BG Event Ltd has taken on the Hungary distribution for Martin Audio’s loudspeaker portfolio.

Originally set up for a single project in 2011, the Budapest-based company re-emerged when owner Gergő Szentiványi sold his shares in the company that had previously been importing Martin Audio. Today, BG Event operates both as a distributor and a rental company, with an inventory containing a wide range of Martin PA systems, as well as moving lights and modular stage system.

BG Event initially purchased a Martin Audio MLA Compact Multi-cellular Loudspeaker Array and WS218X subs – with a view to selling the system in its territory, but the market demand was suffiently great that ‘we had to start doing gigs with it to demonstrate the capabilities of the system’, says BG Event Business Development Consultant, Balázs Szentiványi. ‘Eventually we loved it so much that we decided to keep it for ourselves and add to our rental arm.’

The system has been put to use with a number of subsequent projects. One of these was the Sziget Festival, where the company equipped the conventional Europe and Colosseum round electronic stages with the enclosures.

On the distribution front, the company has added Martin Audio as a front-line brand to the manufacturers that it already sub-distributes. ‘Martin Audio is prestigious and well-known in the country; but while in many cases aging gear needs to be replaced with new technology, investment cost is always an issue in Hungary. However, we will build brand awareness through social media, exhibitions, print advertising, and using the products. Doing gigs with the MLA Compact will create its own impact.’

BG Event also plans to hold demonstrations with the full Martin Audio CDD range as well as the new BlacklineX – with a view to staging an MLA seminar later in the year. ‘We are very excited by all the new models released,’ Szentiványi continues. ‘This is particularly the case with the complete CDD range, including CDD-Live and now BlacklineX series.’

BG Event’s most recent exposé was at the Budapest Music Expo, the only trade show in the region, attracting around 10,000 visitors. The full CDD range was on show, including CDD-Live 8 and 12, as was the entire BlacklineX series. ‘Also, the MLA Mini was rigged above the booth and a pole mount stack on the floor,’ Szentiványi says. ‘We brought four MLA Compact cabinets and two W8LM, as there is still interest, while the cherry on top was the DD6 and pair of WS218X.’ Visitors came mostly from Budapest, with the remainder from other parts of the country as well as Slovakia, Romania, Serbia and Russia.

In conclusion, Szentiványi describes his company’s new appointment by Martin Audio as ‘an honour’. ‘It’s a brand that we truly believe in,’ he says. ‘Even though the Hungarian market is very challenging and it is difficult for customers to fund purchases, we are still able to sell product, and being based among the influential technicians in the capital, we are certain we can keep up the pace.

‘The key is to provide customers with the same passion in the brand that we have. And with the support of Martin Audio, we in turn can also support our clients and ensure the pool of users continues to grow.’

More: www.martin-audio.com