The MegaPointes were part of a stunning production lighting design by Sander den Otter from T-MINUS Design for the 2-day event staged at Haarlemmermeer, a nature reserve just outside Amsterdam. Mysteryland 2017 brought a magical mix of great music, diversity, unity and superlative production values to 110,000 EDM fans attending from all around the world.

The eye-popping main stage with its complex and beautiful new scenic design by the Mysteryland team - led by creative director Sander Vermeulen - was the starting point for Sander den Otter’s lighting design.

He (Sander den Otter) has been involved with Mysteryland for some years. His innovative Rotterdam based visual design practice T-MINUS Design works across multiple sectors – theatre, musicals, rock ‘n’ roll and outdoor spectaculars as well as EDM. Lighting ‘monumental’ visual environments like this requires an imagination and an amalgamation of techniques from all these disciplines and the ability to think big and think pictorially.

Sander has been using Robe products regularly in his work for the last six or so years and was delighted to be involved in one of the live MegaPointe debuts.

The fixtures were positioned on the undersides of a series of large scenic pipes running up and around the set architecture, and were utilised extensively by Sander’s FOH operating team … as well as by all the visiting lighting and visual designers working that stage with their artists over the weekend.

MegaPointes threw light hundreds of metres out into the crowds for the camera shots – the event was both streamed and recorded – and created a dazzling array of funky, retina-burning effects during the various DJ sets. The line-up included many ‘greats’ like Armin van Buuren, Axwell Λ Ingrosso, Oliver Heldens, Deadmau5, etc.

The intensity of the units was “excellent” commented Sander. He also appreciated the large zoom which make it a “proper and very nice” spot fixture as well as a powerful beam - just one of many features ticking the ‘multi-functional’ box, together with the prisms and myriad of other effects.

They were perfect for audience illumination and capturing the enthusiasm and spirit of the Mysteryland fans, actively engaging with them as their potent beams swept back and forth and up and down across the massive packed arena.

For an event like this flexibility is a key to any lighting fixture and they have to run and provide a variety of looks for long operating periods.

Brightness is also fundamental …. 90 per cent of the show is in daylight, so any fixture has to compete with the most powerful lightsource on the planet – the sun.

“You can really see the brightness potential when you start pointing MegaPointes in the air,” stated Sander.

He commented that the reliability seemed to be that “rock solid Robe” standard you expect – also essential for this style of event where the fixtures were in exposed positions and had to be resistant to rain, wind, dust and a number of other environmental conditions.

Mysteryland 2017 was another great success for all involved, adding its own chapter to the history and development of Robe’s latest technology … underlining the importance of this key product launch for the Czech manufacturer.

Photo Credit: Louise Stickland