Do punters ever complain about the lights

[scoopd]

Just curious-Have you ever had a punter complain about your lights over,say the sound quality/volume?
Seems to me that sound is key.I've seen some pretty shady lighting systems over the piece but never seen anybody complain to the dj-Yes/No?

[Danno13]

Only once, was told not to point the light at a certain place as there was a guy with epilepsy, wasn't even strobing either, just an EVL spin.. errm.. spinning.

[Creature]

when i used to use several top lights used to get complaints about too bright - so now only use 2 or 4 - problem solved

had one accuse me of useing strobe lighting - i said show me and they couldnt find one but said i must be using ine as lights afecting there mate :(:( turned out to be some old fals with the big bulbed screw in lights

[Paul James Promotions]

Just curious-Have you ever had a punter complain about your lights over,say the sound quality/volume?

Never had complaints about lighting.

[BeerFunk]

Used to get complaints in small pubs where it is impossible not to have your lights pointing in the direction of seated people. Never had a complaint since I ditched pubs ;)

[Steve 'B']

I had a women once come up and say 'they are very bright and my friend has epilepsy......could you turn them off please?' what the bloody hell did her friend expect when coming to a party?? A DJ with no lights!!

[Corabar Steve]

Only problem I've ever had was at a kids christmas party..............


" Can you turn the lights off? they're scaring one of the little ones"

[Dragonfly]

yep ..... the old people who are seemingly invited to all my gigs that sit at the pre reserved table right at the front next to the 400w speaker do sometimes complain about my wembley floodlight dynamos.

and i once had a girl as if i could please stop all my lights flashing as her friend was epileptic. steve b glad its not just me lol

[magicfm]

Had this eejit who had a choice of 100 seats but decided to sit in the only seat beside dancefloor that was being affected by the light beams. He spent the first five minutes with his hand over his eyes while cursing and then came up to me in a very irate mood:mad: .

I pointed out that he was sitting in the only seat that was getting hit by the light beams and all he had to do was move seats. Duhhhh

People just love to moan and If they are nasty I simply refuse to adjust the lights.

(_8())

[ross@rds]

Yeah you get the old ones sittin next to your sound system then if its too loud they think you will turn it down just for them away and **** lol.

Ones had this 4-5 times off the same old guy so i said ok i wil turn it down just for you mate hold on one sec................... volume up a bit lol he soon moved seat's. hahaha :)

[DMX Will]

We managed to top the "sitting next to speakers" on saturday, I had a group of about 6 standing next to the speaker trying to talk.

Classic.

[leighinstoke]

Never had complaints about the lights.

Had one old dear nearly pull me from the stage once asking to turn it down - though I rarely comply....or turn down for a track or two until it goes back up.

Leigh.....

[Ricesnaps]

No one ever seems to complain that you don't have dmx lighting, or you don't have good enough gobo's or that you have Acme lighting and not Martin.

Odd that!

[BeerFunk]

No one ever seems to complain that you don't have dmx lighting, or you don't have good enough gobo's or that you have Acme lighting and not Martin.

Odd that!
No, but they will either consciously or sub-consciously differentiate between great and average light shows! :p

[leighinstoke]

No one ever seems to complain that you don't have dmx lighting, or you don't have good enough gobo's or that you have Acme lighting and not Martin.

Odd that!

Punters ain't interested what you bring lighting wise as long as there is some form of lighting. Most would dance without any lighting as long as the music is right.

[Ricesnaps]

No, but they will either consciously or sub-consciously differentiate between great and average light shows! :p
Absolutely not - your average client or guest won't give a stuff about your lighting.

This man had the right idea...



Punters ain't interested what you bring lighting wise as long as there is some form of lighting. Most would dance without any lighting as long as the music is right.

The sooner we realise that the better our business will be!:D

[Ricesnaps]

Punters ain't interested what you bring lighting wise as long as there is some form of lighting. Most would dance without any lighting as long as the music is right.
Mmmm, just visited your web site and our work firewall thing blocked on of your pages saying "porn detected" - most odd!

However, based on your comments, wondered why you have an "equipment" page on your site? Be brave and get rid - honestly, the clients couldn't care less - they would be much more interested in more "music" information or maybe some photo's?

[Danno13]

I kind of agree with BeerFunk.. yes, people will still dance if you're playing the right stuff regardless of the lighting.

But... imagine a guest goes to two parties in a week. One has S2L effects spinning all over the place, and the other has a synchronised DMX show....imagine both DJs play the right stuff and get everyone dancing.

I do think the punter would notice the better quality rig and would be more likely to book them for their own party.

By the way it don't think they'd know the difference between say Acme and Martin, as long as both shows are synchronised and look smart.

The better brands are going to be more reliable from a DJ's point of view, and they'll have better colours and features so there's less of a boredom factor. But remember, we see these lights every weekend, most guests only go to a disco 2-3 times in a year.

[Dragonfly]

ok you can have judge jules with an amp 2 decks a mixer his music and 4 speakers for your 18th sonny or joe smith who has a lightshow the size of wembleys football pitch but is 15 and been djing for 2 weeks....... which would you like? seriously i do know guys who go out for 300 plus a night with 2 lights and yes they are busy.

ive recently cut down my show lightwise and am finding im getting more money?? and more enquiries at gigs.

[leighinstoke]

Mmmm, just visited your web site and our work firewall thing blocked on of your pages saying "porn detected" - most odd!


I dunno why - there's none there!



However, based on your comments, wondered why you have an "equipment" page on your site? Be brave and get rid - honestly, the clients couldn't care less - they would be much more interested in more "music" information or maybe some photo's?

Did you actually read the page? It simply says "we feel that our clients prefer to know 'how much' equipment they will be getting rather than what - and also at what cost." - but I do admit it needs an update and some photos - I'm usually too busy setting up and getting on with the gig to remember to take photos or forget my digi camera!

Leigh.....

[Ricesnaps]

But... imagine a guest goes to two parties in a week. One has S2L effects spinning all over the place, and the other has a synchronised DMX show....imagine both DJs play the right stuff and get everyone dancing.

I do think the punter would notice the better quality rig and would be more likely to book them for their own party.

Honestly????

The guest would book the DJ they liked the best.

The only person at a gig who will be influenced by a nice light show is another DJ.

By all means have a great tidy well run light show, but always remember that you are doing it for you and not your client! Once you get that mindset sorted, things can only get better!


Did you actually read the page? It simply says "we feel that our clients prefer to know 'how much' equipment they will be getting rather than what - and also at what cost." - but I do admit it needs an update and some photos - I'm usually too busy setting up and getting on with the gig to remember to take photos or forget my digi camera!
I certianly did read the page and would still say, why is it there? If you believe that selling your show is NOT about the equipment, then there is no need to make a reference to it in that way. By all mean include referemce to it in general statements:

"We only use profesional equipment built to do the job..."
"Smart and neat"
"Tested for safety"

I would suggest that having an equipment page is a last hold on the usual way of doing things. Just let go!

By the way, a few good pics don't take long - especially if you have a roadie to keep the tunes flowing. In my experience, these should be of people having fun. When a client wants to book a disco they have never seen, they want to know you can entertain - so a picture of your show is great, but tells them nothing (I think I'll get my coat, I have a feeling that my home page picture is of my show!).

[BeerFunk]

Rice, I agree to a certain extent, but you seem to think lighting is irrelevent. Believe me, it isn't. People do not care about DMX/gobos etc etc, but they do know what looks good and what looks average.

[soundtracker]

DJs don't ,or they wouldn't use rope lights,fuzz lights and light screens!:D

[Ricesnaps]

Rice, I agree to a certain extent, but you seem to think lighting is irrelevent. Believe me, it isn't. People do not care about DMX/gobos etc etc, but they do know what looks good and what looks average.
This is an argument which will never really be answered. To be stubourn, I absolutely stand by my statements. In fact, if you look at Dj's, particularly wedding DJ's in the USA, most of them don't even use lights, or charge more to bring them.

I would be bold enough to say that 90% of the general public booking disco's couldn't give a stuff if you have a rope light and a blue police light as long as the sound and DJ are top quality.

Unfortunately the whole "got to have a good looking light show" is very much a DJ to DJ thing and not a client thing. It's very very difficult to get yourself out of that mindset and walk away from it. That's why I also suggested that the reason I have nice lighting is for ME, not my clients. I LOVE the technology, the lasers, the gobo's and I keep spending on nice gear, but I known now that I am only doing that to feed my own obsesion

[Danno13]

Honestly????

The guest would book the DJ they liked the best.

I said in my post that both DJs were just as good.. imagine they're the same person if you like.

I agree that customers don't care as much as us DJs do... but like i say put two identical DJs alongside, one with naff lighting and the other with a decent show. Which one do you think the client would book?

[lightspeed]

Hasn't happened to me yet, but It infuriates me just reading about people saying turn this or that light off as someone has epilepsy. Why the f*** would you come to a disco!?!? DISCO = FLASHING LIGHTS. Even the naiveity of people who dont allow strobes due to people being epileptic, epilepsy is triggered by most forms of flashing lights, not just strobes! :bang: :bang: :mad: :mad:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Hasn't happened to me yet, but It infuriates me just reading about people saying turn this or that light off as someone has epilepsy. Why the f*** would you come to a disco!?!? DISCO = FLASHING LIGHTS. Even the naiveity of people who dont allow strobes due to people being epileptic, epilepsy is triggered by most forms of flashing lights, not just strobes! :bang: :bang: :mad: :mad:

So, anyone who has epilepsy is not allowed to go to a pub, function or wedding if they have a disco with flashing lights?

I think that's a very narrow minded thing to post.

I'm not sure that your statement about flashing lights and epilepsy is true - have you read up about this?

I suggest you read here. http://www.epilepsynse.org.uk/pages/info/leaflets/photo.cfm

Read the figures.

[Dragonfly]

i have a tried and tested light show that i take out if a client tells me they have worries about epilepsy comes from working in a special school for a number of years where all but one of the students had it.

[soundlad]

Just curious-Have you ever had a punter complain about your lights over,say the sound quality/volume?
Seems to me that sound is key.I've seen some pretty shady lighting systems over the piece but never seen anybody complain to the dj-Yes/No?

A women a couple of weeks ago came upto me and said can you turn all the lights off because i don't like dancing with bright lights:eek: :eek: Well don't bl**dy dance then!:mad:

[TonyB]

Hasn't happened to me yet, but It infuriates me just reading about people saying turn this or that light off as someone has epilepsy. Why the f*** would you come to a disco!?!? DISCO = FLASHING LIGHTS. Even the naiveity of people who dont allow strobes due to people being epileptic, epilepsy is triggered by most forms of flashing lights, not just strobes

Afraid I disagree with that! That is just your perception of what a disco is. Some of the younger age group might like flashing lights but I do a lot of disco's for the 16 to 18 year old age group and they prefer it to be virtually dark. Older people don't like flashing lights either.

As Ricesnaps said, you need to think outside the box and not do what you think is best as regarding lighting but do what the client wants and if you ask them, a lot do not want bright flashing lights.

Rope lights and light screens are a good way to provide some effect lighting without being overpowering. Some people still like them but it seems some DJ's don't but what is more important - what you want as a DJ or what the client wants?

The only complaints I have had about lighting is the use of UV lights. Lots of women hate them and find them embarrassing but some DJ's still insist on using them.

Also remember that a lot of people are not "going to a disco". They are attending a wedding, party or similar where the DJ is supplying entertainment. Why should the guests be put out by what the DJ does?

There are some functions where a good light display is required and the client wants a "club like" atmosphere but for the majority of functions, less is more.

[Corabar Entertainment]

That's my philosophy anyway... and it sounds like a good one :D

[Corabar Steve]

epilepsy is triggered by most forms of flashing lights, not just strobes! :bang: :bang: :mad: :mad:

WRONG! I suggest you read up on the subject a little, I have known several Photo sensitive epileptics & they (without exception) have had no problems going to discos / clubs with flashing lights & in one case strobes ( the strobe in question was obviously set to a rate that didn't affect them)

[Dragonfly]

to be honest ive never used a strobe??

[Ricesnaps]

I said in my post that both DJs were just as good.. imagine they're the same person if you like.

I agree that customers don't care as much as us DJs do... but like i say put two identical DJs alongside, one with naff lighting and the other with a decent show. Which one do you think the client would book?
I don't think you're thinking about this in the right way - you have to imagineyou are the client, not the DJ.

Very sorry to tell you, but in a hypothetical situation like that one, I don't think the potential customer would be that bothered which one they booked. The fact that one had better lights actually won't make any difference in most cases I'm afraid.

However generally in this world it is highly unlikely you will find two DJ's who are absolutely the same - where there is no difference in quality of entertainment, it is more likely that the client will pick the one she liked best - maybe a better personality, or friendlier and so on.... I doubt the lights even get a thought!

[Dragonfly]

theyd book the cheapest lolol joking i have to agree with rice having been on both sides of this argument ........ used to be ill take out a huge rig and people will be impressed hugely hugely wrong. i have recently cut down on lighting and tweaked a few other bits of what i do and am now getting more enquiries (particularly at gigs) than ever one guy about a month ago came up at the end and said to me "been really impressed with what youve done tonight played something for everyone and handled the wedding with great respect and dignity im getting married next year and would like to book you ...... how much do you charge about £600 a night ! :eek: :eek: :eek: that night i had a 6ft truss 4 dynamos 2 ishows and 2 im5s.

unless its absolutely dyer ie 2 fisher price torches lighting is totally irellevent ... now i really do believe that .

and today ive had a couple call me back who 2 weeks ago i told i was on holiday on the date they wanted i always say to people ive got x free or x free comes from working in a shop where we always had to offer an alternative (i did the brides brothers wedding in july this year) with same rig as above minus the im5s as theyre new they have seriously moved their wedding day to 2 weeks later so i can do the disco.

i nearly passed out when she said surely thats a bit ott???

[super-hero]

If you think people don't care what lighting you use, then I think you are mistaken. If you do someone's wedding with just a rope light and blue flashing police light, they might not say anything to you on the night, but they will talk about it to each other.

The lighting can add that extra something to an event, and it's important to get it right. People don't like lighting that's too bright, makes them feel self concious when dancing. All my scanners are 100 watt versions, which gives enough brightness to do the job, but does not blind everyone.

Also the right lighting for the right event. I did an 18th birthday where they wanted loads of smoke, uv and strobes. Now I new this was not what would be wanted when I did a 40th wedding anniversary the following week.

If lighting was not important, they would not dim the house lights when the disco starts.

[scoopd]

I'm not saying that all I'm saying is "do they ever complain" surely a good DJ with a decent sound/song collection is worth 100 lights anyone agree???

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

If you think people don't care what lighting you use, then I think you are mistaken.

In your opinion.

The lighting can add that extra something to an event, and it's important to get it right. People don't like lighting that's too bright, makes them feel self concious when dancing. All my scanners are 100 watt versions, which gives enough brightness to do the job, but does not blind everyone.

Even in a massive venue?


Also the right lighting for the right event. I did an 18th birthday where they wanted loads of smoke, uv and strobes. Now I new this was not what would be wanted when I did a 40th wedding anniversary the following week.

I think most DJs on here would know that.


If lighting was not important, they would not dim the house lights when the disco starts.

Well, they didn't last night and I used 2 Twister 4s and a Martin EFX500 and I didn't even switch the T4s on. Fantastic night, full floor and £40 tip.

Do you think they were worried about lighting?

[reemicks disco]

I'm not saying that all I'm saying is "do they ever complain" surely a good DJ with a decent sound/song collection is worth 100 lights anyone agree???

Yep would agree with that 100%, we did a wedding were the hotel manager tripped our amp, and cut off the chocolate fountains, by bad electrics in a marquee so we could only run two lights, i explained to the bride and groom, they were fine as long as they had music, and this was not a cheap hotel, and the marquee is up all the year round, but the electrics were terrible, we had to run extension leads every were, and the manager wanted me to put my suit jacket over the leads for health and saftey reasons, but we were the only ones near them, will not be going back there, we do not use DMX lighting and had no complaints, as long as people are having a good time thats all that matters.

[BeerFunk]

In your opinion.
If you think people don't care what lighting you use, then I think you are mistaken.
He did say that, to be fair! :)

I think you'll find some people will appreciate better lighting, and some won't. I hate to generalise, but I think older guests care less about lighting than younger dancers. I also find that people are more likely to dance if the lights are dimmed, as they are a bit self-conscious (until they are drunk, but then they might be driving etc)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

He did say that, to be fair! :)



It was just the way it came across, as in 'you are mistaken'. It sounded like he was brushing others opinions aside.

[Ricesnaps]

It was just the way it came across, as in 'you are mistaken'. It sounded like he was brushing others opinions aside.
Well I am being very very bold. Look at the other thread currently running on this subject. It's not my opinion, it is actually very clear that lighting is NOT a major concern to our clients. The problem is that we are all DJ's and it's important to us (and I include myself in that statement)

[super-hero]

Sorry if it sounded like I was brushing other peoples opinions asside, I did not mean it like that.

As regarde to me using the 100watt scanners in larger venues. I have other lights which are 250watts, twister 4's etc, I use these as you can control where they are pointing, and you can set them so they are not pointing into peoples eyes. Scanners are more difficult to predict where they will be pointing, due to them constantly moving, so I use the 100watt versions to reduce the chance of them annoying the guests that are seated near the dancefloor.

Again it's only my personal opinion but I think the gereral public does appreciate a good lightshow. I am not saying that I have a fantastic lightshow, but I have tried to improve on what I started with. This is surely a good thing for someone booking a disco.

The music is without doubt very important, but so is the whole package. You may be right in saying that we do it for ourselves and not the clients. But I don't think a good lightshow does anyone any harm.

[theoloyla]

Just read all the posts here and I have heard people complain about disco light shows - usually that they are too blindingly bright. People do like mood enhancing dim lights and occasionally a bit of excitement by something that scans or flashes but at the end of the day it is the music and dj that are most important. I have only ever run a small light show. I use a rope light and light screens and a low power scanner, mirror ball, oil wheel, spot banks (which I place at floor level) and a small UV and low powered strobe. To most dj's amazement I do not use any scaffolding or t-bars etc. All lighting is either free standing on speakers, stands or floor. When people are booking me they sometimes ask if I have a light show to which I reply yes a small one to create a bit of atmosphere but not a big blinding club style one. In the rare cases where they do want a big light show I can always get another dj to help me with extra kit (and usually if they want a big light sahow then they are going to want a mega watt sound system as well anyway). A lot of dj's round here are now using starcloths for the front of their shows. I think they are fine but I still think my screens and rope light look attractive.

[super-hero]

You are quite right, it's too easy to over do the lighting and make it all too bright. As someone said "less is sometimes more".

[Danno13]

But then its better to have too much than not enough.. you can always switch things off!

By the way, personally I aim for quality over quantity. My biggest rig only has 6 effect lights (plus 2 LED pars for a wash).. but they all link together and two are discharge so fill massive rooms easily.

Its not always about how many lights you have, but how they work together and put on an interesting show. Also, i've yet to have any one complain about the lights being too bright, people are usually too busy enjoying themselves.

[BeerFunk]

Can I just point out that when I made my point, I assumed that an average lighting show would be something like 1-3 twister effects. 6 decent lighting effects to me are well above average.

[Thames Valley Discos]

I honestly dont think clients care about the lights. Yes some may do, but very very few. Your average disco could be done with a couple of lights, and i,m sure no one would ever come up and complain. Its us, the dj,s that like all the lights, it puts on a show that we are proud of. Fact is, the client doesnt really care. IMO

[Corabar Entertainment]

Fact is, the client doesnt really care. IMOI agree... well, they may care that you have some, but so long as you do, that's about the height of it. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule and some WILL care, but mostly they don't notice so long as there are some coloured lights that move and flash a bit.