Your London Wedding - May/Jun 2019 (Issue 65)

TOMMY BALAAM AND RICKY FOX, CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINERS After graduating from East15 Acting School and struggling with the resting periods, Tommy decided to re-invent himself as Captain Fantastic, the superhero that saves the day for children (and their parents) at weddings. By 2013 Captain Fantastic parties were in such high demand, best friend and fellow East15 graduate Ricky Fox became Tommy’s full-time business partner. Noticing a gap in the market, Ricky set about creating a range of toddler parties for the little ones and interactive disco parties for older children. What’s your favourite area of London and why? Tommy: Highbury and Islington – not only is it home to my football team, Arsenal, but it’s also where I met my ‘better half ’, Abbie on our first date! Ricky: Crouch End – I moved there after drama school and it quickly became my local hangout. What’s your favourite London restaurant? Ricky: Is it wrong to say Wagamama? I know it’s a chain, but come on, it has free green tea! Tommy: I love Turkish food! The best place in London for Turkish restaurants is Green Lanes in Haringey. I’m a vegetarian, so anything with halloumi is a winner, in my book! What are you watching at the moment? Both: After Life starring Ricky Gervais. It’s great – very funny and a bit of a tear-jerker. Tell us about the service you provide… Both: We provide children’s entertainment at weddings – essentially, we keep the little ones busy during the parts they may find boring, from the ceremony to the speeches. We also provide DJs, dancefloors and photo booths through our sister firm cfentertainment.co.uk Describe a typical day… Ricky: Tommy’s always up at around 5am as he has 11-month-old twins but I prefer a more relaxed start. If it’s not a party day we’ll head to the office and go through our current projects or price up some packages for clients, then the afternoon might be running a Feeling Fantastic class at a school. What’s your favourite London wedding venue and why? Tommy: Bluebird in Chelsea and, if you mention Captain Fantastic they’ll give you a discount Contact: Captain Fantastic | 020 8245 9019 captain-fantastic.co.uk DAMIEN ELDRIDGE, BLUE LION BAND A lifelong musician, Damien set up Blue Lion Band for professional musicians in-between tours to provide high-quality live music for weddings. What’s your favourite area of London and why? Shoreditch is probably a favourite because this is where our monthly showcase venue is – Gigi’s on Hoxton Square. There are also a lot of other really cool gigs and venues in this area. What was the last gig you went to? Bruno Mars in Hyde Park, with Kalid and Trombone Shorty, was an awesome concert last summer. What are you reading and watching right now? I’ve just finished Power Of Now by Ekhart Tolle and I’m currently bingeing on Mad Men on Netflix – it’s a really well-written TV series. Tell us a little about the service you provide... For the evening party, our service covers a five-hour period and within this time, we offer up to three party sets of 45 minutes a-piece, and a playlist for when the band isn’t on stage. We supply PA and basic stage lighting too. Ceremony and drinks reception music can be added on to this package. What’s your favourite London wedding venue and why? It’s hard to narrow it down but Syon Park and The Barbican Conservatory are beautiful venues with excellent staff. Contact: 07903 749499 bluelionband.co.uk 62