Types of Entertainment for Events: The Complete Guide

Choosing the right entertainment can make or break an event. The perfect act transforms a good evening into an unforgettable one — the wrong choice leaves guests checking their watches and heading for the exit.

Whether you're planning a wedding, corporate gala, birthday milestone, or festival, this guide covers every major type of event entertainment available in the UK. We'll help you understand what works, where it works best, what it costs, and what to ask before you book.

Live Music: Bands and Solo Artists

Live music remains the most popular form of event entertainment in the UK, and for good reason. There's an energy to live performance that no playlist or speaker system can replicate.

Live Bands

A great live band owns the room. From the first chord, they set the atmosphere and keep guests dancing until the lights come on.

Best for: Wedding evening receptions, corporate gala dinners, milestone birthday parties, awards ceremonies

What to expect: Most function bands play 2 x 45-minute or 2 x 60-minute sets with a DJ service between sets and afterwards. Repertoire typically spans pop, rock, soul, Motown, and current chart hits — tailored to your audience.

Price range: £800-£2,500 for a 4-5 piece band. Premium and larger bands can run £3,000-£5,000+.

What to ask before booking:

• Can we see them perform live or watch a full-length video (not just a highlights reel)?
• What equipment do they bring, and what does the venue need to provide?
• Do they offer a DJ service between sets?
• Can we request specific songs or a first dance?
• What's their setup time and space requirement?

Solo Artists and Duos

Acoustic soloists and duos are wonderfully versatile. They work in spaces where a full band would overwhelm, and they bring an intimacy that larger acts can't match.

Best for: Wedding ceremonies, drinks receptions, restaurant events, intimate gatherings, background music during dining

Price range: £300-£800 for 2-3 hours

Solo artists are particularly popular for wedding ceremonies and wedding breakfasts, providing elegant background music that enhances the atmosphere without dominating conversation.

String Quartets

A string quartet adds a touch of class that few other acts can match. The combination of two violins, viola, and cello produces a rich, sophisticated sound that works beautifully in formal settings.

Best for: Wedding ceremonies, drinks receptions, formal dining, corporate hospitality, garden parties

Price range: £600-£1,200 for 2-3 hours

Modern string quartets don't just play classical music. Many have arrangements of pop songs, film scores, and contemporary hits — imagine walking down the aisle to a string arrangement of your favourite song.

What to ask before booking:

• Can they play outdoors (weather-dependent)?
• Do they need amplification, or are they acoustic-only?
• Can they learn a specific song for a key moment?

DJs

DJs offer unbeatable flexibility and value. A skilled DJ reads the room, adapts in real time, and has access to virtually unlimited music across every genre and era.

Best for: Wedding evening receptions, birthday parties, corporate parties, any event where dancing is the priority

Price range: £300-£900 (higher for specialist DJs, all-day packages, or those with extensive lighting rigs)

The DJ advantage: No other act can pivot from 80s classics to current chart hits to drum and bass in minutes based on what the crowd responds to. DJs also take up minimal space and have quick setup times.

What to ask before booking:

• What equipment do they provide (decks, speakers, lighting)?
• Will they take requests on the night?
• Do they have backup equipment in case of failure?
• Can you provide a playlist or must-play/do-not-play list?

Browse DJs and all other entertainment on FolkAir to compare options, watch showreels, and request quotes.

Magicians

Magic is the ultimate icebreaker. Whether it's close-up sleight of hand at a drinks reception or a full stage show after dinner, magicians create moments of genuine wonder that get people talking.

Close-Up Magicians

Close-up magic (also called table magic or mix-and-mingle magic) is performed inches from the audience — with cards, coins, borrowed objects, and bare hands.

Best for: Cocktail hours, drinks receptions, wedding breakfasts (table visits), corporate networking events, any event where guests are mingling

Price range: £300-£800 for 2-3 hours

Close-up magic is arguably the most effective entertainment for networking events. A magician working a drinks reception naturally brings groups of strangers together, gives them a shared experience, and leaves them chatting and laughing. For corporate events, this networking function alone justifies the fee.

Stage Magicians

Stage magic is a theatrical performance for a seated audience — larger illusions, audience participation, comedy, and spectacle.

Best for: After-dinner entertainment, awards ceremonies, gala dinners, corporate conferences, theatre-style events

Price range: £600-£2,000 for a 30-60 minute show

What to ask before booking:

• Close-up or stage (or both)?
• How many guests can they comfortably cover?
• Do they need a stage, lighting, or sound?
• Is the content family-friendly / appropriate for your audience?

Comedy Acts

A great comedian can be the highlight of the entire event. A bad one can be a disaster. Comedy is higher-risk entertainment, but when it lands, nothing else comes close.

After-Dinner Comedians

The classic format: a 20-40 minute stand-up set after the meal, when guests are relaxed, fed, and (usually) a few drinks in.

Best for: Corporate dinners, awards ceremonies, milestone birthdays, charity fundraisers

Price range: £500-£1,500 for a 20-40 minute set (TV-name comedians command £3,000-£10,000+)

Comedy MCs and Hosts

A comedian who hosts the entire evening, introducing speakers, filling gaps, and keeping energy high throughout.

Best for: Awards ceremonies, charity auctions, corporate conferences

Price range: £800-£2,500 for a full evening

What to ask before booking:

• Can they tailor material to your audience/industry?
• Is all material clean/appropriate for your crowd?
• Will they avoid specific topics?
• Can you see a recent full-length set (not just a highlight clip)?

The risk factor: Comedy is subjective. What has one table in tears might leave another stone-faced. Mitigate this by choosing comedians experienced in your event type (corporate comedians for corporate events, wedding comedians for weddings) and briefing them thoroughly on the audience.

Circus and Fire Performers

For events that demand spectacle, circus and fire performers deliver visual impact that photographs and films beautifully.

Fire Performers

Fire poi, fire breathing, fire eating, fire fans, fire staffs — fire performance combines danger, beauty, and primal fascination.

Best for: Outdoor events, festivals, summer parties, gala dinners (outdoor spaces), themed events

Price range: £400-£1,200 for 2-3 performances of 10-15 minutes each

Important considerations:

• Fire acts require outdoor space or very high ceilings with appropriate clearance
• The performer should carry specialist fire performance insurance
• Venue permission is essential — some venues prohibit open flames entirely
• Wind conditions affect outdoor fire performances

Circus Performers

Stilt-walkers, acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, contortionists — circus acts bring colour, movement, and jaw-dropping physical skill.

Best for: Festivals, garden parties, grand openings, themed events, gala dinners, family events

Price range: £400-£1,500 depending on act complexity and number of performers

Aerial acts (trapeze, silks, hoop) are increasingly popular at high-end corporate events and weddings, but require rigging points or freestanding rigs — always check venue suitability first.

Caricaturists

Caricaturists are quietly one of the most effective entertainment options available. They're interactive, personal, and every guest walks away with a physical keepsake.

Best for: Wedding receptions, corporate events, milestone birthdays, charity events, exhibitions and trade shows

Price range: £300-£600 for 3 hours (producing roughly 12-15 caricatures per hour)

Why they work so well: Guests love watching themselves being drawn. It creates natural gathering points, sparks conversation, and the finished caricature becomes a memento that lives on the fridge or office wall for years. At corporate events, branded caricature borders add a marketing dimension.

What to ask before booking:

• Do they work digitally or with pen and paper?
• How many caricatures per hour can they produce?
• Can they add branding or a custom border?
• Do they need a specific setup (table, chair, lighting)?

Photo Booths

Photo booths have become almost standard at weddings and corporate events — and for good reason. They're fun, require zero effort from guests, and generate shareable content.

Best for: Wedding evening receptions, corporate parties, milestone birthdays, product launches, exhibition stands

Price range: £300-£600 for 3-4 hours (including props, prints, and digital copies)

What's Available

• Classic enclosed booths — the traditional curtained booth with strip prints
• Open-air booths — a camera and backdrop setup, better for groups
• Mirror booths — full-length interactive mirrors with touchscreen prompts
• 360° booths — spinning camera rigs that create shareable video clips
• GIF booths — animated short clips perfect for social media

Why they work: Photo booths are low-maintenance entertainment. Once set up, they run themselves. Guests use them whenever they want, there's no scheduling to manage, and the photos/videos create instant social media content. For corporate events, branded overlays and instant sharing to company hashtags add marketing value.

Choosing the Right Entertainment for Your Event

For Weddings

A typical well-rounded wedding entertainment plan:

• Ceremony: String quartet or acoustic soloist
• Drinks reception: Close-up magician or acoustic duo
• Wedding breakfast: Background music (solo artist or playlist)
• Evening reception: Live band or DJ (or both)
• Throughout evening: Photo booth

For Corporate Events

Match the entertainment to the event's purpose:

• Networking reception: Close-up magician, caricaturist
• Gala dinner: Live band, after-dinner comedian, stage magician
• Team-building day: Interactive acts, workshops, comedy
• Product launch: DJ, circus performers, themed entertainment
• Awards ceremony: Comedy MC, live band

For Private Parties

• Milestone birthdays: DJ, live band, tribute act, comedian
• Children's parties: Children's entertainer, magician, face painter
• Garden parties: Acoustic music, stilt-walkers, BBQ jazz band

What to Ask Every Performer Before Booking

Regardless of the act type, always ask:

1. Do you have public liability insurance? (Non-negotiable)
2. Can I see a full-length video of a recent performance?
3. What space and technical requirements do you have?
4. What's included in your fee? (Travel, setup, equipment)
5. What's your cancellation policy?
6. Do you have references from similar events?

You can find and compare all of these entertainment types on FolkAir, where performers list their services with showreels, reviews, and transparent pricing.

Book Entertainment That Makes Your Event Unforgettable

The right entertainment doesn't just fill time — it creates the moments your guests remember. Whether it's a string quartet that makes the ceremony magical, a comedian who has the room in tears, or a fire performer who stops everyone in their tracks, great entertainment is what elevates a good event into a great one.

Start your search early (3-6 months for weddings, 1-3 months for other events), book the acts that match your audience and venue, and get ready for an event people will talk about for years.

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