Our story
One Stage Technical has changed shape more than once, but the core has stayed the same: good technical work, practical engineering and people who care about getting the job right.
The beginning
The business began as Element Audio, founded by Mike and Terry Vayle with a focus on professional audio services and engineering.
As Jack Bates began working more frequently with the company, the One Stage Technical Services identity emerged, combining that audio foundation with a broader technical outlook.
Building One Stage
Jack officially joined in early 2018, followed later that year by Chelsea Westlake.
Over the next few years One Stage expanded its hire stock, technical knowledge and client base, while continuing to build a strong reputation for professional audio solutions and experienced engineers.
The company worked across festivals including Nozstock, Salfest, Down on the Farm and Gillow, while developing increasingly sophisticated networked audio systems using Dante, broadcast integration and multitrack recording.
One Stage also expanded into venue development and installation work across Worcestershire and Herefordshire, including projects at The Booth Hall and The Venue.
Alongside commercial work, the company supported grassroots and youth music projects, including Severn Sounds stages at Sunshine and Mello festivals.
Adapting through Covid
With the live events industry effectively shut down, Jack made the decision to incorporate the business as One Stage Technical Ltd.
The company rapidly diversified into livestreaming, broadcast and virtual-event systems.
Projects ranged from livestreaming local council meetings and funerals to complete virtual-event and online festival packages, helping organisations and performers continue to reach people while physical events were restricted.
That period accelerated One Stage's development in video, cameras, switching, networking and integrated production systems while keeping professional audio engineering at its core.
A broader production company
As live events returned, One Stage continued to broaden its capability across lighting, video, cameras, power distribution, control and complete production systems.
The company developed a stock capable of supporting complete productions rather than individual disciplines, combining audio, lighting, AV, networking and infrastructure into integrated technical packages.
One Stage became a principal technical provider at Mello Festival and continued delivering festivals, concerts, corporate productions and technically demanding events.
Work during this period also supported productions associated with Channel 4's Celebrity Hunted and Amazon Prime's Clarkson's Farm.
One Stage also supported the Farmers Stop the Tax movement in London, providing audio and technical infrastructure for complex events with significant logistical requirements.
Terry Vayle
During this chapter, One Stage lost one of its founders, Terry Vayle, to cancer.
Terry was part of the company from its earliest days and helped establish the technical standards, knowledge and character on which One Stage was built.
He remains an important part of the company's story.
A different direction
As Jack and Chelsea became less involved in day-to-day operations, Jack moved into full-time technical management with NEC Group and the business developed in a different direction under new management.
The operation later traded as Eventera and expanded into new areas including public events, food festivals, light trails, equipment hire and production support.
This period also saw the operation move into a larger warehouse and pursue a broader commercial production model.
Back to One Stage
With Eventera closing, Jack began recovering the original One Stage Technical accounts, websites, email addresses and business infrastructure.
The aim is not to recreate the old operation.
One Stage is being rebuilt deliberately as a smaller and more focused technical business, centred around professional freelance support, trusted collaborators and carefully selected equipment that adds real value to the work being delivered.
Rather than rebuilding large-format rental stock and warehouse overheads, the focus is on equipment that complements technical expertise.
That includes professional audio and lighting consoles, compact PA systems, microphones, control nodes, dimming, lighting fixtures, effects, video switching, PTZ cameras, projection, screens and the infrastructure required to build reliable technical systems.
One Stage today
Today, One Stage Technical supports production companies, venues, live events and regular clients alongside Jack's full-time technical-management career.
The aim is simple: keep doing good technical work, build long-term freelance relationships, maintain a useful stock of professional equipment and let the business grow at a pace that works alongside life rather than taking it over.
That means fewer overheads, carefully chosen projects, trusted freelancers when needed and a focus on capability, reliability and the standard of the work rather than the size of the operation.
Work with One Stage