Powering the Pavilion: DJ Beso & Samson’s Resound VX6.1 at Jones Beach Theater

Great live music experiences start long before the main stage lights go up, and few venues set the vibe quite like The Pavilion at the iconic Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York. We recently partnered with DJ Beso, the theater's house DJ, to help ensure the sound before every show hits as hard as the main event. As thousands of concertgoers' head through the gates each night, DJ Beso sets the ultimate pre-show vibe, energizing the crowds with upbeat tracks and live mixes.

To help meet the unique and challenging demands of an outdoor space, Samson installed four of our brand-new Resound VX6.1 portable column array systems at The Pavilion which features music and dancing before the headliners take the main stage. Designed for easy transport while maintaining a wide and powerful sound dispersion, the VX6.1 systems easily cut through outdoor ambient noise to deliver clean, full-spectrum coverage. Whether DJ Beso is laying down tracks or keeping the VIP area buzzing, his VX6.1 systems provide the power and acoustic fidelity needed for a premier outdoor entertainment venue.

Photos by Freshly Cut Film 2026

How did you get the gig as the house DJ for the Pavilion at the Northwell Jones Beach Theater? 

I had a weekly Sunday gig at a Vauxhall in Huntington that we called The Boogie Down Brunch. I would spin funk & soul songs that we’re used to later make hip hop tracks (The Charmel’s “As Long As I’ve Got You” that was used to make “C.R.E.A.M.” by Wu-Tang, etc.)

One week someone from LiveNation was there having brunch with friends and got my contact info from a staff member. I got a call that week and they asked me if I’d be interested in working at Jones Beach Theater. Ten seasons and a massive venue renovation later, I’m still down at the beach spinning records.

The Pavilion at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater is massive with high-energy crowds every night. How do you approach crafting your sets to build hype before main stage performances, and what unique challenges does an outdoor coastal venue present?

I build playlists around the artists that are performing that day, and what their fans are in to. Although some tracks are universal across all ages, every night is a totally different playlist. Figuring out what classics to throw in before Santana & The Doobie Brothers take the stage, what sick breakdowns to play before Lamb Of God & Black Label Society thrash, or what dance tracks to get the party warmed up before Pitbull & Lil Jon, it’s all what make this gig a fun challenge for me. 

You recently integrated four of our new portable Resound VX6.1 column array systems into your setup. What was your immediate reaction to the sound quality, coverage, and low-end punch when pushing volume in an open-air environment? How are the speakers angled?

Never judge a book by its cover, size doesn’t matter, and big things come in small packages! The powerful, clean, and clear sound these systems put out for their size is outstanding. We have them front & rear facing on the front & backsides of the stage, and it’s more than enough to get a party going even out in the open air.

Between quick setups and dialing in the mix, what specific features of the Resound VX6.1—like the built-in 3-channel mixer, DSP presets, or portability—have made the biggest difference in your live performances?

The setup and breakdown on all four setups takes moments, not even minutes, it’s truly the definition of effortless. Two people take an empty riser stage to a full DJ booth in about 15 minutes. We run the feed from my DJ mixer via XLR to the VX6.1’s at the front of the stage that faces the pavilion and then run the feed out to the rear speakers facing the crowd walking in so we can independently control volume of each side.

Outdoor beach venues are notoriously tough on gear, from wind to salt air. How have the VX6.1 column arrays performed under these challenging environmental conditions?

The past few years we’ve really lucked out on having fantastic weather for each show, this season our luck must have run out. So far this summer these speakers have experienced everything from 95 degree weather, 25 mile-an-hour wind gusts, to a few unexpected rain showers. They’ve taken every bit of it and perform like the day we got them at the venue. 

How is sound for a live outdoor venue different than standard indoor clubs and venues? What unique challenges does an outdoor coastal venue present?

The sound can dissipate a lot in an open air venue, and there’s way more square footage than a club, having something that can get up over the crowd and cover a good distance is super important. The reach on this system while still sounding clear has been perfect. 

Jones Beach Theater is also a rain-or-shine venue, some days the beautiful weather can change on a dime. If we get an unexpected weather delay mid-show, being able to quickly break down and then quickly reset the VX6.1’s is a life-saver. 

Have you noticed a change in how the crowd responds or moves around The Pavilion since using the new Samson setup?

It’s been a great response so far this summer. I’ve had so many DJ’s, musicians, and even people just looking for speakers for backyard parties have asked what system we’re using. The sound that comes out of a system this size is a surprise for everyone. 

Any final thoughts on the new speaker system setup? 

If you’re looking for a compact, easy to store, easy to set up, deceptively powerful sound system for your mobile set-up…you’ve found your answer with the Resound VX6.1. I can’t recommend them enough!

Learn more about DJ Beso:

DJ Beso (pronounced BEE-so) is a Long Island, New York-based open-format DJ known for blending hip-hop, dance, rock, throwbacks and everything in between into sets built around the crowd.

A DJ for more than 15 years, Beso has built his reputation on versatility, deep musical knowledge and the ability to move seamlessly between genres without losing the energy. His style combines the instincts of a seasoned party DJ with the turntablism and hip-hop roots that first put him behind the decks.

Beso currently serves as the house DJ at Jones Beach Amphitheater, performing throughout the concert season for crowds attending some of the biggest tours to come through New York. His career has taken him from nightclubs and packed bars to major concert venues, sporting events, festivals, brand activations and private events throughout the United States.

Whether warming up thousands of concertgoers, controlling a packed nightclub or digging deep for the record nobody expected to hear, Beso’s approach remains the same: read the room, respect the music and make the moment count.

No predetermined formula. No genre boundaries. Just the right record at the right time.