Lighting, Whats the point?

[Javlingames]

After reading the smoke machine thread i was wondering why we even bother with lights anymore? If you cant use smoke, the beams cant be seen, therefore whats the point?

Wizzards, acrobats and flower effects are useable still because of the projection on the walls and dancefloor but moving heads and roboscan type lights, apart from a single beam, why use them?

LED pars may be the way forward or even lightscreens. They are visual enough without smoke.

Actually while im here, why do dj's use lights at all? It doesnt make people have a good time if youve got lights.

Starcloth backdrop , light screens and led pars for me i think.

Do customers care about lights? Mine dont seem to.

[funkymook]

Actually while im here, why do dj's use lights at all? It doesnt make people have a good time if youve got lights.

Starcloth backdrop , light screens and led pars for me i think.

Do customers care about lights? Mine dont seem to.

They're lights!

You're really asking what type of lighting, rather than not using any at all.

I disagree about lighting not having any contribution to peoples enjoyment. They can totally change a venue with or without the help of smoke or haze. Using the appropriate lighting for the event is the key.

[Javlingames]

Ok i mean effect lighting.

I was contemplating being the first dj to not use lights. I use 2 qaudzillas now, which are pretty pointless with out smoke.

[DJ_Wulfman]

There was a time when parcans and a strobe were the only option ;). I dare say Mobile Disco wouldn't be the first industry to return from whence it came - just look at the re-emergence of vinyl!

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I see where you are coming from and to a degree I can't fault what you are saying.

I did a event recently when I had put in a starlight floor and uplighting. The floor is really quite bright (shame it doesn't having a dimming facility) so I did think its was pretty pointless putting the EFX's on.

I am a big fan of wash lighting and I do like to get the led effect lights out if I can use smoke but I'm using discharge effect lights (go figure).

[Javlingames]

There was a time when parcans and a strobe were the only option ;). I dare say Mobile Disco wouldn't be the first industry to return from whence it came - just look at the re-emergence of vinyl!

I would love it if it all went full circle again. Lightboxes, vinyl etc. I love to see a dj playing real vinyl.


I see where you are coming from and to a degree I can't fault what you are saying.

I did a event recently when I had put in a starlight floor and uplighting. The floor is really quite bright (shame it doesn't having a dimming facility) so I did think its was pretty pointless putting the EFX's on.

I am a big fan of wash lighting and I do like to get the led effect lights out if I can use smoke but I'm using discharge effect lights (go figure).

Exactly , sometimes effect lighting ruins the classy atomsphere. I reckon a starlit floor with par washes would look quality.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Exactly , sometimes effect lighting ruins the classy atomsphere. I reckon a starlit floor with par washes would look quality.

Don't you worry it did! When I took the photos I actually had the lights on but not pointed on the floor.

[DiscoMagic]

No Disco Lights,

what would the alternative be?!?

either dancing in the dark or dancing in bright lights??? neither very good for clients. I totally see where you are coming from, but I think its all about the atmosphere which is created by all those different moving lights.

[Cowlinn]

No Disco Lights,

what would the alternative be?!?

either dancing in the dark or dancing in bright lights??? neither very good for clients. I totally see where you are coming from, but I think its all about the atmosphere which is created by all those different moving lights.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

[[email protected]]

I regularly do discos with just a mirror ball, 4 LED pars for a bit of wash on the ceiling and dancefloor.

I do put up a couple of tri-leds that I bung on the truss, to give a bit of movement on the dancefloor, but, i cringe everytime I switch them on, I don't like them at all (i thought i would when i bought them, but i've since decided that i don't, but just put them up as the truss would look a little empty, with two moving heads and a mirror ball).

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Yeah, customers don't care about anything, do they?

They don't care about lighting or sound or the way a disco looks and they don't dance to lights do they?

Yawn, yawn, yawn......

[Javlingames]

I regularly do discos with just a mirror ball, 4 LED pars for a bit of wash on the ceiling and dancefloor.

I do put up a couple of tri-leds that I bung on the truss, to give a bit of movement on the dancefloor, but, i cringe everytime I switch them on, I don't like them at all (i thought i would when i bought them, but i've since decided that i don't, but just put them up as the truss would look a little empty, with two moving heads and a mirror ball).

So the future is definately colour wash as opposed to effect lights. I like this.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

So the future is definately colour wash as opposed to effect lights. I like this.

I don't think it's the future.

I used par cans 25 years ago! :D

[Javlingames]

I don't think it's the future.

I used par cans 25 years ago! :D

Exactly, maybe things can go full circle?

[djdave01]

im my experiance, the only people who care about sound quality or how good the lights are at gigs, are DJ's

all the punters care about is having good music to dance to, some flashing lights and a decent DJ who knows what he or she is doing.

I use nothing but LED lights these days. There cheap, they dont blow bulbs, they dont get hot. I might not have fancy patterns & shapes flying round the room, but no one cares.

[Corabar Steve]

I don't think it's the future.
I think the par bar & nothing else mob may beg to differ :sj:

[CRAZY K]

im my experiance, the only people who care about sound quality or how good the lights are at gigs, are DJ's

all the punters care about is having good music to dance to, some flashing lights and a decent DJ who knows what he or she is doing.

I use nothing but LED lights these days. There cheap, they dont blow bulbs, they dont get hot. I might not have fancy patterns & shapes flying round the room, but no one cares.

When Im doing a Disco combined with my other work strangely I care what kind of show I put on for people, because I actually enjoy the effects myself--both sound and lighting.

In the 60s and early 70s the music was everything and lighting was minimal and we concentrated on mike techniques and the music.

Nowadays virtually no one with Mike technique( I worked with a DJ a few months ago who did not actually have a mike at all) so I think the overall effect of music, lights and sound are what matters.

Possibly we have lost sight of the fact that a LOT of punters are actually
inhibited at functions unless someone turns the lights down --unbelievably I get morons trying to do this at Barn Dances--easily dealt with by a blistering announcement over the PA to the effect I have done this for xxx years and trust me DONT turn the lights out:daft:

However for Discos they have to go out and after all unless you have lighting--no one can see--or you get the neon strip light effect--totally naff and off putting when creating an atmosphere which will tempt the rather inhibited shy types to get on the floor--so Lights have to stay IMHO.

[DJ Jules]

I use nothing but LED lights these days. There cheap, they dont blow bulbs, they dont get hot. I might not have fancy patterns & shapes flying round the room, but no one cares.

Do you do weddings? What do you use for first dances?

Julian

[djdave01]

Do you do weddings? What do you use for first dances?

Julian

ive got two small led units that produce a 'mirror ball' type effect, linked together and set to run slowly they give a nice, gentle lighting effect for the first dance



However for Discos they have to go out and after all unless you have lighting--no one can see--or you get the neon strip light effect--totally naff and off putting when creating an atmosphere which will tempt the rather inhibited shy types to get on the floor--so Lights have to stay IMHO.

I agree, you do have to have disco lights, and i hate it when management leave to many lights on. I did a 40th a few yeas ago where the hall lights were left on throughout the gig because 'the staff need to see where there going to collect glass's'. It was a crap night with no atmosphere

Often find at kids parties all the lights get left on, but i still put the disco lights on.

[Excalibur]

There was a time when parcans and a strobe were the only option ;). I dare say Mobile Disco wouldn't be the first industry to return from whence it came - just look at the re-emergence of vinyl!


I don't think it's the future.

I used par cans 25 years ago! :D


Exactly, maybe things can go full circle?

I think we are going full circle. As a fervent Powerbar user, I often consider the fact that a powerbar is only really doing much the same thing as a Pulsar Zero 3000/4000 driving spotboxes or par cans.

It's lighter, cooler and more powerful and versatile, but essentially the same thing.

[WWDJ]

I think we are going full circle. As a fervent Powerbar user, I often consider the fact that a powerbar is only really doing much the same thing as a Pulsar Zero 3000/4000 driving spotboxes or par cans.

It's lighter, cooler and more powerful and versatile, but essentially the same thing.

Do you use yours with DMX?.... They always seem a bit hectic when in sound to light mode. I'm sure they could do a lovely colour chase or something if well programmed?

[Charlie Brown]

I disagree. Lighting helps to create an atmosphere. When I turn my lights on it's also a 'sign' that the entertainment has started.

Do you except people to dance with the house lights on?

[katman]

Do you except people to dance with the house lights on?

Not if Im playing Bruce Springstein - Dancing in the dark :)

[Excalibur]

Do you use yours with DMX?.... They always seem a bit hectic when in sound to light mode. I'm sure they could do a lovely colour chase or something if well programmed?

Yes. And then again, no.

Yes, I think that when it's run under DMX control, it's one of the best lights I've ever used.

No, my DMX controller seems to have a fault, but I will be back under DMX control again soon.

Apparently, it you can tapdance, the KAM version will allow slow fade.