Multiple Hats
“I was an audio guy, a systems engineer. That’s what I really like. I can also get by as a programmer now as well,” Ciungan says.
But the first couple of years of ownership were a whirlwind of other responsibilities, where his roles included selling and advancing shows and events, system tech, prep and de-prep, truck loading and unloading, scene changes, and business management – handling billing, payroll and keeping the books.
He remains Burst’s sole managing member, but recently there’s been some restructuring and rebranding, as well as bringing in solid, silent financial partners to help the company move forward.
It’s paid off in a big way, with Burst expanding its reach in the festival market as well as a big push in national touring, corporate events, and television and film applications.
“Our focus in past years has been festivals,” he explains. “We have a team that really understands how festivals work and can execute them well. They’re a different animal from a tour or a corporate show, and now I’m shifting a lot more responsibility to my team, which allows me to focus on progressively pursuing new ideas and better ways to do things.”
The festivals the company currently works with include internationally known events such as the Electric Forest and Electric Zoo fests, Dlectricity, Movement and the Pemberton Music Festival in British Columbia. “Those are the main ones,” Ciungan notes, “but we also do regional events and our roster is still expanding; doubling, maybe even tripling.”
Roughly 80-percent of Burst’s business is now done on a national level, with clients from out of state and Canada, all around North America. “Regionally, on the other hand, we’re kind of a dry hire, rental house supporting other lighting and audio companies around here,” he adds.
Significant Growth
Ciungan recently moved the company to a 35,000-square-foot facility in suburban Romulus, MI. It offers 28-foot trim heights and 3,500-square-foot pre-visualization suites so lighting designers can come in to run through and program their entire shows. There’s also an overnight break room that programmers can sleep in if they’re working late, along with a post-production audio suite to mix down live recordings, set up mixing consoles, go through show files and more.
The new digs also include a 3,000-square-foot continuing education space in which Ciungan plans to host Smaart classes, system optimization courses, lighting controller training, and rigging workshops. “Anything that we can do to keep our staff on their toes and stay up with progressive technology,” he says, adding that the facility acts as the main preparation area for the festivals and tours the company works.
Burst has also just opened up sales offices in Los Angeles and Nashville, along with an office/warehouse in Las Vegas, stepping up its overall presence and sales force in the national market.