MJ Event Gear were delighted to use 12 of their Robe BMFLs at the MultiChoice Super Stars Year End event hosted at the Mosaïek church in Fairlands, Johannesburg. MJ have not looked back since purchasing the BMFLs and the fixtures have been booked out by other rental companies for various events around South Africa. At last the MJ boys could play with their own toys since they always out on dry hires to other clients.
MJ worked with their client Edith Venter, and the lighting designer for the event was Gary Sam, a freelancer who programmed on a grandMA 2 Light.
“The evening consisted of two parts, a show and an after party,” commented MJ’s Theo Rood, Project Manager. “Prior to the show, staff from the MultiChoice Call Centre participated in auditions and a knock out system, something similar to an Idol’s type competition. The top eight singers performed at the grand finale, hosted at the Teatro auditorium at the Mosaïek.”
Gary Sam needed something that would punch through the white camera lighting. “The BMFLs were absolutely brilliant,” said Gary. “It was the right light for that gig and allowed us to pretty up the venue. Because of the bright lighting required for camera work, I needed something that would punch through. The BMFLs were able to give me nice beam work from the back, and they doubled up to do great gobo work on the stage floor. I also loved working with the MJ guys, they are a great bunch of people who know and love what they are doing, and it is always a pleasure working with them
On this occasion Gary worked on MJ’s grandMA2 Light. He has been exposed to the grandMA 2 technology over the past year. “I am starting to get into it and enjoy the desk,” he said.
The back truss, mid truss and house truss was all Prolyte H40V, explained Theo Rood. With a passion for symmetry, Theo and Gary worked together to come up with a solution that would add effects and colour, each song having it’s own look and feel. “On the back truss, we hung eight Robe BMFLs and eight Robin 600 LEDWash fixtures and on the mid truss, five BMFLs and four Robin 600 LEDWash lights. Twelve Robe MMX fixtures were positioned on the house truss, gobos here used to add texture to the walls. For air cutting beam work, six Clay Paky Sharpies were placed on the stage floor.” The rigging was headed by MJ’s Molatelo Sebatjane (Zeeks).
Three sections of Showtech LED Star Cloth created a backdrop and two Le Maitre MVS Hazers formed part of the gig. “I like the MVS Hazer,” said Theo. “Its output exceeds its size and within five minutes the whole auditorium was filled with haze.”
The after party was dotted in colour, appropriately themed a “Smartie Party”. Here MJ’s Olebogeng Boinamo used an Avolites Tiger Touch for control, as always doing a fantastic job. The party included 24 Robin LEDBeam 100, 12 Robin 600 LED Wash, 12 Longman ColorME and six Clay Paky Sharpy fixtures. “It was wild and fun,” says Theo. “The DJ kept the crowd on the dance floor and we were proud to be part of the entire production.”
MultiChoice South Africa’s activities involve the operation of Pay-Television and internet subscriber platforms. The MultiChoice South Africa group includes the digital satellite Pay-Television business (“DStv”), which has been in operation since 1995.