Lightshow

[87PRS]

I was just wondering how many FOH guys here, or bands run lights and what specific brands or set ups you all use. Do you have a sound man controlling lights? Or foot switches or just sound activated controllers...lights are an integral part of the show and alot of places don't furnish lights or a light man. What's your take on this ?

[sabianq]

hi,
I started as a lighting tech for a company many many years ago. we would set up Likos, Par cans and moving yolk lights run with DMX from a Hog 500

par can
http://www.jpleisure.co.uk/MultiParCanLED.jpg

moving yolk or (moving head)
http://pic.ccn.mofcom.gov.cn/ccne/11226/208826_1.gif

leko
http://cannonstage.com/images%20price/etc_leko.gif

and the console
http://www.highend.com/images/products/hog5001000.jpg

it was really cool, one set up we had was programed to light up individual tabled at an AOL managers meeting. there were like 1000 people there, the tables were set up to accommodate teams and the teams were scheduled to win prizes unbeknown to them. the director gave us a list of tables that were going to win stuff and in what order. we programmed the lights to all move to the winning table at a touch of a button.

but i digress, your question was not related to big stuff but more to a smaller venue using simple stage washes and chase sequences.

my personal set up is a bit more mundane.
i use the chauvet colorbank 8
http://www.theaterlighting.net/images/chauvet/ColorBank_8.jpg
I have 2 of them and set up one on full on as a stage wash (stage right) while the other on is set to be run in chase sequence triggered by the internal microphone on the audio setting.

in general, i have found that running sound and a sophisticated lighting system is to much for one engineer to handle. the audio trigger is a fantastic little invention that when paired with a general stage wash makes for a very nice and well chiseled stage set.

plus two of the colorbank 8s fit nicely in an On Stage microphone stand carrying bag.
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/shop_image/product/c28688501a7a867185c2e5739ef7a2b4.jpg

i mount them on top of the speakers and point them at the band.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s252/sabianq/DSC03891.jpg

[87PRS]

as always sabi...above and beyond! kudos my friend.

It's funny you should mention the mundane colorbank as I have one of those lol, my "lightshow" at present that I stick behind the drummer.

Over at MF they have a followspot, whcih I think are important for a show. It is realitively inexpensive ($280) considering how much followspots can cost. Are you familiar with this one? http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Chauvet-Followspot-400G-with-Stand?sku=803086

The band I am now playing with is buying some lights, we have a FOH guy at mix, 100' snake (not used that long most of time) what would you suggest to use as a controller for distances like this, or would it be more economical and better for FOH to just set the audio etc... and go with that?

man...I can't believe how cheap par cans have gotten, I remember buying new paint cans for a buck painting them flat black, putting ceramic sockets in them and making my own light trees and controllers back in the day...but a more pro-look set up would be nice...how about these for small-mid size venues?http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Musicians-Friend-Stage-Lighting-System-838?sku=800999
fire up a strobe and some fog and I am in rockin' heaven.
Sorry Sweetwater, ya'll need to get into some theatrical stuff :D
Thanks for your help. 87'

[amradioguy]

hey87 check out the martin dc line for effects lights I have a few of them i am using the dc1 aqua I have thier gobo pojector , a scx 500 scanner and the other is a dc 3 i think don't remember but they preform well and i get compliments everytime i use them.

The led parcans are cool looking into those one other thing regarding controllers
I was looking at two one is the freakie by martin that is around 300 to 400 last time i checked the other was an elation controller around 300 or so if you are using dmx stuff it is going to depend on how many channels you need per fixture but these are two that i have considered after researching them if i swtich over to all dmx stuff

[87PRS]

Thanks amradio I'll check 'em out, whose your source?

[amradioguy]

it was guitar center but they are no longer dealers for martin you might find them online the web site for martin is www.martinlighting.com should be a list of dealers there i would try gc they may have some fixtures on close out
i got a great deal on the scx 500 or maybe sweetwater has them ????

ill try to find out for you

[87PRS]

thanks man...the link led me to musiciansbuy (in Fla) and some other ideas too, MBT and Lightronics stuff looks cool. I don't think Sweetwater sells lighting systems though.

[amradioguy]

hey 87 no they don't i was at the pro tools demo held here in cleveland and i asked the sweetwater rep about that and by the way thanks sweetwater for the invite to the pro tools demo very cool stuff and bo problem glad i could help