Montana AV Integrator: Montana Pro Audio Spotlight

Montana Pro Audio based in Butte, Montana, is a full-service professional sound, lighting, and video company. Their Integration service creates engaging environments through cohesive system designs, industry-leading technologies and intuitive engineering. Their systems include audio, lighting and video capabilities for a wide range of clients and markets.

We caught up with Aaron Fisher, Business Development and Production Manager and Ryan Johnston, Director of Integrations at Montana Pro Audio about their progression, the unique way they measure success, one piece of advice to other integrators, and more.

Let’s dive in!

Ryan Johnston

Director of Integrations
Montana Pro Audio

Aaron Fisher

Business Development and Production Manager
Montana Pro Audio

Tell us about your company and your career

Montana AV Integrator: Montana Pro Audio Spotlight

[RJ] I’m the Director of Integrations for Montana Pro Audio. We’re a full-service sound and lighting company located in Butte, Montana, with remote offices in Helena, and Missoula. We have been in business for 12 years now, and our team brings decades of experience and talent to every event we work. Our crews are trained to industry standards and receive continued education through our manufacturer partnerships and other channels. Because we focus on delivering superior service and expertise, Montana Pro Audio is known for having the best crews under the big sky.

[AF] Currently, I’m the business development and production manager at Montana Pro Audio. Although I haven’t worked in the company long, I have a lot of history with its founders. I met the owners of the company Alex Bruce and Ryan Johnson in Seattle in 2005, at the time they were working for a company called Morgan Sound and helped me get hired as a technician. Morgan Sound was my first intro to a professional sound company outside of working at local Seattle venues and a backline rental company. Fast forward a few years and in 2019 my wife and I decided that we wanted to leave Seattle and move back to my hometown of Montana. After moving, I was hired by Sound Image to tech a console and stage package for a 2019 summer tour with UB40. I started working for Alex and Ryan at Montana Pro Audio in the fall of 2019.

How did you get started in the industry?

Montana AV Integrator: Montana Pro Audio Spotlight

[RJ] I grew up in the Seattle area, first working under the Direction of Bob Holden (Holden, Hamilton, and Roberts Studio), then later spending many years working for Morgan Sound under Charlie Morgan, and Steve Gregory, whom I think of as “The Wizard.” I did a lot of live audio production, remote recording for video, and arena touring, as well. When I moved to Montana, my longtime coworker, and current business partner, Alex Bruce, moved out here with me. We had the grand idea of starting our own company in a market that we felt, had a shortage of professional-level AVL services. Up until this point, neither of us had strayed far from audio, and we quickly realized our clients expected production companies to provide audio, lighting, and video. We drew straws, he ended up learning lighting, I ended learning video. He was in charge of live events; I was in charge of installations and integration. We’ve spent the last 12 years learning and growing from a two man show, to a company with 10 full-time employees, and a call list of 20 more.

[AF]I moved to Seattle in 2003, and went into the audio production program at The Art Institute of Seattle. While I was in school, I had a number of audio internships at venues like the Crocodile Cafe and Studio X. After I graduated I worked at a backline company for a few months and then began working at Morgan Sound in December of 2005.

What's the most challenging project you’ve worked on?

Montana AV Integrator: Montana Pro Audio Spotlight

[RJ] The most challenging projects seem to involve multi-protocol integration with corporate networks with strict security. As everything moves toward network-based communication, security is becoming more and more of an issue, and vendors are needing a larger presence on facility networks. Second to that, I’d have to say the most challenging projects involve being on a lift with a heavy speaker box above some priceless, glass art piece.

[AF] I spent 10 years as Production Manager with Morgan Sound. There were many challenging projects throughout those years, but I worked with an excellent team and we accomplished many successful events.

What is a frustration that AV Installers deal with?

Montana AV Integrator: Montana Pro Audio Spotlight

[RJ] I would have to say that unboxing and installing a new piece of gear, and having it not function is the most frustrating thing. More often than not, the timeline is tight, and full functionality is needed by project end. Having a critical piece fail right out of the gate is the worst.

[AF] I can’t speak for others but for me AV integration has been a fast-learning experience. I went from production services to integration services and never had the kind of intimate experience with installation as I do with Montana Pro Audio. So, I’m new to selling installations. I’ve been selling PA systems for shows for years, but this is a whole new world.

I think the most challenging aspect of the job is that in Montana, there are very few integration service companies and so we often compete with online retailers. Another big challenge we have is aligning customer’s expectations of cost. When customers go to a box store, for example, they can think that the cost-effective small home stereo surround system is what they’re going to get in their conference room, so it can come as a shock when they realize it takes a lot more to do that commercially.

What are your go-to songs for system testing?

Montana AV Integrator: Montana Pro Audio Spotlight

[RJ] “Sailing to Philadelphia” by Mark Knopfler (with James Taylor) is my go-to for vocal range, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin for articulation, “Lazy Bones” by Soul Coughing for big, thick low-end testing. Otherwise, it depends on what type of music I am tuning a system for.

[AF] Most Mark Knopflersongs end up getting on the list. I also like “Chills and Thrills” by Bernard Allison, as well as “Hotel California” from the Hell Freezes Over album. I have more than a few guilty pleasure songs that I like to hear on a PA, but we won’t talk about those songs!

How do you measure success from job to job?

Montana AV Integrator: Montana Pro Audio Spotlight

[RJ] My first measure of success is client satisfaction. This ends up being a good meter of how well expectations were met in terms of overall product delivery, level of client needs servicing, and relationships being developed that benefit the integrator and client.

My second measure of success is whether I am proud of what I have delivered — from needs assessment to design, to installation, to final delivery. I need to know that I did the best work I could, and hopefully learned something new along the way.

[AF] If my work exceeds my own expectations, I feel I have been successful. I also feel if my client wants to buy me a beer after we have finished their project, that is a successfully executed project!

What's one piece of advice for others who aspire to be AV installers?

Montana AV Integrator: Montana Pro Audio Spotlight

[RJ] Learn about network infrastructure. Pay close attention to the processes others use when doing a job. The learning to manage the overall project is as valuable as mastering hands-on skills. And have fun.

[AF] I think it’s really important for me to have a good work/life balance and I would tell the same to others in the industry. I am still trying to figure this out, but moving to Montana has certainly helped.

How do you prepare for your next install project?

Montana AV Integrator: Montana Pro Audio Spotlight

[AF] Ensuring I have a good understanding of our client’s goals and then looking at the budget to find a way to maximize their investment with appropriate equipment. If I’ve checked those two items off before heading into an install, I’m happy.

We’d like to thank Ryan, Aaron, and everyone at Montana Pro Audio for taking the time to speak with us and also for working with our CONNECTSERIES amplifiers in their recent installation project in Lewis & Clark Library, which you can read more about here.

If you have any questions about our CONNECTSERIES amps or would like to be featured in one of our Integrator Spotlight posts, feel free to fill out the form below or reach out to us on our social media channels.