The Signal Podcast by RocketRez

Signal Logo

Your pulse on what's happening in tours and attractions—the podcast and newsletter guiding industry leaders.

Podcast available on:
Listen on Apple Podcasts logoSpotify logolListen on Amazon music logo

About Podcast

Signal cuts through the noise, delivering candid conversations on what truly works (and what doesn't) in today's attraction industry.
Together, John and Tim combine founder-level vision with hands-on operational expertise.

Their balanced dialogue, along with insights from expert guests, equips attractions leaders to navigate the future with confidence.
John Pendergrast headshot
Co-Host

John Pendergrast

As the Founder and CEO of RocketRez, John started the company driven by a passion for solving real operational challenges in the industry . For over 23 years, he has worked shoulder-to-shoulder with operators, seeing firsthand the industry’s evolution from gut-feel decisions to data-driven strategy . John offers practical wisdom that connects technological innovation with the real-world challenges of scaling a modern attraction.
Continue Reading
Tim Samson headshot
Co-Host

Tim Samson

As Head of Product at RocketRez, Tim brings decades of operator experience to the conversation. His 27-year career began on the front lines at Cedar Point and evolved into leadership at Morey's Piers, where mentorship from Jack Morey shaped his relentless focus on the guest experience. He provides the on-the-ground realism and strategic foresight that operators need, connecting timeless industry principles with the technology of tomorrow .
Continue Reading
What Four Decades of Serving Waterparks Teaches You About Listening to Customers
Season 2 · Episode 2
What Four Decades of Serving Waterparks Teaches You About Listening to Customers

How do you become a trusted name in the waterpark world and stay one for nearly 40 years? Paula, George, and Haley are the family behind Water Safety Products, whose lifeguard suits, rescue tubes, and breakaway lanyards are used at parks in more than 30 countries. They join John and Tim to share:

  • How to tell a one-off customer request from a need the whole industry has
  • Why a new product takes about two years to make it into park budgets
  • How long-standing relationships survived the industry's shift to corporate ownership
  • Why waterparks are still "the industry that hugs"
The Easy Money Waterparks Are Still Leaving on the Table
Season 2 · Episode 1
The Easy Money Waterparks Are Still Leaving on the Table

Why are so many waterparks still missing out on revenue they could easily capture? Kari Manev started as a lifeguard, became a waterpark director of operations, and has since worked in revenue management and founded Attraxion.ai. She joins John and Tim to explain:

  • Why open-date tickets should cost more
  • How one park moved from variable to dynamic pricing and is already beating its best year by 11%
  • Why cart abandonment might be the fastest revenue win on your list
  • What advance purchase does behind the scenes: better forecasts, smarter staffing, and no more running out of chicken tenders at 2 p.m.
Pricing Science, Walk-Up Revenue, and Why Attractions Undersell Themselves with Harry Tomasides & Tom Chiarella of Digonex
Season 1 · Episode 8
Pricing Science, Walk-Up Revenue, and Why Attractions Undersell Themselves with Harry Tomasides & Tom Chiarella of Digonex

What's the difference between rules-based pricing and true dynamic pricing—and why does it matter for your bottom line? Harry Tomasides and Tom Chiarella from Digonex join John and Tim to break down what pricing science actually looks like in practice, why walk-up pricing is leaving money on the table, and how attractions can stop underselling themselves while still creating value for guests.

Activating Guest Data for Attractions with the RFM Framework with TJ Christensen, CEO & Founding Partner of BlueGator
Season 1 · Episode 7
Activating Guest Data for Attractions with the RFM Framework with TJ Christensen, CEO & Founding Partner of BlueGator

How do you turn a mountain of guest data into insights you can actually act on? TJ Christensen—CEO of BlueGator and veteran of Disney, Wyndham, and Accesso—joins John and Tim to break down RFM (recency, frequency, monetary) scoring, why your ticketing system isn't a CRM, and how to turn data chaos into actionable guest segments that actually drive behavior.

RocketRez is built for growing and established attractions who are looking to manage their business operations in one comprehensive platform.

Book a demo to learn more about:

  • Operations and revenue management with ticketing, memberships, inventory, food and beverage, and retail
  • Robust business reporting with Insights and PowerBI
  • World-class guest experiences through Relay and communication tools
  • Integrations and partnerships with OTAs, payment processors, ad networks, and more