Recipe: Turkey Pâté en croûte
November 1, 2012
Editor’s Picks for November
November 1, 2012
For Rusty Savoie, music has been an overriding aspect of everyday life, and now, he makes it his business. He entered the music scene as a 6-year-old boy, living in Raceland before moving to Connecticut and back again. A drum set was his first foot in the door and what led him to eventually begin experimenting with all facets of music – instruments and equipment.
“I’ve been into music ever since I was a little kid playing drums,” Savoie says. “As you grow, you need speakers to perform. I just kept putting money into it and now I’m just building my own. I kept working my way up the ladder.”
Savoie began learning about the technical aspects of music when he taught himself how to construct sound systems. Skilled with his hands and gifted with the heart of an entrepreneur, he first worked in construction after graduating from Central Lafourche High School in 2002 and started designing furniture and other custom items with the business he still runs today, RS Solutions.
“In school, I did music programs,” Savoie says. “It’s allowed me to be a good drummer and from there on knowing that I was good at something pushed me to be good in the recording field and the sound field and then, the whole industry. I strove for perfection in look, quality and sound, and I grew from there.”
It was passion that drew Savoie and three friends together to begin their own business venture – Loud and Clear Productions. The company specializes in sound system equipment, installations, lighting reinforcement for events, disc jockey services, plus providing Savoie’s private studio for needed use. Savoie inserts his own carpenter skills into the job, building custom cabinets, flight cases and speakers.
A long time music partner, Todd Anthony Terrebonne wanted to know more about live audio and lighting. When Savoie began to teach him, it turned into a business partnership.
“I was playing music with Todd, a partner in the company, and we got to talking about it,” Savoie says. “He wanted to get more involved in that aspect, so I kind of took him under my wing and we started from there. He’s a little more business savvy with paper work, licenses and taxes. We just kind of merged.”
Longtime best friend Josh Knight got himself involved in the deal as well. The two bonded over music and decided to take their talents to a professional level alongside friend Teddy Chaisson, an electrical engineer. Savoie says coming together was almost a natural event. Each member has independent strengths that contribute to the team.
“Without the other guys I’d still be doing small stuff and not growing like we are now,” Savoie says. “It’s basically the four of us that keep the engine running.”
Savoie says it was less about business until about six months ago when the friends and business partners had a discussion to get serious about Loud and Clear Productions and its future. Since then, production has seen a steady increase, recently finishing the Bridal Expo in Houma and their biggest event to date, Houmapalooza.
“Recently we just did the bridal expo, and we’re supposed to be taking over a lot of those territories, so it’s a work in progress,” Savoie says. “It’s a big deal. We’re handling all of the Houmapalooza stuff; we’re becoming the go-to guys for (the Houma Regional) arts council. In December we’re working with a radio station and military and trying to get that to be a pretty annual job with Toys for Tots. April is pretty much booked twice every weekend from the end of March to beginning of May.”
Along with the new ventures, the team is en route to buying their first storefront and even has an idea for musical-accessory vending machines. Though a particular location has not yet been bought, there are promising prospects. In the near future they’re hoping to have a central location to sell and store instruments and run the Loud and Clear Productions.
“I’d like to see at least one store front and the speakers being in some kind of production, doing much larger shows on a steadier basis,” Savoie says. “We could have an actual store front with a recording studio and a building shop in the back to build stock, pretty much growing from there. I’ve never been one to maintain. I get bored fast so I look for something to stress me out more, far more than I can handle.”
Rusty Savoie, of Loud and Clear Productions, tinkers with his audio mixing board while Autumn High performs at last month’s Houmapalooza.
The Loud and Clear Productions team readies the Houmapalooza stage for Ocean of Storms last month.
