How We Turned a University Academic Center Into a Club-Like VIP Experience

Rutgers University recently hosted its first major event at the Gary and Barbara Rodkin Academic Success Center to honor the school’s talented student-athletes. The building opened in 2021 and was built to serve Rutgers’ body of approximately 700 student-athletes, offering individual training, workshops, and other facilities for the men's and women’s soccer and lacrosse teams, as well as a space for university initiatives like career networking events. 

“Club Rodkin” took place on May 3, 2022, and replaced the previous tradition of the “R Awards” ceremony. Over 300 students attended the inaugural event, which turned the athletic center into a collegiate club featuring dancing, lights, and unforgettable moments. 

How Hurricane Productions transformed RU’s space into ‘Club Rodkin’

Hurricane Productions was honored to help create the first student event at the brand-new Gary and Barbara Rodkin Academic Success Center. To make this event happen, we transformed the space into a New York City-style lounge using uplighting, moving lights, trussing, and a professional DJ. Here's how we did it.

Pre-Production 

Given that this was the first event at the center, Hurricane had to figure out all the logistics for hosting an event in this space. Our team did various thorough walkthroughs and met with building staff to discuss their vision for the event and how to execute it. We referenced events we had previously produced to incorporate their ideas and create a lounge-style atmosphere. Once we knew what the Rutgers team wanted, we went to work designing and bringing their idea to life. 

club rodkin main area before
The Rodkin Academic Center before it became "Club Rodkin"

Lighting & Audio 

Hurricane provided all of the lighting production for the event. To replicate a nightclub feel, we staged the area with towers featuring lights that consistently moved to add liveliness to the space. The lighting was programmed by our professional crew to be in sync with the DJ's music and washed over the students as they danced the night away.

We also rigged the space with a professional audio setup that rivals that of any club. We set up speakers on both floors of the bi-level space so we could be heard in every inch of the space. Students had no trouble letting loose and leaving it all on the dance floor at Club Rodkin.

Before & After: The Club Rodkin Dance Floor
Before & After: The Club Rodkin Dance Floor

Talent & Entertainment

Our professional MCs hosted the event, keeping students engaged and reminding them to vote for the student-athletes in attendance. Meanwhile, our talented DJs kept students on their feet and having a great time throughout the event. 

Students were able to vote on different superlatives for their peers using a custom QR code that was placed through the space. They voted on conventional categories  such as “Biggest Personality” and “Best Dynamic Duo” to some unique ones like “Best Candidate for the CIA” and “Most Likely to Miss a Zoom Meeting.” At the end of the night, the winners were showered with cheers and laughs as they collected their awards.

HP Club Rodkin Before-After DJ Booth
Before & After: Club Rodkin DJ Booth

Photobooth and Red Carpet 

In addition to the lighting and audio support we provided during the event, we also made the student-athletes feel like real VIPs before they even walked in the door. Students traded in their sweats and jerseys for formalwear and posed with their friends along the red carpet we installed outside of the building.

Inside, students could continue to capture their favorite moments of the night in the photo booths, where they instantly received prints of their photos, giving them a cherished, physical memento they could take home with them. Photos were also sent to their phones, giving students the ability to share their memories and favorite moments instantly.

HP Club Rodkin Before-After Main Entrance
Before & After: Club Rodkin Main Entrance

The results of Club Rodkin

Club Rodkin was an incredible success and the first of many in a new annual tradition at Rutgers. The students had a fantastic time, as evidenced by the numerous social media pictures they posted from the event. Students left feeling enchanted, appreciated, and grateful for this memorable evening with their peers. 

We look forward to hosting many future events at the Gary and Barbara Rodkin Academic Success Center including an RFund event, Scarlet Knight on the Banks, Board of Directors Meeting, and Spring Dinner Event.

If you're looking for a partner to help you host your next private, corporate, or university event, contact us today. Fill out the form below to request a custom quote to see how we can work together.

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Creative Services and Special Effects for Tradeshows, Award Shows and more

From brand activations, tradeshows, and corporate functions of all sizes - Hurricane Productions is comprised of solution-oriented team leaders.

One of our most recent clients asked us to develop a 'show-opener' for an award show. A basketball arena hosted the show - so the effect not only had to 'wow' an audience of over 1,000 people, but it needed to be safe.

After meeting with the client and communicating with fire safety professionals, Nick Nittoli (Director of Operations) presented a special effect that checked all the boxes.

Sparkular - a safe, environmentally-friendly indoor fireworks system - was used under the control of Hurricane to light up the stage as the show's emcee welcomed the guests to the event. Hurricane programmed, synchronized, and safely controlled through Sparkular's fireworks simulator machines.

Unlike typical indoor fireworks, this non-pyrotechnic system is neither hazardous nor explosive. When the Sparkular machine is activated - a specialized powder safely combusts - providing a dazzling firework display.

As an added precaution, Sparkular machines come with an emergency stop tilt function. It automatically stops the fireworks program if the machine is tipped over or tilted more than 45 degrees.

Learn more about how we can develop creative solutions for your event by contacting us here.

University Library Transforms Into Club

The Club Alex concept began as a joke amongst students spending late hours at Alexander Library preparing for finals.

Rutgers partners with Hurricane annually to bing this clever anecdote to life as part of 'Senior Week' at the university.

On most college campuses, Senior Week is simultaneously the most exciting and the most stressful time of the year. Between completing final projects, studying for exams, and preparing to enter the "real world," graduating seniors have a lot on their plates. For many of them, balancing academic and career pursuits with a little bit of fun in their last weeks of school is the key to avoiding burnout.

Since 2014, Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, has given its graduating class a proper send-off.

With an exciting night of dancing, refreshments, and activities in a familiar setting, the university library is transformed into Club Alex.

According to a Rutgers blog post, students have had a longstanding tongue-in-cheek joke about Alexander Library being a nightclub, especially during finals.

"Sorry, I can't go out tonight," they'd say, "I'm spending the night at Club Alex."

Three years ago, the university brought Club Alex to life by turning the library's reference room into a fully-functional nightclub – and they've been doing it ever since.

Hurricane Productions – whose co-founders Vincent Velasquez and Strato Doumanis are Rutgers alumni – has been involved with Club Alex since its inception.

Under the guidance of producer and MC Robert Padovano, Hurricane pulls out all the stops for Club Alex with multiple rooms and DJs, each with its own unique flavor.

Club Alex, Rutgers

5 Events That Explain Everything You Need to Know About Hurricane

Every event you're about to see in this post is a staple of the Hurricane Event Production portfolio.

Although we produce private events like Sweet 16s and Weddings, these larger-scale corporate events are important to the company and part of the fabric of New Jersey.

All of this content, event production as well as the videos themselves, were created by our in-house staff.

1. Audi Grand Opening – Corporate Event Production

From soup to nuts, everything you see in this video is provided in coordination with Hurricane Productions: Lighting, Audio, Projection, Production. We transformed this dealership to what you see in this video.

2. AARA Trade Show – Audiovisual and Video Support

Since 2012, Hurricane is an integral part of AARA's annual trade show hosted in Somerset, NJ and Edison, NJ on rotating years. We provide sound, lighting and coordinate the company's branding and social media efforts. Hurricane Productions has a secondary brand which acts as its Corporate AV Production arm called CANE AV. (caneav.com/)

3. Dance Marathon – Event Production, Content Creation, Talent, and Marketing

Hurricane started within the DM organization a decade ago when the event was barely raising over $100,000 for Embrace Kids Foundation. In the last decade, the teams at Hurricane and Dance Marathon work in concert, year-round, to create the largest student-run philanthropic event in the state.

4. The Yard – Activation, Talent, and Event Calendar

When it comes to community events at The Yard, DEVCO hires MediaCutlet to consult on the who, what, when. But when it comes the how: Hurricane executes the events from the nuts and bolts end of things: Production, music, etc. It's the perfect marriage of how both brands exist under one roof. Hurricane helps fill the event calendar and produce events at The Yard.

5. Weddings and Private Events

Weddings and Sweet 16s give Hurricane the ability to connect with families and showcase their full scope of abilities. Private events also provide a safe training ground for interns and young photo, video, and DJ talent. Weddings and private events give Hurricane access to families and young influencers in the state, turning them into clients and onto our other services. Even Hurricane's path to producing the AARA Trade Show came by way of a Sweet 16 for the director's daughter.

Nate Hawley to Take Over Turntables at Rutgers Football Games

nate-hawley

PISCATAWAY, NJ - Nate Hawley, a senior at Rutgers University, enters his final year 'On The Banks,' as the RFootball DJ inside High Point Solutions Stadium.

The Newark native became a staple within the RFootball program once Head Coach Chris Ash took the reigns last winter - waking up with the team to provide music for their offseason workouts.

But Nate is no stranger to DJing at RU.

He's headlined events like Dance Marathon, Club Alex (where the Alexander Library transforms into a nightclub) and other Student Affairs related events.

Simply stated - if you hear music on campus, Nate is not too far away.

And Nate is as focused in his studies as he is 'in the mix.'

He plans to graduate with an Information Technology and Informatics degree. He is a teacher's assistant at a Coding Bootcamp - a Continuing Studies Program affiliated with RU.

"DJing at the stadium was my biggest 'DJ goal,' as an incoming student," Nate said about the 52,000 capacity stadium. "I walked into the stadium my first year and said, 'Wow, that's the biggest stage on campus."

He also helped open Rutgers newest landmark - The Yard @ College Avenue - with its first RFootball Away Game Watch Party.

As an homage to the art of DJing, Nate will use turntables (Technics 1200) as his tool to entertain the players, recruits and fans.

For booking information, please visit NateTunes.com or HurricaneProductions.com

Corporate Events hosted at Rutgers Football Recruiting Pavilion

Corporations seeking a motivational and hi-tech space for an upcoming event should look no further than High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, NJ. The home of the Scarlet Knights features a number of event spaces - including the Brown Recruiting Pavilion - that can accommodate a variety of corporate functions of all shapes and sizes.

The pavilion is accentuated by tall glass windows and an outdoor deck that overlooks the football field.

Hurricane Productions provides audio and visual solutions for the unique space as well as other locations around Rutgers University.

At a recent event hosted by Allstate, Hurricane helped the insurance leader integrate its own technology with existing technology operated by the University.

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8 Groundbreaking Moments of 2014

This list usually stands as our annual “Top 25 Live Events.” Although that feature is wildly popular amongst our private event clients, we felt like it was time to move away from that format.

Hurricane continues to evolve and the question always arises: What else does your company do?

This list is a true snapshot of who we are, what we do and where we are heading in 2015:

8. Vincent and Strato launched Hurricane Innovation LLC, offer social media consulting to small and mid-sized businesses.

Starting another business isn't just about creating a website or coming up with a name. We needed clients. We needed a vision. So with the help of some of our existing web clients, Rutgers University and the addition of Journal Multimedia, Caesars Entertainment, and The Olde Mill Inn, we evolved into a social media and video consulting firm.

And we have our former General Manager, Julia Crimi, to thank for making sure that Hurricane Productions operated at full strength while we jumped into our new endeavor.

7. We got more social (and accessible) to our clients with #HurricaneSocial

Every company should do this: Let your employees be themselves ... and share it on all forms of social media.

With the help of a company-wide hashtag, we implemented a way to aggregate all of this content from each popular social media platform and display it in real-time.

If you want a true snapshot of what we're doing, where we're going (as a company and individuals) please visit HurricaneProductions.com/social or just type #hurricanesocial into your favorite social media platform.

It looks great on Instagram.

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Hurricane Will Enhance Fan Experience at Rutgers Football Games Through Video

Photo via @vinvelasquez on Instagram
Photo via @vinvelasquez on Instagram

When RFootball fans enter High Point Solutions Stadium for Saturday's opener versus Howard, they'll be treated to new visual experiences throughout the game.

One of those enhancements is a same-day video edit produced by Hurricane Productions.

The 60-second RFootball videos will document the fanfare and pageantry of each Rutgers Football home game. From tailgates to pre-game traditions, each video will vary as the Big Ten atmosphere arrives 'on the Banks.'

"Our video product is cutting edge and engaging," said Hurricane Productions CEO Vincent Velasquez who is also a Rutgers College alumnus. "We're excited to partner with Rutgers Athletics in this capacity."

The Rutgers football video will be filmed during pre-game festivities and the first half of the game. It will be edited by half-time and displayed on the LED scoreboard in the second-half of each home game.

Hurricane is also slated to produce a "Legendary Moments" video segment sponsored by the Rutgers University Alumni Association. Those videos will be shown in the stadium and shared via social media. The "Legendary Moments" videos will compile archived video footage and graphics from landmark achievements in RFootball history.

Hurricane and Rutgers University have a longstanding relationship.

The company provides media support, entertainment, production and event consultation services throughout the year to various University departments.

For more information about Hurricane's work around campus, click here.

Same-Sex Wedding Photography at Rutgers Gardens

When you're planning a wedding, everything needs to be right. The venue, the food, the guests, the dress, the bridal party, the gifts, the theme... the list goes on. At a time when every same-sex wedding is considered a victory for equality, the pressure to do everything right is even higher.

Are you stressed out yet? Well, don't be. Your wedding will be perfect because you love your partner unconditionally. Everything else falls into place naturally; it'll be something you'll want to relive for the rest of your life!

The best way to relive your perfect day is with top-notch same-sex wedding photography provided by Hurricane Productions.

Amanda and Melissa are the happy couple you see in the pictures below. Hurricane photographers attended the couple's beautiful July 4th same-sex wedding at picturesque Rutgers Gardens and captured all the best moments. Rutgers Gardens is a prime location for any wedding. 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.

To find out more information on Hurricane Productions’ wedding entertainment, photography and video services, submit this short form, or visit our pricing page.

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Rutgers Entertainment: DJs, MCs, photography, videography, innovation

If you've been to a Rutgers University event in the last decade, odds are that you've seen what Hurricane Productions brings to the table: quality, commitment, and fun.

A majority of the employees and clients of Hurricane Productions are Rutgers University alumni. They understand the needs of the staff and the desires of students when it comes to providing entertainment for special events.

From fundraisers and concerts, to Greek life and Athletic events; Hurricane Productions has a finger on the pulse of the Rutgers student body. Hurricane doesn't only provide talent and equipment for these events; they innovate. They will often create custom made graphics and unique features for almost every occasion, they treat each event with the utmost care and consideration.

The next time you're at a Rutgers event, make special note of the entertainment, photography and videography, and ambiance. You might just recognize some familiar faces!

Here are just a handful of events Rutgers has produced with the help of Hurricane Productions:

Hot Dog Day

This annual Rutgers tradition marks the middle of the spring semester. Students are invited to the Rutgers Student Center to enjoy free hot dogs and other treats, entertainment by Hurricane Productions and others, and all sorts of goodies and giveaways courtesy of the Rutgers University Planning Association (RUPA). Hurricane Productions has provided DJ entertainment for the wildly successful event since 2012.

#RB1GParty (Rutgers inducted into Big Ten)

In 2014, Rutgers celebrated its induction into the Big Ten conference with a monumental party held in High Point Solutions Stadium. Tons of Rutgers dignitaries and figures from the Rutgers community were present, including Athletic Director Julie Hermann and Football Coach Kyle Flood. Hurricane Productions was there to capture all the day's festivities.

Alumni Weekend

Rutgers Alumni weekend is one of the busiest times of the year. Not only for RAA (Rutgers Alumni Association) and its affiliates, but for Hurricane Productions as well. They provide full-service entertainment for numerous events over the weekend, including the annual Alumni BBQ, Alumni Dinner at the Audi Club, and the Rutgers Senior Days Luau.

Dance Marathon

A tradition for both Hurricane Productions and Rutgers students and alumni alike; Rutgers Dance Marathon is the most involved event of the year. New Jersey's largest student-run philanthropic event, RUDM and Hurricane Productions have grown together. Each year brings more production, more students volunteering and raising money, and more awareness for all that Embrace Kids Foundation does. Since 1999, Rutgers Dance Marathon has raised over $4.2 million for Embrace Kids Foundation

Recruitment

One part of what makes Hurricane Productions' relationship with Rutgers so special is that they recruit within. Talent is recruited, often from Dance Marathon, to be a part of the Hurricane team. This allows young DJ's, emcees, photographers, and videographers the opportunity to work alongside professionals on common ground.

ImposteRave

An idea of one of Hurricane's own DJ staff, ImposteRave was the first ever student life event to take place inside the Rutgers Football practice bubble. As part of the 2013 Senior Days series of events, students were talking about the successful event months after graduation.

Greek Life

Hurricane Productions and Rutgers Greek Life go hand-in-hand. Since Hurricane's inception in 2005, they have been a part of the great events the Greek community creates.  From Sigma Chi's wildly successful Derby Days to the annual Greek awards; if there's a Greek life event at Rutgers, you can bet Hurricane is there behind the scenes.

And let's not forget Hurricane's specialty: Weddings

Hurricane's involvement with Rutgers University and its affiliates continues beyond graduation. After witnessing firsthand the quality of work Hurricane brings to the table, numerous graduates have only one vendor in mind for their weddings: Hurricane Productions.

Autumn wedding at Preakness Hills Country Club features professional photography and video from Hurricane Productions

pinterest wedding

Preakness Hills Country Club in Wayne, NJ is a classic wedding venue that hosts traditional, sophisticated events.

From the inside out, the facility is truly beautiful and unique. Vendor Hurricane Productions provides DJ entertainment, photography and video services for events at Preakness Hills Country Club.

Preakness Hills Country Club was Alyssa's dream wedding venue. She and Ryan, her fiance, fell in love with the look, the atmosphere and the food.

Ryan proposed to Alyssa at Rutgers Dance Marathon, an event that Hurricane Productions has been involved with for years. With the relationship already established, the newly engaged couple visited Hurricane to plan the details of the wedding.

Hurricane Productions provided DJ Entertainment, Hurricane Pulse and photography and video services for the wedding. Owners Vincent Velasquez and Strato Doumanis led the entertainment for the evening, providing a seamless experience for the couple.

With the hash tag #avrwedding, photos posted by guests through Hurricane Pulse instantly streamed to screens around the room.

Hurricane Productions photographers provided full day coverage for the couple. From bridal preparations to the last dance, each moment was captured by a team of professionals. Videographers documented the entire ceremony and created a full edit of the wedding as well as a highlight for the couple.

Hurricane Productions offers DJ Entertainment, design, photography and video services for weddings in New Jersey, New York, and throughout the East Coast. To find out more information please visit the website or call - 888.393.7066.

Top 25 Live Events of 2013

When people look at back at Hurricane's 2013, it'll be highlighted by expanding its reach across the northeast. Hurricane used the powerful tool of social media content and marketing to move into other markets.

A strategy that kicked off 2013 with a press conference that announced the company's expansion to Boston, Hurricane saw a boost in regional exposure.

Aside from the live events documented in this post, Hurricane owners/founders Strato Doumanis and Vincent Velasquez created consultation sessions with mid-sized businesses in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. The seminars used Hurricane Productions' marketing model in the private events platform to demonstrate how to grow brands online.

A majority of 2013's events featured unique hashtags that helped clients share moments via photos and videos on Instagram but also stream and print pics in real-time at each unique event.

Here's a look at the top 25 live events of 2013:

25. Christina and Shanna's Wedding

wedding-rutgers-gardens

When: June 1, 2013
Where: Rutgers Gardens - New Brunswick, NJ

The Story:
Christina and Shanna celebrated a wedding during a summer that rewrote a history in NJ that previously did not recognize same-sex marriages.

The couple chose the hashtag #cswed2013 which helped Hurricane collect over 200 photos from family and friends on Instagram. The pics streamed to a screen setup by the bar and printed as photo favors for guests.

Links:
#cswed2013 on Instagram
Recap Album on Facebook
Read reviews from brides and grooms on Wedding Wire

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Willy Wonka Sweet 16 at the Princeton Marriott

Princeton Marriott Sweet 16

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.

Hurricane offers special discounts for Rutgers alumni and staff.

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.

Oyster Point Hotel hosts pier-side summer wedding

PHOTO CREDIT / SARAH POSTMA PHOTOGRAPHY

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.

Photography for the event came courtesy of Sarah Postma Photography.

To have Hurricane Productions provide wedding entertainment, photography or videography for your event, visit their website or call 888.393.7066.

Loeb Boathouse Central Park Welcomes Phi Sigma Sigma's Centennial Celebration

Boathouse in Central Park

The Loeb Boathouse Central Park is not just for intimate dinners.

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.

Wedding at The Mansion on Main Street in Voorhees, NJ

rutgers-weddings-nj

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:

Photo Credit: Douglas Photographics

Rutgers Gardens weddings welcome same-sex couples

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 Shade Garden 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.

Hurricane's professional photographer David Costantini added his own playful spin in capturing all of the day's important moments.

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.

To find out more information on Hurricane Productions’ wedding entertainment, photography and video services, visit the website or call 888.393.7066.

15 Reasons Why Rutgers Dance Marathon is Awesome

#RUDM2017 Same-Day Edit of a record-breaking marathon

Thank you to everyone who helped us break records at #RUDM2017! Here is the Same-Day Edit video produced by Hurricane Productions.

Posted by Rutgers Dance Marathon on Sunday, April 2, 2017

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.

Rutgers DM students

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.

Student Organizations participate in Rutgers University Dance Marathon

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.

Rutgers Dance Marathon Student Dancers

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.

Magic 98.3 Radio-Thon

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.

Coach Kyle Flood Rutgers

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.

The verdict rutgers 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...

rutgers dance marathon ru4kids 3

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.

Family Hour Rutgers university dance marathon

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.

Rutgers University Dance Marathon the Families Embrace Kids Foundation

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.

Rutgers dance Marathon the Kids

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.
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