Opened on President's Day weekend the 360 degree bar features the customary slot machines and table games, but it's a color coordinated lighting and video system that gives the bar its character.
Surrounding more than 300 towering bottles on the interior of the bar are sixteen 50" plasma screens that reveal sensual video content set to pulsating Top 40 metro music. Further in are two rows of Martin Alien 05 color changers - an outer row of 24 plus an inner row of 24 - illuminating liquor bottles on vertical liquor racks. Added to this are four circles of colour changing Color Kinetics LED fixtures surrounding the bar. In a touch that gives the bar its stylish feel, the LED and Aliens are colour coordinated with the video on the plasma screens.
The Alien 05 lighting was designed by Jon Champelli of the Paul Steelman Design Group, who says: "As most of Harrah's patron's are older adults, and competition for the younger, hip crowd grows, the function of the bar is to attract a more youthful crowd as the bulk of its clientele. I picked the Alien's because of the success I had with them at another Harrah's bar, Harrah's Rincon Casino & Resort in San Diego. I loved the look of them there - the combination of the colour changing and the actual aesthetic look that they have. Colour coordination between the LED, the video and Alien 05's is something that evolved over time, and is still evolving. We'll end up with 96 different video clips and looks, each between two and four and a half minutes.
"I always appreciate the fact that the Alien's have such a range of colours to choose from and being able to customize the colour wheel is quite helpful." Martin's Bruno Silva along with Jon Champelli completed the Alien programming. The video, including the audio and software elements, was custom produced for Xhibition Bar by the Chimaera Group who worked with More Media Group.
The bar also features four Martin MiniMAC Profiles on a straight truss covering a small performance area. Rigged amongst a row of Par Cans, the colour changing MiniMAC's are used for events such as tarot cards, speed dating, performers and small bands. Uniquely the lighting can be controlled via four guitar pedals that are linked together and talk to the lighting controller.
Ron Fogel who worked closely with Champelli designed the performance area lighting. Fogel comments: "A band can get nine different looks and effects with their feet while they're playing. And the bar keep can run his own bar looks as well. I love those little things. For that application the MiniMAC's are perfect." Fogel & Associates supplied the MiniMAC's.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
