Tag Archives: hiring

How to attract more visitors to your event

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One of the smartest ways to attract visitors in a trade show and convert them from prospects to sales and, consequently, loyal followers, is to have a magician on your stand! In fact, it has been evidenced that live entertainment and demonstrations comprise a powerful and highly effective marketing tool that help engage visitors in an exhibition hall. That aside, Magicians that perform a bespoke presentation can successfully communicate your brand’s messages and goals in the most fun, interactive, and engaging way. Ideal when product recognition and identification is the need!

What do you want when participating in a trade show or exhibition? Make the difference. Stand out from your competitors. Let the world know of your amazing product or service. Boost your sales. Inform. The list of objectives could be long, but bottom line, you want recognition and an unbeatable way people will remember you by. Then, the road is open for more aggressive marketing; marketing that will increase your revenue and help you create a database of loyal clients, who will refer you to others. Trade Show Magicians can achieve exactly that for you. It really is amazing how much you can accomplish with just a few inches of space on the edge of your stand!

In a nutshell, with Magicians you can:

  • Attract three times more people to your stand.
  • Keep your prospects warm when your sales team is busy, minimising the number of lost leads.
  • Create brand awareness and promote your corporate image.
  • Entertain your existing clients.

Engage and Inform prospects in a fun way that doesn’t feel like a struggle to promote your company and make a sale.

Boost your sales (guaranteed)

To encourage mingling, start the party off with some exciting party entertainment. This is a particularly good time to break the ice in those awkward moments when you have only just met other guests and family for the first time. Chosen Events can supply you with something completely unexpected, such as a magician, fortune teller, celebrity lookalikes, or a caricaturist. Guests will be drawn together to discuss what is going on, which will get them interacting with each other.

If you choose caricaturists, it also creates the opportunity to send your guests home with a truly unique party favour.

Whether you are planning a Private Party, Wedding, Prom, Bar Mitzvah, or Corporate Event, you can’t go wrong by hiring a live band. While it’s true that most guests are content with a party DJ, anyone who has ever attended a party with a live band will tell you that it made the night so much better. In fact, it is not unusual for guests or even the person the party is honouring to admit that a live band is what made the night truly unforgettable.

After all, live party bands will get your guests excited and pumped up. While not everyone likes to dance, even the most ardent anti dancer won’t be able to stop themselves when a great live band is performing classic and modern party songs.

Staying ahead of the game

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Event planners need to stay ahead of the game when booking entertainment to ensure that their event is fresh, talked about (for the right reasons!) and most of all, impresses all the right people. 

To assist event planners in choosing fresh and unique entertainment, we have compiled a list of Top 10 entertainment ideas for the here and now. As well as being unique and exciting, we are predicting that these acts will be hugely sought after for events this year!

DJ’ing & VJ’ing

Simultaneously mixing music and visuals, this concept really is the future of club-style entertainment. Bringing music to life, this entertainment option can also add a social media element that allows guests to tweet their requests! The DJ can also include logos, videos and company visuals, making this the ideal entertainment for corporate events and launch parties! 

IPad Magician

For technology and gadget lovers/events, iPad magicians are the perfect act to amaze and entertain your guests. IPad magicians perform bespoke shows that include, of course, magic and the use of an iPad! This is entertainment for the digital age, and many high profile brands and events are eager to experience this unique brand of magical entertainment.

LED Dance shows

LED dance shows are proving to be a big hit so far this year, as event planners strive to find acts and performers that are unique and have added ‘wow factor’. LED dance shows are currently much sought after for launches, corporate events and concerts as they offer high tech entertainment that can include logos. 

This entertainment option takes the urban dance act (so popular for the last few years thanks to shows like the ‘Got Talent’ franchise) to the next level! 

Aroma DJ

They say that smells trigger memories right? Well why not ensure your guests remember your event with an aroma DJ! Using an ‘aroma laboratory’, these new and exciting DJs mix a blend of oils, incense and real pheromones; “controlling the vibes of the dancefloor by mixing a seamless blend of scents!” 

Some of the celebrities/brands that have experienced this “journey through the world of fragrance” include Isabella Rossellini, Vogue and Christian Dior. Great alternative entertainment for product launches, club nights and festivals!

 

Motion capture – animated digital character

Bringing technology to life for trade shows, conventions and exhibition events! Using the latest technology of pre-programmed motion capture, an actor controls the animated character allowing full audience interaction! 

Motion capture acts offer a choice of existing animated characters to choose from, or the option to create a bespoke animation if required. This is a must-have for technology related events or for those that are looking for modern entertainment that will impress audiences.

Shadow Performers

As seen on the most recent series of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, this new and exciting form of entertainment is predicted to be hot this year! Shadow shows are, of course, part shadow act, part dance and part circus. 

This entertainment option, in its current form, originated in the US and uses projected images and front-of-screen choreography to amazing effect! Ideal for product launches and other events, this is definitely one to watch this year!

Urban Street Entertainment

Urban street entertainment has been experiencing a surge in popularity over recent years thanks to talent competition-style shows like ‘America’s Got Talent’ or Sky One’s ‘Got to Dance’. But new forms of urban street performance are evolving to keep up with demand for new and unique entertainment that has added ‘wow factor’. Urban Street entertainment that is fresh and exciting, or is predicted to be big this year:

• Beatboxers who perform with an instrument (i.e. harmonica, flute etc.), performing up-tempo music that is combined with beatboxing and covers a range of genres from classical to movie soundtracks!

• Martial arts moves combined with urban street dance and ‘tricking’ (for those not in the know, ‘tricking’ is a kind of extreme sport where the performers do artistic flips and kicks). This entertainment option is great for launches, festivals, event openings and corporate events.

• Mixed urban dance and percussion groups whose shows include original, high-energy music (performed on everyday items like garbage cans and ladders) and choreography, as well as Cirque Du Soleil Style Acrobat’s and Gymnastics, Silk Aerialist’s, Jumping Boot Air Men and Contortionist’s! Be warned though: this show contains serious ‘wow factor’. 

IPad Caricaturist

Pen and paper is so last century! This year’s hot new thing is iPad caricaturists who will draw guests on handheld devices that can be printed, emailed or posted to social media sites instantly! 

Popular as walk-around entertainment for corporate events, parties and weddings; or to help increase footfall at trade shows and conventions. Brands using iPad caricaturists include Google and Apple.

 

3D Laser Man

A popular entertainment option for the first quarter of 2013, these futuristic shows push the boundaries of new 3d laser technology to great effect. Beams of light are manipulated and logos and images can also be incorporated into the show for corporate events. Brands using 3D laser man include Ferrari, Hyatt Hotels and IBM.

Vertical Performance Team

This is a unique and exciting entertainment option that will take high-profile launches and special events to dizzying new heights! Vertical performance shows offer something a little out of the ordinary; how about a troupe of acrobats who perform aerial routines whilst dangling from the side of a high-rise building?

These acts will thrill audiences with vertical spectacular productions and outstanding live shows!

Planning is key to a perfect Corporate Event

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Corporate events are a very important part of any company’s annual calendar, as they help promote the business internally and externally, as well as reinforcing brand values and corporate messages. 

They can also forge links with existing and potential clients and improve staff morale. A lot can hinge on a corporate event – be it a convention, exhibition, awards dinner or conference – including the good name of the company and its reputation.

A successful corporate event will be down to many factors including location, food, and atmosphere and, of course, the all-important entertainment. 

Entertainment can make or break a corporate event and making the most out of any act, show or performer can be hugely beneficial. Good corporate entertainment can leave guests with a memorable experience and reinforce a company’s image, brand and corporate message. Good entertainment can even attract publicity (of the good sort!).

Deciding on the Right Entertainment

Corporate event professionals will first have to take a few factors into consideration when ensuring that the entertainment ‘fits’ the event:

• Determine age, social background and sex, and choose entertainment accordingly. A tribute to ‘One Direction’ or ‘Justin Bieber’ may be suitable for a corporate family day event, but not for a black tie gala dinner.

• Venue size and location is a factor that many event planners and organisers forget (or remember at the last minute!). This is important, as it will play a part in deciding whether or not you can have that aerial team you want or full scale swing band!

• Cost. Do you have a strict budget that you have to work within, or is money not a problem? The amount of money a company is prepared to spend on entertainment will affect the options available.

Arrange a surprise party

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Surprise parties are great, but not for the surprise party planner. Trying to organize entertainment, invite guests, get your catering sorted and make sure the whole event goes off without a hitch (while keeping everything under wraps from your VIP guest) can be a real headache! Entertainment Ideas is here to help you take the mystery out of booking entertainment online by promoting only the acts we know and love and can personally guarantee.

The key to a great surprise party is to keep it just that. Sometimes when the person whose party it is for has inkling there may be a party planned for them you can actually tell on their face; the whole element of surprise will be forced.

Here are some tips to try and keep that party a secret. Make sure you do the entire organisation yourself and keep it under wraps then invite your guests at the very last minute. Telling your guests a long time in advance can mean that someone will let the cat out of the bag. Obviously if you’re inviting people from abroad you will need to get your invites out as soon as possible.

You could also pretend to potential guests and your VIP guest that you are having a family get-together for Aunty Maud who is going away. Your unsuspecting VIP guest will be well surprised that the family get together is actually just for them!! Of course Aunty Maud would have to be someone who can keep a secret and is very good at keeping stum, (there’s always one member of the family who is extremely discrete and you can trust them implicitly)

So now it’s time to hire performers and entertainment to really get the party started. Red Masque directory artists advertised are always vetted and approved. Ready to party? Fill out our online enquiry form to book your entertainment. We’re ready to help you get your party started!

What to look out for when booking a band

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Booking a band for any event can be tricky. What type of music, what size of band, and what price should I pay? These are the most common questions a person asks themselves when they have been given the task of booking a band. Yes these are important questions but there are a few small things to look out for when booking a band. Here are 5 things to look out for when booking a band- 

1- Always sign a contract – More often than enough we hear the ever dreaded horror stories of bands. Whether it is the band hasn’t showed up at all, the band has double booked or the band has got a flat tyre and can’t make it to your event. Well this is why you need to sign a contract; if any of these unfortunate circumstances happen then at least you have the right to get your money back. So always ask for a contract and make sure that it covers you under all circumstances. 
2- Reviews- These are the Holy Grail of bands and also for customers. You can look for testimonials on Facebook pages, the bands own website and even on online forums. Also ask friends and family if they have heard of any good bands in the local area. Word of mouth is one of the most powerful sources so use it, it is free!
3- Price wisely – This is where you’re budget comes into play. Please stop everything you are doing and read this part as this is extremely important… You are not going to get a fully live 4 piece band for £200!  At the end of the day, you get what you pay for. So be realistic with your budget. A live 6 piece band would cost you between £800 – £1200 so if this is the size you would like, and then expect to pay the higher bracket of money. If you find a 6 piece band and they are charging less than this then as the saying goes, it is too good to be true!
4- Past Clients – Bands styles can change in various events. Music that perfectly suits a wedding ceremony may not be so well suited to an awards ceremony. Make sure that the band you are after fits your event and music style perfectly. Therefore if you are a corporate event organiser ensure that your band have had vast experience playing at corporate gigs. Same goes for weddings, birthday parties, award ceremonies etc. So always research the bands past clients and this will be able to give you an insight into the bands history. 
5- Local Bands v Further Afield Bands – This is a secret tip within the entertainment industry… if you have an event and need a band hire a band within a 30 mile radius. This means you are not paying extravagant amounts of money for extra travel and most entertainers will have the first 30 miles free. Some bands will even charge £2 a mile, after you already pay for your band I’m sure that £100 for travel alone will just not be worth it. So source out some great local bands that will play the exact music you like without the crazy travel costs!

Questions to ask your hired entertainment…

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We know that many of you have never planned a party before. Perhaps you’re planning a wedding or your husband’s 40th Birthday Party. This list is a product of many years of providing private event entertainment (but this list is applicable to most forms of entertainment). These are the questions you should be asking your performers before you sign on the dotted line. 

1. Where (and for whom) do you do the majority of your shows?
What you are trying to find out is how experienced and equipped the performers are for working private events. Many bar performers represent themselves as event entertainers but may not have the experience working with venues and professional event planners, or they may lack the equipment or insurance that is necessary, especially for larger venues.

2. Can you show proof of insurance?
While I’m not convinced that this is always necessary for event entertainers, this speaks to the professionalism of the entertainer. If the entertainer does a lot of private events in nice hotels and country clubs, they will be more likely to carry liability insurance, as many of the higher-end venues require this. If you entertainer is not insured, then perhaps they are not working many of these venues, which could mean that they are not attracting the top end private event clients.

3. What is the cancellation policy?
Most entertainment acts will penalize you for cancelling a performance that has already been contracted. They look at dates on the calendar as inventory. If you reserve your date, they can’t sell it to anyone else. So if you cancel, they may not be able to rebook. It’s similar to how event venues or photographers view their calendars. If you think there may be a need to cancel or change your date, discuss this with the entertainment BEFORE signing a contract and see if there is any flexibility on their policy. I’ve written contracts for clients that allowed them to cancel up to 4 weeks after entering the contract to suit a particular situation. 

4. How much is the deposit and is it refundable?
This goes hand in hand with the previous question. Usually deposits are not refundable. This serves as incentive for a client not to cancel or reschedule. A common deposit structure is 50% upon signing and 50% upon arrival at the venue. 

5. Do you bring stage lighting?
A pretty standard thing for entertainers to supply, but some of the smaller groups won’t have this, and some of the higher-tier entertainers may expect that this would be supplied by an outside production company. You should ask. 

6. How long do you need to set up?
Make sure you coordinate this with your venue. If the venue is using your space for another client prior to your time slot, you want to ask the venue ‘what is the earliest time that the entertainment can load in’.  Then verify that this is sufficient with your entertainment.

7. Ask the venue if there is specific wording they require on the performer’s insurance certificate.
Some venues just want to know the entertainer is insured, but many require that they, the venue, (and sometimes the parent company) are listed on the entertainer’s insurance certificate as Additional Insured. 

8. Ask for space (and staging) requirements from your entertainers. This includes length, depth, height and placement. Verify with the venue that this can be accommodated. If it can’t, find out how flexible your entertainers are regarding these dimensions and placement. Many performers can do their show with no staging platform at all if necessary but they will all need a certain amount of space to set up. Know what this is.

Celebrity lookalikes

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Everyone wants their party to be memorable. One fun idea is to hire celebrity lookalikes to mingle with your guests. Nothing loosens up a stuffy corporate crowd quite like sharing cocktails with Gaga or Elvis.

A couple of months ago a friend of mine who happens to be a pianist was hired for a corporate party. What he didn’t know was that they had hired Michael Buble, Bette Midler and Elton John impersonators to work the party as well. Before he took the stage, he spoke with all three and asked if they would mind singing with him. He figured out what songs they could all do, and then they began their act. After the act the impersonators were mingling with the guests. The acts continued doing the show again and then 30 minutes later Elton took over the stage with a medley of his greatest hits,

I thought that the choices of Michael Buble and Elton John impersonators were particularly inspired because they are both over-the-top personalities and you can’t help but have a good time and smile in the face of such flamboyance. I think Lady Gaga, Tina Turner, Prince, Beyoncé and other larger-than-life entertainers would all be great choices too.

Of course there are brides have been hip to this for decades. Just think of the many marriages in Vegas that have been officiated by Elvis. But you don’t have to be in Vegas to get married by the likes of Cher or Sharon Osborne. Just look on our list of celebrity lookalikes and see who could be at your party!!

International party ideas

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At Red Masque entertainment we are always on the lookout for interesting and unique party ideas for our blog. This week’s post is about using international themes for your event. Every culture has its traditional outfits and performers, and many of these performers are available for hire.  Here are some ideas:

1. Moroccan nights with belly dancers, snake charmers, hukas and waiters dressed in caftans. Drape the place in beautiful Moroccan fabrics; add candlelight and torches and you’ve got yourself something special.

2. Bollywood theme with traditional Indian Marquees (think an extravagantly decorated tent with lots of throw pillows and fabrics), beautiful Indian ladies in lovely silk saris, Henna artists and Yogis.

3. A sushi night with Japanese geishas dancing and playing traditional instruments such as the shamisen or shakuhachi, and singing. If you want a more hearty fare, hire Tepanyaki chefs to cook in front of your guests. What could be better than a fire-shooting volcano made of onions?!

4. Argentinian Tango night with costumed dancers/instructors, plain wooden tables with candles or lanterns, low lights, bottles of Malbac, tango posters or paintings on the wall. Remind the guests to dress in black and red.

5. A Queen’s Jubilee with royal footmen, cockney tourists, and a royal court. High tea anyone? If that’s too high-brow, just add a Beatles tribute band.

6. Brazilian Carnival with costumed stilt walkers, samba dancers, Brazilian bands, and vibrant carnival costumes and statues.

7. Chinese Circus with fire performers, Chinese circus acts, martial art dancers and extreme martial art performers. Throw in some body painters and origami and calligraphy artists just for fun.

We sure you have some of your own ideas, and at Red Masque Entertainment we are sure that you will be able to hire exactly what you had in mind.

Casino Night…

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One of the most popular events we’ve seen used for corporate team building “entertainment” is a Casino night. Each attendee is given a set number of chips and one raffle ticket at the beginning of the night and at the end of the night they can trade their winnings in for tickets towards a raffle. The more they win “gambling” the better the chances are of winning a prize in the raffle. If there are sponsors of the overall event, you can ask them for raffle donations. Otherwise, corporate branded items, M&S Vouchers/Amazon gift cards, etc. can be used. I’d suggest one raffle item for each 10-15 attendees. They don’t need to be high value, although it’s nice to have one “grand prize” type item. Keep in mind if people have flown in for the event, size matters.

As you watch you’ll see alliances being formed and a lot of teamwork and coaching as more experienced players assist other players and players strategize with each other to defeat players deemed to be winning too often.

Sometimes there may be a few people not want to participate for religious/cultural reasons, and you should always have alternates for them–usually a couple of games suitable for two such as checkers and Uno to start, but they are always joined by people who have lost all their chips fairly quickly and you can have Pictionary with white boards set up for team play.

If you’ve ever been to Las Vegas, you’ll know that Illusionists is a wildly popular form of entertainment that dovetails with the Casino party environment. This also works as an additional team building activity, as a good Illusionist show offers opportunities for group participation, and interaction both with the entertainers and among the participants.

Famous classical music composers

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Find the best in Classical Music available for hire in the UK today. From solo performers to full orchestras, the performance of classical music repertoire demands a significant level of technical mastery on the part of the musician.

Classical music may not enjoy as much popularity as it used to in its golden age from 17th to the early 20th century. But it continues to impress and inspire, especially the works by the greatest composers of all times. Some of them may have lived hundreds of years ago but their masterpieces simply remain unsurpassed.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

German organist, composer, violist and violinist is widely regarded as one of the best classical composers of all times. Best known works by Bach include the Brandenburg Concertos, Air on the G String, Toccata and Fugue in D minor and Arioso, to mention only a few. 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Austrian composer impressed his contemporaries already as a child. At the age of 5, he mastered keyboard and violin, Some of most famous and most widely performed Mozart’s works include Requiem, Symphony No. 40, operas The Magic Flute and The Marriage of Figaro, Piano Sonata No 16 in C Major, Symphony No. 25, Piano Concerto No. 21 and Piano Sonata No. 11 (Mov. 3 – Turkish March).

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

German composer and pianist was the most outstanding figure in the transition between Classical and Romantic periods, some of his best works including the 9th symphony were created after he became almost completely deaf. Other notable works by Beethoven include Sonata No. 14 (Moonlight Sonata), 5th Symphony, 6th Symphony, Bagatelle No. 25 (Für Elise) and Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op.73.

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)

The celebrated Italian composer is best known for his operas that remain popular to this day. Verdi established himself as the dominant figure of the 19th century Italian classical music. Verdi’s most famous operas besides Nabucco include La traviata, Rigoletto, Aida, Don Carlos, Othello and Falstaff.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Most famous Russian classical music composer wrote in a variety of genres. He composed symphonies, operas, concertos, chamber music, sacred choral music, overtures, suites and ballets. Some of his best known works include his three ballets The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and the Sleeping Beauty, Marche Slave, First Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Overture 1812, Symphony No. 6, Fantasy Overture (Romeo and Juliet), Serenade for Strings and opera Eugene Onegin. 

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

Just like Mozart, Chopin was a very gifted child and established himself as one of the foremost Polish composers at a very young age. Some of his best known works include Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2, Funeral March (Prelude in C minor), Minute Waltz (Waltz in D-flat major), Revolutionary Etude (Op.10, No.12) and Fantasie-Impromptu (Op. Posth. 66). 

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

Italian Baroque composer and violin virtuoso continues to be admired throughout the globe for his works, especially for his instrumental concertos for violin. His greatest masterpiece is a series of violin concertos called Le quattro stagioni (The Four Seasons). 

Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)

He is widely referred to as “the greatest Italian opera composer after Verdi” and “the last of Italy’s great opera composers”. His works – La Boheme, Tosca, Madame Butterfly, Il trittico and Turandot are indeed masterpieces and are among the most widely performed operas in the standard repertoire. The mentioned operas also contain a number of outstanding stand-alone arias including Mi chiamano Mimi, O soave fanciulla, Che gelida manina, E lucevan le stelle, Un bel di vedremo, O mio babbino caro and Nessun Dorma. 

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

German-born British composer is widely considered one of the greatest masters of the Baroque era and one of Britain’s foremost classical composers. His greatest works include the Messiah, Sarabande, Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks, to mention only a few. 

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)

Russian born French and then American composer, conductor and pianist is one of the most outstanding and influential 20th century composers. He was and still is admired worldwide for the novelty of his works which, however, also caused a great deal of controversy in his time. Stravinsky’s greatest works include The Firebird, Petrushka, The Rite of Spring, A Soldier’s Tale, and The Song of the Nightingale, Mavra, Oedipus Rex, the Symphony in C and the Symphony in Three Movements

If you are having a very classy affair that demands the very best, or having a theatrical evening that needs a full orchestra to make your play even more dynamic then hiring our Classical music artists will be a very good decision on your part.