Hello and welcome to Stage 1 Sound!
My name is Dan Warner. I am the owner and operator. I personally operate the sound console at the concerts I am producing and am DJ for all events. I started Stage 1 Sound in February 1996. I was asked by someone in my church to play some music for a dance they were having. While hesitant, as I had some music and not very much equipment to really do a dance 'properly' in my opinion, I did the dance as best I could. I did enjoy it, of course.
A year later I had purchased
many more CDs and better equipment. Things continually progressed from there. I
kept adding more music and buying more sound equipment.
Honestly, I knew little about the 'business' side of things. My
simple idea was to play music that
people wanted to hear. There were things I knew that I wanted to
avoid. I had heard about DJs with equipment that was old,
beat-up and sounded terrible. I had heard stories of DJs who did
not use a proper contract and seemed to drift off and leave
people stuck with no entertainment. I felt I knew what I should
not do.
I feel strongly about a few things that face the entertainment
industry, and yes these are my opinions on this page.
Stage 1 Sound is not owned by or commissioned by any radio
station, bar, school or other organization.
A professional service needs to justify itself with the weight
of the word "professional." For me, it has to be more
cost-effective to hire a service than to attempt renting the
same gear. I can tell you that you cannot rent the quality of
equipment that I offer with or without an operator. I do not use
"plug and play" PA in-a-box type equipment that a music store
would rent you. I come with my equipment and will personally set
it up and operate for you. Another area where cost would be
outrageous is the music I provide for the DJ shows. If you were
to get yourself more than 30,000 songs it would cost many
thousands of dollars. Think $1.00 per song. On top of that, a
playlist created on an iPod for your event will not and can not
take into account the hundreds of variables associated with
hundreds of guests at a wedding reception, or students requests
at a school dance.
A professional service needs to do what it takes to fulfill
their obligations to you. Really, if a friend of yours is going
to run your band's sound console in a non-professional capacity,
you can keep your cost down, but keep your expectations even
lower. Just remember that while cost is a big deal these days,
repeat business is very important and will pay for itself when
you hold on to it. Your band's reputation lies on how people
hear you. Don't take that to chance.
A professional service cannot resort to the same methods someone
could do privately. One of these is the method of
acquiring music. Read the disclosures and terms of some of the
music download sites out there and note that they don't allow
commercial usage of the files. Frankly, many in the
entertainment business are breaking the law and profiting at the
same time. I do not download (free or pay) any of the songs in
my library unless it is an emergency. All of my music is on CD and will remain so until an
equal or better sounding alternative is made that is as
portable.
Why the name "Stage 1
Sound"? Well, I have been hired more often than not in the
capacity of DJ, but I also do live sound-reinforcement for any need from
bands to charity events. All of it has to do with "sound."
So I chose a name that is more generic. I don't feel the name is
overly cute or crafty, but it is mine and 16 years later I am
sticking to it.
I am an avid music listener. I love attending many concerts and mixing sound for bands. I don't play any instruments myself, but I have great interest and respect in those who can. I also have a full-time job. I am a licensed electrician for The Retrofit Companies of Owatonna, Minnesota. My wife is Kim Cossairt (Warner) and she operates Cossairt Photography.
Please contact me directly
if you have any questions.
Dan Warner
Owner, Stage 1 Sound
dan@stage1sound.com
