The Grand Ballroom and Dining Theatre make up the largest live performance area in the club, divided by a partition wall to enable the venue to host independent functions or combine and expand the rooms for bigger functions. The spectacular multi-tiered stage is large enough to sit a full orchestra ensemble, hosting divas and dance companies every night.
The main control room is situated at a separate level where the AV crew has a panoramic view of the stage. Sound for the live entertainment is managed via the 32-channel Allen and Heath ML4000 VCA console for FOH, with an Allen and Heath WZ16:2DX mixer on monitors. Also housed in the control room is the Allen and Heath iDR-8 digital mix processor, installed to manage distribution to the multiple audio zones around the venue and the signal processing gear.
The Ballroom and Theatre rooms are fitted with Sonance ceiling speakers, while live entertainment sound is distributed to a Nexo front-of-house PA, and Logic System speakers for artists' foldback monitoring, all powered by Camco amplifiers. Lighting is controlled by an Avolites Pearl desk also installed in the control room.
For a completely different scene, Sands also has a discotheque - a large hall on two levels. The ground floor comprises a spacious 540sq.m floor area flanked with 11 cubicles, with 18 spacious party rooms, each with a private balcony on the upper level. Resident DJs mix on a state-of-the-art Allen and Heath Xone:92 DJ mixer, with a combination of Nexo enclosures around the main floor and Logic Systems units to cover the upper level, again with Camco power amplifiers. The main lighting was shared between an Oracle laser system, Robe and Martin strobes, with a colossal mirrorball as the centrepiece.
Electrosystems see private VIP rooms as big business in Indonesia, and demand has led to more elaborate and unique designs, including in-room dining and even sleeping accommodation. The Sands boasts a total of 41 private rooms ranging from the standard VIP room that can fit 8-10 people up to the luxurious President suite. Each room comes with multiple 42" plasma screens and an advanced computerised song delivery system for karaoke or music playback, with Logic System speakers.
The Swing Bar, located on the second level, is a wine and cigar lounge complete with an impressive 8m long bar, dance floor and cubicles, fitted with Logic System speakers and Robe scanners along the ceiling perimeters. There is also a DJ booth with an Allen and Heath Xone:02 scratch mixer and an Allen and Heath WZ16.2DX mixing console standing by for live bands.
Finally, Sands has its very own Catwalk lounge where fashion shows are held. The show's MC/DJ sound booth is situated inside the bar area and is similarly equipped with an Allen and Heath Xone mixer. Here too, ES has employed Logic System speakers. The main lighting design for the Catwalk area is parallel rows of Chrome Pars covered by Robe effect scanners.
(Lee Baldock)
