Every year the question of how to improve on last years Christmas party presents its self. Whether you're organising the annual company xmas party or a family get together, find out how to throw the best Christmas party ever with Alive Network!
Christmas Day (December 25th) is a national holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity. The actual birth date of Jesus isn't known and many believe that Dec 25th was chosen to correspond with either the day exactly nine months after some early Christians believed Jesus had been conceived, the date of the winter solstice on the ancient Roman calendar, or one of various ancient winter festivals.
Christmas Day is central to the Christmas and holiday season, and in Christianity marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days.
Although nominally a Christian holiday, Christmas is also widely celebrated by many non-Christians, and some of its popular celebratory customs have pre-Christian or secular themes and origins.
Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, music, an exchange of greeting cards, church celebrations, a special meal, and the display of various decorations; including Christmas trees, lights, garlands, mistletoe, nativity scenes, and holly.
In addition, Father Christmas (known as Santa Claus in some areas, including North America, Australia and Ireland) is a popular folklore figure in many countries, associated with the bringing of gifts for children.
(Rat Pack) The Rat Pack Is Back Tribute bands
Based in Essex From £1320 +
Christmas Party Live Entertainment. THE RAT PACK IS BACK - THE ULTIMATE TRIBUTE TO THE LEGENDARY RAT PACK. The hit show perfectly captures not only the wonderful music and comedy of the original legends, but also the remarkable personalities.Video Online!
Hipster Rock and Pop
Based in Shropshire From £1439 +
Christmas Party Live Entertainment. Young, energetic, super-professional and one of the most exciting and
experienced party bands to work exclusively with Alive Network!
Hipster are an all male 4-piece band, and cover a huge range of music
from The Beatles to The Kings of Leon!
Soul Education Soul RnB
Based in North London From £2100 + (Compact 9 piece Band)
Christmas Party Live Entertainment. An outstanding 8-12 piece Funk, Soul and Pop band featuring male & female session singers and exceptional horn section. Extensive repertoire including hits from Michael Jackson to Stevie Wonder to Mark Ronson. Book early to avoid disappointment!
(Blues Brothers)Chicago Blues Brothers Tribute bands
Based in Essex From £793 +
Christmas Party Live Entertainment. Pete and Ed are back, and they intend to rock the joint again with the hit duo ‘Chicago Blues Brothers’. The two renowned soul singers will once again recapture the lunacy, music and the essence that is The Blues Brothers.
Live Wires Rock and Pop
Based in Staffordshire From £1199+
Christmas Party Live Entertainment. Highly experienced, highly professional & experts at making your night one to remember, Live Wires are a 4 piece rock and pop band with a cool, energetic sound. Their repertoire includes The Beatles, The Stones, Kings Of Leon, Killers and much more!
Motown Vogue Soul RnB
Based in Surrey From £2526 +
Christmas Party Live Entertainment. Take you & your guests back to the 60s and 70s with the truly authentic & charismatic Motown Vogue. This 7 piece band perform classics from artists such as Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5 & more! Available UK wide & Internationally.
(Michael Buble) The Songs of Michael Buble Tribute bands
Based in Worcestershire From £420 +
Christmas Party Live Entertainment. Performing all the hits from his No. 1 selling album “Call Me Irresponsible”, The Songs of Michael Buble provides an uncanny tribute to the man who introduced swing to a new generation. Fully self-contained with a Blues Brothers Tribute also available!
Munch Rock and Pop
Based in Merseyside From £1261 +
Christmas Party Live Entertainment. One of our most frequently recommended bands! A lively, hugely entertaining 4 piece rock & pop band covering hits from The Beatles & Kinks through to Killers & Kings of Leon! MUNCH can turn themselves on and tune in to any event that wants to party!
The New Breed Soul RnB
Based in Northamptonshire From £1200+
Christmas Party Live Entertainment. Fronted by virtuoso award winning vocalist Sophie Garner The New Breed is one of the most versatile bands in the UK. Their repertoire spans from 1920's Jazz & Swing to present day pop through Soul, Motown & Rock so there really is something for everyone!
Festive Carol Singers Carol Singers
Based in Hertfordshire From £660 +
Christmas Party Live Entertainment. A cappella carol singers for private parties and corporate events, offering entertainment for every Christmas function! 2 male and 2 female singers harmonise to bring both traditional and non-religious Christmas music perfect for the *festive season*!
Many companies offer christmas party packages where you and your friends or colleagues can go on a pre-organised night out, complete with food, drinks & entertainment.
For those of you planning a party yourselves (and isn't that part of the fun?!) then we have a host of ideas to make the process easy & fun.
Think of a theme
Obviously it's Christmas, and there's a big enough theme there already, but after
a few years of traditional xmas parties you need to mix things up a bit if you a want a party people will really enjoy & remember.
Step 1 - Choose a venue & pick a date
If you pick the right venue an interesting theme can present it's self immediately. Remember to chose a venue that's easy for the majority of your guests to get to, and importantly, chose a date which is least likely to clash with family commitments. In the run up to christmas, mid week actually works better than Saturdays. For venue finding services try www.venues.org.uk or Venue Finder.
Step 2 - think of a significant feature
This will be the main focus of the party, EG: Christmas Charity Auction, Santa's Grotto, Christmas Banquet, Live Band, Cabaret, Comedy show etc. Once you have a feature for your party, you can start to plan around it. If your theme requires guests to dress to suit the theme, ensure this is clear on invites.
Step 3 - set the scene
Decorating your venue to suit your theme can be done in house or with the help of companies like Theme Traders. For scene setters, decorations & props also see our essential party supplies box below.
Step 3 - plan an itinerary
It's the details which make a party really stand out. From the moment your guests arrive they should feel welcome, comfortable & entertained.
Compare/Organiser
* Who will organise guests & show them where to go
* Do you need a toastmaster or master of ceremonies
* Who will organise suppliers to ensure things run to schedule
* Who will call guests to be seated for a meal
* If cabaret style entertainment, who will introduce the acts
Dinning
* What will be the best time to eat
*
How will the tables be decorated
* Background music during the meal
* Plan the food to fit your theme
*
Allow sufficient time for the meal, including any speeches or awards
Awards ceremonies & speeches
Christmas parties often coincide with company end of year awards ceremonies. You may need:
* AV production with video screens
* PA system & microphones
* A stage & lectern
* Awards & trophies
Dancing & entertainment
* Plan the entertainment to suit the party theme & your guests
* If you want to dance, ensure you have a dance floor
* Don't plan dancing too early. People need a drink & a chance to chat.
* If you want a band, ensure the venue doesn't have a sound limiter.
* Popular bands for dancing include function bands, tribute bands or soul bands
* If you don't want a band, look at dance shows, comedians, DJ's or stage magic shows.
End of the night
* How will guests get home
* Book taxis or mini buses
* Look at local accommodation or rooms at the hotel you've hired
* Party favors & mementos
If you plan your Christmas party using these very basic guidelines as a spring board for your own ideas you can't go wrong!
One of the simplest and easiest types of party to organise is a venue or marquee with a live band. Nothing gets guests excited like a live music performance as it's far more interesting & engaging than a DJ or background music. You'll need to chose a band to suit to the occasion, your guests and the type of atmosphere you're looking for.
Any private hire venue with a cool bar and space to dance would be suitable, but bear in mind parking and accommodation for those guests traveling beyond a taxi ride. For something a bit different try the Hard Days Night Hotel in Liverpool, complete with a live Beatles Tribute band like The Blue Meanies.
Parties based around a live band, especially a lively band, are likely to be quite loud so consider how many elderly guests you might have. Venues with sound limiters can be a real pain so before you hand over any money, make sure the venue you choose doesn't have a limiter fitted (or if it does, that the threshold is set higher than 95dB). Also, make sure there is a dance floor and if at all possible, try to avoid venues where the bar is in a different room to the dancing as this can split guests and leave you with a less party atmosphere.
Good quality function bands will provide all of the
equipment you'll need, so all you need to do is ensure they have enough space and some light refreshments. Expect to pay upwards of £1000/£1400 for a really good 4-5 piece band. To save money check the listings here on AliveNetwork.com and choose a band located close to your event. You can also ask the band to DJ in between sets rather than hiring a separate disco.
For most private parties a really early arrival is not necessary so if you ask the band to arrive around 6pm they should be set up, sound checked & ready for guests to arrive by 7.30pm - 8pm. Most function bands will play 2 x 60 minute performances, and we'd suggest the first to start no earlier than 9pm so guests have time to get a drink and have a chat before the music starts.
Venue + fancy dress + look alike's + casino tables + live band or DJ
For a different take on the traditional fancy dress party, try a celebrity or film theme to suit the mood you want to create. Fancy dress can be completely optional and example contemporary themes could include Lady Gaga, Footballers Wives, Sex and The City, Harry Potter or Pirates of the Caribbean. For tried and tested favourites go with James Bond, Phantom of the Opera, The Godfather, Alice in Wonderland or Hollywood Oscars Night.
Don't forget professional look alike's who will add a real wow factor to your party. To really get your guests talking why not arrange a red carpet entrance to your venue & have them arrive in a hired limousine! Alive Network has look alike's to match many tv shows & films as well as musicians, footballers & royalty. Also consider hiring a photographer or comedy paparazzi photographers to take snaps as the look alike's arrive, and then later on guests can have their photos taken with them & take the pics home as a party souvenir.
It's good to ensure there are plenty of attractions to keep guests talking & mingling so you could also consider casino tables which can tie in nicely with the celebrity theme and create a space for guests to meet, mix and break the ice. Also check out our mix and mingle acts who will work the floor & get people talking.
As always live music makes a great feature and
you can choose an act to suit the celebrity theme. Tribute Bands often fit the bill perfectly for themed events or for something more background, try a jazz band or string quartet. If you have a small number of guests or a limited budget, also take a look at our solo/duo acts who offer excellent value for money and won't take up much room.
With any themed event it's also important to get the staging and venue right. If your budget allows, try www.smyle.co.uk or www.themetraders.com who offer top class event production services. For a more DIY approach, try www.partybox.co.uk or for a huge range of backdrops & scene setters, visit www.amazingpartythemes.com
Venue + prop hire + fancy dress + live music + mix & mingle
It you're prepared to do a bit of decorative work (or have the budget to hire a party organiser like Theme Traders) then you can theme your venue or marquee to look like a beach bar, a scene from the arabian nights or even the Wild West! Fancy dress is optional though it does help bring the whole thing together. For fancy dress costumes try www.escapade.co.uk or www.fancydress.com. For childrens fancy dress costumes try www.charliecrow.com
Possible theme locations include The Wild West, Beach/Tropical/Hawian, New York, Las Vegas, African/Safari, Ancient Egypt, Atlantis, Ancient Rome, Mardi Gras/New Orleans, the list goes on. For more party theme ideas try www.partydelights.co.uk and www.amazingpartythemes.com.
In terms of making your venue look the part, you can chose from a wide range of props and accessories. For example, for a Hawain themed party you can hire a bamboo beach bar, free standing & table top palm trees, hoola hoops, flower garlands, surf boards, fishing nets and sand pits! Just visit some of the links on this page to find suppliers once you know the theme you want to run with.
Remember to ensure you have plenty of ice breakers to keep guests chatting and mixing. Close up Magicians, Caricaturists, Meet & Greet all work well, as do Chocolate Fountians! For something a bit different, try Singing Waiters who will really bring the house down!
Moving away from the traditional concept of a party, many people now celebrate a significant occassion with a day out at an activity and adventure centre, moving on to a bar or restaurant in the evening. There are hundreds of such activity locations around the UK so we'll focus here on popular activity types.
For the guys: Paintball, Go Karting, Quad Biking, Golf, Wine Tours, Clay Pigeon Shooting & Football
For the Girls: Day at the Races, Pampering, Salsa Dancing, Pole Dancing, Wine tasting & Nude Life Drawing
To arrange an activity day we can highly recommend our friends at www.freedomltd.com who arrange stag & hen parties, plus corporate and birthday party outings across the UK.
Essential Party Planning Supplies
Click the links below to view suppliers for all your essential party requirements.
Why hire entertainment for your party from Alive Network?
Alive Network is the UK's premier live music entertainment agency and the largest online entertainment booking service in the world. Established in 1999, we provide high quality live entertainment for over 7500 events per year. We represent hundreds of the UK's very best live bands, DJs & entertainers who are available to hire for weddings, corporate events & private parties. A few of the benefits of booking through Alive Network Entertainment Agency
Instant online quotes and availability confirmation
100's of professional quality, reliable artists
Fast, friendly, personalised advice from expert staff
The easiest way to hire amazing entertainment
A small selection of our previous clients:
24 hour emergency cover, 365 days of the year.
Safe & secure bookings with comprehensive contracts
Registered offices: Ground Floor Suite, Silk Mill Studios, Princess Street, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 1DD, United Kingdom
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About Christmas
Live Entertainment for a Christmas Party
Make this years Christmas party amazing!
Venue + Live Band
Venue + prop hire + fancy dress + live music + mix & mingle
Moving away from the traditional concept of a party, many people now celebrate a significant occassion with a day out at an activity and adventure centre, moving on to a bar or restaurant in the evening. There are hundreds of such activity locations around the UK so we'll focus here on popular activity types.
Instant online quotes and availability confirmation