It was the top social event of the year in The Hague. Celebrities from the cultural, sporting and political worlds thronged the atrium of the town hall to have a good time and donate money to a worthy cause. UNICEF was delighted to make a net profit of 143,500 euros - money that will be used for charitable purposes.
To heighten the mood of generosity among the guests, the UNICEF team had organised a high-calibre live programme that included not only local and national acts such as Jim, Told U So and Frank In Person (F.I.P.) but also the legendary disco group of the Eighties Sister Sledge, who made sure the dance floor was packed and stayed that way. Their much-appreciated set included powerful and dynamic renderings of all their classic hits such as We Are Family, He's the Greatest Dancer and Lost in Music.
The Dutch sound company AVEQ Rental & Sales was responsible for the production. The team led by sound engineers Rutger Klein Kranenbarg (FOH) and Dimitri Van Dijck (monitors) used an Electro-Voice sound system for both the gala and the after-show party.
AVEQ boss, Robert van Aalst, says: "The atrium has an appalling reputation among sound engineers, with glass and stone everywhere you look - a FOH man's nightmare! And the fact that the programme included both classical music and disco made things all the more difficult. That, and a guest list packed with VIPs and politicians..."
A delicate task that called for a considerable degree of technical sophistication. Fortunately van Aalst and his team had the wherewithal to respond. "We put our faith in the EV XLD - and that faith was utterly vindicated," is how van Aalst sums it up. "After the show, the compliments were veritably flying and best of all, we were awarded the commission for next year's gala on the spot!"
Founded in 1989 with headquarters in The Hague's dockland, AVEQ is a technical production company that offers a full service of lighting, sound production, video and rigging. The team led by MD Robert van Aalst numbers around 18 permanent members reinforced as and when necessary by up to 35 freelancers. For years, AVEQ has relied on equipment from Electro-Voice, its vast inventory currently including four different EV line array systems: Xi, X-Array, XLC and XLD. "With them, we handle classical music, dance, theatrical events and concerts - indoors and out, and often in very critical environments," says van Aalst. "But EV has never disappointed us."
(Chris Henry)
