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A good firework display

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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.

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!

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 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 may have been celebrating Fawkes’ night 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!

Halloween decorating ideas

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Decorating for Halloween can be fun and gets you excited for the Halloween season, but thinking of new Halloween decoration ideas is difficult. Here are a few helpful Halloween decorating tips and tricks to help get your creativity flowing. Your Halloween party décor can be sophisticated or downright spooky. No matter which way you decide to take your fall home décor, follow these easy tips for Halloween decorating that will make it easier.

Try out these Halloween decorating ideas:

Un-Decorate Before You Decorate: Take your normal picture frames off the walls and decorations off all the surfaces including tables, counters, and shelves. When you add Halloween event decorations on top of your normal décor, the result looks cluttered and confused. Put all the focus on your Halloween decorations by making them the centre of attention. Fill empty spots that other picture frames left by hanging Halloween plates or spooky decorations.

Focus On One Colour Scheme: A classic orange and black colour scheme for your decorations always looks great. You could also try a creepy black and green colour scheme or go sophisticated with black and silver. Try not to mix more than three of these bold colours. This will keep your house looking put together and sophisticated.

Decorate With Pumpkins: Pumpkins can be used in many different ways for Halloween décor. For a more chic look, try painting pumpkins, or using glue with glitter or buttons. Pumpkins can be used outside as a welcome sign outside after being painted, or inside as table or mantelpiece décor. Try painting a pumpkin with chalkboard paint and keeping a countdown to Halloween!

Use Candles: Candles are a great way to set a creepy mood for All Hollow’s Eve or the night of a Halloween party. White candles look spookiest and are easy to find. Mix and match different sizes and heights of candles and tealights on a mantle or as the centrepiece on a table. Dim the lights and the candle glow will give all the rest of your decorations a scary flickering shadow!

Use these Halloween home party design and decoration tips to spark your creativity and expand on your favourite Halloween decorations. Happy Halloween!

Teenager ideas for Halloween

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Halloween party games for teenagers are super to add to any teen party or even just a family party where teens will be present. Though teenagers can be easily bored, these Halloween games for teens will keep them entertained all night long! Games that require preparation are also fun to plan and think up! If you need a few ideas for Halloween party games for teens, take a look at the list below:

Bob for apples: That’s right—though this classic game may seem childish, it’s actually fun for people of all ages! Just set up a big barrel full of water and apples to challenge your teenagers to see if they can pick the apples up without using their hands!

Costume dance contest: This is a quick and easy way to get everyone on their feet. You can do contests such as the limbo or just award funny prizes for guests’ costumes. Make sure to have prizes on hand!

Murder mystery: This game requires a lot of thought and planning, but it is well worth it! It’s similar to a live action version of clue. For this game, you’ll have to create a story, character list and solution to a murder mystery. Just be sure not to tell any guests about it! Assign everyone at the party a “part” and hide clues around the house. Have them act out the story as they figure out who’s the murderer together!

Halloween night sweet hunt: Plant sweets around the outside of your home. Once it’s dark out, have guests go on a night-time sweet hunt. Give them bags for the sweets and flashlights and split them up into groups of 3-4. See how daring they’ll be on Halloween night!

Halloween Fear Factor: For this game, play a guessing game! Blindfold guests and have them put their hand into a bowl or jar filled with something horrible to the touch. Then have them guess what they just touched. Some ideas include Jelly, peanut butter and crushed biscuits. Award prizes for the people who have the most accurate guesses

Halloween trivia: Before the party, make up Halloween movie, TV show and history trivia cards. During the party, host a trivia session complete with prizes!

These Halloween games for teenagers are just a few ideas to get you started. These ideas are also Halloween party games for tweens too, so feel free to get as many people in the family involved as you can!

Halloween Event Ideas

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Halloween use to be a one night only excuse to dress up in your favourite costume and get together with friends and family while indulging in sugary treats and watching a scary movie. Today however, the traditions of Halloween have extended far past October 31st and now tend to encompass a months’ worth of costume parties, haunted houses, and scary movies on TV & in theatres.  Red Masque directory have several Halloween event ideas and tips to help make your next Halloween event become the talk of the town. From unique costume parties for kids and adults to cocktail parties at the office (after hours of course) and creating the scariest house on the block, we can make your dreams a reality.

Planning a costume party can be a daunting task however with a few simple tips you can become a pro.

Pick a day – Halloween this year falls on a Saturday, which gives you plenty of options to have the event as close to Halloween as possible. To ensure your guests will be available to attend, planning the party on the weekend before or after Halloween is always best.

Select your venue – Be sure to ask about any restrictions with using atmospheric effects such as smoke machines. Smoke or haze in the venue adds a great “spooky” effect and increases the visibility of the lighting used. Of course, hosting the event at your home is always a great choice as you will have no restrictions on decorations or effects used.

Creating a Theme – Adding a theme to your costume party is a great way to get your guests to be a bit more creative. Some great Halloween costume party themes include: Famous couples, western, and decade specific costumes such as 60s/Mad Men or 20s/Great Gatsby. Tying in drinks from your theme will really bring it all together. 

Incorporating Decorations – After picking a theme, decorations will fall into place easy. Ghosts, mummies, and witches are always great go to items for any Halloween party but expanding off your theme and colours will help bring the event together. Adding accent lighting around the venue or home is always a safe bet and utilizing low flying smoke will give your guests the added wow factor of “floating in the clouds” or “walking through a scary movie”. Utilizing strobe lights flashing at specific rates along with ambient sound FX throughout the venue will really step up the “fear factor” of the venue.

Plan your New Year’s Eve party now!!

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New Year’s Eve – a great excuse for you to invite the friends and family around, indulge in some more drinks and snacks, and celebrate a fresh start. Don’t worry if you haven’t sorted out any entertainment for the evening yet, there is still time to book and there are plenty of interesting acts for you. Take a look at our top 10 last minute ideas for your New Year’s Eve party entertainment.

1. Caricaturists

If you’re staging a party this New Year’s Eve, then a caricaturist can really help to break the ice between people that may not know each other. Generally a caricaturist can draw 10-15 caricatures in an hour, making this a good choice for crowd entertainment. Caricaturists are also great if you’re on a tight budget as they normally provide their own drawing materials and any drawings done on the night are free for your guests to take home, making your event personal and memorable.

2. Magicians

Magicians are another great ice-breaker for large events, but also very versatile and can perform at much smaller events for New Year’s Eve. Magic might look amazing on television, but there is nothing like seeing live magic being performed right in front of your eyes. Close-up magic is great to get guests actively involved and keep them amused during the quieter times of your event.

3. Balloon Modellers

I bet you never thought that would be on the list! Balloon modellers are great value for money and it is amazing the type of things they can produce for you! They can make balloons tailored to the theme of you event, and are even happy to teach guests how to twist balloons themselves. This is a unique form of entertainment that is suitable for all ages.

4. Pianists

Of course, New Year’s Eve events can be very classy, requiring some sophisticated entertainment. A Pianist is a really good option if that’s the type of event you have in mind this year. Most pianists are happy to discuss set lists with you in order to create the type of show you are after. Live music adds that extra spark to any event, especially New Year’s Eve when your guests are expecting to see the year out with a bang.

5. Rat Pack Singers

Rat Pack singers cover all the greats, from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Tony Bennet, to more modern music from Michael Buble. This is a great entertainment option if you want to entertain all ages for New Year’s Eve, and Rat Pack singers can be hired as solo acts or with a band.

6. String Quartets

Another classical option for your New Year’s event, but still able to adapt to your theme! String quartets are a good option if you are on a tight budget but want that big band effect. Most quartet groups have options for trio, duo, or solo performances too, so it’s always worth asking for other options. Some quartets even boast electric instruments which can make the show even more impressive.

7. Harpists

From classical to contemporary music, jazz tunes or musical show favourites, a harpist is an extremely versatile act. If you think a harpist is just for a wedding, don’t be fooled! Harpists can play more modern music to incorporate into the theme of your New Year’s event. Although harps look like large instruments, a harpist will only need about 2 meters squared to perform, so even if your event is a bit smaller you could still hire a harpist. Take a look at Red Masques’ directory of harpists if you feel like a more sophisticated form of entertainment for your New Year’s bash!

8. Saxophonists

The saxophonist is one of the most vibrant acts you could hire for your New Year’s event. They can play along to high quality backing tracks or as a soloist. Often concentrating on jazz, funk, and soul, our saxophonists are also keen to discuss more modern song choices with you to help make your New Year’s Eve event a hit. A saxophonist can also be a really good accompaniment if you plan to have a sit-down meal at your event.

9. Dancers

There are numerous dance groups across the UK who can perform for New Year’s Eve parties. Dancers can perform meet and greet sets, or produce a choreographed show to wow your New Year’s Eve guests! Various themes are available such as; Can-can, Moulin Rouge, Cheerleading, 1920s, Las Vegas, Bollywood, Street dance, Hula, Hawaiian, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Broadway, Arabian Nights, Wild West, James Bond, and burlesque. Most dance groups will perform along to music from a CD, so all you would need to do is provide the sound system and you have the perfect New Year’s Eve entertainment!

10. Vintage Singers

If you fancy a singer but you are looking for something a little bit different for your spectacular New Year’s Eve event, look no further. A vintage singer could be the right act for you!  has many solo vintage singers, duos, trios and bands. Vintage acts can perform traditional vintage songs, wartime songs, or more modern songs in a vintage jazzy style – it’s entirely up to you! Most vintage acts will also have a range of themed costumes available to wear if you are going for a full-on themed party.

From caricaturists, to burlesque dancers, to classical pianists, there are plenty of entertainment options for New Year’s Eve that you may not have already thought of. Just remember to book quick as time is running out!

Wedding Entertainment Planning

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Choosing wedding entertainment is a very important part of your wedding planning process. Your guests may not remember the theme of your wedding centrepieces, the type of cars or even the design of the cake. The last memory of your wedding for you and your guests is having the most important people in your life having fun and dancing with all the new friends that they have made. If you don’t plan your wedding entertainment properly, your guest’s last memory will be how the wedding ended at 9pm!

Band or DJ?

There are advantages and disadvantages of having both. The pure sound of Live music with a wedding band can really bring a great buzz to your reception but will be more expensive than a DJ, and most bands stick to a set list.

A Wedding DJ can only play pre-recorded tracks which means that their sound isn’t as good as a live acoustic band, but the DJ can play any type of music, take requests and works out less expensive than a band.

Band & DJ package

You can have the best of both worlds with live music from the band and disco music with requests for your wedding. The live band can play the first half of the evening (from after dinner until the evening buffet), and the DJ can play the final half of the evening (from the evening buffet to the close of the bar).

Once you have decided this, there are so many questions: A swing band? A cover band? What type of DJ?

Vision & Theme

To avoid becoming overwhelmed consider your vision and theme for your wedding reception.

Close your eyes & imagine it. Talk it out. Different visions and themes call for different music: a swing band would be perfect for a Vintage themed reception, while a great cover band has something for everyone and Ceilidh band would be great for a Traditional Irish / Scottish themed reception.

Make sure that your wedding DJ has had experience, can take requests and has a good quality sound and light show. As with every industry there are good ones and bad ones… The bad ones are cheap and you certainly get what you pay for. So make sure the last thing that your family and friends remember is that great DJ that finished off your day with a bang!

Bring back the deck chair!!

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When the sun does eventually shine in the UK most of us heads to the seaside to catch some rays.

Usually we bring a blanket to put down on the beach. But for the some of us that find it difficult to get back up again after, a deck chair may be quite attractive!! Lugging a deck chair to the beach doesn’t really appeal does it? 

Many large English resorts, like Blackpool, used to rent deck chairs out for just £1.50 a day. Over 68,000 chairs were rented out in 2003 but over the years they have been slowly phased out.

But what happens when you hire a deck chair; how do you actually put it up and how do you get into it gracefully? 

It’s not rocket science to be able to put up a deck chair but for some, it can seem quite a tricky process and if you aren’t careful, you can get your fingers trapped. If you have never put a deck chair up before, it can be bewildering but practice makes perfect.

So here is an A-Z on how to put up a deck chair with zero-fuss and get into it smoothly:

Point both folding arms upwards and stand the folded chair vertically. 

Next, rotate the longer arm away from the frame until it can no longer go any further.

Then, repeat step 2 with the shorter arm and fix the bar in place in one of the pivots/notches of the longer arm. 

Place the upright chair on the ground and adjust the seating accordingly. Make sure it is stable.

Lay your feet firmly on the ground and slowly sit down, holding onto the arms for support. If you’re wearing a dress or a skirt, keep your feet together when you sit down and try sitting down on a side angle.

And relax! Sit back and enjoy your event in style. However, be careful not to lean back too much or you could end up tumbling backwards. 

Remember to always hold onto the arms for support when standing up, or you could end up on your bottom. Alternatively, just ask someone to give you a hand!

Don’t shy away from these fantastic alternative furniture items; they always make people smile and are a fantastic talking point for your event! 

Interested in hiring a deck chair for your event? If you need some inspiration, please check out our directory for more beach themed event hire! 

Here are some fab, fun facts on the history of deck chairs:

Mr John Thomas Moore was the very first person that took out a patent for the adjustable folding chair back in 1886. 

The British businessman manufactured deck chairs in Macclesfield and even supplied them to the infamous Titanic, of which only six survived the sinking. One was even sold at auction for £35,000 back in 2001.  

However, the comfy pieces of furniture can also be traced as far back as the ancient Egyptians. 

Food for thought

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If you are selling food and drink at your fun day, make sure you look at the Food Standards Agency to follow their guidelines.

Raffles and Tombola’s

There are strict and complex laws relating to larger raffles and lotteries which you’d need to check the Gambling Commissions website for more details. We recommend selling raffle tickets on the day and drawing at the event to avoid needing a license. 

Council licences

You’ll need to apply to your local council if you plan on providing any of the below:

– selling alcohol

– Live entertainment

– holding a collection in a public place

Speak to the venue beforehand though as they’ll probably already hold a licence for you. 

Too many people think about what will happen after the event, as they’re so caught up with planning it. 

The follow up is just as important as the event itself. 

Make sure you send a thank you email to all suppliers and providers that helped to make the event the great fun day that it was! Also, send out a press release to local media for print and online.

We all love a great success story and it can have a big impact on brand awareness! Who knows, you may be asked to organise the event again next year. 

Make Your Christmas Party Unforgettable!

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Even though summer is in full swing, Christmas is never too far away and in fact its heading close to five months until the big day which means that now is the time to begin thinking about the Christmas party and how to make it better than ever before. Red Masque know exactly what you need for a first class event and we understand what it takes to make a memorable party.

If you are in charge of organising the Christmas Party, then now is the time to begin booking your entertainment to avoid disappointment simply because entertainment is often booked months in advance.

You may have a theme in mind or you may have been told that it has to follow a theme, but do not worry because Red Masque will have something you’ll see that will meet your requirements whilst also catering to the needs of those who will be attending – we can promise that your Christmas Party will be one that will be remembered forever!

We appreciate that it can be difficult to choose the right entertainment but this is exactly why we ensure that we have lots to offer so that you can find exactly what you want. You may want to follow orders and book what everyone wants or you could go ahead and book something that is completely different, either way we want to make it easy for you.

So where do you start?

At Red Masque we have put together a few ideas which are sure to get you thinking…

Everyone loves magic and this is why Mix and Mingle Magicians are the complete entertainment package.

Magic and Christmas go hand in hand and this is why Red Masque offer this amazing experience. We can guarantee that your guests will be left in amazement with the tricks they offer and we can promise that their show will be the main talking point. They can tailor their show to the size of the audience and the size of the room; they are true professionals that take magic to the next frontier!

For something completely different the Little People/Dwarfs Elves is a great way to give your event a different twist.

Whether you opt to have your Dwarf entertainer be a doorman, dress as an Oompa Loompa or seeing as it is Christmas, dress as an elf we can promise that your guests will love every minute. They have excellent personalities and are all about fun, fun and more fun! To add to an already exciting show they can also offer dancing and fire breathing as part of their act.

Christmas isn’t Christmas without carols which is why Christmas Carollers give your Christmas party the ultimate festive atmosphere.

Get the party going and the festive joy erupting with A Capella carol singers who really know how to get people into the Christmas spirit? They encourage the perfect atmosphere that can get your guests enjoying themselves long into the night as they roam around the room singing everyone’s favourite carols.

Everyone loves live music and a Party Function Band will really get the party started! They know how to get people up on their feet and singing along to all those favourite Christmas hits.

Your guests will be tearing up the dance floor to their favourite songs whilst busting some moves and having an amazing time. Party Function band will give your event the energy it needs to be classed as the best Christmas Party yet. They have experience of singing all over the world so you will be guaranteed a top class performance.

A Christmas party is all about getting dressed up and feeling good and whilst you may feel like a star why not get treated like one with Paparazzi Photographers. They can help to create an atmosphere before the party by creating a buzz of excitement as your guests get papped with smiles that stretch from ear to ear. The photographers know how to get your attention with their cheeky wit and humour and they even look the part with their trilby hats and press tags. Your guests will be sure to remember their Christmas party thanks to the quality photos that can be purchased online after the event.

Every Christmas Event needs something different and what can be more different than a Human Living Table?

This is the perfect centrepiece and is sure to grab the attention of everyone who is at the event. They come in a number of different characters but more importantly they entertain and create a real hype around the place. They can meet and greet your guests on arrival and create a stir, this is something that is completely unique but oddly mesmerising!

Santa has a bit of a reputation as being someone who is always good but don’t be fooled! Comedic Bad Boy Santa’s are a superb alternative whilst being extremely funny at the same time.

They are all about entertaining and will get your guests partying with their breakdancing on their own mobile dance floor. This act is all about putting a twist on Christmas as it throws tradition out of the window! Excellent music and moves that will make your jaw drop, Santa is not always what you may think he is!

Street Dance Parties

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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.