Tag Archives: comedy

We look forward to joining you each year

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New Year is upon us. Parties and events are starting to fill our calendars, but often times these outings become so routine that we dread attending them. Try out these 10 tips to add a little flare into your holiday season.

Use New Technology

New technology can be daunting, but the holiday season presents an exciting time to try out a new tool or program. Perhaps you have been waiting to purchase a certain software or learn a new technique. The end of the year presents a great opportunity to prep for next year and try out something new.

Provide Festive Favours

Event favours and giveaways can range from wonderful, useful gifts to items you may throw away once you leave the door. Try to spice up your holiday event by providing a themed gift such as seasonal treats or candies, decorative items themed for the season or a candle with a holiday scent. Favours like these will go to good use and leave your event fresh in the minds of your guests.

Get creative with your Holiday Food

Creating NYE menus can pose a challenge because everyone expects different items depending on their culture or upbringing. Try sticking with seasonal flavours. These will help to keep you on trend during the seasons.

Make the Most of Social Media

Social media has a presence at every event these days, so why not include it in your NYE party? You can create a hashtag to gather the pictures from your event, no matter how large your group! Even smaller family or office gatherings can engage through the use of social media.

Build your own photo booth and have your family, friends or co-workers share the photos using your hashtag. Following the event, you will have all of your wonderful photos linked together! Little ideas like this can go a long way in providing group entertainment and increase interaction.

Change Up the Seating

Try out a new seating style at your party! Open seating or a long family style table, might be just the right fit for your event. The holidays are about bringing people together and having fun. Make sure your space and layout reflect the vibe of the season and celebration.

Add Signature Holiday Cocktails

Play around with fun flavours in your drink selection as well. Use mint, cranberry juice, or cider. Drinks can be with or without the alcohol depending on the time or day or group of people. Either way, signature cocktails can be fun and add some excitement to your event.

Surprise Your Guests

Use the holiday season to add some fun and anticipation to your events! Perhaps you bring in a special surprise guest or send them home with an unexpected holiday gift. If you are planning a party for your staff or family, you could even keep the event location a surprise and host a scavenger hunt to the big reveal! A little mystery can go a long way in bringing energy to your holiday event.

Provide an Opportunity to Give Back

The season brings out the best in most people. We all want to give a little more and celebrate the wonderful blessings around us. At your event, you could provide a chance for guests to donate to a good cause or host a silent auction where the proceeds benefit a local charity.

If you have a family event, perhaps a portion of your day is spent volunteering together in your community. Think of causes that you or your guests might have a connection to and find a way to integrate this into your holiday festivities.

Include Festive Kids Activities

Kids love the holidays! The fun-filled atmosphere and extra special magic that the season brings is beautiful through the eyes of a child. If you are hosting an event where children are welcomed, be sure to provide a holiday craft or activity that is geared towards them. Who knows, if they are extra well behaved, perhaps the jolly man in red could make an appearance and hand out a few gifts.

Up the Customer Service

When everyone is in the holiday spirit the world just seems a bit brighter, but the long hours and stressful work of an event mean staff can be run ragged during these months of the year. Make customer service the focus for you and your staff during these holiday parties.

Try to start and end each day on a positive note and make sure your team feels appreciate for planning wonderful holiday events. The extra special feeling you provide with customer service will keep your guests coming back and have them asking you to plan many more events.

Everyone loves a Cheesy Party theme

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What’s Cheese? This is probably one of the hardest questions a party DJ has to answer as it can mean totally different things to different people. So we’ll let you tell us what it means to you and we’ll happily play the cheesiest, most fun party songs you can think of to keep you and your guests enjoying themselves all night (and yes the photos will prove you danced to the YMCA and Macarena).

Come On Eileen, we’re going to the D.I.S.C.O, so Dance Yourself Dizzy like a Dancing Queen! The well-loved party hits from all the decades were written with just one aim – to have a good time! There’s no snobbery here, do the YMCA and Macarena with everybody else, sit on the floor and row to Oops Upside Your Head – go on, enjoy yourself!

Top 10 Requested Cheesy Tunes

Dexys Midnight Runners – Come on Eileen

A British pop group with soul influences, Dexys are best remembered for their hits Geno and Come On Eileen which has become a “love-it-or-hate-it” yardstick defining the “Cheese” category! Jackie Wilson Said was another popular early 80s track by the group.

Abba- Dancing Queen

Possibly the most commercially successful act in the history of pop music, Abba have several “Cheese” tracks in their catalogue … arguably the most requested being 1976s Dancing Queen which can be heard at family parties across the land every weekend!

Rocky Horror Show – Time Warp

One of any cheese-fest’s top action dances, Time Warp is taken from the 1973 rock musical Rocky to this song and are first on the floor when the opening bars are played!

Village People – YMCA

This costumed disco group formed in 1977, quickly scoring a number of disco and dance hits many of which have action sequences, including party favourites YMCA, Macho Man, In The Navy and Go West. They tour even today and are a popular addition to any festival line-up!

The Weather Girls – It’s Raining Men

Now comprising two daughters of one of the original band members, The Weather Girls tour today, singing early 80s hits including the dancefloor-polarising It’s Raining Men. Always a big hit with the ladies at any family party, this cheesy classic works well with any 80s set.

Whigfield – Saturday Night

The summer hit of 1994, Danish-born Whigfield’s Saturday Night is still a popular dancefloor filler, with its easy-to-learn routine popular with ladies of all ages. Cue the blokes heading off to the bar!

Mud – Tiger Feet

The UK’s best-selling single of 1974, Mud’s Tiger Feet goes down a storm with party guests – perfect to follow a few jive classics, a twist, or in amongst a selection of 70s glam rock classics. Mud went on to have several minor hits throughout the 1970s.

MC Hammer – U Can’t Touch This

Dancer-cum-rapper Stanley Burrell (aka MC Hammer) is as famous for his harem pants as he is for his music! U Can’t Touch This is a must-play classic in any 80s set, loved by the boys as well as the girls. The song featured Rick James’ Superfreak riff.

Aqua – Barbie Girl

Popular late 90s / early 2000s pop band Aqua are best remembered for their global hit Barbie Girl, popular with the younger age groups even today. Follow-up number one singles Doctor Jones and Turn Back Time helped them become the best-selling Danish band in history.

Chesney Hawkes – The One and Only

Chesney’s 1991 hit single The One and Only still results in a rousing anthemia sing-along today, if carefully judged and played amongst the right tracks for the specific audience. Although he did have a few minor chart successes, Chesney was a bit of a one-hit-wonder.

25 creative entertainment ideas

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If you are a planner, you’ll probably in need of some creative entertainment ideas for your event or meeting, so because of that, we at Red Masque have put together a nice list.    

1.          Hire a comedian who can poke some fun at your CEO, do an impersonation of him, or even make light of your industry as a whole.

2.          Hire a magician that can incorporate your sales message into his magic, or cut your CEO or receptionist in half. He might even be able to vanish the CEO, much to the delight of the employees.

3.            Book a vocal improvisation group to take requests and spin them into a funny performance.

4.            Have a musician write a song about your company and play it at the event.

5.          Hire a celebrity impersonator to come to the event and sign autographs and take pictures with guests.

6.          Book a caricature artist to draw personalized sketches of each employee at the company. These are fun souvenirs as well.

7.          Book a digital caricature artist who composes his or her photos digitally on a computer right in front of your eyes. They can even personalize the backdrop to reflect the company or event. This is a great souvenir for the guests to take home.

8.          Book a balloon artist that makes the life size figures such as Disney characters, scenery like palm trees, huge company logos, and more. The balloon artist can do these figures with everyone watching making it an experience to watch the balloons being put together.

9.            How about a strolling juggler who can mingle through the cocktail hour.

10.        Book a stilt walker to make a big announcement for your company at an annual conference or meeting. It is a fun and guaranteed way to get everyone’s attention.

11.        A clown is a great option for events with children or families. There are also evil clowns for events with no kids or around Halloween.

12.        Book a palm reader to make psychic predictions about the future of the company or to tell people’s fortunes.

13.        Hire a reality TV star to interact with guests. They are far less money than big time Hollywood celebrities.

14.          Book a tribute band to play the songs of an artist that is popular among the guests.

15.        An a cappella group can perform on stage or stroll through the event during a cocktail hour or dinner.

16.        Hire a symphony orchestra to play at the event. You will need to consider space requirements for this type of an act.

17.          You could have a mime act out a corporate message to employees or event customers.

18.          Book a DJ to play only requested songs or songs from a certain era such as the 80’s

19.        Break dancers can be lots of fun. They are generally young, hip, and add a sense of youth to an event.

20.          How about a mariachi band for some festive music.

21.          A steel drum band can be a nice addition to a high end gala event.

22.        Booking a fire eater can be a great way to kick off the launch of a hot new product or service.

23.        Carollers can be nice addition to the Christmas season

24.        A living statue can be a great idea for almost any event. Make sure you ask for a living statue that matches closely to the theme of your event or meeting.

25.        Booking a circus act is a great idea when the event needs something remarkable or to get a buzz going. Make sure you can accommodate for the space some of the circus acts require.

6 tips for a smooth Christmas Event

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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!

What a drag!!

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For those of you who aren’t familiar with the beginnings of drag, get ready for a (not so) serious history lesson…

Men dressing up as women have been going on for quite some time. It started in a theatrical setting, with female impersonation going back to ancient Roman literature and classical Chinese theatre. Since women were generally banned from performing on stage, men had to perform all of the parts. A modern example of this phenomenon can be seen in the film Shakespeare in Love, which shows men on stage dressed as women. When looking at the etymology of drag, according to the online dictionary, drag means the following;

Sense of “women’s clothing worn by a man” is said to be 1870 theatre slang, from the sensation of long skirts trailing on the floor (another guess is Yiddish trogn “to wear,” from German tragen); drag queen is from 1941.

The term ‘queen’, which was considered a more derogatory term to describe a gay man, has been around since the 18th century. The word has since been reclaimed in a more positive sense. The drag queens of which we speak today first started (particularly in the US) in the 1950s and 60s. Even though the drag queen scene started around that time, it didn’t properly flourish until the 1980s and 90s. This is, coincidentally, also around the time that gay culture started to develop. In the 1950s and 60s drag was far more underground and even criminalised.

However, during the late sixties the gay community started fighting back. It started with the Stonewall riots, which were a series of violent demonstrations by the gay community against a police raid that took place at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. At the time, the Stonewall Inn was owned by the Mafia. It was known to be popular with the poorest and most oppressed people in the gay community, including drag queens and the transgender community. It’s been said that these riots have partly been inspired by drag queens. Within six months after the riots, two gay activist organisations were formed in New York that was ultimately trying to bring attention to their lack of social rights and respect.

Thankfully today’s society is more tolerant to Drag Queen performers and is not ‘hid away’. We are able to enjoy their sharp tongues and witty banter which we have all come to love.

Your party needn’t be a Drag

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A comedy night is something most people enjoy but it has to be the right comedian. Drag Queens are sharp tongued with their risqué humour these Drag Queens will have your audience rolling around.  We have the best Drag Queens advertised in our Red Masque entertainment directory so you will be booking quality performers that will not let you down.

If you have a private function that would benefit from an outrageous Drag Queen or a launch party which could do with a variety act which could range from impressions, songs and stand up then why not book a Drag Queen.

Comedians and Comedy Acts are always very popular especially if they are current and ‘funny’ (of course). A good Comedian is always recommended and we have the very best hilarious comedians on our Red Masque directory.

You could be organising a corporate event where ‘blue’ jokes would go down very well with your audience or you may want something that all ages can enjoy, the choice is yours and we have a great choices advertised in Red Masque directory.

Another act to consider is a Mime Act it’s not everybody’s cup of tea, but good Mimes are very humorous and have the ability to engage your audience where their facial expressions speak a thousand words.  A group of Mime acts are very talented and take months perfecting their flawless routines. It maybe that they are rein acting a movie, mimicking somebody in the audience or just tomfooling around, Mine Acts certainly know how to impress your guests.

Everyone feels a bit ‘star-struck’ when they think they have just seen somebody famous. Imagine having your very own favourite celebrity lookalike at your party, why not have 2 or 3??  Your teenage child will be the envy of all his/her friends if you book a very current Celebrity Lookalike.

Whatever your occasion we are sure a Celebrity Lookalike will spice things up.  Just take a look at some of the ‘stars’ we have advertised.

So have a look, pick the appropriate one and once you have filled out a form your chosen entertainment will be in contact to arrange further.

40th Birthday Ideas…

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I went to a very well organised 40th Birthday and it was the most enjoyable ‘Birthday bash’ I have been to in a long while. Why not give your loved one a birthday party to remember for years to come and here is a taster of what was on offer at this particular one:

This party was all arranged to ensure that guests never knew quite what was coming next: 

Just sixty minutes from London, Aynhoe Park offers a luxurious private home and embodies pure British eccentricity from top to toe. For Friday night, guests were treated to a sumptuous dinner and comic delights for entertainment.

When you hire Aynhoe Park, it essentially becomes your home. You can do as you please and there are fantastic events staff on hand to cater to your needs. It really is an incredible place. Acts were provided to be immersive, with no obvious staging required. Saturday night was the big party day and guests could move freely from room to room, never knowing what they were about to encounter. With no announcements necessary, the evening flowed beautifully and it was a fantastic idea to enhance the event.

The pop-up nature of the evening began with a superb pianist, who performed on the vintage piano as partygoers took in the experience; drinking their cocktails, sampling the canapés on display and marvelling at the Aynhoe Park experience and quirky nature of the event!

In a different area of Aynhoe Park; A Capella singing combined with a beatboxer more than delivered and really got the party started. Guests were whooping and cheering throughout, even calling out for an encore, which was duly respected!

And for a finale, what better act than the illuminating lights of a fire show. Performing in the orangery with the audience surrounding them, they managed to create a club-inspired atmosphere that was perfect to lead into the DJ who played across two different zones – his first set was commercial pop and dance floor fillers, before moving onto deep house music until 4am!

The Funny Side Of Life

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Comedians and Comedy Acts are always very well received especially if they are current and ‘funny’. A good Comedian is always recommended and we have the very best hilarious comedians on our website.

Hire a comedian of your choice,or arrange a medley of performers for your own comedy club night or event. For the most sought after performers on the circuit with outstanding and dynamic shows containing unique, and sharp off-the-cuff material. The perfect entertainment choice for any party, wedding or corporate event.

You could be organising a corporate event where ‘blue’ jokes would go down very well with your audience or you may want something that all ages can enjoy, the choice is yours and we have a great choices advertised in Red Masque directory.

So have a look pick the appropriate one and once you have filled out a form your comedian will be in contact to arrange further details and requirements.

Oh what a drag…

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With their risqué humour and sharp tongues these Drag Queens will have your audience rolling around.  We have the best Drag Queens advertised in our Red Masque entertainment directory so you will be booking quality performers with the best shows around.

Hire a Drag queen for your private party or corporate event. With some of the most reputable names on the comedy drag circuit today these witty, quick tongued professionals are guaranteed to have your guests in stitches.

Professional comedians who do a combination of stand up comedy, impressions and musical numbers for an evening of adult comedy you’ll be sure to remember.

If you have a private function that would benefit from an outrageous Drag Queen or a launch party which could do with a variety act which could range from impressions, songs and stand up then why not book a Drag Queen.

Drag Queens are very easy to book from our site, simply fill out an online booking form of the Drag Queen of your choice and they will be in contact direct with you to go over all your requirements.