Martin Audio UK rental partner VME has made a heavy investment in the company’s MLA platform, becoming the manufacturer’s largest global rental partner of the systems.
Based in the north of England VME is run by brothers Dion and Andre Davie who recognised that, after lockdown, the live events industry has recovered at such pace and velocity that inventories were running dry.
As a part of the MLA network, and sensing the heavy demand on stock, especially in peak season, VME repositioned as a dry hire specialist, as well as gaining a new edge and marketing outreach for its own productions.
This latest order for 475 cabinets comprises 179 MLA; 24 MLD; 80 MLX; 40 x DSX and 152 MLA Compact elements.
Confirming that VME now holds in excess of 600 Martin Audio enclosures in total, VME Operations Manager Aaron Harvey-Holt says ‘dry hire has gone massive across the UK with everyone being short of kit’. He also says the company had already been deliberating over acquiring another system. ‘It needed to be something that would fit with what we already had and be used on our own gigs but at the same time it needed to have a dry hire value – because there are some systems out there that people don’t really dry hire.’
A meeting in London with Martin Audio MD Dom Harter and some constructive machinations sealed the deal: ‘We had been desperately short of kit for dry hire this summer,’ Harvey-Holt says. ‘This will not only ensure we don’t run short of stock again but will enable us to look at new sectors we can get into over the coming years. The long-term plan is to get back on the touring scene.’
One of the doors he predicts may open is the corporate world – largely due to the fact that part of the consignment is more than 150 of the smaller, more versatile MLA Compact enclosures. ‘This is strategically designed to place us in the market for small, medium and large-scale gigs.’
Harvey-Holt is relaxed about moving into the dry hire market: ‘We have a good team in the warehouse for testing MLA, prepping it and de-prepping it, and we’ve got some experienced system techs who know the system really well. In fact, I don’t see a gig we couldn’t do now with the power of MLA behind us.’
Dion Davie goes further, believing that the size and scope of their Martin Audio inventory will set VME off on a global path: ‘There isn’t a system on the market that does what MLA does – it’s untouchable and nothing comes near it. As for the MLA Compact it really packs a punch for such a small box,’ he says.
Davie adds that VME have also invested in Torus and are now in the process of becoming a uniquely Martin Audio house ‘right across the range.’
VME received their new stock in the early autumn. After monitoring the success of this bold venture, they plan to invest further in the future, adding other pro audio components.
