Regional Slants

And gets on the road to success. . .

A country singer, a tour bus and a new town were the ingredients of success for Mike Borne, who arrived in Nashville in 1979 after being hired to handle the FOH responsibilities for country singer T.G. Sheppard. Five years and 13 number one hits later, Borne decided that it was time to start his own company and get off the road. Thus, Allstar Audio Systems Inc. was born. 

Brad Higbee and Company prove there’s more to Idaho than potatoes.

So many successful business stories start with the line, “I was asked to…” that it should almost be considered a cliché. So when Voltstar Productions president Brad Higbee reports that he got his start when someone asked for sound and lighting help, it’s not a shocker.

Mike Goodreau deals a hot hand of audio

Mike Goodreau began his “life in sound” as a drummer, and he was also the guy smart enough to acquire the P.A. for his fledgling rock band. That happy circumstance put him on the path to a thriving career as a sound company owner and mix engineer who’s served hundreds of events over the past 20-plus years.

You’d think that a major metropolitan area like Chicago, with its 11 million or so citizens, would have dozens and dozens of sound companies ready to service the city’s music venues and industry events. Yet, according to T.C. Furlong, who started the sound company that bears his name nearly 35 years ago, there are only eight companies working in the Windy City.

From Its Start as a High School Obsession 20 Years Ago, Pacific West Sound Has Remained Passionate About Audio

[Starting this month, we put a new twist on Regional Slants. This piece will now focus on a different regional soundco every month, giving you an idea of what it's like for the mid-level crew. They'll share their stories, their hard-won wisdom and their plans for the future. Know a regional soundco who's a Hometown Hero we should focus on? Send us a line at hometownheroes@fohonline.com. And never fear, we have a new home all lined up for the frustrations and rants that used to fill this space — stay tuned for news on that. �ed.]