Metropool Poppodia van Twente is a music, pop, and cultural organization based in the Twente region, of the Overijssel province in east Netherlands. It offers a vibrant program of live music, dance and club nights and other events, and is adjacent to the train station for excellent public transport access. Priding itself in delivering the very best production values to artists, bands and audiences, the venue has been investing in Robe moving lights over several years which have been very successful, and the latest batch was just recently delivered by Benelux distributor, Controllux, comprising LEDBeam 350s, LEDBeam 150s, T1 Profiles, and T11 Profiles.
These are added to the existing Robe LEDBeam 150 and Viva CMY fixtures, now totaling an impressive 44 moving lights in the 800-capacity Main Hall with 16 in the venue’s 200-capacity small hall. The newest lighting fixtures have delighted the technical team of 9 including lighting specialists Dion Moldovan and Timo Klein Nulent, both of whom have worked there for around six years.
The Foundation Metropool Poppodia van Twente which runs Metropool Hengelo also manages another venue – Metropool Enschede – which also has two similar sized halls. Between these four event spaces, an average of 14 shows are staged over a weekend, so it’s a busy, fast-moving, energetic environment which needs slick organization on the technical front to ensure all the shows go on smoothly for everyone’s maximum enjoyment.
Metropool Hengelo already had 16 x Robe LEDBeam 150s rigged in its big hall, so the larger LEDBeam 350s both add to and complement these, so this enabled the replacement – and serious enhancement – of the old remaining PAR cans that were previously a staple of the lighting rig with these new LEDBeam 350s. Metropool has to comply with the current energy saving laws in the Netherlands, and in anticipation, has been working on the transition to LED for some years, and this latest Robe purchase is the final step in the transition to LED, explained Dion.
Obviously, they wanted to choose wisely. “This time around, we sought a fixture with more output than the LEDBeam 150 that would also match with it well and essentially be interchangeable. The LEDBeam 350 was an obvious choice that met these criteria.” Dion went on a Robe factory tour in 2022, and the concluding showroom demo illustrated very well the compatibility between the two types of LEDBeams which have the same DMX profile, so the decision was made. When the 12 x new LEDBeam 350s arrived on site in Hengelo, eight of the LEDBeam 150s were transferred to their small hall. The T1 Profiles are mainly for front lighting, keys, and specials in the big hall.
Following demos of these and other similar fixtures, the T1 came out on top. “It was definitely the nicest option in terms of light quality,” noted Dion, relating that they also liked the color mixing, the accurate framing shutters, the crisp and pure quality of the light and lack of edge aberrations even when shuttered. Timo added that the T1 Profiles can also be used very well for effects and having them in the front of stage positions is perfect for audience and room atmospheric lighting during dance events.
The T11 Profiles were picked as they match the T1s on colors and output quality and represented “great value” commented Dion. They are now installed in overhead positions in the small hall. He also notes that the T-series and the LEDBeams match the colors of other current Robe fixtures ranges which they are also considering for future purchases.
Many of the Dutch artists playing at Metropool will bring their own lighting designers and operators, but for anyone rocking up without a dedicated lighting person, Dion, Timo or one of their talented and creative lighting crew will ensure they get an excellent lightshow. With high production values such a driver for both Hengelo and Enschede Metropools, “We try and be as rider friendly as possible and tick all their boxes,” stated Dion, adding that most LDs are very happy to see Robes in the rig.
Often, Metropool’s top rig will be supplemented with visiting band’s own floor packages, and occasionally touring artists will bring in their entire production, but most are happy to use the well-equipped and thought-out house rigs. The house lighting console is a grandMA, and often LDs will also bring in their own control and hook that into the house rig.
Neither Dion nor Timo had worked with Robe fixtures before starting at Metropool, where they were once both interns keen to learn, passionate about the job and up for the daily challenges which led to the permanent post offers. They enjoy this very dynamic performance space where no two days or shows are alike. Dion is now a “big Robe fan”, and through freelance work both encounter plenty of other fixtures for comparison, and still appreciate coming back to Metropool and working with Robe kit to deliver amazing live shows that are enjoyed by all types of audiences. Timo underscores the importance of backup and after-sales support from Controllux which he describes as “outstanding”.
Further information from Robe: www.robe.cz
Photos: by Louise Stickland
