Real Weddings Partner Profiles: Stage 1, Inc.

Welcome back to another installment of Real Weddings Magazine’s Partner Profiles!
This week, we highlight Mark Triebwasser, President and CEO of Stage 1, Inc.! If you’ve got big ideas for your wedding, the team at Stage 1, Inc. will make it happen! Whatever you can dream up is fair game with their talents, experience and diverse inventory of equipment. Take it away, Mark…

Stage 1, Inc.

Tell us a little about your company?  Stage 1, Inc. is a theatrical lighting and staging contractor company that provides theatrical and event equipment for the entertainment and wedding industries. Our divisions are Lighting, Rigging and Staging and our services are Rentals, System Integration, Service and Labor. We are based in Folsom and we service all of California and Nevada.
When did you establish your business? February 2004
What sets you apart from your competition? Stage 1, Inc. is setting a new standard for others to follow with its current, innovative, cutting edge, elaborate and elegant lighting design concepts. From masterminding custom built stages over bodies of water to rigging theatrical equipment in places others wouldn’t think of or try to do, Stage 1, Inc. is the market’s fastest growing Theatrical Contractor Company.
In the last eight years our hallmarks have proven that our “Think Outside the Box” process gives our clients the most unique, passionate, elegant and breath taking design concepts ever seen in the area. Anybody can put up a couple of lights on a wall and a couple pattern lights on a dance floor and say they do lighting, along with the plethora of other services they offer. But by specializing and offering only three trades that strictly revolve around entertainment lighting systems; this insures the highest quality of work that’s provided to our clients, along with our resources and talents not being spread too thin, and on trades we don’t know best. Stage 1 is solely a lighting, rigging and staging contractor company for the entertainment industry. It’s what we do every day, it’s the ONLY thing we do, and it’s what we always have done. And, we are dang good at it too.
We know the importance of customer service, professionally maintained equipment, safety and after hours support. That is why that is all embedded into our vision and our mission statement. Stage 1 will always deliver more than what we promise and treat each client like you are our only client. Our slogan says it all, “Large Company Service, Small Business Feel,” and that is what separates us from the competition.
Where do you find inspiration?  From many different various applications and things. One thing I learned from commanding an entire military school when I was 18 years old is that you don’t share command. If I told you where I find all my inspiration then that’s like me telling how we stay ahead of the competition.
What trend do you see coming for weddings this year?  We are getting more and more calls for clear stages being built over pools. The stage gets used as the dance floor for the entire wedding and clients can have the water whatever color they want. This is a very innovative idea that is becoming more and more popular for both weddings on private properties and at regular wedding venues that have pools.
Do you regularly blog? If so, what’s your blog site?  We just launched our new web site on July 1st and there is a blog feature that our CMO will be doing monthly posts on equipment reviews, upcoming and current projects, industry news, company press and newly added equipment in our rental inventory… topics like that. Visit our blog at stage1sac.com/about-s1/blog
Do you Facebook? Twitter? Pinterest? Google+? Yes! Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/stage1sac

What’s your favorite comment/compliment that one of your clients has given you?  It’s pretty much the same comment/compliment that we get from just about all our clients — they come up and say I now finally realize what your slogan really means…“Large Company Service, Small Business Feel.” They also comment on how they were glad they chose an actual lighting/staging contractor company and that they truly can see and experience how that was the right decision. Because we have such a large, diverse inventory of equipment and because we are only providing one service and not two or three others, it allows us to be extremely innovative and creative in really making our clients vision and dream become a reality.
What’s your favorite local restaurant?  Sienna in El Dorado Hills and Paul Martin’s American Bistro in Roseville… best happy hour cocktails/appetizers for a great price and it goes until 7 p.m.!
What’s your favorite local charity?  Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship. Learn more at sierratrails.org.
What is your favorite fun thing to do locally?  Wine tasting in Napa Valley.
Do you have secret vice or indulgence? What is it?  Sea salt chocolate and red wine.
Do you have any hidden talents?  If I told you they wouldn’t be hidden anymore now would they?!
If you were to plan your own wedding, or re-do your wedding, what elements would be most important to you?  The food, the entertainment and the overall atmosphere and ambiance. People will always remember the food, and if they have had a good time or not.
What advice would you can give to brides and grooms getting married today?  You have to have lighting at your wedding. It’s like that last splash of paint you need to complete your masterpiece. Without it, it won’t be fully complete! There is a reason why all of the top and famous wedding coordinators in the entire country are all using lighting at their weddings and events. And there is a reason why they are using actual lighting companies to facilitate it all.
Anything else you’d like to share with Real Weddings Magazine’s brides?  Check out our all new Web site: stage1sac.com.
Find out more about Mark and his team at Stage 1, Inc. by visiting their Web site, blog and Facebook page!
Photos courtesy of Stage 1, Inc.