, or cleaning up rubbish at a local park, or tutoring a younger student… this is a great way to earn money while helping those in need. Make your event a greater success by offering prizes to top performers and classrooms.

School Disco’s
School disco’s don’t have to be for Christmas or for anything special, why not hold a monthly Disco where parents can also come along and spend some money? Hire a live band or dj for your event and have a dance-off.

Some schools achieve great success hosting an event for the local community. Not only can these fundraising events bring in a great deal of money, but they also provide an excellent opportunity for families and students to socialize. You can raise funds by charging a small admission fee for guests. Then raise additional funds by selling raffle tickets to participate in games, contest or purchase food. You may want to consider bringing in a vendor with bouncy castles or other inflatables. Have each class put together a different themed basket to raffle off.

Sales contest
Product sales are a great way to get students involved in raising funds for your school or organization. Many schools sell sweets, cakes, magazines, or gift or discount cards. There are many benefits of selling discount cards. They are small and portable with a low overhead cost, and can be easily mailed at the cost of first class mail because of their size. Be sure to add in incentives and awards for top fundraisers to build in some healthy competition and encourage participants to raise more money.

Your best mate’s Stag party

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Your best mate is getting married and you’re on the prowl for ideas to make his Stag party unforgettable. As hard to believe as it may be, not every man’s dream Stag party involves a stripper jumping out of a cake. For the men looking for something different for their parties, here are five unique suggestions.

Explore.

If there’s a place within driving distance that your friend has always wanted to go to, now’s the time to do it! Get your best friends together and explore. Go on a hiking expedition and climb that mountain he’s been talking about, or go white water rafting, rock climbing, or kayaking. Have some fun in the great outdoors

Viva Las Vegas

If Vegas is too far for you to travel, bring the excitement of the casino to you by hosting your very own Casino Party Blackjack, Roulette, Slots, and other games will get the competition started. Don’t forget to hire a cocktail waiter to whip up delicious drinks and Las Vegas Style Entertainers for the live show!

Go for a beach holiday weekend

Spend the weekend at the beach with your best friends! Take advantage of the waves by surfing or playing water sports. Have your very own party on the beach, complete with a pig roast!

Night Out On the Town!

Treat your friend to a night out on the town with his best mates. Grab dinner at that new restaurant he’s been dying to try, go to a wine tasting, and then finish the night off with a burlesque show! If there aren’t any burlesque clubs near you, you can hire Burlesque Dancers for a private party.

No matter what you decide, make sure that your last hoorah before the wedding is memorable and leaves the groom feeling lucky to have such great friends at his side!

Music to use at your corporate event

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Music is an important element of any event, whether it’s in the form of a playlist, DJ or live performance. We’re not just talking about parties and product launches: conferences can benefit hugely from music.

It’s probably not the main type of event you associate with music, but entertainment during seminar breaks and background music played in exhibition areas are both popular choices.

To help you use music as effectively as possible at your next conference we have collated a list of the most popular songs, and will also talk you through how to use them to your advantage.

Using our pool of professional artists for hire, we sent out a questionnaire to 1000 bands, DJs and acts asking if they had played at a conference in the last 18 months, which songs they played, and if any of the songs had been requested by the organisers.

Here are the Top 10 songs played at conferences last season:

Sex on Fire – Kings of Leon
Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
Locked Out of Heaven – Bruno Mars
Signed, Sealed, Delivered – Stevie Wonder
Happy – Pharrell Williams
Get Lucky – Daft Punk
Rather Be – Clean Bandit Ft. Jess Glynne
Treasure – Bruno Mars
You’ve Got the Love – Florence + the Machine
Forget You – CeeLo Green

So, how can you use them to create a great atmosphere at your conference?

Break entertainment

Live entertainment during breaks can be a good energy booster for conference attendees. Chart toppers like the ones in our ‘most played’ list can work well in this environment, and can easily be played over an in-house speaker system at a reasonable level.

Here, a live band or DJ can really add something to your conference. Stay clear of big sounds and opt for a smaller set-up, as delegates still need to be able to network and recharge for their next seminar.

Music in exhibition halls

Using music in large exhibition halls can be a great way of creating a good vibe.

At the same time the room is likely to be very noisy from all the delegates networking with each other and talking to exhibitors. The latter of course, is exactly what you want.

After parties

Out of all the areas of your conference where you might add music, this is definitely where your delegates will be most relaxed, and might even venture out on the dance floor.

After parties are all about networking and having a really good time. This is also where the ‘most played list’ will feel most appropriate. You can have a superb party band or DJ who incorporates them into their usual set-lists, or you could go for a more tailored option.

Making your own Animation

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Have you ever wanted to learn about Animation and maybe make your own small Animation film? This a great way to interact with your team mates and to figure out what strengths and weaknesses each member of your team has.

A good idea for business entertainment is to get 10 delegates together and appoint their own personal animation leader who is always on hand to guide them through the concept and storyboarding stage, solve problems and answer animation queries!

Every delegate receives a pre-made plasticine model, ready for them to customise and create their own characters. The mini-me models are a great way to ensure everyone can make their own fantastic looking character, regardless of whether they’re a naturally arty type! Delegates also receive additional model making materials to really bring their characters to life. The group’s animation leader is always on hand to offer advice and ideas.

Your animation leader introduces them to the stop motion software and is there to make sure the process runs smoothly with animation tips and tricks of the trade, all of which help the group create an animation they can be really proud of. Every delegate’s model will be involved in the film, with each delegate working together, communicating and rotating roles including director, animator, software operator, continuity, props, etc.

When the animations are complete and the groups has called it a wrap, all the groups get together for a premiere screening of their work. We then take the films back to a post production studio, where music, titles and effects are added before being sent to you within 2 weeks of the workshop. These films are great to share with colleagues, internally in large organisations or externally on the company website/social media as desired. Delegates also get to keep their plasticine characters as a memento of the day and their achievements!