What is the perfect club sound? On Clubs, Sound, and Everything in Between - Chapter: A

Okay. Before we begin our journey into the wonders of club sound, perhaps we should ask ourselves what exactly the perfect club sound is. This is not an easy question, and certainly not one that can be answered by buying equipment from a particular manufacturer. That’s not the point. And that’s before we even start talking about the subjective dimension that comes with any discussion of sound.

So what? How can you even begin to answer a question like that? Look, I don't own a club. I've never owned a club, and I've never run a club. Not even on a kibbutz. But like everything in life, there are patterns. And those patterns are observable.

As partygoers, much of what goes on behind the scenes at the club is unknown to us. But we see the impact. The club's overall economy is pretty simple and consists primarily of admissions and alcohol sales. What is, of course, essential to add is that behind-the-scenes activity does not always have an impact that is seen. Sometimes the impact is on what is not seen (and not wanted to be seen). A club is a place that “lives” within a fragile ecosystem of authorities and neighbors, and a lot of effort is invested in preserving this ecosystem for the benefit of the audience's experience.

So true. A club owner/manager has to manage a lot of things. From making sure the place is tidy, the restrooms are clean, and there is enough parking, to communicating with security and supporting the team. But if we boil down all the peripherals and support to the club's actual operation and how it delivers value, what does the club owner actually want?

*Fully booked club

*Bar that never stops working

*Zero problems from neighbors

Pretty simple, right?

Let's see:

What does it take to have a fully booked club?

Yes, everyone knows: talented artists, a lineup with a good story, an audience that shares a common denominator, a setting that communicates with the content, and more. But all these “ingredients” need glue, and the glue is sound. It's not just a coincidence that the best way to stop a party is to turn off the music - without a sound reinforcement, it's just not the same.  But not all sound reinforcement is enough to keep everything going for long. Without good sound, it won't last. The crowd will leave early, and the club won't stay full.

We could continue: 

What about a bar that never stops working?

Most of us associate alcohol with social interactions. After all, we could have stayed home with a bottle of whiskey, and yet we chose to have a drink or two at the club. Why? Social interactions. But social interactions can happen when you can talk, and in a club where you can't speak without shouting, there won't be many interactions, and accordingly, less activity in the bar. What turns out is that here too, sound is of paramount importance. If you can't talk without shouting, there are fewer reasons to drink. Without sound that allows for social interaction, the bar won't flourish.

We haven't forgotten.

What about problems with neighbors?

Okay, so everyone already knows that problems with neighbors are, almost exclusively, due to noise. Especially that “boom boom” that not only doesn't stop but also drifts through space during the quiet hours of the night, disturbing the neighbors' rest. Over time, this means one thing. Either the problem will be solved, or the club will close. And here we are again, returning to the importance of sound. Only this time from the other side - if its spread cannot be controlled, then our rewards will be our losses.

So yes. A thriving club can excel across a sea of ​​parameters.

But if the sound doesn't support the three most essential components:

*A fully booked club

*A bar that never stops working

*Zero problems from the neighbors

The club will not be able to maximize its business potential, period.

Which of course leads us, in reverse, to the definition we were looking for:

“Sound that maximizes the club’s business potential is the perfect sound.”

So here we have a definition to work with.

As a result, we are given exactly the emphasis we need to put when thinking about how to produce good sound in a club.

In other words:

*How do we create a comprehensive sound that binds all the participants in the event together over time?

*How do we create a sound that will allow communication between people, but will still provide the appropriate power?

*How do we ensure that the sound experience inside the club does not leak out and disrupt the environment?

These three things are our compass, and they will determine the direction we will take.

Pictured: The Mantra Club in Jakarta, Indonesia – featuring a KV2-Audio VHD System