Andy Tain Presented Lifetime Achievement Award
The second annual Pro Mobile Conference took place earlier this week which saw almost one hundred DJs gather for two days of learning, networking and socialising. At the event’s Gala Dinner Andy Tain was honoured with the second ever Pro Mobile Lifetime Achievement Award, in light of his passion for and contribution to the mobile DJ industry.
Starting out as a mobile DJ in the early 80s, Andy went on to take over and transform two companies. His first, acquired from a former partner in the early 90s, was Ultimate DJ, which specialised in providing DJ services for weddings before later producing Ultimate DJ Jingles, the first ever commercially released DJ jingles CDs. Ultimate continued to produce jingles CDs of every kind, providing countless volumes through the 90s and into the new millennium. The second business, now based in Oldbury, was Ultimax; a company manufacturing deck stands and associated DJ hardware, offering some of the highest levels of range and adaptability on the market today. Andy remains at the helm of Ultimax to this day - as well as Ultimate - which continues to supply DJs and production services to events across the midlands.
Sponsored by DJ Guard, the award was announced by last year’s recipient, Derek Pengelly, and presented by DJ Guard’s Dave Campbell. Andy was genuinely “gobsmacked” upon receiving the award, which he accepted with grace and modesty before giving a short speech and thanking the room. The thunderous applause to which he took to - and left - the stage clearly demonstrated the respect that industry professionals and peers have for him.
“It’s the second time we’ve presented the award, following Derek Pengelly’s acceptance at the Conference last year. Andy has been a contributor to Pro Mobile for a long time, he’s inspired many DJs to improve and value themselves, and also done so much for the industry from a manufacturing perspective too,” Eddie Short, Pro Mobile Editor and Conference Curator, explained. “Being a real motivational source for countless DJs, back in 2012 Andy contributed an article on keeping positive and pushing your business through the recession. This emphasis on positivity and valuing yourself was a key focus at 2014’s Pro Mobile Conference – and has always been a focus of Andy’s. It’s this diligence and positivity which has given his business and reputation the longevity they deserve and the Lifetime Achievement award was a great way to recognise this.”
The second annual Pro Mobile Conference took place over Sunday the 9th and Monday the 10th of March at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Heythrop Park near Oxford. It attracted DJs from across the UK and Ireland for two focused days of education, networking, and idea sharing. Each year the Pro Mobile Lifetime Achievement Award honours one inspiring individual in light of their long history as a mobile DJ and their impact on other DJs, as well as Pro Mobile.