Mover differences

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Proformance said:
A student just picked up a couple of those for a summer theater show. They're a lot of bang for the buck in that kind of low-budget setting; but theatrically the audience is not the target and the lighting instrument itself is not typically visible. This is an instance where the lighting is truly aimed at discreetly enhancing and framing the action on stage.

The thing that really stands out about most DJ lighting is that the fixtures are almost always in the wrong place. That owes largely to the DJs desire to give him/her self a larger than life presence, and to have the actual moving fixtures visible while doing their thing. You're right about the "light in the eyes" annoyance, but when the lighting completely surrounds the DJ rather than the dance floor it's obvious that lighting the floor was never the true intention. Much like the stage lights, the DJ is most interested in how he/she looks - not what the experience on the dance floor is.

Likewise, when you see bands performing at events - their own lighting is also aimed at themselves rather than the dancefloor. Moving heads may scan the whole room during these wedding and other mobiles events, but that's not really the way dance floor lighting is designed for club spaces. In that setting, the dance floor BECOMES the stage and that's where the lights are focused. Other areas in the club have their own unique lighting to match the respective uses of those spaces.

The thing to keep in mind with respect to DJ lighting is that what WE see from the booth - is very different from what the audience sees. When we present our light show as side-lighting it's only the DJ that gets the prime view - everyone else is viewing the dark side of the moon - the shadow side of people on the floor.
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I largely agree with you. I will regularly place wash style fixtures at opposite sides of the dance floor so that we get the space covered, and don't place them near the DJ booth at all like this:


It's creating ambiance but not adding to the attention directly around me. And that's how I'm most comfortable. I don't really want to be the center of attention at these events.

But I think a lot of young people are most familiar with DJs from a big name headliner or festival DJ sort of world. If you're used to seeing videos of Tomorrowland (crazy fire!) or EDC... you're used to seeing the DJ as a performer supported by a bunch of lighting and effects... your expectations of what you want is way different.

The sad part about these festivals is that the guests are no longer interacting with each other. They're just watching the performer, jumping a bit, and taking their own crappy iphone videos for no reason at all. But that same experience is how young people are now watching DJs.

I doubt I'll ever do another high school gig based on how they've trended and how much I dislike the experience. But the last one I did... the kids don't even dance with each other. They just jump and sing along to the hooks, and then stare at you.
 
Albatross said:
But that same experience is how young people are now watching DJs.

I doubt I'll ever do another high school gig based on how they've trended and how much I dislike the experience. But the last one I did... the kids don't even dance with each other. They just jump and sing along to the hooks, and then stare at you.
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I get that, and it's even got me rethinking doing anymore of those gigs (. . . and I'm typically someone who will take on just about anything!) The loss of dance energy is what really stands out - you can have every kid on the floor - but it is their phone that pre-occupies them, not the people right in front of them.

At weddings people are still better connected - but not with the social graces that used to be all-encompassing with respect to the music and dancefloor. The events are trending ever more narcissistic and it's not unusual now for the party to be the only real high point of the marriage.

"This DJ is so much better than the one I had at my 2nd marriage . . ."
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My concern is at a mobile gig how will you set the lighting up. Will you have someone to assist you or do you plan to DIY?
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
My concern is at a mobile gig how will you set the lighting up. Will you have someone to assist you or do you plan to DIY?
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Moving heads are not difficult to set up. Either way having an assistant is always recommended, but in no way necessary for moving heads to be set up. I can single handedly set up all my audio and at least 2 moving heads in less than an hour, as well as break it down in the same time span.
 
tunes4046 said:
I don’t understand this concern please explain
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I saw he said he wanted to use 7' trusting. I was wondering how difficult it would be to setup the truss? I don't know if he was talking about using the trusting that was single setup for each one on each side or a full truss that connects to each piece where the lights are hanging from the truss over head.

I have a light stand that I can put lights on. Not a full truss that goes all over the booth.
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
I saw he said he wanted to use 7' trusting. I was wondering how difficult it would be to setup the truss? I don't know if he was talking about using the trusting that was single setup for each one on each side or a full truss that connects to each piece where the lights are hanging from the truss over head.

I have a light stand that I can put lights on. Not a full truss that goes all over the booth.
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A 7ft truss tower is probably easier than your light stand
 
For movers, I generally use neither.
I attach them to the ceiling.

It's not "my setup" that is the look I'm trying to achieve. The light has a purpose, and that purpose does not include the light being part of "the look."
 
Proformance said:
For movers, I generally use neither.
I attach them to the ceiling.

It's not "my setup" that is the look I'm trying to achieve. The light has a purpose, and that purpose does not include the light being part of "the look."
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Not every venue has rigging points up top or ceilings that are over 9ft.
 
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djtaso said:
A 7ft truss tower is probably easier than your light stand
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I was thinking of his age being a factor in the setup. I believe he said he's 60. There are things I could do with ease when I first came back as a DJ. I'm 67. So I can't do somethings I used to do 20 years ago.
 
Proformance said:
For movers, I generally use neither.
I attach them to the ceiling.

It's not "my setup" that is the look I'm trying to achieve. The light has a purpose, and that purpose does not include the light being part of "the look."
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That’s because you are typically doing sound reinforcement and light rigging, which very different than a DJ who brings all of the gear and has a very limited set of time frame, nor does have the equipment accessible to reach high ceilings in many venues,
While what you do is certainly a commendable skill, it’s not what most of us do for our shows. Your knowledge would be much more valuable if you directed to the type of gigs most mobile DJs do
 
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tunes4046 said:
Another poor money choice from mix. SURPRISE!!
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You're correct because I didn't know what it would take to use it to get things done right. I just saw how it looked with others setup and I thought I could do the same.
 
djtaso said:
Not every venue has rigging points . . .
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Most do. Just got to know what to look for. Sailcloth tents don't have rigging points either, yet that doesn't stop me from tricking them out.

We really can't rely on the venue to solve the engineering for us. The standardized rigging points you are referring too only apply in arena or large conference center halls. Everything else comes down to knowing something about how the spaces are constructed, what is accessible, and proving we know what we are doing. Most DJs don't - which is why DJ insurance policies won't underwrite anything that's not squarely parked on the floor.

The minimum commercial ceiling height is 12Ft for any decent capacity room. Older ballrooms are 12' to the crown molding, 15' or more to the top of the coffer (if any). Newer spaces are 20 - 24ft

Small restaurant spaces may be less, but if it's an event space 9Ft would feel "icky" . . . like we're in someone's basement. :)
The ceiling is also not typically the highest point. A lot of function rooms have an additional 3 - 6 feet behind the ceiling.

tunes4046 said:
. . . than a DJ who brings all of the gear . . has a very limited set of time frame, nor does have the equipment

. . . would be much more valuable if you directed to the type of gigs most mobile DJs do
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For a site proclaiming to 'elevate the industry' why are there so many excuses? :)

If limiting the time or crew we put into staging an event is the priority, then of course the results will reflect the short order of the commitment.
 
Proformance said:
Most do. Just got to know what to look for. Sailcloth tents don't have rigging points either, yet that doesn't stop me from tricking them out.

We really can't rely on the venue to solve the engineering for us. The standardized rigging points you are referring too only apply in arena or large conference center halls. Everything else comes down to knowing something about how the spaces are constructed, what is accessible, and proving we know what we are doing. Most DJs don't - which is why DJ insurance policies won't underwrite anything that's not squarely parked on the floor.

The minimum commercial ceiling height is 12Ft for any decent capacity room. Older ballrooms are 12' to the crown molding, 15' or more to the top of the coffer (if any). Newer spaces are 20 - 24ft

Small restaurant spaces may be less, but if it's an event space 9Ft would feel "icky" . . . like we're in someone's basement. :)
The ceiling is also not typically the highest point. A lot of function rooms have an additional 3 - 6 feet behind the ceiling.


For a site proclaiming to 'elevate the industry' why are there so many excuses? :)

If limiting the time or crew we put into staging an event is the priority, then of course the results will reflect the short order of the commitment.
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Not so much excuses, it just seems you’re more used to hotel or conference style venues, as opposed to the typical wedding specific venues most mobile djs are associating their productions with. I’ve yet to see a single wedding here in NJ with rigging done from a ceiling at an actual venue. Not sure how you can rig to a sheet rocked ceiling that is flat all the way across the top outside of some decorative molding, without actually creating cosmetic issues that won’t be remedied in time for the next days event. And yes there are countless venues here with ceiling heights under 12’. So while one can discuss elevating the experience… we also have to take into consideration the parameters of which we’re working in… 2-3hr set up windows with 1hr breakdown windows… cieling heights often less than 12ft, and little to no chance of permission being given to mount to a surface in the ceiling that isn’t already designated for such aspects.
 
djtaso said:
Not so much excuses, it just seems you’re more used to hotel or conference style venues, as opposed to the typical wedding specific venues most mobile djs are associating their productions with. I’ve yet to see a single wedding here in NJ with rigging done from a ceiling at an actual venue. Not sure how you can rig to a sheet rocked ceiling that is flat all the way across the top outside of some decorative molding, without actually creating cosmetic issues that won’t be remedied in time for the next days event. And yes there are countless venues here with ceiling heights under 12’. So while one can discuss elevating the experience… we also have to take into consideration the parameters of which we’re working in… 2-3hr set up windows with 1hr breakdown windows… cieling heights often less than 12ft, and little to no chance of permission being given to mount to a surface in the ceiling that isn’t already designated for such aspects.
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It's true, that no venue is going to let someone showing up 2 hours before an event do something that they have not already reviewed, approved, or regularly accommodate.

It's false, that the only way to rig something is by making alteration or damaging attachments to a property.

In either case - it remains a list of excuses. Doesn't mean anyone has to go the extra mile - but neither does it invalidate those who do.
 
There's was a time early on when even bringing lighting to an event was described as "not your normal DJ."
By the mid 1990's many DJ outfits looked more like carnival providers, and yet - that's now considered "normal."
 
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