Lighting

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I've got 2 Intimidator 350s, 4 Slimpar H6s, and 20ish freedom par uplights.

I find I get a lot more from programming my lights better than I ever have from changing gear. I think most people leave a lot on the table when it comes to not getting full potential from their lighting gear.
 
I've got 2 Intimidator 350s, 4 Slimpar H6s, and 20ish freedom par uplights.

I find I get a lot more from programming my lights better than I ever have from changing gear. I think most people leave a lot on the table when it comes to not getting full potential from their lighting gear.
Agreed. I haven't bought new fixtures in a few years. I'm mostly running Intimidator 250's, 150's, Venue Thinpar 64's (ran them for years, really good fixture), Chauvet Swarm 5 and the ADJ Vertigo. I also have various scanners (flat mirror, barrel mirror and parabolic mirror) and spin & pukes. Just seeing if anyone's moved to anything new.
 
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Anything recent on the market.
Gotcha! If we're talking lighting... then no. My lighting system in 2012 comprised of Elation Platinum Spot 5r moving heads (I have 6 of them), trussing, and wireless uplights (I bring 40 to an event... but typically use 32 or so). I think that "system" with moving heads and uplighting will be the standard in more upscale events for a long time. The key of course is programming. If you can program it then your lighting should always look good. The latest thing I'm seeing in terms of lighting are pixel bars. They haven't caught my interest yet though as they don't really have a true benefit to the client other than it just makes the setups a little prettier.

I know this falls out of the realm of lighting, but realistically the "new" that couples want is more in the effect realm than it is in the lighting category right now. Sparklers, dancing on clouds, snow effect, co2 blasts etc.
 
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My boss at the multi op has the Core 3x3.
You can pretty much use two, and call it a day.

View attachment 53011

There's a lot of really cool stuff you can do with SoundSwithc and a set of these. I haven't pulled the trigger yet, but I'd probably want to snag 4. Very cool fixtures.
 
There's a lot of really cool stuff you can do with SoundSwithc and a set of these. I haven't pulled the trigger yet, but I'd probably want to snag 4. Very cool fixtures.
He only uses two, and honestly that's more than enough to fill a very large room. He doesn't program anything, he just puts them on sound active. And it's still a great night show. Sometimes he adds two moving heads and it really makes the room dance.
 
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I remember the Core 3x3. Chauvet had them set up at the '13 DJ Expo. I think they incorporated them on the main stage at the show too if I remember correctly.
 
He only uses two, and honestly that's more than enough to fill a very large room. He doesn't program anything, he just puts them on sound active. And it's still a great night show. Sometimes he adds two moving heads and it really makes the room dance.

The 4 would really be about doing more elaborate patterns than more light. I actually back my dance floor lights down so they aren't so bright in people's eyes. They don't need to be on full blast to get a great effect.
 
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The 4 would really be about doing more elaborate patterns than more light. I actually back my dance floor lights down so they aren't so bright in people's eyes. They don't need to be on full blast to get a great effect.

I'm kinda thinking about 4 of these for my venue. What would you guys prefer:

1) Suspend these from the trusses, overhead to the dance floor.
2) Stack 2 of these, floor level, either side of the head table and pointing towards the dance floor.
 
The 4 would really be about doing more elaborate patterns than more light. I actually back my dance floor lights down so they aren't so bright in people's eyes. They don't need to be on full blast to get a great effect.
They are more of a wash, so patterns aren't really their thing. They just flooded the entire room with light
 
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I'm kinda thinking about 4 of these for my venue. What would you guys prefer:

1) Suspend these from the trusses, overhead to the dance floor.
2) Stack 2 of these, floor level, either side of the head table and pointing towards the dance floor.


Just curious, but Why do you want them to your venue? I feel like they won't earn you more money than just having some moving heads as your main effect.

If you do get them, I wouldn't do them floor level. Properly mount them high and point down towards the dance floor.
 
Just curious, but Why do you want them to your venue? I feel like they won't earn you more money than just having some moving heads as your main effect.

If you do get them, I wouldn't do them floor level. Properly mount them high and point down towards the dance floor.

Cause I'm always looking for something new (to spend money on). My uplighting and movers is effective, but I almost feel like there needs to be more light on the dance floor. Some heavy-hitting washes might look great.
 
That's why you can get, NEED to get $2000 to DJ an event.

Chicken or egg to some degree.

The cheap chinese batt uplight I bought, to have 40, would require $4000 investemnt.
How much for your moving heads?
And truss?

And labor cost to set up/tear down? Wedding venues here expect you out in 30-60 minutes. So labor cost?

As I said in the other thread, my prices are lower by a lot, my profit though, maybe not.

Gotcha! If we're talking lighting... then no. My lighting system in 2012 comprised of Elation Platinum Spot 5r moving heads (I have 6 of them), trussing, and wireless uplights (I bring 40 to an event... but typically use 32 or so). I think that "system" with moving heads and uplighting will be the standard in more upscale events for a long time. The key of course is programming. If you can program it then your lighting should always look good. The latest thing I'm seeing in terms of lighting are pixel bars. They haven't caught my interest yet though as they don't really have a true benefit to the client other than it just makes the setups a little prettier.

I know this falls out of the realm of lighting, but realistically the "new" that couples want is more in the effect realm than it is in the lighting category right now. Sparklers, dancing on clouds, snow effect, co2 blasts etc.
 
With your own venue you cna out do anyone - first, no moving/setting things up.
Second, everything is the same (physically) every wedding, AND you control the room setup/layout.

So you can easily do moving head spotlights to follow the b/g into the room, on the dance floor, etc.

Like one bar I played...OMG. THey had trussing built in a big X over the dance floor/center of the bar with all sorts of lights, massive speakers for the bands that would play there. $40k no doubt invested if not more.

No mobile DJ could compete.

Cause I'm always looking for something new (to spend money on). My uplighting and movers is effective, but I almost feel like there needs to be more light on the dance floor. Some heavy-hitting washes might look great.
 
That's why you can get, NEED to get $2000 to DJ an event.

Chicken or egg to some degree.

The cheap chinese batt uplight I bought, to have 40, would require $4000 investemnt.
How much for your moving heads?
And truss?

And labor cost to set up/tear down? Wedding venues here expect you out in 30-60 minutes. So labor cost?

As I said in the other thread, my prices are lower by a lot, my profit though, maybe not.
Well, it certainly was a risk, but I didn't start with what I have now. I started with something more basic such as 2 cheap $500 moving heads with 2 trusses and 8 wireless uplights... just to gauge the interest and up my appearance. I didn't really charge much for it, and practically included it, but I did raise my overall price to kind of balance the investment. This was MANY years ago, so an increase in price was from like $800 to $850 or $900. Once I saw how well the newer lighting and look was received vs my older scanner lighting on a tbar, it was an easy decision to invest in better.

In 2012 I made the big upgrades... I bought 40 uplights for around $8000 at the time, and Elation moving heads for $2000 each (4 to start), plus additional trussing... so about $16k. However by then I also had significantly raised my starting price to justify the investment... and lighting was now a la carte at $200 per 2 heads and $500 for uplighting.... Now I charge $450 for the first 2 heads and $800 for uplighting.

No additional labor costs needed... I always brought 1 assistant, and for any of my lighting productions (whether 2 heads only or 6 heads with uplighting), that 1 assistant and I is all that is needed to get out in 60 minutes. I require in my contract 1 hr minimum for breakdown or an additional assistant will be required at the clients expense. Never has happened.

So in my case, while I had a $16k investment... the event costs didn't increase. However, my revenues did directly as a result of this. For 2021 alone... my proceeds from lighting are as follows (I conservatively assume I gave each client a 25% discount on the lighting through as a result of bundled packaging)

- Uplighting - 21 events for a revenue of $12,600.
- 2 Moving Heads added at 25 Events for a revenue of around $8000
- 4 Moving Heads added at 10 Events for an estimated $1500

So this year alone, lighting brought me an extra $22,000... with no added expenses.

In 2019 for reference, which was my best year and did 70 events... 46 parties had uplighting, 38 parties had 2 moving heads, 24 parties had 4 Moving heads (I did more sweet 16's then than I do now). Even with lower pricing then for lighting... I can easily say that my $15k investment brought me a return of well over $30k.

The only expense has been the replacement of uplights over time (maybe 1/3 have been replaced) but they're cheaper now at under $150 each... so say $4000 there... and some bulbs for the moving heads... so say $500 for that.