22live Goes Live
January 9th 2023
22live is pleased to announce that it has now secured key additional team members to supplement the existing talent in the business, with Spencer Beard, Alex Penn and Ian Bidmead to be appointed into key roles.
Following these appointments 22live will be in its complete format for 2023, and the business plan moves to its second phase ‘Going Live’. Today 22live announces its new management team, which will be fully in place in Jan 23 and sets out their vision for the future:
Spencer Beard - Managing Director
Alex Penn – Commercial Director
Paul Timmins – Hire Director
Stefan Phillips – Operations Director
Simon Gladstone – Technical Director
Ian Bidmead – Finance Director
22live was founded in early 2022 by Paul Timmins. 22live is the UK’s newest pro-audio service provider initially focussing on providing hire services to the touring production market. The name developed purely from the year the company was established and quickly became the favourite choice for its simplicity, availability, and the fact that the digits ‘22’ could be used to create a great logo and brand. Paul Timmins comments “22 just works. It can fit on anything and it’s snappy. We’re really pleased with the brand we are creating and it looks great on all the kit.”
In mid 2022 Stefan Phillips and Simon Gladstone joined the company to establish operations, with them becoming directors with effect from September 1st 2022. It was then agreed that operations should be based in the Midlands. Paul Timmins explains; “When establishing a new business like 22live, I needed the right people. I had conversations with Stefan and Simon, as they too were starting out on new paths. Fortunately for me they were keen to join, bringing all the knowledge and experience we need to deliver the services of 22live. Working with Stefan and Simon meant that the Midlands was the obvious choice for our operational base.
At this point the mammoth undertaking of starting a new Hire company from scratch became a reality and the initial team set about getting the wheels turning. There was much to decide; where to operate from, what kit to use, how to sort packaging and infrastructure, what management software to use, how to start generating some revenue. Etc. Etc.
Recognising that the potential for 22live could quickly outstrip the existing management resource, Paul was keen to explore the possibility of adding to the team. Having worked closely with Spencer Beard and Alex Penn previously, it was a logical step to approach them to see whether they would be keen to join the 22live project. Paul comments “I knew that there was scope for Alex and Spencer to be potentially available, and I knew to achieve my ambition for 22live we were going to need more help on the commercial side! I was delighted after having reached out to them that they were keen to return to the industry in a new and innovative project. We all had similar views of how the marketplace was evolving and what we’d need to deliver to be successful in developing a new home for us all. It was an exciting meeting as we saw our futures rolling out before us, it couldn’t have been an easier decision to work together again.”
Paul Timmins
“We all had similar views of how the marketplace was evolving and what we’d need to deliver to be successful in developing a new home for us all. It was an exciting meeting as we saw our futures rolling out before us, it couldn’t have been an easier decision to work together again.”
The complete 22live team of directors will all play pivotal roles in taking the company from phase 1; ‘The Build-Up’ to phase 2; ‘Going Live’.
Spencer Beard, Managing Director, joins 22live in Jan 23 and comments “Starting a new Pro-Audio Hire company that enters the market as an independent newcomer, with a team old enough to have decades of industry experience and young enough to have the drive to create something new, and the financial resource to immediately become a serious player, is rare. It’s easy to see why we were excited to join with Paul and his team, to take 22live forwards.
Paul and the guys have worked really hard in the build up phase of the enterprise, which allows 22live to launch now fully formed and ready to go. 22live has a serious offering, an inventory capable of supporting arena tours comfortably, and the knowledge and relationships to be trusted to deliver.”
Alex Penn, Commercial Director, also joins 22live in Jan 23, and comments on the outlook for 2023; “Being able to arrive in the business at this point in its evolution is really exciting ‘Phase 2, Going Live’, is just the beginning. We still have much to do, and more announcements to make. There will need to be further investment in more gear as we expect demand will grow. 22live will focus on the touring market but also look to develop sales opportunities, and dealerships. Given our history in the industry there will be great opportunities to reconnect with all those people that already know and trust us.”
Spencer Beard
“Paul and the guys have worked really hard in ‘Phase 1’ of the project, which allows 22live to launch now fully formed and ready to go. 22live has a serious offering, an inventory capable of supporting arena tours comfortably, and the knowledge and relationships to be trusted to deliver”
Stefan Phillips, Operations Director, who started with 22live in June 22 has already had a busy start; “2023 is set to be a busy year not only because we will be ramping up the amount of work we’re delivering and looking to take more on, but also because we will need to develop our operational resources in general. The company now has a solid foundation built over the last 6 months, and I think the progress the company has made to reach this point is impressive. Growing to meet our potential is likely to be challenging, but we are ready for it.”
Simon Gladstone, 22live’s Technical Director comments; “Since my start date in June 2022 my efforts so far have largely gone into supporting the design, development and manufacturing process of building our new infrastructure and line system. We have worked to produce as much infrastructure as we could so we’d have spare capacity. Now in 2023 we are adding more equipment to the inventory and we are able to get more control packages out on the road to meet demand as our services develop. As well as supporting new hire opportunities my focus now turns to delivering our bespoke software and management systems in order to operate as efficiently as possible.”
Stefan Phillips also made comment to the opportunity of starting afresh; “22live is a fresh start so it was great to go back to the drawing board. Without the legacy of older connectors to integrate, or a mountain of flight cases from different decades, we’ve had complete freedom to start afresh with how we do things and improve operational practices. Through 2023 we need to continue to develop our management systems including stock control, and gear scheduling to streamline our processes going forwards.”
Simon Gladstone
“Since my start date in June 2022 my efforts so far have largely gone into supporting the design, development and manufacturing process of building our new infrastructure and line system.”
Stefan Phillips
“Without the legacy of older connectors to integrate, or a mountain of flight cases from different decades, we’ve had complete freedom to start afresh with how we do things.”
Paul Timmins, Hire Director, makes comment to 22live’s first year of trading “The fact that we are able to announce our official launch having already completed 2 major tours as well as a London O2 Arena show I think is unheard of. We delivered what I believe to be first class quality on both the Sigur Rós and The Australian Pink Floyd Show tours, in late 2022, and all of that without even letting the market know we’d officially arrived!
We also kept our new Martin Audio PA busy on dry-hire projects and even sent a package out to Qatar for the world cup. This is a great start. We’re looking forward to putting more 22live shows out on the road in the coming months and supporting all of those that want to work with us.”
Ian Bidmead, who has also joined the company with Alex and Spencer as Finance Director comments; “22live has a fantastic opportunity. With all the experience of the people involved I was confident enough to represent the team from the financial aspect. We will secure additional resources to help fund projects that come our way, and we will do our best to dig deep for the right opportunities and provide the equipment that we know makes sense. I’ve always enjoyed working within this sector and look forward to working alongside the team. I am sure my 30 odd years in the audio business, together with my extensive professional practice as a chartered accountant will help me to keep the financial headaches for the rest of the team to a minimum. Sound financial planning, coupled with comprehensive control systems are intrinsic to the success of any business, but are particularly relevant in an industry where decisions have to be made quickly to ensure opportunities are not missed.”
Paul Timmins
“The fact that we are able to announce our official launch having already completed 2 major tours as well as a London O2 Arena show I think is unheard of.”
Spencer Beard, who is joining in Jan 23 as Managing Director comments; “22live is being established in the right place, and at the right time to have a unique opportunity. The new team’s combined experience gives us an instant maturity which we hope makes us a trusted and reliable alternative. Without legacy our inventory is world class and innovative. We will build and will acquire kit, ultimately, that people want to hire from us wherever possible. We also need to ensure we invest in products at the start of their life cycle and that give us a USP. We are well positioned to take on much of the boutique style touring work and although we will be limited by our size initially, we hope to be able to cater to as much of the demand we generate as possible.”
Paul Timmins goes on; “Timing was everything in establishing this business, we are all very lucky to have had this opportunity to work together at this stage in our careers. For all involved it’s an exciting chance to reinvigorate ourselves with a new challenge, evolving our roles, focussing on what we each specialise in and enjoy, whilst also developing new skillsets.”
Alex Penn, also comments on how 22live hopes to develop its own unique culture; “22live is established on the premise that we are passionate about what we do and where we have come from. We want to enjoy working in this special industry and protect the things that make it different to other working environments. We hope to maintain a culture nostalgic to our ‘rock n roll heritage’, but also pushing the boundaries forward with technology to become a true next generation PA Hire company. 22live respects the informality of the past and wants to minimise the corporate rhetoric. We want to look after our clients, encourage a respectful and fun working environment, and look forward to supporting the next generation of touring productions”
Alex Penn
“We hope to maintain a culture nostalgic to our ‘rock n roll heritage’, but also pushing the boundaries forward with technology to become a true next generation PA Hire company.”
Spencer Beard concludes; “Our aim will not be to build something which recreates what we have done before. It is our intention to focus on the touring production market for both Hire and, in the foreseeable future, resale opportunities. We intend to keep things simple, operating from one base, keeping our team focussed and lean, using external suppliers for things that we cannot build efficiently and working with clients that want to work with us. We are very excited by what the future holds. We believe that actions speak louder than words and so look forward to demonstrating to the market our capability as we take on the exciting opportunities that 2023 has to offer.”
With the expanded management team in place in Jan 2023, 22live officially launches and is a new pro-audio service provider that has a place in the long-term future of the global pro-audio and production industry. They are now established in the UK, Midlands and are ready to begin operations.
Spencer Beard