As part of our anniversary year, we’re looking back on some of our firsts, which got us thinking about our first events. While that’s what we’re known for now, event production wasn’t how we started. Way back at the beginning, we were a small business selling slide projectors, small sound systems, and Bell & Howell film projectors. What really got us on the road to the company we are today was the growth we made in the 80s, going from the rental and setup of simple systems to complex and sophisticated event setups as technology evolved.
In 1982, Bartha hired Dan Bashore in the shipping and receiving department. Dan grew that department over the years leading our investment in more complicated technology and saw the opportunity A/V companies had to become technology experts for clients, providing solutions that went beyond simple equipment rentals.
As multi-image slide shows became popular – syncing video and 16mm film to slides – the event industry began to take off and we leaped at the chance to use our skills in new ways. In the late 1980s, we began doing traveling shows for State Auto Insurance. Those were our first events and we saw the opportunity to make our mark as a national, traveling event production company.
Technology changed so much over that decade, with slides turning to video, new syncing devices allowing music to control slides and videos, and it was hard to keep up with the technology. But the more creative you could be the more production opportunities there were for events.
Looking back on how far we’ve come has been fun, but it isn’t over yet. We are just getting started! We will continue to reminisce on our 75th anniversary all year and we are excited for where event production is going. There’s always a new problem to solve or an exciting way to better engage or visually excite attendees.
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