Blog entries

Presentation & PowerPoint Tips

Kate Gogolen — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In the a/v business we have seen every type of presenter. To help you present like a pro we have created a list of tips based from our experiences.

Presentation Tips:

- Speak clearly and louder than usual to help reduce feedback.
- Do not wear a cell phone if you are using a wireless microphone, it may cause interference.
- Ask where you should stand on stage.
- Do not use your hand shield stage lighting, if you have to interact with the audience ask for house lights to be raiseRead More...

Happy Holidays!

Kate Gogolen — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Letting our fans know how grateful we are to be part of your lives no matter how big or small. We are wishing you and your families a very happy holiday season. Enjoy the video, Little Drummer Boy is one of my favorite Christmas songs and it's all done LED lights. http://youtu.be/4Xa6msB00Ds

5 Ways You May Be Committing Social Media Suicide

Kate Gogolen — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:32:10 +0100

When social media was introduced to the world, naturally the marketing industry boomed. Social media created an entirely new platform that big companies and small entrepreneurs could use to reach their current and future clients. Marketing via social media is pretty simple and it’s easy to reach hundreds of people with just one click. But there are a few mistakes that you should avoid along the way. Are you making any of these common 5 mistakes? If so, it looks like you have some socialRead More...

Thanksgiving Party Tips

Kate Gogolen — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

The holiday season has arrived and people are planning gatherings for the season. If your home is like mine and it’s the center for this holiday feast it’s time to make your list and check them twice. To help relieve some of the stress planning your family Thanksgiving dinner and enjoy your time with them without being a slave to your kitchen, we have created a few tips that we hope will make the remaining week a little more relaxing.

What a way to start the beginning of fall than by traveling to Denver, CO to a Melting Pot Annual Reunion. We partnered with Jacobs’s Incentive for another meeting in the beautiful mountains of Colorado. It was held this year at the Omni Interlocken Resort in Broomfield, Co.

J. Thor Productions provided the audio video, and lighting needs for the 4 day event.

To help bring the mountain scenery inside, we Read More...

Shining Pink!

Kate Gogolen — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Today was an amazing day. Myself, mother in law and a friend woke up at the crack of dawn to walk the 5k Susan G Komen breast cancer walk at Vinoy Park with our children in tow. You could feel the beautiful cool fall weather we couldn't ask for better day. We slowly made our way to the starting line. If you have never been there or around that area this time if year, it is like no other time. Thousands of people come out for this event. Some are in the competitive running or the 5k running/waRead More...

8 Ways to Increase Hope

Kate Gogolen — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:07:43 +0100

Today's post has nothing to do with a/v or meeting planning. While clearing out an old folder I came across a sheet of paper I had written from an article I read. I forgot I even had it, it's been so long since I copied. But it had caught my eye a year or so ago, which is why I wrote it done, and it once again did. Everyone at some time in their life is looking for hope so I wanted to share these 8 ways this author had written. I do apologize not giving credit to the author but that part I diRead More...

No Labor on Labor Day

Kate Gogolen — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 23:14:43 +0100

Wikipedia: Labor day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday on September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.

Today the only event production we did was the events that were taken place at our homes. We spent our time with family and friends enjoying the beautiful Florida weather. We hope that you were able to spend your day same where ever you may be located. Take today to enjoy this day off with the ones you care about. If you havRead More...

Social Media Makes Event Promotion Easier

Kate Gogolen — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:04:53 +0100

Social Media Make Event Promotion Easier

By: Melissa Schraiber

Nothing has impacted promoters and event planners in recent years like social media. Once a tiresome and tedious specialty of marketers, event promotion is suddenly something anyone can do.

Whether one is a professional event planner, making their living by planning and executing multi-million dollar corporate event, or an average Jane trying to coordinate a party or a reunRead More...

The Gift of Giving Back

Kate Gogolen — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:05:48 +0100

As a company J. Thor Productions has always believed in giving back to the community. Over the years we have not only donated money but also our time and services to organizations that we hold dear to our hearts. Our general manager volunteers outside of the company with the Jr. League of St. Petersburg. These women help by volunteering and raising funds for local projects in St. Petersburg. We recently read an article about a company and how they reward their emploRead More...

Aveda "Gangs of New York'

Kate Gogolen — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 04:00:00 +0100

We just LOVE seeing our clients and events we were a part of in Bizbash. Last month we read Ronald McDonald and this month it was Aveda. A fun and exciting show every year. If you haven't been to hair show you don't know what you're missing. Besides that crazy hairstyles and color the energy you feel flowing the convention you don't find very often. When walking through a show like this your always looking up at all the amazing production that goes into making a vibrant and energized trade shRead More...

Join us in the fight against breast cancer

Kate Gogolen — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 04:00:00 +0100

For the last several years we have gotten together every October for the Susan G Komen breast cancer walk . This remarkable and memorable event takes place at Vinoy Park with the beautiful view of the bay. Please join us by waking with us. If you can't make it consider donating to the cause. In 2010 there were 207,090 new cases of invasive breast cancer, 39,840 deaths. Help with a cure. Join The Rack Pack team, our goal is to recruit 15 people to walk with us & help fight breast cancRead More...

Ronald McDonald House Charities Increases Gala Attendance by 20 Percent

Kate Gogolen — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 04:00:00 +0100

An article came out in Bizbash about the Ronald McDonald House charity ball that takes place every May. We have provided them lighting the last few years working with Gold Productions who produced this particular event. I'm glad I saw this article and to be able to share it with you. It's not only a great cause and I'm happy to see that it was a success and to be part of it is amazing but also because it shows that charity events can be successful even in times when budgets are down and peoplRead More...

Photos w/ guest speaker Aron Ralston

Kate Gogolen — Thu, 19 May 2011 04:00:00 +0100

We just wrapped up another event with a longtime client in Orlando. There quest speaker at this event was Aron Ralston. He was amazing speaker. He came on stage and everyone was stopped talking, you could hear a pin drop. For those of you who don't know who he is, he became widely known in 2003 when he was hiking in Utah and while moving through a canyon a boulder pinned his arm between the wall of the canyon. He was forced to amputate his right arm with a dull knife. To listen to him speak oRead More...

Venue Searching

Kate Gogolen — Thu, 19 May 2011 04:00:00 +0100

When planning event one of the 1st things you need to do is find a venue. This is sometime the most difficult parts of planning. Clients are looking for unique venues that work with their size audience, budget, and feel they are trying to portray. This does not mean that a hotel ballroom is always the fit. Now a days clients are not only looking at hotels and convention centers but are open to doing their events in restaurants, clubs, outdoors in parks and private homes. The list is endless tRead More...

New Sapphire Engagement Ring

Kate Gogolen — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 04:00:00 +0100

It is the buzz all around the world, today marks the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. With the world watching this beautiful event, brides are rethinking their choice of bridal rings. The sapphire ring that once belong to Princess Diana and has now been passed on to Kate Middleton is beginning to be the choice of stone for bridal rings. The ring has a single sapphire in the center with 14 rounds of diamonds set in 18k white gold.

Production of Harry Potter at Universal Studios

Kate Gogolen — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Enjoyed the article on the production of the Harry Potter ride at Universal Studios Florida. It looks amazing just from the pictures I've seen floating around the internet. There was a lot of challenges creating the World of Harry Potter but Tim Linamen and his lighting design team did excellent job with the lighting effects of the ride. With the right design and the use of lights and projections you can create anything. It's no wonder why they have been nominated for 2011 Excellence ARead More...

J. Thor Productions Expands

Kate Gogolen — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 02:26:59 +0100

We are pleased to say that we have outgrown our 8500 sq st. building and are beginning to expand an additional 1500 sq. ft within the building next to us. Friday, instead of tearing down shows we were tearing down walls and ceilings. We have blessed to have a great year and we owe it to all of you. Thank you!

Courageous Girls

Kate Gogolen — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 04:15:38 +0100

Tonight we had the honor to sponsor fully to Pediatric Cancer Foundation. This year's semi-annual Fashion for the Cure event was held at Neiman Marcus in International Mall. Guests enjoyed a fabulous selection of delicacies while Carson Kressley hostessed the event. These young courageous girls shopped and had make up done to make their debut on the runway. It was a celebration of strength.