To keep in step with all of the new changes at CareySound we have given the web site a new face. Please leave a note in the comments if you find anything not working or to let us know what you think of the new design.

Being president has its perks. It's been an incredibly busy summer and time off has been at a premium so as president I declare today (Thursday 9/6) and tomorrow (Friday 9/7) an official SoundMan holiday effective immediately. I invite everybody to join SoundMan and the CareySound crew to fire up the old barbecue one last time for the summer and tip back a cold one.

Remember, no working until Monday. It's the law.


Kenneth M. Carey, Pres.

O.K., so yes I want to brag and what better to brag about than one of your sons. James, who many of you may know as the second son of SoundMan, has been off to Memphis College of Art for the last three years and has been working around CareySound during his breaks, this summer being no exception. He has been studying photography and is a senior this year (and will be hitting the job market next spring - hint, hint for anyone looking for a photographer).

His brother John (first son of SoundMan) has featured some of James photos on his website twistedsun.net and after years of coaxing from his brother and I, he has finally added his voice to the world with the release of his own website www.pointofviewpoint.net. I would to encourage you to visit his new site and support his senior year by shopping at CareySound.

April 1st is a special day for the me. It marks my marriage to my beautiful wife Lynn and it marks the official birthday of CareySound both of which occurred in 1978. The cairn seams a fitting tribute to mark the day. You can click on the image to download a desktop image (thats wallpaper to you pc types) that was graciously provided by my son John that was taken from his website Twistedsun.net where you can find all kinds of beautiful desktops to download. (yes that was a shameless plug)

If you click on the Company Info link at the top of the page and then click the History link in the side bar you will find a huge new addition of old CareySound pictures provided by my old friend Mike Armeniox form CareySound's early years. Who knows, maybe you'll find yourself in on of those photo's.

Twenty-nine years ago, with a table saw bought from Sears on credit in my back yard, I began the journey that is CareySound. This story began with CareySound being a sound company when it was still a something of a novelty in the business world, providing PA systems for local bands and nightclubs. And as with most long journeys it's had it's share of drama along the way.

Ten years ago, most of our customers didn't even realize we had a thriving sales department, so I made the decision to split off the concert production division and took on a partner to form a new event production company. This way CareySound could concentrate on sales and rentals. The plan worked and both companies grew in prominence. Two months ago, my partner of 10 years in the production company, (now let me put this as nicely as possible) decided to follow a different path and we dissolved the business and split up the assets. Which brings me to the present.

After consultation with my oldest son John, who most of you already know, and the encouragement of many friends, team members and clients, we have decided not to abandon the path I began 29 years ago and to continue to offer the community complete event production. It's with a new sense of excitement that we announce the return of event production department to the CareySound family with this new website design.

This next year already promises to be exciting so please stay tuned. The future begins now.

I very rarely get to go to a show as a patron. Last Saturday was of those rare occasions. Money, Power Moves, Respect 2.0 B-Boy Battle was a great event. Teams from all up and down east coast participated in this breakdance competition. It was better than a three ring circus. I was blown away by the camaraderie of the participants. Take the showmanship of professional wrestling, add the athleticism of olympic gymnastics and add a little attitude and you get an amazing show. I give it a full five SoundMan rating.

The last B-Boy Battle held at the Anvil this past summer taped by Greensboro's Kourthouse Media on New Garden Road. They have made it into a DVD that is well worth the $10 they are asking. You can find them online at www.kourthousemedia.com .

Now for the sad news. The Flying Anvil, voted Best Live Music Venue by GoTriad Readers Choice Awards for 2006, is closing at the end December if they can't find a new owner. This is a venue that was begged for by Greensboro citizens as the missing premier live music night spot and unfortunately there was just not enough support to keep it open. So if you had always meant to go you'd better get there quick. There aren't many events left. You can go to their website www.theflyinganvil.com to see the remaining schedule.

Jim is out of the hospital and back at the helm of Jo Mama's Mobile Staging albeit with a few new bionic improvements. He was well enough to come by the office today and give us a bill for his stage. Yep - Jim's back.

I had hired Jim to set up one of his stages for an event tonight in Winston-Salem. As we were finishing the set-up Jim suffered an aparent heart attack. He was taken to Baptist Hospital. The last report I received around midnight from his daughter was that he was stable and that they are expecting him to fully recover. Please pray for his quick and complete recovery.

For those of you who don't know Jim, he is good friend and colleague of mine that founded Audio & Light Rental here in Greensboro and currently owns and operates Jo Mama's Mobile Staging.

Several of CareySound's own, both past and present, deserve a pat on the back.

John Carey and Tommy Martin just successfully completed a week long audio academy in Atlanta and were awarded certificates of completion. The academy was hosted by our friends at Vision 2 Marketing. Among the many industry leaders giving presentations was a personal friend of mine. The legendary Jim Long of Electro-Voice shared his many years of knowledge of audio and acoustical fundamentals.

We just ran into former CareySound general manager Sam Hamlin at Infocomm in Orlando and he told us he is getting married in the fall. Sam is now working over in Aggie Land at NCA&TSU.

And while I am on marriges, our friend Brandon Potter has just informed us of his impending nuptials in July. Brandon is the head audio production guru over at First Assembly of God in Winston-Salem.

I guess this old SoundMan is just going to have to break down and by a suit.

We ran into James Mintz last Sunday at MUSEP. He was there with his family. His dad plays with the Greensboro Big Band that was performing that evening. James was the second amazing intern to come to us from Greensboro Day School. He is studying music and we hope he keeps us in mind when he graduates.

And finaly I just got an email form another CareySound Alumni, Rick Earl, saying that he has just accepted a new job at Elon University as their new Technical Director for Cultural and Special Events. Rick was one of CareySounds finest head audio engineers.

Thanks to Mike Sveda for bringing back some fond memories. I found a picture of my third sound system (the last one I owned before I moved to NC in 1974.) As a matter of fact I brought pieces of it to Greensboro and sold it. Jim Reese found an old tape loop delay I had sold and gave it back to me some years ago. Thanks Jim. I would love to the have the Sound City Mixmaster back if anyone knows where it's hiding. It was my first desk with faders and was sold to someone locally when I lived on Voss Dr. Boy was it noisy and it had a tendency to ultrasonic outbursts that sent my Dynaco amp into protect. The system pictured featured:

Dallas-Arbiter Sound City 10ch Mixmaster FOH desk
Shure Anti-feedback cut only EQ
Home built ocean wave/rain simulator
Dynaco 400 amp
Reel-to-reel tape deck for delay
EV Sentry 4 speakers
Sound City trap monitors
Acoustic mixer/amp monitor amp
EV RE 11 microphones ( I still have one)

The picture was taken in 1971, give or take a year, at the White House in Niles, MI. The Band was Cold Shot. From the looks of that lighting controller I can understand why I had the fire extinguisher handy.

A week in paradise...

The TELEX hosted trip was to Puerto Rico this year. On behalf of Lynn, James, John and myself I would like to thank everybody for a wonderful vacation. Pictured here are a few of my TELEX friends that accompanied us on the trip. I can't wait to do it all again. There is a special movie from the trip starring Christian Glueck entitled Rumble in the Rainforest that you can find in the movie section.