Are you a DJ or a Gaffer?

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I didn't want to hijack Jeff's thread in regard to up lighting.

So, DJ's play music and Gaffers or lighting technicians do lighting. When did DJs become gaffers?

When I did lights I had to add 45 minutes to an hour to my set up and strike time. I also had to add to the stress level if one light failed.

Finally, the lights sat for close to a year because nobody wanted them so I sold them and these days I just say I don't do lights but I know people that do.

My philosophy is that if they want lights with a music package then they should be able to afford to bring in a vendor that knows lights and let me concentrate on doing what I do well; music.

Why do we keep stressing ourselves out over lights?
 
Lighting was my first passion, when I started out in the biz. I then moved over into the sound and music part of all of it.

I love lighting and feel that it adds to the mood of any party, especially if done correctly. I was once just a guy who threw all the lights on a bar; the more the better! I had a heavy-arse 10' truss with pars, strobes, spin-n-pukes, etc...

But, since have learned that it doesn't take many; just a few of the right ones, utilized at the right moments to get the desired effect and look that I and my clients desire.

Lighting is standard in my packages. I even let my clients choose the package that they want. If they want everything, they get it all, same price. If they want something small and elegant, they get it, same price. I started using this strategy last year and it's been working out great. Yes, it's been a bit more work, but I'm loving the different looks I'm giving and my clients are happy that they don't have to make the decisions based off of some ala-carte pricing table.

And, now I'm into and offering uplighting. It's been well received in my area and I'm currently the only one offering it. I'm even getting jobs for just uplighting and they pay the same or more.
 
Putting 20 uplights in a venue...doesn't qualify someone to be classified as a lighting "designer"

A LD is someone who has a big boy lighting board..Avo, Hog, etc
And is doing very large shows with 50+ movers and such...

Some DJ's do have a great lighting show, No doubt about it.
But very few really make me say WOW! like at a big concert.

I thought Wedding jocks were "all about giving the client what THEY want on there big day"?? I want to provide everything that i can to my clients..

It keeps my competitors away. And thats how i like it.
 
I'm not a big fan of the "portable nightclub", but I would use some of these new lights like the Bliss and whatnot.

Here's the kicker though.....

I wouldn't charge anymore to use them. GASP!

If I have something to use, I use it.
 
I don't know if it's a regional thing but I have never done lights, have never been asked and the dance floor is always full. With this being said I owuld love to have lights at the weddings I do wiht the caveat that someone else set them up and breaj them down :)
 
I do think lights add to the show, and help people 'feel' the music. It gives them a visual to the tempo or mood of the songs.

I also think it's a must for most events now. Everyone is looking for that flashy, club like feel IMO.

I am not talking about weddings, just private gigs or school events.
 
rickryan.com said:
Because it pays twice as much, based on a day rate.
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IF one can get twice as much. There are DJs actually giving away lighting just to get the gig. Very Bad Idea and Precedent!
 
I offer basic lighting to enhance the mood but nothing real fancy or elegant. I will throw in a basic package for an event if they like. No biggie.

Don't use them for a whole season? Who cares! How much space do they *really* take in the garage?
 
A lot of it depends on the market. I DJed for several years with no more than a simple mirror ball and pinspot. And it was fine for the market I was in.

For my part I really don't care to be responsible for a lot of lighting effects. It takes too much time to load all that stuff in, set it up and run it. Then it's all gotta be taken down again and loaded out.

If a bride wants a lighting effect I'll get her a lighting effect. They're paying top dollar and I can get them a lighting effect. But the whole club look with a truss and all that, no way. :)
 
DJ Cam said:
I have always provided lighting. I always will provide lights.

I have done a few weddings without lights and people don't dance. It's a mental thing lights say hey it's time to dance.
Click to expand...

I use DJ lighting (on the dancefloor) I've done many weddings without lights & had success. It all depends on your DJ/entertainer skills.
 
I used to run the light boards for my friends bands when they were playing the bar circuit when I was in high school.

As a DJ, I have always included lighting to assist the music in creating atmosphere for my clientelle. I work in bars during the week and my wedding lightshow outdoes most of the bars I have worked in. My clients love what I offer and if they want a lightshow in a shoe box or no lighting at all, they probably don't want me to do their wedding. I don't know of ANY DJ's locally that dont' do some level of lighting and many have gotten into the uplighting fad as well. I drew the line with uplighting as I think it is far too time consuming for set up and tear down time. I would have to hire someone else to do that and I dont' want that headache. However, I also do two video screens (room permitting).

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Lights

Did you ever go see a great band with no lights? They can be the most
technically proficient musicians going,but lights just set them off so much better. Got to have something.
 
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