Christmas & NYE parties
From as early as the summer, The Sound Division Group's Hire Dept and Sounds Good To Me, the group's DJ Entertainments service, were once again heavily in demand from some of the capital's most well-known organisations, exclusive leisure venues and celebrity event organisers who had begun forward planning their Christmas and New Year party events.
Clients, old and new alike, declared that they would be "well up for it", which was always going to promise a full festive schedule ahead for the Sound Division team.
The Sound Division Group Hire Dept
Previous clients, former Eurythmic, Dave Stewart's 'The Hospital', hosted this year's Google Xmas party. Sound Division specified and installed a stunning 'white' EV PA system to accompany the DJ control equipment, consisting of Pioneer CDJ 1000 CD players with an Allen & Heath Xone 62 mixing desk. Interior lighting included Thomas 1044 LED batons, individually dressed in white wooden surrounds whilst LED birdies uplit the Perspex-fronted bar.
Similarly, 'Light Tecnica', lighting designers, also saw their party vividly illuminated by an extensive array of Thomas LED batons. The Sound Division team, working to a specific set brief, not only backlit the DJ Booth but, because the party was spread across several floors, they also colour-washed the building's interior and exterior walls throughout, including the basement — to much acclaimed effect!
One of Sound Division's most regular clients, 'The Sanderson Hotel', was supplied with 22 LED batons to colour enhance their bar and a JBL sound system with DJ control kit, whilst over at the sister venue, 'Morgan's Hotel', St Martin's Lane, an impressive L'Acoustic 5 KW PA was set up, specified at the particular request of the current 'hot' US club DJ, Mark Ronson, who had been specially flown in for the celebrity-invite New Year's bash.
Throughout the whole of December, The Sound Division Group provided a 4KW, US built E.A.W PA system, comprising 2 x KF 850 Mid-High and 2 x SB 850 Sub-Bass Loudspeakers, complete with Sound Engineers for both the DJ stage and Main stage at the 'Titanic / Astor' bars.
The venue's building was due to close for an extensive refurbishment and a month-long series of nightly corporate parties were held, culminating in the final 'farewell' on New Years Eve.
A quartet of Mac 250+ moving heads, programmed to create a different light show each night accompanied by a multiple mirrorball system, augmented the dancefloor coverage.
Sounds Good To Me
Meanwhile, Head of Sound Division Group's Events, Chris Baxter, was once again skilfully masterminding a hectic schedule of back-to-back company parties, including well-known names such as MUJI (also a previous client), BBC Worldwide, Debenhams, The Royal Automobile Club, The Science Museum, O2, Top Shop, Endemol Productions and Goldman Sachs, to name but a few!
For certain members of Sound Division staff, strong allegiances attached to being based in Highbury meant that they were particularly looking forward to working with their new client, the Arsenal Football Club, at their new home in the Emirates Stadium.
Amongst the various celebrations held at the club, the AFC Official Xmas Party was a standout occasion. A custom designed 'Nightclub' Goalpost system was put into place which included a 4Kw JBL SRX sound system and 8 programmable Mac 250+ moving heads. For the finishing touch, a slew of interior uplighters, suitably colour-washed the walls in the Arsenal team colour, red!
The Sounds Good To Me DJ and Light Jockey, alongside, played from within a 'full wrap' star cloth DJ booth, and kept the dancefloor busy throughout the night.
Commenting on the festive period, Sound Division's MD, David Graham was in a reflective mood, "The traditional party event season always presents an immense challenge. Having heard reports of our activities, we were approached by many prestigious UK industry and leisure sector brands seeking our production event services.
Once again, we undertook a greater volume of work than the previous season and have enjoyed one of the busiest Christmas and New Year periods in our 16 year history
And of course, there are the after-Xmas parties and January events to look forward to, already pencilled-in for a promising start to 2007".
December 2006