MAC 101â„¢ Visual Impact on Chevelle “Hats Off to the Bull” Tour

chevelle_0432-low.jpgThe shrewd LD knows that you don't necessarily need a huge budget or a lot of fixtures to make a big visual impact. John "Cheetoh" Chiodo, lighting designer, programmer and lighting board op for American alt metal band Chevelle, understands that and turned to Martin's mini but mighty MAC 101 wash light for the band's 2012 “Hats Off to the Bull” U.S. tour.

“On the last tour with Chevelle I used MAC 700s,” he stated. “On that tour the band and I discussed going with all LED fixtures for the next tour. This time I scooped up as many MAC 101s as the budget allowed.”

Cheetoh spread 30 MAC 101s across the upstage edge between four trusses and pipes to create a full wall of fixtures look. “I chose the 101s because of their brightness and quickness,” he says. “They also have a perfect degree beam, which helps make the light more of a spot than a true LED wash fixture.”

Lighting vendor for the tour is Windy City Music out of Chicago whose role encompassed more than mere supply of the lighting gear. Cheetoh explains, “Chris Johnson of Windy City Music and the guys there came up with a great plan to make a bracket that keeps two 101 fixtures together, which is quicker for the load in and load out and fits perfectly into the cases. With the bracket idea, it really helps the stagehands securely grab the fixtures, making them much less likely to be dropped.” He also states that there have been no issues with the fixtures to date.

Appreciative of the help he has received on the tour, Cheetoh acknowledges Martin Product Manager Matthias Hinrichs for his quick and efficient support. He also thanks “Brad Teagan for helping me develop my design ideas; Dean Bernardini of Chevelle for designing the backdrop and working with me on making it fit the design and work so well in the lighting rig; everyone at Windy City Music, they have all been great; and Renate Loeffler for taking outstanding photos of the show.”

Photos: Renate Loeffler

Martin Professional

Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Aarhus, Denmark, Martin Professional is a world leader in the creation of dynamic lighting solutions for the entertainment, architectural, and commercial sectors. Martin lighting solutions are industry standard on top tours and events, grace prestigious theatres, energize nightclubs, and decorate major television studios around the globe. Other important areas of application are indoor and outdoor architecture and commercial applications where Martin products are increasingly being used to transform spaces through dynamic light. Martin also offers a range of advanced lighting controllers and media servers, as well as a complete line of smoke machines as a complement to intelligent lighting. The company operates the industry's most complete and capable distributor network with local partners in nearly 100 countries. For more information please visit www.martin.com

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