(Another old chestnut...) Lighting

[Shaun]

I was reading a thread on another site where lighting was being discussed. The poster made a reference to DJs using just two lights, and that that kind of setup is not what his clients ask for.

In reality the vast majority of clients just don't really care as long as what's used is up for the job. With the exception of some teen gigs (and uplighting jobs) I've never had a clients specify they want loads of lighting. As long as equipment is adequate for the job the client just doesn't care. The only people that do is the DJs themselves.

So why are DJs so hung up about equipment? I'm pretty sure we've all been guilty of buying loads more than we actually need. Years ago I had absolutely loads of different lighting all doing different things. Whenever something new came on the market I just had to have it as it was something new. In a lot of cases (especially with new DJs) they may feel they have to over-compensate their lack of experience by having a huge rig? All too often I've seen equipment is a main selling point on websites. Again, do customers really care? or is it a case of 'boys and their toys'...where the compulsion to buy new gadgets is testosterone driven..lol?

Forums have a lot to answer for as well. How many of you have spent a lot more on equipment since joining the forum? I know I have. We see people posting rig pics and think "that looks good" and next thing we know the bank balance has dwindled that little bit more. :d

Ok....I'm off to see what I can buy. :daft:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

In reality the vast majority of clients just don't really care as long as what's used is up for the job. With the exception of some teen gigs (and uplighting jobs) I've never had a clients specify they want loads of lighting. As long as equipment is adequate for the job the client just doesn't care. The only people that do is the DJs themselves.


I don't think that is completely true, though I agree with the majority of it.

Certain people want certain looks and colours, others have been impressed and have asked for the rose gobo on the Wizards.

I actually have a booking tomorrow where they paid extra to have "the purple effect" that they saw when I sent them a few pictures of a recent marquee gig. This involves the truss columns and wash moving heads, more time and effort setting it up, hence the extra charge.

As I am typing this, I have just realised that you're talking about 'loads of lighting' rather than specific lighting, so ring me a taxi please...

[Corabar Entertainment]

We have had quite a few clients ask for specific styles of lighting - but very few (probably only one or two) have asked for lots of lighting.

More often, as Darren said, it's for a particular colour, or for less, more tasteful lighting that's not so 'in your face'.

You could argue that you need lots of different lighting in your arsenal to be able to supply different styles, I suppose...... :confused:

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I look at it like this....
In general, I have found that most people aren't that bothered about how many lighting effects you have, just as long as they do the job. I agree that teen parties etc want that kind of nightclub feeling with the lights and even though you can get away with using a couple, I think that they expect more?

This is no word of a lie but a few weeks back I did a party at a regular venue I go to out of town. It was for one of the staff so the management etc were all there and just like christmas time, they had relief staff in. When I was setting up in the morning, I had just nipped out to the van to get a box of cables and when I walked back in, I actually saw the relief manager COUNTING the lights on my top bar (there were 8 effects). He looked at me, nodded and that was it?

I didn't ask why and he never said a word to me but I thought it was very strange.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I was speaking to one of my football parents the other day and he works in the city and is something to do with finance. His company pays for a lot of corporate days out and do's and he said that if he went to a party, he'd expect the DJ to have a big stack of gear and loads of lighting as that meant the company thought enough of it's employees to spend some cash out on the entertainment!

[Corabar Entertainment]

I was speaking to one of my football parents the other day and he works in the city and is something to do with finance. His company pays for a lot of corporate days out and do's and he said that if he went to a party, he'd expect the DJ to have a big stack of gear and loads of lighting as that meant the company thought enough of it's employees to spend some cash out on the entertainment!:eek: :eek: :eek:

So for at least some clients, it is about quantity!!!

[CRAZY K]

I was reading a thread on another site where lighting was being discussed. The poster made a reference to DJs using just two lights, and that that kind of setup is not what his clients ask for.

In reality the vast majority of clients just don't really care as long as what's used is up for the job. With the exception of some teen gigs (and uplighting jobs) I've never had a clients specify they want loads of lighting. As long as equipment is adequate for the job the client just doesn't care. The only people that do is the DJs themselves.

So why are DJs so hung up about equipment? I'm pretty sure we've all been guilty of buying loads more than we actually need. Years ago I had absolutely loads of different lighting all doing different things. Whenever something new came on the market I just had to have it as it was something new. In a lot of cases (especially with new DJs) they may feel they have to over-compensate their lack of experience by having a huge rig? All too often I've seen equipment is a main selling point on websites. Again, do customers really care? or is it a case of 'boys and their toys'...where the compulsion to buy new gadgets is testosterone driven..lol?

Forums have a lot to answer for as well. How many of you have spent a lot more on equipment since joining the forum? I know I have. We see people posting rig pics and think "that looks good" and next thing we know the bank balance has dwindled that little bit more. :d

Ok....I'm off to see what I can buy. :daft:

Well although im not a regular DJ on the circuit I do my fair share of Weddings and Westerns involving the use of full Disco gear and Lighting, so hopefully my input is considered valid.

I think a lot is to do with competition and pricing at the beginning of the sales process. It does happen to me sometimes rather strangely.

However in my experience I suspect this may be restricted to Bridezillas:daft: :daft: :daft:

The last Bridezilla ( last Saturday night) wanted to know all about the Lighting used:eek:

I gave them the number for Corabar and suggested they book them for a good Disco night with lights--it appears they hired £150 quid sid with ( as it turns out according to our Caller) naf all Lights despite Bridezillas interest in the subject.:confused:

The budget no doubt was the factor yet again unfortunately.:(

Now I think if your charging a fair price there is this thing called expectation ---in the case of Discos I suppose professionalism music choice and flexibility, decent sound and some Lighting to fit the mood.

If your charging £100 less expectation, if your charging £500 a lot of expectation and of course I imagine a lot of people fall in between.

There is no doubt however masses of Lighting or top of the range Sound systems cant hide an ineffective DJ---i used to know some of those:zip:

I have read many articles where the DJ had :Censored: all Lights but everyone had a brilliant night --that used to be me in the 60s and early 70s.

My latest gig at the Brewery Chiswell Street, London---5 steps followed by 2 more-- has prompted me to tell the client I wont be bringing my normal amount of lighting otherwise I will be there all night packing down and exiting the building--and upsetting the caretakers---I am charging the same price no reduction.

No feedback or comment received--I am sure they wont notice as Shaun says--especially City slickers blitzed off their heads later probably unable to focus on my lighting let alone see it:D :D :D



.

[CRAZY K]

:eek: :eek: :eek:

So for at least some clients, it is about quantity!!!

Value for money I think---big price-- big show;)

Corporates I deal with on my side of things (Western Events) spend big and expect a lot of delivery--quite right too!!!

p.s Talking of which im off to one right now:beer1:

[Shakermaker Promotions]

When you say that you "Tailor the Disco Entertainment to meet the customers requirements.." it enables you to provide what you (and they) think will be good enough / acceptable.

When you know a venue well and have been there a number of times, you know what works in there, what is minimal and what is overkill etc..

I have been in the same situation as Crazy K and it was a couple of weeks ago on the boat thing. I am so glad I took just 2 x Mystics with me (as suggested on here). It filled the deck with colour and movement and no'one said a word. I would have been there all night if I had taken more.

[Excalibur]

he said that if he went to a party, he'd expect the DJ to have a big stack of gear and loads of lighting as that meant the company thought enough of it's employees to spend some cash out on the entertainment!


:eek: :eek: :eek:

So for at least some clients, it is about quantity!!!

:whistle: :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[Shaun]

Sods law. Right after posting this thread I had the following in an email I received.

"what type of discolights would be there also ?"

I received it literally 2 minutes after posting this thread. :lol:

[Corabar Entertainment]

...Bridezilla...

...I gave them the number for Corabar... I don't recall any of the ones we've talked about you mentioning that they were a Bridezilla! :eek: We're you going to leave that snippet of info until after they'd booked? :D :D :p


Value for money I think---big price-- big show;) ...but surely value for money isn't measured in the amount of kit you use? :confused:


Sods law. Right after posting this thread I had the following in an email I received.

"what type of discolights would be there also ?"

I received it literally 2 minutes after posting this thread. :lol:Sure it wasn't someone from the forum with a spoof enquiry?

[Mark Wild]

"what type of discolights would be there also ?"


And if you tell them would they be any the wiser? I doubt it.

Here's an extract from a recent(ish) enquiry I received along the same lines.

Can I just double check, what equipment do you have? I’m not really a fan of the coloured disco lights, I prefer the white lights or lasers I think they’re called!

:daft:

[WWDJ]

Since joining the forum I have made wiser choices in lighting and actually temoved a lot from my stock in favour of more versitle effects.

I think as long as the dancefloor is covered with lights there isn't a need to fill every inch of the room with flashing light. If I didn't feel I could do that with my light I would hire in, or turn down the job as too big for me

[Shaun]

Sure it wasn't someone from the forum with a spoof enquiry?

No. I did check though.:d

[Corabar Entertainment]

:lol:

[Corabar Steve]

:eek: :eek: :eek:

So for at least some clients, it is about quantity!!!
An old sitcom springs to mind...

Never Mind The Quality, Feel The Width

[Excalibur]

An Old DJ springs to mind...

Never Mind The Quality, Feel The Width

:o :o

[cdkdisco]

So far, I have not been asked what kind of lights and how many I am bringing to the gig by a customer. I have a few pictures and a video on my website which I assume they have looked at, so they are aware what I have.
Apart from weddings, my "rig" would only have 2 or 3 lights.
2 Revo III`s and maybe a gobo splash or 4ft uv light all sitting on my disco stand with a starcloth. Compact but very effective, I would have to say.
Spent a few years with "green eyes" looking at everybody`s lights. Spent some money I didn`t have too.
Had a sort of clear out last year and now down to a few sets. I have a pair of dynatwins that I use sometimes and 4 led parcans that I use for uplighters. Would probably just light to add a parbar to the collection and feel that would suffice for any future gigs.
As long as what I use is packaged well, and I do my best to entertain people,my clients are happy.
2 good lights beats 4 or 5 poor ones and for the kind of gigs I do at present, 2 or 3 lights work well. Doesn`t have to be a bad thing.

[Excalibur]

Forums have a lot to answer for as well. How many of you have spent a lot more on equipment since joining the forum? I know I have. We see people posting rig pics and think "that looks good" and next thing we know the bank balance has dwindled that little bit more. :d

Ok....I'm off to see what I can buy. :daft:

Oi, Sonny! That one won't wash. :Naughty: Despite being told how good a certain product was, you insisted on lashing out over £100 extra, just to get the badge. ;) Are you sure you're really Scottish? :confused: :confused:

[CRAZY K]

I don't recall any of the ones we've talked about you mentioning that they were a Bridezilla! :eek: We're you going to leave that snippet of info until after they'd booked? :D :D :p

...but surely value for money isn't measured in the amount of kit you use? :confused:



To answer these---:D

[Shaun]

Oi, Sonny! That one won't wash. :Naughty: Despite being told how good a certain product was, you insisted on lashing out over £100 extra, just to get the badge. ;) Are you sure you're really Scottish? :confused: :confused:

No, I forked out an extra 100 quid to get ones that weren't as ugly (in my opinion) as their German counterparts. Get it right old man, get it right. :d

[CRAZY K]

I don't recall any of the ones we've talked about you mentioning that they were a Bridezilla! :eek: We're you going to leave that snippet of info until after they'd booked? :D :D :p

...but surely value for money isn't measured in the amount of kit you use? :confused:

Sure it wasn't someone from the forum with a spoof enquiry?

To answer these quickly---:D

Bridezilla only wanted a playlist--so no problem there.

Darren stated in post 5 a Corporate friend stated amout of kit mattered--that didnt surprise me.

[Javlingames]

With corporate I don't think it's the amount of gear you have but the way you present it. For instance a 6 metre starcloth looks like an impressive spread, 6 lights on a 3 metre goalposts doest even though there is more lights on the 3metre rig.

[Shippers]

Interesting thread. With lighting, we tend not to over do it, as some of the lights these days are fantastic, as some lights are like 2 in 1 anyway.
I think you can have too many, as you can lose the actual effect of each light if there is a lot.
We have certainly never had any complaints.
I must admit though, its very tempting when I go down the local disco store and they put a light show on, some incredible stuff about!