Christmas party time

It is just around the corner; but it’s always best to plan your next Christmas event as early as you can to avoid disappointment. If you want to create your own winter experience, either for a party, corporate event or business attraction, here are a few hints from Red Masque entertainment directory to make your Christmas event wonderful!

If you want a show as part of your event, you’ll need an inside space or warm, dry and well-appointed marquee to hold it in. Acts that look great in marquees include:

• Dance groups who can fill the performance area with music, movement and style!
• Circus acts, especially aerialists, or silk acrobats!
• Experienced party bands that can play in all those cheesy pop hits we love at Xmas!

Make your event great by having sheer variety of entertainment on offer. So, offer lots of different acts to see, rather than one big attraction and people will enjoy the event more.

• Walkabout acts really help build a holiday atmosphere – check out Christmas costumed characters, ice characters and stilt walkers.
• Generate a warm feeling with fire acts to light up the winter darkness
• Conjure up the magic of Christmas with street magicians performing close-up tricks and illusions

Food and Drink
• Hire a hog roast or BBQ for outside cooked goodies
• Offer traditional treats such as roasted chestnuts and mulled wine that fill the air with deliciously Christmas smells!
• Be cool with a Christmas cocktail bar, decorated with ice sculptures serving frosted cocktails or frozen daiquiris (and non-alcoholic drinks for the drivers)

Fun things to do:
Visitors love interactive experiences, (aka things to do). They don’t have to be very fancy, just lots of fun for any age.

• Turn traditional side stalls into Christmas fun, such as a snowball coconut shy.
• Book a winter or “Frozen” themed bouncy castle with integrated rain cover, so the weather doesn’t stop the fun
• Get your skates on and book an artificial ice rink – all the fun, none of the wet! Most ice rink suppliers offer a complete package with chalet, boot hire, and experienced staff trained in the required health and safety procedures.

And if that all sounds great fun but such a lot of work right now, hey, there’s always next year! At Red Masque, we’re already seeing lots of people now booking acts for Christmas 2016, so find your perfect acts now to make your own winter wonderland happen.

6 tips for a smooth Christmas Event

Christmas is all about enjoying time with your family and friends and having a jolly good time!

All the team here at Red Masque LOVE this time of year and eagerly await the jingle of bells and the ho, ho, ho of the big man himself- Mr Santa Claus.

Throwing a party should be an enjoyable experience and what better way to celebrate than with some fun Christmas event entertainment. But we can’t forget the mistletoe of course!

To make sure you don’t get bogged down with all the boring stuff, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to hosting the perfect Christmas Party. So sit back, relax, and here are 6 top tips for hosting a stress-free, FUN event: 

1. Don’t try to be too complex on the dinner menu

When it comes to food, it all depends on what kind of party you are throwing. Is it a sit-down meal or simply a buffet-style one? Casual cocktail parties tend to be the easiest and guests can just help themselves to finger foods.  

2. Send the invites out nice and early

Christmas can be a busy time in the social calendar, so to ensure your party is well attended and has a lively atmosphere, send out your guest’s invitations well in advance. Include the date, time and venue and if you need to know numbers for booking food, ask for a RSVP.

3. As Santa would say, make a list and check it twice…

Make a list. It’s a fantastic way to stay up-to-date with what needs to be done and it can remind you of all the little jobs that often go amiss. 

There are bound to be things that don’t quite go to plan, but if you have a list and you have checked it twice, it can give you some peace of mind that all aspects are taken care of accordingly. 

4. Make the venue pretty and all that jazz

What better way to get all your guests in the mood for a fun-filled evening than with Christmas themed decorations? The bigger the better we say.

Why not adorn the venue with cute reindeers, snowmen and a Narnia-inspired lamp post that comes complete with fake snow? And what about featuring an elaborate wooden throne as a truly eye-catching piece of furniture for your guests to sit on?

Don’t forget about the most important piece of decor though- the tree!

5. The Drinks

No Christmas party is complete without refreshment for your guests. It’s always best to get both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and a wide range to choose from for both adults and children. 

Make sure you have enough glassware, ice and cocktail napkins and always buy more just in case your guest brings a plus one!

6. Keep your guests thoroughly entertained

There are various Christmas party games that can entertain both young and old alike. It’s important to keep your guests busy and entertained for the whole evening and we have a vast range of fun entertainment ideas that are ideal for everyone including rodeo, reindeers, casino tables, photo booths, Christmas Cash Grabber and more. 

Now you know all the ins and outs of hosting a Christmas party. Remember, if you’re having a good time then your guests will too. So if you are throwing a party this season, don’t forget to arrange your entertainment and party ideas with help from Red Masque. 

Check out our vast range of Christmas entertainment hire that can make your party the best one EVER!

Street Dance Parties

Children’s party entertainment is something that many parents lose sleep over. Where do you find something that will keep your kids busy and engaged for the whole duration of the party, and something that they haven’t already seen before? It’s a challenge most parents would gladly forgo, so Red Masque is here to help. We have access to an eclectic mix of party games, party entertainers and a fund of children’s birthday party ideas that are new and different.

It’s quite challenging thinking up every year of something ‘special’ and different for the right reasons for your child’s/teenagers birthday this is why Red Masque hold the key to taking the stress out of trying to think of something unique.

We at Red Masque advertise only the best children’s party entertainment, for any age group, which can thrill, enthral and astound the audience; from balloon modellers to magicians, street dancers to caricaturists and even green screen photography entertainments, plus a whole series of indoor and outdoor games which include:

Indoor -Dance Machines, Photo Booths, Table Football, Air Hockey and Skittles.

Outdoor – Funfair Stalls, Connect 4, Ker plunk, Table Football and Giant Scalextrics.

All the performers are CRB checked (a necessary precaution these days), and each has been assessed for the quality of their performance, both by us and by the harshest critics of all, the audience. So, if you’re looking for children’s birthday party ideas London, look no further than Red Masque.

Perfect ideas for your memorable party

Everyone wants their event or party to be memorable, and using unique entertainment ideas is simply the best way for folks to remember your event. The more unique, the more lasting the impression. Here are 10 more cool and different ways to wow your guests:

One idea is music comedy performers, how about hiring two pianists which involve two crazy entertainers, each wielding a grand piano, top party hits from the past 40 years, jokes, toasts and audience interaction. Each piano player tries to outdo the other in this outrageous fiesta of music and comedy. This is especially good for corporate events where you want everyone to let their hair down and just have fun or with brides who want to steer clear of the typical bands or DJs and are want something more memorable. 

Hire a miniature impersonator. Political correctness aside, it’s pretty cute to see a 4 foot celebrity lookalike in full costume strutting around your event. It’s sure to make your guests smile. 

If you have a flair for the dramatic, hire a fire performer. This combines dance, drama and movement into a theatrical presentation that is hypnotic and memorable. Of course you better check with the fire marshal to see what is required in terms of safety! 

Another dramatic choice would be a circus-themed event, replete with acrobats and balancing performers, dancers in costume, and tight rope walkers. If you can’t have your party in an exotic locale, bring the exotic locale to your party! 

String quartets are always hit with their tight harmonies and old-time costumes. Some of these vocal groups will write a song for your group or company if you give them background beforehand. Imagine listening to these beautiful voices singing in glorious 4 part harmony. 

Why not think about having a Snow Party. There are companies that will come to your event and create real snow and ice. You could always have a White Christmas with Snowmen, sledding, snowball fights and ice skating. It’s not impossible. 

We’ve all seen Pig Racing. I admit, this is a bit out there, but who could resist these plump little porkers trotting down the track, each scrambling to get out in front for a nail biting race to the finish. Great fun for old and young, everybody can participate and cheer on their favourite to win.

Hog Roast! Ok, perhaps not the most inspired idea after a pig race, but who doesn’t like bacon and roast pork, especially if your pig lost the race. 

Moulin Rouge is always a fun theme to work with. Hire some Can-Can dancers, slap red-flocked velvet on the tables, and don a gorgeous Parisian turn-of-the-century costume. Hang a girl on a trapeze singing Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend and call it a day!

Party Machines

Themed walkabouts have never been so popular. If you want to attract some attention at your launch party or corporate event then why not hire some great Themed walkabout artists to engage with your crowd and be a talking point for guests whilst redirecting them to the events theme.

You could hire a Robot to be fully interactive with your crowd. Bring the party to life with amazing robot acts that will delight your guests. From giant LED-clad robots putting on a show stopping performance to robot waiters serving your guest, having one of these robot acts as a walkabout or meet and greet accessory to your party is a guaranteed crowd pleaser every time. Walkabout robots today are extremely intelligent and will be very entertaining and engaging to young and old alike.

Arcade games are fantastically good fun and with anything from a single pinball machine up to a full seaside style arcade of games and simulators. They are guaranteed to make any event or party truly memorable. Arcade games are a great way to keep young and old amused for many hours.  If you need to hire arcade games for your event then look no further. Think of Pac-man, donkey Kong, space invaders or even outrun. Amaze your friends and guest with these timeless arcade games at your party or event.

Bubble, smoke and snow machines not only add ambience to any event but can be hired for smaller parties. You would imagine smoke machines in nightclubs or snow machines for a movie set but they can be hired for your own personal event large or small – they are all great effects, just let your imagination run wild. 

Bring the special effects to your event with some added wow factor. Whether it’s a corporate even, private party or wedding of the year, it’s the little things that make all the difference. These simple and effective additions are a perfect choice for any occasion. We all know that children love bubbles above anything else, what better way to attract children then to hire a bubble machine. Maybe you are opening a new toy shop or just want them for a birthday surprise.

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.

Bubble, smoke and snow…

Whether it’s a corporate even, private party or wedding of the year, it’s the little things that make all the difference. These simple and effective additions are a perfect choice for any occasion.  All these great effects are great for putting on a spectacular show at any time of the year.

Bubble machines are great for children’s parties, and you will find that ‘bubbles’ are all they need to keep them happy for hours on end, perfect for an easy party without compromising on the fun factor.

Smoke machines are excellent to create an eerie scene and perfect for launch parties and halloween parties. A themed event with smoke across the dance floor. Or why not add some snow… Snow machines are magical too, at Christmas for your magical grotto, where snow in England doesn’t come planned and not necessarily in the right month. A winter wonderland theme where these snow machines are an absolute must!!

To hire any of these machines please book by filling out an online booking for where you can book direct and the machine operators will be in contact with you to arrange you special event.