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“I want to make people fall in love with the industry, the same way I did, seven years ago.”
WOUTER RUIJTER Owner of AVL Rent
Tell our readers a little bit about yourself, and how you first got into the audio industry? It all started when I was studying to become a cameraman - I felt more drawn to the world of audiovisual technology. I loved the idea of being involved with of event production. I wanted to help wow crowds at live events, using sound and lighting systems that would enhance audience experiences and blow them away. I always knew I wanted to be my own boss and when I was just 24-years-old, I set up my own business, AVL Rent Wervershoof in The Netherlands - and I have already experienced success. I believe I am a hard worker and quite experienced for my age, and I feel I have a fresh approach to the Dutch professional audio industry, based on my understanding of emerging cultures.
What led you to set-up your own company, AVL Rent? After finishing my studies, I joined a lighting and sound company as a trainee, and I worked my way through the ranks. Eventually, I was put in charge of the rental side of the business, which, four years later, I bought - and AVL was born. I had seen the good and the bad in the industry over those initial years. I recall being overlooked as a youngster, when people considered me too young to be a production manager, but that only made me strive harder to be the best. In the early days of the take-over, I worked long hours with my founding partner, Wesley Van Welsen, to establish very high standards of practice. Today, we both remain hands-on in the company, dividing our time between working directly on productions and developing client relationships. www.mondodr.com
• Above Wouter was an early adopter of Pioneer Pro Audio products.
Typically, what kind of projects does your company produce… installations, rental / live events, a bit of both? AVL Rent began as the name suggests in rental sound systems and visual / lighting rigs. Some significant projects to date include supporting Pioneer DJ at ADE, Tik Tak 2018, Boothstock 2018, Redbull 3 Style in Krakow and DEPT festival, to name just a few. After the success of these events, we started to branch out, and we now also do sound system leasing and fixed installations. Do you have a standout project, one you are particularly proud of? I can think of a few projects. Firstly, a huge pop-up venue in Amsterdam’s Central Station where we have supplied and will maintain a Pioneer Pro Audio