Before Mediatech: Meet Qincy

04 July 2011

“Qincy” (Michael Strathmann)

MA Lighting International

Tech Sales Engineer

   

You may have met Michael Strathmann, better known as Qincy, earlier this year at the DWR Distribution Roadshow. What a fantastic guy!  He will be back again for Mediatech. Herewith his answers to some of our questions.

 

Nick asked: “How did you get into the industry?”

By accident (like most of us) – about 18 years  ago, a friend of mine was doing the sound for some bands and told me that the “industry” needs more lighting people. I said that I think I understand how lighting works from my electronical background, but would love to learn “that”, but had no clue about how  – “cool” – he said  “you already know more than 50% of the techies I work with..”

 

Dave asked: “What is your pet hate about the industry?”

Hmmm…this is a hard one…. There´s really not much that I don´t like in this industry.

 

Derek asked: “What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?”

Great question! But no way of answering this in public (;-)

 

  Nicolet asked: “In what country did you get lost the most and how did you handle it?”

In general, if you don´t speak or read the language, it´s hard.

Driving subway in countries like that can be a problem, cause you don´t know where you go, neither you know where you came from! Only solution is to find English speaking people – sometimes (that’s my experience) this can take a while … 

 

Dave asked: “Do you have any interests / hobbies outside the industry?”

Of cause! Motorbike driving, music listening,  working on our house, travelling

 

Cherine asked: “What is your most impressive international event / project?”

Difficult to say… working in tech. support at MA Lighting since so many years, means that I have visited a lot of productions. For our customers, the actual production is always the most important one – if huge or small, they simply all have to run smoothly. Working as a support technician on these productions gives you not always time to find out what impresses you most .

 

Impressive in terms of the arts are of course the “Cirque du Soleil” shows, impressive in terms of the spectators and the size of the production was “Rock in Rio”.

 

Pumi asked: “What is your favourite product of all time, pertaining to this industry?”

There are several products, that have been and are my favs: Of course products from MA! In the past, the Scan Commander – the working horse from my freelance time, followed by the grandMA and now the gMA2 – From the fixture side, on one hand the good old Clay Paky Golden Scan 3 – no matter how much dust and dirt inside – never had a failed one and on the second side it´s the Vari-lite VL 5 – for me still one of the sexiest fixtures ever.

 

Simon asked: “What do you like about South Africa and what places of interest have you visited during one of your stays here.”

To be honest, when I was part of the DWR Roadshow this year, it was my first time in ZA. The roadshow was brilliant anyway but it also gave me the great opportunity to have a stay in Durban, Johannesburg as well as Cape Town! Apart from the breathtaking countryside, the people impressed me much – so friendly – so interested – so interesting – simply great!

 

Sherryn asked: “Could you name one of your little pleasures in life?”

Smelling the upcoming morning on a motorbike ride through the night… romantic eeeehh..?