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Inspirational Red Masque

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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 party 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 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

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 corporate 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 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.

Truly unique

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We at Red Masque have the best unique artists to hire out for your special event; we have below suggested some great things to consider. It’s quite hard to come up with different things to do so we hope we have just given you a little taster of what we have on offer:

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 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 you think that your party group are the outdoors type, then have you considered organise some giant games to play outside. 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.

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”! 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….!

Alternatively, you could hire some themed dance acts to really get all your guests in the spirit at they dance the night away in their themed dress. Don’t forget to include some suitable dance entertainment such as some Burlesque dancers which will be very entertaining for both sexes. There are a whole host of entertainment to book, just glance through all of our entertainment for hire to give you some more ideas.

We hope we’ve given you some food for thought.

Creative New Year party themes

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Party like it’s 1999​

A 1999 themed New Year’s Eve party is packed full of nostalgia. How could you forget the Millennium celebrations and the impending digital doom that was the Y2k bug? Ask your guests to come dressed as their favourite (or least favourite) 1999 celebrity—get ready to answer the door to the cast of Clueless. Hire a 90’s Cover Band or a Karaoke DJ to play all of your favourite hits from back in the day!

​Murder Mystery Party

The party is in full swing when suddenly, one of your party guests drops dead. The classic “whodunit” investigation begins! Questions are asked, pieces are put together, and the murderer must be caught. Enlist the help of your guests to help solve the mystery of the midnight murder!

Murder mystery parties are fun for people of all ages. This can be done in any setting—from dinner parties to dances. It’s a fun way to shake things up and you can choose to let your guests know ahead of time or surprise them mid-party! Set the scene—whether it’s a western saloon, disco dancehall, or black tie dinner party—and get ready to play detective! Red Masque entertainment directory are full of Murder Mystery Companies and they will take care of the rest.

Glow-in-the-Dark Party

If you’re in for a night of dancing, a Glow-In-The-Dark theme is a great way to get the party started. Dig those old black lights out of the closet and get ready to have a blast.

​Encourage your guests to come dressed in white or bright neon coloured clothes. Provide glow sticks, glow-in-the-dark fabric and/or body paint, and LED or other glow-in-the-dark accessories. Many talented Face Painters offer glow-in-the-dark paint. Hire a DJ to keep everyone on their toes, a Balloon Moddler to twist up glowing balloon wearables, and ask your Bar man to help come up with a list of glowing drinks. Did you know, for example, that a Gin & Tonic will glow blue under a black light?

A Great Gatsby Party​

The Great Gatsby-themed party is bound to be especially popular with the Baz Luhrmann remake of the classic novel and film. It’s no surprise why “Roaring 20’s”-inspired New Year’s Eve parties have remained so popular throughout the years; they’re glamorous!

​Dressing up in costume is fun and great party entertainment for everyone, so why leave it all to Halloween? The great thing about time period-themed costume parties is that, unlike Halloween, everyone will show up in similar garb, giving the feeling that you’re really living in that era. The 20’s is one of the most glamorous of times to tap into. So, what better time to celebrate the roaring 20’s than New Year’s Eve? Book a swinging’ Jazz Band or other 1920’s Act to keep everyone dancing and don’t forget the Dancers to lead the Charleston!

Black History Month Assembly

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Black History Month was established in 1976 by President Gerald Ford, declaring that U.S. citizens “seize the opportunity to honour the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavour throughout our history.”

Storytellers

Professional storytellers have the unique ability to take a subject and weave it into a tale that grabs the audience and doesn’t let go. Most children love hearing stories, and you can add an historical twist with the right storyteller. Bring your Black History assembly to life with a storyteller that can share about the inspirational lives of Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and more.

African Music and Dance

If you’re looking for something that’s more captivating and engaging, try including an African Music or Dance group in your school assembly. Many traditional African musicians use drums and/or koras (a 21-stringed instrument made from a large gourd) to create beautiful and fascinating music. Some groups enhance the experience with griots, which are West Africans musicians, poets, and storytellers.

Poets.

Poets: take social, political, emotional, and historical issues and form them into powerful poetry. You can speak with them ahead of time to see if they have material that fits the message you’d like to convey, and some may even be able to create new material for your students. These speakers would probably work better with older students, such as junior high or high schoolers, since the performances can be intense or contain complex symbolism.

Tribute Artists

There’s no doubt that history is filled with amazing musicians and singers from the last several decades, so why not highlight them during your Black History Month assembly? Bring a tribute artist to your students and let them experience some “new” music! In the days where iTunes rule, a tribute performance can bring the past to life for them. Shake up the usual routine with a tribute to the “Velvet Voice of Our Time” Nat King Cole, the king of soul Ray Charles, or the power of Diana Ross. Your students will definitely find inspiration in the legacy that these artists have left behind.

Professional Speakers

Is your school in need of inspiration? No one does it better than Motivational Speakers. Using both personal narratives and historical examples, these speakers can help students understand the struggles that have been faced in America’s past, and motivate them to rise above adversity.

The world of sports has changed dramatically over the years, thanks to ground-breaking Black athletes such as Muhammed Ali, Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson to name a few. Whether you’re presenting an assembly for all students or motivating your school’s sports team, an Athletic Speaker can be the key. Most speakers can tailor their presentation around specific content (such as prominent black athletes in sports history) to reach your audience with your intended message.

Elementary my dear Watson!!

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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 unmissable 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 a miss 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!

Let there be cake!

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The cake is quite often the thing most people look forward to at a wedding or birthday celebration. After all, it’s not a reception without a cake cutting ceremony! These days though there are so many options for cakes. You can have red velvet, lemon meringue, chocolate, marble, carrot, or maybe traditional vanilla. Others may choose to divert from the traditional cake, choosing cupcakes, truffles, chocolate confections, cookies, or a dessert buffet (for those who just can’t decide!). With all these options how does one even begin?

1. Search for the Right Bakery

Choosing a bakery is tough. It can be even tougher if you have a special need – glucose-free, lactose-free, vegan, Kosher, organic, etc. Luckily more bakeries are becoming aware of allergies or special needs and offer delicious alternatives. Do a quick search for a cake designer in your area who makes a product to your specification.

2. Choose Your Style

Are you a cupcake fan? Or are you a chocolate lover at heart? Or does a traditional tiered cake tickle your fancy? Cupcake towers are becoming more and more popular at birthdays, weddings, baby showers, and more. This takes the hassle out of cutting the cake into equal-sized pieces! Cakes can come in all shapes and sizes these days. Bakeries and cake designers can sculpt a cake into a castle, sports arena, animal, musical instrument, and anything else you can come up with! You can go this route for a birthday cake to match the cake with the birthday person’s favourite hobby. A designer’s ability to do this also is beneficial for groom’s cakes. A dessert buffet is always a fun route to go, as well. You can have all your favourite goodies in one place from a chocolate fountain and truffles to fruit tart and pastries.

3. Find Your Filling

Whether you go with a cake or cupcakes, you then must decide the type, filling, and frosting. So many decisions! However, this is where the yummy part begins – cake tastings! On top of the type of cake, such as red velvet, chocolate, or carrot, you also have the option of having a filling. Fillings can be in the form of fruit, mousse, and cream cheese, just to name a few. Schedule a tasting with your baker to decide which one is just right for you.

Above all, have fun with your cake! A little indulgence never hurt anyone, especially on a day of celebration!

Fundraising Ideas

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School Fundraising Ideas

Whether you are raising money for tuition, a new computer room, extracurricular activities, or volunteer programs, school fundraising is a must for most schools. There are plenty of great fundraising activities for schools.

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 entertainment performers and classrooms.

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. 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 bake-sale as part of the event so people can eat and drink as they shop.

School Fete

Some schools achieve great success hosting a fun, interactive 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, magazines, holiday items, and 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.

Sports Fundraising events

Sports fundraising ideas provides a great way for coaches, parents, and schools to raise funds for new equipment, team uniforms, or travel funds for competitions. In addition, sports fundraising teaches children the importance of community service and being part of something larger than themselves. Sports fundraisers can also tie in values such as teamwork, sportsmanship and more.

Football fundraising

Fundraising is a great way for football teams, summer leagues and traveling teams to earn extra money for team uniforms, new equipment, training tools, entry fees and referee fees for traveling teams. Why not organise a sponsored football kick about or a penalty shoot-out? Don’t forget to buy some medals for the winners.

Dance Team Fundraising

If you are a dance or cheerleader team, consider hosting a dance-a-thon. This type of fundraiser works just like any walk-a-thon, however instead of walking… participants are dancing! Pick a day where dance team members and teachers teach dance lessons to others in the community. Incorporate fun dance performances as well to keep attendees entertained. Bring on a local business to sponsor and give all participants a t-shirt.

Team-Building Events

Another interesting idea for teams with older participants is a “team-building” fundraising event, such as a fundraising treasure hunt or relay race. Teams must delegate about the most efficient route to take, assign team members roles, and work together to accomplish their goals. This could be a great fundraising idea for a debate team or chess team. Funds are raised through team registration fees, plus individual pledge donation requirements.

Event Ideas to attract customers

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Customer events are outstanding ways to create excitement and attract new prospects and loyal customers to your business. But how do you come up with an event idea that people want to attend and then get the word out? Here are five ideas for customer-attracting events that any business can use:

1. Learning event – At this type of event you focus on teaching attendees “how-to” do something. Options are limitless and could include things like a winery having a food and wine pairing, a makeup artist could reveal the latest techniques in contouring and highlighting, a dermatologist could address the benefits of proper skincare and the effects of aging, a plumber could advise about the benefits of pipe maintenance and how much money people can save with proper upkeep.

2. Interactive/Hands-On event – Similar to a learning event, a hands-on event takes that learning and literally puts it into the hands of an attendee. It allows guests to roll up their sleeves to learn and do at the same time. Some interesting examples of a hands-on event could include a plant nursery showing how to pot plants in mini trees, a printer demonstrating how to create letterpress cards or invitations, or a software company allowing customers to create an app using their technology.

If you’ve ever stepped foot in an Apple store, you know the power of putting your product or service into people’s hands. When they see it, touch it, experience the results of using it and how it can help them, it’s priceless.

3. Charitable event – Events that have a cause tied to them are brilliant at attracting customers because there’s a “feel good, do good” element. Shopping or spending for a cause is something people take pride in and it’s what helps make these type of events successful. You can do a charitable event any time of year, just make sure you connect your theme and cause to something that is relevant to your audience and something they care about.

4. Special Guest event – Inviting a special guest, host and event speakers or MC your event can be a great crowd pleaser and get people to attend. Many local sports athletes will lend their name and presence to causes they support. A restaurant or cafe could get a celebrity chef to cook a special meal and sign cookbooks, a wedding consultant could get a well-known makeup artist to provide “big day” makeovers.

5. VIP event – People love to be part of exclusive, special things and a VIP event can help attract them like crazy. You can create a members-only event or a VIP event for your most loyal customers and offer them special shopping hours, a nice discount and great customer service. These types of events have been wildly popular for years and spawned the now well-known concept of Friends & Family day events, etc. The key to doing VIP events well is to keep it small and manageable so you can offer only the best experience since these are your best customers. You can base “best” on a number of things including amount spent, number of purchases, number of referrals, etc.

Private party organising made easy

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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 choose 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.

Parties based around a live party 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.

How to entertain the simple way

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Universal Party Truths: The first guest will arrive early. The pots and pans won’t be washed. And a half-dozen people will squeeze into the kitchen while you’re still slicing and dicing. Instead of fighting the facts, finesse your game plan. With these clever tips, you can keep your guests happy and occupied—and make yourself less stressed, from hello to good-bye.

For the smoothest entry, give arriving guests a clear destination. A small table done up with essentials is a friendly gesture, and it frees you to get back to the kitchen if needed. Try to offer bar access from more than one side, to prevent a cue. Stock generously and make sure you chill white wine for two hours in advance so guests won’t need to come looking for anything—ice, glassware, bottle opener, condiments—but reserve some surface area for mixing drinks. Nobody wants to mix up a Manhattan in mid-air.

Guests go where the action is—besides, they want to socialise with the host. Be ready to make them feel welcome.

Give over the far end of your kitchen counter or island to appetizers, so people know exactly where they can linger without being too in-your-face.

Welcome help. Reserve certain small jobs for early birds and those who shy away from being chatty. Offer the sorts of tasks you could give to an older child: setting out dishes and cutlery, plating hors d’oeuvres, filling the water jugs, or putting bread rolls in a basket.

Hide signs of stress. If anything makes a guest feel guiltier than watching the host do dishes after the meal, it’s watching her do them before the meal. Use the dishwasher as a hiding spot for dirty dishes even those you’ll ultimately wash by hand.

Go with the sort of low-key nibbles you would find in a classy bar: small bowls of nuts, Bombay mix, and olives.

Spirited conversation is a dinner party’s bread and butter, but sometimes it needs a nudge.

Manage moods. At holiday time, people tend to arrive hungry (and ready to indulge), so don’t make them wait too long for the main event.

Use a white tablecloth, white dishes, and just one or two rich accent colours and centrepieces should be tall enough to talk under or short enough to talk over.

A place card for everyone. Seating plans may seem formal, but they actually make guests more comfortable. Think about who would benefit from particular placement: small children (seat near a parent), couples (split them up to encourage mixing), and hearing-impaired guests (reserve a quiet corner chair or seat them front and centre, depending on personality). Then fill in the blanks.

Turn a table into a convenient, arm’s reach refilling station. Load it with wine, jugs of water, and spare utensils to eliminate supply runs.  

Be present. Each time you get up to fetch something, you essentially abandon your guests. A host’s primary duty isn’t to feed people but to spend time with them. Serve family-style, and forget cleaning up mid-event. Carrying plates to the kitchen is one thing; but once you turn on a tap, you’ve dissolved the festivity.

Relocating for sweets and coffee lets guests stretch their legs and switch up conversation partners.

Cheer at the finish line. Champagne after the meal is a nice surprise. It’s one of those delightful little touches that people remember.

To really spoil guests, set out the dessert —fancy chocolates or salted caramels—while you ready the baked goods. (Don’t forget the desserts that guests brought!) Sweet cheeses and nuts with a dessert wine provide the right coda for the sugar-averse.