With an eye for photography, Kara Battistoni searched the room, spotted a DJ and decided that would be her best bet.

But she wasn’t taking pictures at the time. In fact, she was giving a presentation and needed an extension cord.

“She asked for a cord and we had a quick conversation about photography,” Hurricane Productions co-owner and resident DJ Strato Doumanis said about their meeting at a Rutgers University entrepreneurial conference in 2010. “And in passing she handed me her business card and told me to reach out if I ever needed photos.”

That interaction led to a year of freelance work for Battistoni with the Red Bank-based entertainment company in 2011.

Battistoni, 25, of Providence, RI recently joined Hurricane Innovation and Productions’ staff as its exclusive photographer and videographer.

Battistoni will document each Hurricane Productions event and help the company expand it’s ‘Innovation’ brand.

“This is a commitment that we’ve been waiting to make with the right person,” Hurricane Productions co-owner Vincent Anthony Velasquez said. “Kara understands the value of our visual product and this will not only expand that, but this will change the way our clients and our competitors view our business model.”

Hurricane’s investment into visuals should come as no surprise. The company started posting original event content on Facebook in 2007. Four years later, the addition of Battistoni helps Hurricane focus on giving each client a more complete, full-service experience.

As for Battistoni, Rutgers recruited her as a collegiate swimmer out of high school.

She initially tried business school but soon realized that she gravitated to art classes in the Mason Gross School of the Arts.

She started snapping photographs on both a medium format Mamimya and Canon35mm film camera before transitioning to DSLR cameras.

While at Mason Gross she met professional filmmaker Alrick Brown.

Brown’s piece, Kinyarwanda, won the ‘Audience Award’ at Sundance in 2011. Battistoni worked on the project and credits Brown for getting her involved in film.

Aside from event photography and video at Hurricane Innovation and Productions, her portfolio includes promotional photos, headshots and videos for local musicians.

There is no doubt that 2011 will go down as a groundbreaking year for Hurricane Productions.

From moving into a new office right in the heart of downtown Red Bank to helping celebrate the wedding of one of the company’s first Sweet 16 clients, 2011 can be defined as a year when the Hurricane Productions brand started to ‘grow up’ with its clients.

Take a look at our top live events from 2011:

20.’The Prom(s) You Wish You Had’

When: May-June 2011
Where: Eagle Oaks Country Club – Farmingdale, NJ
The Westwood – Garwood, NJ

The Story:
Proms change from a year-to-year basis.

Trends are different, styles are different, and the music is different as well.

But each year, Hurricane Productions continues to adapt and make each prom a little different to suit each outgoing senior class.

From lighting design to music selection, the nightclub atmosphere that Hurricane Productions creates gives the guests a product that is more mature and sophisticated than a Sweet 16 but not quite a wedding.

The video above documents two senior proms – one from Bishop Ahr and the other from Brick Memorial.

Links:
Bishop Ahr Senior Prom Photo Album
Brick Memorial Senior Prom Photo Album

19.Bar Mitzvah co-produced by AJH Entertainment and Hurricane Productions

When: November 26, 2011
Where: Maritime Parc – Jersey City, NJ

The Story:
When it comes to Bar/Bat Mitzvah entertainment, there are few companies that can compare to the up and coming AJH Entertainment.

The same can be said about Hurricane’s product when it comes to media and production.

AJH Entertainment and Hurricane collaborated to create a memorable event worthy of its setting that overlooked the New York City skyline.

The night started by ‘wowing’ guests as they walked into the room and ended with a firework show in Liberty State Park.

Links:
Ben’s Bar Mitzvah Photo Album

18. Danielle’s Sweet 16

When: October 28, 2011
Where: The Bethwood – Totowa, NJ

The Story:
The Melillo family fell in love with the Hurricane Productions Sweet 16 product at an event they attended about a year before they started planning Danielle’s celebration.

Even though they are from North Jersey, Danielle and her family made multiple trips to the Hurricane Productions office in Monmouth County to plan her event.

Danielle’s friends and family danced to both Spanish and American music while celebrating the event with class and elegance.

Links:
Danielle’s Sweet 16 Photo Album

17. Behind the Scenes look at Rutgers University Senior Formal

When: May 12, 2011
Where: Livingston Hall – Piscataway, NJ

The Story:
Mobile entertainment evolves about every six months. It’s almost like ‘Moore’s Law” in a sense.

What’s cool about this Rutgers event is that the set-up build took nearly eight hours and Hurricane Productions captured every minute of it.

Aside from a fun evening for nearly 500 guests, this event gives an inside look on the productions side of the business.

Links:
Behind the Scenes of the Hurricane Productions Set-up
Rutgers Senior Formal Photo Album

16. Traditional Filipino Sweet 16

When: December 4, 2011
Where: Forsgate Country Club – Monroe, NJ

The Story:
An absolutely beautiful Sweet 16 celebration with Camille and her family featured four choreographed dances as well as candle and rose ceremonies.

This event tops the list as one of the most visually stunning Sweet 16s of 2011 especially with the dances, the dresses, the suits and the production work that went into transforming Forsgate Country Club.

Links:
Camille’s Sweet 16 Photo Album

15. South Carolina couple marries in New Jersey

When: October 16, 2011
Where: The Addison Park – Aberdeen, NJ

The Story:
Facebook and Twitter are making the world smaller and smaller every day.

What makes this wedding unique is that Susan and Thomas live in South Carolina but decided to get married in their home state of NJ.

Remember Amanda and Brendan? They were Hurricane’s No. 1 event of 2010.

Susan and Thomas are a referral from that wedding celebration.

They heard about Hurricane Productions through photos, video and feedback from Amanda and Brendan’s wedding.

Even with the distance, Susan and Thomas trusted Vincent and the Hurricane team. Aside from one in-person consultation, Susan and Thomas planned their entire wedding with Vincent via video conferencing, e-mail and telephone.

Links:
Susan and Thomas’ Wedding Album
Wedding Portfolio for 2012

14. Sigma Chi at Rutgers University breaks organization’s fundraising record

When: November 2011
Where: Rutgers University

The Story:
Derby Days is an international fundraising event organized by the Sigma Chi fraternity. The Iota Psi Chapter of Sigma Chi at Rutgers University raises the most money out of any chapter.

The organization broke its own record and raised nearly $170,000 in the span of one week.

Hurricane Productions entertains the annual ‘Brotherhood Date Auction’ and assists in producing the event’s marquee evening called ‘Lip Sync.’

The Brotherhood Date Auction raised $40,000 in just one evening.

Derby Days raises money and awareness for the Children’s Miracle Network and seven other campus-related philanthropies.

Links:
Derby Days Part 1
Derby Days Part 2

13. Sydney Flick’s Sweet 16

When: November 18, 2011
Where: Battleground Country Club – Manalapan, NJ

The Story:
The Flick family is one-of-a-kind. Surrounded by a great combination of friends from school, summer camp and family, Sydney rocked her Sweet 16 in a cool dress and a pair of Converse sneakers.

With help from her mom and dad, Sydney planned the most unique-style of Sweet 16 that Hurricane entertained in 2011. From a funky graphic to a multi-colored dress, the whole focus of the evening never shifted away from Sydney.

Links:
Sydney Flick’ Sweet 16 Photo Album

12. Jessica’s Sweet 16

When: February 25, 2011
Where: Sterling Gardens – Matawan, NJ

The Story:
The Bucchere family celebrated their older daughter’s Sweet 16 with Hurricane Productions nearly four years ago and came back for round two with Jessica.

Jessica wanted a unique Sweet 16 – something different than the rest of her friends.

The above ‘point of view’ video shows a Sweet 16 at Sterling Gardens that put new twists on the traditional Sweet 16 in terms of music and design.

Hurricane Productions provided uplighting, music videos, its trademark ‘Name in Lights’ graphic and LED dance stages at the event. Hurricane also provided video and photography services and created a custom photo montage for the family.

Links:
Jessica’s Sweet 16 Photo Album

11. ‘Backyard’ Graduation party turns into a nightclub

When: June 2011
Where: – Marlboro, NJ

The Story: Yep, you read it right. This party happened in a backyard.

The Barbuto family – long-time client of Hurricane Productions – sent their youngest daughter Francesca off to San Diego State University in style.

Hurricane Productions installed uplighting around the pool, plasma screens on the patio, and club-style lighting throughout the entire backyard.

Hurricane Productions entertained Francesca’s Sweet 16 back in 2008 and celebrated older sister Brianna’s graduation party earlier in Summer 2011.

Links:
Francesca’s High School Graduation Celebration
Brianna’s College Graduation Celebration
Francesa’s Sweet 16 (2008)

10. Dan and Laura’s Wedding

When: October 9, 2011
Where: Belle Voir Manor – Bensalem, PA

The Story:
The biggest compliment in the wedding industry is being hired to entertain a wedding for someone else in the same business.

Dan is a lighting and sound director for a production company.

He works with Vincent and Strato almost every single weekend.

Laura and Dan chose to celebrate their special day with simple and elegant features such as lightscaping to accent particular areas of the venue.

Links:
Laura and Dan’s Wedding Album

Wedding Portfolio for 2012

9. Sarah’s Quinceanera

When: September 30, 2011
Where: Grand Marquis – Old Bridge, NJ

The Story:
When it comes to entertaining a traditional family event, Hurricane Productions is second to none.

A Quinceanera is more than just a mix of Spanish and popular American music.

From choreographed dances, speeches, and special ceremonies, it takes a DJ and a host who can guide a family through the entire evening.

Strato and Vincent kept family and friends dancing throughout the night but also made sure that all of the special moments of the night were executed without a hitch.

Links:
Sarah’s Quinceanera Photo Album

8. Jodi and Ken’s Wedding

When: September 17, 2011
Where: Neshanic Valley Golf Club – Branchburg, NJ

The Story:
Jodi met Vincent while she worked as a special events coordinator at the Rutgers University Alumni Association.

Jodi worked alongside Hurricane Productions on numerous events including Homecoming and Reunion weekends.

When it came time for Jodi to choose entertainment for her wedding, she immediately called Vincent and started planning her special day.

Jodi and Ken celebrated their wedding in early Fall with a packed dance floor filled with family and friends.

Links:
Jodi and Ken’s Wedding Album via Aevum Photography
Wedding Portfolio for 2012

7. Hurricane presents new media seminar, wins ‘Best Dance’ and finishes runner-up for ‘DJ of The Year’ at DJ Expo

When: August 8-11, 2011
Where: Atlantic City, NJ

The Story:
What a year for Hurricane Productions. If it could be summed up in one event, the DJ Expo defines it all.

Strato and Vincent presented “Controlling Your Message,” a seminar on new media and the entertainment business. The seminar acted as a launch of its new brand – Hurricane Innovation. The ‘Innovation’ brand focuses on social media and original content for small businesses.

Vincent competed in the ‘DJ of the Year’ competition with a family-friendly routine of ‘Shake Senora’ by Pitbull. The dance won accolades as ‘Best Dance’ and Vincent finished as runner-up for the ‘DJ of the Year’ title.

Links:
Hurricane Productions delivers presentation and wins award at DJ Expo

DJ Expo 2011 Highlights

6. Ben and Ashley’s Wedding

When: September 2, 2011
Where: Berkeley Plaza – Berkeley Heights, NJ

The Story:
Ashley is a familiar face on HurricaneProductions.com

Ashley worked at Hurricane as a party motivator and event planner.

She danced at events, helped at Dance Marathon, and watched the company grow during her two years with Vincent and Strato.

When it came time for her wedding, there was no question as to who she would choose for entertainment.

Benjamin’s family-owned company – Scalzo Maintenance – is also a client of Hurricane Innovation – the company’s multimedia division.

Links:
Ashley and Benjamin’s Wedding Album
Wedding Portfolio for 2012

5. Briana Sweet 16

When: October 15, 2011
Where: The Robert B. Meyner Reception Center at PNC Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ

The Story:
This event goes down as the largest Hurricane Productions private party of 2011. Briana and her family are one of the best families to ever walk through the Hurricane office doors.

From the production of this entire event to the dancing and the Sweet 16 candle ceremony, it was just a special event from start to finish.

Briana and her family also hired Pennylane Productions – a cinematography company out of Long Island, NY – to shoot a same-day edit of the Sweet 16.

Links:
Briana’s Sweet 16 Album
Pennylane Productions’ Same-Day Edit

4. Nicole Sweet 16

When: October 1, 2011
Where: Knob Hill Golf Club – Manalapan, NJ

The Story:
Nicole’s family shopped around for DJ entertainment at almost every Monmouth County company…that is, until they met Strato.

Strato guided Nicole and her family through the entire Sweet 16 process. The event featured lighting design, music videos, montage creation, and Next-Day Facebook photo.

Strato met with Nicole and her family multiple times to help them plan the entire event. That work paid off. Just watch the video to see what they had to say about Strato and Hurricane Productions.

Links:
Nicole’s Sweet 16 Album

3. Rob and Lisa’s Wedding

When: August 12, 2011
Where: The Stone House at Stirling Ridge – Warren, NJ

The Story:
Robert and Lisa met at Rutgers while they worked together on the Board of Directors for Dance Marathon.

That special connection translated to their choice of wedding entertainment.

Hurricane Productions helps the University plan the non-stop 32-hour event for the Embrace Kids Foundation.

The annual commitment that Hurricane Productions dedicates to Dance Marathon showed Robert and Lisa that their wedding was in good hands.

Robert and Lisa’s celebration included an endless cocktail-style dinner, cigar and cordial bar, and a fire pit for guests to roast smores at the end of the evening.
Links:
Robert and Lisa’s Wedding Album
Wedding Portfolio for 2012

2. Dance Marathon 2011

When: April 2011
Where: Rutgers University – New Brunswick, NJ

The Story:
Rutgers University Dance Marathon continues to evolve. As the event grows, so does the role Hurricane Productions plays in helping students execute their goals.

This past year Hurricane upgraded the video system used at DM and also enhanced the overall lighting production of the event.

DM broke its fundraising record once again in 2011 with over 380K raised ‘For the Kids.’

Dance Marathon is a 32-hour non-stop event that raises money and awareness for the Embrace Kids Foundation located in New Brunswick, NJ.

Links:
2011 DM Line Dance Video

1. Shawn and Nicole’s Wedding

When: November 13, 2011
Where: The Gramercy at Lakeside Manor – Hazlet, NJ

The Story:
This is without a doubt the best story of year and one of the best stories in Hurricane Productions’ history. Nicole is one of the company’s first-ever Sweet 16 girls.

Eight years later she reconnected with Hurricane when she got engaged to Shawn.

Even with the gap in time and the evolution of the entertainment product, Nicole stayed connected with Vincent and Strato through Facebook. She watched the company grow and knew that they could handle her wedding and make it a memorable event.

Links:
Nicole and Shawn’s Wedding Album
Wedding Portfolio for 2012

All of Hurricane Productions’ live events are special. But some tell unique stories about the clients and the company.

As we compiled a list of our Top 20 events of 2011 it was hard to leave these events off the list. So here is a look at some honorable mentions from this past year.

5. Carly’s ‘Winter Wonderland’ inspired Sweet 16

When: January 15, 2011
Where: Madeline’s on Vosseller – Bound Brook, NJ
The Story:
When Carly’s dad called Hurricane Productions in late 2010, he said that his daughter really deserved a special celebration.

The minute anyone meets Carly, you can tell how genuine and appreciative that she is about everything in her life.

From personalized ‘Name in Lights’ to a Next-Day Facebook photo album, Carly experienced her Sweet 16 just the way her parents pictured it.

Links:
Carly’s Winter Wonderland Photo Album

4. Danielle’s ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ inspired Sweet 16
When: January 16, 2011
Where: Courtyard on Main – Freehold, NJ
The Story:
Sometimes you meet a family that likes to challenge ‘the norm’ when it comes to celebrations.

Danielle and her family pictured an elegant event with a throwback to the Aubrey Hepburn days.

Inspired by the movie ‘Breakfast at Tiffanys’ the room design focused on a beautiful ‘Name in Lights’ gobo using the Tiffany font while blue uplighting accented the ballroom at Courtyard on Main in Freehold, NJ.

3. Gus and Kristin’s Wedding

When: March 25, 2011
Where: Nanina’s in the Park – Belleville, NJ
The Story:
Before pursuing Hurricane Productions full-time, Strato worked with his father at a family owned and operated auto repair shop in Maplewood, NJ.

During his time at the shop, Strato grew close with Gus – a technician at L&J Motors for nearly 10 years.

When it was finally time for Gus to ask the love of his life to marry him, the couple reached out to Strato to help them plan the celebration.

Gus and Kristin’s wedding shows the versatility of Hurricane Productions.

Hurricane fused the couples’ cultural backgrounds (Greek and Irish) into its music selection for the evening.

Links:
Wedding Portfolio for 2012

2. Natalie’s Sweet 16 redefines ‘house’ inspired event
When: December 3, 2011
Where: Cherry Valley Country Club – Skillman, NJ
The Story:
This party got WILD. Just watch the video.

House and club music pumped through our system all night with DJ Strato keeping the dance floor packed for four straight hours.

As for design, this party is one of our most extravagant setups from 2011 with pinspot lighting, lounge furniture, custom graphics and uplighting design.

Links:
Natalie’s Photo Album

1. Erica Celebrates her Sweet 16 with Class
When: April 29, 2011
Where: Courtyard on Main- Freehold, NJ
The Story:
There’s not much to say about Erica because she said it all herself. Here is the testimonial she left on our Facebook page right after her Sweet 16:

“HURRICANE PRODUCTIONS♥! I can’t even begin to explain how amazing of a job you guys did tonight. From day one of talking and meetin up with Strato to the minute the party started tonight, you guys made it alll happen! The lights were absolutely fabulous and I loved the uplighting so much! The name graphic was adooooraaablee♥ everyone loved it. Everyone loved the party and had an absolutely amazing time! (my wall is currently under attack!) Guido, Strato, Benny you guys are AMAZING. Thank you guys so much for everything that you did tonight♥! I can’t wait for the pictures!!! and then like my mom said….my wedding? I THINK SO !!! ”

Links:
Erica’s Sweet 16 Photo Album

As Hurricane Productions readies itself to entertain a full slate of 2011 events, the company compiled a portfolio of its top 10 events from 2010.

Hurricane Productions introduced uplighting and production into its entertainment packages, enhanced its ‘Next-Day’ Facebook photo album feature, and perfected family montages and video production in 2010. The year also saw some original Hurricane Productions clients from its start in 2003 come back around for more events – this time for their younger childrens’ proms, Sweet 16s and weddings.

Although all the parties and events from 2010 will hold a special place in Hurricane Productions’ history, these are the 10 events that told the best stories about the clients, the company, and helped set the stage for a successful 2011.

10. DJ competition at Rutgers University

When: December 9, 2010
Where: College Ave. Student Center
The story: RutgersDJ.com talent Eugene Veltman rallied his fraternity to raise money for the upcoming 2011 Rutgers Dance Marathon. He did so by convincing top DJs from Rutgers University to compete in a friendly mix-based event. Featuring house, top 40 and hip hop, DJ EV, DJ Tonic, Ravi B and DJ Dave Kim rocked the Multipurpose Room at the College Avenue Student Center. RutgersDJ.com and Red Bull sponsored the event and Hurricane Productions’ DJs Strato Doumanis and Eddie ‘DJ N9NE’ Romani served as the judges. DJ EV walked away as the champ and will be one of four DJs featured at Club DM 2011.
Click here for the photo gallery

9. Four former Sweet 16ers bring Hurricane to DJ their high school prom

When: April 23, 2010
Where: Grand Marquis in Old Bridge, NJ
The story: Samantha Ortner from Brick, NJ and her family hired Hurricane Productions to entertain her Sweet 16 at the Stone Pony in late 2008. Chelsea and Carly Gleason kicked off Hurricane Productions’ 2009 season with their Sweet 16 in January and Ali Jordan celebrated her Sweet 16 at Spano’s at White Sands in March 2009. What else do all of these girls have in common? They go to the same high school and serve on the student council. So when it was time to pick a DJ for their prom, they immediately called Hurricane Productions.

Brick Memorial Prom 2010 photo gallery
Samantha’s Sweet 16 photo album
Chelsea and Carly’s Sweet 16 photo gallery
Ali Jordan’s Sweet 16 photo album

8. Sarah’s traditional Sweet 16 features choreographed dances and ceremonies

When: October 3, 2010
Where: The Manor in West Orange, NJ
The story: When it came to planning a traditional Filipino Sweet 16, the Bacani family searched for a DJ company that would listen to their needs. Simply put, Sarah’s guest list was split between her high school friends and her family. She wanted all of her friends to dance with all of her family members and needed a DJ who could handle playing traditional Filipino music and top 40 hits.

Hurricane Productions owner Strato Doumanis compiled a format for the event and helped guide the Bacani family down the path to a successful event. Sarah’s Sweet 16 included a traditional choreographed waltz, dedication dances, a photo montage, a traditional Filipino dance called the ‘jota,’ and a candle and rose ceremony.

Read more about the Bacani’s traditional Sweet 16
Sarah’s Sweet 16 photo album

7. Donald Trump shows up to Nicole’s Sweet 16

When: October 1, 2010
Where:Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, NJ
The story: Donald Trump walked through the doors of his golf club in Bedminster, NJ and before you now it, he grabbed a pen and signed the welcome board at Nicole’s Sweet 16. The visit was unexpected since Trump rarely visits his golf club, but he was in attendance that evening because a number of his high-roller members gathered for a banquet in the adjoining room. Trump stopped in, checked out the party and posed for some photos with our Sweet 16 guest of honor and her family.

Nicole’s Sweet 16 photo album

6. A night on the red carpet with Veronica Kole

When: August 26, 2010
Where: Eagle Oaks Golf Country Club in Farmingdale, NJ
The story: Veronica Kole is and up and coming pop singer and at the age of 16, she wanted to throw a Hollywood-style Sweet 16 for her friends. Decked out with her ‘name in lights’, red carpet with paparazzi, uplighting, video screens and production, she impressed her hometown ‘fans’ with her party and a duet performance with pop singer Brenda K. Starr.

The event was a quasi-Sweet 16/album release party as Veronica performed and partied all night long. Watch the video to see more from her party.

Veronica Kole’s Sweet 16 photo gallery

5. The Gleasons come back to Hurricane – this time for a wedding

When: September 4, 2010
Where: American Legion in Toms River, NJ
The story: Remember Carly and Chelsea Gleason from our No. 9 event of 2010? Their older sister, Ashley, got engaged earlier in year and called Hurricane to book her wedding in September. Ashley and Andrew got married on the beach during Labor Day weekend and then celebrated their reception at the American Legion in Toms River.

This is what’s cool about Ashley and Andrew’s wedding: They threw a huge party and a low-cost venue so that they didn’t have to cut any of their friends and family from their guest list. Instead, they budgeted their party for great DJ entertainment and food.

In order to ‘dress-up’ the rather plain venue, Hurricane Productions transformed the room with uplighting. Watch the video to see the transformation. This wedding is a true example of how DJ entertainment really makes the difference in your celebration.

4. Rutgers University Dance Marathon raises over $378,000

When: 32-hour non-stop event from March 27 – 28
Where: College Avenue Gymnasium at Rutgers University
The story: In its third year entertaining Rutgers Dance Marathon, Hurricane Productions accomplished so much in advancing the event and helping it raise money for the Embrace Kids Foundation. Dance Marathon is a feel-good event centered around over 1,000 student volunteers who commit themselves to raising money and awareness for the children with cancer and blood disorders.

Hurricane Productions trained six DJs and five emcees to entertain their peers. The company helped produce DM’s original ‘line dance’ song that is taught to all of the students throughout 32 hours and also filmed and produced a music video to go along with the dance.

Hurricane Productions and its sister company, RutgersDJ.com, is committed to help build RU Dance Marathon for years to come.

Watch the Rutgers Dance Marathon 2010 Line Dance Video

DM 2010 photo album

3. Donny and Gina’s Wedding

When: October 30, 2010
Where: The Palace at Somerset Park
The story: When Donny and Gina met Vincent and Strato in 2006 they immediately said “when we get married, you’re DJing our wedding.” Donny owns D&D Catering located out of the Mercer County Boathouse at Mercer County Park. He met Vincent and Strato back in 2006 during a busy season of Sweet 16s and Hurricane Productions worked at the Boathouse a number of times from 2006-2008. When Donny and Gina got engaged in late 2009 they called Vincent and booked Hurricane for their wedding. The wedding consultations took place at their household and Donny cooked Hurricane full dinners upon their arrivals (Donny is a caterer at heart). Donny, Gina, Strato and Vincent formed a strong friendship during the planning process and it showed at the wedding.

The wedding accented all the best features at the Palace including full ballroom uplighting, video production and a party percussionist. Hurricane also provided music for the afterparty located at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Somerset. To top it all off, Vincent created custom designed and edited DVDs of their photo montage that Donny and Gina gave to their parents as Christmas gifts.

Hurricane Productions’ 2011 Wedding Portfolio

2. Hurricane saves Sweet 16 from cancellation

When: November 20, 2010
Where: Robert Meyner Reception Center at PNC Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ
The story: Raaga’s family was in a bind. They booked a reputable DJ company to entertain her Sweet 16 earlier in 2010 but when the company booked seven other events that evening, the company released Raaga’s party within six weeks of the event. Raaga’s mom called Hurricane Productions and not only did they save the event but Hurricane upped the ante on the other DJ company.

This event marked Hurricane’s most impressive production of 2010. Hurricane Productions designed uplighting for the entire ballroom – completely transforming PNC’s reception center. Hurricane created a photo montage and video presentation (using Raaga’s family VHS tapes to compile the footage) and put Raaga’s ‘Name in Lights’ using the same font color and design as her Sweet 16 invitations.

Here’s what Raaga’s mom had to say in an email after the party:

“Finding your company was a blessing in disguise for us. You made it easy for us and addressed our every wish and concern with unparalleled professionalism. I do not think there are enough good superlative adjectives in the dictionary for us to describe your DJ services, and how happy we are with your services. I hope you continue to grow, and wish you continued success in future.”

View the entire production from Raaga’s Sweet photo gallery

1. Amanda and Brendan’s Wedding

When: August 27, 2010
Where: Hyatt Regency in Jersey City, NJ
The story: Brendan Prunty and Hurricane Productions owner Vincent Velasquez worked together at the Star-Ledger and NJ.com since 2006. Vincent, a college intern, and Brendan, fresh out of college, became friends while they worked together as Rutgers football reporters. While on the job, Brendan would share stories about Amanda (his girlfriend turned fiance) and Vincent would finish up work on college football Saturdays to head to a DJ gig. When Brendan got engaged he called Vincent and asked if he would emcee his and Amanda’s wedding. Hurricane Productions put together a beautiful celebration at the Hyatt Regency overlooking New York City that included uplighting under the sweetheart table, a photo montage, party percussionist and video production.

This wedding holds a special place in the history of Hurricane Productions because it marks the first crossover of Vincent’s full-time job as a sports reporter and his passion as an emcee and host for Hurricane Productions. Just like Donny and Gina, Brendan and Amanda are not just clients but friends. Their stories about their weddings are ones to not just to share with clients but with friends and family alike.

Hurricane Productions’ 2011 Wedding Portfolio

Honorable Mentions:

Andrea and Shane’s Wedding at the Thayer Hotel in West Point, NY:

Hurricane Productions and its crew traveled to West Point to provide DJ entertainment, uplighting and a party percussionist for an eloquent military wedding. Andrea and Shane found Hurricane Productions through a mutual friend from Vincent’s college days at Rutgers University.

Mally’s Sweet 16 at the Grand Marquis in Old Bridge, NJ:

Sweet 16 in early 2010 featured Hurricane’s first full room uplighting design. Mally wanted a blue color scheme for her Cinderella-themed party. Hurricane Productions decorated the walls and her head table with uplighting and design in the Grand Marquis’ Dome Room.

Read more and watch a video from Mally’s Sweet 16

There is an endless amount of value you can place on a any type of company that handles projects with vision, creativity, and personalized service.

One of the most personal services that you’ll ever hire is DJ entertainment. Despite countless DJ companies springing up all over the tri-state area, it’s hard to find talented and skilled individuals to trust with your memories.

Some DJ companies around New Jersey boast similar features to Hurricane Productions like photo and video packages, plasma screens, uplighting and more. But the difference between Hurricane Productions and it competition is that every single detail of your party is handled by the owners of Hurricane.

Competitors outsource your photos and videos to other paid professionals. There is nothing ethically wrong with that but why let your projects be passed through so many hands? Too many ideas and opinions interfere with your initial vision of your project.

Every single picture of your photo montage is digitally scanned and then edited into a professional quality montage by Hurricane Productions owners and lead entertainers Vincent Anthony Velasquez and Strato Doumanis.
The duo also produces each of the videos and presentations you’ve viewed on Hurricane’s YouTube and website.

The Next-Day Facebook photo albums are edited and posted by Vincent and Strato before you grab a cup a coffee the morning after your event.

Vincent, a Journalism and Media Studies graduate of Rutgers University, is also a videojournalist for the Star-Ledger in Newark, NJ. His daily routine includes going out into the field, shooting video and editing into video packages that are used on NJ.com and on Cablevision’s MSG Varsity network.

Here is an example of a video piece Vincent put together for the Star-Ledger and NJ.com’s High School Athlete of the Week:

Corey Crawford of Indian Hills is second to only Carl Lewis for state long jump record

Now he takes that same set of skills and is able to put together video highlights from your party as well as create photo montages for your family.

Strato designed the entire Hurricane website that you’ve used to view pictures of us, watch videos, and even fill out a price quote request form. He is well-versed in all video and photo editing programs. In fact, the Paparazzi montage in this blog post was created by Strato as a demo to show to potential clients.

When you come to Hurricane Productions there is no doubt that you can trust our entertainers to deliver an unforgettable performances but we also give you the opportunity to relive those memories with the photo and video packages we create for you.

You can view pictures, videos, demos and more at Hurricane Productions Facebook page located at facebook.com/yourparty

The South Wall Banquet Facility located in Wall, NJ is a beautiful venue in New Jersey that hosts events like weddings, anniversaries, Sweet 16s, graduations and more.

The banquet room features a full service kitchen and accommodates 200 seated guests. The atrium and lounge is perfect for intimate gatherings of 40 seated guests, or cocktail parties for up to 100.

“The staff at the South Wall Banquet Facility is the most accommodating in New Jersey,” said Vincent Anthony, president and lead entertainer at Hurricane Productions.

Hurricane Productions is the official choice of DJ entertainment for the South Wall Banquet Facility. The banquet facility is adjacent to the South Wall Fire Company.

The South Wall Banquet facility is considerably  more affordable than other area facilities and prides itself in its flexibility in terms of catering and entertainment.

Helene Hobbis is the facility’s manager. She can be reached a 732-223-4620 ext. 1 or via email: swbanquethall@aol.com

Photos shown in this post are from a Sweet 16 at the South Wall Banquet Facility. The event included a DJ Screen and a photo montage provided by Hurricane Productions.

These days we’re all watching our finances a little more closely but that doesn’t mean you have to cancel the party. Let’s face it, birthdays, graduations, and other special occasions are going to come no matter what and most of these special days only come once. So what is one to do with a limited budget and an occasion in need of a real celebration? Compromise.

There are tons of ways to save money while planning a party and who better to ask for advice than a professional competitive DJ company in the New York-New Jersey area. Here at Hurricane Productions we offer our clients numerous ways they can save on DJ entertainment as well as other creative ways we’ve seen clients save money in the past. One of the single best ways you can save money on DJ entertainment, without sacrificing quality or package size, is to have a joint party. By throwing a joint party with a friend or family member you can save %50 on the cost of DJ entertainment right from the start!

The joint party works particularly well for Sweet 16s, birthdays, graduation parties, and holiday events. If you are your daughter is looking to have a Sweet 16 party, see what other friends have birthdays in the same month. Combining a Sweet 16 usually results in a larger guest list but an overall lower cost. We’ve encountered many joint Sweet 16s, here at Hurricane, and they’ve all turned out great, perhaps even better than “single guest-of-honor” Sweet 16 parties.

Throwing a joint Sweet 16 can be a little tricky without the right coordination and guidance. For example, certain questions may arise like “how many candles do we light during the candle lighting ceremony?” or “what about the father-daughter dance(s), do we both dance at the same time?” How you coordinate these moments throughout the party will dictate the flow and timing for the entire evening. For the candle lighting ceremony (click here for candle lighting ceremony song suggestions) the two guests-of-honor usually alternate candles so each girl is really only lighting eight total candles. Lighting sixteen candles each (thirty-two total) is only viable if you despise your guests and wish to torture them. Any professional entertainment company should handle all of these complications without a hitch and provide you with suggestions and alternatives.

Click the thumbnails below to see some of Hurricane Productions’ recent joint Sweet 16 photos.

Check this blog regularly for more money saving party tips straight from the entertainment professionals at
Hurricane Productions.

Hurricane Productions LLC, is offering a summer special to new clients – Book now, no matter when your event is, and we will offer you 10% off our original price with the following promotional code: EI080906

It’s summer time, so we know it is the perfect time to sit down with your family, plan an event, and book a DJ.

Hurricane Productions offers free consultations for your event as well as the following services featured on HurricaneProductions.com:

• Instructional Dance Videos
• Interactive Party Planning
• Entertainment Tips from the Pros
• Plenty of pictures and video from previously entertained events

So whether its a backyard summer party or an elegant wedding, Hurricane Productions can serve all your entertainment needs. Book now!

Promocode: EI080906

Welcome to the first weekly addition of…
DJ Strato’s Upbeat Endings.
In these weekly segments I’ll be sharing any music which I have come across and enjoyed for whatever reason(s) or have implemented into our mobile entertainment.

To start it off I’ll share some of my favorite songs that I like to end upbeat parties with:

1.
Song: Sweet Caroline (Techno Remix)
Artist: Angelo Venuto

This is a great song to pull out at the end of any family oriented party. It’s a song that everyone knows the words to and satisfies both the tastes of young and older guests. Some adult guests prefer the original version but unless specifically asked to play the original, I like to play the remix.

2.
Song: The Perculator
Artist: Baltimore Club Music

The Perculator has always been a Hurricane Productions favorite. We like to get all the guests up out of their chairs and into a big circle on the dance floor and just have fun with the song. During the first chorus, usually just the emcee and dancers dance in the middle of the circle. After that, we start pulling guests into the center to dance. Everyone has a lot fun with this song and its a great way to throw some spotlight on the guest of honor. The perculator has always been a song/routine which has given us a creative edge and helped us to standout among other DJ companies.

3.
Song: Like a Prayer (Remix)
Artist: Madonna

This song is always great to throw in at the end of a good dance set. It slows everyone down for about half a minute and the girls usually really get into singing this classic. I’m noticing this song is becoming less well-known with the younger crowds now-a-days but it still always gets a good crowd response.

4.
Song: Love Like This (Remix)
Artist: Faith Evans, Fatman Scoop, Crooklyn Clan

I like to pull this song out at the end of an upbeat Sweet 16 or Mitzvah. It’s got a lot of energy and some key points for crowd interaction to raise the energy level even higher. “When I say uhh, you say ahh.”

There are few more songs that I cycle through (including the old stand-by, Donna Summer’s Last Dance) but those are my top four favorites that I like to end upbeat parties with.

Hints for Successful Bar/Bat Mitzvah Planning:

2-3 Years Before the Event:
1. Contact a synagogue or temple when your child is less than ten years old. Learn about the process and timeframe required to prepare your child for the event. Formal Bar/Bat Mitzvah lessons usually begin one year prior to the scheduled date.

2. Decide on the style of the event- one that suits your lifestyle and budget

3. Contact potential service providers, caterers and entertainers. Word of mouth is usually the most reliable source for narrowing down your choices. Decide if you want to use a party planner who will coordinate all of the service providers for you.

One Year Before Event:
1. Book location, entertainment, photographer/videographer, and party decorator (florist). All will require non- refundable deposits so make sure that you are certain about your choices.

2. Select a “theme” and/or color scheme for the event. Include your child in this aspect of the planning- keeping his or her preferences in mind.

3. Help your child decide on a community service or bar/bat mitzvah project idea. Many families find that the meaningfulness of the event is enhanced when a “tzedakah” project is established.

6 Months Before Event:
1. Develop a guest list with current addresses.

2. Select and order invitations. Order thank you notes, direction cards (if needed), napkins and guest towels at this time. Always order more invitations than you think you are going to need. Reprints of small quantities can be costly.

3. Keep your eyes open for interesting stamps-they add a nice touch to the envelope and reply card.

4. Decide on centerpieces for tables and any other decorations. “Sign in boards” are a popular bar/bat mitzvah element and should be ordered at this time (usually through the florist/decorator).

5. Choose party favors for guests. These are usually theme and color related and are given to the younger guests at the celebration.

6. Arrange out-of-town guest accommodations . Many hotels offer special rates for large blocks of rooms; so inquire in your area.

7. Stay in close contact with your child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutor to keep abreast of your child’s progress. Keep a calm encouraging attitude towards your child as he or she progresses through the course of study.

8. Decide if you will be offering other events throughout the weekend. Many families invite close friends and family to a Friday Evening Shabbat Dinner before the big event and a Sunday brunch.

Three months Before Event:
1. Finalize all party selections such as menu, centerpieces, and decorations.

2. Make appointments for hair stylists, barbers, and manicurists as needed.

3. Order personalized yarmulkes.

Two months before Event:
1. Mail invitations- number the back of the response cards to correspond to your guest list to ensure accuracy.

2. Create Candle-Lighting Ceremony. Work with your child to ensure that you are writing something that he or she feels comfortable reciting at the big event.

3. Coordinate the entertainers and caterers to ensure that “time frames” match. Develop a time-line for the event that includes formalities, horas/dances and food services.

4. Encourage your child to practice his or her service out loud.

One month before Event:
1. Reconfirm all service providers

2. Develop a seating plan

3. Coordinate a rehearsal time with your temple. Many temples allow you to video this event in lieu of the actual service.

4. Arrange hospitality baskets for out-of-town guests. Include a schedule of events and detailed directions.

5. Coordinate out-of-town guest transportation to and from airports and events.

One week before Event:
1. Confirm final guest count with caterer. Remember that once you have guaranteed a number, this is what you will be responsible to pay for even if fewer guests show up.

2. Adjust seating arrangements

3. Pack an “emergency kit” to keep handy- sewing kit, extra makeup, hairbrushes, stockings etc.

These tips and many more can be found at: Karen’s Kreations