Rod Fishwick

ASV Audio Visual has handled the sound, light and visuals for some of the biggest celebrations and events on the Sunshine Coast in the past 15 years or more. Their repertoire includes everything from Telstra awards and road shows to the Diesel and Evermore concerts, to the Noosa Jazz Festival and the Coolum Kite Festival.

ASV can bring that same expertise to a person’s home audiovisual experience, and the company also does permanent installations for corporate clients and institutions such as schools and hospitals.

Rod Fishwick, the owner, remembers that the business got started the way many successful businesses get started; by recognising and filling a need.

He says, “While singing in bands in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, I came to recognise the need for sound and lighting hire on a professional and corporate level. After personally experiencing a number of events that had little or no thought process to the relevance of pre-planning, technical design or even a simple event schedule, I decided that there was a niche in the market that I was able to develop.”

Now ASV offers professional sound, lighting and visuals for live events and permanent installations state wide from the stage to the home. ASV has custom-designed and installed permanent systems for Nambour Hospital, Catholic Education, Sands Tavern, Chic Boutique in Brisbane, Gatton Sports Centre, Myer Centre and Redbank Plaza among others.

Rod says it really is worth it to, “engage the services of professional event managers and a technical team, working closely with you to get the best possible outcome. This way you can rest assured you have not overlooked anything and, most importantly, enjoy yourself at your event!”

ASV also has, according to Rod, the largest inventory of rental audiovisual equipment north of Brisbane. That includes PA systems, lighting, speakers, mixers, amplifiers, data projectors, plasma and LCD screens, microphones and the latest DJ equipment.

ASV has been in business in Queensland since 1993. While the company has hardly looked back since its formation, Rod himself took a while to find his feet. “I did so many things,” he recalls. “When I left school, I was a silver-service waiter at Parliament House; then for about 15 years, I owned a production company based in Canberra touring entertainers and bands and assisting corporate clients around Australia.”

Beyond the technical know-how, Rod says the secret to ASV’s success has been and will continue to be, “our attention to detail and ongoing good old-fashioned service. ASV employs passionate people who continually uphold our philosophy of the importance of placing relationships ahead of dollars.”

There’s a lot of competition in the audiovisual industry in Queensland and the rest of the country, but ASV has managed to push ahead and land many of the big events and clients, including Westpac Bank, the Abu Dhabi tourism authority, Bunnings Warehouse, Joe Camilleri and the Black Sorrows and Alex Lloyd. ASV also did all the audiovisual preparation, setup and execution for the Daniel Morcombe Foundation’s “Dance for Daniel” and the “Dragons Abreast” event.

Rod says he’s kept the competition at bay by, “how we service our clients and build relationships. We listen to what our clients want and over-deliver. There is a saying I like: ‘You were born with one mouth, two eyes and two ears. So look and listen twice as much as you talk.’”

Rod says it’s that “human dimension” that’s brought about the lifelong relationships that ASV has with its customers. “People can be confident their event is in good hands,” he says, because the company makes sure it understands the client’s vision. Even though the planning and execution of an event or installation can be complex, Rod believes, “our down-to-earth and friendly approach,” is just as important.

Like any good Australian, Rod doesn’t take himself too seriously. “There are a lot of things people should never know about me,” he says. “But what I will share is the success behind the company. We have more than 50 years’ combined industry experience, managing and launching names such as Carl Baron, Marcia Hines and John English, to name a few.”

Rod and ASV will be busier than many as the festive season approaches, but he reminds everyone to, “take the time to appreciate all the amazing people you have in your life: family, friends, colleagues and clients. Also take time out to value yourself and what is really important to you.”