Pro Audio Sales

Re: Pro Audio Sales

Josh Millward said:
You might want to consider going to work for an established Manufacturer's Representative firm. This is an independent rep firm who represents different product manufacturers to a customer base. They basically serve as a local point of contact for dealers and occasionally work with end users who are experiencing problems. I know there are some reps around your area. You should look into the brands you are interested and see who reps them in your area.
Click to expand...


How would I find the ones for Midas? Thats the one I want to deal/work for the most. Do they list it on the website or what?
 
Re: Pro Audio Sales

JP Huff said:
How would I find the ones for Midas? Thats the one I want to deal/work for the most. Do they list it on the website or what?
Click to expand...

Worked in audio since the '80s. I have never sold a Midas Console. What makes you think you could make money selling them? I can make more money selling a hand full of microphone cables than by selling a mixing console. Takes less space, less investment, more repeat sales. Trying to figure out your fixation with wanting to sell Midas Consoles. It's such a tiny part of pro audio sales.
 
Re: Pro Audio Sales

Josh Millward said:
You might want to consider going to work for an established Manufacturer's Representative firm. This is an independent rep firm who represents different product manufacturers to a customer base. They basically serve as a local point of contact for dealers and occasionally work with end users who are experiencing problems. I know there are some reps around your area. You should look into the brands you are interested and see who reps them in your area.
Click to expand...
That is a good idea. it would give a perspective from a couple of different "angles".

Both from the distributer standpoint and the dealer. The rep firms deal with several different types of customers-both music stores-contractors and sound companies.

A lot can be learned from working for others.

If one jumps into something-without have an idea of how it works-how to run a business-what to sell and so forth-why people would want to buy from them etc-then it is not much of a good chance for success.
 
Re: Pro Audio Sales

This is an interesting topic and one I have thought about myself. I looked into a few representative firms briefly but never followed through. I have enough going on now to keep me busy.
I would also like to plug Silas who commented earlier on being a dealer. I have purchased some small bits of his used inventory and done orders direct for misc parts. He has often beat internet pricing and its cool to support someone on here.
 
Re: Pro Audio Sales

I've got a shop that I work with in St. Paul (you know who) because I've built a relationship with them over the last 20 years or so. If they aren't selling it, it probably isn't worth your effort to sell it either. The demand is probably to small to make a profit. I've had them special order things for me when I really wanted it as it seems they can get anything at a competitive price. Say I wanted a Midas board. You may have it in stock but they can get it quickly and they've been covering both my needs and whims with great customer service for years. Where do you think I'll go?
Tough business, low margins, picky customers, shady operators who own to rent and return, Amazon, GC, SW, FC... gee, sounds like fun. Customer service, in house repairs, returns... all that takes time for no profit. Again, fun.
 
Re: Pro Audio Sales

Some of the yearly minimums are hard to manage too. You're expected to move $X per year but the manufacturer keeps coming out with more and more budget equipment. So it's low margin AND slower to get your yearly minimum selling these budget items that catch your potential customers' eyes. Then, since it is so cheap, rather than shop around and ask questions they just order it from Amazon or a trip to Ukulele Center.

Even worse, they call you and ask a ton of questions and then STILL go buy it (or something else similar) from Ukulele Center.
 
Re: Pro Audio Sales

JP Huff said:
None yet haha but Im trying to get in with helping some schools with installs or uping their gear.
Click to expand...

To test the waters of installs and system upgrades find a equipment supplier / dealer or two that can offer you some good prices on what you need. You can still make some on the equipment, charge a market hourly rate for your service on site and see how that goes for a while.

As far as school systems systems and equipment goes sometimes it better to for go the latest greatest cutting edge equipment and look at what can take day in day out use and not the best of care!
 
Last edited:
Re: Pro Audio Sales

JP Huff said:
Im trying to get in with helping some schools with installs or uping their gear.
Click to expand...
Schools don't often buy equipment direct (and very few buy Midas------------).

Rather they hire a company to do the install and provide the gear. If the school buys the gear-then THEY are responsible for hooking it up and getting it working. Most schools do not have a person who is technical enough for that.

Most install companies (except the "trunk slammers") have a direct relationship with the manufacturers-so they would not be buying through a "middle man" who just wants a piece of the pie.

So you need to think a bit harder about who your potential customers might be.

Then you need to figure out how to contact them and get them to buy from you-instead of "Joe" down the street. What makes you special or different? If you want to succeed you need to "stand out" a little bit and be different.

And if you think that price is it-consider the low margins already being talked about. ANd how are you going to compete with people who get large order discount pricing-especially if you don't want to have anything in stock.

I know a lot of times I will buy from people who have it in stock and can ship the same or next day-because I need it now. Do not always count on the manufacturers to have gear ready to ship-especially the larger ticket items.

Install companies plan often months or years in advance-so they have plenty of time. The "weekend warrior" who has a gig TONIGHT-needs the gear NOW.

Are you planning on a store front-or just an internet presence? How will people find out about you?

Just some things to think about.
 
Re: Pro Audio Sales

JP Huff said:
None yet haha but Im trying to get in with helping some schools with installs or uping their gear.
Click to expand...


You have the enthusiasm of youth and dreams of glory, but you can't spell or use proper punctuation. If you're going to deal with schools, I'd recommend you learn.
 

Attachments

  • dreams.jpg
    dreams.jpg
    11.2 KB · Views: 0
Re: Pro Audio Sales

JP Huff said:
So do dealers get hurt by things like Guitar Center and Musicians Friends and what not because of the price? Example: if someone needs X for a show but its too expensive and they would rather go to a "store" like guitar center and settle for Z when they could go to a company and get exactly what they need.
Click to expand...

So what is "exactly what they need", though? The salesdude at GC can make deals, get big pieces, etc. We've even seen the big boxes like that selling cheaper than allowed by the dealer agreement.

In our case it's the support and the reputation. If you don't have a repair tech in-house (could be you for a very small company) then how are you better than the big box? Can you send a tech with a big toolbox and experience working on those products? In a real pinch can you provide a same-day replacement console? This may be why it seems to work out OK for rental/show companies to be dealers as well.
 
Re: Pro Audio Sales

To piggy back on the whole school thing: it's not as much that the equipment won't be cared for. Even though it gets abuse, from my experience I think that it's no worse off than being stuck in a lower-mid level club. The hard part is that usually, the people teaching many programs are actors and have no idea how to use the console, so you'll have to be willing to do trainings on whatever you supply. On the bright side, you'll learn your gear faster than you'd ever imagine.
 
Last edited:
Re: Pro Audio Sales

Max Warasila said:
To piggy back on the whole school thing: it's not as much that the equipment won't be cared for. Even though it gets abuse, from my experience I think that it's no worse off than being stuck in a lower-mid level club. The hard part is that usually, the people teaching many programs are actors and have no idea how to use the console, so you'll have to be willing to do trainings on whatever you supply. On the bright side, you'll learn your gear faster than you'd ever imagine.
Click to expand...
It is tyhpically the installer who is tasked with training and support on the system. Not the guy who "passes it through" and just sells it.

They have no idea which aux goes where-for what purpose-channel layout and so forth.

There is a clear-and sometimes muddy-distinction on where the liability lies.

Many people getting into installs assume they can install the gear-cash the check and walk away. They forget about all the initial support (training-first usages etc) and the ongoing support-"hey the mic in channel 3 does not work-come fix it". Is it the mic? The cable? The floor jack? the snake? the console? or some operation of any of the above?

If the system is under warranty (the SYSTEM does have a warranty-right? Not just the gear) it should be fixed for free. That time has to be accounted for in a profit analysis.

And if it is (for example)the console-then whose responsibility is it to return it for repair? Does the person who sold it (be it GC or some "middle man") have to come to the job site (how far away is that)-pick up the console-return to the shop-box it up and ship it away (or take it somewhere) and do the same when it is fixed.

Or does the customer have to figure it out on their own (and they may not know how to figure it out-------) and deal with it themselves? Getting mad at the person who sold it to them.

Sure-the manufacturer will fix it-ONCE it is at their facility-but it is not their responsibility to get it to the facility.

Not trying to be a jerk here-just pointing out what happens in the real world of installs. As long as everything works fine-no problem-but when it doesn't (which is a good bit), it can be a pain and it is going to cost somebody something-just who is the question.
 
Re: Pro Audio Sales

... and on a warrantied install they are going to expect a free loaner while something is sent off for repairs. Seem like that can take months these days on some brands :( .
 
Top Bottom