Since joining FOH Productions Inc. in 2023, Kyle McComb (Senior Engineer – Lighting) has been working to drive the lighting department forward by purchasing lighting fixtures that are in demand nationwide – “So that we have a robust inventory to make sure we’re able to supply clients with exactly what they ask for.”
That requires a highly flexible inventory because anything can be part of a corporate event – from live music and speakers to extremely detailed staging and/or aesthetics. To meet that need, the Phoenix, Arizona-based, company recently purchased approximately 168 Chroma-Q Color Force II Plus – a mixture of Color Force II 12+s, 48+s, and 24 72+s.
“Our focus at FOH is to give our clients what they want, and Color Force fixtures have always been a staple in the corporate AV world. That was the driving force in our decision to purchase the Color Force II Plus fixtures – pure demand from our clients,” he says. “When I started at FOH, a lot of the designers, LDs, and clients that we work with would be doing shows with Color Force II’s and giving them high praise.” Owing to the demand, he adds: “We ended up renting Color Force II’s quite a bit, which made our decision to move forward with this purchase easy.”
“Our clients ask for the best of the best,” McComb continues, “and the Color Force II, in the industry, in the corporate world, has become the standard for a solid, robust, super bright, super-saturated batten fixture. From the first day of testing in FOH’s shop to the shows they’ve gone out on, they’ve been getting nothing but high grades from clients, LDs, and designers, as well as those working with them in-house and deploying them on-site.
“The Color Force II Plus lights are fantastic. The intensity and color saturation are superior, and the lensing blends better on scenic elements, giving even coverage at close range.” – Michele McLeskey, Master Electrician, FOH Productions.
“I love providing Color Force II Plus fixtures because they check every box—for designers, they deliver beautiful, consistent color and flawless wall washes; for master electricians, they’re reliable, easy to rig, and a dream to work with; as a project manager, it’s a win when a fixture satisfies both sides of the production.” – Pedro Guzman, Project Manager, FOH Productions.
“I like them; they have good color range, brightness, and a nice throw.” – David Marshall, Freelance Lighting Designer.
Beyond their dedication to enabling clients to shape the look and feel of their events to their specifications, FOH has a not so secret weapon in-house, a separate but integrated entity, Roadcase.com.
Having www.Roadcase.com‘s fully integrated wood shop smack dab in the middle of FOH’s shop goes a long way in ensuring the seamless deployment of the Chroma-Q fixtures and every element of their inventory. “As case builders, we understand how the AV world works. We see it firsthand, and I think it allows us to make a better case,” says Austin Engstrom, Vice President/Partner at www.Roadcase.com.
“Also, for corporate events, there are often last-minute add-ons – an extra fixture, additional material like some plywood pieces painted and cut, or a custom scenic piece. So, when a client asks, ‘Can you guys do that for us?’ Yeah, we can.”
Additionally, Engstrom says: “Having people who are using the cases and the fixtures right here allows us to design cases faster because they can answer questions that, otherwise, we’d need to contact a customer about. Instead, we can ask our colleagues here, ‘What’s the pain point when you’re transporting, deploying, and using this fixture?’ And then design a case to speak to that.”
“Say we’re making a mic case to store 100 different items,” he continues, “well, we have to research each item to make sure they all fit perfectly. If we have those items here, even if a client wants something to fit into a case in a way that’s not standard, we can double-check and make sure everything works. From the client’s perspective, they have a person they can talk to directly about a design, which makes the design go faster and easier, and, from FOH’s perspective, that makes a big difference.”
With the Color Force II Plus, those questions were, “‘what’s the best way to package them? What makes things easier for the truck pack? What makes them easier to use, deploy, and display?’ Or, ‘Do you have any existing cases you want the ones we’re making to stack with?’ If so, we’ll adjust the cups and the castor placement so they fit together seamlessly.”
Ultimately, that helps FOH Productions meet every client’s needs to the letter, as do the Chroma-Q Color Force II Plus.
“I’m not a lighting designer, but I’ve run enough shows to know what delivers—and Color Force II Plus fixtures deliver. When I spec them in, it’s like giving the lighting team a gift. The output, the color blending, and the punch—they make everything look better. They’re one of those tools that instantly elevates the whole room.” – Steve LaRose, Senior Project Manager, FOH Productions.
