Lighting supplier for the tour was Arpège Son Lumière who, together with Watson, is the first in the world to put MAC III Profile production fixtures on a tour. Arpège purchased 14 of the new generation MAC fixtures via Martin France just in time for the tour's start.
"Although load in started 1 November, we didn't receive the fixtures on site until 4 November 4th with a first show on 7 November at the Zénith in Nantes," stated Jan Lambrecht of Arpège. "We purchased the MAC III Profiles because Arpège plays a big role in the touring market in France and across Europe and the fixtures will be useful on tours in early spring 2009. They will also be great for television and events, two other important markets for us. The MAC III Profiles are great next to the MAC 2000 Wash XB, have a powerful output and are technically very easy to maintain."
Watson has previously worked with Raphael on the artist's Caravane tour as well as a series of special acoustic shows. He commented: "My role on this tour is production designer although with no video on the show it has mainly been about the lighting and the set. With regards to the MAC III in particular, I am delighted that they were available for the tour as I feel the quality of the light from the fixture, its reliability and features have added hugely to the production."
Watson used the MAC III Profiles, outfitted with custom gobos, in conjunction with a number of Martin MAC 2000 Performance units. "I chose the MAC III for the brightness and quality of the beam as well as the animation wheel which I adore," he says. "The zoom range proved to be an absolute winner and of course the fixture's ability to create red from the colour mixing system is a real novelty and a welcome one at that."
Watson placed six MAC III Profile units on the front truss for front key lighting and for texture washes of both the band and the set. The remaining six fixtures were mounted on the highest of the rear trusses and used for rear band lighting and aerial beam texturing.
(Jim Evans)
