Well where do I start....
Oh dear.
Oh dear indeed.
ERIC PRYDZ PRESENTS HOLOSPHERE
2.0 CLOSING PARTY
Arriving:
Arrived just gone 1am, and having to tackle the walk from parking, and unable to use the footpaths all the time due to either foliage or just big holes in the footpaths. You'd think they'd fix that.
Result is lots of people walking in the road which has cars zipping up from behind. Great combo I must say.
Got directed to the poor people's entrance at the back, what saw of the vip entrance area looked nice. Had a little wander around and found toilets and then the outside areas.
Bars:
Waited an age to get served at bar, even though it wasn't that busy.
Water €15
I and serveral people in front of me where all paying cash, €20, and where getting a lot of shrapnel\coins, €1, 50c etc.
I don’t know if they just ran out of €5 notes or if a ploy to get people to leave more tips. But either way thought it was bad form.
People paying by card took ages as machines kept declining. (Technologa!)
The outside areas are well done and have a nice feel to it. The bunker room and blue corridor that let's you cross underneath to the other side is quite useful too.
Now the main room. *sigh*. In short its the theatre room of Hi, just bigger, with all the same issues Hi has.
People flow:
There is no easy return flow towards back of club, just like in Hi. A part railled off one way corridor would help.
Especially as it was rammed (see in a bit). Getting back upstairs in the main room is difficult. Jumping out the side doors and back round outside is easier for sure. *If* you can reach the side doors.
Rammed:
We (I met up with someone in the club) managed to get about half way to the stage from the rear stairs.
And then we got stuck there
.
For almost 2 hours during the main set, we, and everyone around us was so rammed in, the most you could do was kinda sway. Anyone trying to move in out of the crowd caused massive problems with people been squished into someone else.
Towards end of set we managed to move back towards the main stairs, where it was a bit less mental.
Hot:
I was in a sleeveless vest and I was still really hot. Every so often you got a waft of cool air that was a life saver, but coupled with it been rammed, it made for a less than pleasant experience.
Sound system:
I have no idea why but its definitely off, felt very bassy and muddly at times. Especially when they decided the volume should go to "concorde taking off" levels. I'm glad I had proper ear protection.
Perhaps like Hi they have a few mains doing heavy lifting vs more smaller speakers to fill it. (Surprised they didn't go with an atmos system with it been a new club)
All in all the music was ok, but didn't enjoy it, especially as an introvert who likes my own personal space, having lots of people pressed up against you makes you focus on that aspect instead of the music. (Ymmv)
Visuals:
As for the holosphere, well its ok but a bit old hat after 2 minutes. Especially compared to stuff someone I know is doing:
Leaving:
We left after main act finished around 4.45am. Back out through the poor entrance and walk to car park to taxies. Some taxies where coming up, that vip only?
Getting taxi at that time was no problem what so ever. ~€13 back to hotel in pdb.
Conclusion:
So in summary, the main room is just a big featureless rectangular space. I preferred privileges quirks, walking over a pool, dj booth thing in the middle, basically anything to break up the people flow And shape.
Honestly I'm not sure what they can do to give it some character back.
And in addition not only does ramming people in hurt what people think about the place, it also from a practical point of view stops people been able to reach the bars (even if you wanted to pay the stupid prices).
Maybe its just me been 10 years older, but the vibe I got from privilege isn't there.
Perhaps people unable to dance and properly interact is part of that. People vibing is what makes a night magical and memorable imho.
It's a bit like looking around a new build states houses. Very nice and that, but you feel a little something is missing.
Wow proper long rant, if you made it this far, well done
Anyhow I got pacha tonight, with only 2.5 hours sleep so far in the tank. Wish me luck
