After 40+ years of hard work it's finally time to kick back & focus on you. There has to be a party, and it has to be big! Alive Network helps to make planning a great retirement party easy & fun.
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, has 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.
We also have a great range of look alike artists, so why not suprise 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 decorations which follow the theme in seamless detail. Lots of companies supply party props and 'scene setters' - see our suppliers box below >
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. Recommended live bands for a Retirement Party
(Rat Pack) The Rat Pack Is Back Tribute bands
Based in Essex From £1320 +
Retirement Party 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!
Carwash 70s and Funk
Based in London From £2400+
Retirement Party Entertainment. With years of touring universities and countless corporate gigs under their belt CARWASH is the premier disco band - ideal for your college event or corporate Party. CARWASH deliver a funked up set that gets everybody moving.
(Blues Brothers) Bootleg Blues Brothers Tribute bands
Based in Essex From £770 for all events
Retirement Party Entertainment. Pete and Ed are back, and they intend to rock the joint again with the hit duo ‘Bootleg Blues Brothers’. The two renowned soul singers will once again recapture the lunacy, music and the essence that is, The Blues Brothers.
Disco Inferno 70s and Funk
Based in Hertfordshire From £1440 +
Retirement Party Entertainment. There may be a few 1970's bands on the professional circuit, but DISCO INFERNO can rightly claim to be the most original! Their recent shows have included support slots for Robbie Williams and Culture Club.
The Starlites Swing and Jive
Based in Birmingham From £600+
Retirement Party Entertainment. The Starlites are a 5 piece 1950s Rock n Roll Showband with a unique blend of experienced professional musicians. With a refreshing approach to Rock n Roll look forward to the most popular songs of an era in an authentic, upbeat & spectacular performance
(Beatles) The Blue Meanies Tribute bands
Based in Liverpool From £1200+
Retirement Party Entertainment. The Blue Meanies provide an uncanny tribute to the raw sound of the Beatles, from their early rock & roll hits to the sophisticated and complex hits from later albums. Whatever your preference, the Blue Meanies are an act not to be missed!
Boogie Knights 70s and Funk
Based in Staffordshire From £960+
Retirement Party Entertainment. The Boogie Knights are a professional 5 piece disco band guaranteed to have you dancing the night away to a wide range of 70's & 80's smash hits. With full costumes & infectious energy, THE BOOGIE KNIGHTS are the ideal choice for your event.
Whiskey In The Jar Ceilidh Irish and Traditional
Based in Derbyshire From £720+
Retirement Party Entertainment. Whiskey in the Jar is a great Irish folk, ballads, jigs & reels band - if you like the Pogues, Dubliners & Wolfetones then you will love these guys! Suitable for literally ANY event; this band play clubs & pubs, festivals, weddings ...& the odd wake too
Wild Swing and Jive
Based in Warwickshire From £900 to £1440 +
Retirement Party Entertainment. The band Bryan Adams chose to play at his birthday party, WILD are the ultimate Rock n' Roll party band. Ideal for youngsters & oldies alike, they play great tunes for dancing, from Elvis & Buddy Holly to Beach Boys & Jerry Lee Lewis
Stray Horns Swing and Jive
Based in Bedfordshire From £1200 +
Retirement Party Entertainment. Fantastic big band sound at a great price! 6-piece, all male brass band with top quality self recorded backing tracks. Trumpets, sax & vocals all performed fully live. A great choice for all events especially where space is short but you need a big sound
(Beatles) Counterfeit Beatles Tribute bands
Based in Kent From £1440 for mid week bookings - £1440+ for weekends
Retirement Party Entertainment. The Counterfeit Beatles re-live the excitement of the days when Beatlemania was at it's height and the world went wild for the Fab Four.....!
(Neil Diamond) Ian Scott Tribute bands
Based in Worcestershire From £620 +
Retirement Party Entertainment. Ian Scott is Neil Diamond (rated as one of the top three Neil Diamond tribute act in the UK) and the likeness is uncanny. A must see for all Neil Diamond fans.
Beer for Breakfast (Irish) Ceilidh Irish and Traditional
Based in Cheshire From £672 + for local gigs
Retirement Party Entertainment. Professional male lead 4-piece Irish band playing a lively range of traditional & contemporary Irish, Scottish or English songs & tunes plus Celtic & Country Rock. Full PA supplied. Full Ceilidh with caller if required. Great for parties & celebrations!
52 Skidoo Swing and Jive
Based in Lancashire From £600+
Retirement Party Entertainment. 52 Skidoo are a 3 piece Harlem swing band that have turned back the clock to play a dazzling set of vintage American music in the style for which it was written. Classic favourites like ‘Ain’t Misbehavin‘, ‘The Joint is Jumpin’ and ‘Your Feet’s Too Big'.
(ABBA) ABBA Reunion Tribute bands
Based in Staffordshire From £1380+
Retirement Party Entertainment. Abba Reunion gives Abba fans a tribute to the Abba phenomena that swept the airwaves & discos during the 70’s/ 80’s in a truly feel good party style concert. From Waterloo to Dancing Queen, the hits are performed with unrivalled authenticity.
(Frank Sinatra) David Alacey Tribute bands
Based in London From £510+
Retirement Party Entertainment. A truly remarkable performer, David Alacey has been stunning audiences throughout the UK with what is one of the UK’s top tributes to Frank Sinatra.
Soul Education Soul RnB
Based in North London From £1680+ (Compact 9 piece Band)
Retirement Party 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!
The Jive Aces Swing and Jive
Based in West Sussex From £3000
Retirement Party Entertainment. With their high energy, bright suits, incredible live show, irresistible humour & total professionalism, this Sussex based 6 piece band will quickly get any audience on their feet & each and every show is guaranteed to go with a swing!
(Elvis) Steve Preston Tribute bands
Based in Lancashire From £1500 for all events.
Retirement Party Entertainment. Steve is now considered by many professionals to be the UK’s leading Elvis stylist. His playback show is one of the most powerful shows in the UK with Concert PA and lighting.
(Beatles) Fab Beatles Tribute bands
Based in Exeter From £900 to £1440 +
Retirement Party Entertainment. Roll up! Roll Up! Step right up and join the Magical Mystery Tour of the country's most exciting Beatles tribute band. The Fab Beatles - stars of the BBC's Battle of the Fantasy Band as shown on 19th, January 2001.
(Tom Jones) Ian Scott Tribute bands
Based in Worcestershire From £620 +
Retirement Party Entertainment. Tom Jones Tribute Act & International No.1 Ian Scott is based in Worcestershire. Ian performs all your favourite Tom Jones hits including 'What's New Pussycat?' & 'Delilah'. Ian is a GOLD AWARD Tom Jones Tribute & has appeared on GMTV, SKY, BBC and ITV2.
(Beach Boys) UK Beach Boys Tribute bands
Based in Great Yarmouth From £2100 +
Retirement Party Entertainment. The UK Beach Boys are one of Europe’s leading tribute acts, having performed throughout the UK and Europe since their formation in 2002. They re-create the superb sounds of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys.
(Johnny Cash) The Ring of Fire Tribute bands
Based in Devon From £720+
Retirement Party Entertainment. The Ring of Fire are Europe's leading Johnny Cash tribute band. The 5 piece band includes a June Carter Tribute and has toured thoughout Europe.
(Rolling Stones) Stoned Again Tribute bands
Based in UK Wide From £1800
Retirement Party Entertainment. Formed around 12 years ago STONED AGAIN comprises 5 professional time served musicians utilising both their love of the Stones, and years of experience to bring you one of the most authentic and entertaining tribute bands in the UK. Video online!
(Shirley Bassey) Surely Bassey Tribute bands
Based in Leicestershire From £685 +
Retirement Party Entertainment. Audiences all over the UK constantly remarked on the power and unbelievable range of Joanne’s voice. Joanne is available solo, with a live band and with a Motown tribute for a great night's entertainment!
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 5000 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
All content (c) Copyright Alive Network 1999-10/09/2010. All rights reserved.
Registered Company Number: 04084200
Some artists may appear with the kind co-operation and consent of their respective management companies.
This service is intended for personal use only and no part of the service may be displayed in public, broadcast or used for any business purpose without the consent of Alive Network. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of our services and web content, we accept no responsibility for any use made of the information provided and we shall not be liable for any loss suffered thereby.
Retirement Party Ideas
Recommended live bands for a Retirement Party
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