Michael-Paul James shares the gear and information on the audio and video for the New Year celebration at Mangrove Great House in Barbados, a historic hillside retreat built in the 1700s.
RELATED New Years At Harbour Lights: Capturing Organic Design
Gear List
Lighting List from DB Productions
- 14 American DJ 5PX HEX
- 8 Chauvet Intimidator Beam LED 350
- 4 Chauvet Pro COLORado 1 Solo
- Chauvet Pro COLORado 1 Quad4
- 4 ETEC LED Big Eye 19x15 Watt RGBWMK2
- 23 Elation SIXPAR 200
- 4 Viva Lighting Technology 230W Beam
- 34 Shehds 6x18W 6in1 RGBAW+UV Battery
- 44 Smart DJ WiFi 6 X 18W 6in1 Rgbwauv Wireless Battery LED
- 20 SHEHDS Aluminum Alloy LED Flat Par 18x18W
- 18 LED Flying Direct Store 200W LED Flood Light Outdoor
- Chamsys MagicQ MQ50 Compact Console
- 3 Chauvet DJ Data Stream 4
- American DJ Eliminator EM16 16” Mirror ball
- 2 Eliminator PL-1000EL PAR 36 Pinspot
- 41 Arbrac LED G50 Outdoor String Lights
- 8 ETC Source Four Zoom
- Box truss sourced from China
Client Lights
- 10 Chauvet Abyss 2 Water Effect
- 60 ITEFDTUTNE Northern Lights Ocean Wave Projector
Other Vendors
- Lauren Ince of Studio 5
- Events & Décor by Giselle
- Justin Brown of Harbour Lights
- Bud McKenzie Entertainment Manager of Harbour Lights
- Deepu and Jeevan Panjwani of Music n’ Echo
- Axe Solutions: Avinash Chantrani (Social: @axesolutions)
DB Productions Inc Crew
- Kenroy Lorde: lead technician
- Brent Phillips: programmer and operator
- Stevenson Springer: lead electrician
- Krishi Watson: Technician
- Grantley Yearwood: Technician
- Richard Harte: Technician
- David Mascoll: Technician
- Kelon Adams: Technician
Audio Design
Next, I present a short description of the audio design, which has little to do with my talent directly but helped accentuate the procession and focus. Last year, we put the stage in the center of the long side of the rectangular space. The procession into the event was U-shaped. The entrance side created a visual bottleneck, while the opposing side was relatively vacant. This year, we placed the stage in the middle of the short side of the rectangular space. The stage's new location increased the wow and drew the audience deep into the event. The T-shaped design increased the wow as the guests rounded the corner to visually digest the sounds they experienced during check-in. Deepu and Jeevan Panjwani of Music n' Echo seamlessly integrated their system into the design.
In a nightclub, audio is generally at the edges, pointing inward, with occasional exceptions. Because the sound surrounds the guest, it provides no directional focus. This audio style is excellent for keeping the focus local and connecting audience members to each other. In concert venues, audio is generally directional. When a sound originates from a specific direction, it is instinctive for individuals to turn their attention toward that source. This type of audio format maintains an emphasis on the entertainment content. It frames the talent and establishes a clear hierarchy. Music n' Eco setup delays for seamless sound from front to back with lower levels at the top of the T-shaped programming design.
The curated mixes by Hutchy & Sizz, Travis World, Lurbz & Lord Hype, and DJ Vid resonated throughout the event, delivering controlled and intentional audio experiences. The entrance space at the top of the T served as a quieter zone, offering a refuge for conversation. This area also housed practical elements such as the medical station, mobile kitchen, photo booths, coat check, women's bathrooms, and hookah service, all requiring lower sound levels to function effectively.
There is much more to praise about the audio design. It was executed masterfully for numerous reasons, yet exploring those details would steer this piece away from its intended focus.
Video Design
One of the key features of the event was the video design provided by Avinash Chantrani of Axe Solutions. As guests turned into the entryway, they stepped into a portal with flickering lights of rich video content. A standard goalie post lined with LED screens outlined the corridor's entrance. Along the corridor, three screens, tall and monolithic, reached into the night sky. The screens pulsed with deep embers, molten golds, and smoldering edges. The path lived and breathed, whispering a forthcoming promise of heat and motion. The impact and the anticipation were deeply satisfying.
On the stage, the video experience rivaled the DJ's talent. The video editor painted canvases of flame-inspired art. The embers on the screens swirled and danced before vanishing into voids. The fire light was untamed yet deliberate, a hypnotic illusion full of wonder. A ballet of fire unfolded, twisting and weaving. One could not help but hold their breath as the flame retreated, anticipating the subsequent explosion of light.
As the event progressed, the firewalls continued to beckon. No longer mere observers, the guests had become part of the blaze. The guests danced between the embers as silhouettes against the fire display. They were kindling for the night's unrelenting flame. I was entranced. The array of broken panels and the interplay of the content had unparalleled execution.