Pro-Systems recently interviewed two of the faces behind AV integration player – System Solutions (A Gearhouse Group Company). After an interesting tour of the premises in Bez Valley, we sat down with general manager Roger Feldmann.
Durban-based MD – Sean Stewart, escaped the face-to-face interrogation process with an electronic interview. Here’s what the two had to say:
How long have you been in the AV industry and how did you get into it?
Sean: Like many of us in this industry, I got myself work pushing boxes and assisting the tech crews on the earlier international tours when I was a student. I had initially wanted to become a Tonmeister but I was tired of being broke so when I finished studying at the music school at UND I moved to Johannesburg in the early 90s and worked briefly as a freelance recording and production engineer.
The music production scene was very insular and if you weren’t in the right clique, the work was sparse and not very inspiring. Conversely the local live music scene at the time was positively buoyant and the work varied and was exciting. I was very lucky in the early days and got to work and tour a lot with some of the greats like Stimela, Tsepo Tshola, Sankomoto, Bayete and Hugh Masekela among others.
I was also working my way up the food chain in the international touring scene when the Gearhouse Group acquired the equipment rental company that I had been getting most of my work from and so I began my career in this fascinating industry.
A year later I moved back to Durban to open a new Gearhouse branch with industry stalwarts Bill Lawford and Hugh Turner. This was extremely tough but I learned a lot about the industry and developed some management and financial skills which were to stand me in good stead when we opened System Solutions a few years later, following a very large installation and integration project.
Roger: I am not actually from the AV industry. I did Civil Engineering from 1990 to 2000 at a company called Frankipile. From there I bought a signage franchise which I ran for 10 years.
I joined System Solutions after World Cup 2010. I was in limbo during World Cup and a friend of mine, Dion Strydom from LEDVision, asked me if I’d like to help them with some of their fan parks. I looked after the fan park at Montecasino for them. During the World Cup period, this position became available at System Solutions, so I applied for the job and a couple of months later I got it.
I guess my forte lies in management. I’ve got a bit of an understanding of the technical side from the experience I have gained, but for me it’s all about sales at the end of the day; understanding the staff and having good relationships with your suppliers and customers. So really, what I’ve brought to System Solutions is more the business end.
What are some of your favourite recent projects that you’ve been involved in?
Sean: We are currently involved with a very innovative project at Freedom Park with a SkyRoll™ retractable LED screen from Lighthouse Technologies. It is the first of its kind on the continent and we are very proud to be a part of it. We are also currently involved with a digital-cinema complex in Mauritius.
Roger: One of my major projects that we’ve recently concluded is the installation of two outdoor LED screens for a new stadium in Gabon.
What has been your proudest project to date?
Sean: There are many projects that come to mind but I guess that the Johannesburg and Durban stadiums for the 2010 World Cup would stand out above them all. Firstly it was amazing to be part of the event and they were also the biggest projects we had been involved in up to that point. We installed over 400m2 of high res Lighthouse LED screens which were driven by Christie X20 scaling switchers. Both stadiums also had large scale digital signage and IPTV systems and both projects ran concurrently. I was very proud to be part of such an amazing team on such an amazing project.
Roger: The LED screens in Gabon, definitely! I was involved in the project from day one. In my previous company we did a lot of business in Gabon so I was very comfortable in the environment. There was a lead that came through and I asked Sean to give me the chance and let me go up and secure this business. Everyone was sceptical but I flew up and the rest is history. When they signed the deal they placed the order for two screens instead of one, totalling $2.2 million.
What do you do in your spare time?
Sean: I’m sorry I don’t understand the question…I bought a beautiful old house earlier this year and I seem to always be fixing something. I still play music which I find very rewarding and I try and spend as much time as possible with my family. I used to be a bit of a movie buff when I was a younger and have started to get back in training.
Roger: Cycling and golf!
Holiday destination of choice?
Sean: A holiday for me is usually when my phone doesn’t ring too often and I don’t have to respond to email. My wife’s family lives in Swaziland and we love going there.
Roger: New Zealand – my folks, brother and sister have immigrated so that’s on my radar right now.
ProSystems magazine – 3rd Quarter 2012
