Tag: igloo disco marquee hire alternative

The History of the Garden Party

Posted on by James Mallinder

Garden parties have been a staple of English high society for centuries. From the grandeur of the aristocratic gatherings to the more humble village fêtes, these events have been a way for the English to celebrate and socialize in the beauty of nature.

The history of garden parties in England dates back to the seventeenth century when the French nobility introduced the concept of “fête champêtre” or rural party. The aristocrats of England soon followed suit, hosting their own garden parties, complete with elaborate decorations, musical performances, and copious amounts of food and drink.

The tradition of garden parties gained popularity in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries during the reign of Queen Victoria. Her Majesty, along with Prince Albert, hosted lavish garden parties at Buckingham Palace, inviting members of the aristocracy, politicians, and prominent figures from society.

These events were an opportunity for the royals to connect with their subjects, showcase the beauty of their gardens, and indulge in the pleasures of good food and company. The garden parties were often held in the summer months and were highly anticipated by those lucky enough to receive an invitation.

In the early twentieth century, garden parties became more accessible to the middle class, who were increasingly able to afford homes with gardens. These gatherings became a popular way for families to socialize and enjoy the great outdoors.

Despite changes in society and the world, the tradition of garden parties has remained a beloved aspect of English culture. Whether it’s the grandeur of a royal garden party or the simplicity of a village fête, the English continue to celebrate the beauty of nature, good food, and great company.

In recent years, the concept of the garden party has expanded to include more informal and creative gatherings, such as picnics, barbecues, and outdoor music festivals. Yet, the essence of the garden party remains the same – a celebration of the simple pleasures in life, the beauty of nature, and the joy of sharing these experiences with others.

6 company Christmas party ideas

Posted on by James Mallinder

In charge of organising the big company Christmas knees-up and terrified of making the wrong decision? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. To alleviate your misery, we’ve compiled a list of the six best Christmas party ideas your employees are bound to love.

Riddle me this

For the logically inclined, here’s a great team-building exercise to get everyone involved. Working together against the clock, the idea is that you’ll solve lots of puzzles, codes and riddles. At The Great Escape, there’s a host of rooms with differing themes to choose from such as King Arthur’s Secret, Alcatraz and the scary-sounding Asylum.

Skates on

As clichéd as it can be, ice skating is best enjoyed at Christmas time, and brings out the inner kid in just about everyone. Even if you just make it a part of the work Christmas celebrations, you can’t get much more festive than wrapping up warm to glide around the Christmas tree.

corporate events

Cook off

Everyone loves food, and possibly cocktails even more so you can’t go too far wrong by booking everyone in for a Christmas cooking and cocktails session. And just as you’d expect at a cooking school, you get fed after you’ve made your foodie delights, and maybe even a Christmas gift box to take away if you’ve got a particularly generous allowance.

Kings and queens

What an enchanting venue a castle makes. Picture the scene: the Christmas trees will be glistening with lights, the reindeer will be munching away on carrots and attendees will love sipping on the mulled wine while it’s cold outside. A venue like this screams out for a murder mystery game and a true banquet meal.

That’s the ticket

Possibly one of the most extravagant ideas, book an entire carriage aboard the Belmond British Pullman for a luxury train trip to remember. Sommelier-selected bubbly, a customised menu created from the freshest ingredients and a ticket wallet to go away with are some of the perks if you decide to whisk everyone off their feet.

Reely good fun

An integral part of Christmas for many and a good excuse to cosy up with popcorn and a hot toddy, a Christmas movie marathon makes for a fun and relaxed Christmas party. Choose a few of the office’s favourite films, find a good venue such as this one and make sure there are enough beanbags or comfy seats to everyone to unwind.

If you have an idea that you think needs bringing to life, why not consider a party in an igloo? Ours make fantastic, ‘wow-factor’ venues and can be customised in all the ways you can think of from lighting to music.

Can a corporate event add value?

Posted on by Site Admin

Corporate events are a great way for businesses to engage with customers and expand their audience base, and they have become big news over the past few years. There are lots of ways to run a corporate event, and they also offer several advantages for your firm. We have listed four reasons for you to take a look.

Build brand recognition

By hosting an event and building hype around it, you’re able to promote your name and help people to connect with your brand. Generating this sort of exposure is excellent if you are planning an event that will go off with a bang and it means you will be remembered for the right reasons.You want to make sure you select your suppliers, your venue and your activities so you can generate the right buzz around it in the lead up, during the event and long after. Ask yourself: “Will it get people talking?”

Foster interpersonal relationships

Meeting customers and other professionals in person is an invaluable part of hosting a corporate event as it allows you to widen your network of contacts and connect with your clients and audience on a personal level, in turn impacting on their active engagement. You get to converse with that person in front of you in ways that a Facebook post or a Tweet cannot, get to know them, and leave a lasting good impression.

Corporate Event

It strengthens your team

Getting employees together for your event and giving them a shared aim can work wonders for morale, motivation among staff and elevate the working mood. Everyone is working hard to make the event a success, and they all share in the triumphs and setbacks you encounter along the way so they can bond as a team.

Download our brochure to find out how you can wow your guests

Boosting sales

At the end of the day, you will want to see some results from your event, and this can eventually be measured from the number of sales and leads you generated from having a presence on that day. Just remember that while it’s tempting to just look at the sales won on the day, you also need to review the results three and six months down the line if you are to gauge the true outcome more accurately.

Corporate events provide you with many opportunities that you wouldn’t ordinarily have access to stuck behind a computer so go out there and grab them with two hands. If you’re a relatively new organisation, hosting events can be great for you to build trust with your audience.

 

At Igloo Disco, we like to help companies throw a corporate event with the ‘wow’ factor. Think you could do with some corporate event management tips? Check out our article which will serve as your guide.

5 top 40th birthday party ideas and themes for women

Posted on by Site Admin

They say that hitting 40 can make or break people. We say forget about the age and make the most of reaching a new decade by throwing the best party she will have ever had. It’s not always easy deciding on a party theme or venue so here are our best 40th birthday party ideas for women.

Get dolled up

Great for the ladies (and men) who love to dress to impress, the Roaring 20s were all about being lavish and having fun while you’re at it. Get into the theme by creating a speakeasy-style room: low-lit, filled with plush, dark and soft furnishings, with alcohol in full flow…you get the picture. Book a live upbeat jazz band in so guests can swing the evening away.

Flower power

For the florally inclined 39-year-olds out there, this will make their birthday magical. There are many florists who offer courses and parties for beginners, improvers and experienced flower arrangers and enthusiasts. A seasonal and fun workshop for the lucky party can be a relaxing way to spend the afternoon, and everyone gets to take something home which is a big bonus.

Elegance and intrigue

Throw a Venetian masquerade-themed party and invite everyone to come in their finest gowns and tuxedos – oh and a mask. It’s up to each guest how fancy they go with the mask but the birthday girl will love the fact that everyone has dressed up for her party. In fact, the whole theme is great for going all out with vibrant decorations, dainty finger food and lots of bubbles!

Wine tasting

Book that special lady in your life and her nearest in for a wine-tasting evening if she loves nothing more than crackling open a bottle of red, white or rosé and chatting with friends. Make the occasion last even longer by throwing in accommodation and a meal over a weekend so no-one has to worry about getting home after they’ve indulged in a few glasses.

Arriba, arriba!

You can’t go wrong with a Mexican fiesta-inspired party, and it can be especially fab when hosted outdoors – we’re thinking colourful paper lanterns, colourful maracas and piñatas – both as games and a cake. Adults and children alike will love the fun sharing foods like tacos, nachos and churros, and we’re quite sure the adults will also enjoy the accompanying tequilas. Just remember to load up on salt and lime.

Ready to party into the 40s? Don’t forget, for more tips on how to throw an amazing 40th birthday party, contact a member of our team and check out more of our ideas.

Download our brochure to find out how you can wow your guests

7 ideas for planning a surprise 40th birthday party

Posted on by Site Admin

Thinking about how to make that big 4-0 bash a night to remember? We’ve got some fantastic surprise 40th birthday party ideas up our sleeves to steer you away from the mundane gatherings so prepare to be inspired.

Bloomin’ marvellous

Book your other half in for a bespoke flower arranging workshop where they can relax, get crafty with friends and take home their creation. There are lots of professional florists who will come to wherever you’d like to host the party, meaning the special person can relax in a comfortable setting, and it’s much easier to plan a surprise cake too.

Just the tonic

Partial to a G and T, are they? Then you might just hit the nail on the head with a private gin and tonic tasting experience. Great for the serious gin-nerd or those that just need another excuse to sip lots of new ones, these fun and informative sessions might even introduce the birthday boy or girl to their new favourite gin.

A par-tee to remember

Plan a golf getaway – abroad or at home – on a magnificent course that everyone can enjoy. This type of party encourages a little healthy competition, and it provides the perfect chance to catch up with friends who you might not have seen in a little while – on the course or in the bar.

Can you gig it?

Bring back the good old days when they used to head to the nearest venue to catch the latest bands with pals, only this time it doesn’t involve sticky floors and smoky rooms. Find a really great band or soloist to their taste and throw a gig in a fit-for-purpose setting like in a gazebo if outdoors, or even better, an inflatable dome.

Scoot on

Working your way through parkland on a two wheeled-segway will never be so easy. Yes, it requires self-balancing but there’s no pedalling involved, all you have to do is hop on and enjoy navigating the bumps, hills, obstacles and woodland.

Light my fire

Got a Bear Grylls wannabe on your hands? Then pack them off on a wilderness and bushcraft survival course to see what they’re made of. A ‘traps and trapping’ weekend will really bring out the caveman/woman in them or take them back to our hunter gatherer roots with a course built around winter survival skills for the ultimate immersion experience.

You’re having a laugh

Book into a comedy club for some laugh out loud fun. Find a great venue close to where you are and settle in for a full night of comedy acts, and one huge bonus about an event like this is that it can be the place where you end or start the night.

 

There you have it – if you were looking for ideas for a surprise 40th birthday party, we hope we’ve done the hard work for you. Maybe you’ve got an idea in mind but you need the perfect venue with a difference. If you’d like to chat to us about throwing that special surprise party, get in touch with us for a free quote.

Download our free party planning guide

 

5 corporate event management tips

Posted on by Site Admin

So you’re about to organise an important event that you want to be remembered for the right reasons. Don’t worry as you’re in the right hands: our top tips on corporate event management will help you get the job done. Just remember, there’s no such thing as too much preparation.

1. Find out what the objective is

Are you in charge of generating income or PR for a new product or service? Just remember here that you have lots of opportunities to engage with people that stretch beyond digital means (these all play a separate part, of course) so think about how best to utilise this face-to-face contact.

2. Begin early

Plan out a timeline of events so you know you are hitting deadlines for certain milestones. If you know what you are focusing on from one week to the next, there’s less chance of you missing it off the list with dramatic consequences. Keep touch points with the vendors you are working with to make sure the deal still stands.

3. Make lists

We can’t stress how important it is to make, check off and check again lists: for yourself, for your staff, for the different suppliers and for the venue. Have one for each sub-section of your event, and don’t forget to check them as close to the date as you can so you know everything is in place.

4. Spread the word

Complement your event with a social media plan that aims to create a buzz around it in the run-up to the event, during the event, and long afterwards too. You’ll also need to create a time frame to release little teasers of information so that you can build suspense and get everyone excited to be a part of your journey – even more important for ticketed events.

5. Remember to follow up afterwards

Now is not the time to take a little breather, in fact, it’s one of the most crucial points along your planning. Hopefully you’ll have run a successful event that allows you to build on your positive relationship with attendees and partners, and know how to make the next one even better.

Download our free brochure to find out how you can wow your guests

While it’s true that you can’t foresee unpredictable problems, you can prepare yourself for as many eventualities as possible to eliminate any awful surprises. By seriously thinking about your objectives, thorough planning and a strong team around you, you should ace it.

Fancy chatting to our team about planning your own corporate event? Get in touch for a free quotation.

The key questions to ask when you hire a marquee

Posted on by Site Admin

You have to make sure all angles are covered when you come to hire a marquee because they can literally hold your party together. Maybe it’s a 40th birthday party you are organising or a wedding reception you’re thinking of hosting in a marquee…whatever the occasion, here’s what you need to ask before you sign up.

What sizes do you offer?

This usually depends on the hirer having a rough idea of numbers because you don’t want people to be squashed into a tiny space nor do you want an empty marquee, so choose your size wisely. The most realistic estimate you can give them is the best you can do, after all, closer to the time you can’t predict people dropping out or coming on board at the last minute.

Which kinds of marquees do you have?

There are lots of shapes to consider in your hunt for the perfect marquee. Traditional, tipi, yurt and stretch tent are just some of the styles out there so, depending on the atmosphere you want to create, it’s worth shopping around to pick the best shape for purpose.

Are your marquees insured?

Check if the marquee hire company has public liability insurance and damage waivers in place, and whether you need to get any further insurance to protect yourself. Even better, if they are members of MUTA, it means they must follow MUTA’s industry-leading Best Practice Guide and be legal, decent, honest and truthful.

Will you be able to sort out the practicalities for me?

Toilets, electrics, heating, catering and refrigeration…someone needs to make sure it’s looked after. The question here is: will you be able to let the marquee company take these issues off your hands or is it something you have to arrange for yourself? Either way, make sure you know before you proceed.

What extras will you need?

It depends entirely on the occasion but you need to consider what extra items you’ll need to entertain guests. A marquee for a wedding will need a good supply of tables and chairs; it’s worth looking into sorting a dance floor for an 18th birthday and corporate events require a good sound system for speeches. If you know what you need, ask if they can take care of this for you.

How do we choose a site?

Find out what is and what isn’t possible for the site you choose. If you don’t have a site in mind, the company should be able to find one for you in your preferred area. One typical problem you might encounter along the way is the issue of uneven or sloping ground. Most companies will be able to provide a range of options to cater for your needs, for instance, a raised platform can get around the problem of a slope.

This is a great starting point for anyone thinking about the first steps of hiring a marquee, and there are many more points we could cover. If you’d like to contact us about about our inflatable domes as a quirky alternative to a marquee, a member of our team would love to chat to you or give you a free quotation.

Why corporate team building matters to your business

Posted on by Site Admin

Any business owner knows that to produce great work, you have to be able to rely on a great team to deliver it . To do this, it’s worth investing the time and effort into making sure that each individual commits to the group effort. So get everyone on the same page with corporate team building exercises to reap these rewards.

Keeping team members happy

Everyone will feel at ease expressing their opinions, and open communication means that no one feels that they can’t express themselves. Be clear on everyone’s roles so that they own their responsibilities and know who to turn to for specific requests. This then facilitates an efficient team.

Make sure your team is motivated

Tasks that increase an employee’s confidence in themselves and the wider team continue to deliver long after the training session. Consider it this way: they are more likely to think of ways to evolve and change to improve which in turn helps your business grow.

It doesn’t have to be awkward

Keep team-building activities as normal as possible by going for the activities that are fun and natural – something like bowling would do the trick. It will make your staff feel valued and it’s well-known that when staff feel appreciated, they feel motivated to produce great work.

Team culture

Developing interpersonal relationships (outside of work as well as during) and a sense of belonging within the team can work wonders for boosting positive morale and building trust and respect for each other. What’s even better is that it helps to break down barriers between senior managers and employees because everyone has to work together.

Foster creativity

Moving your team into a new situation can only do them good because the challenge of being faced with the unfamiliar can bring out the best in the problem-solvers, and encourage innovative thinking. If they can bring these new ways of thinking into the office then you’ve got yourself a team with bona fide analytical abilities.

Team building activities can give your staff strength in numbers, as well as make the most of their individual skills. Be sure to build these sessions into your annual business plan so that you get the long-term benefits, because no matter which way you look at it, corporate team building matters to your business today, next month and years down the line.

Want to find out how we can transform your corporate team building event? Our team will only be too happy to give you a free quote.

Download our free brochure
 

A Year Since We Were On Dragon’s Den: A Q&A With Our Founder Danny Savage

Posted on by James Mallinder

Since appearing on Dragons Den, back in Janurary, Danny Savage, the owner of Igloo Disco, has taken us on quite the journey. These unique, inflatable igloo venues have travelled across the UK, hitting festivals such as Beatherder, countless private parties, and now even corporate events and celebrations.

Even though the show aired in January 2017, it’s been a year since filming took place. With this in mind, we were talking in the office and thought it make for an interesting take on where the business has grown in the past 12 months.

We asked Danny about his thought on what has happened over the past few months and how appearing on Dragons Den has changed the business.

And here’s what Danny has to say about it

I bet it feels like ages ago, now, doesn’t it?

Yeah, I suppose it does. Dragons Den was actually filmed in June 2016, which meant I had to wait over 6 months to see it when it finally aired on TV. It was meant to be on TV in October, but they changed their plans and suspended the series until January.

Going on Dragons Den was an amazing experience and something I’d definitely recommend to any small businesses or budding entrepreneurs; as long as you have the confidence and determination in your product and yourself, you can’t lose.

Just being on the show has had a positive effect on the business and our brand.

What happened after filming stopped, did you see the Dragons for a chat or get any more advice?

As soon as the filming finished I was whisked off into one of the other studios to meet up with my Dad and James, who were in the back commentating throughout the pitch.

They then took me away to interview me about the experience I had with the Dragons and get my reaction to what just happened.

I wasn’t allowed to interact with any of the Dragons before or after. They come in, film then leave immediately, I didn’t even hear what the Dragons had to say about me or my pitch until the show aired in January!

Even though you didn’t get any investment off them, they seemed to really like you and the events we offer and were really encouraging Igloo Disco to keep growing. They had a “come back when you’ve proven it works” attitude – which you have, haven’t you? That must have been reassuring as a fledgeling business, at the time of filming?

Yeah, I was really proud of the way I handled the Dragons and the feedback they gave me was nothing but reassuring.

As a business, we went from myself doing all the work to employing 4 full time members of staff, purchasing another 4 structures and adding loads of extra hire lines to our range including sound, lighting, furniture and bars.

This was a huge investment that enabled us to scale the business very quickly.

Dragons Den was actually filmed in June 2016 although it was aired in Jan’ 2017. It was a long wait for it to finally come on, but it was worth it. Since being aired on Dragons Den we have seen an increase in our profits meaning we aren’t going anywhere anytime soon… apart from to wherever people want a party they’ll never forget!

I know you mentioned your phone going wild when the show aired and the website crashed. What was the effect in terms of bookings?

January was a crazy month. Crazy.

We did four months of business in just three weeks, which more than paid for the lack of investment by the Dragons.

The type of clients we have been getting has also evolved, we’re getting more corporate parties and larger scale events booking with us now. These bookings are also wanting us to plan and execute the whole event from start to finish. That’s perfect for us because we’re an events company, really, that just happens to use a blow up Igloo as our venue ha!

But seriously, this summer, we’re almost working at full capacity – you know that – with 7-9 events on every weekend. We’re now taking bookings for 2018 with many enquiries having to join our waiting list for available dates. It’s a good position to be in.

I’m proud of what we’re doing.

And what events stand out in your memory that we helped create with one of our inflatable igloos since the show aired?

We recently hosted an event with Fabulous BBQ in central London and invited lots of large businesses down for some free food & drink. The event was a massive success with over 150 business representatives in attendance, including Google, Facebook, Kenshoo, ITV, Lambeth Palace, to name a few.

We’ve also hosted a few celebrity parties, including for Peter Crouch & Abbey Clancey, Rafa Benitez & recently Kem from Love Island who is currently on the show at the moment. (Go, Kem!).

Where’s Igloo Disco heading next then?

We’re currently in the middle of a huge growth phase. We have 3 new full-time positions, starting this month, so we can build a better operations infrastructure to deal with the number of enquiries we’re currently receiving.

In October, we’re launching Igloo Disco Ibiza. I used to live in Ibiza, running parties and DJing, before starting up Igloo Disco. The timing is now perfect to launch the business in the world’s party capital. We will provide the same services we provide in the UK, but with air-conditioning instead of heating, obviously!

In December, we’re turning a central London Warehouse into a Winter Wonderland themed event space to hire for works/business Christmas parties. There will be 3-4 Igloo’s each with a different use, as well as loads of other bits needed for the best work’s part ever. We’re providing catering, drinks, fun activities, and even bringing in a certain world famous Christmas band. It will really be a unique experience for companies who like to be different.

Oh! we’re also appearing on SC4 (Welsh TV) on Boxing day amongst other TV/Media appearances within early 2018.

Looks like we’re all going to be busy then! If you want to book your own all-in-one Igloo Disco party or event, get in touch here…

4 reasons you should hire an inflatable dome rather than a marquee

Posted on by Site Admin

So you’re planning an outdoor event and you need to decide on the right structure to accommodate guests. There are so many advantages to installing an inflatable dome for your event or promotion and we’re going to share some of them with you here .

1. They’ve got the ‘wow’ factor

If you want something that is guaranteed to give your guests something to remember, look no further. Our inflatable domes are so much more interesting than your standard four walls of flat sheets: they’re fun, striking and look incredibly inviting. In fact, ours resemble igloos (hence our name), and it’s not everyday you see an igloo at a function or event, is it?

2. Quick and painless installation

Forget hanging around for hours or even days while the team fiddle about with various bits of lining and ugly guide ropes; our domes can be inflated in minutes no matter what size you go for. When you need to create something impressive and time is short, domes are ideal because all they need is pumping up with air and it requires fewer people for installation before you’re good to go. Typically, de-rigging is as quick as setting it up, and takes comparatively less time than a standard marquee. The most complicated full set up will be built by the team here in no more than five hours, and can be deconstructed in about half that time.

3. Make a splash

Picture the scene: on the day of your event, it’s raining and your guests are huddled inside the marquee, staring at the drab weather and wishing they weren’t outside. It’s not an ideal situation for anyone. Tucked inside a dome that’s 100% waterproof will means your guests forget the fowl weather outside, and concentrate on having the best time in the igloo.

4. Comfort is key

One other thing to consider in your search for the perfect place to entertain guests is their comfort. All our domes are designed in a way that allows you to keep the warmth in the structure thanks to the large air cavities between the two fabric skins. This means you get the added advantage of thermal insulation in the colder months, and in the summer, you can make sure your guests don’t get too stifled in the heat.

Are you interested in inflatable dome hire now that you’ve read our top four reasons to opt for something a little different to the bog standard marquee? We can provide you with a quote or you can get in touch by calling 01132 270800 and emailing [email protected].