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ROCKstar of the Month for September – John Vlach

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After a summer full of hard work, we can’t think of a more deserving person to call our September ROCKstar of the month than our in-house graphic designer, John Vlach. In just under two years since starting at Rock The House, John has already advanced from an intern during his schooling, to full-time in the office, working alongside the marketing team.

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John says his favorite part about working for Rock The House is the privilege of expressing his own creativity, and that he’s not constantly being watched or critiqued while he works. He prefers the flexibility and organization structure of Rock The House, so there’s never any overwhelming pressure and deadlines are easier to meet. “Creativity is not something that can be rushed… The final product will never be as good if the process isn’t given enough time or if there’s too much pressure”, John says.

A Few Fun Facts About John Vlach:

  • Guilty pleasure song? Rachel Platten – “Fight Song”
  • Pre-event snack? Chicken Nuggets
  • Post event snack? … more Chicken Nuggets! “They’re easy to eat when I’m driving home!”
  • What is your biggest fear? Spiders or Bugs of any kind.
  • What’s your favorite movie? Caddyshack
  • What’s your favorite song/artist? Paramore
  • What pro wrestler fits you best? CM Punk

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Handling many of our designs and video editing tasks, John also captures videos at many of our events! While he may shoot videos for many different shows, big productions like last year’s Shaker Prom or S.W.A.P. 2016 (An EDM, rave-style event featuring DJ E-V) seem to be his favorite.

“John is a model employee. His passion and love for his craft has elevated the quality of our video and graphic designs. I am proud to have John as part of my marketing team and I really looking forward to seeing him expand his role at Rock The House.”  – Nick Duve, Marketing Director

You can check out some of John’s most recent work for us on our YouTube channel. Keep up the great work John, and thanks for everything that you do!

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Alascia Jones Wins The ILEA President’s Award

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As event professionals, Rock The House is proud to have so many talented and creative minds as a part of our ROCKstar staff. Luckily for us and our industry partners alike, there is the International Live Events Association (ILEA). ILEA is a conglomerate of vendors from all different special event service fields, and provides excellent opportunities for these professionals to further their growth as they continue to move forward in the industry.

Rock The House has several ILEA members on our team, but in particular, we would like to take the time congratulate Alascia Jones, who recently won the 2016 ILEA Cleveland Chapter President’s Award! A prestigious honor bestowed by ILEA’s President, Alascia received the award as a result of her tremendous hospitality skills, and unwavering effort to always exhibit and practice the association’s five core values; Creativity, Inspiration, Teamwork, Education, and Relationships.

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“Alascia embraces ILEA Cleveland not only to better herself but the event industry as a whole. She has the heart that’s needed to make a difference and I can’t wait to see what else she accomplishes! – Amy Van Duyne, ILEA Board of Directors

Starting as an ILEA student member in 2012, Alascia has worked her way up through the association to the role of Director of Programs and Education Committee for ILEA’s Cleveland Chapter. This role, which involves assisting the Vice President of Programs and Education as well as coordinating and executing the majority of ILEA’s events each year, truly made Alascia’s love for the event industry apparent. Her hard work and dedication earned her the award’s nomination, which was presented by ILEA’s former president.

Alongside Alascia in the ILEA spotlight is Rock The House’s own Amy Van Duyne, who recently became  the secretary to ILEA Cleveland’s Board of Directors. A 5-year member of ILEA, some of Amy’s responsibilities include recording all major details of each board meeting, as well as ensuring that ILEA members remain diligent in keeping to their agendas and maintaining their task schedules to keep on track throughout the entire year.

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Rock The House is very proud to have such extraordinary individuals represent our company on a local and international level, allowing us to maintain our high standards as we continue to grow in the event industry.

Interested in working with our world-class team for your next event? Contact our team of event professionals to get started! Images courtesy of Mystic Image Productions and the Rock The House Photo Archive.

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ROCKstar of the Month of July: Myke Delano (DJ Flightz)

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Our ROCKstar of the month for July is none other than Myke Delano! Also known by his stage name DJ Flightz, Myke is one of our finest DJs and has been a part of our team for about four years now. Along with DJing, Myke also works part-time in the shop as a Rock The House technician.

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Myke’s favorite part about working for Rock The House is the wide variety of events he gets to work and performed. However, when we asked Flightz what his favorite RTH event has been, it’s not very easy for him to pick. Myke tells us, “It’s hard to decide, but I think that Shaker’s 2015 and 2016 Proms are my favorites.”

A Few Fun Facts About Myke Delano:

  • Guilty pleasure song? None; Myke says he’s not embarrassed by anything when it comes to music.
  • Pre-event snack? Beef Jerky, Skittles, and Redbull.
  • Post event snack? Pretzels.
  • What is your biggest fear? Not being able to hear… losing my hearing would be horrible. Sound puts me at peace.
  • What’s your favorite Rockstar Quote? “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” – Bob Marley
  • What artists are your biggest musical influences? A-Trak and Drake
  • Favorite recommendation on SnapChat or Instagram? Dillion Francis is pretty funny. Sometimes a bit too ridiculous, but still funny.
  • What got you into DJing? My fraternity. I would just randomly DJ and play music since I was always a music junkie. I also loved having the newest music and just always playing it for people.

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Although Myke loves DJing for Rock The House, he says that his dream job would be owning a cigar bar and lounge, with one of our lead entertainers Travis Rose as a stand-up comedian. However until that day comes, Myke is always prepared to tackle any event, and can always be counted on to keep the people dancing!

“I attribute much of Myke’s success to his continued dedication to the art of DJing. He has always possessed raw talent but it’s now evident that the practice Myke puts in outside of work has elevated his performances year to year.  Myke’s maturation as an entertainer has been awesome to witness. Regardless of the type of event or demographic, he has an uncanny ability to read a crowd and keep the energy on the dance floor rocking all night. DeLano in an invaluable asset to Rock The House and we are super fortunate to have him as one of our lead entertainers. A great employee, an incredible DJ, but ultimately, he is an even better person!” – Travis Rose, Talent Director

Interested in working with DJ Flightz for your next event? Contact our team of event professionals today to get started!
mhadder4561

10 Wedding Apps To Consider When Planning Your Wedding

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In case you haven’t noticed, the 21st century has brought about a whole new world of technology. From picture-sharing to finding the perfect place to tie the knot, our event professionals here at Rock The House have put together our top 10 wedding app suggestions for your big day!

1. Wedding Spot

Whether this is the first place you look to find a venue, or you’re just trying to compare a few different places, you can’t go wrong checking out the Wedding Spot. With the ability to search for locations based on capacity, location, budget, and more, Wedding Spot is your one stop shop when finding a place to say “I do”. In addition, they offer exclusive discounts and deals you can’t find anywhere else!

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2. WedPics

A super easy way to see your wedding from the eyes of your guests, WedPics allows anyone attending your celebration to share their personal pictures of your day using a custom ID you create. Once you create your personalized wedding ID, you can invite your guests via text message, email, or even through Facebook! After that, sharing is just a simple upload away. Perhaps not a reliable substitution for a professional photographer, WedPics is still a great way to collect some nice candid pictures from your wedding day.

3. Fitocracy

If the pressure of wedding photos has you wanting to shed a few pounds before you tie the knot, or you just want to squeeze into that tuxedo or dress one size down, Fitocracy is a great tool to help you meet your weight loss goals. In addition to its fitness assessments and customized workout plans, Fitocracy also helps with nutrition and dieting to help you stay on the right track up until the big day! Your personal coach will also help give you the motivation you need, so that you’re sure to never miss a beat.

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4. Fun Wedding

Perfect for formality dances and finding songs you know you want to hear at your wedding, Fun Wedding has lists of the most popular songs for everything from the first dance with your significant other, to Mother-Son and Father-Daughter dances. Whether you can’t think of a good tune, or just can’t find one that truly expresses how you feel, Fun Wedding is an app every engaged couple has to check out!

5. Wedding Happy

Is planning a wedding more complicated than you originally thought? No worries; Wedding Happy has everything you need to stay organized! With a full task calendar, budget tracker, and reminder alerts all right on your phone, Wedding Happy will make sure your wedding tasks are handled with time to spare, without having to put the rest of your life on hold.

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6. BrideScan by Today’s Bride

A great tool for wedding planning, BrideScan by Today’s Bride allows couples to find vendors and keep in contact with them. Used by scanning codes at any of our sponsored Today’s Bride wedding shows, BrideScan takes the business cards out of your wallet and keeps all your vendor contacts organized by role right on your phone. You can even connect with other couples to exchange ideas, information, and more!

7. Etsy

Etsy is a one-of-a-kind online marketplace that is full of both the most common and unique of pieces! When looking for ideas for a wedding theme, Etsy can be a treasure trove of decor and pieces that can really bring your wedding vision to life. In case you don’t quite find what you’re looking for on Etsy, Pinterest and Wedding Wire are other great places to find wedding ideas.

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8. Perfect365

If your wedding budget is slowly getting out of hand, Perfect365 is a great way for a bride to save some money and still look incredible on her wedding day. This free app is full of makeup and hair tutorials ranging from all levels of complexity, but instructions allow for a simple execution by anyone!

9. UStream

Don’t let distance keep your friends and family from enjoying your wedding day with you! Using the power of streaming, apps like UStream allow guests from all over the world to watch your wedding as if they were right there in person. Though UStream does require payment plans, you can take advantage of the free trial plan that includes 5 free broadcasts so that it won’t cost you a dime!

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10. The Knot

If none of the apps above had a solution to your problem, you can most likely find it on The Knot. The ultimate wedding app, The Knot can help you with any aspect of your wedding from choosing a cake, to picking a dress. Whether you’re a day into your engagement or ready to plan the honeymoon, you can’t go wrong with The Knot.

Although these apps can make wedding planning go much smoother for you, nothing beats having one of our event professionals help guide you through the process. For more information on how we can help make your wedding celebration ROCK, click here! Images courtesy of Making The Moment.

mhadder4561

ROCKstar of the Month of June: Jeremy Guffin

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Meet Jeremy Guffin, our RTH Rockstar of the month for June! Already halfway through his fourth season with Rock The House, Jeremy has worked his way through the company. Jeremy started as a shop technician and is now one of our Event Leads and a promising Lighting Designer.

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A born leader, Jeremy loves stepping up and taking command of a team. Jeremy says  “I enjoy leading a team because it lets me show my older and newer leadership skills, and I like the risks and rewards that come with a successful show!”

A Few Fun Facts About Jeremy Guffin:

  • Guilty pleasure song? “Sugar We’re Going Down” by Fallout Boy
  • Pre-event snack? A classic PB&J
  • Post event snack? COLD BEER (No food, just beer.)
  • What lineup of three artists would be at your dream concert? Foo Fighters, Earth, Wind, & Fire, & Disturbed.
  • Best part about being on the Rock The House team? I like the personal satisfaction of having control of the atmosphere. Until you see a room elegantly designed, you don’t notice the impact of lighting until it’s not there. Also teamwork: It is important to have a well-developed staff, but it’s also good knowing they are willing to learn. Jeremy enjoys providing guidance to other RTH team members.
  • Favorite event you have performed with Rock The House? “Our Edgewater Live Summer Concert series. I love it because it’s a great environment, a free event to the public, and I love working with the Metroparks.”

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As much as Jeremy enjoys working for Rock The House, he says that his other dream job would be to become a professional musician. Jeremy is a great addition to the RTH team, and can always be counted on to make an event the best it can possibly be.

“Jeremy is a true asset to the team.  His team mentality helps everyone around him perform at a higher level, while continually pushing himself to further his knowledge and experience base.  Even if something snags him up, you know it will only be temporary, and he will come back in full force.” – Ben Allison, Production Manager

Interested in working with Jeremy for your next event? Contact our team of event professionals today to get started!
mhadder4561

RTH: Working For Humans Since 1999

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June 26th, 2015:  A day that symbolizes the biggest civil rights victory for same-sex couples in U.S. history.  In an unprecedented ruling, the United States Supreme Court extended the right for same-sex couples to marry in all 50 states.  This landmark decision will bring the topic of same-sex marriage to the forefront of many conversations amongst friends, family and co-workers. Personally, this decision is something that I have been looking forward to for over 10 years.

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This morning as I sat in my car and heard the news, I was unsure of how I would react. As someone who’s been blessed with being in a same-sex relationship for over 10 years, my partner and I have both been anticipating this day. I expected feelings of happiness and quite possibly a sense of relief, but I never imagined the outpour of emotions that would immediately follow.  My eyes teared up as I thought about how all types of committed relationships now share the same basic right of marriage equality.

Now, while I understand there are many obstacles surrounding marriage equality and the access to basic human rights,  I want to focus on something equally as important. Every loving couple, whether you are LGBTQ or straight, deserves to enjoy that one special day.  They deserve that one special wedding; that one special song to gaze into each others eyes and proclaim in front of their loved ones and the State that they are committed to each other.  “To have and to hold, in sickness and health, for rich or poor, in joy and sorrow, for as long as we both shall live”.

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This is a triumphant day, not just for me, but for the Cleveland wedding industry! Working in this field for over 15 years, I have had the honor of performing at over 500 wedding receptions and have been a guest at numerous others. Being able to share in that special day in any capacity is a testament to the perseverance, dedication and true love between two people.

I am proud to stand up for equality; not just for LGBTQ wedding equality, but for everyone. I am proud of who I am and for what my partner and I have endured to have “that one moment”. I am proud to have made the decision to work for a company like Rock The House that not only embraces equality, but is on the forefront of welcoming ALL couples to our family… and has done so since it was founded in 1999.

It’s what we do. It’s what we’ve always done. Cleveland Wedding DJ Entertainment, Live Bands, Lighting, Photo booths, and Videography – We would be honored to help you plan your special day… The one you’ve been waiting a lifetime for.

Sincerely Yours,

Nick Duve, Marketing Manager
Rock The House Family of Companies