MAC III Profile™ Shines on Chicago

MAC III Profile™ Shines on Chicago

April 06, 2009

Ask most people to list the most successful U.S. bands of all time and chances are Chicago wouldn’t make the list. Yet the American rock/jazz fusion band, which formed in 1967 and has worldwide sales of more than 120 million records, is one of the longest running and most successful bands in music history.

Forty-two years on and the group still displays its many talents on tours and one-off dates. What’s more, they do it using some of the most cutting edge entertainment technology gear on the market such as Martin Professional’s 1500 watt MAC III Profile.

Martin dealer Tobins Lake Studios of Michigan, an early adopter of the MAC III Profile, supplied the powerful profiles for a gig at Michigan State University Auditorium in East Lansing, Michigan.

Creating a lighting design that showcased the eclectic talents of the band was no easy task yet lighting designer/programmer Michael Gott succeeded by showcasing a variety of looks, including the distinct fat beam of the MAC III which adds a new visual dimension to shows.

The event also required a rig that was powerful and reliable. Using six MAC III Profiles to illuminate the stage gave Gott all the power he needed to complement the band’s vast catalog of tunes. He admits that the rumors he had been hearing about the strength of the luminaire made him curious. “I wanted to give the new MAC IIIs a test drive,” he said.

Once Gott had the new MAC III’s rigged, they didn’t disappoint. “They displayed a very smooth beam spread,” he commented, referring to the MAC III’s eye-catching broad lens which projects a stunning fat beam and sharp projection images at various projection angles. “I really like the stock gobos and how they could cut well at any beam spread. I hope to use them again.”

The MAC III Profiles were supported by six Martin MAC 2000 Washes, a product that has gained its own level of acclaim for its clean and even soft-edged beam, motorized zoom and rich CMY color mixing.

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