Frankie and the sound of success
INTERNATIONAL singing star Tommy Fleming can take the blame for launching a young Castlebar man on the road to establishing a successful business, writes Tom Gillespie.
The Sligo crooner booked a youthful Frankie McDonald to provide the sound system for a gig at McGolderick’s Bar in Castlebar in 1992.
But little did the successful singer realise that Frankie did not have any equipment to fulfil the booking.
Frankie, now the proprietor of AV Ltd., who provide professional sound, stage and lighting solutions, took up the story: "I got a call from Tommy Fleming wondering would I do sound for him in McGolderick's. I didn’t have the equipment for it, but I told him I had.
"I went down to Castlebar Credit Union and took out a loan and went shopping. I hadn’t a clue what I was doing.
"Owning my own business would be Tommy Fleming’s fault! That gig gave me the confidence to go out on my own."
At the weekend, Frankie provided the sound, lighting and stage for the Castlebar Pantomime production of Aladdin, which was staged at An Sportlann, in the county town, from January 2 to 5.
Frankie, a native of Main Street, Castlebar, said: "We go into an empty hall and we will build the whole lot. We put everything in on a blank canvas - drapes, lights, sound, etcetera.
"In the case of the Castlebar panto, it took us three days to build it in An Sportlann and two days to take it down. We facilitate the full production and it was all in stock. It was a big undertaking.
"For the panto production, we draped the entire room with acoustic drapes which enhanced the sound and took away the echo. It is very important, otherwise the sound would be all over the place.
"With the panto we had two rehearsals before Christmas and we went back in on January 1 and the curtain on the first show went up on January 2."
Frankie explained how the business came about: "I come from a business background. My grandparents had a grocery shop on Main Street, Castlebar. After they retired my mother took it over until about 1997 when my she retired and we sold the business.
"I never really worked in the shop, just the odd time. I spent more time stealing sweets than I did selling them!
"My dad had an interest in music. He had a particular love of vinyl. I started listening to records and followed suit. I bought my first sound station from Joe O’Neill in Glenamaddy in 1985 and I just took it from there.
"Sean Horkan gave me my first residency in Castlebar Boxing Club. I was getting £13 on a Sunday. People paid 50p in.
"Every Sunday mum used to drop me up in the car. Everything was thrown in to the back of the car. It progressed from there and then I put the money back in to it again."
Back in 1988 Frankie did sound for a production of Grease for the students in Davitt College with Joe O’Neill’s equipment. That was his first musical.
Later, he spent 21 years as resident DJ in the Welcome Inn Hotel in Castlebar.
Frankie continued: "The biggest challenge now is keeping up with technology. It’s not a problem. It is great for business, but you have to be upgrading all the time. It is a very costly business to be in, but the rewards are great if the work is there.
"I reinvest all the time. I recently made an investment of almost €40,000 in staging and sound equipment."
Prior to the PA hire, Frankie was a DJ for 30 years. He explained: "That scene has changed, all changed. That scene is gone and thankfully the hire has taken over. Six or seven years ago it was all DJ-ing.
"There was a little bit of hire but since Bosh pub on Linenhall Street, Castlebar, closed everything has changed for me. I was there for 14 years and that was the bread and butter.
"It was gradual, I suppose. After 10 years we lost the Sunday nights and then it was Thursdays. Then it was down to one night a week and then it just closed."
Frankie’s business was originally PA Hire and in September he formed a new company, AV Limited.
The introduction of digital mixing desks in recent times, he said, has made life so much easier. "Again, it’s a learning curve. I came from an analogue background and now it is all touchscreen.
"Every week is different. We have bookings 12 months in advance.
"Going forward I would like to expand the business more and hopefully pass it down to my son, seven-year-old Frankie Junior. He has an interest in it too. He likes mixing desks and microphones.
"There is great satisfaction when an event goes well and the feedback is great. When things go to plan it is great for everyone."
Coming up, Frankie has a show in February for the Achill Dramatic Society musical and Mayo County Council’s road safety show in Breaffy House. In March he will facilitate the Castlebar Dramatic and Musical Society’s production of Annie in the GMIT Hall in St. Mary’s.
Then in April and May, AV Ltd. will embark on a full theatre tour of Ireland with Michael English for his new spectacular new musical drama, Who Dares to Dream, written by Michael English and Tommy Marren of Midwest Radio.
Set in both Ireland and England in the 1960s, this spectacular stage show tells the story of Joey McCann (Michael English) who dreams of becoming a music star.
The première will be staged at the Royal Theatre, Castlebar, on Friday and Saturday, April 3 and 4.
Frankie McDonald of AV Ltd. can be contacted on (087) 2551979 or email pahireireland@gmail.com.
* Do you have a story to tell about your business? If so, Tom Gillespie would be delighted to hear from you. Get in touch at (087) 9680780 or gillespietom49@gmail.com.