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Feature Stories (Vol. 109 No. 21--5/23/2007)

New Berthold business will
help you sound better

By Caroline Downs

Mike Greenup of Berthold wants to you sound better.

And he can make it happen through his new business, Mike’s Sound 4U.

"If people need a sound system or PA system, I will supply it for a small group or large group, depending on the number of people," he said.

Mike’s sound equipment, housed in a renovated garage studio, starts with speakers, monitors and main mixers. "We set it up and we run it," he said. "We’re there to take care of [the performers]."

He starts with a rack unit loaded with a power supply, reverb, equalizers, CD-cassette player and power amps. Then there are the Peavey and Opera speaker systems that include 18-inch subwoofers and 15-inch speakers. Add microphones, stands and what looks like miles of cables, and the music can begin.

"I set up my system," he said. "All they do is come plug in, and we’ll do a sound check with the levels they’re comfortable with."

Depending on the event, and the musicians’ or speaker’s needs, Mike can also supply a wireless microphone system, bass and electric guitar amplifiers, and a full size 88-key electronic keyboard. During a performance, he even keeps replacement instruments and extra guitar strings and picks on hand. "Those are some of the things I learned from being on the road," he said.

If Mike’s clients want to enhance their concerts or presentations with photos, text, announcements or other graphics, Mike and Buddy Hanrahan can load the information into PowerPoint and create a slide show to run during the performance.

The full event can also be recorded with Mike’s new digital camcorder. "It has a 30 gigabyte hard drive built in," he said, "so I can record up to seven hours of live concert and burn it directly to a CD or DVD." In addition to musical events, Mike suggests the recording option for speaker presentations, training sessions, product demonstrations and similar activities.

Although he is fascinated with the technological features of his business, Mike is absolutely dedicated to working with aspiring musicians. "I want to help them develop their talent," he said. "Sometimes, they don’t know what to ask or do, and I see how important it is. Basically, I’m going to build excitement for what they can do down the road."

One of his goals with the business is to educate area musicians and speakers so they feel confident using electronic and digital sound equipment. In early June, he hopes to offer a class in sound systems for Berthold area residents. "It’ll be a basic 101 Sound Reinforcement class for churches or organizations to run their equipment," he said.

Mike joked about having class participants write up "cheat sheets" of the settings for their own systems, then turned serious. "You should have a reference guide," he said. "This will be hands on, to plug in the chords and turn the knobs."

He intends to offer the classes every three or four weeks, limited to 10 students in order to accommodate everyone’s needs and requests. "We’ll even set up private appointments to experience live sound," he said. "This is a new idea, but I just see how important it is."

And for individuals, businesses or organizations who want assistance in purchasing or installing a sound system of their own, Mike’s Sound 4U will do that, too. "We’re kind of like one-stop shopping when it comes to PA systems," he said, laughing. "If I can’t help, or don’t have it, I’ll send you to the people who do."

Berthold native
The son of Wilbur and Doris Greenup, Mike grew up in Berthold and graduated from high school there. His passion for music started with an old Sears & Roebuck acoustical guitar of his father’s that now hangs on the wall of his studio. "When my cousins saw I was getting better, they gave me an electric guitar," he said. "That’s encouragement!"

In 1973, during his junior year of high school, his interest in performing led him to team up first with classmate David Roise, who operates a recording studio in Minot these days and continues to perform. Mike played bass, and later guitar, with Roise and for several groups. "I’ve had a chance to develop my ear for what I like," he said.

After graduation, he moved to Garden City, Kansas, where he worked in instrument sales. Plenty of concert opportunities came his way. "I practiced and played with so many people," he said, listing gospel, country, jazz, black gospel and show tunes as some of musical styles he performed for civic events and for Garden City Community College.

Music brought Mike and Rosalie together in Garden City, where Rosalie played piano at a Christian coffee house that Mike visited. "He’d bring his guitar and play," Rosalie said, laughing, "and I’d play on that old upright piano."

The pair married and continued living in Kansas, until moving back to Berthold nearly four years ago to be closer to Mike’s parents. "I had a lot of cousins in the area," he said, "and aunts and uncles."

Mike now works fulltime for Ward County, but he wants to maintain his connections in the music world and grow his new business. To that end, Mike’s Sound 4U will bring live performances to Berthold, such as the Gene Putnam concert held Saturday night at the new Sportsmen’s Club building.

Putnam, who is employed by SRT Communications in Minot, is a finger-style guitarist who plays a combination of musical styles, including familiar folk songs, easy listening numbers and show tunes along with his original compositions, several of which he included on his first CD, Going Home. According to Mike, Putnam’s concert was well-received by an audience of Berthold, Carpio and Minot listeners.

Mike intends to continue such concerts, both as a stage to showcase area professionals and as opportunities for less experienced performers to interact with practicing musicians. "There are a lot of talented people around [who] this community doesn’t know anything about," he said. "Maybe we can be a launching pad!"

He speaks modestly about his own talent, even as he continues to provide music throughout the region. He and Rosalie have played and sung at the Berthold Baptist Church, American Lutheran Church in Stanley, the Carpio Lutheran Church, and the Congregational United Church of Christ in Minot.

"We do perform," Mike said, "but most of our push is to promote others."

Local folks may have heard Mike’s expertise in action when he handled the sound equipment for the Farmers Union Oil annual meeting in April and the Sportsmen’s Club recent banquet. He will also be operating the sound system during the city’s annual 4th of July celebration.

The Berthold Economic Development Corporation showed its support for Mike’s Sound 4U with a grant and a loan. "Doors have been opening wide for this to come about," Mike said.

With a trailer to transport his equipment, he’s willing to travel within a 200-mile radius of Berthold for clients, especially on the weekends. "If they want to do something for their home community, I’ll make sure we’re available," he said.

Persons interested in working with Mike can contact him at Mike’s Sound 4U, 701-833-8800. "I can mail or email information about my rates in advance," he said.

In fact, he welcomes visits to his studio and the chance to talk about any of his services. "With me, it’s always ‘How can I make it sound better?’" he said. "Come and see!"