Bar FX Grand Opening is December 8

Internationally renowned, Boston-based DJ Joe Bermudez to headline club’s first night

Worcester, MA – After refurbishing its three-floor, five-room space at 90 Commercial Street, Worcester, and bringing in the finest in sound, lighting and special effects technology, Bar FX’s Grand Opening has been scheduled: On December 8, internationally-renowned DJ Joe Bermudez will headline the club’s first Marquee Saturday Night, a weekly Top 40 and electronic dance music night; doors will open at 9 p.m.

The first Marquee Saturday Night follows a trio of opening week kick-off events, including a Local DJ Showcase event on Wednesday, December 5; the club’s first 18-Plus College Night on Thursday, December 6; and the first Timeline Friday, featuring hits and club anthems from the ‘80s through today, on Friday, December 7. Moving forward, the club will be open from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., Thursday through Saturday, with plans to be open seven days by early 2013.

“We can’t wait to finally open,” said co-owner Tim Bonito. “We’ve been putting our heart and soul into Bar FX and the place looks amazing. And now that Joe Bermudez is headlining the Grand Opening, that’s just the icing on the cake. That whole week is going to be a blast.”

Located directly across from the DCU Center, Bar FX is a 400-person capacity, five-room space with something for everyone. In addition to rooms geared towards music and dancing, a third-floor lounge area features tables and couches and a laid back atmosphere, while a first floor restaurant that will serve American cuisine and a separate bar area where sports will play on television are set to open later in the month.

Bar FX is the brainchild of four co-owners with extensive experience in the nightclub and entertainment industries. Mike Barrasso has opened and managed some of the most high profile venues in New England, including The Palladium, the Hippodrome in Springfield, and the Roxy in Boston, and he is joined by his brother, Paul Barrasso, also a veteran of high-level nightclubs and bars throughout New England.

Bonito and Rich Hutchinson, meanwhile, are the heralded pair behind NV Concepts, which led the recent surge in electronic dance music by being one of the first companies to book international DJs such as David Guetta, Avicii and Tiesto at venues in nine different states across the Northeast – places like Ocean Club in Quincy, Prime in Boston (formerly Umbria), Shrine at MGM Foxwoods and others as far north as Syracuse and as far south as Philadelphia.

Based in Boston, Grand Opening headliner Joe Bermudez has helped Grammy Award-winning artists like Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson and Pink top the Billboard charts, and has himself played all over the world at such legendary venues as Pacha in New York, Arq in Sydney, Australia, Pure in Las Vegas, Destination in Beijing, China and many more. Moreover, Bermudez has consistently garnered Dance Music Awards’ nominations at the annual Miami Winter Music Conference, in part for his role as Program Director of the globally syndicated Mass Movement Radio.

“I’ve been working with NV Concepts for a long time and those guys have played a huge role in my career, so I’m excited to be a part of Bar FX’s Grand Opening,” Bermudez said. “I also can’t wait to see the place. It sounds like they pulled out all the stops.”

To learn more about Bar FX, visit www.barfx.com or www.facebook.com/barfxworcester.

BarFX Brings Contemporary Design to Industrial-Style Building

Classic feel of 90 Commercial St. accented by cutting-edge technology and modern interior

The idea was to create a premier nightclub, restaurant and bar experience in Worcester; the challenge was to find the right space, update the interior and bring in the best sound, lighting and special effects technology and equipment.

The first step was taken care of when the owners of BarFX found what they were looking for in 90 Commercial Street, located across from the DCU Center. With an industrial feel produced by brick walls, high ceilings and an abundance of large windows, the space provided the right foundation to build upon; now, visitors to the club can look forward to an exciting contrast between the industrial roots of the building and the progressive touches added by BarFX.

“The basic layout isn’t being changed, but we’re redecorating everything – it’s all about updating the look to be more modern,” said co-owner Mike Barrasso.

The redesign is an ongoing process as BarFX moves closer to its late November opening. The owners – Mike Barrasso, Paul Barrasso, Rich Hutchinson and Tim Bonito – are painting the walls and adding new carpeting and flooring while installing an array of sound, lighting and special effects technology and equipment.

The sound system relies on six massive EAW mid-cabins – top of the line speakers normally found in large concert venues – powered by racks of Crest and QSC amplifiers. In the special effects department, snow machines and a CO2 cold blast system will be employed.

In the realm of lighting, BarFX’s arsenal includes “Martin MAC” and “Clay Paky Sharpy” moving head fixtures, Diversatronic strobes, and Clay Paky Digiscans, all of which add up to the most potent light show in the region. Most importantly, co-owners Hutchinson and Bonito double as the owners of NV Concepts, a leader in bringing electronic dance music DJs to venues across the Northeast, which means they have their own cache of lighting and special effects equipment, and that equipment will be rotated through BarFX week by week.

“The lighting and special effects at BarFX are never going to get stale,” Hutchinson said. “It could change week to week, day to day.”

Currently putting the final touches on the space, BarFX hopes to open in late November.

MASSLIVE ARTICLE

BarFX plans November opening in Worcester

By George Lenker 
on October 22, 2012 at 12:02 PM, updated October 22, 2012 at 12:05 PM

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I wonder if Mike Barrasso knows how to open a smallclub.
I'm kidding the former owner of Springfield's Hippodrome, of course, but when Mike decides to do something, it' seems like it's always on a pretty grand scale. Barrasso heads up a new ownership group that is in the process of opening BarFX in Worcester.
Slated to open in November, BarFX is a 400-person capacity nightclub, restaurant, bar and lounge is situated across from the DCU Center at 90 Commercial St. With five rooms spread out over three floors, the venue promises something for everyone, including electronic dance music, Top 40 and classic club anthem nights; American cuisine served at both a restaurant and bar area with sports on television, and a third-floor lounge area with tables and couches.
Along with Barrasso, the group in includes Paul Barrasso, Rich Hutchinson and Tim Bonito.
“Between the four of us, we’ve been opening and managing venues and booking DJs, musicians, and celebrities for decades, and we’re bringing all of that experience to Worcester,” said Mike Barrasso. “There was a void here that we thought we could fill.”
Mike and Paul Barrasso have each been working in the restaurant, nightclub and entertainment industry for decades, with Mike Barrasso having opened and managed some of the most high profile venues in New England, including The Palladium, the Hippodrome in Springfield, and the Roxy in Boston. In fact, the grand opening of BarFX, scheduled for early November, will be Mike Barrasso’s 25th such event.
Hutchinson and Bonito are the pair behind NVConcepts, one of the first companies to book international DJs such as David Guetta, Avicii and Dada Life at venues throughout the Northeast, including Ocean Club in Quincy, Prime in Boston (formerly Umbria) and Shrine at MGM Foxwoods.
In addition to the entertainment, dining and bar options, BarFX will also feature a top-of-the-line sound system, intelligent lighting and special effects.
“It’s every guy’s dream to open up their own bar,” Hutchinson said. “So it’s definitely a good feeling, and getting to do it on your own terms and with people you trust makes it even better. We put an idea and a dream together and said, ‘This is what we can do here.’”
For more information about BarFX, visit www.barfx.com.

Bar FX to Host Job Fair

Bar FX Job Fair Seeks 75 Employees
Worcester’s newest venue owned by high-profile Boston nightclub veterans hosting job fair on Oct. 1-2

Downtown Worcester is getting a facelift in the form of a three-floor music, restaurant and entertainment venue.
Bar FX, scheduled to open in October at 90 Commercial Street, is owned by a team of Boston and northeastern U.S. nightclub veterans – Rich Hutchinson and Tim Bonito of NV Concepts; Mike Barrasso, formerly of the Palladium, the Roxy in Boston, and the Hippodrome of Springfield; and Paul Barrasso, who has more than 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry.

But before they open, they need a staff of 75 talented individuals.
In the search for managers, bartenders, wait staff, cooks, door people, and more, Bar FX is opening its doors on October 1 and 2 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. It’s a prime opportunity to land a truly exciting job, and to see Bar FX from the inside for the first time.
“We’re opening what is going to be the largest nightlife attraction in downtown Worcester,” said co-owner Rich Hutchinson. “It’s going to be a great atmosphere – the best DJ’s, great food, something for everyone. And that means we need great people.”

Bar FX, situated directly across from the DCU Center, boasts a multi-floor set-up that will offer a variety of entertainment.
Floors two and three will be pure electricity – an atmosphere of custom lighting, video and special effects featuring DJs of regional, national and international acclaim. As the duo behind NV Concepts, Hutchinson and Bonito maintain a long and prestigious list of acts that they’ve worked with in the past – including David Guetta, Tiësto, and Pauly D – at venues like the Ocean Club in Quincy, Prime (formerly Umbria in Boston), and Shrine at MGM Foxwoods.

In addition to electronic dance music nights, Bar FX will also hold an Anthem Night featuring Top 40, ‘80s music and favorite club anthems; and an 18-plus College Night.
Meanwhile, the club’s ground floor will host a warm and contemporary, creative-cuisine restaurant and bar offering a wide selection of beer, wine, and specialty concoctions; sports on TV; and sliding glass doors that lend an open-air feel to the lounge.

As part of their commitment to safety, the ownership team is incorporating the groundbreaking facial recognition software Biometrics Bouncer into their operation. With this state-of-the-art technology, a patron who threatens the security of others won’t be able to return a second time.
“We’re making sure Bar FX is not only an incredible place to work and play, but a secure one, too,” Mike Barrasso said. “This is going to be the place to be.”

In the meantime, Bar FX’s job fair on October 1 and 2 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 90 Commercial Street means an opportunity to not only work at Worcester’s largest nightlife attraction, but to do so under the guidance of four of the northeast’s most experienced nightclub veterans.

Springfield Based Enhanced Biometrics Introduces The "Biometric Bouncer"

Smile, you're on candid camera!That used to be a tag line for an old TV show, but now it's a fact of life. Let's face it: Our faces are being photographed everywhere these days. This is because of the modern omnipresence of security cameras, which are used everywhere from banks to airports to convenience stores. So the question isn't if you're going to be photographed, but rather how those images are used. Most law-abiding citizens don't worry too much about being caught on video, as they know it's the price of living in a secure society. As long their basic privacy is preserved, people know that these cameras can solve and even stop crimes.Until recently however, technology was limited both in how good of an image could be rendered inexpensively and how these images could be tied into computers to create a database that could identify potential security threats.

This has all changed with the formation of a new company named Enhanced Biometrics. Enhanced Biometrics has created a product that surpasses any security camera system to date. Using a complex computer algorithm, coupled with a state-of-the-art camera, the program can capture a face and accurately compare it to pictures on file in a database to do everything from weeding out undesirable patrons (ones who may have been banned for problem behaviors in the past) at a venue to identifying VIPs to whom the owners want to give preferred treatment.The potential uses for this new technology are virtually limitless. For example, a night club using this program might not only keep out troublesome patrons, it could also ensure that underage customers trying to sneak in using fake IDs are thwarted. At some point in the future, a venue may also be able to identify wanted criminals entering its doors. This would not only potentially save the venue some unwanted problems, it also could allow the owners to notify law enforcement officials the whereabouts of a suspect. And those possibilities are just the beginning.

The program can work with almost any camera and the system is designed to be used with touchscreen technology for ease of use. It was also created so that the average person can learn how to use it in 15 minutes. So don't be left behind. Face the future in face-recognition technology and learn more about Enhanced Biometrics today @ BiometricBouncer.com!

http://www.enhancedbiometrics.com/

Biometric Bouncer Informational Video

This video was produced for Enhanced Biometrics @ the Skyplex.
The Biometric Bouncer has gone through over a year and a half of development and is now ready for distribution.
http://www.biometricbouncer.com/

The Springfield Intruder and a "behind the scenes" tour of the Theater.

I recently gave a tour of the Paramount to Bill Dusty of the Springfield Intruder. I thought that some people may find it interesting to see parts of the theater that the public never sees. Below is a link to the story that Bill wrote about the tour and a link to the video that he made.



http://springfieldintruder.com/?p=3169