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ROCKstar of the Month of June: Anthony Jamison

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June’s ROCKstar of the Month is Anthony Jamison! Anthony gives his talents to the Rock The House team in our entertainment division as both a dancer and a DJ. He has worked for the RTH team for about 4 years and always brings energy & passion to his work!

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“I feel like the biggest thing I’ve gained from RTH is confidence. I still have my moments, but my level of confidence is way up. With DJing and dancing, I’ve learned to do it more for the love of it instead of just to impress people. Learning from my teammates at Rock The House has really helped me become more confident as a performer.” – Anthony Jamison, ROCKstar of the Month

Anthony says his favorite thing about being on the RTH team is being able to work with and learn from so many different people with so many unique backgrounds. Every time he works, he learns new dance moves from other dancers. He also learns from DJ Flightz and Nick while they’re DJing by watching them and how they read the crowd. He also loves the friendships and bonds he’s gained at Rock The House.

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A Few Fun Facts About Anthony Jamison:

  • Favorite guilty pleasure song? “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls
  • Favorite song and/or artist? “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran (Jack Wins Remix)
  • Favorite movie? Spider-Man Into the Spider-verse
  • Favorite TV show? Bob’s Burgers
  • Favorite pre-event snack? Fruit snacks – I can eat 5 bags before a show.
  • Favorite post-event snack? Oatmeal cream pies
  • Favorite animated character? Kakashi from Naruto
  • Biggest fear? Water
  • Where’s the most interesting place you’ve ever traveled? Florence, Italy
  • How do you take your coffee? I don’t actually drink coffee; I’m a big apple and orange juice drinker. I’ll always have a couple of those in my bag for shows.
  • If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why? Teleportation – I always have something going on last minute that causes me to be slightly on time or slightly late to everything. So, if I could just pop up and be on time that would be better for everyone.

“Anthony has always been an extremely talented individual and the growth he has shown over the last few years is a testament to the hard work and dedication he’s put into his craft to grow not only professionally but personally as well. At events, Anthony simply knows how to entertain. He is always loved by our clients and is one of our most requested dancers. I’m truly proud to have Anthony on our team and always look forward to having him on the events I work. His abilities and skills are a true asset to the overall quality of the entertainment aspect of our events.” – Nick Duvé, General Manager, Entertainment Division

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His love for dance is what attracted him to the live events industry. Anthony said he once did a performance for a Latin community group of kids and the next year they were asked back to perform. When he came back, some of the children came up to him and told him that after they saw him, they were inspired. Many said they realized that they had to change some of their behaviors in order to work on their talents and pursue a dream of dance too. Anthony said that’s when he decided to pursue dance as a career and loves that this industry gives him a platform to reach out to people in a positive way.

When he’s not at RTH, Anthony enjoys walking his dog Tequila, watching anime, and playing competitive video games. In his own words, he says he’s generally a bit of a homebody.

Congratulations to Anthony on being June’s ROCKstar of the Month! Interested in working with ROCKstars like Anthony to produce your next event? Contact our team of event professionals today to get started! Photos courtesy of the Rock The House Photo Archive.

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ROCKstar of the Month of May: Lauren McMichael

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May’s ROCKstar of the Month is Lauren McMichael! Lauren is what we like to call the “brains of the operation.” As Client Coordinator, she works behind the scenes to make sure all our events go smoothly in advance of them being executed. She keeps the office organized and running efficiently to ensure we stay on top of our game at all times!

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“What I find rewarding about working at Rock The House is the fact that everything we do affects someone’s life, and often it’s the biggest day of their lives! Between weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, even some of the end-of-life celebrations we do, we are affecting people in a big way. Our company makes a lasting impression on our clients forever, and I get to be a part of that.” – Lauren McMichael, ROCKstar of the Month

She really loves the live events industry because it’s exciting and there’s never a dull moment. “I’ve worked in many industries, like retail, child-care, and a few others, but this one is always so fresh and different. I’m always learning something new.” She’s actually always been surrounded by this exciting environment as her mother plans weddings. Now, as Client Coordinator for RTH, Lauren gets to make a big impact on clients every single day just like her mother does!

RTH - ROTM of May: Lauren McMichael

A Few Fun Facts About Lauren McMichael:

  • Favorite guilty pleasure song? The Sing soundtrack
  • Favorite song and/or artist? My favorite artist is India.Arie
  • Favorite movie? So many – The Waitress and The Lion King
  • Favorite TV show? Any kind of cooking show – I watch them all! When I retire I think I’m just going to cook and bake a ton.
  • Favorite pre-event snack? Skittles
  • Favorite post-event snack? McDonald’s
  • Favorite cartoon character? Tweety Bird
  • Where’s the most interesting place you’ve ever traveled? Huntington Beach, California
  • How do you take your coffee? Black
  • If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why? Be invisible – not only could I hide from my children, but then I could disappear and reappear whenever I wanted to.

“Lauren has done a superb job keeping the team on track with event assets and has also been willing to pick up additional responsibilities to be a team player and help us reach our overall goals. Not only does Lauren prep each and every binder and bookbag that goes out for events, during the past couple months Lauren has also assisted in planning the MayZone Saturday fun nights. I am so proud of her growth and can’t wait to see her continue to provide more knowledge and expertise to make our team stronger!” – Amy Van Duyne, Vice President, Operations

RTH - ROTM of May: Lauren McMichael

Though she’s normally behind her desk at the office, Lauren also works as one of our on-site photo hosts as well, which has allowed her to get more hands-on experience with our events. Lauren’s favorite event so far has been Metro 2017 because it was the first time she was able to get involved with a large event. She learned a lot, and she was able to see a lot of the work she does during the week get executed on site to make the conference run smoothly.

When not at Rock The House, Lauren has two beautiful children that she says she “actually enjoys hanging out with and taking to the park.” When given the chance, she’s always open to napping or getting ice cream as well.

Congratulations to Lauren on being May’s ROCKstar of the Month! Interested in working with ROCKstars like Lauren to produce your next event? Contact our team of event professionals today to get started! Photos courtesy of the Rock The House Photo Archive.

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ROCKstar of the Month of April: Kristen Milius

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April’s ROCKstar of the Month is Kristen Milius! She began at RTH as a photo host and has worked up to be our awesome Photo Manager! Kristen always brings new ideas to the table and continues to improve the department’s efficiency, technology, and training resources. We are lucky to have her guidance and creativity at the forefront of the RTH Photo Department.

“It’s really awesome getting to be a part of something bigger than myself and watching our events come together. Guests are always so appreciative and I enjoy seeing them have a good time. I especially love working at non-profits events. Knowing the event we’re working hard for is for a good cause makes it twice as worth it.” – Kristen Milius, ROCKstar of the Month

After studying photography at Kent State University, Kristen joined the RTH team as a photo host. Each day and event is different here and she loves that. “I’m able to spread my wings and take risks but know they have my back at the same time.”

A Few Fun Facts About Kristen Milius:

  1. Favorite guilty pleasure song? Anything by Kesha
  2. Favorite song and/or artist? Blink-182
  3. Favorite movie? It depends on my mood, but I’m a big Keira Knightley fan; Pride and Prejudice is probably my favorite
  4. Favorite TV show? Gilmore Girl
  5. Favorite post-event snack? Drinks with friends
  6. Favorite animated character? Ariel from The Little Mermaid
  7. Biggest fear? Falling from extreme heights
  8. Where’s the most interesting place you’ve ever traveled? I studied abroad in Florence, Italy and I loved it, can’t wait to go back
  9. How do you take your coffee? Black
  10. If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why? I would instantly go from one place to another so I can travel all over the world

Kristen’s growth has covered so many facets of her job here. When Kristen started at RTH in May of 2014 as a photo host she instantly found a passion for the job but was still younger and newer to the world of event photography. Over the past 5 years with the company and in the past few years as the Photo Department Manager, it’s been wonderful to see her grow. She’s grown in areas such as staff development, as she has built one of the tightest and best-trained teams within the company, and product development, as a part of the acquisition team and roll out of new products within the department. – Ryan Konikoff, Chief Operating Officer

Kristen has worked at RTH for about 5 years now, so she’s seen some spectacular events. Her recent favorite was the NRP event in which she had the opportunity to visit San Antonio for the first time and create a photo mosaic, which was one of our most technically advanced and customizable photo experiences to date. Getting the chance to travel to new places and be pushed out of her comfort zone are just a couple of the many things that Kristen loves about working at RTH!

When she’s not at Rock The House, you can find her cuddling with her pup, Jax, or wedding planning (she recently got engaged to one of our technicians, Sean!) We are all so excited for Kristen’s upcoming nuptials, and many of us are wondering what photo experience she’ll choose for her own wedding!

Congratulations to Kristen on being April’s ROCKstar of the Month! Interested in working with ROCKstars like her to produce your next event? Contact our team of event professionals today to get started! Photos courtesy of the Rock The House Photo Archive.

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RTH Gives Back: Giannathon presented by KeyBank

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Rock The House had the privilege to entertain at Giannathon – A family-friendly event which raised $25,000 for Alex’s Lemonade Foundation for childhood cancer research. The event honored the young hero, Gianna Andolina, and her amazing family who discovered Gianna’s leukemia diagnosis when she was only 3-years old.

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Tracy Geagan
Documentary & Lifestyle Photography

“Giannathon is the brainchild of Gianna Andolina’s parents, Julie and Adam. Gianna was diagnosed with leukemia on June 30, 2014 and began treatment on July 1, 2014. After making sure their daughter had the proper care at the Cleveland Clinic, Julie and Adam began researching childhood cancer to better educate themselves.”

The event, which was promoted as a “family friendly dance party,” was packed with youthful energy, love and support for Gianna and her family. We danced, played, and unapologetically celebrated life – just as Gianna has done through her courageous journey.

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Tracy Geagan
Documentary & Lifestyle Photography

“We honestly could not have asked for more from Matt at Rock the House for our inaugural Giannathon. He was extremely engaging and had so many people on the dance floor throughout the event which is exactly what the event was all about — raising money for pediatric cancer and DANCING!”
– Jenna Zone Tucci (Gianna’s Aunt)

For more information about how to keep up with Gianna and her journey, follow Giannathon on facebook.

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Tracy Geagan
Documentary & Lifestyle Photography

Thank you, Gianna, for the inspiration. Can’t wait til next year!

Photo Credit:Tracy Geagan Photography

 

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

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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)

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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.

 

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Jewish Wedding Traditions Take a Modern Twist

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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!

 

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5 Bar/Bat Mitzvah Concepts to Consider This Spring

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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.”

Hollywood Screen Shot 2016-03-31 at 10.56.22 AM

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!

 

 

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RTH Rocked the Connectors Choice Awards

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Last week the team was humbled and honored to be recognized at CBC Magazine’s Connectors Choice Awards. Not only did we have a fantastic evening connecting with colleagues and friends, we took home the award for Corporate Event Entertainer of the Year.

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Here’s what CBC had to say:

Rock The House triumphed in the category of Corporate Event Entertainer of the Year. The Oakwood Village-based company has now won three times in the entertainer category and four times in the corporate event production category.“Our busiest year to date, Rock The House brought 1,800 custom events to life in 2015,” Amy Van Duyne, Executive Assistant to the CEO, said, “Our team of event producers and designers, talented party motivators, club-style DJs, dynamic emcee hosts, and our RTH Live! band created heartfelt and energetic experiences for corporate and social clients. Each event was completely unique and incredibly entertaining.”

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While many members of our leadership were abroad in China, the whole team communicated via text, email and skype, celebrating this incredible honor.

Thank you, CBC magazine, our supportive partners, our tremendous team and the Cleveland-area event industry for your ongoing support and love.

YOU ROCK. 

 

Rock The House Corporate Entertainer of the Year

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

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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.

Today's Bride Booth

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