Starsound Audio, Inc.

Starsound Audio Inc., a full-scale audio production company in Reno, Nevada, has been around for nearly 50 years. But when Nick Sorrentino took over as President, he saw an opportunity to transform the way they do business. Starsound is known for delivering sound, lighting, and production services to casinos, festivals, and major events, and the company had grown beyond the capacity of its outdated planning processes. To keep pace with their expanding workload, they needed a solution to streamline crew scheduling, inventory management, and communication—Rentman provided exactly that.

We spoke with Nick and Connor Mix, Director of Operations, to discuss how Rentman improved their processes, communications, and work-life balance.

The challenge: Outgrowing legacy systems

For decades, Starsound used old-school manual processes. They relied on Excel spreadsheets for invoices and text messages to schedule staff. “Scheduling was, ‘I’m going to text you,’ and that was how it was done,” Nick recalls. This system became increasingly unsustainable as Starsound took on larger events, sometimes managing up to ten shows in a single weekend.

“Before Rentman, we had no idea where our gear was. We were printing out pick-and-pull sheets in the warehouse and hoping things didn’t get overbooked,” explains Nick. Staff also faced confusion about their assignments.

This lack of structure created inefficiencies, equipment shortages, and frequent last-minute conflicts when crew members had taken on gigs with other companies. Availability was a huge issue across their organization, which wasn’t sustainable — especially as they continued to grow.

The solution: Planning with confidence using Rentman

Recognizing the need for a robust solution, Starsound implemented Rentman within three months of Nick’s takeover. Rentman’s built-in scheduling and equipment tracking features transformed how Starsound planned and executed their events.

Key improvements with Rentman’s planning tools:

• Crew scheduling with advance notice: “Now, when we set up projects weeks or months in advance, we can say ‘Okay? These people are gonna be on a load in these, people are gonna be engineering. This person is gonna be doing lights.’ And so sometimes, weeks ahead of time, these guys are gonna know exactly what they're doing that week,” says Nick. The ability to plan ahead gives Starsound crew an added advantage: they know when they’re going to work so they don’t panic and book something else.
• Centralized equipment tracking: With 5,000 pieces of equipment in their inventory, real-time tracking is critical. “Rentman helps us know exactly where our gear is at all times. If we have seven shows over a weekend, we can avoid overbooking and ensure every event has what it needs,” Nick explains. And keeping tabs on what’s being overused and what isn’t is an added bonus, allowing them to stay on top of repairs and wear.
• Logistics and mileage planning: Nick and Connor are huge fans of Rentman’s transportation features. They love that they can now automatically calculate delivery fees accurately, to keep ahead of costs so they’re never paying out of pocket if the mileage is wrong.

The impact: Growth fueled by better planning

Since adopting Rentman, Starsound has seen incredible results. “The company was doing low seven figures for a decade. After our first summer with Rentman, we grew 50%, and we did it again the following year. Now, we’re nearing mid-seven figures,” Nick shares. This growth was made possible by improved forecasting and better planning across the board.

In addition to driving revenue, Rentman also reduced the administrative burden on the team. “Without Rentman, we would’ve needed three or four more production managers just to keep up,” Connor jokes. The time saved (roughly 40 hours per week) has given Nick and his team a better work-life balance.

Easing into change

The transition to Rentman wasn’t received as warmly as Nick and Connor hoped. Long-time employees, some with 30 years of experience, initially resisted the switch from manual methods to software-based systems. “Change is scary,” Connor explains, “and change can be hard for people who are used to doing things a certain way for decades.”

Nevertheless, they persisted. Now even their reluctant long-term crew, who were used to pushing boxes instead of using apps, are fully onboard. “They’ve come to rely on it,” Nick says. Winter downtime has become a crucial period for fully integrating Rentman, with plans to improve even further. “This winter, we’re aiming to onboard everyone completely and use Rentman 100%,” Nick confirms.

A better way forward

By embracing Rentman’s planning features, Starsound Audio has unlocked new levels of efficiency, growth, and employee satisfaction. With the chaos of manual scheduling behind them, the team can now focus on what they do best: delivering exceptional production services to their clients.

Starsound’s success story just goes to show the power of effective planning — and the difference the right platform can make.

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