Canadian AV adapts to fewer events

Canadian AV adapts to lost business due to pandemic

For all the music-loving, conference-organizing, social butterflies of this province who miss big gatherings, staff at Canadian AV Inc. can feel your pain.

The province’s biggest production company that thrives on people coming together was hit hard by COVID-19 and its stay-apart requirements, making management realize business wasn’t so sound.

Every cancelled concert, trade show, conference, banquet, gala and festival meant a loss of revenue for the company, not to mention dozens of employees who were laid off.

“It was bad,” director of operations Andy Jordan said referring to when COVID-19 shut things down.

“It was like a switch in that we went from on to off instantly,” he said during a recent interview at the company’s head office in St. John’s. “In a matter of two or three days, I saw two or three years’ worth of work disappear … There were months of nothing.

“We lost millions of dollars.”

Since it opened in 2013, Canadian AV — owned by Dr. Brian Ramjatten — has provided audio and audiovisual services to thousands of customers annually, including Mile One Centre and St. John’s Convention Centre for almost every major concert and event here, along with festivals and other outdoor shows.

Its warehouse is stocked with walls of high-end equipment from speakers, amplifiers, instruments, microphones and elaborate lighting to cameras, projectors, screens, staging, draping and podiums for events large or small. Its 30 production personnel and dozens of crewmembers are also available for events.

But for a short time last year, Canadian AV’S only job was providing audio-visual production for the provincial government’s daily COVID19 updates. Management knew something had to change and change fast.

So, in March 2020, during the first lockdown, Jordan noticed the growing number of musicians taking to Facebook to reach their audiences. Seeing an opportunity to put a professional touch on the performances, he reached out to Shawn Basha, organizer of the Iceberg Alley Performance Tent, to sponsor an online concern series.

“Everyone was home and was looking for something to do, so what better way to do it?” Jordan said.

To accommodate the shows, Jordan had employees convert a section of the warehouse into a large performance studio — fitted with a large multi-level stage, stateof-the-art lighting, sound and audio-visual equipment that would help provide high-end shows.

In all, there’s close to $1-million worth of equipment.

“It’s the best of the best,” Jordan said, walking around the studio, pointing to the LED lights, soundboards, several kinds of cameras. “We figured it’s here, so we might as well use it.”

A Level 5 lockdown due to a cluster of COVID-19 cases forced a halt in operations for safety reasons, but it didn’t take long for things to pick up again at the studio once restrictions eased.

Some events held at the studio include N.L. Folk Arts Society and Musicnl events, a town hall conference, a digital version of the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival, St. John’s Board of Trade business resilience awards, St. John’s Pride events, the Newfoundland Women Vote 100 launch, along with municipal and provincial government functions.

“It’ll be years before this industry recovers, but (the studio) helped keep our head above water,” Jordan said.

Glenn Pardy, a member of Musicnl’s board of directors, said Canadian AV has been a huge help to its members live-streaming performances when venues were shut down or had no live acts.

“They certainly helped local performers … they do such a great job … very professional,” Pardy said.

In a statement from the City of St. John’s special events division said, “Innovative services provided by the local audio-visual industry, including Canadian AV, have allowed us to continue programing through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The support has enabled us to deliver virtual, accessible versions of our events, connect with residents and continue to support the arts community during a time of need.”

Groups are still making use of the studio, but as people see the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, Canadian AV is once again being called on to work outside the building at various events. However, this time, it’s with online broadcasts as well — a trend Jordan believes will continue.

“That’s where I see things going now — you’re going to have the live portion and then the online broadcast for people who don’t want to come or can’t come,” said Jordan, noting concerts may be an exception.

“For the extra cost of being able to go online is not a big expense in the grand scheme of things. You’re adding a camera and an internet connection that’s it and you can reach so many more people …

“Like everyone, I want it to go to back to the way it was … . Until then, we have to adapt … but, when it does go back to normal, look out.”