I Love Palm Beach
I Love Palm Beach
Transforming Lives Through Music and Community: An Inside Look at Acoustics for a Cause with Dan Gittere
Ever felt the soothing power of music? Join us as we chat with Dan Gittere, the inspiring force behind Acoustics for a Cause, a nonprofit transforming lives in Palm Beach County through music. Dan opens up about his journey and mission to create inclusive, calming events for kids and the community. Plus, hear about his other ventures, like VSP Marketing Group, Tropical RV Adventures, and Stealth Re-Styling, which are pivotal in promoting the nonprofit's causes. Don't miss the inside scoop on "Speakeasy," an upcoming fundraising gala on November 2nd, packed with live music, a casino, a cigar bar, and a unique "jail cell" activity—all in support of the foster care system via Speak Up for Kids.
But that's not all! We also take you on a vibrant tour of West Palm Beach's community events, particularly the crowd-favorite "Wine Down Fridays." These monthly gatherings, running until October, offer free admission, eclectic local music, and themed atmospheres with special appearances like the 9-11 memorial fire truck. Whether you're dressing up or down, bringing the kids, or just looking to unwind, these events have something for everyone. Discover how local businesses, from luxury RV rentals to vehicle restyling services, are enhancing these community experiences. And for a fun twist, learn about the latest trend of branding golf carts with business logos and potential tax perks. Tune in for a heartwarming and entertaining episode that showcases the power of community and charity. See below to buy tickets, learn about sponsorships, or find out about other events. https://acousticsforacause.com/events/category/acoustics/
Hi everybody. This is Rebecca Giacoba, with I Love Palm Beach, and we have a guest here today, dan Gittery, and he's from a nonprofit called Acoustics for a Cause and it's kind of a special organization, but I'm going to let Dan tell us about it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, thank you yeah thank you for bringing me on the show. Yeah, so Acoustics for a Cause. It's exciting. This is our third year doing it here in Palm Beach County. Every year we have a laser focused on a charity where we raise awareness, raise funds and help the charity grow. This year, all our efforts are behind Speak Up for Kids to help the kids navigate and be successful within our foster care system here in Palm Beach County. So it's a local focus.
Speaker 1:I think we just did a little fundraiser with our board for Speak Up for Kids not too long ago.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they got a couple of great events going on.
Speaker 1:And I always love helping the kids. But let's go back to the history of acoustics for a cause, where it stemmed from. I believe you are vice president of a marketing firm and this was kind of a stem off of that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I own a couple of companies here in the area and VSP Marketing Group is one of them. We do marketing vehicle graphics, signage and things like that. And then we have another company, Tropical RV Adventures, Rent Out RVs, and another one called Stealth ReStyling that does tinting, PPF, all the fun things for your ride. Styling, that does tinting, PPF, all the fun things for your ride. But it's an avenue where we wanted to pull together as a company and give back. And we're, you know, obviously, with the marketing, the marketing behind us, we're able to kind of excel efforts, help promote charities and help build a foundation for a charity to kind of be seen more especially in front of the small business, medium and large business world.
Speaker 1:Well, that's wonderful. I love any kind of business that wants to give back and help out. So Acoustics for a Cause it has a musical implement to it, so I want to talk about that, because music is always fun for all of us.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, it's one of the main things that we put as a part of the program. No matter what we do, there's always music involved.
Speaker 1:Okay, and where did that stem from? Is that your background?
Speaker 2:It's originally for when Acoustics for a Cause was put together, the main focus has been always behind kids our future and into programming and efforts behind that. And some of the organizations they were involved with were autism organizations, organizations. And when you get into some of the needs that are in a community, a lot of them are on the kids. There's a lot of kids that are sensitive to loud music, sensitive to a lot of things. So the acoustical part, which you know, sometimes it kind of branches off. Music is a universal language and it helps calm a lot of individuals. So a lot of our programming has music involved and also all our programming. Everything that we do the first hour or so is always soft, nice music so people can network, talk and then kids aren't overwhelmed. So it's neat that it was kind of we, we brought it in and you know who doesn't want to listen to music too, and it's always live music okay.
Speaker 1:well, I'm going to share my screen and go to your website here. Um, let's see here where did it go? I had it pulled up. Of course, when I want to do something, it doesn't work right. Let's try it this way. Here we go, there we go. So this is their website Acoustics for a Cause. And you guys are having another fundraiser coming up, which is actually an event. It's a party, and it's going to be on November 2nd, and it's going to be on November 2nd and it is called Speakeasy this year. Tell us about the theme. We know who the proceeds are going to.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so we have a 10,000 square foot indoor studio over here in West Palm Beach and we transformed this space basically into just an off-the-wall epic event. Everything gets pulled out. We set up stages on the inside, lighting we even have one of the lighting designers from Universal Studios helping out with lighting design this year and then we're bringing in the Bay Kings band from Tampa Florida to come perform for this epic event, and it's limited to 350 individuals. So it's a really kind of nice size venue, nice size event. With that, we got a casino, that we're building a cigar bar, there's going to be food, drinks, caterings by Lily Catering and we got a lot of great things going on. We even have an RV village up front with a bonfire.
Speaker 2:So it's a lot of different immersive experiences. So if you don't like music, you can hang outside, if you love music, you can hang inside. If you want to come out have a cigar, go in a cigar lounge. So there's a lot of different immersive experiences that we've created to really keep the excitement going throughout the event, and there's actually gonna be some special drinks that are gonna be served at the event itself. And we're actually they have a jail cell there, so we got some individuals involved with the Sheriff's Department. That's gonna help do some maybe arrests within our event too and bring some money to bail your friends out.
Speaker 1:Okay, that's kind of cute. I remember there was an organization years ago and I had somebody show up to my office and tell me that I was under arrest and they put a little costume on me and I had to call my customers and friends. I forget what the organization was. They weren't going to let me out of these clothes and let me free until I raised a certain amount of money. So I guess it's something along those lines.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's fun. So there's going to be some. You know we're not going to release all the insights of what's going on over there, but it's going to be a real sheriff going around in real handcuffs and arresting people and there's a couple different ways. You can initiate that at our event itself, and it could be buying someone a special top secret drink. It could be doing some sort of code, a code word. So there's going to be a couple of different things that keep the excitement going. But you know, when you got a casino in a back room with you know, with some charity, charity gambling going on and amazing food, amazing entertainment, there's just going to be a lot of different things. You can. You can come showcase your own business and then also have a great time while supporting a great cause.
Speaker 1:Okay, well, speaking of showcasing your business, I'm coming to the event. I already bought four tickets, so I'm excited, but are there any sponsorship opportunities still available?
Speaker 2:Absolutely so. We publish a sponsorship book every single year and we distribute well over 3000 of these books throughout the entire year through networking events, businesses, business supporters. And for two hundred and fifty dollars, you can get a ticket to the event and then get your business card in this book. Then there's other levels you can. You can do a 500, a 750 level, 1500 level well, you'll you'll get a full page ad and it's a really good time to showcase your business while coming and attending the event and then doing something good in the community.
Speaker 2:But there's a lot of different ways you can participate. And if you don't want to be in our appreciation book that we send out over 3,000 of, even if you have gift baskets to donate with local restaurants, your own business, something that we can raffle off to raise additional funds at the event, those are the things that you can do to help. If you just want to participate, just go to our website, buy a ticket, show up, have a great time, and that's the easiest way to participate. Just go to our website, buy a ticket, show up, have a great time, and that's the easiest way to participate too.
Speaker 1:All right, so I'll probably get my team together and put together a basket for you. We'll get some local stuff and I'll just bring it over. I know you're going to send me the sponsorship link and I also found this on your website that I'm sharing with the people right now, yep, so I'll have the link in the notes for the podcast and this is what. These are some of the sponsorship levels that we're going through Yep.
Speaker 2:We released everything just a short few weeks ago and we have a couple of great opportunities the sponsor of the music, sponsor of the stage and then we have, you know, great opportunities the sponsor, the music, sponsor, the stage and then we have, you know, gold level, silver level, and then we have other sponsorships available and you know, in years past we've had all these categories filled up. But, believe it or not, the value, sponsorship for $250, even if you can't make the event, donate $250 and we'll make sure that you're seen at the event as a business professional or a small business owner.
Speaker 1:Okay, that sounds like a wonderful opportunity, and how many tickets are left? Do I have to get everybody riled up and get their tickets ASAP? I know I bought mine quite a while ago, so I wanted to make sure I got mine.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think we only have about. We've sold a lot of tickets already. I think we got about half left at this time Last year. Usually, I mean, we've been sold out. Every the last two years we've done this, we've been sold out every year. So I would encourage everyone to get their tickets now so you can make sure they can get a spot For the sponsorship levels. We're coming to a close in the next two to three weeks with the sponsorships to make sure that we can get you in our program and start getting those books distributed to all our business partners.
Speaker 1:Okay, and again, tell me where you guys are located. I knew you do more than this. Don't you do some other networking events during the year on a smaller scale?
Speaker 2:Yeah, and remind me exactly where you are, and Garden Road, so it's. Our exact address is 3608 East Industrial Way, suites 2 and 3 in West Palm Beach and we do a lot of our out of our studios over there. And then the last Friday of every month, going until October, we do something called a wind down, which is totally free to the public and it's from five till seven o'clock on Friday. So we have one coming up this Friday from five to seven, then we have one in September and then the last one in October and we have local music there. This week we have a duo coming in with ukulele and just kind of having fun and it's all utilizing local artists, local musicians, local food and they're all themed. So you know, last Friday of every month is our business wind down event.
Speaker 1:Okay, well, I'm going to try to stop by this Friday. I'm actually available, believe it or not. I know you reached out to me a couple other times, but I'm going to try to get over there. And again, I'm showing your website and I see you have it. Looks like you have some merchandise. I only see this one t-shirt right now, but I'm sure you'll be putting some stuff up after the event. And then here is something about the wind down Fridays.
Speaker 2:Yeah, if you click on the one in the lower left-hand corner, that's the August one that's coming up. Okay, maybe it's on the right corner on your screen, let's see. So yeah, friday, august. So this is one that we're doing this week, friday, so definitely.
Speaker 1:I see some lasagna on that one. Everything layered, we got some special guests.
Speaker 2:We have some special guests coming in this week Friday because, even though all our focuses behind speak up for kids, we have the privilege of actually having one of the memorial fire trucks from 9-11 is actually going to be yours at our wind down, and we're actually going to have some of the firefighters that were involved with that tragedy actually doing a stop in, doing a quick speech and introduce themselves. So we got some special guests coming in, so it's going to be a great time to listen, celebrate help with charity, but also kind of remember some of the things that happened in the past.
Speaker 1:Okay, well, that sounds wonderful. And then one final thing, because I'm a girl. This is what we always care about what do we wear to these events? First of all, the Wine Down Friday, and then the main event.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so the main event. We're going to be releasing kind of the fun dress code in the upcoming weeks, but it is going to be a speakeasy, so let your imagination kind of run with that. But we're going to send out some suggestions For our wind-down events. We have individuals showing up in flip-flops, the blouses, the formal attire. It's a wide range and it's just a great opportunity just to kind of celebrate and bring the community in. It's also, you know, a lot of families, especially on a Friday. Sometimes they have their kids. It's a family type event. There's non-alcoholic things available also. So at our event sometimes you'll see some dogs wandering around, wandering around some kids, and it's a great opportunity to kind of sit back, relax. Learn more about the event.
Speaker 1:but you know, network and grow your business, okay. Well, anything else that you would like to tell us about any of your other businesses and, of course, the charity, because this is all about lifestyle in Palm Beach County. So anything that you'd like to share, maybe marketing trends or you know camper rentals, what people are doing with that.
Speaker 2:Yes, well, you know it's like we have a couple of companies and you mentioned camper rentals. So a lot of the coinage at the coin term that's used out there is glamping. So you know, especially here in Palm Beach County, things do. We have a lot of luxurious RVs and people take them just for a weekend. They're using it just to travel to their cottage, they're using it to have a beach weekend experience and some of them just want to experience, you know, some other things within the outdoors itself. So you know, with you know, getting out there experiencing things, things to do in Palm, palm beach county, definitely the uh. You know heading out with one of our v rentals which, um, we would, it's generously.
Speaker 2:You know that's how the company is donating it a lot to acoustics for a cause to help it get off the ground. And then you know you gotta. You know you got a nice ride out there. You need some paint protection film, you want to get some ceramic coating, you want to change color with the wrap. Definitely, stealth restyling is the way to go. But you know we're here in the community, we're here supporting it. Everything we do business-wise, we do, you know, acoustics for a cause, for the give back, and want to bring the public and business community together to celebrate, do good in the community but also have fun. Okay, good.
Speaker 1:So I want to talk to you about getting my community but also have fun, okay, good. So I want to talk to you about getting my golf cart covered with my business. I haven't seen a lot of people doing that with their carts yet, so I want to get them done, you can be a trendsetter. I'm going to be the trendsetter.
Speaker 2:Get your logo on everything, anything that you can do, and if your tax accountant says so too, it could be a could possibly be a good write-off also.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't see why that can't be a write-off right.
Speaker 2:So don't, yeah, just you know, bring some style, bring some logos, and you know anything you can do to promote your business. You know visual marketing's the biggest, biggest thing. And you know same thing with vehicle wraps. Which we do a lot of is getting your logo on golf carts, getting it on motorcycles, get it on a box truck, get it on your personal car, get your name out there so you can be seen Absolutely.
Speaker 1:Well, dan, again, it was a real pleasure speaking with you today. I am going to see you Friday for sure. Yep, we'll see, absolutely.
Speaker 2:Looking forward to seeing you Friday. For sure, yep, we'll see. Absolutely Looking forward to seeing you Friday. And acousticsforacausecom, you can find all our information to buy tickets, sponsorship, and then also pop over Friday.
Speaker 1:Okay, sounds good. Well, everybody, thank you for listening to. I Love Palm Beach, and if you need anything else from Dan and can't reach him, please reach out to us. Have a wonderful day, Thank you.