Your Guide To A Hauntingly Good Halloween Party

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With the leaves falling from the trees and the summer heat drifting away, it can only mean one thing; Fall is finally here! With Fall comes pumpkins, football games, flannels, and of course, Halloween. As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, Halloween is the perfect time to throw some of the craziest parties of the year. As your friends and neighbors prepare by decorating their houses and making fun costumes, here is your guide to throwing a spectacularly spooky soiree they won’t soon forget! Putting on a Halloween celebration may seem like a monumental task, but really it can be broken down into three main facets: Lighting, Special Enhancements, and Entertainment. Luckily, Rock The House is not only able to provide you with all of these things, but we’ll even walk you through each step of the planning process! Here are a few of our ideas, if you dare to dream big!

Lighting:

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Lighting is a very powerful tool for any event you may be throwing because it allows you to not only transform the look of any space, but also the mood that is set by that space. Orange uplighting on a bare wall is a great way to give your guests a mysterious feeling as they arrive, or use it on some white drapery to make your own wall! Black lights are also known to set an eerie tone, and can be a great addition to any room’s design. While these lights are used to set the room’s general atmosphere, there are also advanced lighting options that will help bring your party to life after it kicks off! Strobe lights, hazers, and blinders are all great ways to turn your average room into a full-fledged Halloween production. Freedom sticks and gobos are some other good additions that can really bring a space together nicely.

Special Enhancements:

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Once you’ve got the lighting in place, it’s time to polish off your production with some extra flare. Fog machines are a great accent to our advanced lighting choices, or you can add some chandeliers to give the room a touch of aged elegance! Also don’t forget about any of our fantastic extra entertainment options, such as Rockshots, LED Ping Pong, Giant Foosball, and more! Our selection of games and extra activities are a great way to ensure that guests will stay entertained both on, and off the dancefloor!

Photo Opportunity:

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Another special enhancement that is a must-have for any Halloween party is one of our many different photo opportunities! Photos booth options have become a new staple piece for guest interaction, and can be very appealing to those who may be a bit too shy to put their dancing shoes on. Not to mention that if you’re throwing a costume party, your guests will be itching to get a picture of themselves in their new attire! Add social media sharing, and guests can easily share their photos directly to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or even have their pictures sent to them instantly through e-mail or text message.

Entertainment:

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When all the lighting and production work is done, you’ll still need to entertain your guests! Whether you prefer live entertainment or a good old-fashioned DJ, Rock The House is always ready to make your party ROCK! Our masterful DJ/MC pairs are trained to play for any kind of crowd, and our in-house, award-winning party band Rock The House LIVE is able to play a wide variety of genres from funk, to rock, to today’s biggest hits. No matter which option you prefer, you can be sure that all your guests will be out of their seats, enjoying themselves the entire night! As you can surely see by now, trick-or-treating isn’t the only fun thing you can do in October. Now’s your chance to throw a party so good, even ghosts from last Halloween will want to attend! Contact our team of event professionals today to get started, and mention this article and receive 5% off your Halloween event. Images courtesy of Google Images and the Rock The House Photo Archive.

RTH Signature Event: MOCA Cleveland Art Gala

Each year, the Cleveland Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) holds an annual fundraiser in which elite members of Cleveland’s community come together to support the arts. This affair, also known as the MOCA Gala, is a night full of laughter, conversation, and delicious food provided by Marigold Catering. Returning as proud production partners for the past 3 years, it was our distinct pleasure to provide audio, video, lighting services for this year’s MOCA gala!

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As event professionals who know the impact lighting can make on an event, Rock The House aspired to design a clean look associated with the gala’s main theme; “LEAP”. Led by Founder/CEO Matt Radicelli, the RTH team wasted no time designing a sky-like atmosphere, illuminating the normally-white room with light blue accent lighting, dabbled with the occasional cloud or two. Accomplished using uplighting and gobos mounted from overhead support beams, the final look left the white room appearing to have painted walls, with no distinguishable lighting sources viewable from the entrance.

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In addition to lighting, Rock The House also provided audio and video services, allowing key speakers to present with ease, as an overhead projector displayed visuals that may be relevant to any of the presentations throughout the gala. Truly a night to remember, Rock The House would like to thank all guests in attendance who came to show their support, as well as the staff of the Cleveland MOCA, The Element Band, and everyone else who made the event possible.

Interested in Rock The House’s production services for your next corporate, non-profit, or social event? Contact our team of #EventProfs today to visually stun your guests at your next event!

How To: Throw The Best Sports Viewing Party… EVER.

With our very own Cleveland Cavaliers marching their way through the NBA playoffs, friends and families all over Greater Cleveland are coming together to cheer on our team.

As we all know, a night out at any sporting event can be VERY costly. From tickets, to transportation, food, and beverages, a simple night out can turn into a credit card on a respirator with a hole burnt in your pocket (and soul).

All of that “moolah” spent on a night out for two? Why not allocate and relocate the fandom and host a viewing party that ALL of your friends and family can enjoy?

RTH is seasoned in the art of throwing parties. Let us tell you how to throw the BEST sports viewing party EVER that the neighborhood will never stop talking about.

Light Up The Night

Illuminate your home with your team colors. That way, there is no room for misunderstanding where the party is. Your guests will not only arrive to your party without problem, but also will begin to feel the team spirit even before walking in!

The Bigger, The Better

Turn your home into your own personal viewing theater and rent a huge LED monitor for your guests. Your once “average” viewing party with a 40-inch TV is taken to a whole new level when your home turns into a professional theater with a 70-inch viewing screen.

Video Screen Rentals

Let’s Get Loud

Blow your guests’ minds (and not your speakers) by having a team of professionals install top-of-the-line surround sound in your home for the game. The sound system will bring the “just walked into the stadium” feeling straight to your home. Feeling as if you are at the game, while enjoying the comfort of sitting on a familiar couch seems like a win-win in any book!

Viewing Party Screen Rental

Take Things Outside

Don’t want to mess up the entire house with people trafficking in and out? That’s ok. Set up your watch party in a tent in your yard. Your guests will enjoy themselves in a new and exciting setting and you won’t worry about footprints tracking through your home from travel throughout the house.

The Whole Nine Yards

Can’t find a sitter? Don’t panic. The kids can be entertained by renting giant, interactive games to play during time outs. This way, mom and dad can enjoy their time and no child is left bored. Seldom can parents drag their kids to an “adult” party that they will enjoy, but life-size tic-tac-toe will bring the fun out of anyone!

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How do you execute a party to such a degree? Do not fret, because when it comes to execution, Rock The House always nails it. Let us provide products and assist you while you throw the best viewing party of the season, in the comfort of your own home!

 

Rock The House Helps Unveil the New JACK Thistledown Racino

JACK Thistledown Racino unveiled some fresh additions at its grand opening event at its North Randall location, and Rock The House had the pleasure of producing this corporate event. The night was a great success as JACK showed off its $70 million expansion, including new restaurants (pasta bar anyone?), a sports bar, and even a plant wall.

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From the custom beach balls and mardi gras beads, to the rotating gobos featuring the JACK logo on the ceiling, not a detail was missed at this event.

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Rock The House ensured everyone was greeted at the entrance by aerialists and a piano player, along with special red lighting to go with the Jack’s new color pallet.

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Throughout the night, guests were anxiously excited to try out the photo section, where they had the chance to strike a pose on a bright red couch while trying on an array of props, including hats, sunglasses and champagne bottles. Guests were able to get creative with their friends, family, and co-workers all while being photographed by our friend and photographer, Dale McDonald.

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Dale McDonald Photography

The new additions to the JACK are just the first of many. Rock The House was honored to be a part of showing off the new JACK and all it has to offer to Northeast Ohio. Can’t wait for more to come!

Vendors who helped make this event ROCK:

Jon Blair (piano player)
Jasmine Dragons (Aerialists)
Dale McDonald (Photography)
The Sand Lovers (Sand Castle)

From our team to yours… THANK YOU!

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How To: Keep Your Guests Engaged at Your Next Corporate Event

From audio options to staging selections, planning a corporate event is no easy task for even the most seasoned professional. Obstacles like acoustics, inclement weather, and those ever so frequent technical issues shouldn’t get in the way of wowing your guests and giving your audience the experience they seek when dedicating a day, weekend or week to your event.

With modern event technology and audience participation products, corporate events have the ability to become once-in-a-lifetime experiences for guests.

Here are a few ideas about how to give your next corporate event all you’ve got.

Be Socially Acceptable.

Give your guests a voice of their own with products like SocialCast!

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High Tech Meets Text

Allow guests to interact straight from their SmartPhones with Text Live!

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Set the Scene

Your guests won’t be able to look away when you utilize with show-stopping staging and lighting options!

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A Surprising Photo Op

Your guests can take their selfie-game to a whole new level by incorporating a mirror booth!

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Incorporate Snapchat’s GeoFilters

Give your tech-savvy guests an opportunity to show-off where they are! 

Custom Snapchat Filters

For even more ideas about how to keep your guests engaged at your next corporate event. See what our experts say below:

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5 More Mitzvah Concepts to Consider (Part 2)

As we explained in Part 1 of this series, choosing just one event theme may be limiting to families who have a variety of interests and passions. However, in our experience, a theme or concept can be used a tool to make decisions easier to make and schematics simpler to plan.

With that said, here are even more Mitzvah concepts that are sure to WOW your guests and celebrate your son or daughter!

Bright Lights – Big Cities!

 

Considering a "Cleveland" Theme? Choose an iconic landmark as your venue! We'd suggest MOCA Cleveland or the Rock Hall.

Considering a “Cleveland” Theme? Choose an iconic landmark as your venue! We’d suggest MOCA Cleveland or the Rock Hall.

Large Cities (New York, Las Vegas, Paris, CLEVELAND, to name a few) are packed with iconography, fast-paced activities and characteristic atmospheres, food and people. Consider a city-themed event. This way, your son or daughter can celebrate their big day with their very favorite people… in their very favorite place.

Disco

The seventies brought us amazing music, daring dance moves, and best of all… the iconic disco ball. Groovy parents and crazy children alike will “totally dig” this far out trip through time.

Winter Wonderland

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There are so many ways to recreate winter indoors with modern event technology. From winter-themed GOBOS, to bright white confetti cannons, your outdoorsy son or daughter will melt over this very cool Mitzvah Concept.

Just Dance!

 

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From black-light parties to club-inspired settings, events that focus on packing the dance floor are sure to please any crowd. Worried about getting guests motivated and moving all night? Look no further than our Party Motivators who are sure to pump up the energy at any given event.

Thanks for reading about even more of our favorite Bar and Bat Mitzvah concepts! For more ideas about making planning an event that packs a lot of punch, follow us on social media! (links below)

For more Mitzvah Inspiration, subscribe to our YouTube Page.

 

Jewish Wedding Traditions Take a Modern Twist

As we prep for this weekend’s Jstyle Wedding Show, we reflect on some of our favorite Jewish Wedding Traditions that have stood the test of time. The history and depth of each culture is featured and celebrated  during milestone events like weddings and Bar Mitzvahs. However, you don’t always have to do your grandma’s hora – there are ways to take these traditions and amp them up with a modern mark. Here are some ideas to help you highlight your Jewish wedding traditions.

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The Chuppah

Whether you choose a classic cloth chuppah, deck it out with decadent flowers, or do something ultra-modern, the Chuppah is the focal point of many Jewish Wedding ceremonies and should really shine. Add drama to your ceremony by adding a chandelier, some uplights or even spotlighting your Chuppah. This way, guests can focus in on the couple they are there to celebrate.

The Ketubah

Before the traditional Jewish wedding ceremony, the bride and groom meet with their families to sign their ketubah. “The ketubah is a unilateral agreement drawn by witnesses in accordance with Jewish civil law” (Chabad.Org). Today, brides and grooms purchase Ketubot that display their personalities. Make sure yours really shines through your Chuppah by adding light to it.

See the beautiful, traditional wedding ceremony of Katie and Ethan in the video below:

2014-06-28 RTH DSLR Highlight from RTH Multimedia on Vimeo.

 

Breaking the Glass

As the Jewish Wedding Ceremony concludes, it’s traditional for the groom to break the glass by placing it under his foot and forcefully stomping down. Make sure this moment makes a big impact by utilizing the appropriate sound equipment. Ceremony sound systems are a modern-day product offering that ensures that every prayer, vow, and stomp is heard – loud and clear.

The Hora

The Hora, a traditional, celebratory circle dance is popular at Jewish weddings and throughout many cultures. The dance is a great way to kick off almost any event, as it gets nearly all guests on the dance floor. Today, some non-Jewish couples dance the hora at their weddings as it is the epitome of a crowd-pleaser.

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According to our very own, Nick Duvé:

“Jewish receptions are rich with traditions that have gone back generations. I especially love the Hora. It instantly brings an energy to the crowd and sets the tone for an amazing celebration. We have so many different versions of the Hora that can mix withalmost any wedding vibe.”

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Read more about RTH “Wow” Weddings by clicking on the photo above!

From the ceremony to the reception to the after-party, there are so many ways to enhance your culture’s traditions with modern event technology. For even more info about Rock The House Weddings, click here!

 

5 Bar/Bat Mitzvah Concepts to Consider This Spring

While choosing a theme or concept for your child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah can seem overwhelming, thematic events can actually be simpler to plan than events with less focus. When you and your family choose a concept for an upcoming event, everything from the food to the photography instantly becomes easier to envision.

Read on for some awesome Mitzvah themes!

Sports

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Sports themed Mitzvahs are sure to please the crowd. With so many sports-related activities to embrace, why not hit the ground running with this super fun mitzvah theme?

Beach/Pool/Cabana

Recreate paradise with a tropical event concept. From novelties to playlists and tiki bars to boot, there are so many ways to let the sunshine even in the middle of winter.

Candy

Your incredibly sweet son or daughter will absolutely crave a candy-themed party. From photo novelties, to candy bars and sweet-themed cocktails, your “peeps” would pay “100 grand” and love you too “pieces” after a candy-themed event.

Casino / Vegas

Raise the stakes and consider a casino theme for your son or daughter’s big day. With fun casino-style gaming stations, your guests are sure to win big on or off the dance floor.

Alice in Wonderland

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Your guests certainly won’t be late for this, “very important date!” When you incorporate a nostalgic Alice and Wonderland Theme into the party. After all, “We’re all mad here.”

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Lights, camera, PARTY! Take Hollywood glamour to a whole new level with a Tinseltown-themed gala, red carpet and all.

Carnival / Festival

Come one, come all and feel free to clown around at a Carnival Themed extravaganza featuring your son or daughter!

 

 

Wedding Lighting Concepts that Will Highlight Your Love

Traditionally, brides and grooms have a long list of decisions to make for their big day. From the flowers to the bridal party ensemble, to the color scheme and the cake, lots of vendors need to come together to create the vision dreamt about by bride and groom.

Choosing lighting can seem like just another item on the list of wedding-related options, when in reality, it just may be the one product offering that ties all these other items together.

Today, more and more brides and grooms are opting for lighting options to illuminate their big day. Here are just a few of our favorite lighting products:

RTH Love Letters

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Sometimes you have to spell it out. Make a huge statement with our custom, RTH Love Letters. Plus, your guests will #LOVE them!

Bistro / String Lighting

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If you’re more whimsical and less flashy, string lighting is the perfect addition to your big day. Perfect for cocktail hour or an outdoor/tent wedding, bistro style lighting adds an alfresco touch to any event.

Chandeliers

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An elegant and lovely item that has stood the test of time. From vintage to glamourous, here at Rock The House, we own over 8 different chandelier options that we happily rent to wedding clients. Add that little something extra with these luxurious classics.

Monograms / Name in Lights / Gobos

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You put a ring on it, why not monogram it too? Seeing your name in lights is always pretty cool, having a custom logo made may be even cooler. With Rock The House Gobos, we can make sure your event logo is front and center.

Spot Lighting

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Have a can’t-miss wedding cake or a Chuppa that needs illuminating? Our spot-lighting options allow brides and grooms to showcase and show off what is most important to the couple.

Whichever wedding style you choose, there is a lighting element that will embrace and illuminate your love.

Cheers!

Click here for even more lighting options!

Click here for more information shout RTHweddings!

RTH Brings 2016 Today’s Bride Show To Another Level!

We loved the 2016 Today’s Bride January bridal shows at The John S. Knight Center and Cleveland’s IX Center! The energy level at every show was beyond contagious. From attendees to exhibitors, everyone genuinely wanted to be there (us especially)! Our team had a blast participating in the shows and meeting hundreds of newly engaged couples from the Cleveland, Akron, Canton and surrounding areas.

The Fashion Show:  

The Today’s Bride fashion shows have become a ‘must-see’ attraction at the Today’s Bride shows and for the past eight years, we have been proud to be their exclusive entertainment and audio-visual partner.

At this year’s’ fashion show, Rock The House’s own DJ Flightz and MC Nick Duvé kept the energy going for both the models and the audiences.  Over 70 fashions from 10 different companies graced this years runway! Spotify even had a spike in tags that day from the audience searching for the amazing mashup mixes we selected.

Over 70 fashions from 10 different companies graced this years runway!  

Spotify even had a spike in tags that day from the audience searching for the amazing mashup mixes we selected.

Our Built-“Up” Booth:   

Now, as an exhibitor, we wanted to stand out from the crowd and be seen from all areas of the convention centers. So, we decided to build UP!  Yes, we were the first two-story exhibit at a Today’s Bride bridal show.

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We incorporated marquee L-O-V-E letters, chandeliers and uplighting to create a fun and unique booth. The DJ spinning tunes on the second floor was the cherry on top (literally)!

The Today’s Bride Show Manager, Jennifer Fyffe, said it best:

“Rock The House, you set your own bar higher every year. This year was no exception. Not only did you win the Best Booth Award, you won Best-in-Show. Truly a show-stopper remembered by all!”

Oh, and the best part of it all? We’ve got it on video! Go ahead, check it out!

Rock The House Weddings is part of the Cleveland & Akron’s finest Interactive DJ, Entertainment and Production Company, Rock The House Entertainment Group, Inc.

Since 1999, RTH has exceeded expectations by providing amazing talent, cutting-edge products, and award-winning customer service.

Find out more about what we do by visiting our website or give us a call at 440.232.7625

SEE ALSO: Transforming a Tent with Lighting