The origins of brand
StageSmarts has now begun its 8th year, and we thought we’d share the philosophy behind the brand and why we do what we do.
We chose the name StageSmarts as we had ideas for various products in many stage-related areas. In the end, we decided to focus on power distribution. It’s was a product type that had really fallen behind everything else and a type of product that everyone needed. Clearly, there was a need and an opportunity for us.
The “Stage” part is kind of self-explanatory – our products are used primarily for all kinds of performing arts applications; concerts and theatre shows but also at soundstages for TV and film as well as corporate presentations etc. After all, they say the world is a stage, so plenty more to work on!
But what’s the “Smarts” about in StageSmarts?
Some believe that we’ve put a bit of technology inside, but that’s actually just a small part of it.
Safety. Accidents related to electricity causes many thousands of deaths every year. Our senses can’t detect electric hazards. We can’t see, smell or hear dangerous electricity. But once you touch it…And this danger goes for the connected equipment too. Lights, amplifiers, computers, video screens all lack protection against electrical faults. Thus, a faulty electrical supply can cause a lot of costly damage. Most electrical accidents can be avoided, but it takes knowledge as well as using the right equipment. At StageSmarts, we try to contribute by delivering the very best equipment, as well as to inform and educate about the best practices. Be safe, not sorry.
Monitored. We make electricity visible. You can only manage what you can measure, and knowing how much current flows when and where right down to the individual circuits and socket is key to understanding and managing power distribution. But simply collecting this information is not enough. It also needs to get properly presented through an intuitive user interface.
Adaptable. No two shows are the same, and every situation has unique requirements. Our monitoring software can be tailored to the needs of each project, and many of our products can also be adapted on the hardware side. And all our products are built and certified to all applicable standards across some 50+ countries.
Researched. This is where we differ the most from other providers of power distribution equipment. At StagesSmarts, we put a lot of time and effort into creating the best solution to each technical challenge. In some cases, we can buy something that does the job. In many cases, we have to develop and manufacture it ourselves. We continuously improve our products based on feedback from our customers as well as our own experiences.
Tough. Power distribution products get shipped around frequently, sometimes handled a bit rough and occasionally accidentally falling off trucks and stages. This requires our products to be built really tough as well as to be easy to service when so needed.
Stylish. The best deserves to look the best. And that’s not just about pride of ownership, it has as much to do with functionality. A straightforward design with a logical flow makes a product easier to understand and use. This does not add to the cost of manufacture, it only adds a bit of time and effort at the design stage. Our anodized and laser engraved panels will look like new regardless of how many layers of tape they get subjected to over decades of use.
So there you have it, our smarts deciphered!
Now make an even smarter decision and get in touch with us.
Written by Mats Karlsson, CEO of StageSmarts AB