Calgary's Six Degrees Studio thrives after learning lesson from last bust
Falice Chin | CBC News | Posted: March 24, 2016 3:31 PM | Last Updated: March 24, 2016
Sound and music production company casts net globally after 2008 downturn
"Alberta's economy is cyclical."
"We've been here before."
We hear these comments all the time — but what's the lesson at the end of the day?
That's the question that got Dan McManus thinking differently during the last bust.
"I think in 2008 we just learned we were so Calgary-centric in terms of our client base," he said. "We became concerned with — how can we not feel the effects of this?" said the owner of Six Degrees Studio.
At the time, McManus estimates his music and sound production company took a 20 per cent hit.
But instead of downsizing, Six Degrees Studio cast its net across the world — reeling in international clients such as ESPN, Red Bull and BBDO, a worldwide marketing agency.
Now the company is growing at a rate of five to 10 per cent a year.
Global expansion
A quick scroll through the company's online reel reveals an impressive recent body of work.
There's the Emmy-nominated music for a FIFA World Cup video, sound effects for the upcoming video game Paragon and a series of catchy tunes for Tourism Alberta.
"I love that we can get work in Calgary," said McManus, who founded the company with a partner almost 20 years ago.
"Sometimes when we're talking to somebody and they're like, 'Where are you based?' And we're like, 'We're in in Calgary!' It's such a compliment."
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More companies need to diversify
Films such as The Revenant may have been shot in Alberta, but all the editing, colour correction, sound effects and graphics were done elsewhere.
"I'd love to see a way for those jobs to stay here in Alberta," said McManus.
At a time when diversification has become a buzzword among politicians, McManus would like to see the Alberta government offer incentives for the post-production industry.
"If they do, that'd be a huge growth opportunity for skilled workers in this province because it would involve a lot of what we call brick and mortar work where you're dealing with a lot of manpower and labour."
Venturing into more post-production work could be risky. But taking risks was what saved McManus during the last economic downturn.
And it's the fear of being left behind — that drives the veteran voice director forward.
"I'm always a little bit afraid or paranoid that we're somehow missing the mark," said McManus.
"So I feel like we're always pushing here. I think if you are starting a business you have to push. You always have to be thinking of what's the next thing that you have to be."