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b o u l e va r d “We wanted to fill a need we saw,” “In this business, the most important Clark recalled. “The sound technology tool we have is our ears,” he said. “Does at all the (fraternal organizations) was the system sound good? Now I see ancient, so we started setting up new a lot of young people staring at their rental systems for their events.” computer screens and not using their Associated Sound was “just a ears. They think the sound has to be weekend hobby,” sharing space (literally right because the computer says it is.” a closet) in the printing company where Clark continued to work. Still the sound source When the Public Market closed in 1974, Recently, Brad Clark and his crew Associated Sound followed the print shop spent two straight days setting up the to a building on P Street. “We kept growing sound system for Old Sacramento’s and needed more space, so we moved to upcoming Theatre of Lights extravaganza. Del Paso Boulevard,” Clark said. It was one of about 30 rental jobs They specialized in sound-wiring Associated Sound averages each month, events of all types – thousands of in addition to three or four contracting them – all over town. Later they added jobs (permanent installations). a “contracting” department, installing The job was nothing new to him. Brad permanent systems in schools, Clark grew up in the family business, restaurants, churches and halls. coming over full time in 1995 after “In the early days, we did a lot of college. “It’s really self-taught, hands-on the big folk groups coming through learning,” he said. town – Joni Mitchell, Associated Sound’s the Kingston Trio, business model has Peter, Paul and Mary,” been changing and will Clark said. “We did a continue to change couple of rock shows when Brad Clark takes (including Deep over from his father. Purple), but all those “We’re out of the groups cared about concert business and was being loud.” focused on board Associated Sound meetings, press Wally Clark also wired Hughes conferences and Associated Sound Stadium at Sacramento fashion shows, with City College for Olympic occasional larger trials, and the State events like sports and shows like Theatre Capitol grounds for rallies. Clark supplied of Lights,” Brad Clark said. sound for California governors up to “There will be more contracting, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and presidential designing and consulting and fewer candidates up to Barack Obama. “We did retail sales. We’ll continue going for the Bob Hope a couple of times,” Clark said. “I smaller jobs because they don’t take a met a lot of neat people.” crew of 10.” (Associated Sound is a fourAssociated Sound’s biggest job was in man shop.) 1985, installing the sound system inside In the end, how do they feel about the original Arco Area, a three-month job. the transition? Soon, Clark and his team realized that “The idea of having it go forward with “everything started to become TV events, family and longtime employees who are especially political campaigns,” he said. like family is a good legacy,” Wally Clark “But we learned that as soon as the said. “Now I can go play with all the old cameras are gone, the world goes back printing equipment.” to where it was.” “I’m here because I love it,” Brad Clark Of course, the mainstream said. “It’s an honor to take it over.” technology has gone from analog to digital. But Clark isn’t a fan of computers.
“In this business, the most important tool we have is our ears.”
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Presents The
SagiTTariuS
Show
As pArt of the Astro-show series
Miggy & Friends
andrew Castro
Free Live Music for All Ages Saturday November 23 from 4-8pm 1616 Del Paso Blvd Thank you to our neighbors for their support!
11.14.19
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SN&R
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