When complex business dealings lead you in unfamiliar directions, you do the only sensible thing. You retain an experienced consultant to help you navigate uncharted territory.

And when negotiations wrap up and it's time for an old-fashioned blowout to reward your staff for a job well done, you do the same thing - you hire the experts.

You engage a professional group of high-energy crowd-pleasers to supply the musical entertainment - Calgary's Mocking Shadows.

"If I do say so myself, we're a great party band," grinned Mike Little, keyboardist and co-founder of Mocking Shadows, an airtight, eight-piece group (complete with dynamite horn section) featuring a vast and varied playlist that ranges from ska to soul to swing. They'll even inject a shot of hip-hop into the mix, if your dancers are up for it.

The Mocking Shadows are known for their professionalism and punctuality, as well as their great music.

"Our repertoire of arrangements is extremely large and it's tailored to the tastes of our audience," Little added. "We've become pretty proficient at giving the people what they want." When it comes to pleasing an extensive roster of corporate clients, Mocking Shadows (www.mockingshadows.com) stand by a customer service pledge that reflects their style of determined professionalism: They'll play it your way.

One of the busiest touring bands in Canada, the soulful Mocking Shadows have made an art of performing at corporate functions. In this part of the world, they're in a class by themselves.

But don't take our word for it. Check with B.B. King.

The globally respected blues giant was so impressed when Mocking Shadows opened for him during a brief western tour, the great B.B. put in a special bid for their services during a subsequent long tour of Eastern Canada.

The magnificent Blues Boy isn't the only major star to bestow King-sized respect on this energetic and versatile group, whose latest CD Out of the Blue was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award.

Mocking Shadows once worked with British blues legend Long John Baldry and have been asked to appear as opening act for some of the most magnetic names in the industry, including Reba McEntire, the Tragically Hip, LeAnn Rimes, even the inimitable ZZ Top.

Such impeccable credentials are what first drew the attention of corporate Canada to Mocking Shadows. Since the band perfected its sophisticated urban sound eight years ago, corporations, charitable agencies, even municipal governments have engaged the group to perform for everything from conventions to silent auctions to corporate picnics to Christmas parties, even for team-building retreats.

This December, for example, Shaw Communications has asked Mocking Shadows to entertain employees during Christmas revels in Vancouver and Edmonton, as well as Calgary.

"We've built a long and enjoyable relationship with the people at Shaw," Little explained. "They've found out how well we can deliver what we promise and they keep inviting us back." Other satisfied clients include the annual Banff Television Festival and Canaccord Capital Corp., to name a few.

Like any thriving enterprise, the members of Mocking Shadows work hard at sustaining relationships and satisfying customer needs. Known for punctuality and all-around professionalism, this band is itself a corporate entity.

And like other Southern Alberta businessmen, members of the group show up for work on time, dressed in suitable business attire and equipped with the tools of their trade (which in this case means drums, bass, two sets of keyboards, guitars, trombones, trumpets and saxophones.)

"This is our living. We're professionals and we take our business seriously," said Little.

That means custom-tailoring the evening's entertainment to suit the mood, demographics and tastes of the particular corporate crowd. For their valued corporate customers, for example, Mocking Shadows insist on keeping their volume to acceptable levels - unless they're asked to crank it up a bit.

They've become past masters at evaluating the wishes of their audience . . . and then delivering.

"When we're on a corporate gig, the client's wishes take priority," chipped in bassist Jory Kinjo, who doubles on vocals. "At any given function, we'll go from high-energy performers to wallflowers, when it's time for speeches and presentations," he added.

Older crowds may be treated to tasty swing standards and a mix of 1960s soul classics, while youth will be served with hard-rocking contemporary funk and a smattering of rap. Mocking Shadows are a working band with a tight schedule so it's wise to book several months in advance. However, the group still has a few openings for the 2004 Christmas season.

So give your staff and customers a break.

Throw them a dance party and invite Little, Kinjo, Fernando Longhi (drums), Arun Bhaumik (guitar), Darren Bourne (keyboards, vocals), Gareth Hughes (sax), Rod Tate (trombone) and Ian Hartley (trumpet) to supply the soundtrack.

For professional bookings, contact: Darcy Clendenning, Entertainment Services and Products, Calgary. Telephone: 403.230.5350. E-mail: espdc@shaw.ca.