San Francisco nightclub 1015 Folsom planned to undergo a massive remodel to commemorate its upcoming 30-year anniversary, which will happen on Oct. 15, 2016. Along with its remarkable staying power, the 20,000-square-foot nightclub is known for hosting big EDM headliners. With so much attention being focused on the San Francisco area during Super Bowl 50 weekend in February, 1015 Folsom Owner Ira Sandler decided to get a jump start on the renovations. He called on Eric Bernstein of Intelligent Lighting Services in Austin, TX to upgrade the club’s lighting and video system with gear from Mega Systems, Inc.
Since 1986
The club opened its doors back in 1986 and has been home to some of the city’s more notable events, including massive annual shows such as The Get Freaky Afterburn and Gus Presents. As many as 2,000 attendees jam the club on weekends for late night dance parties. With five separate rooms (each including a bar and a DJ booth), the club wanted to ensure that they housed the most advanced and powerful sound, video and light systems to showcase the live and DJ fields of entertainment.
Bernstein kicked off the project last October by taking Sandler and his technical director Scot Peterson to LDI. There, they sought out and determined the new video and lighting equipment that would be used in the nightclub. Intelligent Lighting Services and Mega-Systems were able to point them in the right direction for everything they needed to turn the venue into a state-of-the-art house which could accommodate any performance type.
Main Room Video Wall
Above the stage in the main room, Bernstein installed 36 Bat M1-391 LED Display Panels from Dicolor to create a large video wall. Since the BAT M1-391 LED panels are inherently two-in-one, measuring one meter high by a half meter wide, it was essentially a massive 72-panel display. The wall was hung with a custom metal frame and two 1-ton hoists from Stagemaker. The high-resolution display served as an impressive backdrop for the performances on stage. With black face LEDs and 3.91mm pitch, the video wall provided excellent contrast and clarity, with no evident glare from surrounding light beams.
Bernstein chose Dicolor based on the visual quality of the BAT M1-391 LED display panels, and also because he knew he could count on Mega Systems, Inc. if he ever needed service. “Service is always a big concern, especially in a nightclub scenario,” says Bernstein. “I am confident in Mega Systems’ level of support; they have always delivered.”
The video wall install was completed just in time for some big acts, like Iggy Azalea (who performed for the Sports Illustrated party on Super Bowl Weekend), Duke Dumont, Tycho and many others. Shortly after it was installed, it became a topic of conversation around town. Says Sandler, “I have heard from several sources that the LED wall was the most talked about thing in the entire city.” Sandler is reaping the benefits of that buzz, with significant spikes in business over the last three months.
With the video wall now the centerpiece of the club, Sandler says he has the ability to book more talent. “Artists who play at festivals are used to having a giant LED wall as part of their act,” he notes. “Now we have more to offer.”
Bernstein ran the wall with the RGBlink
Venus X1 switcher scaler to display content. “I like the Venus X1 because its simple and straightforward to set up and operate,” says Bernstein. “And, in a club, ease of use is essential.” The club is currently using a custom laptop based system to generate and control content with plans on adding a HD media server this summer. In addition a KanexPro 32×32 matrix switcher was installed to control all video displays of the five dance floors and associated common areas.
New Lighting, Too
The upgrades didn’t end there. Lighting was the other component of the renovation. They added a grandMA onPC Command Wing and a grandMA onPC Fader Wing for control. But with real estate precious in the club for lighting, they only had room for a limited number of fixtures. After adding 12 Elation Platinum Beam Extreme fixtures, Bernstein was tasked with finding a fixture able to wash the stage, reproduce corporate logos for events and project bright beams. With that in mind, they decided on a dozen XR 350 BWS fixtures from PR Lighting. As a beam, wash and spot all in one, it gave them all the features they needed plus full-color gobos.
Along with its “all-in-one” capabilities as a beam, wash and spot fixture, the XR 330 BWS has eight-facet and 16-facet prisms, which 1015 Folsom uses for aerial effects. The XR 330 BWS also comes with a frost filter, motorized iris, mechanical dimmer, shutter, focus and zoom.
The renovation has been a success. With business better than ever, Sandler and his team feel even more excited about their upcoming 30-year anniversary. And with more upgrades planned to happen before then, it’s sure to be a celebration to remember.
