Staff Christmas parties · December & January · Surrey & London
Live music, a DJ and Rockaoke for your staff Christmas party
One act for the whole night, whether your party's before Christmas or once the busy season has passed.
Live music + DJ + Rockaoke · gigging for a living since 2006 · own PA & lights · fully insured
Three recent nights, as they happened. No sound, just the room.
I'm Aaron, a singer and guitarist based in Dorking, and I do staff Christmas parties and company dos across Surrey and London. Last year I provided the entertainment for the MAMMA MIA! musical's Christmas party in London, and I'm doing the same for them again this year. In January I did Beaverbrook's staff Christmas party, where Rockaoke was a big part of the night.
I know that for a lot of businesses, hospitality especially, the Christmas party is offset to January, and it can often be something that's organised last minute because the festive period is just so intense. So this page is here to take some of that pressure off. The entertainment can be sorted now, and you'll know at least one part of the party is arranged.
I provide live music, DJ music and Rockaoke, either on their own or as a complete evening. Live sets while everyone arrives and eats, Rockaoke once a few drinks are in, then I put the guitar down and DJ through to the end. One act, one PA in the corner, the whole night handled.
December is nearly full. January isn't.
My December diary is now largely booked, although I still have some early-week dates. And I have dates available in January for businesses holding their staff celebration after Christmas. Confirm a January date before 30 October and it's £100 less than the standard rate. If you're starting to think about your own team's party, it's worth asking now rather than finding out the date's gone.
Ask if your date's free →Two recent ones
The kind of night this page is about.
The MAMMA MIA! musical's Christmas party
Last year I provided the entertainment for the MAMMA MIA! musical's Christmas party in London, and I'm back doing it again this Christmas. I've also played the cast's after-party at the Novello Theatre.
Beaverbrook's staff Christmas party
In January I did Beaverbrook's staff Christmas party, with live music, DJ sets and Rockaoke across the evening. Rockaoke was a big part of the night.
The MAMMA MIA! company party at the Novello Theatre.
How the night runs
Three parts, one act, no handovers.
Part 1
Live sets
Acoustic and electric with backing tracks behind it, so one person fills the room like a band. In the background while people arrive and eat, then the songs everyone knows once the room warms up.
Part 2
Rockaoke
Karaoke with a live edge. Someone picks a song and gets up, the words and chords come up on the screen for them, and I jam along live. At Beaverbrook's staff party it was a big part of the night.
Part 3
DJ till the end
Guitar down, decks on. I keep the floor going with whatever your crowd's into, take requests on the night, and read the room so it builds rather than empties.
What it costs
One clear price for the whole night. No quote to chase.
| Night | Standard | January, booked by 30 October |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | £550£200 deposit | £450£150 non-refundable deposit |
| Friday and Saturday | £750£250 deposit | £650£250 non-refundable deposit |
| Sunday | £700£250 deposit | £600£200 non-refundable deposit |
The standard price applies to December dates and to January dates booked after 30 October. The deposit is non-refundable and holds your date.
The whole night, 7.30pm till midnight — live sets, Rockaoke and the DJ, one act. The non-refundable deposit holds your date, and the balance is due on the night.
Booked separately, a function band is £1,200–£1,880 for the night and an evening DJ another £300–£755 on top — £1,500 and up for live music and a dancefloor.
One thing worth being clear on: I book in blocks, not by the hour. Even one hour of music in the evening means the evening is yours alone — I can't take another booking around it — so it's the night you're booking, however much of it you use.
What it sounds like
A couple of live ones. The party footage never seems to get filmed, which is probably a good sign.
What you get
- ✦Live sets, Rockaoke and a DJ set — the whole evening from one act
- ✦A full band sound from one person, thanks to the backing tracks behind the guitar
- ✦Used to company nights — the MAMMA MIA! musical's Christmas party, Beaverbrook's staff party, Chessington for Merlin, events for DiGiCo
- ✦My own PA, microphones and lighting; I set up early and stay out of the way
- ✦Public liability insurance and PAT-tested gear — the paperwork venues want
- ✦One supplier and one invoice instead of a band, a DJ and a karaoke hire
If you're a venue or an events team
If you host Christmas or corporate parties for clients and ever get asked to recommend entertainment, I'd be glad to be someone you can call on. I turn up early, set up cleanly, look the part and read the room rather than blast it, and the insurance and PAT paperwork is ready to send whenever you need it.
What people say
“Love finding out Aaron is playing in a local pub near me — always such a fantastic night. My son surprised me with a party for my 40th and got Aaron to do the music; we had a fab night dancing and singing to all our favourites.”
“We loved having you there, Aaron — it made the night, and so many people have commented.”
“Thank you so much for making the party what it was! Everyone really enjoyed themselves — it was a great night and I loved it. Hope to see you again in the future.”
Questions people ask
What is Rockaoke?
Think karaoke with a live edge. I run it through JamZone, which puts the lyrics and chords up for whoever's singing and the chords up for me, so the backing track runs and I jam along with them live. It was a big part of the night at Beaverbrook's staff party, and it can be one part of the evening or the main event.
How much is entertainment for a staff Christmas party?
Monday to Thursday £550, Friday and Saturday £750, Sunday £700 — the whole night, 7.30pm till midnight, with the live sets, Rockaoke and me DJing the rest on my own PA and lighting. Book a January date before 30 October and it's £100 less: £450, £650 or £600. A non-refundable deposit holds your date — £150 on £450, £200 on £600, £250 on £650 — and the balance is due on the night. For comparison, a function band is usually £1,200–£1,880 and a separate DJ another £300–£755 on top.
Have you got any dates left in December?
Some. My December diary is largely booked, but I still have dates early in the week. January is more open.
Can we hold our party in January instead?
Yes, and plenty of businesses do, hospitality especially, because December is their busiest time. I've got January dates available and the night runs exactly the same. If you confirm a January date before 30 October, it's £100 off.
Can you do background music during dinner and then a party afterwards?
That's exactly the format. Tasteful live music while people eat and through any speeches, then Rockaoke if you want it, then the sound comes up and I DJ to fill the floor. One act covering the whole night.
Do you have public liability insurance and PAT-tested equipment?
Yes — public liability cover and PAT-tested gear, which is what most venues and company event organisers ask to see. I can send the paperwork over when you book.
Do you travel into London?
Yes. I'm in Surrey and regularly play London and the South East — Berkshire, Sussex, Hampshire. Tell me where and when and I'll confirm.
Check your date
Tell me your date, roughly where it is and how many of you there are. It comes straight to me and I'll reply personally with a straight price. No hard sell.
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