New Lighting Setup for 2010

[OllieJames]

Hi all,

After picking up what I believe is a bargain off eBay, I think I no longer require my scanners which means a re-arrange lighting wise is required.

In my 'collection' I now have the following:

4 Dynamos
2 Dynarocks
2 Magic Gobos
2 Pilot 150 Moving Heads
2 LED Par 56s
1 Acme ImpossibLED
1 Equinox Nebula
1 Equinox Zodiac

After toying around with a few variations of setting up, I believe I no longer require the Dynamos or the Magic Gobos - but I'm a bit reluctant to sell them... although I don't see the Dynamos being used much more. Reason being is although i've only got 2 movers rather than the 4 scanners, the movers are a lot smoother than the dynamos under DMX control and have some more features.

This year I've got a couple of weddings, couple of 18ths, couple of 21st and a few kid parties lined up at the minute, where all bar one are in large venues which will allow haze and would be big enough to cater for a 3m truss. As my lighting is full DMX now, it means I don't have to keep changing my lights round for older or younger audiences (i.e. they can either be programmed slower, not strobing for older audiences and completely mad for younger gigs) meaning I can have 1 setup for smaller venues and 1 for larger venues.

So I've boiled my setup down to the following (used in a couple of different combinations):

2 Pilot 150 movers
2 Dynarocks
2 LED Pars
1 Impossibled
1 Nebula
1 Zodiac (only for teen gigs)

Great, so now I know what lights will be used the most. But, as my previous thread on "mounting moving heads" was about, they're not very effective on the floor. Therefore I've decided to purchase a 3m tri-truss system to support the above. I cannot store 3m of proper, pukka, tri-truss with crank stands as I just don't have the room - so i'm looking for a cheaper, smaller alternative. Also, by using tri-truss on stands, it would enable my lighting to go a lot higher than it does at the minute.

So, my question is:

For larger venues, I've considered using the 2 movers, 2 barrels, 2 pars, impossibled and nebula on 3m tri-truss. I know it's more of a personal preference question/answer but is that too much for larger venues? Would the movers be fine by themselves without the barrels? Would this be too little on a 3m truss?

Something like the following:

mover - barrel - par - imposs w/ nebula above - par - barrel - mover
OR
barrel - mover - par - imposs w/ nebula above - par - mover - barrel

For younger gigs (18ths, 21sts, proms etc) I would use the Zodiac instead of the Nebula.

One of the gigs is a repeat booking at a small venue with a small stage, which means a 3m truss would not be possible. Therefore, I would need to use the overhead trusslite on my ultimax deckstand which eliminates the use of the movers as they hang down far too low to be effective. Shame really as it's a 21st and I would have thought they'd be really effective.

Sorry for such a long winded, and in parts, 'waffely' post - but interested in your views. One thing is though, yes at times 'less is more' but in reality, it's not really a great deal of lighting - they're just in multiples.

[Charlie Brown]

Ollie, your setup is perfecty fine as it is. Your never going to be happy with it. If you feel the need to spend some dosh, buy music (you can never have enough of it) or on advertising.

I would focus on getting the gigs in and website right.

I'm looking pretty busy now - whether I spend more money on a truss or not will not help.

I don't want to come across as harsh - it's just your always spending!

[DJ Jules]

Head. Hurts.

Way too complicated :) I'm still typically only taking between 3-5 fixtures to most functions and only rolling out a 7-9 fixture rig for larger venues. I'd think what you're proposing makes a lot of sense, but I'll re-read later and give a more considered answer ;)

Julian

[OllieJames]

Head. Hurts.

Way too complicated :) I'm still typically only taking between 3-5 fixtures to most functions and only rolling out a 7-9 fixture rig for larger venues. I'd think what you're proposing makes a lot of sense, but I'll re-read later and give a more considered answer ;)

Julian

Yeah sorry for such a migrane inducing post! :p

Basically in a nut shell,

My idea is to use 2 movers, 2 barrels, 2 pars, imposs & laser on 3m of truss for larger venues and 2 barrels, 2 pars, imposs and laser on overhead lighting bar for smaller venues. Just interested in people's opinions.

I think I've found a suitable truss now too, which isn't very much and can hold 80KG.

[DJ James Lake]

personally I would just lose the impossibled and use the magic gobos instead

[OllieJames]

personally I would just lose the impossibled and use the magic gobos instead

Hi James,

Thanks for your reply. I really do like the Magic Gobos still, so would be up for including them. The only thing I'm not keen about on them is that they don't have a very wide beam angle, although this could be solved by using a truss that goes a lot higher than my current trusslite does.

[DJ James Lake]

Hi James,

Thanks for your reply. I really do like the Magic Gobos still, so would be up for including them. The only thing I'm not keen about on them is that they don't have a very wide beam angle, although this could be solved by using a truss that goes a lot higher than my current trusslite does.

I think your going to have to be careful though as ideally you'd be better having a larger truss like mine and matts setup and using the trusslite for the smaller gigs but then you have the transport issues.

I'd keep it simple until you can sort the transport properly.

[OllieJames]

I think your going to have to be careful though as ideally you'd be better having a larger truss like mine and matts setup and using the trusslite for the smaller gigs but then you have the transport issues.

I'd keep it simple until you can sort the transport properly.

Yeah - That's what I've thought of doing. Using the truss for large gigs and trusslite for smaller gigs. Transport isn't much of an issue, because we usually use two cars to transport the gear when using two subs anyway as the majority of my gigs are 30 mins away max.

I could easily accomodate tri-truss in the cars, although it would have to be like Matt's which is slightly smaller than full size tri-truss like yours.

[WWDJ]

which tri-truss are you going for ollie ?

[OllieJames]

which tri-truss are you going for ollie ?

I'm not 100% sure yet, but the one I've been looking at is the KAM Stand KR Kit. Now, I know what you're thinking - KAM truss are you serious? Well - it's exactly the same as the Giraffe G95 3m truss which Matt has. I've been to a few gigs with Matt where he's been using it and it's actually really strong and it's not as big as full size trussing. It's only £140, goes 3m high, is 3m wide, holds 80KG and has the safety pins to ensure the poles don't slip.

I'm open to ideas though! Until I can afford a van + insurance, full size tri-truss isn't possible.

[DJ James Lake]

I'm not 100% sure yet, but the one I've been looking at is the KAM Stand KR Kit. Now, I know what you're thinking - KAM truss are you serious? Well - it's exactly the same as the Giraffe G95 3m truss which Matt has. I've been to a few gigs with Matt where he's been using it and it's actually really strong and it's not as big as full size trussing. It's only £140, goes 3m high, is 3m wide, holds 80KG and has the safety pins to ensure the poles don't slip.

I'm open to ideas though! Until I can afford a van + insurance, full size tri-truss isn't possible.

Ask them to show you it going 3m high with the kam stands, i think you'll find it doesnt actually do it safely as you have to have the legs so close together to get the height it isnt safe. Matthew used the mobiltech winch stands with his to get the height.

Using any type of truss is a chore without winch stands

[OllieJames]

Ask them to show you it going 3m high with the kam stands, i think you'll find it doesnt actually do it safely as you have to have the legs so close together to get the height it isnt safe. Matthew used the mobiltech winch stands with his to get the height.

Using any type of truss is a chore without winch stands

Ah I see, yeah I've seen Matt's mobiltech stands.

The only other option I believe is the ADJ Dura-Truss, which has smaller tri-truss but also has winch stands - but is a considerable sum of money more.

[DJ James Lake]

Ah I see, yeah I've seen Matt's mobiltech stands.

The only other option I believe is the ADJ Dura-Truss, which has smaller tri-truss but also has winch stands - but is a considerable sum of money more.

I'd seriously think about proper 50mm truss as there isnt much in it when it comes to transporting and its more future proof as you dont know what you will be hanging from it in the future. (the way you change kit :) )

I bought my global truss 5 years ago and used to hang 4 dynamos and a uv from it. The 2m sections were £100 a length.

5 years on I hang 2 sometime 3 42" plasmas, 2 EFX500, 4 SCX500, 1500w strobe and starcloths all from it. If i'd bought the smaller truss I would have had to change it.

[OllieJames]

I'd seriously think about proper 50mm truss as there isnt much in it when it comes to transporting and its more future proof as you dont know what you will be hanging from it in the future. (the way you change kit :) )

I bought my global truss 5 years ago and used to hang 4 dynamos and a uv from it. The 2m sections were £100 a length.

5 years on I hang 2 sometime 3 42" plasmas, 2 EFX500, 4 SCX500, 1500w strobe and starcloths all from it. If i'd bought the smaller truss I would have had to change it.

That's a fair point, but I could only have 1.5m lengths. So either 2x 1.5m or 3x 1m lengths. Then i'd need stands too, which are REALLY expensive!