An Interview with
Bradley Drummond
Solutions Manager- Nightlife , Harman International
How did your journey in this field begin ?
Nightclub culture was deeprooted in my system at a very early age when my uncle asked me to help him out at the Avalon nightclub in Boston , where he was working then . It was like a summer internship for me as I had graduated from high school and was waiting to get into a university . The experience turned out to be fruitful because it taught me what I am today . My understanding of the sound and light business in a night club is in depth and has proven useful during the course of my career .
How did you get involved with Harman ?
I used to work using HARMAN audio gear- JBL and Soundcraft- in the club which kept me in regular contact with the team . They knew my capabilities and my passion for clubbing , and very soon they offered me a role to manage the nightlife solutions in the company . My relationship with HARMAN started as a happy customer and today it continues a as a proud employee .
What is your opinion on the Sound and Light industry as a whole in India ?
Sound and Light industry is going through a paradigm shift in India . Bar owners are moving from locally manufactured products to branded audio to give a soothing sensory experience to the customers . Sound and light in a club space play a very important role in customer retention and revenue generation . There have been instances where the bars have increased the average time spent in the space and revenue by making changes in the sound and light fixtures . Our association with various stakeholders from different walks of life demonstrates how this industry is growing in India and the huge potential it offers us . With the rise of entertainment and leisure industries and the growing youth population in India , we get an opportunity to experiment and offer world class solutions . The way this industry has progressed over the last few years is a proof of the opportunities that lie ahead of us .
Over the years , India ’ s cultural heritage has been enhanced with latest sound and lighting solutions . We have witnessed how technology has intervened and changed the way we entertain ourselves . Harry ’ s Bar and Café & Irish House primarily have Harman for gear comprising of JBL professional , bss , dbx , crown and Soundcraft .
Sound and light solutions together augment the overall sensory experience at entertainment venues such as Sunburn , NH-7 Weekender , Sensation India etc . Kingdom of Dreams hosts shows on our system which creates magic out there . When the concept of theme parks started growing in India , HARMAN was at the forefront and partnered with Wonderla . Besides that , we have also outfitted nearly 100 broadcast stations for All India Radio across the country . If you go to a cinema hall of your choice , chances are you will find our speakers – 80 % of all current PVR and INOX cinema halls in India run on HARMAN systems . HARMAN Professional has premium audio installations in hotels across India .
Tell us a bit more about Harman ’ s products in this space
With leading brands such as AKG , Crown , JBL Professional , Martin and Soundcraft , HARMAN is highly regarded by sound and light engineers , musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform . Globally , under Professional Audio Solution , 80 % of the recording studios and 66 % of the cinemas e are equipped with HARMAN gear . While sound technology is modernizing , basic elements of the audio systems ( speakers , control and amplification ) still remain unchanged . We have been quite successful with the Martin Lighting solutions such as Rush series and Atomic 3000 strobe in the nightlife space that suits all types of budgets , applications and can go on till the wee hours of club operations . JBL Professional ‘ s Marquee and Control series are leading dance floor and installed solutions which are rugged , and can play uninterrupted music for long hours .
Any projects that Harman is working on in this space ?
To keep abreast of the changing needs , we constantly challenge our own offerings and keep inventing in new solutions in each product category . We are working on a couple of interesting products in the audio and lighting space , we will keep you informed once they are ready for commercialization .
Any message for the readers of The Score ?
Nightlife is about exuberance and how we play around with lights and sound to create illusions and take the audience into a Trance state . The uniqueness lies in solutions used by nightclubs and HARMAN , with its offerings makes the experience worthwhile . DJs should experiment and innovate every music session , thus making it memorable and irresistible for party goers . We are all set to begin year end festivities and nightlife is going to be at the helm of all celebrations , so , audiophiles- keep rocking !
The Score Magazine
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