First BMFLs in South Africa

	Theo Rood and Mike Jones of MJ Event Gear with Duncan Riley, DWR

MJ Event Gear is the first South African rental and technical production specialist to invest in Robe's BMFL Spots -- with 24 fixtures delivered by local distributor DWR.

The Johannesburg-based company, led by Mike Jones, celebrated their new arrivals with an impromptu industry get-together attended by many top lighting designers ... who enjoyed the chance to see and feel the new moving light fixture.

"It's a big winner," declared Jones, who says he believes it will become "a number one" specified light on both international and domestic riders. Jones admits that he has "never before been this excited about a new product!"

Jones did plenty of homework and also contacted several lighting designers, directors, and programmers for their opinions before making his final decision.

"Everyone was unanimously enthusiastic and 100% positive" he reports. "It is the brightest light in the world right now, there's plenty of hype surrounding it, and I think it will do very well."

Jones first saw BMFL Spots in action during two South African events staged as part of the BMFL World Tour shortly after the product was launched in September 2014. He already has a substantial stock of other Robe moving lights and so reports he is very familiar with the quality and reliability of the brand.

The BMFL Spot has three modes of operation - 1,200W, 1,500W, and 1,700W -- enabling use for all medium throw to long throw applications. This was of immediate interest to Jones, who was also impressed with the smooth color mixing, the speed of the movement, and the weight of 36Kgs -- very light for a product as powerful and complex, Jones adds.

Robe's BMFL was designed with the needs and wants of lighting designers to the fore, and Jones also aims to promote the fixtures to all the highly talented creatives active on South Africa's live music scene, so when the units arrived, he says he personally called a number of well-known and emerging SA lighting designers inviting them to the "shop" in Randburg.

However in true underground rave style -- he didn't fully disclose what it was all about -- and the "surprise" event received an unprecedented turnout. Visitors were able to see the BMFLs in action ... and also enjoy MJ Event Gear's hospitality.

One highlight was taking the lights outside and projecting onto buildings and up into the night sky, allowing amassed guests to appreciate first-hand the incredible projection quality, the 5- to 55-degree zoom range and the color capabilities over distances of 150m plus.

Robe EMS (electronic motion stabilizer) which enables the BMFL to absorb vibrations from audio, truss movements, sub bass, and sprung or suspended floors -- was said to be a big hit.

Recent high profile events to feature BMFLs in South Africa have included the Krone Music Festival (lighting designer and production designer Tim Dunn); the final of Idols SA (lighting designer Joshua Cutts); the final of the very first X-Factor SA (lighting designer Robert Grobbler); shows by supergroup Kings of Chaos (lighting designer Willie Bothma); the "Republic of Extra Cold" event (lighting designer Robert Hoey); and the CCI Awards (lighting designer Ryan Dunbar).