diversity programming | Neon Entertainment

The Importance of Cultural Diversity in College Entertainment Booking

January 4, 2023

Hello and welcome back to the Hot Mic Blog here at Neon Entertainment! Today, we wanted to take some time to talk about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the importance of cultural diversity in entertainment booking. Here at Neon, we provide an assortment of speakers and programs that speak on the knowledge of equity and are committed to building diverse and inclusive communities in our universities, corporations, and the world. Our entertainers seek to promote … Continued

Native American Heritage Month

August 29, 2022

By Scott Talarico

November is a month to celebrate the history, traditions and cultures of Native American people and to acknowledge the impact that they have made and continue to make on this country. This is a great time to educate students on tribes, to raise an awareness about the challenges Native people have endured both in the past and in the present and they ways that these challenges have been endured and persevered.

Recipe For Resilience

June 20, 2022

By Scott Talarico

“Deep down in the water black sons and daughter All bounced back” The recipe for resilience Is a knock down Followed by a bounce back Newsflash that’s also the recipe for being black We cannot sugar coat the bitter truth of a nation: The setback of slavery setup emancipation Juneteenth is now a celebration

Bazooka Ball

“Yes, last-minute we had to change location due to their being confusion with reservations, facilities, and the campus police. It ended up working out though as the change of location ended up being better for Jay and the setup with electricity being right there and not having to be setup. Those who played seemed to thoroughly enjoy the game, and we want to thank you for all of your help and assistance through the booking process. We look forward to continuing working with you throughout the rest of this semester and those to come. “

— Paige, East Stroudsburg University

Casino Night

“I would like to extend our deepest thanks for working with us to make this event a success! It was incredible to witness the joy on our students’ faces as they won it all or laughter if they lost it all. I am profoundly grateful for how flexible and accommodating you have been with the entire process and how willing you were to meet our needs. Casino day went over quite well from start to finish, the folks that set it up were incredible and really easy to work with.”

— Fran, SUNY Plattsburgh

Will Jay

“Everything was wonderful with Will Jay. He was easy to work with during the event and our students truly loved having him – I have already received requests to bring him to campus when we are allowed to do face to face events again. Here is what one person text me after the event, “I hope you can tell Will Jay how powerful it was, I’m talking to so many people about it and they all loved it and were touched by his songs and words”. There were multiple messages in the chat during the event last night talking about how amazing his lyrics were, his voice, most importantly students were able to relate in to the messages he was talking and singing about. I think Will Jay has a new fan base here at CMU and they are going to consume the music he has out now – and are eagerly anticipating what he has in store.”

— Wade, Central Michigan University

Shanice Green

“Shanice [Green] was so nice and welcoming, our students enjoyed her performance! We ran the event in a way where students acted as Shanice’s opener…When Shanice was on stage, she encouraged the students to participate in a “jam session” with her. At one point in time, there was a student with a ukelele, one on the piano, another with a flute, and another with a clarinet all playing along with her on stage… Basically, the students in attendance really enjoyed themselves.”

— Ruth Ann Roberts, Holy Family University

Andy Gold

“In planning a Retreat for medical professionals in recovery, we came across a YouTube video of Andy Gold. When we stopped laughing he was hired. Andy not only tailored his performance to be specific to the group, he also humbled himself to spend time with everyone in an AA meeting and overall fellowship. He was hysterically funny sharing personal experiences and life situations! Everyone loved him with a request to even have him return! He is worth his weight in gold and ended up being an inspiration to those who attended. If you are looking for a funny comedian who is real, he’s your guy. “

— Carolyn Westgate, Program Director, Professionals’ Health Program Kansas Medical Society

Maximize Your Buzz

“You [Max Buzz] made an impact on my decisions. That night I planned to go to a birthday party, and I was excited to drink with all my friends. However, after going to the program, I didn’t want to drink anymore. I just wanted to hang out with my friends, and remember the night rather than waking up the next morning wondering how I got home. So I know you don’t know me personally, but I thought you should know that you made a difference.”

— Brittney Gilman, University of New Hampshire, Student

Zero Shades

“You made an instant connection with the audience and delivered difficult content in a manner that was relatable and not preachy. What I appreciate about the program [Zero Shades] is that it cuts through the “clutter” of Title IX, VAWA, Cleary, etc. and provides the audience with a clear message… Feedback from students was positive and appreciative of both the information and the manner in which it was delivered. Thanks so much for being such a great educational partner!”

— Chris Jachimowicz, Millersville University

The College Game Show

“As a small school we’re always looking for events with big impact that fit our small budget. We “lucked” into the Amazing Game Show… The students loved the games, and the trivia questions were perfect for our college students. The games ran quickly and due to some questions where the students could bet as much (or as little) as they wanted, nobody was ever out of the game until the last question. …I know this will be a main stay for our campus for years to come. ”

— Dennis McNaboe, Salem International University

Brian Ledbetter

“During a time when first year students are uneasy about making friends, adjusting to college, and getting to know each other; Brian [Ledbetter] was able to bring them together through illusions! Students were consistently asking where to finding the roving mentalist at our Create your Own Adventure Event during Welcome Week at Temple University, and they were not disappointed when they found him. We could not have asked for a better addition to our event than Brian!”

— Mat Greer, Temple University