INTERVIEW
“There is an ever-growing demand for live entertainment and production support throughout the entire city. A lot of sectorspecific companies in Las Vegas work together, rent equipment and execute shows together depending on availability of kit, staff and timing.” Connecting companies in the area, not only to unify standards in Las Vegas but also to support each other and collaborate on projects, is at the core of PRG’s ethos. “In today’s market, it’s difficult to hire. If we need to find a carpenter for a week or two, I’d rather contact a local company for temporary staff to maintain the core of Vegas,” Garrelts continued. “Our current goal is personal and personnel development – improving workflows, systems, and inventory. Not only does this grow our individual skill, but our communications and toolsets also improve.” Meanwhile, Main Light West’s immediate goal is the acquisition of new equipment,
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increasing its available inventory to provide solutions for more customers. “We have a good spread across good market segments in the touring and production, conventions, corporate and industrial shows, as well as the house of worship market,” Mullican revealed. Spending time with Las Vegas rental and dry hire outfits, it’s apparent that a ‘people and quality-first’ approach is key to the challenges that lie ahead. With a lot of experienced technicians leaving the sector, introducing, nurturing and accelerating the progress of talent considerably faster than pre-pandemic levels in order to plug the gaping holes left by the COVID-19 pandemic is at the forefront of the city’s road to recovery. “It’s interesting to see a shift in talent, as the next generation of crew come through the door and offer opportunities for those from alternative sectors,” Garrelts observed. “Our aim is to maintain the quality that we’re known for amid all the issues of the rapid
restart. We’ve hired people who are proud of our product and take pride in making our clients happy,” Mikalishen added. “We are constantly increasing our fleet of gear and our workforce. In the rental industry, if you invest in moving lights, you need cable, distro, and consoles. Everything you buy requires infrastructure.” While the next few years may be the sector’s toughest in recent history, they may also breed creativity and innovation in the way productions are catered for and how audiences consume live entertainment. “I’ve seen a great deal of technology shifts during my time in the industry, and the pandemic has pushed even more boundaries. It’s an exciting time for all of us as we see Las Vegas evolving and improving the ways entertainment can be delivered,” Mikalishen concluded. www.4wall.com www.prg.com www.mainlight.com