Donovan Audio Designs - ProfilesArchive

About Me

My name is Joey Donovan. I've been making noise come out of boxes since 1967, and started a company (Donovan Audio Designs, AKA DAD) to do so in the Tampa Bay area in 1987. Please visit us at www.listentoyourdad.com.
We design and install sound systems in commercial and institutional establishments, with an occassional residential job so we can see how the other half lives.
We are now working with Sam Ash Music in Tampa as well, to develop installed system services in conjunction with Donovan Audio- Sam Ash will provide the equipment, Donovan Audio will provide the design and installation. Best of both worlds.
In 2005 we sold out the portion of the company that provided sound systems for all sorts of live performance events, where we got the opportunity to work with every imaginable type of instrument and circumstance.
We have provided sound systems for a broad cast of characters- including a lot of "big names in small circumstances"... rehearsals with the Rolling Stones, private party with Ray Charles and his orchestra; Superbowl party with Evander Holyfield. In their up-and-coming days- Marilyn Manson, the Dixie Chicks, Jewel and Toby Keith (not on the same gig).....Billy Graham; Marty Balin; Dave Mason; Al Hirt; Ralph Nader, Ollie North; David Clayton Thomans and Blood, Sweat and Tears; Joe Ely; Kim Richey; the Florida Orchestra; Savoy Brown; Albert Collins; John Lee Hooker; Buddy Guy; Natalie MacMaster; Amway; Mack Truck Corp.; Toys'R'Us ... lotsa diverse stuff.
These experiences have helped us understand the varied needs of our clients with regard to each unique application.
In my not-abundant-enough spare time, I play guitar with THE THIRD BAND (www.thethirdband.com), a primarily sixties/seventies psychedelic era cover band whose members virtualy all qualify for AARP membership.

My Interests

...quiet walks on the beach at sunset... oh wait- that must've been somebody else.

I'd like to meet:

"they" (as in "they say....."); "the proper authorities" (who we always seem to be looking to for guidance); and the person who sets the "policies" that no one can seem to work around in almost every customer service position in almost every utility , credit, or insurance company. Yes, this goes DOUBLE for Bank of America

Music:

Virtually anything except that which I do not care for, but especially the music that I like. Especially when I'm in the mood for it.

I'm not crazy about operatic blugrass hiphop.

I'm a sucker for good calm acoustic music with some breathing room between the notes (although I'm not crazy for the term "New Age"- with apologies to Liz Story).

Still, I love good old "psychedelic era" garage band rock'n'roll (is there garage band jazz, too?) Electric Prunes to Miles Davis doesn't seem like a big stretch.

And it's ok to put Walter Trout, Mother's Finest, Lari White, Jimmy Smith, the Subdudes, Dean Martin, the Chieftans, John Kilzer, Spirit, Marcus Miller, the Tubes, Shelby Lynne, Koko Taylor, Ahmad Jamal, Kim Richey, Wishbone Ash, Jerry Douglas, Tower of Power, Flim and the BB's, Louis Prima and John Scofield in the same playlist as the Monkees and Johnny Cash. Trust me, your iPod will not explode.

Movies:

Being There; Blood Simple; Rebecca; Sleuth; The Big Lebowski; Brazil; The Last of Sheila; The Rutles; Arsenic & Old Lace; the Proposition; The Magic Christian; The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension; True Romance; High Plains Drifter; the Tailor of Panama; Short Cuts; Married Life; A Mighty Wind; the Player; Brazil; the Beguiled; the Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean; Monty Python & the Holy Grail; Raising Arizona; the Jacket; the Outlaw Josey Wales; Match Point; the Hudsucker Proxy; Big Fish; Mullholland Drive; Leon the Professional; Lost Horizon; Idiocracy; Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.

Disregard that last one.

And add virtually anything by Alfred Hitchcock or the Coen brothers (yes, I know I already said "Rebecca" and "Blood Simple" but they're both worth repeating". Or seeing again. Or making a redundant statement.

Television:

37" LCD in the family room, 15" LCD in the kitchen; 27" CRT in the bedroom & 13" CRT in the office.

Books:

The Deluxe Transitive Vampire

Heroes:

Can we change "heroes" to "people whose thought processes, music, art or philosophies I have admired"?

If you will allow me that indulgence, I would have to say: Martin Mull; Oscar Wilde; Rod Serling; Jimi Hendrix; Benjamin Franklin; Bob Donovan; Ben & Jerry; Steven Wright; Steve Krikorian (Tonio K); Elliott Randall; John Eddie

it doesn't look as if many politicians made my list. And not one insurance company.