As his alarm clock goes off, Chase Björnson had better not hit the snooze button.
He hops into the shower, fixes himself up and heads out the door. After breakfast with the headlining artists of tonight’s show his company is putting on, Björnson serves as a tour guide. Him and his staff work to get them meals and show them around Missoula then take them back to their lodging to relax and prepare to perform. Though the artists may be ready, Björnson’s work has just begun.
His next stop is the print store where he waits for the concert signs, schedule, contracts, and any other necessary print work for the evening to be completed.
As the evening advances, Björnson heads to the venue to talk with the artist’s manager, the security team, the sound crew, and any others in charge of specific areas of the production, as the roadies run a sound check.
It is then the company’s job to work with the opening bands. Björnson says that if the openers are not ready on schedule the entire night is messed up.
“Usually from that point it’s good to go, assuming there’s no complications, which there usually is,” he says. “Fights, schedule conflicts, drunk people, drama. Anything really, we’ve got to take care of it, fast.”
Once the show is over the company counts its cash, distributes the promised dividends to the venue and the artists and the company receives the rest.
Show days like these are typical for Björnson, the founder of Royale Entertainment. The 20-year-old student at the University of Montana started his company in April 2011, it has grown into a full service entertainment company.
The business strives to promote and produce a variety of entertainment events, bringing big names to Missoula, and more attention to local artists. In less than a year, Royale has had the opportunity to work with over 30 groups of artists coming all the way from the coasts of California, as well as the east side of the country.
Björnson remembers discovering his passion for live music at the age of 12, when he attended his first Warped Tour with a VIP backstage pass. He spent his teenage years playing in bands, attending concerts, and staying in close touch with the local music scene. He says he has also always been an entrepreneur and had a knack for the business side of things.
When starting college, Björnson hoped right in to the event scene on campus by seeking employment at UM productions.
UM Productions Director of Event Staff Jacob Lutz has worked over Björnson at UM production for over a year, and says he is a very proactive and hardworking employee. Lutz who says he admires Björnson’s work ethic says he has a lot of faith in the success of Royale.
“Royale entertainment has an edge on things,” he says. “It brings a young perspective and fresh ideas to the promoting scene in Missoula”
Björnson says Royale Entertainment, a staff made up entirely of college students, was his way to hit the entertainment scene running at an early age.
“Royale is my way to gain real-world experience in my field and channel my love for music, design, and business all into one positive effort,” he says. “I am building all kinds of experience, connections, and relationships at a very young age that will benefit me for my entire life and career.”
Since its start, Royale Entertainment has produced several successful shows featuring local artist and bigger names such as British Columbia’s hip hop group, Sweatshop Union.
The licensed business has also developed a full staff concentrating in the areas of finance, production, promotion and marketing.
Bree Dunham, the director of promotions for Royale, has been with the company since fall 2010. She says she has watched the Royale grow rapidly in her short time working for the company.
“The structure of the company as a whole has grown significantly since I have been involved with Royale,” says Dunham. “Chase is constantly finding ways to magnify our fan base as well expand our team with individuals that share the same passion and motivation for live music as we do.”
As a young business, the company has seen its struggles, Björnson admits. “I’d say the biggest struggle is finding the upfront funds,” he says. “That and finding a solid reliable base of people to depend on for certain things.”
Dunham, who sees a bright future for Royale Entertainment, has also been behind the scenes during some of the company’s not so successful moments. “Constant trial and error along side reevaluation of strategies have lead each show to be more and more successful,” she says.
University student Spencer Cody Sias is one of the many locals who have attended a couple of Royale Entertainments shows.
“Every time I’ve gone to one of the shows I’ve had a great time,” he says. “You never know what your going to get up here in Montana, but I’ve never been let down by one of their shows.”
Bjornson says that he sees his company growing into a well-known competitor in the Northwest Entertainment scene. “We will begin to diversify genres, bring in bigger shows, throw bigger parties, and begin to do them more often,” he says. “This is only the beginning, I’m very excited to see where I’m at in five years.”