On the surface – or anywhere else for that matter – the similarities onstage between rapper and singer Jelly Roll (a.k.a., Jason Ford) and Dolly Parton seem about nil at best. But both Southern-bred musicians have shared more than a passing degree of similitude up on the risers, at least in terms of relying upon Gulf South Productions to provide sound reinforcement and other production elements vital to their performances.
“There’s no doubt about it,” says Hattiesburg, MS-based Gulf South Productions owner and founder Daniel Lozada, “the systems we assembled this summer for Jelly Roll and Dolly Parton with RCF HDL Series components were jam-up rigs.
“We’re one of only five full-time production houses in our state offering turnkey audio, so we must bring performance and versatility to all kinds of environments and for a diverse range of artists. Our inventory must be flexible enough to handle everything from a low-budget, 500-person concert for a non-profit in a municipal park to headlining A-List acts filling large arenas and outdoor venues.”
Gulf South was formed in 1999 as a DJ and event lighting company focusing primarily upon weddings and small events. From these humble origins the business consistently grew to a point in 2013 when Lozada acquired a local sound and staging company that served small festivals and concerts.
With an eye set upon becoming a major regional player well-versed in all aspects of the production world, by January of this year he had expanded Gulf South to a level where another acquisition – this time of the staging division of Kenner, Louisiana’s Pelican Events – made the company the largest provider of Stageline mobile hydraulic stages in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Northwest Florida, East Texas and Lower Tennessee.
“Every year opportunity and acquisition seem to accelerate our progress exponentially,” Lozada says with an almost dizzying air of disbelief at the continued runaway pace of Gulf South’s success. “At this point we’re offering audio, lighting, video, rigging, backline, staging, infrastructure, and staffing for everything from small corporate events to multi-day music festivals with crowds of over 20,000. We’re also sending consoles, mics, and IEM packages out with national tours.”
Everything & Anthing
Lozada and Gulf South forged a relationship with RCF in July of 2019 after examining numerous options out there in seeking versatility, value-oriented engineering, and a single, cohesive systems approach. Asked what they’d like to demo from RCF’s U.S. office in Edison, NJ as the dialog between the two companies progressed, Lozada described his needs in detail and replied everything and anything that made sense. Less than 24 hours later, a 26-foot box truck arrived at their doorstep filled with gear.
“They told us to go ahead and try and tear it up,” he recalls. “But we couldn’t, we wound up being the only ones taking a beating. Based upon the results of that experience, I began assembling what today has become an inventory of over 250 RCF components, making us one of the largest RCF-based production houses in North America.
“In addition to a large quantity of HDL 50-A 4K/HDL 30-A line array boxes and SUB 9006-AS subwoofers, we also own several HDL 26-A line array elements, TT+ Series wedges and point source boxes, HD Series point source boxes and SUB 9004-AS subwoofers.”
Gulf South currently employs nine full-time staff members and 16 part-time associates, many of whom have been with the firm in one capacity or another for five years or more. Among the crew are both specialized techs and engineers as well as a group of multi-talented individuals capable of quickly jumping into any aspect of a production.
“I always maintain that we don’t really rent or sell gear,” Lozada concludes. “We’re a company that provides its clients with peace of mind. Live event production should never include worries or anxiety. That takes the fun out of things for everyone.”
