What makes you decide on what lighting to use?

[The_Blue_Dragon]

Hi people,
When your deciding what lighting to use on a night what do you take into consideration?

The reason I ask is that Ive been booked for a 60th disco in a small local pub. I was unsure if the "iSolution HID-150 iMove 5S" I use is too large/bright to use for such a place/disco.

What I was thinking was just using:-
- T-Max 6
- T-Max 7
- Crab laser (cheesy but the kids love it)
- Moonline
- 4light chaser

[theoloyla]

Yeah! The older age group dont like bright lights in their faces as a rule.

[The_Blue_Dragon]

so just a few light jst to light the dance floor should be ok then

[Spirits High]

You'll find they don't like it loud either and your loud is probably very different to theirs! :D

[The_Blue_Dragon]

Yes I know that, to me im guessing it would be like just backing music lol

[Tom]

I choose my lights depending on the gig.

I have a 70th saterday and im going to use 2 scanner, 2x marve and 1x impossibled.

Very simple but with a bit of movement


For the younger functions i will use my faster moving lights.

[Sam]

Hi people,
When your deciding what lighting to use on a night what do you take into consideration?

The reason I ask is that Ive been booked for a 60th disco in a small local pub. I was unsure if the "iSolution HID-150 iMove 5S" I use is too large/bright to use for such a place/disco.

What I was thinking was just using:-
- T-Max 6
- T-Max 7
- Crab laser (cheesy but the kids love it)
- Moonline
- 4light chaser

I don't really understand your post.
If you have the moving head.. you will know what YOU do with it.
Moving heads are very versatile and when programmed will do whatever you want - so it all depends on what you use it for... and how you use it. if you just leave it on sound - to - light then no I wouldnt use it for a 60th.
But if you have control, you would already know, that you can do some pretty funky stuff with them without it being "in the faces" of the clients.
Also I doubt a 150 would be too bright.

[robbiedj]

I usually light the ceiling with a couple of barrels and the floor with simple moonflower style in this type of situation. With a back light of an Halucination, it's normally enough.

Most small pubs are not really suitable for larger lights and lasers. Not to mention the fact that you sometimes find you are on the same circuit as the bar area and too many lights + fridges kicking in can cause a surge and trip things.

[Kernow]

My deciding factor would always be whether or not the supply came from a coin meter ;)

Don't ever assume that because it's a 60th that they don't know how to enjoy themselves fully, I have one booked for June which has requested nothing but Rock & Karaoke. :cool:

Also they are likely to have a fair number of children/grandchildren present so you may well have to play & light for a large age range.

If it was all 'mature persons' they'd have a Whist Drive or somesuchlike ?.

[Excalibur]

If it was all 'mature persons' they'd have a Whist Drive or somesuchlike ?.

Mature persons? Obviously no DJ's in the crowd then? :D If it were for me, it would be lively, loud, and rocking! ;)

[ppentertainments]

I use t-max lights for small venues and often get comlimented on them. A LOT of my bookings ask for more subdue, plain lights especially at weddings.

[Excalibur]

Some of my most useful lights are the Cubists/Virusator ( They appear to have many names ) Movement, but versatile, and very classy.

[Kernow]

Mature persons? Obviously no DJ's in the crowd then? :D If it were for me, it would be lively, loud, and rocking! ;)

Exactly my point ;) :beer1: :D

There seems to be too much emphasis here on what the crowd would bear whereas the dictating factor for lighting will always be the venue.

If it's a traditional pub, beams & brasses, then moving heads/scans etc will not realise their full potential so floor projectors & mirror balls might be the order of the day. However if it's a modern family-orientated type place then cram as many effects as you can comfortably accommodate into the room.

[The_Blue_Dragon]

Well its only a small working mans club so I think the miving head is too much

[DJ James Lake]

Plenty of strobes and lasers would work well :whistle:

[UltraBeat Entertainment]

Plenty of strobes and lasers would work well

You've forgotten to add the smoke machines too. Older people love smoke:rolleyes:

[Sam]

Well its only a small working mans club so I think the miving head is too much

Well then.. you didnt need the original post if you have already made up your mind.




Anyway. I don't like this idea of choosing your rig for a certain disco. In my case everything goes to the disco and then adaptions are made if required once we are there. I would never not take my moving heads just because it was a 60th and I pressumed they wouldn't like them. Rediculous.

They have payed what everone else pays (although price does vary - it DOESN'T change due to a certain "package". It just depends on times, location, people etc)... so I will take and intend to supply them with the service that everyone gets.
but we do have to downsize sometimes if the room is too small. By downsize I mean use 2 t bars or 1 t bar instead of the full rig.

We did a "house party" at a mansion really but the disco was in a rather small room. So we rigged the speakers in two corners of the room and 1 t bar of lights to give a general effect on the floor.
And then had two moving heads in the corners of the room.
because I took the time to programme them properly.. it looked great. And I made use of the rooms features too - like a painting which was lit up a lot by the heads.
Just be creative.

[Excalibur]

Well its only a small working mans club so I think the miving head is too much

Do they have a ban on Big Working Men, then? :confused: :D

Sorry! :coat:

[UltraBeat Entertainment]

I tend to use the same equipment for all my gigs but for some events like children's disco i do downside on the lighting abit but that's it (maybe add a bubble machine).

[Dillmiester]

Im still trying to get a versatile set up that doesnt change only allows flexability for different events. So far its...
X2 Barrels for faster stuff
X2 Scanners for patterns all over (and for accompanying the barrells)
X1 Stormbird for dance floor patterns
X2 LED pars for slow colour changes

I want to keep it simple but effective and I think im close, the only problem is I like the idea of the impossibled but im keeping my money in my pocket.. for now!

[PropellerHeadCase]

There seems to be too much emphasis here on what the crowd would bear whereas the dictating factor for lighting will always be the venue.

Stuff the punters, play to the venue! :confused:

[Sam]

Stuff the punters, play to the venue! :confused:

I pressume he means that for example, if the venue is too small for your rig. It will affect your choice. Or something

[Vectis]

Several factors, in no particular order:

- prior knowledge about crowd (from customer meeting or requests made)
- venue size/shape/arrangement
- available space for DJ (4', 6', 10' or 12' deckstand?)
- dancefloor size, type and placement in relation to stage/DJ
- which package customer has paid for
- special effects (haze, smoke, low fog) being used (beams or scatter?)
- proportion of 'slowies' wanted (do I need mirrorballs or will slow moons do?)
- slow or upbeat first dance in the case of a wedding
- whether or not video screens are being used (space for lighting?)

... it gets instinctive after a while :o

[PropellerHeadCase]

I pressume he means that for example, if the venue is too small for your rig. It will affect your choice. Or something

It appears I took the Michael so far away you couldn't see it ;)

[Kernow]

It appears I took the Michael so far away you couldn't see it ;)

Not so much the Mick....more the Miss Understanding ;)

The discussion was about lighting....& the 'punters' tolerance of it (with a dash of ageism :eek: )

Naturally you can only use what will work effectively ,(or fit !), in the venue.

As far as playing goes,then of course the music has to be appropriate to the crowd, although it's sometimes easy to be trapped by misconceptions, and the volume scaled to the surroundings.

BUT that wasn't what the initiative post was asking !!! :bang: