Marquee Wedding on Saturday...

[DiscoMagic]

Happy monday people.

Marquee wedding on Saturday just gone - all day affair with early setup and all the usual shabang...

DJ Porn for you all.... :lol:

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Now, I know everyone will automatically start on about cables on the truss, ( and I agree) but I still need to find a way to make these neater and any ideas / suggestions would be great as this is something I struggle with! ...

Towards the end of the season (September) when I have less bookings, I would be keen to roadie/shadow for anyone locally so that I can pick up ideas etc, and see how others overcome this problem...

Equipment:

2x Wharfdale Pro XP15's
Numark Dimension Amp
Gemini 8 Channel Mixer
Transtec Radio Mic
Apple Macbook Pro 13" with Traktor
Native Instruments Audio Kontrol Soundcard
IDJ2 (backup)
Martin Smoke Machine
1x Miracle LED
2 x Acme Stormbirds
1x Kam StarCluster
4x Prolight Slimline LED Par cans for Uplighting.

Starcloth Ceiling (supplied by marquee company).

Lovely gig, great atmosphere and absolutely superb venue.

Please let me know your thoughts - always open to ideas and critique!!!

[Larry B Entertainment]

Velcro cable ties would be a big help to you. How are you controlling / powering the lighting at the moment ?

Also you may be better fastening the fixtures direct to the OH bar rather than using G clamps. I think that will look neater and the fixtures will hang straight then.

Also do away with the scanner and make that 4 lens fixture the centrepiece and mount the laser on the top of the bar in the centre. You will then have a good balanced show.

[DiscoMagic]

Thanks Larry :) - Good idea re the velcro ties...

However not fastening the lights directly not slow down the setup - dismantle time whereas G-Clamps just hook over an tighten???

Lights are all sound to light, DMX is coming with the big re-vamp later in the year!

[Larry B Entertainment]

I think if you arranged the fixtures how I mentioned above, mounted a black 4 way block on the top of the bar and plugged into that then that will be a big improvement. That way you will have just one power cable coming down the side. Velcro tie the cables to make them neater and the jobs a good'en.

[Chris1984]

use shorter hook clamps - you will find it will help massively with the wonky lights

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Come on, your really telling us you couldn't of made them any tidier or used some gaffa tape/velco ties? Thats just plain common sense!

Not a fan of having mismatched lights just left and right of centre either.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Towards the end of the season (September) when I have less bookings, I would be keen to roadie/shadow for anyone locally so that I can pick up ideas etc, and see how others overcome this problem...





If you call me local, you are welcome to come with me.

[DiscoMagic]

Thanks Darren - Reading is not that far and I don't pay for fuel (!) so will contact you nearer the time :D

[Excalibur]

use shorter hook clamps - you will find it will help massively with the wonky lights
Shorter clamps, and/or a dual overhead bar. That braces them nicely.


Come on, your really telling us you couldn't of made them any tidier or used some gaffa tape/velco ties? Thats just plain common sense!

Not a fan of having mismatched lights just left and right of centre either.

Agreed. I'd prefer to get a second matching scanner, and either lose the miracled and put the laser in the centre, or put the miracled in the centre, and laser above, you can get clamps for that.

[DiscoMagic]

Come on, your really telling us you couldn't of made them any tidier or used some gaffa tape/velco ties? Thats just plain common sense!

I tried to the best that I could with gaffa - trust me it looked a lot worse before!!! The main problem in hindsight and reading other threads is that my IEC cables are too long for the job - and so there is a large amount of excess to hide.


Not a fan of having mismatched lights just left and right of centre either.

Point taken for future revamp!!!! - Thanks :)

[Mark Wild]

Pre-wire your overhead and cut the IEC's to desired length, loads of threads here on the forums with regards to having a tidy rig.

Can I ask where the picture on your homepage was taken? I'm sure I recognise that venue !

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Hmmm... ok I don't want to appear to be having a go and in all fairness its a fairly small issue but.......surely you have all the slack behind the frontage?

You set up your lights and leave just enough slack so you can move them up/down slighty then I use black gaffa and run the cables behind the overhead/upright poles into a iec 8way underneath the PO.


If you look at mine you'll see what I mean.

[DiscoMagic]

Hmmm... ok I don't want to appear to be having a go...

Don't worry about that - I'm always open to criticism and advice !!! :D

So..... at the moment I use a four way that is run up and over the truss. Are you suggest I dispense of this and run all the cables down and plug them in under the star cloth???

Also what is meant by PO???

(Nice set up BTW! :) )

[Ecstatic Events]

Not sure about the overall look to be honest.

To me it just seems a little "scruffy" a bit like an un-ironed shirt.

With the cables tidy, I'm sure it would look much better :)

[Charlie Brown]

The lighting looks really good in the dark with the smoke but in daylight it looks a mess. :o

[Vectis]

Those Stormbirds (in particular) are :Censored: heavy and I don't see any safety wires :eek:

[Excalibur]

Also what is meant by PlayOut(System)???



The lighting looks really good in the dark with the smoke but in daylight it looks a mess. :o
I had one like that once. :o :o

[DiscoMagic]

Not sure about the overall look to be honest.

To me it just seems a little "scruffy" a bit like an un-ironed shirt.

With the cables tidy, I'm sure it would look much better :)


The lighting looks really good in the dark with the smoke but in daylight it looks a mess. :o

I have to agree with you guys - I had a bit of a mare on the day - despite arriving with two hours to set up, I still had issues with with the star cloth which looked crumpled however much I tried to tighten and stretch it. And then of course the cables.

Also agree with comments earlier with regard to a mismatch of lights, (like the idea of mounting the star cluster on top of the MiracLED), but I will be revamping everything later in the year...


Those Stormbirds (in particular) are :Censored: heavy and I don't see any safety wires :eek:

Ok I admit it, I don't generally use safety clamps (shock horror I hear you gasp!)... I am still learning a lot about about the mobile disco industry and setups... and guess this is something I will have to sort out moving forward.

I have to say though... I don't find the stormbirds that heavy?!? (not an excuse!) compared to, say, the NJD Datamoons

[funkymook]

Shorter clamps, and/or a dual overhead bar. That braces them nicely.


+1 for getting a dual overhead bar. Wires are easier to hide and with the right length clamp from the top bar you can avoid that drop down you get with a single bar. And they just look much better than single bars in my opinion.

[Larry B Entertainment]

Also what is meant by PO???



Playout = The gear you use to play your songs

[Vectis]

I guess this is something I will have to sort out moving forward.

Well for the sake of a couple of quid ...

https://www.bluearan.co.uk/index.php?id=PLICLAM03&browsemode=category

[Charlie Brown]

TBF - I have safety wires attached onto my EFX's but I don't always use them. :o

[Chris1984]

TBF - I have safety wires attached onto my EFX's but I don't always use them. :o

WHY??

having seen first hand the damage a falling bit of kit can cause and the insurance mess that followed (not me but someone i worked with) it is just a few seconds of your life clipping it on? Why not do it?

[DiscoMagic]

So regarding the Safety Wire issue...

Is there really any point?!?!? I mean the G-Clamps are pretty strong and sturdy as are the wing nute so what is likelihood of them falling - I'm not arguing here - just interested in your points of view??? :confused:

[Chris1984]

So regarding the Safety Wire issue...

Is there really any point?!?!? I mean the G-Clamps are pretty strong and sturdy as are the wing nute so what is likelihood of them falling - I'm not arguing here - just interested in your points of view??? :confused:


Really??

Yes - buy them and fit them they cost a few quid and could save you a fortune.

[Vectis]

So regarding the Safety Wire issue...

Is there really any point?!?!? I mean the G-Clamps are pretty strong and sturdy as are the wing nute so what is likelihood of them falling - I'm not arguing here - just interested in your points of view??? :confused:

It's a SECONDARY method of attachment in case the first fails. G-Clamps are probably the last thing to fail, but what about the bracket they're attached to?

What if the whole frame falls forwards?

IMO they are ESSENTIAL for anything hanging from height - they should be an integral part of your Health & Safety policy, method statement and risk assessment, especially should you need to pursue a PLI claim and need to prove that you took all reasonable precautions.

Don't be a :muppet:

[DiscoMagic]

It's a SECONDARY method of attachment in case the first fails. G-Clamps are probably the last thing to fail, but what about the bracket they're attached to?

What if the whole frame falls forwards?



OK - I am playing devil's advocate here... So the G-Clamps are pretty strong... and Vectis quite rightly mentioned the bracket on the fixture could go - but sure this is also what the safety wire will fix to, so if the bracket does give - then the point of the wire is somewhat futile???

Also if the frame falls forward - the truss and all lighting will go flying anyway, so again the wire would be redundant...

I will get some though :D

[Larry B Entertainment]

OK - I am playing devil's advocate here... So the G-Clamps are pretty strong... and Vectis quite rightly mentioned the bracket on the fixture could go - but sure this is also what the safety wire will fix to, so if the bracket does give - then the point of the wire is somewhat futile???

Also if the frame falls forward - the truss and all lighting will go flying anyway, so again the wire would be redundant...

I will get some though :D

The safety wire clips on to the fixture, not the bracket. Most fixtures have a safety eye built in. If the bracket fails, the fixture will still be caught by the safety wire so it wont make an indent in someones head. I use safety wires on all my fixtures, even the very light led stuff that doesnt hardly weigh anything.

[sxboy]

Don't worry about that - I'm always open to criticism and advice !!! :D

So..... at the moment I use a four way that is run up and over the truss. Are you suggest I dispense of this and run all the cables down and plug them in under the star cloth???

Also what is meant by PO???

(Nice set up BTW! :) )

Just thought I would show you a pic of what you have said above, I use an 8 way IEC switch pack, and run the cables down the poles, all velcro tied, on the cross bar and down the poles, also as you can see my lighting is mounted straight to the bar, never used clamps, so can't really say if setup is longer. My setup is still not as good as some on here, but I think it looks neat and tidy:D

Daren

[Excalibur]

Playout = The gear you use to play your songs
As stated three posts before this, post #17. Do try to keep up at the back, please.


So regarding the Safety Wire issue...

Is there really any point?!?!? I mean the G-Clamps are pretty strong and sturdy as are the wing nute so what is likelihood of them falling - I'm not arguing here - just interested in your points of view??? :confused:
The chances of them falling are not the issue. Safety wires are a good idea, end of story.


My setup is still not as good as some on here, but I think it looks neat and tidy:D

Daren
It's very very tidy all the same.

[Larry B Entertainment]

As stated three posts before this, post #17. Do try to keep up at the back, please.



Opps. Didn't see what you had done there with the quote.

[Jiggles]

Safety bonds are there just incase you forget to do up the g clamp and someone comes along and bangs into it. Let's say if the g clamp failed or the bracket burst a safety wire won't hold it seeing as what caused it managed to do that! I had a good chat to my lecturer about these and that's the consenuse we came to!

[Excalibur]

Safety bonds are there just incase you forget to do up the g clamp and someone comes along and bangs into it. Let's say if the g clamp failed or the bracket burst a safety wire won't hold it seeing as what caused it managed to do that! I had a good chat to my lecturer about these and that's the consenuse we came to!

I reckon I'm misunderstanding you Callum, cos surely the safety wire is attached to the eye bolt on the fixture, not the clamp/bracket? Thus it would still be attached to the fixture.:confused:

Now as to whether the wire could cope with a force sufficient to break a clamp or bracket, well that's a whole diferent discussion.

[supersound]

Your average safety wire is SWL tested at 20kg,I dont see many lights over this(there will be a few exceptions.I also think you can get thicker ones for heavier lights.
As peter quite rightly says if you look at any of Phase ones videos most new light s come with a safety eye built into the fixture which is independent of the bracket.
The real issue is how it is anchored at the other end and how much slack hangs down as the fixture can still drop and swing if a bracket fails.
Paul

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Your average safety wire is SWL tested at 20kg

Surely you can't have an average for this? I would have thought that it's an individual thing as safety cables have different limits?

[Vectis]

Safety bonds are there just incase you forget to do up the g clamp and someone comes along and bangs into it. Let's say if the g clamp failed or the bracket burst a safety wire won't hold it seeing as what caused it managed to do that! I had a good chat to my lecturer about these and that's the consenuse we came to!

Cool. You go ahead and write that on your risk assessment then, and see what happens in court :cool:

In my opinion, a safety wire is a "reasonable, practical precaution" and should therefore be used. End of.