How exactly did we get here...

Like most things in life, it seems like a simple conversation. My friend Mike and I were doing a very Canadian summer thing, having a beer on a cottage patio overlooking a lake. Mike and I were celebrating with our friend Matt. Matt had organized a successful charity event in which Mike’s band had played and I had provided lighting production. 

When the topic of the ‘next thing’ came up, Mike said, he'd love to shoot a music video. To which I said, “Do it with me! I’ll provide the lighting and space!” Seriously, could I not think that one through???

Within weeks I had made arrangements to move from my current storage area to a larger one in the same property. We now had a 2,000 sq. ft. room to build. Over the next months, we built a catwalk to support and provide access to the lighting systems, we assembled a stage area that was over 900 sq. ft. and we blacked out the ceiling. We were done! 

Well, not really… We were just getting going, the project had taken on a life of its own. 

Next, we purchased stage flooring and dance floor tiles for the stage area which allows different looks for the performers. We acquired hundreds of feet of trussing that will raise up and down which can be configured in multiple ways. We also purchased multiple draping types to allow the stage area to have different looks. 

Once we completed the room, we purchased lighting, lasers, hazers, foggers, geysers, additional staging, miles of cables, control systems, hoists, clamps, pipes, tools, the list now seems endless. Somehow, we did it. We created a Sound Stage! Now we were ready, let’s create! In a heartbeat the world shut down with COVID. It would be over a year during which facility stood empty but ready to go. 

We now seem to be on the other side of the pandemic and the future looks bright again. Building this sound stage was our dream and passion. I sincerely hope that using it will be yours. 

I’d be remiss if I didn’t say thank you to Mike, Ernie, Bona, Kerwin, Greg, Chris, Joel and of course my dad, Jack, for countless hours of work. Without your support this vision would never be realized. 

Rob 

P.S. Did Mike’s band ever shoot the music video? Check out the links to Hair Force One – he’s the guy in the spandex.