Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Glastonbury and Bludfest provide major exposure
When Siyan MD Mark Baruch and his colleagues first saw GLP’s new JDC Burst 1 at last Autumn’s LDI expo in Las Vegas, they knew this evolutionary strobe hybrid would make a significant impact on the lighting rental company’s inventory. Furthermore, they wanted to be at the front of the queue for delivery.
GLP fulfilled that wish, with Kerry Tymms in the UK office going the extra mile to get the first 100 heads landed, racked and into the Royal Albert Hall for a performance by Adriatique. In so doing, this high-profile show became the first deployment of the Bursts anywhere in the UK.
“Since that event they’ve hardly been in the warehouse,” Baruch admits. Recently, Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Liverpool saw 40-plus units (many edging the front of the stage) as part of the house rig on the New Music Stage, which saw a surprise appearance by Ed Sheeran. A substantial number of heads will also be seen on The Other Stage and Woodsies at Glastonbury, as well as Bludfest at the National Bowl. “It’s now become our standard workhorse as a hybrid strobe,” he continues.
The reason is obvious. This powerful successor to the JDC1 raises the bar in brightness, colour and flexibility. Another key differentiator is the 12 segment-controlled white strobe line and two RGBW LED plates that enable stunning colour effects. A motorised 185° tilt and accurate control of 1,200 RGBW LED pixels, divided into 48 dynamic segments, are further features.
But there was a second reason why Mark Baruch wanted to be at the head of the queue. Knowing that Siyan had been late in investing in the JDC1, he wanted to be sure they were among the frontrunners with JDC Burst 1. The company eventually bought 50 JDC1 but have now replaced them with the 100 Bursts, upgrading inventories for their LD customers (just as they had for Adriatique’s LD, Jelle Stoffels).
“As a rental company we have to identify which new products are likely to be a fad and which will have longevity,” says the Siyan MD. “When [Siyan colleagues], Tom Grant and Ben Inskip first saw the JDC Burst 1 at LDI they fell in love with them immediately and that made the decision an easy one. It looked like a surefire investment, and we are confident JDC Burst 1 will become the new standard in moving strobes.
“GLP products are always rider friendly, with good build quality and have a long-life cycle … we know they are not going to replace products six months down the line. Products now are generally IP-rated, so even if we’re not intending to use them outdoors, it gives us the opportunity to hose them down after use.”
Finally, Mark Baruch is full of praise for the support he receives from the GLP UK team. “They have been great, and it’s one of the reasons we continue to invest.”
While Siyan’s LD customers continue to enjoy the unexpected upgrades, Mark Baruch knows the exposure these high-profile June festivals will provide for the JDC Burst 1 will propel them into the mainstream and make them indispensable items in the LD’s toolkit.
