I can't believe there are actually discussions about this stuff - let alone the position and tone some people take with regards to it.
For a wedding in the middle of the day some people would sell them lights anyway in a venue with 3 walls of glass. In short, there are people who would sell something that has minimal or no effect on the asthetics of the room.
There are those who say that if you don't have $250,000 in lighting at your disposal you're not a lighting designer. Being a lighting designer has NOTHING to do with the equipment you use. In other words, it's not LED vs. traditional or movers vs. static or anythign else. It has everything to do with the quality of the work - in other words THE RESULTS.
There are those that would do it for 'nothing'. I never understood that. Rental companies typically get 10% of the cost for rental (sometimes more). Lighting companies get rental plus labor for setup/teardown/delivery/etc. I wouldn't offer to bake a cake for 'nothing' to get the job - and I don't give away lighting. Keep in mind, I'm not talking about a dancefloor light or two - I'm talking about pulling out a $1500 fixture and uplighting. The problem with the DJ industry already is that many of the people in our industry are so busy adding stuff and complaining they still aren't getting enough money they fail to follow the basic common business practices that would put them in a position to stop doing exactly that. My rates are 2-3x market average and one of the highest in my area. I charged more to do a simple party with lighting than many do for a wedding. Why would I opt to give away something to close the deal? Try learning to sell your services instead at a sustainable rate.
As for the whole $200/hour... that's another part of what's wrong with our industry. Services aren't normally provided for based on 'time'. They're based on results. I ask a company to run wiring - they provide a quite to complete the work. I ask a plumber about replumbing the house and I get a complete quote. The list goes on and on. I don't work by the hour. Just like a majority of the service professionals that I know.
Other talk about the photographer and how it would impact their photographs. ANY time I do lighting - and I mean ANY - I talk with the photographer AND videographer about it. I NEVER put lighting on the dance floor for spotlight dances. Any lighting I do use is on the ceiling or outside of the dancefloor. Just as I would want the photographer to let me know if they're going outside for sunset pictures, I let them know about things I do that could affect their ability to do their job. Being aware of the challenge and working with them makes all the difference in the world when it comes to ongoing referalls.
As for the 3 month return.... well, don't get me started on this mentality. It's what often leads DJ's to the mentality of 'hey' the equipment is paid for let's just include it because it's paid off. WRONG. That equipment will have to be replaced and maintained. If a replacement bulb is $500 for a projector and the projector was $1000 and you don't charge for it once the projector is paid off then you have to make up that $500 later. It's much harder to start charging for something when you normally give it away. Charge for it all the time - put the money away for replacement/maintenance and it's no longer an issue when that projector is dropped and you have to replace it.
I could go on and on about this....
But here's how I look at it....
I'm studying lighting, and working in theatre to get a better understanding of lighting effects, design and application. I'm doing lighting design on a small scale because my clients ask for it AND I CAN'T FIND SOMEONE TO REFER THEM TO. I'll do lighting as a part of my DJ company for about a year - and then create a new company to handle lighting that I can refer to. My DJ company is about entertainment. If I want lighting I should refer to a lighting company. If they want flowers I should refer them to a florist, etc.
The problem with DJ's taking on lighting and everything else is that something has to suffer in the process. And I don't know about you, but my clients deserve better.
Unless a photographer is deliberately trying to get the lighting effects to show up in the photo with a high ASA setting, open apeture or slow shutter, the flash will wipe out the effect (I am a bit of an amateur photographer.) so there is no need to worry. Personally, I would only ever use white light for the first dance as it is very classy.
I too use the Acrobat and have never had a complaint for the mirror ball effect from a photographer or Bride. I do explain ahead of time and most always mention it to my photographer.
