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Making the next step in the PA biz... Let's hear your thoughts
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<blockquote data-quote="Steve Milner" data-source="post: 73797" data-attributes="member: 9"><p>Re: Making the next step in the PA biz... Let's hear your thoughts</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>+1 ... Just about 12 months ago, I made the decision to stop being a guy with a truck full of gear. I was booking gigs successfully, had a 14' box truck full of gear that could handle most any daily situation and rented in for bigger events. I was at the point where I could do one of three things, continue on un-changed and see what happened, try to make another round of capital investments work by "moving up" in terms of what gear I owned, or chuck it all away and concentrate on what I do best. I felt completely trapped by the day to day workings of owning and maintaining the physical gear (I couldn't take walk-on or fly-in dates easily, as I was leaving the system unused if it was on short notice... and when I got busy with bigger shows, running around to constantly pickup and return rental gear was killing me time wise). </p><p></p><p> It took a LOT of hard consideration to realize two things; I wanted to spend more time thinking about audio and less time thinking about logistics in the future, and two, booking gigs and successfully delivering top quality results is profitable, spending my personal time driving trucks and dealing with logistics is not the most profitable use of my skills. So, I got rid of almost everything, kept a few key pieces of gear and haven't looked back since.</p><p> </p><p> I could have gone the other way, found an investor, found a warehouse, found a staff that I can trust etc etc. But I've started/built a business before from the ground up before selling it on, and I personally just didn't want to invest that much of myself into a project like that at this point in my life. The idea I took forward is simply to hire everything in now a days. It actually works out in my favor, because it takes less time and money to have another company show up with exactly what I need, when I need it. I'm no longer trying to supplement my rig with their bigger gear, I'm no longer worrying about driving a truck, finding helpers, maintaining/insuring my gear etc. </p><p></p><p> I get to concentrate on doing what I do and enjoy most, while guys who are really good at the logistics get to have their crews handle that. When I load into a show, I can spend more attention on the bigger picture too, more time interfacing with clients and potential clients, and less time screwing around and getting stressed out about things like trying to park my box-truck in the city 10 mins before showtime. It's been a really great way forward for me, I'm happier, and business is starting to grow in new directions because people are calling me now for my skills and not just for my gear. </p><p></p><p> I know you're local Evan, and I know you are friendly with a lot of really talented people in the area, which should leave you in a great position to leverage their investment in building (big) gear-based business, to bring both you and them loads of profitable work. Just a thought for you going forward. </p><p></p><p> Steve (gear ain't all it's cracked up to be) Milner.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Steve Milner, post: 73797, member: 9"] Re: Making the next step in the PA biz... Let's hear your thoughts +1 ... Just about 12 months ago, I made the decision to stop being a guy with a truck full of gear. I was booking gigs successfully, had a 14' box truck full of gear that could handle most any daily situation and rented in for bigger events. I was at the point where I could do one of three things, continue on un-changed and see what happened, try to make another round of capital investments work by "moving up" in terms of what gear I owned, or chuck it all away and concentrate on what I do best. I felt completely trapped by the day to day workings of owning and maintaining the physical gear (I couldn't take walk-on or fly-in dates easily, as I was leaving the system unused if it was on short notice... and when I got busy with bigger shows, running around to constantly pickup and return rental gear was killing me time wise). It took a LOT of hard consideration to realize two things; I wanted to spend more time thinking about audio and less time thinking about logistics in the future, and two, booking gigs and successfully delivering top quality results is profitable, spending my personal time driving trucks and dealing with logistics is not the most profitable use of my skills. So, I got rid of almost everything, kept a few key pieces of gear and haven't looked back since. I could have gone the other way, found an investor, found a warehouse, found a staff that I can trust etc etc. But I've started/built a business before from the ground up before selling it on, and I personally just didn't want to invest that much of myself into a project like that at this point in my life. The idea I took forward is simply to hire everything in now a days. It actually works out in my favor, because it takes less time and money to have another company show up with exactly what I need, when I need it. I'm no longer trying to supplement my rig with their bigger gear, I'm no longer worrying about driving a truck, finding helpers, maintaining/insuring my gear etc. I get to concentrate on doing what I do and enjoy most, while guys who are really good at the logistics get to have their crews handle that. When I load into a show, I can spend more attention on the bigger picture too, more time interfacing with clients and potential clients, and less time screwing around and getting stressed out about things like trying to park my box-truck in the city 10 mins before showtime. It's been a really great way forward for me, I'm happier, and business is starting to grow in new directions because people are calling me now for my skills and not just for my gear. I know you're local Evan, and I know you are friendly with a lot of really talented people in the area, which should leave you in a great position to leverage their investment in building (big) gear-based business, to bring both you and them loads of profitable work. Just a thought for you going forward. Steve (gear ain't all it's cracked up to be) Milner. [/QUOTE]
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