Electro-Voice's range of sound reinforcement products means that the Shuttlesound customer base includes great diversity, from school fetes to Britannia Row Productions. The appointment of Allen signifies a strong commitment on the part of EV's UK distributor to increase its contact with users at every level, providing more communication and support as well as assistance with system design.
Allen brings a truly multi-faceted CV to his role with Shuttlesound. Eight years in music retail led up to a position as PA buyer for the hugely successful Academy of Sound Group. He has run his own PA hire company, and is still teaching a live sound module at HND level. And his involvement as an audio consultant with the Liz Hobbs Group's racecourse concerts has enabled him to work with Status Quo, Jools Holland, Blondie, Sugarbabes, Westlife, Ronan Keating, McFly, Texas, Blue and Will Young, all in the last three years.
"Whether it's a small PA hire company looking to move up to the next level, or someone looking for a system design with full customisable network control, they can call me," says Allen. "It's easy to be impressed by the X-Line's visibility at something as big as the Live8 concert, but, at Shuttlesound, we're equally proud of our users at small festivals, council events and school fetes, using smaller systems like EV's XLD compact line array."
Looking for a new challenge but wanting to work with a company that was already established at the highest level, Allen believes that EV's X-Line Series is the best-kept secret in the industry, saying: "EV's new products such as the Tour Grade amplifiers and the RE wireless systems, all featuring IRIS network control, are the right products at the right time for the right money."
Shuttlesound's MD Paul Barretta emphasises that Allen's appointment is intended "to create real partnerships between EV the manufacturer and the customer. Neal will be able to bring practical knowledge and technical advice to customers at any level because he's been there. Up until now, Electro-Voice has been lacking a UK product champion who is familiar with the high-end touring environment. Neal's appointment is in line with our vertical market strategy and I expect his presence to be widely welcomed by the big PA companies in the UK."
(Chris Henry)
