Blue Box in Ibiza
Darren Hughes was the reason we came to Ibiza. We came to realise very early on with Funktion One people either get it or they don't. Darren Hughes got it. We supplied a Funktion One system for the VIP tent at homelands and he was so impressed that he invited us to Ibiza to meet Pepe Rossini and Fritz Pangratz of Space with a view to us installing a Funktion One system in the club. As it turned out we ended up renting a system for their famous Terrace that first year. The following year we came very close to selling them a system for the main room, but they decided to buy a Dynacord Alpha system from a local company, not least to ensure they had local support. A year later they were back on the phone asking us to re quote! The Alpha system hadn't worked out and a rethink was required. We realised that to give them the confidence they needed, in what was then a relatively new system, we would need local representation on the island. We had a conversation with local engineer Hugo Quintanilla Cons and he agreed to come on board and represent Blue Box on the island. Thus Blue Box Ibiza was born.
We set up a facility on the island and set about designing a new system for Space. Initially we started with the main room, installing 12 F218s and 8 Res 9s. We also installed two bar systems, using F88s, and two rear fill AX88s. The system worked out really well and we started running into people in London who were talking about the new buzz at Space. Since then we have installed a Funktion One system in a new room each year; The Premier Etage, The Red Box, La Salon and, most significantly, the new Covered Terrace. This system proved to be a triumph for us and has gained more positive feedback than anything else we've done (and that's saying something!). Pepe Rossini even went as far as to say it was the best sound system he had ever heard.
Never content to rest on our laurels we upped the anti in the main room last year by replacing the F218s with the self powered version of the new F221 resulting in much acclaim from clubbers and DJs alike. This year sees a major upgrade to the monitor system from Blue Box standard to Supersize. The new system will comprise 2 F121, 2 custom 12'' and 4 Res 2SH mid highs.
From our initial relationship with Space we have spent four years expanding our operation into rentals and dry sales, including representing Pioneer Pro DJ on the island and supporting their promotional products and events.
As we became more established on the island people became interested in what we were doing and two years ago we were approached by Manuel Lopez, manager of Privilege, who, after initial discussions and a demo at WMC Miami, decided he had little choice but to opt for Funktion One. Having had some bad experiences of other systems, and a notably disastrous season with a line array, he had become convinced they needed a more long-term solution. This year will see a full Funktion One system installed in the main room and VIP area. They will also have a Blue Box 'standard' format DJ monitor system.
Our four years in Ibiza has been a learning curve; working in Ibiza requires a different mind set to the UK and it can be frustrating if you don't go with the flow. Things still get done (often better than in England), just at a Spanish pace, which, when you get in sync with it, actually makes a lot of sense, is less stressful and more rewarding. Our work is appreciated here and the positive feedback we have had from friends and friends of friends who visit the clubs is very gratifying.
At the end of the day, more than anything else, this business is about people; it's about forging relationships with like minds, where the common aim is to create the best sound possible in the space available and get satisfaction from the resultant positive effect that has on the clientele.
We've made a lot of friends on Ibiza and we have come to love the island and it's remarkable ability to take you to places you never imagined existed. That's the real magic of Ibiza and it's the reason many people keep coming back.
You either get it or you don't.
Mark Metcalf, May 2008
