ROCKstar of the Month of November: Josh Wilson

December 4, 2019/in All Posts /by mhadder4561

November’s ROCKstar of the Month is Josh Wilson! Josh wears many hats here at RTH, but his main role is that of our awesome Warehouse Manager! He’s been a valuable member of our team for 8 years now and has a lot of experience, expertise, and memories to show for it. During our peak season, the team relies heavily on Josh to keep the warehouse neat, organized, and ready to ROCK every single day. That’s why we’re so happy to call him this month’s ROCKstar of the Month!

“My favorite part of being on the RTH team is the environment and the people. I come to work everyday and I don’t hate my job. At work I build these amazing relationships with my coworkers and it’s the best!” – Josh Wilson, ROCKstar of the Month

When he was in high school, he’d often go to concerts and think, “I would love to do this as a career one day.” Though he took a slightly different path, he ended up in relatively the same place. Today, you can find him chasing that dream by helping produce some of the area’s biggest events that entertain people of all ages. He also added, “And who doesn’t love making brides’ and grooms’ dreams come true?”

ROTM_Josh_Wilson

A Few Fun Facts About Josh Wilson:

Favorite song and/or artist? Song: “Donald Trump” by Mac Miller | Artist: Bowling for Soup
Favorite movie? Fast Five
Favorite TV show? Big Mouth
Favorite pre-event snack? Chipotle
Favorite post-event snack? Taco Bell and adult beverages
Where’s the most interesting place you’ve ever traveled to? Vegas; the landscaping was awesome! We went hiking in Red Rock Canyon which was incredible, and then at night we went downtown and had a lot of fun!
What gives you energy? Coffee and Red Bull
If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why? Flying, because I could go wherever I want. I wouldn’t have to drive anywhere so I could avoid traffic. I’d have more time for things and get more of my life back because I wouldn’t waste it in traffic.
Favorite pizza topping? Green peppers and onions, with (of course) crushed red pepper on top
Do you have any pets? I have a dog named Khloe and a cat named Cheese

“Josh has continued to push himself and our team towards excellence while helping to maintain a positive culture within our tech team at RTH. He has been thrown new obstacles every day and always looks for ways to improve and streamline our systems. He is always learning and trying to better himself at everything he touches.” – Ryan Durfee, Production Manager

ROTM_Josh_Wilson

One of the coolest events that he’s been a part of with Rock The House was the release party for Machine Gun Kelly’s album at Red Space. There was a small concert, and he was able to meet MGK as well. Josh and his best friend, Joey, worked it together which made it an even more memorable event for him.

When Josh isn’t at RTH keeping our warehouse in tip-top shape, you can find him racing or working on cars. You can also find him around a campfire, joking around with friends, and enjoying adult beverages.

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

Your Guide To A Hauntingly Good Halloween Party

October 4, 2016/in All Posts, Disc Jockeys, DJ Akron, DJ Cleveland, DJ Columbus, DJ Pittsburgh, DJ Toledo, DJ Youngstown, Industry Professionals, Lighting & Drapery, Photo Booth Rental /by mhadder4561

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:

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:

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:

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:

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.

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

April 20, 2016/in All Posts, Corporate Production, Industry Professionals, Lighting & Drapery, Photo Booth Rental /by mhadder4561

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!

High Tech Meets Text

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

Set the Scene

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

A Surprising Photo Op

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

Incorporate Snapchat’s GeoFilters

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

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

Wedding Lighting Concepts that Will Highlight Your Love

March 29, 2016/in Industry Professionals, Lighting & Drapery, Weddings /by mhadder4561

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

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

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

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

http://www.makingthemoment.com/

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

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!

February 5, 2016/in All Posts, Disc Jockeys, DJ Akron, DJ Cleveland, Lighting & Drapery, Photo Booth Rental, Weddings /by mhadder4561

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.

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

Rock The House Adds 4 ISES Wow! Awards

April 30, 2015/in All Posts, Corporate Production, Disc Jockeys, Industry Professionals /by mhadder4561

Dale McDonald Photography

On Friday, April 17th, the who’s who of the local events industry congregated in Columbus, Ohio to celebrate the 4th Annual ISES Ohio WOW! Awards. Cameron Mitchell Premier Events hosted the assembly, and the Ivory Room of Downtown Columbus provided the illustrious setting. Representatives from more than 20 Ohio based event and entertainment groups and corporations were present.

ISES, which stands for the International Special Events Society, has a Cleveland chapter that’s been active since 2008. The 100 plus member organization hosts events throughout the year designed to help companies like Rock The House grow and expand their reach, all while giving back to the special events community.

Dale McDonald Photography

“Our events have allowed our members to learn more about how to market their business in the 21st century, how to explore green and organic options for more sustainable events, how to accommodate different ethnic and cultural traditions into their events, what trends to watch for in the future, and so much more!” – ISESCleveland.com

Dale McDonald Photography

Also, as with any business, ISES imparts the importance of networking and community outreach. With the multitude of representatives from like minded organizations always in attendance, these events provide a stage for just that. Representing Rock The House was Founder & CEO – Matt Radicelli, COO – Ryan Konikoff, and Executive Assistant to the CEO – Amy Van Duyne.

This year RTH proudly captured four WOW awards, including:

2015 Best Corporate Event with a budget over $150,000
2015 Best Social Event with a budget over $75,000
2015 Best Entertainment Production with a budget between $25,000 – $75,000
2015 Best ISES Event Volunteer Collaboration

“It was a pleasure to hang out with other members from the ISES Columbus and ISES Cincinnati chapters, and we were proud to bring four awards home for ISES Cleveland!” – Amy Van Duyne of Rock The House

The ISES Event Volunteer Collaboration recognition was bestowed upon Rock The House and some of their associates for an event called ‘A Mammoth Night of Networking.’ Rock The House partnered with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Event Source, Solus Lighting and Executive Caterers to make that night a huge success.

Rock The House also expresses a special congratulations to our sister company, Zone Entertainment, who came home with three additional WOW awards!

Over the years Rock The House has impressively collected 13 total ISES Ohio WOW! Awards. With the company rapidly growing, it doesn’t appear they’ll be slowing down anytime soon.

Who is Rock The House?

December 10, 2013/in All Posts /by mhadder4561

Answer: Creative Event Professionals

Rock The House was founded by Matt Radicelli in 1999 as a small, home-based business. Over the years, the company has developed into a full entertainment production service catering to more than 1,000 events each year. The secret to our success has been our unparalleled creativity and commitment to world class customer service. We have been recognized with nine CBC Magazine Connector’s Choice Awards, five SBN World-Class Customer Service Awards, and six International Special Events Society (ISES) Ohio WOW Awards. These awards are important bench marks because it shows consistent recognition of our industry leading products, services, and customer service.

In 2006, the company expanded beyond its walls and moved to a new home in Oakwood Village, Ohio. The custom-designed building houses offices, comfortable meeting areas, a demo room, an equipment warehouse, and a unique culture that stimulates creativity, close relationships, and a welcoming environment for both clients and staff. The 2011 acquisition of the wedding entertainment company, Selective Sound Entertainment, further diversified our talent pool with professionals with over twenty years of event entertainment experience.

There is always something to celebrate and our staff’s goal is to make your celebration memorable. Each member of the Rock The House team contributes his/her unique talents and personality to make up a diverse, energetic, and dynamic group. You can count on us to provide exceptional service and entertainment at every event. Find out more about what makes Rock The House special – www.RTHGroup.com

Team Member of the Month: Alex Kay

October 7, 2013/in All Posts /by mhadder4561

DJ & A Lot More

One of the most uniquely trained members of Rock The House is October’s Team Member of the Month – Alex Kay. Chiefly known as a DJ and yet he’s probably taken on every different entertainment position possible with RTH. His standing as a DJ is so well known because he’s furthered his career and training beyond the needs of most event disc jockeys. As a club DJ, Alex has his thumb on the pulse of the latest music almost before anyone else at the company. His suggestions for songs on playlists have become invaluable. He is the only DJ at RTH that uses Technics at signature events that require live mixing which in and of itself is really something.

Alex’s career has flourished for the same reason RTH has. He’s never satisfied with where he is at and continues to learn new skills that have taken him all over the country. As a lighting designer, he works with a broad range of event types at Rock The House including weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Corporate Events, and School functions. He’s applied his craft and love of live events as the lighting designer on multiple national tours with national recording artist Machine Gun Kelly. Alex picked up invaluable experience from those tours which allowed us to pick up MGK as a client.

Alex lists one experience with his last tour as one of his favorite with Rock The House.

“I think one of my favorite RTH memories is either when Steve and Ryan (RTH CFO & COO) drove to Detroit before a MGK show to deliver a Platinum Spot lamp. After the show we had a chance to go out for dinner.”

What Rock The House means to Alex is evident in his words:

“What I enjoy most about my contribution to our clients events is creating an atmosphere thats ideal for them. Whether its draping an entire room, building a giant stage and filling it with an awesome lighting rig, or just setting up something basic for a small wedding; as long as our clients are smiling thats all that matters. Being part of RTH has meant a lot to me. I’ve learned a lot of things that have undoubtedly allowed me to further my career to lead larger events and go out on tour, and also made some good friends through working at RTH.”

Alex’s passion for pushing to get better and better is something that the whole company benefits being around. He looks at every part of our operation and is always thinking about ways we can do more for our clients. We’re lucky to have someone who lives and breathes entertainment and we’re all made better by his contributions.

Team Member of the Month: Kurt Wick

July 8, 2013/in All Posts /by mhadder4561

Behind The Scenes Support

You probably won’t see Kurt at your event but he is making an impact on your party! Kurt has been with Rock The House for over two years and he has made a big difference in how we operate as a team. His supporting role across multiple departments allow the rest of the team to stay focused on their core objectives. His main job duties are to assist in employee compensation and benefits administration. Making sure our team members are taken care of financially by assisting human resources and accounting is an amazingly important role that touches everyone at Rock The House.

Kurt contributes to every department at RTH as described by VP/CFO Steve Tanruther:

“Kurt has introduced a level of analytics to our sales team that will provide them greater clarity into the trends that affect our market. He has also spearhead all of our employee benefits administration.”

Steve went on to say this about Kurt and his impact on the team:

“He has years of comprehensive analytical experience working in production scheduling and employee compensation. He’s always asking when and how he can help when he sees others in distress. He even helped some employees with their personal taxes in his spare time.”

We asked Kurt one memory he had of his time at that Rock The House that stands out and he gave us this great response:

“My favorite memory is actually a recurring event. Every morning, no matter how good or bad of a mood I am in, the first people I see at RTH always puts me in a better mood.”

Kurt is a perfect example of a true team player and what it takes to succeed at Rock The House.

Driftwood Catering Open House

June 14, 2013/in All Posts /by mhadder4561

Welshfield Inn Banquet Center

We had the pleasure of providing lighting and sound for the June 13, 2013 Driftwood Catering Open House at The Welshfield Inn Banquet Center in Burton, Ohio. This newly remodeled banquet center is easy to access for Main Market Road but is located on 19 acres of rural land. With a restaurant, banquet facility, and room for a tent, this is a really flexible venue for weddings, corporate events, or really any type of party.

We have developed a strong relationship with Driftwood Catering as well as the other restaurants owned by Chef Chris Hodgson. Chris is currently competing on the reality TV Show, The Next Food Network Star and was featured on The Great Food Truck Race for his food truck “Hodgepodge“, which was also at the Driftwood open house Thursday. Chris and partner Scott Kuhn (celebrated local restauranteur) have worked with us on event’s at their downtown Cleveland location Hodge’s as well as corporate events such has Hyland Software’s Holiday Party. We wish them nothing but the best of luck as they expand further in the event industry in Ohio.