Christian Vigsø heads up the VIGSØ Group, a busy and prolific production rental and staging enterprise based in Denmark, which has invested in the power and flexibility of Robe’s RoboSpot remote follow system, initially using the system with BMFL Follow Spot fixtures and now with iFORTE LTX fixtures – currently Robe’s highest powered range of LED moving lights.
Vigsø Rentals currently has 10 RoboSpot systems and Christian comments that this has proved “excellent value” and has the great advantage of being highly accessible: “It’s straightforward for technicians and others to learn to use it competently.”
Christian speaks from the vantage point of firsthand experience, as Vigsø also has three other remote follow systems, of which RoboSpot is the most frequently requested.
The iFORTE LTX purchases started with 21 units, followed by another 9, and they now have 30.
These were picked for their brightness and outstanding CRI, which is important for live and broadcast follow spotting. Vigsø purchased the fixtures and the RoboSpot cameras separately so the lights can also go out as part of standard lighting rigs.
Christian notes that it only takes a “couple of minutes” to rig the camera and make the luminaire RoboSpot compatible.
He highlights that investing in a brand like Robe “means we will get longevity from the product, plus all the service and support from the local distributor,” which in this case is Light Partner. The company has a fantastic reputation, and based in Herning in western Denmark, is ideally positioned to service the whole country efficiently.
Christian also highlights the current trend for many popular Danish bands to play large arena and stadium shows, further fueling the need for high-powered fixtures and remote follow systems, noting that rear spots seem to be popular for these various designs.
Recent RoboSpot rentals from Vigsø have included 18 x iFORTE LTXs on 3 RoboSpot systems for the recent The Minds of 99 Arena tour (Jannik Jensen), rock singer Tomas Helmig also used them for some large shows this spring and Suspekt will also be using them for upcoming gigs.
Vigsø supplied the quadrennial 2025 DGI Landsstævne event – Denmark's largest sports and community festival – with RoboSpot systems, where 100-meter throws needed to be covered, which was a perfect task for iFORTE LTXs. They have also been put on musicals, including Frozen and Fame.
When Vigsø’s clients are touring or playing in another territory and needing RoboSpot systems – or to add to a system they might already be touring – this is usually possible as they are a frequently requested cross-rental item.
“Last year, I believe that an iFORTE LTX / RoboSpot combination became an industry-standard remote follow system for the Danish festival industry,” stated Christian, confirming that Vigsø’s systems are out almost all the time. He mentioned that the transition from using the older BMFL long-throw follow spots to iFORTE and iFORTE LTX for the task … has been seamless, and that both fixture types provide “a functional and an elegant solution.”
Christian recognizes that Robe has been ahead of the curve on developing inventive, lightweight – often up to 20% lighter than others and therefore always a bonus for crews – and very bright moving light products.
Photos: By Louise Stickland/courtesy VIGSØ Group.