Lighting can make the difference!

Aug 16, 2012 by DJ_Lou

It’s always a plus to have some form of lighting to illuminate the dance floor and add atmosphere to the event.  There should be an unwritten rule that you don’t have to purchase the newest technology in lighting effects.  By analyzing and planning the overall system, you will be able to put together an impressive light show that will be useful in many situations, and won’t hurt your bottom line.

In today’s world, sites such as YouTube have been valuable sources in demonstrate lighting effects and can help you determine the effect that’s right for you.

Take into consideration that you will be performing at different locations with several different situations to consider.  The first thing to consider is power requirements.  A hotel ball room will provide different power accessibility than the location with restricted power supply.  Ceiling height and room schematics also should be considered when designing your lighting system.  Your new light show can often be the largest item to be set up and might need a significant amount of power, and can therefore be the most difficult to accommodate in a variety of venues.

Before buying that effect, consider this,

Will it fit in most venues?  Will it fit in my vehicle with my sound equipment? How much power will be required to run the entire setup?  What will my setup and tear down be like?  How much time will it add to my schedule?

Effects work best when elevated and positioned downwards to cover a wide area.  The most popular stands are a truss (horizontal metal material mounted on stands) and a T-bar (only one tripod is needed as the T-bar sits horizontally on the stand).

The T-bar is the quicker of the two to setup however doesn’t look quite as impressive as the trussing.  I have used both and have received many more positive comments on the trussing.  This impressive display looked great, but it did add more time to my setup and tear down.  Depending on the size of the venue, a T-bar might be your best solution to tight spaces and quicker load in times.  You can pre-rig the bar with your lights and simply attach the bar to the tripod.  Simple and easy!