Strictly FX

Strictly FX is a live special-effects and production-services company founded in the United States on April 1, 1996, by industry veterans Ted Maccabee and Mark Grega. Its work is focused on the technical and creative elements that help produce large-scale live entertainment and event experiences. The company’s service scope includes pyrotechnics, lasers, flames, cryogenic effects, confetti, streamers, drones, and show design. Rather than operating primarily as a consumer-facing product brand, Strictly FX functions as a specialist business-to-business production partner whose work is integrated into concerts, touring productions, sporting events, corporate events, and broadcast specials. The company has worked with major touring and event properties, including productions associated with Madonna, Roger Waters, Luke Bryan, WWE, and the Super Bowl. Its stated workload includes more than 500 shows each year, indicating a model based on repeated project-based engagements across entertainment and event markets. Its technical offering can range from supplying individual effects to designing and executing coordinated sequences as part of a broader live-show production. Strictly FX has developed a strong reputation in the pyrotechnics and special-effects segment. It received the Parnelli Award for Pyro Company of the Year in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023, and 2025. The company also received Tour Link’s Top Dog Award for best pyro or special-effects company in 2012 and 2014. These awards are significant within the live-production field because they recognize specialized technical execution rather than mass-market brand awareness. Strictly FX operates from offices in Nashville, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, and High Wycombe in the United Kingdom. Its geographic footprint reflects the concentration of touring, entertainment, sports, and production activity in the United States, while the High Wycombe location provides a United Kingdom base. In 2021, the company acquired the UK-based special-effects company Quantum Special Effects and opened its first overseas branch, Strictly FX UK Ltd. This expanded the company’s ability to serve productions in the UK and supported its international operating model. The company has also participated in nationally visible events. Strictly FX was responsible for the fireworks used during the Celebrating America television special, part of the festivities surrounding the inauguration of President Joe Biden. Overall, Strictly FX is positioned as a technical production specialist, combining safety-sensitive effects execution with design and show support for high-profile live and televised events.

Strictly FX was founded on April 1, 1996, by Ted Maccabee and Mark Grega, both described as veterans of the live-production industry. The company was established as a specialist provider of live special effects, with its work centered on concerts, concert tours, sporting events, and corporate productions. Its role is to contribute to the design and execution of a show rather than simply supply conventional event equipment. The effects associated with its work include pyrotechnics, lasers, flames, cryogenic effects, confetti, streamers, drones, and related design services. Over time, Strictly FX built a business around technically demanding, project-based productions. Its clients and event work have included productions connected with Madonna, Roger Waters, Luke Bryan, WWE, and the Super Bowl. The company has stated that it provides services to more than 500 shows per year. This volume reflects the recurring demand for specialized effects across touring entertainment, sports programming, corporate events, and television. The company’s service model can encompass individual effects, coordinated sequences, and broader creative or technical design support for a production. Recognition in the live-production industry has been concentrated particularly in pyrotechnics. Strictly FX won the Parnelli Award for Pyro Company of the Year in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023, and 2025. It also received the Tour Link Top Dog Award for best pyro or special-effects company in 2012 and 2014. These awards helped establish the firm as a prominent specialist in a field where safety, timing, reliability, creative integration, and large-scale execution are central to a successful production. Strictly FX’s operating network includes offices in Nashville, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, and High Wycombe in the United Kingdom. The US locations place the company close to major music, sports, touring, and event-production centers. Its UK presence became more significant in 2021, when Strictly FX acquired Quantum Special Effects, a UK-based company, and opened its first overseas branch under the name Strictly FX UK Ltd. The transaction expanded the company’s international reach and gave it a dedicated base for work in the United Kingdom. The company has also undertaken work for nationally prominent televised events. It was responsible for the fireworks used during the Celebrating America television special, which formed part of the festivities surrounding Joe Biden’s inauguration. This assignment illustrated the company’s ability to provide effects for broadcast events with substantial public visibility in addition to its regular concert, touring, sports, and corporate work. Today, the available reference material presents Strictly FX as an active live special-effects company with a multi-location operating footprint and a broad technical portfolio. Its identity is based on professional production services rather than consumer retail products. The company’s history is therefore best understood through its event assignments, specialist capabilities, awards, and expansion into the UK market.

• 2025

  Parnelli award recognition

  [2]Parnelli Awardsparnelliawards.com

  Strictly FX was listed as a 2025 recipient of the Parnelli Award for Pyro Company of the Year.

• 2021

  UK expansion through Quantum Special Effects acquisition

  [1]Strictly FXen.wikipedia.org

  Strictly FX acquired Quantum Special Effects and opened Strictly FX UK Ltd., its first overseas branch.

• 2021

  Fireworks for Celebrating America

  [1]Strictly FXen.wikipedia.org

  Strictly FX provided the fireworks for the Celebrating America television special associated with Joe Biden’s inauguration festivities.

• 2014

  Second listed Tour Link Top Dog award

  [3]Tour Linktourlinkpro.com

  The company received another Tour Link Top Dog Award for best pyro or special-effects company.

• 2012

  Tour Link Top Dog award

  [3]Tour Linktourlinkpro.com

  Strictly FX received Tour Link’s Top Dog Award for best pyro or special-effects company.

• 2007

  First listed Parnelli Pyro Company of the Year award

  [1]Strictly FXen.wikipedia.org

  Strictly FX received the Parnelli Award for Pyro Company of the Year, beginning a series of listed wins in the category.

• 1996

  Strictly FX is founded

  [1]Strictly FXen.wikipedia.org

  Ted Maccabee and Mark Grega founded Strictly FX on April 1, 1996, as a live special-effects company.

A specialist live-production partner focused on the design, engineering, and execution of pyrotechnics and other special effects for large-scale entertainment, sports, corporate, and broadcast events.

• Live special effects

  Pyrotechnics

  Strictly FX provides pyrotechnic effects for concerts, tours, sports events, corporate productions, and broadcast spectacles. The service involves integrating timed effects into the structure of a show, with execution coordinated with performers, music, staging, and event operations.

• Live special effects

  Lasers

  Laser effects are part of the company’s live-production portfolio. They can be used as visual elements within concerts, touring shows, sporting events, and other productions requiring synchronized lighting or atmospheric effects.

• Live special effects

  Flame and cryogenic effects

  The company lists flame and cryogenic effects among its capabilities. These effects support dramatic visual or atmospheric moments in live productions and are delivered as part of a controlled event-production service.

• Live special effects

  Confetti and streamers

  Confetti and streamer effects are available for celebratory or climactic moments in concerts, broadcasts, sports events, and corporate productions. They form part of the company’s broader range of event-specific visual effects.

• Live special effects

  Drone effects

  Drone-based effects are included in Strictly FX’s stated capabilities. The reference material does not specify particular drone systems, shows, or formations, so this entry is limited to identifying the service category.

• Production design services

  Show design

  Strictly FX also provides design support connected with live special effects. This allows effects such as pyrotechnics, lasers, flames, and other visual elements to be planned as components of a larger performance or event.

• 2021

  Acquisition of Quantum Special EffectsM&A

  Background

  Strictly FX sought to expand its international operating presence in the live special-effects market. Quantum Special Effects was a UK-based company.

  Action taken

  Strictly FX acquired Quantum Special Effects and opened its first overseas branch, Strictly FX UK Ltd., in the United Kingdom.

  Aftermath

  The transaction gave Strictly FX a dedicated UK operation and extended its geographic footprint beyond the United States.

  Source

• 2021

  Fireworks production for Celebrating AmericaOther

  Background

  The Celebrating America television special was part of the festivities surrounding Joe Biden’s inauguration.

  Action taken

  Strictly FX was responsible for the fireworks used in the special.

  Aftermath

  The assignment placed the company’s event-effects work within a nationally televised inauguration-related production.

  Source

1. 1Strictly FXen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Parnelli Awardsparnelliawards.com
3. 3Tour Linktourlinkpro.com