Tag Archives: SoundBroker

SoundBroker.org – A Change for the Best is Almost Here

History has a way of repeating itself and if something was done right and it works then you should keep doing it, or as I like to say “if it is not broken don’t fix it”. If that is the case, then if it is broken and history has shown how do do it right, then only a fool will keep doing the same thing the same way and expect a different result.

Thanks to Morris Lyda’s amazing ability to convince me into doing something that I was meant to do, I started selling professional used gear for Disney in August 1997. I had not idea what I was doing, but Morris was convinced that I was the only salesman that could accomplish what he needed. I sold everything that he needed for me to sell to accomplish what he needed accomplished.

Then once again, in March of 1998 Michael McDonald, convinced David Bell and Mark Terry that I could do for JBL what I did for Disney which was to sell their warehouse of discontinued inventory. I did that too. As a matter of fact, everything that I did, I did despite myself. I believe that because I loved what I was doing, the universe took me along for a thrilling ride that is still going strong. I was the first one to use the Internet to market used gear and was the first online broker. All of the rest, came along after SoundBroker.com

There is not a day that goes by that I am not humbled by the success that I have experienced, I feel blessed and lucky. I believe that the key to my success is to be honest, likeable, and trustworthy. To give service, and to make sure that the buyer, the seller, and myself at the end of the transaction are winners.

I have seen our industry evolve from an analog one to a digital one and I have seen the huge profits that once were possible in leasing and renting dwindle to making it more difficult to earn a living. It is with all of the above thoughts in mind that I have decide to introduce a new membership service that will change the world into a better and more profitable place.

I am proud to announce today for your approval, SoundBroker.org a revoultionary new service organization for everyone that is involved in one way or another with profession production service and the support industry. An organization that everyone that participates is a winner.

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I know that developing SoundBroker.org is a huge undertaking, but a necessary one if the industry that I love and created can survive. I believe in my heart and soul that SoundBroker.org is and idea whose time has come. And as we all know, no idea is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.

I also know that SoundBroker.org is going to be a work in progress and that for it to be successful I need the support and nurturing of everyone that has ever benefited from SoundBroker.com.

In the next few weeks, I will be releasing more information encouraging your support. Stay tuned…………..

“You can either bend with the breeze or break”.

Celebrating Going on 17 Years

I read somewhere that most people on their deathbed, talk about what they could have done or should have done with their lives. I also heard that no one says, I wish I put in more time at the office.

We all make choices and then we have to live with the outcome of those choices. In my opinion, the main goal of life is enjoy yourself whenever possible. Having said that, I will say, it is better to be happy doing nothing than to be unhappy and do everything.

I have some friends that are fortunate from the stand point that the work-a-day world that most of the rest of us live in that forces us to make work choices so that we can be in the place to make the rest of the choices that you make every day without having to work. For example, one of my hobbies is taking naps. That is a hobby that that I cannot accomplish while I am at work. However, my friends that are not at work, find plenty of time to practice their hobbies and are quite proficient at taking naps.

I once heard the theory of life life described as the Law of Substitution. Simply stated, it does not matter how much time or money you have, you cannot do everything at the same time. You cannot take a walk in the forrest and search for metals at the beach, you cannot make love and play tennis, you cannot eat and scuba dive, you cannot type and drive a car. I think you get the idea. Likewise no matter how much money you have you cannot buy everything that is available to buy, so you have to make choices. Hopefully the choices you make will be the right choices and the ones that will reward you the way you want to be rewarded.

I feel extremely fortunate that my work life provides me most of the pleasures I desire, and it gives me the free time to do most of what I want to do and most importantly satisfies my need to strive for a worthwhile goal and assisting good people which in turn makes me a living from doing my job. In short, I really enjoy what I do so much so, that it is almost like not working. The only reason it must be called work is that I need to continue doing my job during the times I would prefer to be sleeping (and as of this writing, I have not been able to sleep on the job).

It is with humble heart that I wish to thank each and everyone of the people that allowed me to assist them which in turn has allowed me the chance to live a most enjoyable life.

Here is to the next 17 years,

All my best,

Jan Landy,
CEO and Founder of soundbroker@gmail.com

Get a free HD280 Pro headphone or free monitor carrying case

NEUMANN.BERLIN REBATE: For a limited time only, get a FREE gift with an eligible Neumann microphone or studio monitor purchase Get a free HD280 Pro headphone or free monitor carrying case with your qualifying Neumann purchase! Offers end December 31, 2013

NewImage1. Get a HD280 Pro reference headphone free via mail-in rebate with your purchase of ANY Neumann microphone from an authorized Neumann dealer

OR

2. Get a free soft carrying case with your purchase of a pair of KH 120 studio monitors or any single KH 310 studio monitor from an authorized Sennheiser dealer

To claim your free products by mail, please send:
1) A completed rebate form:
• Download Free HD 280 Pro Rebate Form
• Download Free Monitor Carry Case Rebate Form
2) Original UPC and EAN code (no photocopies from the box accepted) 3) Copy of the original dated sales receipt

Rebate claims must be postmarked by January 31, 2014. Offers valid for U.S. customers only.

Terms and conditions: Rebate via mail-in rebate with the purchase of products mentioned above. Limit (1) free HD 280
via mail-in rebate and (1) KH 120 or (2) KH 310 free soft carrying cases via mail-in rebate per household.

Offer valid only
on purchases made between October 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013 from an authorized Sennheiser USA dealer. Internet auction site purchases are excluded from this offer. Mail-in rebate claim forms must be postmarked no later than January
31, 2014.

Sennheiser distributors, retailers, their employees or their families may not claim rebates on behalf of consumers (end users).

Rebate requests not including proper documentation (this official form, clipping of actual UPC or EAN code from the box, dated sales receipt containing model # and retailer’s name) will be ineligible. Sennheiser is not responsible for lost or misdirected mail. Sennheiser reserves the right to terminate the program at any time. Void where prohibited by law.

Click to access 1013_Neumannn_EU_Rebates.pdf

Sennheiser is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Rebate eligibility as determined by Sennheiser is final. Offer valid to U.S. addresses only, for new product only.SoundBroker com logo copy

Final Reminder: Last Chance for Customers to Download Legacy Avid Video and Broadcast Software is This Thursday, October 31st

October 29, 2013 – Final Reminder: Last Chance for Customers to Download Legacy Avid Video and Broadcast Software is This Thursday, October 31st

This is Avid’s final reminder to you, our resellers, to take action and notify your customers of the important changes Avid is making to software availability as of this Friday, November 1, 2013. This change affects those customers using legacy Avid video or broadcast products. It is critical that you study the information provided and actively reach out to customers TODAY to ensure they take the appropriate steps to back up their software installers by end of day this Thursday, October 31st.

While we will continue to offer downloads of more recent Avid software releases through our Download Center using an Open Source Java alternative, the following versions of software—and all prior releases to these—will be removed indefinitely:

Avid will be sending out a final, “last day to update” reminder email to our customer lists tomorrow, October 30th, but you should reach out to your key customers directly to ensure they understand the impact of this change and the actions they need to take.

What You Need to Do
Call your key customers now to ensure they are well informed and remind them that the deadline for them to back-up their Avid video or broadcast software is this Thursday, October 31st.

Please note that customer licenses and entitlements will not be affected by this change. However, after Thursday, October 31st, Avid Customer Success, Professional Services and our resellers will not be able to assist with the affected software installations listed above; customers will have to rely on their own backup copy to install software.

We have continually updated the Avid Software Availability forum for customers to get tips for downloading, backing up software, and other best practices. If they need last minute backup help, please guide them to the forum.

Resources Available
All reference documents can be found on Partner Central in the Avid Software Availability folder (>CHANNEL PROGRAMS>Communications>Avid Software Availability):
· FAQ (continually updated)
· Avid Software Availability recorded PowerPoint (BrainShark)
· Avid Software Availability Phone Discussion Guidelines

If you have any additional questions please contact your Avid Partner Account Manager. Or SoundBroker.com 702-736-3003

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SoundBroker com logo copy

SoundBroker.com for ALL you ClearCom needs

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Tough exterior for the rigors of everyday use
Incredible sound for hearing even the softest whispers
Ease of operation for even occasional users
Compatible with a range of partyline systems

Housed in a light-weight and ergonomically-design casing, the RS-Series beltpacks are engineered to withstand the demanding day-to-day use even in high-intensity situations. Functions are easily customizable and accessible with simple-to-use straightforward operations.
Use less than half the current draw of previous beltpack series, so you can put twice as many beltpacks onto a system!

For all the details: http://www.clearcom.com/product/partyline/wired-beltpack

NewImageSoundBroker com logo copy

Celebrating 15 years as SoundBroker.com

I am happy to be celebrating my first 15 years doing business as SoundBroker.com.

On Sept 4, 1998 (15 years) I Registered the name SoundBroker.com with ICAN and the rest is history. I want to thank all the people that took a part of our growth. SoundBroker.com is the original and will always be the first and since that day, I have lived with the philosophy : If you are not the lead dog, the view never changes.

I will never have another affair with a Hollywood Starlet.

Read to the end to hear about my affair with a Hollywood Starlet…..

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If you took the time to do the math, you would easily figure out that I founded SoundBroker.com 27 Nov 1997 (16 years ago). That is a long time to do anything even when you love what you do.  Sure many of you have trees in your back yard that 100s of years old and I do not underestimate, how difficult it must be to stand in the same spot, without clothes, never to able to sit down, or for that matter take a break.  Fortunately for me, I have taken many breaks, not stood in the same spot for any length of time and changed my clothes so often, I have lost count.

When you love what you do, it makes it easy to get up in the morning and do it again. I love what I do and I can’t wait to do it again.

In our industry, you get to meet a lot of interesting people in your life some you do business with, some you do not. Some you bond with and some you do not. Those that you bond with makes all worth while to get up and do it again.

One such person, that I have had the privilege to get know and bond with is Lauren Harakidas. Over the last 10 years, Lauren has been with me as my office manager, bookkeeper, secretary, inventory manager, why she has basically done everything any employer would hope for in an employee and more.

As you might imagine over the last 10 years we have become family, so it is with sad heart that I have accepted Lauren’s resignation.  I know that she has also touched everyone of you that is reading this newsletter.  I urge you to reach out and wish Lauren the best of luck in her future endeavors, I am sure that if you feel like I do, she will surely be missed.

My life is going through a myriad of changes at this moment and I am not sure what any of it means, I just know that I am a winner and a champion and living well is the best revenge. I must say I do live well. However, on to the list of challenges I face:

1) After 61 years of next to perfect health and never having surgery before, on January 25, 2013, I fell to the floor in the most pain that I have ever experienced in my entire life.  The pain lasted until April 9, 2013 at which time, I under went a double Hemilaminectomy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laminotomy).  Now I am getting healthier everyday and I would say I am at 96%. Still have some numbness in my things, but I will take numbness over pain any day of the week, including today. Physical therapy is a wonderful agony.

2)  After almost 10 years living in the same place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I find that my roommate and I have decided to give up our place. I am sad about this, although I knew that it was going to happen for over a year, I just didn’t know when.
3) I broke up with my girlfriend. Although she was imaginary, I can tell you the pain feels real, unlike her.  I alway have had a good imagination, but this time it had me going.  I am sure given time my mind will come up with another one for me, but right now, I need the time and space to heal.
4) Lauren quit after 10 years of working for me.  The change in the office environment, the time I will invest in hiring her replacement and then the training. I have come to terms with the training as, I am going to take on the training personally.  I have come to know myself to a point where I can almost second guess myself.
5) I will be going through a rebirth of sorts as I will be in the thick of training. I am actually looking forward to this as I am sure that will reinvigorate me to strive to make the most of what I have built and make the necessary changes to forge into the future.  What better way, then to go back to the basics? And with the training I will trust back to the basics.
6) I am wondering who is still reading this
7) The bank that financed my office building 5 years ago, would not refinance my loan and the balloon payment is coming due, instead they extended the loan for a year. That by the way is the good news, I am not in the street and they lowered my mortgage interest from 5% to 3.4% and that is a significant monthly saving. Here is the bad news, I did not want to go through the refinancing next year, so I applied for a loan with a different bank, one that I do almost all of my business with, they have my home, my car, my, my, my…. And it turns out although they approved me for a loan, the appraisal came out so low that and the interest raised to 4.5% that it doesn’t pay to move the loan. Very depressing.
8) I am getting older everyday and James Wood is dating a 22-year-old.
9) The NSA is monitoring my phone calls and I have nothing to hide, not like when I was in my 20s and living in the Hollywood Hills of California.
10) I will never have an affair with a hollywood starlet.
11) My dog doesn’t love me. No wait!!! I don’t have a dog, that must be someone else’s’ life. But why not keep in here for the humor.
12) Paula Dean is called out for being a racist, rather than for all the people she’s given heart problems to with the amount of butter in her recipes.
11) I need to save more for later. Did I tell you I am remodeling my house in Vegas and I am Rio?
My friend Peter, told me this week that when one door closes an other opens. So it is at a time like this when I am feeling down in the dumps and wondering what the future holds in store for me, I remember my Uncle Al’s words to me. “You are a champion and when a champion gets knocked down, he back up and gives it his all”.
The one and only thing that is certain in life is that our lives will not stay constant. We are born (no one knows why) and from that moment on we are on a path to die (no one knows why).  From time to time, there are moments of joy,  happiness, achievements, friendships, magic moments and myriad of other occurrences that for a moment or two allow us the opportunity to forget that eventually……
I ran out of room on this blog to cover the part about me and the Hollywood Starlet,  tune in to my next post.

Swimming with the Sharks

Last week, I did one of the most amazing things of my life and that was swim with Whale Sharks. They are huge. The whale shark is the largest non-cetacean animal in the world. The average size of adult whale sharks is estimated at 9.7 metres (31.82 ft) and 9 tonnes (20,000 lb). They are docile and gentle. But to be less than 6 inches away from one is an experience, I will never forget, as I will always remember those of you that have supported SoundBroker.com that have allowed me to have this opportunity. Image

SoundBroker.com turns 14 years old

14 years ago today on September 4th, I registered the domain SoundBroker.com. Since that day, I never once looked back with a regret. SoundBroker.com has changed the way people buy used equipment in the world. All of my competitors (including Ebay, which I don’t really consider a competitor) have copied some of my ideas.

Happy Anniversary SoundBroker.com may you live forever.

The Heat and the Humanity of it all

Hope you are staying cool this summer. It hit 114 degrees in Vegas last week and it is only July. Just imagine how hot it would have been if it wasn’t a dry heat. Fortunately for me I was working out of my place in Rio and here it is winter. How hot was it where you were?

I would really appreciate it if you would buy like your life depended on it and place multiple orders, every day this week, that way we would be so busy, we wouldn’t notice the heat. FYI: I will be back in the Vegas office on Monday, so I will feel the heat if you don’t.

Actually I will feel the heat of the Las Vegas sun whether you buy or not, but if you buy a lot, I won’t care how the weather is (but even if you don’t buy, you still must be impressed that I was able to use both whether and weather in the same sentence).