“Keeping travel expenses down is key”
Keith Clarkson was turning down two gigs a day every day at the end of 2022. “Events are back,” says the director of Sydney-based audio-visual company EventSound. “There’s so much work being thrown at us, we physically can’t take it all.” Clarkson, who founded EventSound in 2006 with just one van, is grateful for the return to growth – the volume of business is 50 per cent larger than it was before the pandemic. The challenge now is staffing, as last-minute jobs surge. “It’s taking a while to rebuild the workforce. Believe me, I’m hiring!” Teams fly about six to eight times a month for interstate jobs – ranging from concerts and major sporting events to conferences and celebrity weddings – and need a range of vehicles in many locations.
TURN RENTALS INTO COST REDUCTIONS
As well as the ease of booking reliable vehicles, EventSound earns 4 Qantas Points per $1 on Budget rentals as a Qantas Business Rewards member – on top of 4 points per $1 for the driver, who’s a Frequent Flyer. Clarkson uses the points on flights and to book stays through Qantas Hotels when jobs take teams away from home. “We might have 12 to 15 staff on a large event. Using points keeps our expenses down.”
TRUST A RELIABLE FLEET
Whether crews are travelling further afield or working on large events closer to home, EventSound uses Budget Car and Truck Rental to extend its fleet. “There’s almost always a Budget truck in our driveway,” says Clarkson, who tried another rental company but found it unreliable. His local Budget branch is flexible around drop-off times, after-hours access and sudden changes. “It’s like it’s our Budget, you know? They’re our people.”
Important Information
A business must be a Qantas Business Rewards Member to earn Qantas Points for the business. A one-off joining fee of $89.50 applies, is inclusive of any applicable GST and may be varied by Qantas from time to time, without notice, in its absolute discretion. Membership and Qantas Points for business are offered under the Qantas Business Rewards Terms and Conditions and earning thresholds apply.
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