epilepsy and lighting

[dj wayne]

Hello just wondered if any of you had come accros this i have an engagement party in a few weeks i have been told the best man has epilepsy and i must be careful with my lighting i wondered if it is only strobbing which can cause problems or just say my scanners moving around i have 2x acme dynamos, sx acme dynarocks all 250w and a miracled running i have them on a dmx controller so i know they wont strobe will have to see how it goes on the night i suppose. :rolleyes:

regards

wayne

www.andersonentertainments.co.uk

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

http://www.epilepsytoronto.org/photo.html

Might be of interest if you have time for a quick read.

[OllieJames]

Hello just wondered if any of you had come accros this i have an engagement party in a few weeks i have been told the best man has epilepsy and i must be careful with my lighting i wondered if it is only strobbing which can cause problems or just say my scanners moving around i have 2x acme dynamos, sx acme dynarocks all 250w and a miracled running i have them on a dmx controller so i know they wont strobe will have to see how it goes on the night i suppose. :rolleyes:

regards

wayne

www.andersonentertainments.co.uk

I think it's just strobing...

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I think it's just strobing...

Read the above link. Knowing is better than thinking.

[Kernow]

Hi Wayne

I think the sensible thing to do is personally contact the best man (presumably the couple could provide details ?) and find out 'first-hand' what type of effects, if any, are likely to affect him.


I must stress that I have no medical knowledge at all, other than First Aid, but I do know there are many different types of epilepsy with sometimes totally different triggers, and the photo-sensitive form is just one of them.

I have had exactly this situation on a couple of occasions before where the party-givers have warned me about their guests' epilepsy only to find, when talking to the sufferers, that lighting would not be any problem for them.

I guess it's very easy for many people to just throw a 'blanket' term around the condition and assume the worst ?.


I would also suggest that 'trial & error' on the night would not be a good path to follow especially if your dancefloor is cleared by someone fitting in the middle of it.

Hope that helps

Rob

[501damian501]

i know as i suffer from epilepsy myself, strobing can of course cause a sezizure, along with fast moving scanners, keep things steady, no strobing, no flashing rope lighting or any 60s flash boxes, and you will be fine, not all epilepsy is triggerd by lights !

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I can't see a ropelight flashing quick enough to affect anything.

[501damian501]

ok then, now your a doctor and epileptic ?

[Tom]

My mum has got epilepsy.

Any person who has it affects them in a different way.


For example, we have had to change the lights bulbs in the house to special ones. Also when I'm testing out lights I have to close all my doors and tell mum not to go near me when im testing out the lights, just to be on the safe side.

If you use the dynamo, make sure the LED lights is on, on the controller. This wont make the lights strobe at all. The only downside is that the lights are a little slower but I guess thats a good thing as they are quite mad lights.


I went to a few family do's where they had rope lights and they didnt affect my mum at all. Its only when they turn on the strobe she has to close her eyes and put her hands over her eyes aswell. :mad:. It shouldn't have to be like that at all.


Hope this helps.

[501damian501]

my epilepsy came from working among the fairgrounds, you tell me their lighting flashes 15 times a second lol, no it dont, when i first go to a fairground now i feel a little funny but after my brain adjusts to its inveroment and atmosphere, the only time which i do go funny is on the strobe side of things, thats when my legs go like jelly and fall over,everything from not having enough sleep to the morning sunshine blazing through some moving trees can bring on a seizure, theirs only one best way, no flashy lights, kept tihngs moving at a steady speed, simply as, you cant say rope lighting dont afect people, because my clear rope light does afect me, damian

[Kernow]

ok then, now your a doctor and epileptic ?

I am sure that Professor Thomas, emeritus Chair of Medical History & Performing Arts at the University of Vida will not be offended at your remarks questioning his qualification to pass comment Damian.
I am sure that you would benefit greatly from a tutorial with him, possibly learning at the very least some appreciation of his considerable expertise in most fields of the Art of Public Performance.

You don't have to be a Historian, Doctor, Electronic Engineer or whatever to
be right, but a wealth of experience in the vein of 'Seen it, Done it,Wrecked it, Fixed it !!' coupled with the confidence to avoid self-doubt, as evidenced by overreaction, is the most valuable resource available to humankind.

Remember my man.....some have already triumphed over all the mistakes you haven't even made yet. ;)

[ppentertainments]

Think the best advice so far is to ask the person concerned. I am sure they will not mind and would probably appreciate your concern.

[rob1963]

In Darren's link, the important part seems to be...

Quote: "A flash at a frequency of between 15 and 20 flashes per second is most likely to cause a seizure, whereas very few people are sensitive to a rate of 3 flashes per second".

This would suggest that it's just the strobes that cause a problem, unless, of course, you have any OTHER lights which flash 3 times a second or more.

:)

[Kernow]

This would suggest that it's just the strobes that cause a problem, unless, of course, you have any OTHER lights which flash 3 times a second or more.:)

Only the blue ones.....to quell the riot when the DJ turns up 24 hours late :D

Surely all AC bulbs flash @ 50Hz ??

[rob1963]

Only the blue ones.....to quell the riot when the DJ turns up 24 hours late :D

:lol:

[robbiedj]

I have an aquaintance who is epileptic. He had a fit at one of my shows. I don't use stobes.

The offending lights were scanners, which were set on S2L at the time. Apparently the flash from the mirrors did it. I now only use scanners pointed up or behind to prevent this.

LED, moonflower and gobo are fine.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

ok then, now your a doctor and epileptic ?

No, but I have read the facts and if you carry on my friend you are going to find your self in the sin bin. There is no need for rudeness.

[PropellerHeadCase]

My wife, whilst supposedly 'in remission' (off meds and not fitted in nearly 20 years) finds any bright white strobing unpleasant in that it will cause headaches.

The basic rule seems to be that any light that flashes at more than 3 times per second or could appear to flash at more than three times per second (fast moving mirrors in the same light or multiple lights running the same programme which could catch someone from different angles) are to be avoided, also avoid intense white flashes at all times. That should cover all but the most severe cases.

[cosmicdiscos]

i remember doing a wedding a couple of years ago and the bride came up and said her father was epileptic and would i mind turning off my lights. so i turned of my acme dynatwin (because it strobed) and i turned my lightscreen down to its slowest chase. the bride returned and said the slow-chasing screen was still aggrevating her fathers condition. so in the end i had to turn every bit of lighting off and put the house lights on. still, no-one complained at the lack of disco lighting.

[sleah]

i remember doing a wedding a couple of years ago and the bride came up and said her father was epileptic and would i mind turning off my lights. so i turned of my acme dynatwin (because it strobed) and i turned my lightscreen down to its slowest chase. the bride returned and said the slow-chasing screen was still aggrevating her fathers condition. so in the end i had to turn every bit of lighting off and put the house lights on. still, no-one complained at the lack of disco lighting.

So why'd they book a disco?

Sorry, why did they book a disco and not tell you not to bother bringing and 'disco' lighting????

Odd. You'd imagine for an event as important as that, with a condition as severe as that they would be better at managing the condition!
IMHO of course:confused:

[UltraBeat Entertainment]

Just remember to be at caution for the whole night as this condition is so unpredictable.

I worked along side and helped a DJ that suffered from photo sensitive epilepsy a few years back. he used mostly scanners and moon flower effects for many years with no problem at all.

That was until a year ago he had a major fit at one of his shows using the same equipment he had been using for years with no effect. he was in hospital for sometime and he's not allowed to drive for at least 1 year and he has been force to quit the business due to his problem.
I really feel for him, it must be heart breaking to have a medical condition that stops you doing what you enjoy the most.

Just be aware that there are more types of effects that can trigger it off than you think including mirror balls, light screens, moving heads, scanners.

I personally think your best bet could be LED par's set to slow colour changing. It's just not worth the risk! better be safe than sorry. plus could effect your reputation if you have someone fit at a show.

[soundtracker]

plus could effect your reputation if you have someone fit at a show.

I had someone fit at my disco on Thursday, infact there were about 80 of them, well fit!:D