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Surprise artists at your event

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Hire singing waiters, policemen, firemen and a whole host of other comedy singing acts from Red Masque directory to make your event unforgettable. Discover what surprise entertainment we offer and how they’ll positively impact your event!

When you’re planning an event, you want to keep your guests entertained throughout, so the energy and enjoyment never dips. Giving them something new just when they are least expecting it is a great way to create a buzz, and to give guests something to talk about apart from the food or the football! And nothing fits the bill quite like a surprise act, be it singing waiters, firemen, or chefs.

The idea is really simple; your guests have no idea that the waiter who has been serving them, or the fireman who seems to be worried about the smoke alarms, are in fact highly talented singers, ready to grab a microphone and burst into song. As one waiter starts to sing, another suddenly joins in, and then a ‘guest’ can’t seem to resist joining in either. It’s particularly effective during a formal dinner.

It’s a great way of breaking up a meal and giving your guests something hugely entertaining when they are least expecting it!

Before the audience have had time to work out who might be part of the act, they are being royally entertained by superb singers performing anything from famous opera songs to the latest West End hits, often close up to their tables.

The voices, the energy, the performance, they are all something that you just can’t duplicate in any other way. The ‘singing waiters’ introduction is a light way to create a surprise and add a great deal of fun.

What the guests see, of course, is just the end product of a great deal of planning and preparation. Professional entertainment acts make sure that everyone behind the scenes is in the know and fully prepared, while the real guests haven’t a clue what’s going on! It’s also about preparing a scenario that is perfect for your event.

And it doesn’t just have to be waiters, guests or catering staff.

For example the client is asked to provide a photograph of one of the guests that one of the acts is going to pretend to “arrest” for non-payment of a parking ticket! Once the ‘policemen’ start singing, they perform an amazing act containing everything from opera to Rat Pack and Grease

Messing about on the river…

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You don’t have to own a mega yacht to hold a party on the water! The UK has a great assortment of water-based venues for hire, from barges to battleships; Red Masque entertainment directory has a wealth of entertainment to make your event something really special.

We have listed a few ideas of maritime venues and entertainment that seem just made for each other!

HMS BELFAST IN LONDON
Yes, you can hire this iconic WWII battleship moored on the Thames. Hold an intimate drinks party in the Admiral’s Quarters, or enjoy great views of London from the Quarterdeck with 450 of your closest friends for your wedding reception. 

LIVERPOOL LUXURY YACHT
Why not party like a Lottery winner for your hen night on your own private luxury yacht, sailing from the famous Albert Docks in Liverpool out into the Irish Sea to the iconic Anthony Gormley statues (weather permitting). Perfect for you and your very own Ocean’s Twelve (i.e. 12 people max). Then why not book some dancing when you return back to the Albert Docks where you can hire a venue and dance the night away with some great female, male or group singers which will really make your party a night to remember!!

MANCHESTER PARTY BARGE
Manchester barge The Bohemia can whisk you and up to 60 guests along the hidden waterways of central Manchester for a birthday party or anniversary celebration with a difference. With space to enjoy live music on your travels, and a route that takes you past the iconic Old Trafford football ground, this is an evening to savour. Other iconic waterways offering party barges including the Tiverton Canal, Lancaster Canal and the city with more canals than Venice – Birmingham!

For entertainment ideas for smaller venues such as a barge, opt for a compact musicians that play all your favourite hits with the minimum of kit. If these aren’t appealing, why not look on our gallery of artists to see which suits your tastes as we have many to choose from. From singers to magicians, we have every entertainment option covered.

THE BRISTOL PACKET
Charter a boat to party on the River Avon as it flows through the Avon Gorge, under the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge and out to sea. The Bristol Packet company offer a choice of boats, including a traditional river steamer, an Amsterdam sightseeing boat, and an all-weather cruiser made for parties. All boats have a full bar and food can be provided. You will need some music so hire the perfect DJ from Red Masque entertainment directory.

SPITBANK FORT – THE SOLENT

OK, it’s not a boat, but it is very much on the sea! Spitbank Fort is a Napoleonic gun emplacement just 30 minutes boat ride off the coast at Portsmouth. It’s been converted into a luxurious party venue complete with roof top hot pool, sauna and fire pit. Start the fun with water sports during the day, then chill out in the pool before dinner with a drink from the bar, and dance the night away under the stars. No need for you and your best friends to worry about a taxi home either; the fort has nine bedrooms and sleeps 18! 

So what acts could you hire for this fort? Pretty much anything you like, as loud as you like – there are no neighbours to annoy! 

Retirement party ideas…

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Traditionally a gold watch was given to prized employees retiring after 30 years, though long service medals and other gifts were often given depending on the nature of the job or the type of work carried out.

If you’re planning a party for a work colleague, a novel idea is to give a countdown clock which runs backwards for 6 months until the last day of work, ideal for someone whose retirement can’t arrive too soon!

These days the whole emphasis of working life is much more temporary than ever before in history, with few people expecting to stay in the same employment for 30 months, let alone 30 years!

If you, or someone you know, have been lucky enough to keep the same job right up to retirement age then they certainly deserve a fun-filled and exciting send off.

Party Themes…

To decide on a theme for your party, choose something relevant to the retiree, for example a favourite hobby, a work related topic, their favourite musical era or the place they’re retiring to, especially if this is abroad.

A popular theme is to dress up and hire a live band to suit the era when the retiree started work. For the 50’s choose a rock n roll band or Elvis Tribute singer for the 60’s go with a Beatles tribute band, for the 70’s how about a 70’s party tribute act? The options are endless.

We also have a great range of lookalike artists so why not surprise the retiree with a visit from their favourite celebrity or sports star?

Decorate to suit the theme…

You should dress the entire venue with memorabilia, ‘Happy Retirement’ banners and party decorations which follow the theme in seamless detail. Lots of companies supply party props and ‘scene setters’.

If you choose a golf theme for example then decorate the room as a golf course, with elaborate sand pits, flags, golf ball name settings and card board cut outs of famous golfers. Everyone should arrive in outrageous golfing trousers and pringle jumpers, and if your venue is a golf club why not include half an hour on the driving range before dinner?

This is your life!

A great idea for a surprise retirement party is to hold your own version of the TV show ‘This is your life’.

Friends, family and colleagues will love collecting stories, photos and tales of long-forgotten, and often best forgotten antics from the workplace or otherwise. Try and get in touch with old colleagues or long lost friends and invite them along in secret, introducing them at the perfect moment for an emotional reunion.

A confident younger relative or the retiree’s manager should compére the event. Buy a ‘big red book’ as an album for the collection and present it to the retiree at the end of the night.

Plan and preparation

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It’s good to choose your music when hosting a party. This is very important when you’re using the services of a DJ or when you’re hiring a band. You don’t just allow them to play any type of music they want. You can offend your guests if you allow them play as they wish. Selecting music at events is never an easy task. Here are simple tips to follow:
 

Consider the Party Theme

You need to consider the theme of the party before selecting the music. The theme depends on the type of party you’re hosting. If for instance you’re hosting a Christmas party, you may consider selecting music pieces or songs that depict that season.  If you’re hosting a cocktail or dinner party, you should also choose music files that will suit the occasion.

 

Engage a Live Music Band

You can engage a live music band for your party event. You still have to pick specific music files for the band. You have to arrange a meeting with the band ahead of time. You need to iron out some issues before hiring the band. You have to ask the managers some questions regarding the band’s instruments, attires, songs and other aspects.

Hire a good  DJ

You can hire a good DJ for your party and also select specific songs for him. You have to give the DJ specific instructions regarding the songs he will play. You should try as much as you can to hire a professional DJ who can render quality services.

Meanwhile, there are different kinds of songs you can choose when thinking of selecting music at events. You can go for gospel songs, rock music, jazz, disco, and so on. The type of party you’re hosting determines the kind of songs to select.

If you’re using the services of a DJ or a live band, you have to be very careful. You need to ask questions before choosing any band or DJ. You can make inquiries from a reliable entertainment directory.

Before you choose any band or DJ, you need to get in touch with them at first. You can arrange a special meeting to iron out things with the professionals. You’ll end up making the right choice when you invest enough time in selecting the best musical pieces.

A work of art

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Madame Tussauds Famous for its incredible wax works of celebrities and royalty from around the world, Madam Tussauds is also an award winning themed venue that has been hosting high-profile events for over fifty years.

Situated right in the heart of London, the venues offers five themed areas that can host events with up to 1,000 guests. Each event space can be adapted to suit your events exact requirements making it an ideal location for award dinners, presentations, gala events and press conferences. The World Stage Ballroom was designed to impress with a grand stage, back projected screen, full lighting rig and plasma screens. LED lighting can be programmed to display specific colours to suit your corporate identity or theme. The largest space in Madame Tussauds, it is perfect for a whole host of corporate events and can even accommodate smaller events with adjustable and removable walls that can be used to create a more intimate space.

Not forgetting that this venue’s main attraction is its spectacular collection of wax works, guests can walk through over 200 years of history and with the museum-style ropes and poles gone they can also get up close and personal with historical icons, A-list celebrities and sporting legends. Not only is Madame Tussauds a great venue for corporate event entertainment but it also offers team building exercises and incentives: staff also have the chance to go behind the scenes and see how a waxwork is made at Madam Tussauds, ride through London’s history in a mini black cab and battle with Marvel Super Heroes in a 4D movie experience!

A popular choice for high-profile celebrity launches, Madame Tussauds is an impressive event space twice voted the UK’s number 1 favourite venue! No entertainment is more apt to accompany your event at this exclusive venue than one of our real life lookalikes available for hire. Why not invite 007, or Elton John to entertain guests, as they pose for photos and suavely mingles with guests.

Setting the scene

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Beach Blanket Babylon is a decadent venue in trendy Shoreditch perfect for exclusive events and celebrations with an impressive capacity of up to 800 people. The venue has a number of opulent event spaces on offer that lend themselves perfectly to stylish corporate networking events, cocktail receptions, corporate dinners, gala events, conferences and fashion shows.

The Champagne Lounge is ideal for private parties of up to 300 guests with rich wooden surrounds, decadent mood lighting and unique decorations. The Gallery offers a versatile self-contained space, with rustic wooden floors and white walls it is the perfect blank canvas for conferences and exhibitions and can hold up to 175 guests. The Mezzanine and The Bar are both gorgeous spaces; The Mezzanine elegantly holds up to 70 guests while the vibrant cosmopolitan bar holds up to 250 guests.

To complete the look and enhance the atmosphere Red Masque entertainment have a few Jazz bands to hire on our books from London provide standout musical entertainment that will.

The floating cinema is one of London’s top 8 coolest art venues in 2013, the floating cinema is now available for private hire offering a unique event space for product launches, corporate away days, film shoots and special occasions.

This intimate venue has a capacity of 12 passengers when cruising and 20 people standing while static.  The Floating Cinema is a purpose-built wide beam barge with a flexible ‘whitespace’ auditorium that offers a unique and original experience for guests. The space can be easily reconfigured to accommodate meetings and team building sessions. As a cinema it offers state of the art high-spec lighting and surround-sound facilities, a fully equipped cinema auditorium space and a stunning central viewing deck from which guests can enjoy a new perspective of London’s most iconic views.

The Warner Bros Studio in London – home to Harry Potter film sets – offers an exciting event space not just for fans of the Harry Potter franchise. Corporate event organisers can choose to host exclusive dinners and award ceremonies in the Great Hall, sip cocktails and tankards of butter beer in the Three Broomsticks, and host networking events in Dagon Alley.

What better entertainment to accompany a corporate event in the place where Harry Potter was filmed than a string quartet that will create an atmospheric setting fit for the Harry Potter films and could even play the film franchise’s iconic theme tune!

Make it an event to remember…

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Here at Red Masque we have the best artists, performers and suppliers to hire out for your special event; We know it’s quite hard to come up with different things to do so we have suggested some great things to consider to ensure you have the best possible party entertainment available. 

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 your own 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 your party group are the outdoors type and the weather is permitting then have you considered organise some giant garden games? Fun for all ages and guaranteed to keep your guests entertained for hours!

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. From basic juggling to learning the high wire, it’s a guaranteed winner for any event.

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”! Hire some professional actors for your evening to make the night as realistic as possible. A professional team can organise the whole thing for you from costumes to invitations. 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….!

There are a whole host of event entertainers out there to book, just glance through our entertainment categories and see for yourself.

Design & Decorate

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Add a magical atmosphere to any occasion with professional, internal and external party and event lighting and special effects equipment for any occasion large or small. Bring your party to life with a huge range of event lighting for any type of occasion and create an atmosphere that will amaze the crowd and leave a lasting impression. A special party needs to hired Lighting to bring it to life and add that extra sparkle to the party. You can make your own but we guarantee it won’t be nearly as effective as professional Lighting that can be hired from our suppliers featured on Red Masque. Think big and you will have the most specular display of Lighting that far exceeded your expectations. 

Decorations are also key to a good event, it could be that you have just opened up a new outlet and need some good décor for a contemporary or vintage look. Hire some professional decoration experts to really make your party or launch really take shape and really stand out from your competitors. Whether it’s a small intimate gathering or lavish and opulent event, setting the right scene for your event can make all the difference. From unique marquee overlays to funky bars and wedding venues, make sure your event looks the part with a stunning setting that will guarantee to leave a lasting impression on your guests.

Dance floors can also be hired for your party or event. From pure white dance floors with twinkling starlights to elegant oak parquet. Make your party really stand out from the rest with a funky dance floor that will entice your guests to dance the night away and help to create a truly memorable event.

Red Masque directory provides a full profile for each listing with descriptions, photo galleries, price guides, reviews, videos, audio and more…

Artistic events

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If you wanted something a little different at your event, then why not hire an artist? From charicaturists to silhouette artists, hiring a portrait artist for an event is guaranteed to be a highlight at any function. Make sure that your guests are entertained and that everyone involved can leave with a fabulous memento of the occasion. The perfect party pleaser for any event.

How about a Graffiti artist? Think of Banksy; he is one great artist that certainly knows his stuff. If you were organising a street party theme then why not hire some Graffiti artists to really make your theme ‘come to life’. Graffiti artisis create stunning pieces, live in front of guests. Aerosol art is a fast growing form of recognised artwork in the UK and can be a visually satisfying treat appreciated and admired not just by the youth of today but by all ages.

Or what about human works of art? Human statues bring a stylish element to any event and add surprise and comedy when they come to life. A live Statue always make a great addition to any party and with themes from Hollywood to Halloween there is always something to suit every occasion.

Our directory provides a full profile for each listing with descriptions, photo galleries, price guides, reviews, videos, audio and more…


Comedy & Drag

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Comedy road shows are very current at the moment – as are the comedians that go with it. If you were arranging a Gala evening laden with great comedians, than look no further as you will be able to hire all your acts from us.

Comedians are able to cater for all genres; it could be a family show or an adult only themed evening. Hire a comedian for your party 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.  

Drag Queens cater for all but are at their best with their added ‘blue’ humour. 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.

Find the very best professional comedians and drag queens for hire in the business. They provide a combination of stand up comedy, impressions and musical numbers for an evening of adult comedy you’ll be sure to remember.

So don’t delay book through Red Masque entertainment directory for the best entertainers and performers in the business,