about poindexter's
Our name was inspired by the optimistic and inventive cartoon character featured in the "Felix the Cat" TV series that aired in the late 1950's. Poindexter was known for his outrageous inventions and gadgets, his technical ability and spirited ways. Today poindexter's is an equally optimistic and inventive leader in the world of audio-video systems and related services.
our history:
poindexter's was founded in 1987 by Bill Costigan, the name came to him as he was practicing the drums while attending the Musician's Institute of Technology in Hollywood, CA. "There was a fun, optimistic, retro-graphical quality I remembered about Poindexter from watching "Felix the Cat" as a kid." says Bill. "We've aligned ourselves with the top manufactures in the sound and video worlds, we've been lucky to attract a wide array of clients with which we share an appreciation of music, film, design and technology."
Around 5000 projects have been completed by the company under Bill's direction, many small, some large. Media rooms and home theater systems were and still are a focus of the company, poindexter's offers much more now. We outfitted several important and historic homes including Frank Lloyd Wright's own home and studio "Taliesin" as well as homes and businesses designed by several other genius architects, some are noted below. Five projects were completed in Japan during the 90's including three of Tokyo's most interesting and successful restaurants. We also picked the music that played in these restaurants.
what we do:
Our focus is on sound and video centric projects; We've learned how best to control systems and devices with easy to use multi-touch-screen systems including the wonderful iPad. We offer acoustical design and special sound absorbing products, most made from recycled materials. From boardrooms, music rooms and home recording studios to distributed music for homes and businesses; ideas and equipment choices spring from the recording, concert sound, theaterical sound, cinema and consumer electronics worlds, this mix sets us apart from other AV companies.
Our facility features spaces designed for fabrication, testing, recording, and post production services, including mixing, editing and playback of high quality sound and video. From voice-over recording, sound sweetening, color correction to complete productions; poindexter's offers HD video and audio, from content to delivery, we can help tell and present an effective story.
some of our clients include:
Stephen and Sandra Covey, Roger Donaldson, Dennis and Sharon Dugan, Peter (rip) and Joan Graves, Harry Hamlin, Mark and Lesley Johnson, Robert (rip) and Elizabeth Kane, Michael Keaton, Barry and Diane Levinson, Gary Levinsohn, Alan Napier, Nick Nolte, Dan and Connie Petrie, Tony and Jeanee Pritzker, Dennis Quaid, Thomas Schlamme and Christine Lahti, Karen Voight. companies we've worked for include; Black Bird Kitchen - Bozeman, Bozeman Food Coop, Daily Coffee - Bozeman, Emerson Grill - Bozeman, Epson, Global-Dining, GranTree Hotel - Bozeman, Hollywood Vaults, MT Ale Works - Bozeman, MGM Studios, Moonlight Basin, MSU, Over the Tapas Restaurant - Bozeman, Paradise Valley Fire Station - Pray, Universal Pictures, The U.S. Gov, The Yellowstone Club, The Zildjian Cymbal Co. local non-profits we've helped; Big Sky Youth Empowerment, Eaglemount, Bozeman Winters Farmers Market, Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter, Museum of the Rocky's, Ronald McDonald House, Friends of the Story Mansion, The Traveling School.
concert and event sound/video for; Angella Ahn, Ken Burns, Brooks and Dunn, Tim McGraw, Jack Nicklaus, President Regan, Stuart Weber, Wilco.
architecture firms we've enjoyed working with:
Local Firms:
Frank Cikan, Comma-Q, CTA, Formation, Frog Rock Design, Faure Halvorsen, Intrinsik, JLF and Associates, Locatti and Associates, Lyric, Candace Miller, Jim Meissner, ZimTor,
California and International Firms:
Koning/Eizenberg, Lorcan O'Herlihy, Moore Ruble and Yudell, NonZero, Riccardo Maranzana, Renzo Zecchetto,
we've worked on projects designed by architects:
Frank Israel, John Lautner, Cliff May, Charles Moore, Richard Neutra, Paul Williams, Frank Lloyd Wright and Lloyd Wright (Frank's son)
musical & mechanical past:
Music is very important to your company. Each of us employed here is passionate about our work. Our founder began making audio recordings of the Doctor Demento radio show to entertain his fellow carpoolers in the 4th grade. He landed his dream job working at Helen's Cycles in Santa Monica, the nations 10th largest Schwinn dealership before his voice deepened. Southern Calif in the 70's and into the 80's had a great radio station called KMET at 94.7 FM. After discovering bands like The Almond Brother's, Little Feat, Led Zeppelin, the Who, the Police, and many more, Bill's passion for bicycles turned to a love of music and the drums.
Bill left the bike business at 16 forming a band with guitarist/singer/surfer Peter Distefano called "K-38", named for the famous surf break located at kilometer 38 in Baja, Mexico. Bill and Peter both surfers begin covering "Ventures" songs updating them with a "rock" twist and a heavier danceable beat. They soon began writing their own material which became an eclectic mix of styles fused with an original surf sound. Together they played hundreds of shows with numerous bass players, keyboardists and horn players until 1989.
During the early 80's Bill worked for his long-time friends, former Helen's managers Robert Eitel and Rick Jurasky who formed the pioneering A/V custom install business "R-Squared" in 1978. Sony's "Betamax" video tape recorder was cutting edge technology at the time; "There were only a couple companies in the custom A-V business in Los Angeles during the 80's, it was a great time to be making this craft up as we went." says Bill. After six years with R-Squared, Bill decided to focus more on playing music; he applied and was accepted into the "Musician's Institute" as one of 13 drummers in 1986. "The school was located above the Hollywood Wax Museum at the time, it was a fire trap but I enjoyed every minute. Being around such a worldly mix of musicians each day was a great experience." says Bill, Taking six months off from MI to continue gigging and recording with K-38, during this time Bill met Steve Burdick and Rob Seifert who were young audio engineering students attending a "recording arts school" in Hollywood; K-38 became their pet recording project. Once Steve and Rob graduated, both quickly landed jobs in renowned studios, Steve as a 2nd engineer at Westlake in Hollywood; Rob became the 2nd at (the now defunct) Aire LA (formally Yamaha Music Corporation's Testing/Recording Facility in the USA).
of recording studios:
Rob and Steve were able to let K-38 record during "down times" when the rooms were open. In turn, this helped the young engineers learn the new automation systems that were emerging on the top shelf Neve, Harrison and SSL mixing consoles. "Bruce Swedien" and several other successful engineers and musicians were working at Westlake at this time including the king of pop MJ. Rob Seifert was working with Chuckii Booker, Craig Burbidge and a host of other soulful artists, engineers and producers. "It was amazing to hear records like MJ "Thriller" being played back in the same room within which it was mixed," says Bill. "Peter and I were very fortunate to have recorded and spend many days and nights in these two remarkable facilities built with excellent acoustics and outfitted with cutting edge and vintage equipment. "The musicians and the technicians that roamed the halls were very influential." says Bill. Steve Burdick now owns Westlake Studios, Rob Seifert currently lives in Northern Calif. making his living as an independent mixing engineer and producer with numerous records under his belt. K-38 also recorded a record with another talented engineer/musician named William Rogers at Capital Records in 1985. The drums were recorded at Capital in the large studio A room while Julio Iglesias was putting the finishing touches on a record next door in studio B. The record was mixed at Post Logic Studios while Stevie Ray Vaughan was in mixing a live recording.
poindexter's and Montana...
Bill's had family from Montana, in 1989 Bill and his childhood friend Jeff Nashan (founder of the Montana Watch Co.) had been skiing Bridger Bowl together, they decided to partner on a small piece of property near Bozeman, together they began building a log cabin by hand, working during summer months, the project took 8 years to complete. In 2000 Bill moved into the log cabin and with him poindexter's also moved, the goal was to get back to his family roots and to reconnect with the outdoors.
The poindexter's team is comprised of; Chris Scharenberg - senior systems engineer, designer and programmer, Kevin Butler - staff audio/video engineer/system designer, programmer and Thomas Crumrine - business development/system designer, programmer and Bill Costigan - senior designer, systems engineer.
We wish to tip poindexter's graduation cap to our friends at "Felix the Cat" and the Oriolo Family for their kindness and continued support. The Poindexter cartoon character among many others including Casper, was created by Joe Oriolo (rip).
Smart, Reliable, Fun... poindexter's - since 1987
