Until a little over a year ago, Martin Timoney was a community worker in Easterhouse, Glasgow. Today, he is the managing director of EVS Systems Ltd - an East Kilbride company about to launch what just might be the hottest new concept in commercial entertainment.
How did it happen? Back to Easterhouse: “Through my work I was doing a lot of community events and I was always impressed by the skills of the people in the community,” says Martin. “But it wasn’t a question of skills; it was a question of opportunity. So many people are never given an opportunity.”
One area that struck him was singing. “Through these events I was hearing people sing karaoke and I started thinking about the potential of some of the people I heard - the incredible quality of their voices.
“I got interested in voice enhancement technology and the idea of karaoke as cabaret. All many of these singers needed to perform professionally was the tools to do the job.”
Which is more or less where he came up with his idea: a karaoke machine that was easy enough for anyone to use, but had the power and quality of a professional sound system.
But as Martin already knew, an idea and the skill to deliver it wasn’t as important as the opportunity. The initial reaction was sceptical: What chance do you have of coming up with a new technology that’s going to be a success?
He widened his search for assistance and was pleasantly surprised. “There seemed to be in South Lanarkshire the sense that you were treated as a potentially viable business from the start,” says Martin. “No one questions your ability until they hear what you have to say. Of course, you’re still expected to prove yourself.”
Martin did just that and was given a place on the Entrepreneurship Programme delivered by Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire and supported by South Lanarkshire Council and the Economic Regional Development Fund through West of Scotland 1997-99 Objective Two Programme via Strathclyde European Partnership.
“I didn't have any real knowledge of business when I came to South Lanarkshire. Now I am oozing with confidence,” says Martin. “I have the confidence to speak to anyone in the industry because I know I have this whole team behind me: Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire, the Small Business Gateway, South Lanarkshire Council and the Lanarkshire Technology Innovation Centre.”
Their assistance, which includes a business loan from the Council, has also helped him move from idea to prototype to launch in the minimum of time - crucial given the speed at which technology is constantly evolving.
Martin says, “If it wasn’t for the support I've received it would’ve taken a whole lot longer to get started. In February last year, I came to see the Lanarkshire Technology Innovation Centre. Then in October, we were talking to some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry at the International Leisure Industry Week down in Birmingham.”
Those names included a European television company interested in adapting EVS’s technology for satellite broadcast. “The overall response at Birmingham was incredible,” he says.
He has also secured a deal with Butlins which has a demonstration system in its flagship resort in Bognor Regis. “They think it is fantastic and we hope to widen it out to other Butlins.”
Next up for EVS, which is based in East Kilbride’s Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, is the official product launch. Martin believes his system will be a success because it delivers so much more than a standard karaoke machine.
He says, “This is taking karaoke more towards cabaret in terms of professional sound quality. Our system uses the same technology as the biggest bands in the world.”
Singers can access full backing harmonies and use voice enhancement and musical instrument technology to create a truly professional performance. There is no need for CDs as all music is downloaded into the system and songs can be accessed within five seconds.
The unit can also be used as a disco or mini cinema and also runs interactive games such as bingo, Name That Tune and horse racing.
“Our priority now is turning the phenomenal interest we’ve had into sales,” says Martin. “But we wouldn’t have got this far without the support. People don’t believe me when I say just how much support there is out there.”
Business South Lanarkshire - Spring 2002
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