There will come a day when business students will learn about 20th century entrepreneurs and the odds are high that every case study they read will start with the phrase, “It all started in a garage.”
The story of Proshow Systems begins 20 years ago in Memphis, Tenn. — in a garage, of course.
The duo of Jody Bear and Andy Mayhall had purchased a PA starter’s kit and were booking gigs with bands that were playing in bars across Memphis. As their reputation grew, Bear and Mayhall began collecting new gear as well as some personnel that have been with them for years. And, yes, they eventually moved out of the garage.
Success Follows Hard Work
While still servicing the local music scene, Bear and Mayhall started to make their pitch to provide sound services for corporate shows as well as local music festivals. Success followed hard work and the company continued to build its name in the local area, eventually adding lighting and crewing services to the capabilities list.
In 2006, Proshow Systems purchased Affordable Sound and Lighting in Birmingham, Ala. to expand its services as well as service area. These days the company offers sound, lighting, backline and crewing services from Tennessee down to Florida, across to Alabama.
Much of their work comes from the vast festival circuit in the south, including The Blues Ball in Memphis, City Stages in Birmingham, Bayfest in Mobile and SpringFest in Pensacola. Proshow also supplies gear whenever soul singer Frankie Beverly is touring through the region and has just got back a pair of Midas XL3s that were on tour with country singer Chris Cagle.
After stocking a variety of boxes from Clair Brothers (R4s) and Apogee (3X3), Proshow invested in a host of JBL VerTec boxes, including 32 VT4888 boxes and 16 VT4880A subs. While that rig satisfies their current needs, according to the director of purchasing and sales manager Michael Faber, there is thought of purchasing a 4889 rig this year. “We have more demand for line arrays now than we did before,” he says. “Now that we have one, we can use two.”
The company also boasts consoles including a pair of Midas h3000s, five Yamaha PM 4000s, two PM5Ds, a Yamaha M7CL as well as some smaller Venice and Mix Wizards that are used for smaller corporate gigs and the XL3s that were just returned.
Proshow stocks a standard list of outboard gear, including Dolby Lake and dbx 4800s for DSP and drive for control, dbx 160s, Summit tube compressors and effects from TC and Lexicon.
Beyond audio, Proshow has recently made additional investments in lighting and video. It is a way to provide another service, Faber allows, as well as add to the bottom line. “Lighting is a profit center now,” he says. “It’s not as good as video, so we just bought a video rig to get more corporate work.”
Back Row (L to R): Ryan Hodge, Lighting Designer; Cory Likens, Audio Engineer; Michael Faber, Sales and Purchasing; Jody Bear, Co-Owner; Andy Mayhall, Co-Owner; Brendan Hines, Senior Audio Engineer and Operation Manager; Jackie Likens, Administrative; Adam Edmonds, Audio Enginneer and Shop Supervisor. Front Row (L to R): Dan Houston, Lead Installer; Jeff Impey, Install Project Manager and Lead Designer; Chris Wade, Business Operations; Jason Baker, Audio Engineer and Crew Steward.
Refusing to Participate
Faber reports the company is looking to add more rental inventory, but he is keeping an eye on the economy. “I am concerned, of course, but no so concerned that I don’t understand that typically over the last 50 years entertainment has still been okay even in a down economy,” he reports. “We’re also refusing to participate. My attitude is, ‘Come on, let’s go. We’re still doing what we do. We’ll make it.’ I’m trying to goad everyone else into it.”
One of the ways that Proshow has been able to ease the bottom line during the slow season as well as boost optimism for the future is to concentrate on its install business. In fact, Faber reports the company has completed a handful of jobs in local casinos where they have installed background music systems and PAs in showrooms.
The move into installs started after the company received a call from the folks over at the Horseshoe in Tunica, Miss. “They had to do the Bluesville showroom, which was a huge job,” Faber reports. “It’s the premier showroom in that area, so we started getting a lot of calls.”
Of course, just because a company gets the call does not mean it will be successful, but Proshow’s history proves their reputation is warranted. “I think the key is absolute supreme service,” Faber says. “You have to be willing to bend over backwards. When my casino client calls he knows exactly what he’s going to get, who he’s going to get every time, because it’s consistent. He also knows that if he says, ‘Hey, I need a little bit extra this time,’ that we’re going to do it. We have very loyal clients who are comfortable with the way that we do business and know that if we have any kind of complaint at all, we’re there.”
The install business has been such a boom for the Memphis office that Faber is planning to expand that approach into Birmingham. “Our install division hasn’t gotten there yet,” he says. “I have a couple of major installs that are going to take me into August, but after that I’m going to start paying attention to Birmingham.”
He will be bringing Proshow’s track record of success, as well as the company’s service–first philosophy. “I want people to know that there are still companies that operate with the ultimate integrity who understand that service is of prime importance in this business,” he says. “We have a couple hundred years of experience here between all the guys. We’re all career guys here. This is what we picked for our life job. We’re not going anywhere.”
