A little history...

Michael E. Rau is a freelance provider of consulting and production services in the field of mass communications, with a core dedication to help enhance and improve the messaging and methodology used by individuals and organizations to communicate with the general public.

Rau describes himself as a middle-aged dreamer and restless soul who since the late 70's has been combining his fascination with the ways people communicate (or don't), and his obsession with being a vehicle for positive social evolution.

Rau created Albemarle Sound Productions in 1978, originally hoping it would become the management arm for his burgeoning musical career. Eventually conceding his mediocrity as a player, Rau turned to the business side, participating in the production of several music events until 1986, when ASP self-produced and promoted the first of dozens of concerts, a show at Norfolk's legendary King's Head Inn by reknowned blues guitarist, Duke Robillard. ASP's reputation became one of an organization as concerned with the art as with the business. ASP produced over fifty such events in the ensuing years.

Evolution occurred again in 1991 when ASP was retained to create the media campaign for a candidate for the Va. General Assembly. This experience convinced Rau that he should expand the company's focus to being a vehicle for political and social change, as well as cultural access. He changed the name to Albemarle Sound Ideas to reflect this shift.

In 1998, ASI launched its first website created for a client. In the ensuing years, Rau has created (and in most cases, also manages) many websites, and has produced dozens of instances of specialized web content.

Several years ago, in an effort to simplify the way he works with clients, and recognizing that it evolved into something other than a business in the conventional sense of the word, Rau stopped using the ASI brand, and started managing his professional environment as that of a lone freelancer. Although Rau no longer trades under this name, it remains near and dear to his heart.

Mike Rau has continued to specialize in bringing consulting and implementation services to clients engaged in meaningful social, political, and cultural activity, who otherwise might not have access to the same level of quality and creativity available to the strictly-for-profit segment of our society, utilizing the best practices of civic engagement.

From traditional media to state-of-the-art information technology, Rau strives to bring the cutting edge of mass communications to the masses...