Party Entertainment Hire

I’m not sure what entertainment to book – can you help me with ideas?

Absolutely, just think of us as your party entertainment match-makers. Tell us about your celebration; your venue, guest profile, budget and theme or vibe - and we’ll curate personalised suggestions to match. There is no cost involved in getting ideas, and no obligation to book. We’re happy to share ideas and help you understand what your options are. Get in touch and let’s start the ball rolling.

How do we get the most impact on a small budget?

You don’t need to break the bank to have memorable entertainment. Depending on the type of party and number of guests, we have incredible entertainment options available for under £500 - like DJs, saxophonists, singer guitarists, pianists, solo singers to backing tracks, magicians, caricaturists and party services like photo booths.

If your party is going to involve dancing then we suggest your choice of music entertainment is going to have the biggest impact. A live band is the number 1 driver of guest engagement, bringing everyone together on the dance floor for a shared musical experience - but if the budget is tight, you could swap a band for a solo singer to backing tracks (to maintain the band sound), or choose a party DJ.

Where dancing isn’t the biggest priority - then background music like a sax player, pianist or singer guitarist will improve the ambiance immeasurably - or interactive entertainment like a close-up magician or caricaturist will help to break-the-ice between guests and elevate their experience.

Talk to us about your party and we can help you prioritise what delivers the “wow” within your budget.

What are the most popular types of entertainment booked for private parties?

Our most-requested party entertainment includes:

• Live party bands - your headline acts covering pop, soul, Motown, indie
• Party DJs (often paired with live elements like DJ + sax & bongos)
• Solo musicians - Singer guitarists, saxophonists, pianists, singers to backing tracks
• Mix-and-mingle performers - magicians, caricaturists, roaming bands, stilt walkers, fire performers)
• Tribute bands and singers - ABBA, Beatles, Elton John, Take That, 80s, Motown)
• Party services - Photo booths, casino tables, giant outdoor games, fireworks displays

Do you offer a discount for party entertainment packages?

Yes - for larger parties requiring multiple artists and services, we offer package discounts. For example, live party band + photo booth + table magician. Also, many bands offer comprehensive packages at discounted rates, providing live evening party music + dj service + background music earlier in the day. Just ask your coordinator - they’ll run through package options that make sense for your party and your budget.

Do you provide party planning / event management services too?

We stop short of full event management (that’s usually the domain of dedicated planners), but we absolutely act as your entertainment partner. We’ll coordinate all entertainment logistics, liaise with your venue, and ensure the performance side of your event is seamless. If you need event management, we can recommend trusted partners or integrate with your planner. Otherwise, we can help you book and coordinate most of the services you would need for your party, if you’re happy to manage things yourself.

How far in advance should I book party entertainment?

Most bigger private parties take place on Saturdays, which is also the most popular day of the week for weddings too - so demand for headline acts like party bands, DJs, tribute bands, and singer guitarists - means they get booked 12+ months in advance. For mix and mingle entertainment, photo booths and background music - booking 6 months in advance should ensure you have a good selection to choose from. But don’t worry if your event is nearer; we still have talented acts who take late bookings - we’ll just need to move quickly to secure them.

Can you liaise with my venue to sort out all the logistics?

Absolutely. Once you’ve booked with us, your coordinator becomes your point person. We’ll talk to your venue about access, parking, load-in, power, sound limits and more - making sure everything is taken into account.

My venue has a sound limiter – how will this affect what music I can have?

Sound limiters can be tricky, but we can suggest artists that are able to work effectively alongside them. For example - our Sound Limiter Friendly Party Bands have special instruments and equipment which allow them to perform almost silently, and we also have silent discos which beam the sound to guests via wireless headphones. We’ll check the limiter threshold with your venue, and recommend acts that will be suitable.

Can I choose the music my band or DJ will play?

Yes - and we encourage it! Music acts publish their full set list on their profile page, so you can choose your must-play songs (and your must nots!) and the artist will build a set to match. While we can’t always guarantee every request (depending on the act’s repertoire), artists will take requests on the night, reading the dance floor to build crowd-friendly sets, and keeping the energy high.

Which is better – a party band or a DJ?

It depends on the vibe you want. A live band brings huge presence, energy, and “wow factor” personality. A DJ offers flexibility, broad playlists, and often fits tighter budgets or smaller venues. Many hosts choose both: with live sets early on to help create impact and bring guests together - then a DJ to keep the party dancing late. If you need help deciding - we can suggest ideas based on your guest list, space and expectations.

What kind of space / requirements do a band or DJ need?

A typical 4–6 piece band might require a stage or floor area roughly 4m wide x 3m deep. DJs need more like 3m x 2m. They’ll also need power (multiple sockets), easy access to load-in, and parking. We’ll let you know exactly what your chosen act needs ahead of time so there are no surprises.

I’m having a garden / outdoor party – what happens in case of wet weather?

In most cases, you MUST provide some form of cover for artists performing outdoors, especially those with instruments or electrical equipment. As well as protecting the artists from wet weather, it’s also important to protect expensive instruments from the sun too! Some musical artists (like roaming bands and musicians) as well as mix and mingle entertainers are totally fine performing without cover if the weather is fine. A large gazebo (6m x 4m) with a small stage would be sufficient for most bands, so long as it’s covered on all sides so rain can’t blow onto equipment. If your party might need to move indoors, just keep in mind that moving a party band and all their equipment is a big job!

Do you provide entertainment for kid’s parties as well as adult parties?

Yes - we work with several UK wide children’s party organisers, as well as many local independent performers. From themed kids parties and costume characters to magicians, face painters, balloon modellers, bubbleologists and puppet shows - we provide age appropriate kids party entertainers throughout the UK.

What type of entertainment is suitable for a party at home?

For home parties, compact and lower-noise acts are often best. Think acoustic duos/trios, singer guitarists, singer pianists, roaming musicians, magicians, lookalikes, mix and mingle entertainers or DJs. We’ll make sure the act fits your space, neighbours and vibe.

How do we entertain a mixed-age crowd (kids to grandparents)?

Diversity is the key. We often structure evenings with a gentle start (light background music, acoustic sets, strolling entertainment) then shift to more energetic, crowd-pleasing music later. Acts with broad repertoires (motown, classics, pop) help bridge generations. Roaming acts or ambient performers during dinner also keep all ages engaged. You might also like to arrange a children’s performer earlier in the day, to keep the little ones entertained whilst the adults mingle.

Can acts tailor their performance to my party theme?

Often yes - but you should book an act that is already pretty well matched. Many of our artists are happy to adjust their attire, setlist, and performance to match your theme - but it would be hard for say a rock band to adjust enough to suit 1920s Gatsby theme! Just let us know what you’re thinking and we'll help you find the right acts to make it work.

What’s included in the price?

Online prices give a reasonable estimation of the total price the artist usually charges including travel, for their standard performance time, including PA / sound equipment, basic lighting and public liability insurance. When you make an enquiry, we will get a confirmed quotation from the artist - taking into account your exact event details and requirements. The price also includes our customer service and support, a secure booking contract, and 24/7 emergency cover. Most artists also offer optional extras (extended performance times, other performance types, extra members) which you can also choose to add if you wish.

How does payment work?

You’ll pay a small deposit to Alive Network at the time of booking, and the remaining balance is usually due a week before the event, or on the day itself, depending on the artist. We accept payment via secure online credit/debit card, bank transfer, or cheque. The balance payable to the artist is usually made via bank transfer or in cash. You can also choose to pay the balance in advance via Alive Network if you prefer. Your coordinator will walk you through your options.

Can I speak directly with my artists?

Yes - once your booking is confirmed, we’ll connect you with your artist a few weeks before the event to finalise details like setlists, special requests, introductions etc. Before then, your coordinator remains your main point of contact to keep everything organised and documented. We can connect you with your artist sooner if you like.

What security will I get with my booking?

Booking through us gives you legal protection, a robust contract, and a dedicated coordinator. We’re on hand to provide support whenever you need it. Our artists are accountable to us, and so your booking is much safer than booking without agency support. We maintain an emergency hotline so that if something unforeseen happens, we can arrange a replacement if an act becomes unavailable at the last minute due to accident or illness. You’re not just booking an act - you’re booking peace of mind.

What is your cancellation or postponement policy?

As long as you’re booking more than 30 days before your event, then you can cancel your booking within the 5 day cooling off period - without penalty. After that, your deposit would be non-refundable unless the artist cancels, in which case it’s fully refundable by them. If you cancel outside the 5 day cooling off period, then because the artist will have been unavailable to accept other offers of work whilst being booked by you - then cancellation may incur charges to cover the artist’s loss of income, if they are unable to refill the date. These charges are based on a sliding scale percentage of their fee, where the charge gets larger the closer you cancel to the event date. You can see these charges in clause 8 of our terms and conditions. If the artist refills the date with work of the same value - then no cancellation fees would be due. In some cases - an artist might agree to move a booking to another date out of goodwill.

What happens if a performer is ill?

The artist would let us know (our emergency hotline is available 24/7) and we would work to find a suitable replacement. We would always seek your approval of the replacement, but if this happens at extremely short notice and we cannot reach you, then your contract authorises us to send the suitable replacement anyway - so that you are not left without entertainment.

Why should I book my party entertainment with Alive Network?

Because experience and quality matters. With 27+ years in the industry, 188,000 successful events booked to date, and a rigorous vetting process for every artist, we stand behind everything we book. We’re your creative partner from enquiry to after-party wrap. You get expert guidance, a secure contract, emergency backup support, and acts you can believe in. (Plus, our 63,000+ five star reviews and who’s-who of regular industry clients speaks for itself!)