NEW YORK CITY – The new Metropolitan West venue debuted during New York’s Fashion Week with the x Versus Versace Spring/Summer 2015 runway show and after-party. WorldStage supplied nearly 100 moving lights and 150 conventional lights and various LED fixtures. For sound, 40 Yamaha and 34 d&b speakers were used, running from Avid and newYamaha QL1 mixing desks.
More details from WorldStage (www.worldstage.com)
NEW YORK CITY – One of the most glittering events during New York’s Fashion Week was the Anthony Vaccarello x Versus Versace Spring/Summer 2015 runway show and after-party at the new Metropolitan West venue. Signaling the notoriety of the event, Naomi Campbell, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, Bella Thorne, Rachel Zoe and Victoria Justice all made appearances. Metropolitan West is a new event facility designed and built by the Metropolitan Pavilion organization and is the sister facility of Metropolitan Chelsea. Both facilities utilize WorldStage as the exclusive provider of audio, video/staging and lighting services.
The x Versus Versace 8 pm runway show, spotlighting the young diffusion line of the Versace fashion house, and after-party marked the first event since the new space opened its doors. During the months prior to opening, WorldStage had installed a comprehensive audio, video and lighting system to meet the demands of prospective Metropolitan West clients. The systems represent provide state-of-the-art performance while being cost effective, providing clients a wide range of configurations and minimal visual interference as much of the hardware is finished in white to match the interior design.
x Versus Versace utilized both the first and second floors of Metropolitan West. “Since we were supporting not only a full runway show on the first floor but a large party and concert performance on the second floor, we augmented the installed system with additional gear from our warehouse inventory. However, for almost all events we’ll see at the space, the built-in system will be able to handle it.” says WorldStage account executive/project manager Frank Mejia. “Scenically, the client brought in additional walls for the party and we provided the AV package for the performance by St. Vincent.”
KCD partnered with Todo Productions on the creative for the evening. “Anthony (Vaccarello) wanted a clean, modern, white light venue for the show,” says Susan Schroeder with Todo Productions. “He used a lot of graphic patterns in his collection, which we adapted for the graphic design of the runway. Upstairs at the party we used lighting and projection to get that graphic look in the very modern, white space. We also played with the infinity of reflections of the models in a lot of mirrors.”
Frank Mejia notes that WorldStage met the twin challenges of readying Metropolitan West for its debut as well as ensuring it met the needs of KCD and Todo for x Versus Versace’s dual events. “John Ackerman, Vice President – Systems Integration, Barry Grossman, Chief Engineer and I worked hand in hand with the management and operations team of the venue to make sure everything was at 100 percent by the load-in day,” he says.
For the high-profile fashion event WorldStage was charged with implementing the creative visions of lighting designer Joe Saint of IMCD Lighting and audio designer Eric Bechtel of Audible Difference Inc. (ADI).
In all, nearly 100 moving lights, 150 conventional lights and various LED fixtures were used to light the fashion show, party and performance. For sound 40 Yamaha and 34 d&b speakers were used, running from Avid and newYamaha QL1 mixing desks.
“We were the first production at Met West, and WorldStage was great about working together with us to make everything happen for our show,” says Schroeder. “WorldStage really impressed me by putting our needs first.
