An audio/visual equipment store, service, and rental facility, and a recording studio – all rolled into one – is about to open in Rockville.
Shaun Anderson, who grew up in Rockville, said the target date for the opening of Off the Ground Sound is Oct. 5.
“At the moment, we’re just getting things into inventory, and getting ready for some promotions online,” Anderson said. “We’re planning for a grand opening in November, and possibly put a concert together.”
Anderson said the shop, located at 15 West Main St. in Rockville, right between Craig’s Kitchen and West Main Barbershop, is unlike anything else in Vernon.
“Wireless speakers, mixers, microphones,” he said. “Pretty much anything that lights up or makes noise – we’re going to be selling that. And then a lot of the equipment, we’re going to be renting.”
Off the Ground Sound also has lighting and video equipment, and can assist with tech needs for a variety of types of performances.
“We can go out and do live sound for bands, corporate events, business meetings, and things of that nature,” he said, adding that he also hopes to visit the churches in the area, to make sure their equipment is up to date, and complying with some new FCC regulations that are soon to be in effect.
“Between 600 and 700 megahertz, they’ve actually reclaimed that part of the frequency spectrum, for a 5G cellphone network,” Anderson said. “By 2020, anyone operating in those bands, will be illegal. There are a lot of microphones that have been sold in the past, are in that spectrum. A lot of folks have those products and they need to be replaced.”
The lower level of the property is in the process of being converted into a recording studio and rehearsal space for musicians.
“We’re going to be doing that there, and I have some pretty cool ideas of how to stay booked,” he said. “I have some guys who are interested in doing some lessons down there.”
Anderson said he’s excited to have the location open, and it will be a great headquarters for his business that he’s been doing for several years.
“I was essentially renting equipment and doing some production services,” he said. “I was basically doing that out of my garage, my mom’s garage, my kids’ bedroom. I had stuff everywhere.”
Anderson is a Navy veteran, and a graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Business’s Entrepreneurial Boot Camp for veterans with disabilities. He got into sound production when his experience in GIS and surveying equipment didn’t result in a career, and it was suggested that he work at Guitar Center.
“I never really saw myself being in this industry until about 11 years ago, when I kind of ended up in it,” he said.
He had been providing sound services for Vernon town events, including parades and Winterfest, when he learned of the location’s availability.
“I was walking by here and learned that this place as for rent, and made the call,” he said. “Rockville’s got a lot of potential. I saw this as my way to help fixing the place up a bit.”
Anderson said he’s familiar with some of the other store owners on West Main Street, having grown up with some of them.
“We’re all in kahoots here,” he said. “It’s kind of a mission to improve the community.”
For more information, visit www.otgsound.com.