DIRECT
SOUND
If you want the BEST Air Show Air Boss & Narration Team in the Business then
You need DIRECT SOUND. With over 60 years of Air Show Management Experience,
DIRECT SOUND is the “Best of the Best” and at a very affordable price.
DIRECT = DIRECTION
Kenneth W. Hopper – call sign NEVER SWEAT. Ken has been around
Air shows and aviation almost his entire life. Started his own
International aviation consulting and management company in 1980,
has produced, managed, air boss, designed and directed air shows all
over the world, from Davenport, Iowa to Tokyo, Japan.
Ken is a professional air boss and air show producer, with over 30 years
experience in the air show industry, a member of ICAS and this year will
mark his participation in his 30 ICAS convention.
Ken provides total air show management and consulting services as well
as providing the most important safety part of any air show, being the
AIR BOSS. With over 200 air shows successfully under his DIRECTION
as an AIR BOSS, Ken, or as we call him – NEVER SWEAT, has a reputation
for delivering a powerful, insightful and thorough air show safety flight
briefing that leaves nothing in doubt, the flow of his air shows are legendary
and he takes command to ensure a safe, professional and entertaining
Event. Ken has a unbelievable passion for this industry. Ken is a professional
pilot and Captain, with ratings in both Airplane and Helicopter.
SOUND = NARRATION
Rhett Grotziner - call sign VELET. Rhett’s voice and style, knowledge,
passion and commitment to be the voice of the air show is unmatched.
he understands each and every act, knows what needs to be said, knows
what the audience wants to hear and makes it smooth as VELET. He keeps
the audience involved, entertained and updated on every performance.
Rhett is an accomplished pilot and understands every routine that every
performer is flying. Rhett takes control of the MIC in the early hours to thank
the important sponsors, continues into play by play of the air show and wraps
up by again thanking all sponsors, volunteers, supporters and reminds everyone
what an air show is and how special we are to be able to witness one.
SAFE – PROFESSIONAL – KNOWLEDGE – PASSION - COMMITMENT
THE AIR BOSS
DIRECTION
Kenneth W. Hopper
Ken has been air bossing air shows for over
30 years, over 200 air shows to date and is
industry known for providing a thorough, well
prepared flight briefing, that is presented in a
professional power-point format custom designed
to your event, your schedule and your show.
Ken continues from the daily flight briefing to final discussions with each performer, each flight
ramp and hot pit staff member to the FAA to make sure we have no issues. Then to the tower
to make any final adjustments with the narrator, then off to the air boss area for last minute
show details with air boss staff to making sure the FAA Waiver is in effect, airspace and all
roads within the aerobatic box are sterile – then it is SHOW TIME.
The SELECTION of your AIR BOSS, is one of the, if not the most important thing you can do
for conducting a SAFE air show. This is where Ken Hopper is at his best, he is a natural at
being an AIR BOSS and has never been NOT INVITED BACK at an air show !!!
What separates Ken Hopper over all other air show air bosses, is that Ken not only is a
professional air boss, he has also been producing, directing, consulting and managing air
shows all over the world for more then 30 years. One of Ken Hoppers air shows is the highly
successful and nationally recognized QUAD CITY AIR SHOW, which will be celebrating its
27th Air Show in 2013. This air show was selected the NUMBER ONE LARGE AIR SHOW of
the Year in 2011 by the United States Navy. It is important when selecting an air boss, to
hire someone that also understands what an air show is, how to raise the sponsorship, select
the performers, hire the concessionaire, develop and manage the various committees, no one
understands this more then KEN HOPPER.
Ken is also a professional, commercial pilot, holds the following ratings, SEL, SES, SEI, MEL,
MEI, ROTOR, ROTOR INSTRUMENT, Tailwheel, is qualified in both piston and turbine
aircraft, has almost 10,000 accident, incident free hours in over 85 different types of aircraft,
and is a senior warbird pilot, qualified to fly all L-birds, T-6, SNJ, T-28, T-34, C-45, B-25.
If you want the BEST – Hire the BEST – Ken Hopper
THE NARRATOR
SOUND
Rhett Grotzinger
Rhett has been narrating air shows for over
30 years, over 250 air shows to date and is
industry known for providing a thorough, well
prepared narration, tailored to each performers specific
needs and music. Rhett is known as the PERFORMERS
NARRATOR, as he understands what each performer
needs and what they are presenting to the public..
Rhett starts preparing for the air show narration once the show producer and air boss select
and finalize the show schedule, what acts, timeline, etc. Rhett then contacts all performers
scheduled and gets their current bio, script and music required for their performance. When it
is show time, Rhett attends the flight briefing and receives any performer and schedule
updates and final prepares for the narration of the approaching air show.
The SELECTION of your NARRATOR is very, very important as that person is the only VOICE
your sponsors, supporters, spectators hear through-out the day or weekend at the air show.
You want a professional that not only understands the air show industry, but also someone that
can highlight your staff, your volunteers, your sponsors and supporters and work hand and
hand with the AIR BOSS on keeping the air show fast paced and on-track.
Rhett is also an aircraft pilot, with thousands of flight hours and recently just sold his fully
restored Boeing PT-17 Stearman and know loves flying his Husky.
It is time to hire – DIRECT-SOUND for your air show.
SERVICES OFFERED
AIR BOSS
Act Selection and input
Air Show Theme
Ramp Layout
Static selection and layout
Hot Pit design
Security control
Road Closures required for sterile box
Fire & Crash control and placement of assets
Fly-In traffic parking and control
Air Boss Tower layout
Equipment required for Air Boss will be detailed for your show
FAA paperwork, including 7711.2 waiver
Filing all paperwork for NOTAM and TFR
Work with ATC on airspace de-conflictions
Rules for Ramp Boss, Pyro Boss
Prepare professional flight briefing
Prepare Airfield quick layout cards
Prepare and present final daily schedules
Provide all Air Boss radios, both UHF and VHF if required
Brief all flyovers, military performers pre-show
Provide additional staff as agreed to effectively and professionally
handle your event.
Post-Air Show debrief
SERVICES OFFERED
NARRATION
Professional air show narration
All Music
All equipment to handle narration (You must supply sound system)
All notes, bios, performer routines
Once provided will handle all announcements, sponsor mentions and
any other important announcement.
SOUND SYSTEM
At DIRECT-SOUND we can also handle all of your professional sound
needs as well, from designing a sound system that works for an air show
to one that is CONCERT SOUND APPROVED. We have the flexibility,
expertise and professional staff to custom design a unique system, that
works with the narration of your air show to leave every guest wanting more.
Please contact DIRECT-SOUND for your AIR BOSS
NARRATION and SOUND SYSTEM NEEDS.
SERVICES OFFERED
AIR SHOW MANAGEMENT & CONSULTING
Chalets
Ken Hopper is the most sought after
air show consultant in the industry and
has produced, managed and consulted
on air shows from coast to coast and
beyond. Ken’s air shows have been
featured on the History Channel, in
books, magazines and countless
newspapers nation-wide.
Look at these crowds!!
Ken has been producing and air bossing air shows for more then 30 years, has an
excellent reputation with the military, FAA, civilian and warbird performers, please
give Ken a call or drop him an email and lets put our experience to work for you.
A Sample of Services
Consulting
Management
Production
Board Establishment
Volunteer procedures Corporate sponsorship Marketing plans
Advertising plans
Corporate chalets
Ticket policy Web-site design
Ticket selling, outlet and on-line
Security
Safety
Medical
Field & Ground Operations Fence
Concessions & Catering Hot Pit
Flight Operations
Static Operations
Just call we can handle it all !!
Please call Ken at 563-349-0044 or email QCASBOSS@aol.com
REFERENCES
M
I
L
I
T
A
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Y
United States Navy Blue Angels
United States Air Force Thunderbirds
Canadian Snowbirds
United States Navy East & West Coast F/A-18 Demo Team
United States Air Force A-10, F-16, F-15, F-15SE, F-22 Demo Teams
United States Army Golden Knights
United States Navy Leap Frogs
Canadian Sky-Hawks
United States Marine Corps – AV-8BII Harrier Demo Teams
It would be easier to ask a performer that has not been at one of Ken’s Air Shows
or an air show that he was the AIR BOSS. Ken has earned an excellent reputation
for delivering more then is promised, running a fast paced, action filled air show that
is smooth, safe, professional and very well DIRECTED. Just ask ANYONE!!
SMALL SAMPLE OF TESTIMONIALS
SMALL SAMPLE OF TESTIMONIALS
REQUEST A SERVICE PAGE – PLEASE COMPLETE
Name: _______________________________________
Air Show: _____________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
City: __________________ State: ____ Zip: ___________
Ph: ____________________ Cell: ____________________
Email: __________________________________________
AIR BOSS Services
NARRATION Services
CONSULTING Services
SOUND SYSTEM Services
Please send to:
DIRECT-SOUND
Hopper Corporation
P.O. Box 18
Eldridge, IA 52748-0018
563-349-0044 – QCASBOSS@aol.com
Web: www.quadcityairshow.com