Author Archives: bigfoot

1. Murraywood Construction’s 20th Anniversary Celebration

   29th April 2020 3:27 pm Leave a Comment

   The Brief

   We were approached by Murraywood Construction, a leader in building civil engineering groundwork projects of all sizes and turning over in excess of £24M per year, to organise an event to celebrate their 20^th anniversary in business. With their clients being situated all over the UK, they wanted to thank them for their continued support by bringing them all together for a wine and dine evening. Not only that, but they also wanted to take this opportunity to raise money for an incredible charity – St Rocco’s Hospice in Warrington, a registered charity who support people with life-limiting illnesses, making their everyday count.

   The Challenges

   We love creating unique, showstopping, memorable experiences for our clients, and overcoming the challenges each event brings. The venue and suite chosen by the client only had one bar area, and we knew it was extremely important to the client that we ensured everyone was able to access refreshments throughout the evening in a timely fashion. As the event was partly to raise money for charity, we had to incorporate ways for people to be able to donate, as well as manage the donations and collections. As this was going to be a business, networking event, we had to ensure that there was enough variety of entertainment, activities and icebreakers that will get people talking and interacting with each other. We have over 15 years’ experience in event planning and providing unique, outside-the-box, live entertainment, props, and décor to events, so we knew that despite these challenges, we could create a sophisticated, elegant, entertaining affair.

   The Solutions

   In order to overcome any issues on the day of the event, and to make sure we brought our client’s vision to life, we arranged several site visits to the venue, the Midland Hotel in Manchester, and meetings with our client, which resulted in creating mood boards with clear pictures of venue décor, colour schemes, entertainment options and site layouts, so that we maintained consistency throughout the event planning process. With the brief in mind, we decided to create a fantastic Casino Themed night with Roulette, Wheel of Fortune & Blackjack tables. We added a 4 metre LED Cocktail Bar with a menu of 8 bespoke Cocktails to keep the refreshments flowing, in addition to a stocked fridge in another area, containing bottled beers, ciders and soft drinks that guests could help themselves to throughout the evening.

   The Results

   Bringing the Casino theme to life, guests were greeted on arrival and offered a choice of Prosecco, Kia Royale, and bottled beers by glamourous Showgirls. They were then offered a photograph with the Showgirls by a talented photographer before heading into Auden Way, where they walked through a beautifully decorated walkway filled with enlarged photographs of projects Murraywood had worked on over the last 20 years – this alone was a great talking point between guests.

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   Moving on to the Alex Foyer where a fantastic Photo Booth with fancy dress and props was situated for guests to create even more wonderful memories. Speaking of capturing memories, guests were delighted with an incredibly skilful caricaturist, who took pride in creating scarily accurate cartoon portraits of the guests as they laughed and tried to keep a straight face whilst holding their best pose. We cannot forget a certain magician who made a special appearance on the night – the mind-blowing Russell Brown, who is one of the greatest magicians in the UK today, and definitely knows how to work a crowd, as well as entertain and even baffle the most skeptical of guests!

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   Our client wanted entertainment everywhere you turned, so in the Petersfield Suite, we had Dance Heads, a green-screen phenomenon where guests can turn themselves into Beyoncé  or One Direction for the night – and take away a DVD to prove it! And sticking with the Casino theme, our staff organised personalised ‘funny money’ for guests to use in Casino tournaments, where the top 3 winners won big prizes that were donated by local businesses. Guitar Jimmy was our Busker and the live entertainment for the evening, equipped with a guitar and a harmonica, he sang soaring renditions of everything from The Beatles to Ed Sheeran, inviting guests to place requests for him to sing!

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   As this event is partly to raise money for charity, we organised fun personalised Lapel Pins to be handed out to each guest at registration. Each Lapel Pin had a unique number on it for when guests took part in a Charity raffle later on in the evening. Finally, what is a wine and dine evening, without the wine? We brought in a 15ft LED Cocktail Bar with three of the UK’s top Flair Bartenders who served up eight different cocktails all evening. Each bartender was trained to Competition Level in Flair Cocktail Bar Service and put on a jaw-dropping display, whilst creating some delicious drinks! This was one of the most popular acts of the evening, as the talented bartenders served over a thousand cocktails and mocktails throughout the night.

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   The Casino part of the evening finished at 9.30pm as we totted up the three winners of the table games just in time for the awards and charity raffle taking place at 10pm. Our event DJ then made the necessary announcements, congratulated the winners, thanked everyone for donating and introduced the Beat Street International – the ultimate corporate party band! Big Foot Events have worked with Beat Street International for several years now, and this incredible 7-piece live band featuring male and female lead vocalists, a Sax and Trumpet player, know no bounds when it comes to entertaining! With belting hits and an energetic live energy never seen before, this live band had the dance floor full within minutes – and the Sax player even led a conga line around the room!

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   Speaking of the main function room, it looked truly superb, with delicately placed and beautifully presented drapes, table centrepieces, chair covers as well as up lighting and giant glittery moving heads flicking across the dance floor, not forgetting Casino tables and Casino games – the whole evening was a complete extravagant and memorable spectacle. The Big Foot Events team worked impeccably to ensure a smooth running event from start to finish.

   Clients and guests alike had a marvellous time, although there might have been some sore heads the next morning as the cocktails were too delicious to resist!

2. Stay Connected With Customers Through Virtual Events

   27th April 2020 3:49 pm Leave a Comment

   Stay connected with customers, employees and business associates by hosting Corporate Virtual Events.

   Firstly, we would like to say that our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by the Covid-19 Virus. We can appreciate and relate to the substantial impact this isolation is having on not only small businesses, but larger corporations and organisations as well. Here at Big Foot Events, we feel extremely lucky to still be working and planning ahead with our clients, booking high-quality live entertainment for their future events.

   With everything going on in the world right now, and as we are not able to work together in the same environment due to self-isolation, we have been finding new ways to communicate, not only with each other as a team, but also with our lovely clients. And that’s when we came across the new and popular trend of ‘Virtual Events’ – what’s that you ask? A virtual event is an online event that involves people interacting in a virtual environment on the web, rather than meeting in a physical location. You can think of it like Skype – but a lot more fun!

   You can host a business meeting, conference, team briefing or something more large scale such as a training session, live concert, summit or even a product launch with thousands of attendees. In fact, with a Virtual Event, you can host any type of function, party, or business affair for a fraction of the cost of an ‘in person’ event, due to not having venue, catering, and production costs. And the best thing about this upcoming trend is that you can plan, coordinate, and host your event from the comfort of your own home.

   Want to join the ‘Virtual Events’ world and host your own? Here at Big Foot Events, we have put together a ‘go to’ list of tips on how to host a successful Virtual Event.

   1. Create a strategy

   Just like when planning an ordinary ‘in person’ event, you need to have a game plan of what you are going to do, how you are going to do it and when you are going to do it by. Whether it is a big spectacle or a small function, whether it is going to be online or offline, whether it is going to be live or pre-recorded, every event needs a strategy. What do you want to get out of this event? Brand exposure, lead generation or just a fun social event for staff and business associates. How do you want to promote it? Through Social Media or just through your website. Do you plan to collaborate with a partner? Ask yourself these questions before you dive into the execution of your Virtual Event.

   2. Choose a time and date

   Again, just like planning a regular ‘in person’ event, choosing the perfect date and time for your event is crucial to its success. It sounds incredibly simple, but before deciding when to host it, do some research first. Check to see if there are any other events happening at your chosen time and decide if that event will impact your events attendance. You should also take into consideration the different time zones, especially if you plan to go Global.

   You need to choose a time that will work for all invitees. However, as this could prove tricky, we suggest targeting local individuals or businesses that share the same time zone as you. You can always record or live stream your event and put it on your website and Social Media for people to watch at a time that suits them. It may be worthwhile hosting multiple Live Streaming and Virtual Events for different time zones to reach a broader audience.

   3. Make sure you have the correct equipment

   Making sure you have all the equipment necessary to not only host your event, but make it run smoothly is essential. The great thing about ‘Virtual Events’ is that you do not need high tech and expensive equipment, in fact, all you need is a laptop, tablet or phone as well as a microphone and camera – It can be that simple. If you want to create something more unique and interesting for your attendees and highlight your business in a creative way, then add lighting and sound systems to enhance your viewers viewing experience. The last thing you want is technical issues that may cause a negative experience for attendees, resulting in a bad reputation or a lack of interest for your business. Therefore, make sure you test run and check your equipment works perfectly before the day of your actual event.

   4. Engage with your audience

   It is essential to engage with your audience; not engaging will cause people to lose interest in you and tune out, or worse – click off your event. There are a few simple but effective ways to connect with your audience virtually, including through the chat feature on your Live Streaming platform. Ask questions and prompt people to respond in the chat.

   Incentivise people to watch your live stream, seminar, podcast, webinar, training class or product launch until the end with a prize or special announcement. Encourage live tweeting with branded hashtags and include polls and quizzes for added interaction and fun. Ask for questions or simply shout out names of people who are just tuning in, and at the end, you should ask for feedback. Do not forget to have some rules for chat moderation if you are hosting a big live event with many attendees.

   5. Promote your event

   Promoting your event is key to achieving success. There is nothing worse than putting hours of effort into planning an event – virtual or live, and not promoting it properly and having no one turn up – or in this case, not tune in. It is crucial to implement a smart marketing strategy. Whichever way you choose to get the word out there, make sure you highlight the key selling points your event has to offer attendees.

   It could be a noteworthy speaker, skill sharing, an opportunity to network, and more. If you are just wanting to find a unique way to connect with your employees, then make sure you send a clear invitation stating the date and time – and why they should want to attend. Promote using Social Media, Website and Google ads to target a specific audience quickly and effectively. You could also use LinkedIn’s InMail ads for a more personal approach rather than a generic sponsored ad. One thing that is a must is promoting your event through your chosen Streaming platform. This will make it easy for people to access your event details and generate ‘walk up’ leads – equivalent to when people walk up to your event out of curiosity.

   With the above tips on creating a successful Virtual Event, you can generate a unique way of showcasing your company to potential new customers and raise brand exposure or keep connected with staff, business associates and existing customers.

   Take a look at Big Foot Events website for corporate themed event packages and source alternative virtual live entertainment.

3. The Greatest Showman Themed Conference & Gala Dinner.

   12:46 pm Leave a Comment

   The Brief

   One of our clients enlisted our help to create a 2-day ‘The Greatest Showman’ themed Conference and Gala Dinner for their employees and business associates. With strong company values and a committed, dedicated, passionate and hardworking team, we knew that this event had to be a unique, outside the box, never-seen-before affair. The overall concept of this event was to hold a screening of ‘The Greatest Showman’ film on the first day, followed by a Gala dinner for 110 guests on the second day

   The Challenges

   Here at Big Foot Events, we love a new challenge, and as this event was being held on the empty grounds of the De Vere Latimer Estate in Chesham, we had to build the venue from the ground up. This definitely was a difficult challenge, but due to our 15 years’ experience in providing live entertainment and personalised party packages to the outdoor events industry, our team was able to create our very own impressive, authentic and giant ‘Big Top’ – otherwise known as a Circus tent.

   In order for this event to run smoothly, be successful and give our clients a memorable experience – for all the right reasons, we had to make sure that all of our props and technical equipment worked perfectly during the 2-day event. Due to the nature of the event being Circus themed, it was crucial that the production throughout the evening ran on time and went off without a hitch. And finally, as this was going to be a large scale event with a lot of staging equipment as well as lighting and sound systems, it was important that we made sure the unloading, setting up and packing up of the equipment did not damage the hotel grounds or disturb other guests staying at the hotel

   The Solutions

   In order to overcome any technical or production issues on the evening of the event, and to make sure we brought our client’s vision to life, we arranged several site visits and meetings with both the venue and our client, which resulted in creating mood boards with clear pictures of colour schemes, décor and venue layouts, so that we maintained consistency throughout the event planning process. We also went through all health and safety regulations with the required authorities and issued copies of all certifications needed to the venue for this event to be able to go ahead as planned.

   The Results

   On the 1st day, guests walked up to our incredible Big Top tent, which in true ‘Greatest Showman’ fashion, consisted of red and cream décor throughout. And continuing with the theme, inside the Circus tent were comfy bean bags, hay bales and a ginormous Cinema screen with a projector for when the screening of the film started. And the fun did not stop there, as well as delicious Candy Floss and Popcorn carts for snacks, there were also several miniature outdoor heaters to enhance the cosy film night vibe. It was 1 hour and 45 minutes of laughter, tears, heartache and compete admiration – if you have watched ‘The Greatest Showman’, then you will completely understand all of these emotions.

   

   The 2nd day was when the fun really began, as we had an evening of pure mind-blowing, wacky, and mesmerising live entertainment planned for guests. The Circus tent was transformed from the cosy movie night environment that took place the night before into an incredibly realistic Circus tent. Classically decorated with Circus props, décor, and live entertainment, it looked as if the Circus really had come to town. The tables were decorated to of course match the theme, with colourful table centres, table linens and chair covers, as well as added extras such as table mirrors, crystals, and tea lights – which just added to the overall Circus experience.

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   Guests were greeted on arrival with drinks and canapes and then showed to their seats by our friendly staff. We then had our sensational Circus performers including Stilt Walkers, Acrobatic performers, Fire Breathers and even a Snake Whisperer entertain guests throughout the dinner. And the entertainment did not stop there, as the Bearded Lady, Strong Men, and even the Ring Master himself made a special appearance to meet, interact and take a great selfie with guests before the evening entertainment.

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   We provided a full stage with sound and lighting packages, as well as AV with multiple screens and image projectors that set the mood for a well-lit dinner, as well as created a lively party atmosphere for the main evening show. The show consisted of a 4-piece tribute act performing a 60-minute vocal show of all ‘The Greatest Showman’ hits, accompanied by a troupe of sensational dancers, acrobats, and aerial performers. This was a real talking point of the night and generated a lot of photo and video opportunities with guests singing and dancing along to the music.

   Mixed in with the live entertainment were some extra special interactive activities for guests to enjoy, including the ‘High Striker’ game, where guests battled it out to test who had the most strength, as well as the company branded photobooth with Circus themed props to pose with.

   Due to noise restrictions, we had to come up with alternative entertainment for the after party that would entertain people and keep them from leaving the event early. With this in mind, we provided headphones as well as a DJ to handle the music, and watched in amusement as guests sang, danced, and laughed the night away whilst participating in a silent disco.

   We had such an incredible time creating an amazing 2-day event for our client, and we are delighted that we managed to exceed our client’s expectations and provide their guests with a unique experience they will remember forever.

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4. Host Your Own Virtual Event

   21st April 2020 12:51 pm Leave a Comment

   Here at Big Foot Events, we’ve put together a ‘go to’ list on how to plan your very own Virtual Event!

   Let’s be real here, the Covid 19 Virus has really affected our social lives, from not being able to see friends and family, having a laugh at work with our favourite co-worker or being able to attend that festival, party or social gathering we’ve been waiting all year for. We’re all desperately longing for some social interaction and fun!

   Which is why with everything going on in the world, it’s time to think outside of the box, get creative and not let this incredibly scary time stop us from enjoying our lives. And for that reason alone, Virtual Events are fast becoming the next big thing! You can host your own themed party, have a BBQ in your back garden with friends and family or put on your very own music festival – all virtually of course!

   This is made possible thanks to new technology and the benefits of the internet, making it easy for you to create your own virtual event and invite anyone in the world to attend. And that’s not even the best part! You can plan all of the events mentioned above from the comfort of your own living room. Yes, that’s right, using just a laptop, speaker and a few extra props, you can host any type of social event from your own home – and have viewers tuning in to watch or join in on the fun. With Virtual Events being all the rage and with more and more people hopping on the trend, it’s easy to blend in and be lost amongst the new ‘virtual events’ world.

   Which is why Big Foot Events has put together a few tips on how to make your Virtual Event so amazing, it will make people feel as though they are right there with you instead of watching through a screen.

   1. Choose a time and date

   It sounds incredibly simple, however choosing a time and date is just, if not even more,important to get right than when planning a normal “in-person” event. It’s especially crucial if you are wanting to host a public event and invite a hell of a lot of people. One of the benefits of hosting an event online is that anyone from around the world can attend, but this can also be a bit of a problem if you don’t narrow down your audience. Trying to attract people from the US, Europe, and Australia all at once for example will be tricky due to the different time zones. Which is why we suggest to keep things simple and choose just one country. The great thing about live streaming is that you can record your event and upload it to your Social Media or Website, so that anyone can choose to watch at a later time or date, no matter where in the world they are located.

   2. Picking the right Streaming Platform

   Now, when it comes to which Streaming platform to use, the list can be quite overwhelming. It might seem easier to choose one you are familiar with; however, you have to remember that you’re not catering to your needs but the needs of your audience. It’s therefore essential to use the Streaming platform that is most likely used by your target audience. You may also want to consider the number of people you want to attend, unlike an in-person event, you are not limited or restricted due to capacity issues since it’s all online. Some of Big Foot Events favourite Streaming Platforms include Twitch, Instagram Live, Brightcove, Facebook Live, YouTube and Periscope.

   3. Get the right equipment

   You can’t put on a Virtual Event without the correct equipment. It would be like walking a dog… without the dog! We’re not saying you need to spend a fortune on high tech equipment. In fact, Virtual Events are extremely cost effective and are considerably cheaper than an in-person event due to not having to pay for a venue. For most Virtual events, all you need is a computer, mobile, camera and speaker. That’s it, it’s that simple. Perfect for family BBQs, quiz nights with friends, Garden parties or any small get together.

   However, if you are wanting to create a more extravagant spectacle, then you will most likely need a few added extras. For example; if you want to put on your own at home music festival or DJ set for people to watch and enjoy some live music, then you’ll need a Tripod, disco lights, PA system or speakers in order to replicate that energetic and lively party atmosphere. You can even connect with other musicians and split your screen with theirs in order to add a variety of entertainment to your event. One of our favourite Party Bands, Boomin, have already tested this idea and collaborated with their talented friends in the music industry – click here and see how well their live music session turned out.

   4. Engage with your audience

   Engaging with your audience can be difficult at any normal event and it’s no different with a virtual one. It can be difficult to engage with people virtually as you can’t exactly find a quiet place to have a one on one conversation. A great way to interact with people is by using the ‘chat’ filter on your Streaming platform. Make sure you reply to as many comments as you can to keep the conversation going. Don’t forget to have some rules for chat moderation if you’re hosting a big live event with many attendees.

   5. Promote your event

   You’ve decided on your type of event, who your audience will be and what date and time it will be held. It’s now time to promote it, which is essential if you don’t want a party for one – one being yourself! A fast and easy way to promote your event and get people interested in attending is to share it on the platform your Streaming it on. Whether that is Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Twitch, sharing it on your chosen platform makes it easier for people to join the event and increases the chance of people just stumbling across it and deciding to join in for the fun of it.

   However, don’t ignore the usual digital marketing strategies, such as Email Invites and Social Media, Website and Google Ads. Why not work with influencers and get Social Media stars to promote it by sharing your invite link on their social channels. You could also pay them to watch or join your event in order to increase event attendance. You could also do a few live streams before the actual event to gain people’s interest and give them a snippet of what’s to come. Whichever way you choose to promote your event, make it effective enough to achieve a great turn out.

   That’s all the tips and tricks Big Foot Events has for you in order to put on one memorable Virtual Event.

   Take a look at Big Foot Events website for party theme ideas and look through the extensive range of fantastic acts for alternative virtual entertainment.

5. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

   20th March 2020 2:27 pm Leave a Comment

   Here at Big Foot Events, we LOVE celebrating this special day.

   We’re definitely all mother’s girls at heart and couldn’t be more thankful for all the love and support they continue to give us all day, every day! We wouldn’t be the hard-working, dedicated, kind-hearted and successful women we are today without the help from our mothers. And for that reason alone, they deserve to be spoilt and made to feel that little bit extra special this Mother’s Day.

   We thought that it would be a great idea to share with you how we’re planning on spending Mother’s Day, so that you can gain some inspiration on what you can do to show your mother how special and loved she is.

   Our colleague Jade has decided to create her very own Spa at home with face masks, hair masks, hot stones, a foot spa, and essential oils in order to treat her Mother to a relaxing pamper night. We all know Christine (Jade’s mother) loves relaxation, meditation but most importantly- skincare, so we’re certain that she will ADORE this surprise.

   Speaking of being at home and surprises, our colleague Helen is treating her Mother to a delicious afternoon tea. With delicious pastries – sweet and savoury, plus her mother’s favourite wine, she’s bringing the luxuriousness of afternoon tea to the comfort of her own home. What makes it even more special is that she’s cooking everything herself! We know that Ann (Helen’s mother) adores her daughter’s home cooking, so she’ll absolutely LOVE this thoughtful surprise.

   We hope you have found some inspiration and wish you all a Happy Mother’s Day! We would LOVE to know what you got up to this Mother’s Day, so feel free to tag us in any pictures or drop us a message on our Facebook, Twitter & Instagram feeds!

6. Valentines Day Gift Ideas

   12th February 2020 10:30 am Leave a Comment

   Buy the perfect gift for your loved one.

   Well, throw me a bow and call me cupid – it’s February! Can you believe it? Here at the Big Foot offices, we’re already on that love train to Valentine’s Day. It’s the time for engagements, anniversaries and most importantly – love.

   If you haven’t already guessed, we’re all hopeless romantics here at the Big Foot offices and love a good proposal story. Who doesn’t love to be wooed and swept of their feet by their knight in shining armour? Or at the very least be showered with hugs and kisses? It’s a day dedicated to love and affection after all. Speaking of showcasing love and affection, we happen to be experts in the field. So, let us shoot our arrow and help make your loved one fall in love with you all over again this Valentine’s Day.

   Now we know what you’re thinking, what’s wrong with the traditional flowers and chocolates as a Valentines Gift? We’ve got two words for you – old fashioned. It’s the year 2020, flowers and chocolates haven’t been fashionable gifts since the nineties – or at least not on their own. Be bold, be unique and be different this Valentine’s Day with out of the box surprises, heart-warming gestures and lovable memories to last a lifetime.

   Flowers

   Now, we’re not saying flowers are completely out of the question, in fact we’re all for a pretty bouquet of roses but why not aim for something more impressive and memorable? We’re thinking something much more upscale – a display of flowers! Weather it’s an intimate evening just the two of you or a get together with friends, a flower display will be a showstopper.

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   Chocolates

   Let’s not forget about chocolates, like we said before, a milk tray or a box of roses is not going to impress your loved one and let’s face it, they deserve better. Do you want to know what will impress? An endless amount of chocolate – yes that’s right, a chocolate fountain is the perfect gift. It’s luxurious and a little bit naughty – perfect for Valentine’s Day.

   

   Something extra special

   Now it’s time to think different, think unique, think bold, think – sexy.  Just imagine, you’ve just got home from a romantic meal and want to keep the night going, you pop open a bottle of Champaigne and head outside to watch the sunset – blissful right? But what if you could end the night feeling relaxed, chilled…and a little hot? That’s right, a hot tub would be the perfect Valentines Gift to treat your loved one with and don’t worry, we’re not telling you to go out and spend thousands on a hot tub, not when you can simply hire one for a reasonable price. We know just what you’re thinking, “sounds perfect, nothing is too much for the love of my life”- and we completely agree.

   

   Something out-of-the box

   If you’re planning on popping the question this Valentine’s Day, then having the perfect backdrop is essential to making it a proposal to remember. The proposal story is something that you will tell again and again to family, friends and anyone else that is willing to listen – so it must be a great story. In our opinion, we love a good night-time proposal, simply because of the aesthetics. There’s nothing more romantic than a candle-lit dinner beneath the stars. If you’re wanting to create something more extravagant than that then we have a few ideas for you, the first being Spark FX – a stunning alternative to fireworks. It’s a stunning light display – almost like a sparkler and it’s a great way to celebrate when your loved one says ‘yes’.

   

   Something spectacular

   If you’re wanting to spice things up and add some entertainment during the night then why not choose a giant bird cage that comes with a gorgeous pole dancer, model, aerial artist or a mix and mingle act? Now hear us out, yes, it is a little unusual and a little out there, but this is the perfect entertainment choice to add elegance, sparkle and a little wow moment to the night. The cage is dressed in flowers, leaves and lights which will make it truly shine at night and not to mention that it will also look fantastic as a backdrop when you bend the knee and decide to capture the moment.

   We hope that we have inspired you to step up the romance this Valentine’s Day and please let us know through our social media if you used any of our Valentines Gift ideas, as we would love to find out if your loved one truly liked the gift. We have a whole range of other fantastic gifts, experiences and Valentine’s Day themed events on our website if you still need further inspiration.

7. Outdoor Event Planning Tips

   28th January 2020 9:15 am Leave a Comment

   We have put together a list of tips that will help you make your outdoor event a success.

   When it comes to planning an event, whether it’s a festival, exhibition, corporate function, wedding, private party or any other type of celebration or showcase, we’re considered experts in the field. So, believe us when we tell you that outdoor events are taking over the events industry by storm.

   Why you ask?

   It’s simple, the aesthetics for one, there’s nothing more pleasing to the eye than being surrounded by natures beautiful scenery. With outdoor events, you’re often working with a blank canvas, making the event set up both practical and fun. Unlike inside venues, there’s no quirky spaces or odd floor layouts to take into consideration – amazing! This means that you can plan the seating, tables, podiums, and mingling areas where you see fit. That being said, hosting an outdoor event isn’t without its flaws, from permits to bad weather, it takes advanced planning in order to execute an outdoor event successfully.

   Location is key

   When you’re looking for the perfect outdoor venue there are a few factors to consider, the first being the time of year. If your event is in the winter months then you can expect to have rain, therefore choosing a field as your outdoor space wouldn’t be a great choice because let’s face it, who wants to be walking on wet, muddy and potentially stodgy grass? Although if your event is in the summer or even Autumn then by all means go ahead, there’s nothing better than a day at the park when the weather is beautiful.

   Another thing to consider…

   If you’re hosting a kids party then it wouldn’t be smart to host it where the floor is hard and jagged for obvious reasons – injuries. Kids like to roam around and be wild and have absolutely no concept of coordination, so it’s best to have some sort of soft surface for them to land on in case they fall. With so many different outdoor spaces, you will definitely find something that will suit your needs.

   Don’t forget about permits

   Once you’ve decided on the perfect outdoor space, you then need to determine what permits you need in order to be able to host your event on that site. The worst thing you could do is not do your research on permits and site regulations and go ahead with your event anyway because not only will it get shut down, but you could also face legal consequences. If your event includes selling alcohol or live music, then you must get a premise licence. It is always good to apply for any licenses at least a month in advance in case any problems arise. If your outdoor venue is privately owned, then the owner could already have a premise licence that they might let you use – it can’t hurt to ask.

   Check the weather

   Unless you have a crystal ball to hand, you will never know what the weather is going to be like on the day of your event. We’ve had people tell us that they’ve had countless sleepless nights because they’ve been too worried about the weather ruining the day. Don’t let the worry of the weather stop you from hosting your event outside as there are many things you can do to make sure your attendees stay dry, cool or warm.

   The first being to always have a backup plan, yes that’s right, it all comes down to a plan B, which is to have an alternative venue indoors in case the weather turns bad. Before it gets to plan B though, you should hire a gazebo or multiple shelter areas for people to stay dry or cool (depending on the weather) because you never know, the weather could change at any time. You may even want to purchase or hire portable outdoor heaters to keep people warm when it’s windy or purchase portable fans to keep people cool when it’s hot. There are many ways to manage the weather, so don’t let it stop you from hosting a stellar event outdoors.

   Theme ideas

   One thing we can all agree on is that anyone who hosts an event wants it to be memorable – for all the right reasons that is. And one of those reasons is the décor, which is a huge part of your theme. Often, the theme is the first thing that makes people interested in your event, so it has to spectacular.

   You could choose to dust of that old cowboy hat you’ve been hiding and host a good old-fashioned hoedown, or even better, get your dancing shoes on as you get into the swing of things with a 1960’s disco. Why not go a little left field and go down the rabbit hole to find the mad hatter, the queen of hearts and Alice? Get excited with a Dinosaur themed party, or steal that naughty list from Santa himself as you host a winter wonderland extravaganza. It’s your event, you can choose whatever theme you like and with so many to choose from, the sky really is the limit.

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   Don’t forget the entertainment

   It’s time for the best part – entertainment! This is one area that we can confidently say we excel at, which is providing the highest quality entertainment that is suitable for any event or function. We have over 25 years’ experience and knowledge running live music events, festivals and providing specialist entertainment to venues, resorts and military events. This means that we know what works, and we know what kind of entertainment will be right for your event. From spectacular, out of this world street performers, world-renowned tribute acts, state-of-the-art interactive entertainment to celebrities and lookalikes – the list is endless!

   Ideas…

   Wanting a party to remember? Book one of our popular club night packages which range from UV paint parties, foam parties, laser shows and live music with the best DJ’s in town. Hosting a summer street fair? We have a fantastic range of outdoor inflatables ranging from bouncy castles to obstacle courses, inflatable football and much more. We also have various food stalls that can be set up easily and provide scrumptious street food. If you’re wanting to add a little luxuriousness to your event, then hire our flair bartenders for an alternative source of entertainment. Watch as they flawlessly perform choreographed performances while serving everyone’s favourite drinks. Like we said before, entertainment is a huge part of any party, event or function so it’s important you make sure it’s something that everyone will enjoy.

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   Clean up

   Your event is over – which, if you followed our tips, was a huge success! It’s time to clean up. Making sure that you have cleaned up the area is extremely important because it will affect your reputation. Someone was nice enough to rent you their space, so it is only fair that you give it back to them the same way you got it.  You can plan with the local sanitation department to clean up afterwards or have a hauling firm on hand to clean up and remove unwanted items once the event is over.

8. Perth Light Switch On 2019

   7th January 2020 2:32 pm Leave a Comment

   The Brief

   We had the honour of being a part of the Perth Christmas Light Switch On 2019. This will be our seventh year collaborating with Perth City Centre on this amazing event. The city of Perth is famous for throwing amazing events for their community and visitors. And for that reason alone, we always aim to provide the very best live entertainment, acts, and entertainers in the UK!
   
   The Challenges
   
   As we mentioned before, this is our seventh year being a part of the famous Perth Christmas Light Switch On, and each year we have to step it up a level! Considering the success of last year’s event, which starred James Arthur and Pixie Lott, and with reports showing that over 90,000 people attended, we had the challenge of leveling up our range of live entertainment for this year’s event.
   
   The Solutions

   In order to maintain our reputation for providing high-quality live events, and to once again give people a unique, never seen before, memorable experience, we had to provide a concoction of live entertainment, Headline acts, performers and activities. We decided on a combination of throwback and current pop artistes, nostalgic and well-known entertainers and unique, out of the box interactive activities for people to enjoy. This way, kids, teenagers, and adults would all be entertained and excited throughout the whole event!
   
   The Results

   Old school chart classics from Atomic Kitten, a fantastic, feel-good set from Chico, and an energetic, folk pop, acoustic live set from Nina Nesbitt kickstarted the day. We had Dario G, N-Trance and Alice DJ putting people in a trance with their old school, pop party bangers. And we cannot forget about the hardcore electronic tracks combined with orchestral sounds of classical music that had everyone up and bouncing back in the day. Is there anyone who does not love the Clubland era?

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   After winning the hearts of the audience last year, returning to host Perth Christmas Switch On again this year was none other than TV presenter Steven Mulhern. And for an extra special surprise, joining him on stage was the wonderful Lionel Vinyl, who never fails to get the crowd disco-dancing. Together they were a force to be reckoned with and the dynamic duo made sure the event ran smoothly and kept the audience entertained throughout!

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   Like we mentioned before, in order to capture the interest of all ages, we had to bring a wide range of entertainment that everyone would enjoy. Therefore, it was no surprise that Basil Brush was surprisingly a crowd favourite not just for the kids but adults too. That is probably because there are not many childhoods in the UK that were not privy to the escapades of the UK’s most mischievous fox! The furry fox’s distinct buck teeth, posh accent and crazy, flailing tail had everyone in stitches for his whole set, and his Elton John finale was a classic! You really had to be there to appreciate how hilarious (and surreal!) the performance was. This was Basil Brush’s second appearance at the Perth Christmas Lights event, and we are sure it will not be his last!

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   For those of you who do not know, the Perth Christmas Light Switch On is not just a live music event, but it is also a whole parade of live entertainment and has exciting activities dotted around Perth City Centre. Some of the crowd’s biggest attractions were our Giant Snow Globe, Mobile Ice Cave, Santa’s Grotto and the Ice Statues, as well as the incredible firework display; of course the Gin & Chocolate stalls also went down a treat!

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   Besides the main stage, there are two other stages where smaller but just as amazing acts perform. We must give special mention to one of our favourite party bands Boomin who performed two sensational sets on the day, both on the Main stage and the Kind Edward stage! Not forgetting our other incredible acts that took to the stage and wowed the audience including roaming party band The Red Hot Santas and Lee Memphis as Elvis Presley.

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   As well as musicians, we also had fantastic street performers working the crowd including; Stilt Walkers, Mirror Men, Pixel Heads, LED Dancers, Toy Story Characters, a team of Husky Dogs, Reindeers, and many, many more.

   The annual Santa parade was a sight to behold as the entire entourage made their way to the main stage for one hell of a show! All of this exciting entertainment was followed by the main event, the Light Switch On – which saw the Provost of Perth push the big red button and set Perth City Centre alight!

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   We would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone involved in making this event a MASSIVE success and we hope to be back again next year for more exciting, out of this world, live entertainment!

9. 3 tips for 2019’s Halloween Events!

   21st October 2019 11:22 am Leave a Comment

   Follow these 3 simple tips for a spooktacular Halloween!

   ELEMENT OF SURPRISE
   Have some trick-or-treats up your sleeve! A Halloween event is predicated on fear and spookiness, so go big.

   The time to get your guests is when they are least expecting it. Are they focused in on a speech? Are they tucking into their food? Or are they preoccupied in conversation?

   Halloween characters and walkabout actors have played a big part in the immensely popular Scare Tours that have opened across the globe. Turn your event into a pop-up Scare Tour and petrify your guests!

   DÉCOR
   Halloween is famous for the supernatural aesthetic that is brought to life through scarily imaginative costumes and gory make-up! But it’s not just the people that need to dress up. It’s your venue too!

   Choosing the right décor for your venue and your guests is imperative.

   Is it a family friendly event where your décor needs to be appropriate for children, such as cartoon posters and candy props like chocolate fingers and spider lollies?

   Or is this an adult Halloween party where the guests want to be entertained and immersed into their own horror film? Terrifying walkabout characters who SPOOK your guests as well as realistic horror settings with blood dripping down the walls will do the trick.

   MUSIC
   Music can never be overlooked, regardless of what theme the event is. But when you consider just how effective music is in horror films, it MUST play a part at your Halloween Event.

   Think about a creepy piano playing in the background (Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield in The Exorcist) or a daunting, orchestral choir with eerie brass and percussion (Ave Santani by Jerry Goldsmith in The Omen). You want the hairs on the back of your guests’ neck to stand up.

   Here’s a frightening Halloween playlist to dig your teeth into:

   • The Crypt Jam – The Crypt Keeper
   • Black Magic Woman – Fleetwood Mac
   • Zombie – The Cranberries
   • Hells Bells – AC/DC
   • Disturbia – Rihanna
   • Thriller – Michael Jackson
   • Stranger Things Soundtrack – Kyle Dixon &
     Michael Stein
   • The Twilight Zone – Jerry Goldsmith
   • (Don’t Fear) The Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult
   • Somebody’s Watching Me – Rockwell
   • Bark At The Moon – Ozzy Osbourne

   Don’t let your event put the fear in you, put the fear into the event!

   BONUS TIP: If you don’t think a spine-chilling playlist will do the trick, you can go BIGGER.
   
   With the recent surge of Scare Tours and Horror Shows, you can bring some Broadway to your event.
   
   For example, The Rocky Horror Tribute Show. A frivolous, lighter-than-most horror show. Your audience will be immersed into an interactive, experiential night of creepy fun!

10. Tips and Tricks for a Smooth Event

    20th September 2019 1:36 pm Leave a Comment

    Plan, pester and perform!

    Ensuring everything is organised nice and early is essential; you don’t want to be getting to the last few days before your event and panicking because you haven’t booked a party band, or you’re having to scroll through google messaging every man and his dog to see if they have a piece of equipment you’ve missed off!

    We have lost count of the number of last-minute calls from clients who have forgotten to book their live entertainment and haven’t thought about the venue décor, so here is our guide to preparing for a smooth-running, stress-free event:

    • Create a timeline for your event; run through the key elements in detail and write a list of every requirement.
    • Research each element; this takes time so make sure you allow plenty!
    • Refer to your checklist daily; tick things off as they are confirmed and contracted and stay on top of people you’re relying on to ensure they fulfill your brief. Don’t be afraid to pester!
    • LEAD! If you have a team or a network of suppliers working on your event, show them what it takes to knock an event out of the park!

    Preparation well in advance will reduce stress, so that when it comes to the final days before the event, you can start to get excited about it!

    Use an Event Planner

    Don’t be put off by the idea of outsourcing someone to do the work for you; by utilising their expertise, knowledge, experience, network of suppliers and vast resources, they will save you time and pressure. Event professionals are the single, most effective way to reduce stress when planning your event. Here’s why:

    They will save you money!
    An established Event Company has ‘buying power’; they use tried and trusted suppliers and artistes whom they regularly work hand in hand with so they can get the most competitive rate available.  Knowing your budget and the purpose of your event, they can match you with the perfect entertainment, theming and décor and their solution won’t burden you financially because, well let’s face it, they’re good at what they do!

    Contracting is taken care of!
    The stresses of contacting people, getting quotes, figuring out the timing of the event, making sure all the minor details have been seen to, and practically anything else you think may be a hair-pulling task, is in their hands. AND they will keep you in the loop as things progress and start to fit into place. All paperwork is dealt with under one roof which makes it easier for you.

    Knowledge & Experience!
    An experienced Event Company can tweak, refine and execute events to a tee. They not only have an infinite selection of event staff, prop suppliers and live entertainment, they know WHO to choose and HOW to get them at the right price, for you.

    Overall, it makes sense financially to use an event planner. And if not for saving money, do it to save yourself. Planning an event is stressful, so you may as well leave it to the professionals.

11. 5 Excuses to Hire a Tribute Band

    9th March 2019 3:45 pm Leave a Comment

    Our Director, Erica, has been in the entertainment business for more years than she wants to admit (over 25), and she knows a great act when she sees one! As a consequence, our site is chock-a-block with brilliant bands and entertainers and we get a daily mix of enquiries for corporate and private functions. We also have Leisure Park and Holiday Resort clients, casinos, cruise-ships, hotels and music venues that rely on us for their live entertainment, and the organisers of themed weekends have our number on their speed dial!

    Almost all of these customers hire tribute bands at some point or another, and we wanted to give you the 5 most popular reasons why they do:

    

    Themed Weekend Events

    There’s nothing quite like going away for the weekend; and being able to go to an event that pushes all your musical buttons is a double treat. 
    Themed weekends are incredibly popular and a great chance to chill out and enjoy live entertainment at its finest. Also a great excuse to dig out your favourite dancing shoes (and clothes) from the decade of your choice!
    We’ve seen a massive resurgence in 80’s tribute bands over the last year or so, and when you look at the acts we have on offer for that decade you’ll understand why; who can resist a bit of Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Kylie, Madonna at her finest, Elton, George Michael, Phil Collins and the late great Michael Jackson?
    Imagine having a whole weekend of live acts from your favourite era! It doesn’t matter if you are into your rock and roll or your 50’s swing and Sinatra, 60’s Mod or 60’s Rock, 70’s Disco or Glam Rock, 90’s Indie Rock or Dance Music, we have a massive range of choice to fill a venue full of talented tributes to your preferred era.
    

    Weddings – Your Favourite First Dance Story

    We love, love, love it when we get an enquiry for a tribute act for a wedding event.  More often than not it’s the bride that calls us (men, you should be ashamed of yourselves for not getting more involved) because they want to hire a specific tribute to a band that holds special memories for the happy couple.

    Since Gary Barlow began surprising wedding couples, our Gary Barlow Tribute acts have never been more popular; and George Benson and Stevie Wonder are responsible for more couples falling in love than any other artistes. John Legend’s ‘All Of Me Loves All Of You’ and Ed Sheeran’s ‘Perfect’ are currently the most requested First Dance Songs; we have superb Tributes to these artistes, as well as plenty of Party Bands who can cover them too!
    

    Birthday Parties

    The obvious requests we get from people who are organising a birthday party is for a band or act from the decade the birthday boy or girl was born or their particular favourite music genre or era.

    We’ve had some less predictable ones, like the woman who booked the Supremes tribute because her husband had always had a massive crush on Diana Ross. How’s that for an understanding wife?
    

    Corporate Events

    We have one particular client who loves to create their staff party and corporate events around a theme. They come up with some amazing ideas to delight their team of employees, and we always look forward to getting their call.

    Last October they had a Halloween Themed Event, featuring Tributes to Michael Jackson performing ‘Thriller’, Amy Winehouse (Back to Black), Lady Gaga and her Little Monsters, and of course our fabulous Rocky Horror Show Tribute!

    This year they have organised a ‘Rock Chick’ theme and hired all the classic female tribute acts: Pink, Cher, and of course, the queen of rock chickery Tina Turner.

    We’re not sure what kind of corporate event they’re planning for next year, but we can’t wait to find out.
    

    Summer Festival Treats – Live Music Venues

    We hire acts to a live music venue that books Tributes to headline artistes who are performing at local festival and stadium concert events in that area. And they make a point of booking tributes to the top four or five acts that are going to be touring the UK during the summer.

    They say they’re treating their customers to a cheap alternative and instead of standing for hours waiting for the live act they’ve paid a fortune to see, they sell tickets for £5 and this makes sure everyone has a seat!

    We don’t understand why more people don’t do it, to be honest. It’s a great idea; their customers have got a lot to look forward to, talented tributes to Ed Sheeran, Beyonce, Tom Jones and……..wait for it……… Steps!

    If you are planning a special event, wedding, corporate or birthday party and would like to hire a tribute band or act pick up the phone and call us on 01253 351100.  We have all learned everything we know from the tribute mistress, and we’re more than happy to help.