[New] SOLOTECH ALIGNS ITSELF AS A KEY FIGURE IN LAS VEGAS’ SUPPLY CHAIN

Solotech increases its footprint and presence in the ‘Entertainment Capital of the World’ with a ‘people first’ approach and the formation of a state-of-the-art, 80,000 sq ft facility.

Words: Jacob Waite

Photos: Solotech & TPi

With over 18 strategic locations in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and China, 45 years on from breaking ground in Montréal, Solotech is considered as a trusted source for audio, video, lighting, rigging, soft goods, control, and collaboration solutions and services. To support its growth, the company has recently opened the doors to a state-of-the-art, 80,000 sq ft facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. Eschewing the city’s ageold slogan - what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas - the company was forthcoming in providing TPi with a sneak peek of the space amid the revelry of LDI 2022.

From this new strategic Sin City location, a stone’s throw from its contemporaries, Solotech will be able to serve the entire West Coast – particularly entertainment hubs, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

“T his is a well laid-out space that has great features,” Aaron Beck, Business Development Manager and Senior Engineer at Solotech Las Vegas, said of the new facility. “We’ve learned a lot of lessons along the way, and we know where we want to go in the future.”

Solotech strives to stay abreast of the latest technology and innovation with an inventory including over 300 renowned manufacturers, making it a preferred choice for high-profile clients in Las Vegas and beyond. “With the world and technology changing quickly, we need to stay ahead of the game,” added Beck.

Ir ish-born John Flynn began his career with White Light in 1998 and progressed up to crew chief of the largest touring productions such as Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience and Taylor Swift’s Reputation stadium tour. He now finds himself filling the boots of VP of Operations, and tasked with supervising the delivery aspect of a show and project management, including QC and preparation process built around delivering the highest standard possible for the shows and events Solotech is involved in.

“T hings have expanded rapidly in the US market – so much so that we’ve moved into this new facility, which is 50,000 sq ft larger than our previous premises,” he said, adding that this move comes as the company’s Nashville branch has also set up camp in an even larger, 120,000 sq ft facility in recent months.

Solotech’s Las Vegas headquarters sees the company’s flourishing Sales and Integration and Live Production teams unite under one roof with the addition of a demo training room, a pre-visualisation suite and upgraded preparation spaces.

While the company is internationally recognised for its expertise across music, sports, business, culture, and education markets, Solotech’s clients also benefit from its service centre, online store, and virtual technology offerings.

“T here are over 50 members of staff including Systems & Integration in this building alone,” Flynn explained, recalling the ‘bedding in’ process of the move. “There’s a mixture of new and pre-existing members of staff. With this expansion, we’ve had an influx of new ideas and enthusiasm, which is always welcome.”

‘FROM SURVIVAL MODE TO EXPANSION’

Like most companies, Solotech’s operations were pared back to the ‘bare bones’ during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We now find ourselves transitioning from ‘survival mode’ to expansion; the pace has been frantic, simply due to the demand for shows and entertainment, which has been through the roof,” Flynn noted.

Solotech’s Systems & Integration division provided a much-needed life raft amid the lockdown. “While live events shut down completely and all trucks returned to base overnight, the Systems & Integration and building work only stopped for around a month and soon picked up momentum during COVID-19,” he recalled. “Thankfully, Solotech is like a family, so it was nice to be able to turn to another division in adversity. From a business perspective, our investment in equipment is not only for live production but can be used for multiple disciplines and verticals.”

As such, Solotech was able to explore emerging markets – particularly with the development of the Media and Entertainment Technology Division (MET) for esports and the formation of a new XR studios opening in Los Angeles. However, with increased demand comes a greater need for staff. “We’re expanding, so we require more personnel. We have positions open, which we are trying to fill with the right people with the right skillset, as opposed to simply throwing numbers at it,” Flynn said, acknowledging the challenges facing the sector. “We’ve hired some key people, stalwarts of the industry, to guide the next generation.”

Despite this trajectory of new staff, Solotech also banks time for internal growth. “Solotech encourages internal growth. I came in as Director of Lighting and then I moved up to the Project Management team for Lighting and now I’ve been promoted to VP of Operations,” Flynn enthused. “Last year, we had around 140 employees in our US divisions, and now we have nearly 500, with more positions still open. The growth has been exponential.”

‘COMMUNICATION IS KEY’

When it comes to the challenges the Las Vegas HQ faces amid global crisis, Solotech has adopted an approach of not overcommitting. “Nobody ever wants to go back on their word, so we’re very diligent when it comes to bidding and fulfilling contracts,” Flynn said, explaining that this ethos relies on the manufacturers and the support of the supply chain. “If we commit to a show, we want to deliver it to the highest standard possible. Talking to manufacturers at LDI 2022, they are looking at maybe another 18 months lead time before we’re back to the old days of ringing up and having 100 lights turn up within a month.”

This is compounded by the rising costs associated with transport. “We are discovering ways to operate more efficiently as a company,” Flynn reported. “Having inventory located in the key areas of the US has allowed us to stop moving gear around needlessly, therefore reducing our carbon footprint.”

Solotech is fully supported by three major shareholders: Claridge, Desjardins Capital and Investissement Québec. The company employs over 2,000 professionals in its offices located in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Nashville, Miami, Orlando, Pensacola, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Saguenay, Halifax, Macau, and Hong Kong. Despite this global reach, Solotech still operates on a communal level, with weekly calls involving key decision makers within the company from UK, US and Canadian time zones.

“Communication is key,” Flynn underlined. “The more information we can download or upload from them, the smoother it is for productions. Even if it’s just a control package from the US to the UK, we can duplicate and pick up the gear locally, instead of air freighting it. Between our three bases in the US, our inventory is split evenly and equally supportive of lighting, audio, and video applications.”

According to Flynn, it is this investment in people that sets Solotech apart from its competitors. “Gear is gear, but it’s all about the people. We can move equipment around but it’s all about the service and the people you deal with,” he stated.

“T he pandemic has made a lot of people reassess what is important to them –particularly the more experienced members of touring crew, who have looked to transition off the road to spend more time with their friends and families – so, we’ve worked hard as a company to reassess our working practices and we champion a conducive work-life balance at Solotech.

“Our workforce is incredibly experienced and knowledgeable,” Flynn summarised, going on to explain that a skilled workforce in multiple disciplines enables Solotech to showcase its equipment and expertise not only in live entertainment venues but casinos, theatres, hotels, and nightclubs up and down the Strip. “One thing is for certain, the future’s bright.” www.solotech.com