Stageline’s SL75 : The key to growth and multi-year customer loyalty for MRT Sound & Productions

How MRT Sound Used the SL75 to Transform Small-Town Events and Build a Multi-Year Client Base

---

Client: MRT Sound & Productions

Industry: Production, Sound & Lights

Location: Carleton Place, ON

Stageline Products: SL75 + Banner Kits

Website: https://www.mrtstagerental.com/

   

Elevating Small-Community Events With Big-League Safety

In Eastern Ontario—where small towns power vibrant summer seasons with festivals, concerts, and community events—many organizers share the same challenge: limited resources but big ambitions. Until recently, these communities often relied on hay wagons, improvised risers, or platforms perched on wooden blocks.

For Matt Tierney, founder of MRT Sound & Productions, this gap wasn’t just a business opportunity. It was a mission.

“Everywhere we went, the stages were unsafe,” Matt recalls. “You’d see a band get into the groove and the whole platform would start swaying. It wasn’t sustainable—and certainly not safe.”

In 2024, Matt and his business partner John, set out to change that by investing in a Stageline SL75—a decision that reshaped their business, strengthened their client relationships, and elevated the event landscape across the region in the Ottawa Valley.

Why the SL75 Was the Perfect Fit

When Matt visited Stageline’s head office in L’Assomption, QC, he initially explored the SL100. But after comparing footprints, setup styles, and the needs of small-town events, the choice crystallized the moment he saw the SL75 on the production floor.

“We instantly knew—that’s the one. The SL75 fit every single event we work in small communities. The SL100 was simply too big.”

Key Reasons MRT Sound Chose the SL75

• Ideal size for small parks, main streets, fairgrounds, and community greens
• Fast setup with only two operators—critical for a lean team
• Professional, sleek, world-class appearance that elevates events instantly
• Fully engineered with safety documentation, a major advantage for municipalities
• Canadian-built and Canadian-supported— “There was never another brand to consider,” Matt says

   

Turning Safety Into a Competitive Advantage

While many rental companies compete on size or technical specs, MRT Sound took a different approach.

“We sold safety first. Before appearance, before convenience—safety is what won the towns over.”

For municipalities that had long relied on questionable staging solutions, the SL75 offered something they had never had before: a professional, certified, fully engineered structure they could trust.

The result?
Instant credibility and repeat business.

A Business Model Built for Growth

Before even placing a deposit on the SL75, Matt pre-booked several festivals to guarantee a strong first season. He estimated he needed 12 rentals a year for the stage to sustain itself.

Year 1 Results

• 18 rentals
• Most bookings came from new municipal clients
• Strong word-of-mouth momentum
• Events secured due to the scarcity of SL75 units in the Ottawa Valley

Year 2 Forecast (Already in Motion)

• 22 rentals booked before the season begins
• Returning clients requesting multi-year agreements
• Increased demand for bundled production packages (audio + lighting + staging)
• Growing brand recognition across the region

“Some events, we put the SL75 in for free the first time—just to get it in front of 10,000 people and that decision paid off instantly.”

How Banner Kits Became a Client-Retention Engine

One unexpected advantage came from Stageline’s banner kits—now one of MRT Sound’s strongest tools for recurring business.

The SL75’s banner system enables MRT Sound to:

• Sell full custom branding packages to towns and festivals
• Offer sponsor-ready, professional-looking stages
• Reinstall banners year after year—encouraging long-term commitments

“Banner kits are one of the best tools we have to secure clients for three years or more. Once they invest in their branded set, they come back every season.”

Beyond aesthetics, the banners build continuity and strengthen MRT Sound’s long-term relationships with municipalities and festivals.

Growing the Market: From Local Needs to Regional Leadership

As awareness of professional staging increased across the Ottawa Valley many communities began seeking a reliable partner to elevate their annual events. MRT Sound stepped into that role with the SL75—offering the ideal combination of size, safety, and reliability for small and mid-sized municipalities.

Today, MRT Sound is:

• The only private company offering an SL75 in the Ottawa Valley.
• The preferred provider for more than a dozen municipalities
• Recognized as the safe, professional alternative to improvised staging
• Increasingly invited to collaborate on seasonal programming and festival planning

“These small towns didn’t know Stageline existed—but they do now.”

Why the SL75 Was the Right Investment

In under two years, MRT Sound has:

• Built a high-demand rental business around the SL75
• Locked in multi-year clients through branded banner packages
• Expanded its geographic footprint across the Ottawa Valley
• Raised the safety and professionalism of local events
• Surpassed its initial booking expectations—with demand still rising

Matt’s Next Steps

“With 22 bookings already lined up and recurring demand on the rise, exploring additional capacity is now part of the conversation.”

About MRT Sound & Production

Based in Carleton Place, ON, MRT Sound & Productions delivers professional staging, sound, and lighting services to small and mid-size municipalities across Eastern Ontario. Their mission: bring big-city production quality to small-town events—safely, reliably, and affordably.

Interested in growing your small-community event business?
Talk to us about the SL75 and our banner kit solutions.
→ Contact Stageline Sales