TURNED UP: Musician and E.C. Native Launches Live Sound Equipment Rental Biz
’I just want to be an opportunity for the music scene to grow,’ owner says
Mckenzie Minter, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
The music scene is always growing in the Chippewa Valley, and it doesn’t stop short of new storefronts. As of October, Eau Claire has a new music store, EC Pro Audio, 1414 S. Hastings Way. The business will primarily serve as a live-sound rental company for musicians, DJs, backyard events, and parties.
What started off as a side hustle while a contract musician in Austin, Texas, eventually became an established career for the owner, Zak Schweitzer. Since moving back to Eau Claire, he’s decided to open up a storefront, however, the rental service will mainly operate through a website.
“I just want to be as accommodating as possible for any and all musicians or anyone that needs live sound in the Chippewa Valley,” Schweitzer said. “I just want to be an opportunity for the music scene to grow.”
Schweitzer grew up in Eau Claire but attended William Paterson University in New Jersey for sound engineering. After graduating and moving to Texas, he started up his business, buying and selling high-end guitars, basses, and studio gear through services like Reverb and eBay.
“There are tons of musicians that I would love to see gain some more popularity and some more recognition,” Schweitzer said. “It’s a nice balance of lots of talent but at the same time, there’s a universal contentment for the variety and the music scene locally.”
When seeing the lack of high-end equipment in the area, Schweitzer knew he wanted to provide the Chippewa Valley two things: quality gear for those who need it and consideration for his customers.
You can visit EC Pro Audio at 1414 S Hastings Way, Eau Claire, or online at ecproaudio.com.
