Big Rig Setup - Opinions

[Gazza75]

Hi,

I'm looking for opinions on a new setup for bigger venues, as of yet I haven't purchased anything so your input is greatly appreciated.

Judging this on a) value for money, b) effectiveness as a complete setup c) overall asethetic

My proposed kit is as follows:

Ultimax goalpost stand 2.5m height x 3m width (supports upto 50kg evenly spread) £309

Evenly spread 4x ADJ tripar profile £260 [1]

second fixture in on each opposing end 2x ADJ X-move 25R (1 either end) £660 [2]

2x chauvet swarm 4 £180 [3]

1x laserworld els - 200rgb, acting as a centrepiece £220 (or similar, although I do own one) [4]

LEDJ tri LED starcloth 3x2m £459

4ft deckstand £89 (existing)

LEDJ tri LED booth starcloth £260 (existing)

All lights hung from the ultimax stand in the following configuration, as per numbers provided in square brackets.

1 - 2 - 1 - 3 - 4 - 3 - 1 - 2 - 1

Total cost £2437 (cost to upgrade to myself £1868)

All lights would be under dmx control in custom created chases & shows to control/influence the timing of all lights ensuring it isn't a free for all with all lights on at once.

Naturally if there is any way to save/replace fixtures with more effective units (even at additional cost) I would be willing to hear however I wouldn't like to spend much more than £2000 as a cost to supplement what I already have.

Your thoughts & critique are as always welcome.

[musicologydisco]

A 200mw RGB laser would not make a good centrepiece. Way too weak and would likely have jerky stepper motors. If you can't spend money on a really eye catching laser then best to avoid.

[Excalibur]

With the caveat about the laser taken on board, I'd say you're not too far wide of the mark. Since I'm not a fan of moving heads, a couple of Acme Samurai/Warrior might be my choice. The ADJ Tripars are brilliant, I have a couple myself and love them.

Thinking aloud, ( and I appreciate that a radical rethink may be required ) a Powerbar comes in at around the same price ( from our German cousins ), and will give a fractionally higher light output. ( 28 LEDs against 20 )
So, then we could put a Warrior either side, and a laser either side of those. Roughly the same cost ( as the laser would be about the same cost as the two swarms )

I'm not pretending that my suggestion is better, merely that it's an option. The only question I have is how much you need a rig that size when the trend is for smaller more discreet ones, but that's simply conjecture.

I await other views and suggestions, it's an interesting topic.

I can get my Ultimax overhead to 3 metres wide, and it will accept a powerbar, two EFX 500s, two lasers, and if I'm trying to fill the gaps, two Source moonflowers.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

The only question I have is how much you need a rig that size when the trend is for smaller more discreet ones, but that's simply conjecture.



This is my thinking too.

If I was scaling up it would be in the sound, not the light department.

Modern lights are designed so that you can fill a room with a relatively small amount, in fact the bigger the room, the better the effect generally - might not be as sharp at further distances but it'll have a wider spread.

Trying to visualise your set up I'd say it'll be too busy imho.

Clients are savvy these days, particularly wedding a corporate and they want a DJ set up that is tiday and nice to look at, remember, what we see from the booth out is completely different to what people see looking at us and each other on the dancefloor...

Besides, superfluous that adds load journeys or set up and tear down time is a waste.

[deltic]

This is my thinking too.

If I was scaling up it would be in the sound, not the light department.

Modern lights are designed so that you can fill a room with a relatively small amount, in fact the bigger the room, the better the effect generally - might not be as sharp at further distances but it'll have a wider spread.

Trying to visualise your set up I'd say it'll be too busy imho.

Clients are savvy these days, particularly wedding a corporate and they want a DJ set up that is tiday and nice to look at, remember, what we see from the booth out is completely different to what people see looking at us and each other on the dancefloor...

Besides, superfluous that adds load journeys or set up and tear down time is a waste.


really got to disagree not all clients want small and discrete, there is a time and a place for everything.

yes i do small and discreet like a lot of other people but i also do a large rig and anything in between, the difference is the large rig commands a much bigger fee.

the days of one disco fits all have long gone, you have to be flexible and tailor things accordingly.

[ukpartydj]

Might just be me but I think for a BIG rig you should only use single beam lighting - Scanners, moving heads etc along with par can type effects and lasers.
With maybe one room filling light (or a mirror ball).

This is a good example ... although they have quite a lot of scanners which is almost messy - http://www.mobilediscos.info/platinum.php

Lasers look good as well ... but obviously they need the smoke which 4/5 times you can't use :(

[Excalibur]

really got to disagree not all clients want small and discreet,
And for everything else, there's Mastercard. Oops, slip of the keyboard, I meant Mobile DJ Cumbria.


yes i do small and discreet like a lot of other people but i also do a large rig and anything in between, the difference is the large rig commands a much bigger fee.
And a far more robust power supply. ;) And ladders. And heavy lifting gear. :D


the days of one disco fits all have long gone, you have to be flexible and tailor things accordingly.

In absolute seriousness, a fact which seems to escape some. :(

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Might just be me but I think for a BIG rig you should only use single beam lighting - Scanners, moving heads etc along with par can type effects and lasers.


Apart from the lasers, I agree.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

the days of one disco fits all have long gone, you have to be flexible and tailor things accordingly.

See, I would almost agree with that, but...I do a local venue, holds up to 120 in 2 small rooms and I use 2 x Wizards, 2 x QSC K10s and 1 x RCF sub. I also do the Waldorf Hilton which holds up to 400 seated and I use...well, the same with an additional sub and it is loud enough and the Wizards cover where they need to.

[Javlingames]

The Waldorf rarely give you a big stage to work on, not when I do it anyway. I only use 2 nexo ps15s and a nexo sub with 2 quadzillas on stands.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

The Waldorf rarely give you a big stage to work on, not when I do it anyway. I only use 2 nexo ps15s and a nexo sub with 2 quadzillas on stands.

You're missing the point...

The Wizards have enough coverage for both small and large venues regardless of space.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

the days of one disco fits all have long gone, you have to be flexible and tailor things accordingly.

I'm not disputing that but the fact is is that space is at a premium in a lot of venues and whilst some clients may still want a huge set up, I personally find that most of them are really impressed and sold on smaller, neater, more modern looking set ups and with technology being what it is these days both in sound and light - you can have a "big" rig that doesn't have 101 fixtures or take up much in the way of floorspace.

[Javlingames]

You're missing the point...

The Wizards have enough coverage for both small and large venues regardless of space.

I'm talking more about the stage not looking bare

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I'm talking more about the stage not looking bare

Fair enough, but even if you had a big space in there, putting loads of gear in would look out of place IMO.

[paulg]

Been there and done that....I used to fill a stage with kit - 3 x scanners, 2 x datamoons, 2 x vertical bars 2 x 4 bank led parcans, 3 x 2 m starcloth 1 x 2m deck cloth. Without doubt that used to be an advantage in some of the bigger WMC's in that it meant they would always book me. Trouble is, there is a disproportionate amont of work involved in transporting and setting up compared to the extra work and income. I'm convinced now that filling a stage is not entirely necessary. Filling the whole venue perhaps is more to the point and that's where ligting such as wizards come into their own. couple of wizards, a deckstand cloth, some stage back uplighters and a bit of smoke look fine to me. Add in couple of slow panning white moving heads and the stage is set. As has been said previously, that set up is good for big or small venues.

Personally, if I wanted to fill a stage, I'd look at projecting images - say from moving heads - to create the impression of width. It's too easy to make DJ'ing difficult.

[funkymook]

I think if you want a big impressive rig then taking a look at some of the Indian roadshows for inspiration is a good idea.

[Excalibur]

See, I would almost agree with that, but....
And I thought I agreed with you, but....................
You're not comparing apples with apples. You're trying to create exactly the same effect in both venues, style, subtle understatement, and an adequate amount of sound on the dancefloor, while offering a comfortable sound level at the back.

Now then, let's swap your 400 seated guests for the same amount of students in a huge marquee. Two wizards on sticks isn't the required look. Note I said look, not effect. Now we're talking scanners or moving heads, big LED washes or spots to give some light to the Stygian gloom at the back of the tent, and a couple of lasers at least. Add to this a stack of at least six cabs, for those who hear with their eyes ( and again, I don't dispute that the K10/RCF rig may easily be big enough, not for one second. ) They want to see a PA stack, not two ten inch cabs on tripods.

Horses for courses. While Darren's described rig is undoubtedly suitable for an extremely wide range of venues and functions, it's not suitable for ALL functions.


I'm not disputing that but the fact is is that space is at a premium in a lot of venues and whilst some clients may still want a huge set up, I personally find that most of them are really impressed and sold on smaller, neater, more modern looking set ups.
Good man, never say never. there are still clients who want the full nightclub experience, loads of lights, and sound. If you can't provide that, you can't target them as customers. Now whether you wish to is a whole different ballgame.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

Good man, never say never. there are still clients who want the full nightclub experience, loads of lights, and sound. If you can't provide that, you can't target them as customers. Now whether you wish to is a whole different ballgame.

Don't get me wrong, I can provide a clubby look using a reasonable amount of kit but I have had numerous brides in the past few months ask if I can scale down the lighting (some don't want it at all!!!) and none asking if can go all Ibiza on them.

[Excalibur]

Don't get me wrong, I can provide a clubby look using a reasonable amount of kit but I have had numerous brides.

When did I ever specify Brides wanting the full nightclub experience? :confused: Other functions are available, you know. I did in fact give the scenario of 400 students in a marquee as a case where a really large rig would be the most suitable option. Horses for courses.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

When did I ever specify Brides wanting the full nightclub experience? :confused: Other functions are available, you know. I did in fact give the scenario of 400 students in a marquee as a case where a really large rig would be the most suitable option. Horses for courses.

All of my current bookings are weddings so that's where I'm coming but if I was to do a gig like the one above, I could do it with my light rig which is smaller than what the OP has proposed, easier to set up and more cost effective for me to gig with than something that takes half an hour to load in and 90 minutes to rig... and I get compliments on how "amazing" my light show is on a fairly regular basis so it's obviously big enough to impress your average crowd.

I'd be more looking at upping the sound side of things for a gig like that. Just my own opinion. I love lights too but after nigh on 20 years of spending a fortune on generally OTT guitar and drum gear, I'm a bit more sensible when I get the GAS for a new sparkly fixture.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Horses for courses. While Darren's described rig is undoubtedly suitable for an extremely wide range of venues and functions, it's not suitable for ALL functions.




It is suitable for all the functions that I do in my market, hence my comments.

Not all student balls want stacks of speakers and miles of truss and moving heads. That is your perception of what they want.