Evoking a highly stylized theme best described as 'academia meets vaudeville' the Loud marketing team converted the massive Woodinville warehouse into a full-service, hands-on training facility that was equal parts entertaining and educational. Bell continued: "As soon as our attendees stepped off their buses onto a red carpet lined with cheering Loud employees huddled in the drizzly Washington rain, they knew that this was going to be much more than a typical training seminar. And it only got better from there. When they entered the facility, jaws literally dropped as eyes scanned the room, taking in what we had worked so hard to create. The energy level and excitement was incredible and only built as the event kicked off."
Providing hands-on time with products and direct access to product managers was a key educational ingredient in the Loud-a-Palooza formula. Six classrooms were constructed and filled with Mackie, TAPCO, EAW and EAW Commercial branded products. Both overview and deep-dive technical courses were offered covering a breadth of topics including Mackie Recording products, the Digital X Bus, and the TT24 Digital Live Console, to EAW touring products and the EAW Commercial family.
"As a technical consultant and the one in charge of technical support in Israel, I found the training very useful and educating," commented Ilan Murad of Malilit, a Loud Technologies distributor in Israel. "We will all benefit from this, socially as well as educationally, as we promote and support the products."
Capping off the third and final night of Loud-a-Palooza was the equally anticipated Mackie 15-Year Anniversary Party. In attendance were hundreds of domestic and international representatives from the entire Mackie family as well as friends from the pro audio industry. The night began with a series of "Honorary Mackoid" awards, presented to valued friends of Mackie by the company's founding father, Greg Mackie. Then a special one-time only viewing of the Mackie 15-Year Anniversary Video became the highlight of the night (think "Behind the Music," Mackie style). This never-to-be-released 20-minute video re-told the Mackie story, candid interviews with Greg and other Mackoids, and more than a good dose of Mackie follies and humour.
Local funk-soul-rock band Maktub immediately followed the movie, then performances by Playboy Mansion percussionist Ravi and Seattle's own DJ Tone rounded out the evening.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
