“The punch of a hardcore strobe and the elegance of programmable video FX”

GLP’s hotly in-demand JDC2 IP hybrid has been purchased by Baltimore-based dry hire specialist, Afterglow Lighting, making it the first on America’s East Coast. This gives the German manufacturer strategic bases on both coasts.

Founded by Matt Stephens in 1999, Afterglow’s relationship with GLP dates back to the original impression 90. He immediately placed the order for the new-generation fixture after being impressed with the demo at last year’s LDI Show, where it was one of only two products that really caught his eye “in an otherwise disappointing show.”

Having run the product’s predecessor, the JDC1, in his rental fleet he could immediately see that the radically upgraded model packed more visibility, increased output and advanced creativity. The new integrated beam line is equipped with 84 x 10W LEDs to produce a highly powerful flash. The other big attraction was the built-in DigiFX engine and NDI video option.

“When we invest in a fixture it’s entirely by intuition – we like to have products before they get popular, in order to lead the customers,” he says. “We are generally good at predicting where the market is going, although I do regret missing the boat [in not investing in] the Bar 20s.”

Describing his operation as a “mid-sized company”, serving mostly Washington DC but also the Pennsylvania area, he anticipates expanding his JDC2 IP inventory once the platform is established. In that regard, the company is also a boutique production house, which will enable them to showcase the product to potential users in a real world environment.

Stephens admits that as a lighting company (with his own original background at Baltimore Stage Lighting) he was wary of “being dragged into the video world” with such a purchase. But, he acknowledges, “This looked interesting because it was a small video element with great versatility – rather than a videowall – and running on the back of JDC1’s popularity and demand, this was not going to be ignored by the market. There are plenty of high-powered strobes out there, but with the effects this seemed to do something completely different that I hadn’t seen before.

“GLP products are known as industry standards and we’re not going to have to push hard to get people to try these out,” he believes. He admits to having made the purchasing decision even before realising that it was IP-rated!

Afterglow is already pondering the most appropriate shows to put them on, especially where strobes are a prerequisite, and will also be arranging demos at their shop, working in tandem with their grandMA consoles.

“I’m very interested in the DigiFX – writing macros and writing programmes to see all the features,” Stephens continues. “We think the EDM community, in particular, is going to go bonkers for this, probably in the hundreds, and we believe the church market will like the video FX. It’s such a versatile fixture, with the punch of a hardcore strobe and the elegance of programmable video FX.”

As to the IP65 rating, he says, “This is now definitely a sought-after feature by us and customers. Not only is it ready for the weather but it’s also sealed – service is generally better on a fixture that doesn’t have dust and grime getting into filters.

“In fact one of the features that really caught my attention was that the covers for the Input and Output connectors are the first covers I’ve seen of such high quality: everything else is just little rubber boots, but the ones on the JDC2 look like marine grade rather than just the little floppy kind. The detail and quality build and engineering stand out right away.”

Afterglow Lighting has come a long way since Matt Stephens set out doing small club shows with a handful of second-hand moving lights. “We’ve not had a break since Covid – we’re growing year on year and reinvesting as the shows get bigger and bigger. It’s the Taylor Swift effect,” he believes. “When it comes to stadium acts, she has pushed the production bar further and further.”

Josh Watson, director of operations at Afterglow Lighting, has been working alongside Stephens for nearly 20 years, playing a key role in the company’s growth. “We’ve made it a priority to stay in front of the technology curve, and building the arsenal with this purchase is something I’m really excited about,” he added. “I look forward to seeing how our customers will use these impressive fixtures.”

Commenting on the sale, Scott Wasserberg, GLP northeast regional manager, says: “With this acquisition, we hope Afterglow Lighting will become the go-to source for the East Coast rental market, and we will support them all the way.”