new budget for lights

[groove on discos]

hi im going to get a double derby 2 acme exercets a goal-post t-bar smoke mashine and thats it and for £250 i hope my psp,ps2 and games will get me the cash :s please give advice to go for something different :)

[A1DL]

please give advice to go for something different :)

go for something different :D :D :D

[groove on discos]

what should i get then ????:confused: :confused: :confused:

[A1DL]

on a serious note, that little lot doesn't look too bad for the money :)

[groove on discos]

thanks :p im getting more lights when i make money from discoing

[mr rusty]

Rather than just a goal post, how about a 4' stand/goalpost. The giraffe one is about £80ish.

The exercets are only 100W. Don't know them, but you might be better off getting a single datamoon. The datamoon is 250W and is a good floor filler effect.

The double derby is a good central effect with lots of light.

Think whether you really need the smoke machine. Lots of places don't like them. We are thinking about getting a haze machine rather than smoke, but think you have to spend a fair bit to get a good reliable one.

Another option might be this (http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=ssc-2&source=15&SD=Y)
on offer at the moment. We have two and they are a bright scanner. Combined with a datamoon you would have a good start.

[groove on discos]

ok well i might get one of these (http://www.discostudio.co.uk/item.php?upn=1028) and mabe 2 of these (http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=97831&doy=16m11)

[mr rusty]

I'd still try and get the double derby as they produce a lot of light for the ££. 1 x datamoon type + 2 x scanners isn't quite enough IMO. Watch the rating on double derbies - there are lots of different ones. Ours is 2 x 150W and plenty bright enough. Think you may be better with 1 scanner and 1 DDerby if cash is tight.

this (http://www.bluearan.co.uk/menu/index.php?id=SHO30902&seeimage=YES)
looks quite a good deal. I'd avoid the "buy it now" ebay ones.

click here (http://www.rotodisco.co.uk/lights.jpg) and you can see the DD chucks out some good beams even with the lights up for speeches! the red light on the LHS is a datamoon. Smoke is from cake sparklers!

[rob1963]

The exercets are only 100W. Don't know them, but you might be better off getting a single datamoon. The datamoon is 250W and is a good floor filler effect.

They may only be 100W, but they are great effects for the money.

You could get 2 Exercets and have some change for the same price as ONE datamoon.

I know which I'd rather have!

[djsteve10]

Maybe why don't you save an extra £100 and get a set of 4 Prolight Dynamos with a T-Bar tripod?

Nice light show and it will last you... look at it this way you aint messing around with all different lighting effects then... you have a show.

Maybe not look at brand new look on ebay and see what the second hand ones are going for.

Hope this helps..

[mr rusty]

They may only be 100W, but they are great effects for the money.


Sounds like good advice to me. As I said, I don't know them. I guess most people recommend what they know, that's why you get so many different answers!!!

[Have a disco]

No real point in buying extra lighting till after new year when everyone has there sales of excess stocks or disco's sell up where you could pick up some great bargains mate via ebay of course

In general you would have your money too invest on better equipment as well for the next year as well

I can only suggest Chauvet and Acme as well as PSL for reliable lighting as these I have sttod by for years and years

avoid abstract MK4's though as they go through bulbs like nothing on earth but this only applies to early models LOL.

I would suggest thinking of LED lighting coming up like Dynarocks scanners and barrels they are cheap and the future of lighting in many ways or even some Zoom mood bars or led lightboxes but woah betide me mention lightboxes LOL

[Danieleastwood.com]

If I may, and I know your budget is tight, I would suggest a pair of Martin Mania EFX's (any model from 1 - 3i).

If buying new, you would only get two for your money, But I know Ebay has some brilliant offers pop up from time to time, on the used ones. Ive seen units go for about 50-60 squids.

Besides budget being your limiting factor, I would tell you they are also quite heavy and two of them would upset a cheaper tripod stand like a maplins £35 jobber and the brackets on them are also quite long!. Thats good if you want to stand them on floors or speakers, but if hanging them, you need to get your stand up 6 inches more to get them out of your face.

Bad points over and now to list some good points from My opinion.

1) The effect from them is very, very colourfull. please have a look at my web gallery at the picture of 4 of them in action. (yes I know theres four there, but you'll get an idea of two)

2) I've had mine for about 2 years, and I have still not flightcased them. They are out every weekend and due to their casing being silver/bronse-ish) any superficial scratches they obtain along the way, aren't any where near as noticable as that on an effect thats powdercoat black.

3) Touch wood, in two years, I havent even replaced a lamp. (admitedly they do get serviced every 6 months, by that I mean, blown out with an air gun and alcohol wipe on all lenses)

4) It might be a snobbish thing to say, and i'll probably get a little slated for it. But you can say you got Martin Lighting. lol

Hope this gives you some more idea on what you might get, and good luck with the DJ-ing.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

If I may, and I know your budget is tight, I would suggest a pair of Martin Mania EFX's (any model from 1 - 3i).



I think you're getting models confused here. The cheapest EFX is the EFX500 and that retails at around £350.

[djsteve10]

If I may, and I know your budget is tight, I would suggest a pair of Martin Mania EFX's (any model from 1 - 3i).

If buying new, you would only get two for your money, But I know Ebay has some brilliant offers pop up from time to time, on the used ones. Ive seen units go for about 50-60 squids.

Besides budget being your limiting factor, I would tell you they are also quite heavy and two of them would upset a cheaper tripod stand like a maplins £35 jobber and the brackets on them are also quite long!. Thats good if you want to stand them on floors or speakers, but if hanging them, you need to get your stand up 6 inches more to get them out of your face.

Bad points over and now to list some good points from My opinion.

1) The effect from them is very, very colourfull. please have a look at my web gallery at the picture of 4 of them in action. (yes I know theres four there, but you'll get an idea of two)

2) I've had mine for about 2 years, and I have still not flightcased them. They are out every weekend and due to their casing being silver/bronse-ish) any superficial scratches they obtain along the way, aren't any where near as noticable as that on an effect thats powdercoat black.

3) Touch wood, in two years, I havent even replaced a lamp. (admitedly they do get serviced every 6 months, by that I mean, blown out with an air gun and alcohol wipe on all lenses)

4) It might be a snobbish thing to say, and i'll probably get a little slated for it. But you can say you got Martin Lighting. lol

Hope this gives you some more idea on what you might get, and good luck with the DJ-ing.


Had a look on your website... don't you mean 4 SCX500 or 600 scanners? I Can't see any EFX on there at all matey

[Danieleastwood.com]

No, The little mania's

Sorry, added and 'X'

The EF'3. There little moons.

My Bad, Sorry....

[Danieleastwood.com]

I feel silly now. lol

[djsteve10]

lol i thought so.... was going to say 4 EFX500 would be abit much lol

[Danieleastwood.com]

I'm such a pleb sometimes.

Anyway, Good luck with the search for some lighting lil' buddie! There are, as you know, Plenty of highly experienced bods in here that'll give you good and bad points of most of the kit you'll ever buy.

[Shaun]

I feel silly now. lol


I'm such a pleb sometimes.


Don't worry about it. I wish I had a quid for everytime I've put my foot in it here on the forum. :)

[Dragonfly]

dont worry thats a minor mistake compared to the blunders i usually make mate :D :D

[groove on discos]

i dont know if to get 2 martin mania ef1's for £200 or get 2 scanners and a double derby for £210 help!!!:confused:

[Dragonfly]

i personally would go for the 3 lights .

[groove on discos]

thanks ill get that then :p and also do you think £30 for my first disco after 1month of hard training is too much or too little (this is for a youth club)

[Jiggles]

most would say too little :D but its a start

[ross@rds]

Too little i would say £70 at least for a youth club but upto yourself.

[groove on discos]

thanks well we might make price £40 and then go up :p

[djsteve10]

Just charge on what you think you can provide.
I don't think most youth clubs will pay £70 tho ross.

[Tom]

I do a local youth club just around the corner. They sure cant afford to pay £70. I do it or free as it gives me more experiance with the young kids plus i get to advertise myself a bit more. So really i am getting somthing out of it in the end, just not money.

[djsteve10]

I do a local youth club just around the corner. They sure cant afford to pay £70. I do it or free as it gives me more experiance with the young kids plus i get to advertise myself a bit more. So really i am getting somthing out of it in the end, just not money.

exactly mate.. most youth clubs can't afford to pay money out... most of them don't even make money anyway.

In my opinion why not go for 2 martin EF1's then and a tripod as they are going to last you a long time 11yrolddisco.

Martin Mania gear is some of the leading stuff out on the market at the moment. Well worth the investment if you ask me!

[Dragonfly]

martin sure is a good make indeed but 2 effects isnt much of a light show and its all samey samey nothing different in there with the 3 you have a centrepiece mushroom which chuck out a bit of light and the scanners which i would master slave to create a bit of class on a budget ....

plus..

once he has some gigs rolling in he will want to upgrade the kit anyway so id say probably only keep the lights a year anyway??? i did several youth clubs when i started at 80 quid a night.....

most will be able to afford that sort of price as most charge entry.

[djsteve10]

Most night clubs around here wouldnt pay that i tell you lol... anyways i did also suggest 4 dynamos t hat would be a nice starting light show if he could get them cheap enough from ebay or somewhere

[Dragonfly]

yep dynamos are a good light indeed but id still go with the variation of the 2 different types personally ..... most night clubs would be dj only walkin jobs hence the price they like to pay. for humping your gear in its upto you what you charge but 40 quid is selling yourself very very short.

remember these places

charge to get in
sell drinks , crisps , sweets to the kids etc ,

so pleading poverty is a bit of a non starter unless the youth club is for about 10 kids which from experience is not the case.

[Danieleastwood.com]

True, I agree, with the samey samey thing, But on such a budget, I'm presuming a smoke machine wont come into it. (including venue restrictions on smoke)

IMO, I just feel that scanning effects are lost in a non hazed room. I really do think pretty gobos and 'room filling' effects would be a good starting point. as their visual impact is far less reliant on fogging.

[djsteve10]

woops my bad there... i meant youth clubs not night clubs lol

[pulsemobiledisco]

True, I agree, with the samey samey thing, But on such a budget, I'm presuming a smoke machine wont come into it. (including venue restrictions on smoke)

IMO, I just feel that scanning effects are lost in a non hazed room. I really do think pretty gobos and 'room filling' effects would be a good starting point. as their visual impact is far less reliant on fogging.

:agree:
I would not recomend scanners for a starter light show. Scanners are good, but only look good with smoke/haze. Also, you really need to use other lights with them. They don't give you much fill. I would forget scanners until you have more money.

I would get two exercets or njd chaos, (the chaos is probably the better light as it is 250W) and the dual drerby or a dual mushroom as a centre peice. This would give a nice starter light show with plenty of fill, then once you have more money add some scanners if you really want them.

Sam

[groove on discos]

i was thinking of getting 2 abstract twister 2's (http://www.soundlightuk.com/Abstract/Twister2mk2.htm) and if i get them ill have £90 left to spend on more lights...more advice please:confused: :confused:

[djsteve10]

Not much good there really matey... DFB don't stock that item anymore.

Anyways good luck with light hunting.

[groove on discos]

oh...ok well could you advise me and give me links for lights please :( :confused:

[Danieleastwood.com]

With the majority of OLD abstract stuff, you gotta be a bit like a classic car enthusiast. Ie, should they go wrong, you have one of two choices... A hefty Bill from a mechanic (disco shop), or A long search on Ebay for the parts required. That Said, to see these fixtures still in use, Is testament to how good a fixture they are. They do seem to be bomb proof!!!

I must also say 'IMO' that their sound to light response is brilliant, They dance very well to any beat they listen too!

As they aren't really supported by their parents anymore, these fixtures although still a very good light, could pose you issues if you are unfortunate to buy a bum pair.

when you find a pair, be sure to check and double check their condition. Ideally taking an XLR cable with you to also check their DMX chips by seeing if they synk up when joined toether.

Hope this helps.

[Dragonfly]

personally wouldnt touch second hand abstract or martin stuff with a very large pole !!! having had problems with both ....,. if people are selling them its for a reason and with abstract and martin ...... its not to upgrade...

[Tom]

have a look on here. this might help


http://www.djkit.co.uk/category.php?id=306