Sound HQ Solutions opens Festival Studio
- Details
They recently launched their new Festival Studio in Muldersdrift, Johannesburg, a hybrid and virtual facility which includes outdoor stages, and are confident that they are able to pull off a variety of festivals and events for their niche gospel, jazz and music markets.
Alvin Bruinders, the owner of technical supply company Sound HQ Solutions, started working with Sharif Baker some 20 years ago on MY Joyous Celebration, a gospel powerhouse formed in 1996 to celebrate the political change in South Africa and the peaceful transition into democracy.
For the past eight years, the duo has worked closely together. When the Covid-19 lockdown was implemented in South Africa and many companies temporarily shut their doors, Alvin and Sharif jumped into survival mode and formed Vex Hygiene, a sanitising and fogging company. The unexpected success of this venture enabled Sound HQ to hold onto their staff, build a new storage facility and transform the existing warehouse into what is now known as the Festival Studio. They recently hosted a number of open days where clients were invited to pop in, on the hour, to view the new space, and needless to say, minds were spinning with endless ideas.
“We know, as South Africans and Africans that hospitality is very important,” Sharif explains. “So, the first impression we give our clients when entering the premises is our Green Room or hospitality area.” In close proximity are dressing rooms, a catering area, guest production office, a conference or training facility and the main studio.
The Festival Studio is kitted out with professional gear from large LED screens to lighting equipment comprising of Robe Robin LEDWash600, Robin 600 E Spots, Robe ColorWash 2500E AT, Claypaky Axcor Beam 300 and Longman F4 UP LED parcans, a Le Maitre MVS Hazer and control on a grandMA dot2 core with button wing. The Festival Studio includes a front of house and monitor desk, and dedicated rooms for audio capture and visual capture.
“The Festival Studio is our interpretation and solution for the fourth industrial revolution,” Sharif states. “Entertainment is part of our DNA, our hearts, our minds and our souls. Our studio is a showcase of what we do to entertain the senses. The demonstration of what can be achieved in this area has been mind-blowing to clients.”
The Sound HQ premises is located on a large plot of land, with sufficient space for two outdoor stages. Essentially this means that the Festival Studio is able to cater for 200 delegates indoors and 500 people outdoors, and to host regular festivals, especially over December, whilst still adhering to social distancing regulations.
“The one thing I’m proud of being associated with Alvin, is that he has 30 staff, all of whom are still here today. With all the trials and tribulations faced during Covid-19, this has been a massive accomplishment,” Sharif said.
