Trussing? Worth the bother and expense?

[WWDJ]

OK, here are my thoughts.

I've seen a few of you with truss towers and overhead full trussing and I'm wondering how long it takes to put together at a gig and whether it is worth the bother for me.

I have to say I think it looks really good, but at how much expense in terms of time?

I've seen the Brian S Redd video of him knocking in pins etc and to be honest I don't want to spend 20 minutes building a tower at each gig, but I am somewhat restricted in the max length I can get in my car is about 1.5m so I would need to be building towers at the gig to some extent. Brian used Global Truss, but is all trussing like this?

My thoughts were to look at getting 4 x 1m lengths and then I can build small towers for mounting on high stages or large towers for mounting at side of me. Also I could construct an overhead on stands up to 4m wide.

Cost wise, those of you have full truss, did you find any bargains? Is it worth looking at second hand and what brands would you recommend or steer clear of.

Cheers

Dave

[discoinferno]

I have also thought the same as I love the idea of being able to stick an uplighter in a truss, to me sets it set it off, but I'm in the same situation where I don't want to be spending ages putting up a truss - with most of the gigs we do - we don't get a huge amount of time to set up, so if I bought one would I ever use it? I only have a small van so with the larger gigs, space can be an issue. I currently use an up an over stand bar thing for most gigs which I can put up in minutes, If I could find a good way to uplight that then that would be good. :D

[Dynamic Entertainment]

One user on here (I can't remember who), has his tower in 2 bits, the base plate and lower section is one, and on the top section he has his moving head, wash, and laser permamantly mounted (if I remember right). The top sections fix onto a trolley for transport.

[Shaun]

My vertical trusses consist of a base plate and two 1m sections joined together. It only ever gets used when they book the custom gobo projection as I find it far too time consuming to setup. It looks nice but I really hate setting it up.

[WWDJ]

My vertical trusses consist of a base plate and two 1m sections joined together. It only ever gets used when they book the custom gobo projection as I find it far too time consuming to setup. It looks nice but I really hate setting it up.

Thanks. When you say time consuming. How long do you reckon? Do you literally have to put all the pins in, hammer them home, put in split pins ... and the reverse to take the trussing down?

[MikeW]

I have been having a think about this as well. I think it looks really good when set up. I will be keeping an eye on this thread. Had a quick search I found this uk company.
http://www.enlightenment.co.uk/truss.html

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Mine are 1 x 1.5m sections of truss with top plate and base plate permanently attached. They do look great, but only go out occasionally.

[Javlingames]

I used to use 6 metre tri lite rig in 2m sections. I could put it up in less than 2 minutes. I had quick release clips, cant remember what they call them. It was easy!

[Shaun]

Thanks. When you say time consuming. How long do you reckon? Do you literally have to put all the pins in, hammer them home, put in split pins ... and the reverse to take the trussing down?

I haven't really timed myself so can't give a definite. Whenever I use the truss I always arrive at the venue a lot earlier than I need to and just take my time, so I probably can do it a lot quicker than I have been taking.

As for setting it up. Yep, exactly as you described. Every pin has to be hammered in then the split pins added too, and the same again in reverse when taking it down. Then there's the power cables, dmx cables to velcro in place, par can to be setup in the bottom (although I've since permanently attached the slim par cans to the bottom of the truss with cable ties)

All in all I just find it a hassle, so I only bring them to gigs when the clients are paying a premium for the custom gobo projection, then the extra effort is worthwhile to me. For regular gigs it's a no-no for me.

Edit: then there's adding the truss cover, which is a complete pain. The last few times I've used the truss I've left the covers off.


Without truss Cover (at wedding fayre)
nameinlights - wedding fayre.mp4 - YouTube
With truss Cover (scroll to about 20+ seconds)
18th Birthday.wmv - YouTube

[addoaddo]

I use 3 x 2m lengths of Astralite trussing which take about 2 min to put together as it is only three pins on each connection. I mount this on two windup Manfroota stands so I think it takes no more time that a couple of tripodes.
The advantage is that it is flexible and give a large space to hang the light

[DJ Davy]

I have two truss towers, they are probably the biggest footprint global truss do at about 450mm... ish, with a plates on the base and top they are big and bulky, take minutes to put up as they are two single sections of 1.5m .
Due to the size, transporting of these requires the van, althought they are very light. I have had nothing but great feedback on these, and, although they were costly, I have made my money back on these tenfold as the brides love them with the spherions on top for the first dance!

http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit?ns=1&video_id=WLMc_OwTevM&next=my_videos

[Danno13]

Anyone still messing around with the pins, go and buy a bag of astralite quick connectors they're way, way quicker!

[Creature]

I only uise mine on weekend events, mainly bike rallies. As it takes most of teh day to set it up, but then again the fact I keep buying lights n stuff for them and adapting to fit at bookings probally dont help.

the gantry is Kam with wind up stands

have 2 gantries the back one 36 feet long and the front 40 feet long.

Altho am hoping that this year will be able to set it up quicker as planing on getting some builders pies attached to me roof rack with 2 1.5mtr ganties bolted together and hopefully all wired up as well.

to be honest would use even 1 oer 2 peices normally as often dont have room on normal 1 night bookings.

Is it worth it - hell yes

[WWDJ]

just browsing today and noticed this flat pack trussing.

http://www.rsdmusic.com/products.asp?prodid=2537&catid=67&mcatid=9

what are your thoughts on this?

[Shaun]

Anyone still messing around with the pins, go and buy a bag of astralite quick connectors they're way, way quicker!

Got a link?

[Leicester Ben]

Ours are 1.5m high as standard, they do look great but do take longer to set up and the bases weigh loads so we only take them out when our clients book them separately.

We charge £35.00 +VAT each for them so its worthwhile doing when they do go out on hire!

We wouldn't be doing it for no extra money!

[WWDJ]

Ours are 1.5m high as standard, they do look great but do take longer to set up and the bases weigh loads so we only take them out when our clients book them separately.

We charge £35.00 +VAT each for them so its worthwhile doing when they do go out on hire!

We wouldn't be doing it for no extra money!

Do you find there is a good take up on them Ben or are they sat doing nothing most of the time?

[Leicester Ben]

They go out about once a month, and have paid for themselves already so not bad going.

[Twinspin]

Trussing Rig for anyone looking at one. This setup is Powerdrive Ref330 winch stands and 3m of Optikinetics trilite 200 used on my bigger setup. I got mine very cheap brand new. Hopefully the pictures ive posted can answer a few questions.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/525604_10150766389885957_923539211_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/389606_10150766391395957_1594732313_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/579144_10150766392395957_2046756651_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/549309_10150766393955957_1929656974_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/543560_10150766395485957_661459655_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/560766_10150766396435957_303904833_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/560360_10150766397875957_577235504_n.jpg

[Fullforceeventsltd]

I have a load of truss for overheads and to be honest I hardly ever use actress overhead rig. Probably only 4 gigs last year and around 3 so far this year.

All my trussing is pre wired with power and DMx into custom distribution trunking that I manufactured so really speeds up set up.

All my truss columns are 1.5 metre as standard and have some bigger. Again these are all pre wired with power and DMx so I just screw on the mover and it's up and running in 3 minutes.

[JAMdisco]

Trussing Rig for anyone looking at one. This setup is Powerdrive Ref330 winch stands and 3m of Optikinetics trilite 200 used on my bigger setup. I got mine very cheap brand new. Hopefully the pictures ive posted can answer a few questions.

Trussing look s good John but I think you need a new booth - that fence-panel look is so dated now :D :p

[Twinspin]

Trussing look s good John but I think you need a new booth - that fence-panel look is so dated now :D :p

Its not our fence that side :D The neighbour paid for that side to be done. Ours is at the other side

and its even more dated :D But its not as old as you :p

[JAMdisco]

Its not our fence that side :D The neighbour paid for that side to be done. Ours is at the other side

and its even more dated :D But its not as old as you :p

As I always say "you're as old as you feel" and I feel great right now :D