Bianca and her family chose the Hyatt Morristown for her Sweet 16. Her princess theme intertwined with hints of pink, purple and crystals needed a ballroom just as glamorous. Staff at the Hyatt Morristown were helpful, accommodating and ensured Bianca's event to be a success.
Hurricane Productions provided photography, videography, entertainment and lighting design for the Sweet 16. Emcee Robert Padovano and DJ Bayshawn Wells guided guests throughout the evening's events with great hosting and music.
Custom animations on the screens were created in-house by Hurricane Productions' own graphic designer. With Bianca's input, the animations were tailored until complete. A 'name in lights' gobo mimicked the animation and was shown during the event to brand the ballroom as Bianca's.
Full ballroom uplighting was the final detail that tied the event together. A pinkish-purple hue filled the room all evening to transport guests from the hotel's cocktail room to Bianca's glamorous pink and purple Sweet 16.
Professional photographers and videographers captured every moment of Bianca's event, from her grand introduction to the choreographed dances. High definition, DSLR cameras ensured a quality product for Bianca and her family.
Hurricane Productions provides entertainment and professional photography and design for corporate events, weddings and Sweet 16s. To learn more, please visit the website or call - 888.393.7066.
Roma View Catering offers beautiful banquet rooms, menus, and service for private events. Inspiring waterfront views make it an easy choice, and with entertainment and production from Hurricane Productions, any event is a guaranteed success.
Sara's family chose both Roma View Catering and Hurricane Productions for her Paris Themed Sweet 16. Family and friends flew in from around the world to celebrate with Sara at this formal event. Because of this, her family wanted to choose entertainment and a venue that was sure to impress.
Hurricane Productions provided entertainment, photography and videography for Sara's Sweet 16. Professionals guided Sara and her family through every step, from the moment they decided on Hurricane until the very last minute of dancing.
Professional photographers and videographers attended the event to capture the evening's festivities. Moments captured included portraits, introductions, changing of the shoes and candles.
At the request of Sara and her family, photos were posted on Facebook soon after the event so Sara could relive the evening and share content.
The screens on her event featured custom animations made in-house to match Sara's Paris themed Sweet 16. A photo montage presentation set to music played for guests and photos and messages tagged with #SaraFrances16 shown on the screens as well.
To learn more about Hurricane Productions Sweet 16 services, check out the following pages:
The Palace at Somerset Park is a wonderful location for families, couples, and organizations to hold celebrations.
The Palace at Somerset Park is an all-around beautiful venue with impeccable customer service. Entertainment, production and photography provided by Hurricane Productions brings any event at The Palace to the next level.
Amanda and her family chose The Palace at Somerset Park for her Sweet 16.
Hurricane Productions provided entertainment, professional photography, photo booth, lighting and production for the event.
Among Hurricane's entertainers for the night were DJ Alvin and host and emcee Robert Padovano. Robbie and Alvin had guests dancing alongside Amanda all evening long to celebrate her special day.
Amanda's princess theme Sweet 16 was complimented with pink uplighting around the room. Two "Name in Lights" gobos and screens with personalized princess motion graphics sat on both sides of the DJ booth.
A custom step and repeat backdrop for an open-air photo booth was made specifically for Amanda's event by Hurricane. As guests arrived at the event, they took a photo which was instantly printed and framed as a keepsake.
A professional photographer organized beautiful portrait photos of Amanda, her family and her court. All special events from the introduction through the very last candle were captured.
To learn more about Hurricane Productions Sweet 16 services, check out the following pages:
Wedding venue Franklin Plaza in Troy, NY embraces bride and grooms from all around the country and delivers dream weddings.
Planning a wedding from the opposite side of the country is no easy task. When not able to meet in person, a bride and groom need to fully trust their vendors.
Anthony and Tiffany planned their New York wedding from their home in Florida. They chose Franklin Plaza not only because it was in Tiffany's childhood hometown but because the venue stood by its reputation of high-quality customer service, food, and execution of events.
Anthony found Hurricane Productions through online research. He needed to have the owners of the company, host Vincent Velasquez and DJ Strato Doumanis, at the wedding. Through Hurricane's online planning portal, email, and video chatting, Tiffany and Anthony successfully planned all design and music elements for their event.
Pin Spot Lighting elegantly highlighted tables and centerpieces at Franklin Plaza. The house lights lowered, but pin spotting allowed guests to comfortably interact at the tables. The pin spotting complemented the pink uplighting and centered attention to Tiffany and Anthony's custom monogram gobo.
To learn more about Hurricane Productions wedding services, check out the following pages:
Knob Hill Golf Club hosts last minute wedding with help from Hurricane Productions.
Last minute weddings are rare but they do happen! From the moment of the engagement til vows are exchanged, most brides spend months or even years planning their wedding. When extreme events force a bride and groom to plan their wedding under a month, what do they do? They turn to Hurricane Productions and Knob Hill Golf Club for help.
Jessica and Darrel planned on having a destination wedding but when Jessica's father was diagnosed with cancer, Jessica and Darrel decided to get married as soon as possible. With just one month to plan an entire wedding, the couple had to act fast. The wedding professionals at Hurricane understand life can pitch unexpected curveballs and are always willing to help.
Hurricane Productions provided entertainment for Brittany's Sweet 16, the bride's sister, six months earlier. Hiring vendors with experience at the wedding venue always provides for a smooth experience.
Knob Hill Golf Club, located in Manalapan, NJ also hosted Brittany's Sweet 16 and welcomed Jessica, Darrel, and their family back for the wedding. The banquet manager's friendly attitude and desire to help made planning simple for everyone involved. An outdoor ceremony on Knob Hill's golf course overlooked beautiful grounds. The indoor cocktail hour and reception supplied amazing food and beverages for the guests to enjoy.
Hurricane co-founders, Vincent Velasquez, and Strato Doumanis, ensured guests danced the night away in celebration of Jessica and Darrel.
Not only did Hurricane supply exceptional entertainment and photography services but they also provided full ballroom uplighting and a personalized name-in-lights display.
To learn more about Hurricane Productions wedding services, check out the following pages:
The Princeton Marriott at Forrestal is tucked away off of Route 1 North in the whimsical woods of Princeton. This venue has a welcoming and comfortable feel, much like the service from its event and banquet managers. Attention to detail makes the Princeton Marriott the perfect choice for corporate events and Sweet 16s. Hurricane Productions provides entertainment and staging for such events.
Jill and her family chose the Princeton Marriott for her Willy Wonka themed Sweet 16 because of its location and beautiful space.
Warm hues and superb customer service made their choice even easier.
Jill's family found Hurricane Productions through their connection with Rutgers. Hurricane Productions not only provided entertainment for Jill's event, but also custom design work, screens, photography and pipe and drape.
Host Robert Padovano led guests through the evening's activities and taught special dances to keep the dance floor packed all night. DJ Alvin Gay mixed live and played all of Jill's requests.
Custom graphics for the screens incorporated Jill's Willy Wonka theme to tie the event together. Uplighting near the dance floor complimented the decorations. Black pipe and drape surrounded the room to give more privacy to the party and add an extra touch of class.
Photographer Nick Nittoli captured all the important moments of the night including the grand introduction, candles and cake. Photos posted on Facebook the next day allowed Jill and her friends to relive the night.
To have entertainers from Hurricane Productions like Robert and Alvin at your Sweet 16, visit the website or call - 888.393.7066.
Large windows let in natural light and give way to beautiful views. The Gorgeous ballrooms at The Waterview are customizable to each event and guest count. The Waterview, paired with professional entertainment from Hurricane Productions, is a recipe for a flawless event.
Nicole's family chose The Waterview for her classic masquerade themed Sweet 16. Attentive event managers made planning easy and ensured smooth execution the day. Delicious menus and pleasing facilities reassured Nicole's family of their choice in venue.
Hurricane Productions, based out of Red Bank, NJ, provided entertainment for Nicole's Sweet 16. Servicing events from New Jersey to Boston, Hurricane's team of professionals planned with Nicole and her family online.
An live stream of Instagram posts assigned a special hash tag specifically for Nicole's event were displayed. Friends and family who tagged photos saw them instantly pop up on screens around the room. Copies then printed and given to guests in frames as photo-favors.
Hurricane's photography team captured Nicole's grand introduction, father-daughter dance, candles and more. A sample of photos posted online allowed Nicole and her friends to relive the event.
To learn more about Hurricane Productions Sweet 16 services, check out the following pages:
The Oyster Point Hotel is a gorgeous and modern venue overlooking the mouth of the Navesink River in Red Bank, NJ. It's no wonder Krista and Dan chose it for their nautical themed wedding. The Oyster Point Hotel is in the perfect location and has delicious menus and great service. With Krista and Dan's mutual connection to Rutgers University, Hurricane Productions was the clear choice to provide top-down entertainment for the pier-side ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception.
Krista and Dan took full advantage of Hurricane's online wedding planner application, giving specific musical preferences; even planning a flash mob that took the whole reception by surprise. Under the expertise of Hurricane's Dan Toth, the ballroom was adorned with intelligent lighting that complimented the evening's nautical motif. DJ Strato Doumanis skillfully commanded the eager-to-dance guests the whole night, blending 80's hits (the bride and groom's favorite) with modern dance music and classics to get the whole room involved in the fun.
Krista and Dan even took a page from the Hurricane Productions book, employing a special hashtag to use for any social media content posted from their wedding!
It was one of the hottest days of the year, but that didn't stop the self-proclaimed nerd couple and their guests from celebrating with friends and family all through the day and night.
The Crystal Ballroom at The Radisson Hotel in Freehold, NJ makes it easy to plan and execute a flawless event.
Summertime is perfect for Sunday Sweet 16s. When school is out, Sweet 16 girls and their friends can easily attend a Sunday event.
Meriam's Sunday Sweet 16 at The Crystal Ballroom brought lots of energy and excitement to the hall. Her enthusiastic family and friends ate, danced, and celebrated all night thanks to Hurricane Productions entertainment staff.
Meriam knew of Hurricane Productions through a previous Sweet 16 she attended. She had such a great time at the previous event she knew she needed Hurricane to be a part of her day.
Hurricane Productions provided many event services including entertainment for Meriam's Arabian Nights themed Sweet 16; screens with custom animations, and photography completed her event.
The screens at Meriam's Sweet 16 did not only show personalized motion graphics, but also showed music videos throughout the night. An in-house graphic designer at Hurricane took Meriam's colors and theme to create a special graphic for her event.
Hurricane Productions photographers captured the moments of Meriam's Sweet 16, from her introduction through the candles. Friends and family contributed photos through Instagram.
By using a custom hash tag #MeriamsSweet16 Instagram posts and Tweets streamed instantly to screens. Copies of the photos printed at stations around the room as favors for the guests to take home.
Entertainer and host Robert Padovano guided guests through the evening's activities, while DJ entertainer Alvin mixed all of Meriam's favorite songs live.
To learn more about Hurricane Productions Sweet 16 services, check out the following pages:
The beautiful, lakeside restaurant, located in the heart of New York City, is also host to private and corporate events. Gorgeous dining rooms, shaded patios and delicious catering menus make the Loeb Boathouse Central Park an ideal destination for your next corporate event.
Phi Sigma Sigma celebrated their Centennial Anniversary with dinner and dancing at the Boathouse. The dinner was one event during a week full of activities to celebrate and commemorate the organization. The Loeb Boathouse served as a central location that allowed women of all ages to connect and celebrate.
Hurricane Productions provided DJ entertainment for Phi Sigma Sigma's dinner at The Boathouse.
DJ Strato Doumanis entertained the guests and kept them dancing until the very end.
Hurricane's photography team captured the event. Hurricane's photographers were not just present at the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park. They also spent the entire week with Phi Sigma Sigma documenting the Centennial Celebration.
Hurricane Productions offers photography and video services for corporate events like Phi Sigma Sigma's. Coverage can be determined on a day by day basis or event by event basis. Phi Sigma Sigma chose to use Hurricane for the entire Centennial week. The week culminated with a photo montage recapping the events.
To learn more about Hurricane Productions' corporate entertainment, production and photography, visit the website or call - 888.393.7066.
The Carteret Holiday Inn provides quality service for any event, from Sweet 16's to Weddings. With event facilities for up to 300 guests, there is no shortage of room for an evening of celebration. Carefully crafted entertainment from Hurricane Productions ties the whole evening together.
Paige's family chose the Carteret Holiday Inn for her Sweet 16 because of its flexibility and easy-to-get-to location. The venue is just off the NJ Turnpike in Carteret.
Combining a great venue with the care and expertise of Hurricane Productions, Paige and her friends enjoyed a night full of memories at her beach themed Sweet 16.
The personalized graphics were created in-house just for Paige's party. This high-definition them inspired feature for Paige was displayed alongside with music videos during dance sets.
The highlights of the event were captured by Hurricane's own photographer Nick Nittoli and videographer David Costantini. Their SLR cameras allowed for every moment to be captured with care for the family to enjoy forever.
Hurricane Productions provides features like these and much for Sweet 16's.
To learn more and have Hurricane Productions at your event, visit the website or call 888.393.7066.
Stockton Seaview Hotel in Galloway, NJ is the perfect venue to throw a small wedding without sacrificing the luxuries of a banquet facility.
Dianna and Dave chose Stockton Seaview Hotel and Hurricane Productions for their intimate wedding. The day was celebrated with their closest family and friends.
With neighboring Atlantic City, a beautiful golf course, and nearby beaches, Seaview Hotel turns a wedding into a mini-vacation for guests. Friendly staff and mouth watering menus complete the whole experience.
Photographer Kara Battistoni of Hurricane Productions snapped portraits for the couple and captured moments from the ceremony and reception. Dianna and Dave received full-rights to all the photos after the event.
Hurricane's professional videographer David Costantini filmed the couple's nuptials. An SLR camera ensured the highest quality footage for a memorable wedding video.
Hurricane Productions offers a full suite of media and entertainment services for your wedding day.
Contact us or visit our pricing page to learn more about our wedding packages and add-ons.
From the food to the timeline of events, an organized maitre'd and catering manager ensure each detail is perfect. Combine Pines Manor's keen attention to detail with equally organized, yet dynamic entertainment, from Hurricane Productions for an exceptional event.
Cristee and her family chose Pines Manor, located in Edison, NJ, for her Cotillion and graduation celebration. The large ballroom accommodated all her guests while still allowinh room for dancing.
Entertainer and host Robert Padovano encouraged guests and kept the energy up all night. Hurricane Productions DJs mixed live and took Cristee's requests into consideration.
Cristee's event featured video screens with custom motion graphics and music videos. The screens also streamed Instagram photos live as they were tagged with #cristeezy. These photos then printed instantly and given to guests as photo favors.
Hurricane Productions' photographers and videographers filmed all the evening's special moments. From the choreographed father/daughter dance to the candle ceremony, every moment was captured. An instant photo album on Hurricane's Facebook page allowed Cristee, her family and friends to relive the evening the next day.
To learn more about Hurricane Productions event services, check out the following pages:
You can't help if it rains on your wedding day but you can prepare to deal with it -- especially if you're having an outdoor ceremony. The Mansion on Main Street in Voorhees, NJ has the perfect solution for couples who want the charm of outdoors without the hassle. Their all-glass ceremony space is the perfect alternative that keeps guests comfortable and safe from the rain.
Samantha and Jack chose The Mansion on Main Street for their summer wedding, with Hurricane Productions for their entertainment. Douglas Photographics shot and captured all the beautiful moments from the day, from bridal preparations until the last dance.
Hurricane Productions provided classic entertainment for the couple. Entertainers Vincent Velasquez and Strato Doumanis, owners of Hurricane Productions, led guests through music and dancing all evening. Rain did not deter anyone from celebrating Samantha and Jack's union.
Uplighting gave the ballroom a pop of color, setting the atmosphere for the evening. Twin totem intelligent lights spotted the couple during introductions, the first dance, parent dances and toasts. Hurricane Productions' own lighting technician operated all lighting equipment to ensure proper electrical usage and appropriate lighting at all times.
Hurricane Productions also provided sound and music for the ceremony and cocktail hour.
To learn more about Hurricane Productions wedding services, check out the following pages:
Only a short distance from the hustle and bustle of Rutgers' New Brunswick campus, the Rutgers Gardens is a series of mesmerizing gardens that host wedding ceremonies and receptions between March and October. Partnered with Twin Oaks Catering, Rutgers Gardens weddings are completed with dynamic entertainment from Hurricane Productions.
Hurricane Productions orchestrated a beautiful ceremony with a fun-filled reception for same-sex couple Christina and Shanna. The couple chose Rutgers Gardens for the beautiful, intimate location and trusted Hurricane Productions to have family and friends dancing the whole night.
Christina and Shanna picked the Art Rudolph Sun and ShadeGarden for their ceremony, and celebrated afterwards under the newly built Lillian Koelsch Pavilion.
Hurricane Productions provided entertainment, lighting design and photography for Christina and Shanna. Entertainment services included intelligent lighting, uplighting and a custom-made "Name in Lights" gobo.
Wedding host Vincent Velasquez guided family and friends through the evening's ceremonies, along with musical stylings provided by DJ Andrew Schittone.
Guests took full advantage of Hurricane's Instagram photo booth. Rather than line up and wait to use props with a backdrop, guests took pictures whenever, where ever and were able to have a copy printed instantly for them to take home.
Over 200 photos were tagged using a unique hashtag specifically designed for the couple throughout the day. Unlimited prints were framed for guests, and a stack of photos was for Christina and Shanna to take home.
Just minutes from downtown Princeton, Chauncey Hotel and Conference Center serves as a quiet oasis among the hustle and bustle of central New Jersey. Guests are greeted with a winding, tree-lined driveway. With foliage that radiates as seasons change, the grounds serve as a picturesque backdrop for weddings. The venue features a romantic lake with an overlooking gazebo.
Chauncey Hotel is the only three season tent event space in the Princeton area.
The wedding, hosted by Hurricane Productions, embraced the bride's "do it yourself" attitude. Jamie created hand-made decorations for the ceremony and reception. Paper creations of flowerpots and pinwheels adorned the outdoor ceremony and reception.
Hurricane Productions provided DJ Entertainment for Jamie and Carl's Wedding. Because both the ceremony and reception were on-site at the Chauncey Hotel and Conference Center, Hurricane provided sound reinforcement for both.
The bride and groom opted for multi-colored Intelligent Lighting to set the mood. The lighting accentuated specific parts of the unique reception space. Spotlighting provided by Hurricane also enhanced special moments throughout the night.
The couple took advantage of Hurricane's online planner. The planner allows couples to provide specific instructions and music requests for all aspects of their day.
Hurricane Productions entertainment staff kept the party rolling after special dances and dinner. The musical selection satisfied all family and guests who ranged from children to seniors. Even the rain could not stop guests from dancing into the night.
For more information about Hurricane Productions Wedding and event services, please see the following links:
It takes a lot of research to find a venue that is beautiful yet affordable and an entertainment company with a professional and quality product.
Sterling Gardens, in Matawan, NJ is a welcoming venue with attentive staff and Hurricane Productions is the innovative entertainment company to bring the party to life.
Kayla's family chose both Sterling Gardens and Hurricane Productions for her Sweet 16. Sterling Gardens was organized and provided excellent service all evening.
Featured at Kayla's Sweet 16 were video screens from Hurricane Productions. Screens showed custom motion graphics, music videos, a montage presentation and Instagram streaming.
The addition of screens on a Sweet 16 means more than simply bringing TVs to an event. Personalized animations require four to six hours of design work from Hurricane Productions' in-house graphics team. The animations are created specifically for the guest of honor and compliment the theme of the event.
Professionally designed montage presentations take photos from the guest of honor's life and piece them together with special songs. Hurricane Productions creates a beautiful montages for family and friends to view. The video presentation and all scanned photos are sent to families after the event.
To learn more about Hurricane Productions Sweet 16 services, check out the following pages:
Celebrations in Bensalem, PA is not just for weddings.
The high-capacity ballroom is perfect for proms and corporate affairs with many guests. Professional quality sound and entertainment from Hurricane Productions guarantees a flawless event. Hunterdon Central High School chose both for the Junior Prom.
Hunterdon Central High School chose Hurricane Productions to entertain the guests at the Junior Prom. Hurricane's professionalism, design, music and hosting made for an easy choice for event services. Hurricane's DJ and MC team guided the students and dates through the evening's events of dinner, dancing and speeches.
The committee spoke with Strato Doumanis before the prom to review music preferences and design elements. Online requests from the Junior class shaped the live mixed playlist.
Video screens with custom graphics featured music videos as songs were playing. Two graphics were tailored specifically for Hunterdon Central's prom based on the committee's input and feedback.
Full-ballroom uplighting not only complimented the theme but set the mood for night. Soft amber lighting for cocktail hour and dinner changed to blue lighting for the dance sets.
Hurricane's own professional photographer took candid photos throughout the evening for the students.
Hurricane Productions hosts proms and large corporate events from New Jersey to Boston. To find out more information visit the website or call 888.393.7066.
The Channel Club in Monmouth Beach, NJ is a must-have venue for the couples that want a beach wedding.
The location of The Channel Club is what makes it desirable. An outdoor ceremony space overlooks the beach at sunset. Guests can enjoy the ocean breeze during cocktail hour before heading inside to enjoy a delicious meal and great entertainment from Hurricane Productions.
Lindsey and Joe's Sunday afternoon wedding was a relaxed and celebratory affair. The Channel Club staff coordinated with Hurricane throughout the evening for a flawless event.
Hurricane Productions provided wedding entertainment for Lindsey and Joe. The couple trusted Hurricane Productions from the very beginning to create the welcoming atmosphere at their wedding. Hurricane entertainment staff kicked the night off by delivering the perfect introduction for the parents, bridal party and the newly-wed couple.
After special dances and dinner, Hurricane DJs kept friends and family on the dance floor at The Channel Club all night, catering to the specific musical taste of the bride and groom.
Hurricane Productions offers a full suite of Wedding services and customizable packages. If you are interested in learning more about what Hurricane has to offer for Weddings, please see the following links:
Fiesta Banquets in Wood-Ridge is a great New Jersey venue for Quinceañeras.
An organized maitre'd pays attention to every detail to ensure the celebration is flawless. The friendly, bilingual staff makes each guest feel comfortable. Great management from the venue paired with entertainment from Hurricane Productions makes for a beautiful Quinceañera celebration.
The marble dance floor in the center of the ballroom is the perfect setting for a grand introduction or a waltz. Spotlighting provided by Hurricane focuses guests' attention on the Quinceañera during special ceremonies like changing of the shoes, the last doll and the rose ceremony.
Daniela and her family chose The Fiesta because of their experience and top notch service.
Hurricane Productions was an easy choice for entertainment because of the variety of Spanish music and organizational online planner.
Daniela's "Name in Lights" gobo was designed specifically for her and based on her Quinceañera invitation.
The screens on Daniela's Quinceañera showcased a custom animation that mimicked the style of her invitation. Music videos played on the screens during dance sets.
Photography for her Quinceañera included full event coverage by Hurricane's own professional photographers, family portraits before the event and next day Facebook photos.
Hurricane Productions provides entertainment and event design for Quinceañeras and Sweet 16's. To find out more information visit the website or call 888.393.7066.
An elegant ballroom with an inviting marble dance floor paired with entertainment from Hurricane Productions ensures guests will dance all night long.
Casa Bianca's classic style invites visitors inside with attentive service and delicious catering options.
Michelle is not the first in the family to use Hurricane Productions. Hurricane entertained older sister Rachel's Sweet 16 two years prior to this event. The family was so satisfied with Hurricane's performance that they returned for another great event.
Michelle's family opted for Hurricane's professionally trained photographers to take photos all night.
Photographers captured all important moments of the evening. With next-day Facebook photos Michelle and her friends were able to relive the evening right away.
Screens on the event featured a custom animation tailored specifically to Michelle's theme. Family-friendly music videos displayed during dance sets and a photo montage honoring Michelle shown during dinner.
Intelligent lighting on the event complimented the blue uplighting around the room. A custom "name in lights" on the wall completed the room design, mirroring the fonts in the custom animation.
Rutgers Dance Marathon is genuinely beautiful. College students abandon their usual habits to dance for an entire weekend in honor of children with cancer and blood disorders. If that's not heartwarming, we don't know what is.
Rutgers Dance Marathon is a 32-hour event (held in the College Avenue Gym in New Brunswick, NJ) where Rutgers students stay awake and on their feet to raise money for Embrace Kids Foundation. Embrace Kids is a charity that raises money for the non-medical needs of families with children with cancer or blood disorders.
Hurricane Productions has been involved with Rutgers Dance Marathon for the past seven years. During that time we've picked up on certain things that make it awesome. And in honor of Rutgers Dance Marathon's 15th anniversary, we are going to share the top 15 reasons with you.
15. It's a year long event - Though the Marathon itself is only 32 hours, students plan and fundraising for an entire year in preparation for one short weekend. The day after DM the Board of Directors and Central Planning Team sit down to congratulate themselves then quickly move on to review the weekend and begin improvements for the next year.
14. It's completely student run - DM is a huge event - Not just a couple hundred students but several thousand students. And from top to bottom, this team of students has organized Dance Marathon entirely on its own. We're talking everything from booking entertainment to seeking out sponsors to scheduling the entire 32 hours. That's impressive.
13. The Organizations - There's a common misconception that Rutgers Dance Marathon is an all Greek event. Organizations like the Catholic Students Association, Carpe DM and Douglass Residential College make DM possible. Greek and non-Greek organizations hold bake sales, coffee houses and other events all year to raise money for the Marathon.
12. The Dancers - Let's be honest... the general public perceives college students as sometimes reckless and unprepared for the 'real world.' Everything about DM proves that audience wrong. Not many people would commit to stay awake and on their feet for 32-hours, but these students willingly do. And they do so with a smile. Not only that, they do it for a cause that directly makes a difference in the lives of children and their families. Nothing is more real than that.
11. The Total - Since its beginning in 1999, Rutgers Dance Marathon has raised over three million dollars FTK (for the kids). Each year students rally to raise more funds than the previous year, all in hopes of continuing the DM legacy. No one knows what the total is before it's raised, so as the Dance Marathon Central Planning Team (CPT) reveals the total to the audience, DM alumni raise the total in the upstairs balcony of the College Ave Gymnasium. So the CPT gets to share in the same moment of surprise and joy as everyone else in the gym.
10. Magic 98.3 Radio-Thon - Each year, Magic 98.3 sets up camp in the College Ave Gym. The team does live interviews of students and families to raise money and awareness for Rutgers Dance Marathon. Interviews with people like Glenn Jenkins the Executive Director of Embrace Kids Foundation (seen above) give a voice to the cause.
9. The Guests - When influential people like Coach Kyle Flood, head of the Rutgers Football Team, or Eric LeGrand come to congratulate, motivate and applaud the students for their efforts, there is no better feeling. Coach Flood comes in the early hours on Sunday morning when the going gets tough. He takes time to recognize and motivate students to get them through the end.
8. The Line Dance - Every year DM students choreograph and develop a line dance for all the dancers to learn. The line dance has evolved from a simple slideshow to an iconic, visual centerpiece of Dance Marathon.
7. The Bands - The Marathon doesn't require the dancers to actually dance the entire time, but to simply remain on their feet. Live bands, like the popular Jimmy and the Parrots and The Verdict come to keep the dancers rockin' and help maintain motivation 'til the very end.
6. Club DM - Between the hours of midnight and 3AM Dance Marathon weekend, the College Ave Gym opens up to Rutgers students as an enormous nightclub. Hurricane Productions provides DJ entertainment, and for a small fee, Rutgers students can enter. Thousands of students participate, and all proceeds benefit Rutgers Dance Marathon.
5. Embrace Kids Foundation - In the past DM, like many other Marathons around the country, used to raise money for Children's Miracle Network. Embrace Kids approached DM and gave them the option to raise money for their charity. Why? Because the children they impact are right in New Brunswick. And at the end of the day, students can see exactly what, and who, their efforts support. Embrace Kids Foundation is located right in New Brunswick and works with the Children's Specialized Hospital at Robert Wood. The fact that Embrace Kids is a community leads us to our next point...
4. RU4Kids Program - Embrace Kids Foundation works with Dance Marathon to match student organization with families. Students are able to make a personal connection with the kids and their families by visiting them in the hospital. It's the reason the students come back each year - they have someone to dance for.
3. Family Hour - It starts at hour 28 of the 32 hour event. Just when dancers' feet are hurting and the energy is running low, patients and their families come to the gym to support play games, share a meal and support their organizations. The result is a teary hour or two, with speeches from the parents and patients thanking the students for doing what they do.
2. The Families - When a child is diagnosed with cancer, they are not the only person affected. The parents and siblings of these children are tremendously strong, dealing with the emotional, physical and monetary toll that the illness has on everyone.
1. The Kids - They're the reason why a full gym is completely silent the moment before the total is raised, and booming the moment after. These children are resilient and brave. The hardships others have don't even compare to what these kids endure at such a young age. The treatments they go through aren't easy - screaming, yelling and tears often accompany them. But an hour later, a graceful smile passes on their face as they play a game with their siblings, parents, or better yet, their RU4Kids organization. They are the reason why Dance Marathon thrives.
These 15 reasons are just a sample of many that make Rutgers Dance Marathon so beautiful. If you want to learn more about Rutgers Dance Marathon and Embrace Kids Foundation, visit www.marathon.rutgers.edu or www.embracekids.org.
Hurricane Productions is visual. And despite its strong presence on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, Instagram is where Hurricane Productions really found its niche.
With over 10,000 followers and counting all over the world, Hurricane Productions is a major player on a platform that boasts over 100 million active users.
"For me, exploring Instagram has confirmed something I always thought to be true about human nature,” said Hurricane co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Strato Doumanis. “We are visual beings and hold visuals in higher regard than any other form of media or communication."
A recent study released by Simply Measured showed that 54-percent of top brands use Instagram with 41% of those brands posting at least one photo per week to their feeds.
Hurricane doesn’t just post photos for selfish promotion. The company encourages recruitment and collaboration with other creative people.
"Exposing the right visuals to the right people has created more connections for us as a company than any other social media platform," said Doumanis.
Hurricane's Instagram following is larger than most newspapers and media outlets around the country. It even surpasses name brands like Pepsi Max and Jaguar.
Hurricane monetizes its Instagram following via its "Hurricane Pulse" concept.
Available in the corporate and private event market, Pulse capitalizes on using unique hashtags to stream photos live to video boards/screens as well as print photos as favors.
In short, its an edgy and modern approach to a traditional photo booth.
