For Those Who Often Do Lights At Their Gigs
- Thread starter ahoustondj
- Start date
They both take about the same time (generally)
There are other factors at play, one of which is am I using the T-bar with 4 lights or the truss with 10 lights?
There are other factors at play, one of which is am I using the T-bar with 4 lights or the truss with 10 lights?
Don't complicate things DJ Ron. "General" is the term here, like in the word "Majority" or the Phrase "Most of the times". :triwink:
K
Kirby Ball
Guest
You looking to create a Webinar? Just kidding. My light setup takes only a few moments to set up as I created a very decent setup that takes less than five minutes to set up but will wow any of my clients. Tripod /4bar/Acrobat two power cables and a Dmx cable to controller Velcro cables done.
Avg lighting setup done in 5 mins. (3-4 sound actives on t-bar - I even get REAL hi-tech and use a couple units in master/slave config :trirolleyes
Avg sound setup (not including cart trips to load in - just setup)... let's call it about 10. from erecting table to soundcheck.
Things like tidying up, securing cables, stowing away misc items, loading out cart etc. are additional.
Avg sound setup (not including cart trips to load in - just setup)... let's call it about 10. from erecting table to soundcheck.
Things like tidying up, securing cables, stowing away misc items, loading out cart etc. are additional.
G
Guest
Guest
Are we talking uplights or dancefloor lighting? My average event has uplighting booked, so I thought I would just ask.
For me, its all depending on the setup. For the most part, lighting because of all the stands, power/dmx cable runs. Then video, again making long power/signal runs then putting up screens. Audio is a snap, one power cord then speaker cables.
Securing cables takes me the most time, just kinda picky about my presentation and want everything to look good. I've even gone thru an entire roll of gaff tape on a big show.
Securing cables takes me the most time, just kinda picky about my presentation and want everything to look good. I've even gone thru an entire roll of gaff tape on a big show.
On a truss rig, I was spending 45min-1hr on just lights. With 2 t-bars with wireless DMX, it's down to about 5 minutes.
Intelligent lighting system strike and set up = 1-2 hours (not including any programming).
Spin & Puke = Sub out. Not enough profit for us to make it worth the effort.
Spin & Puke = Sub out. Not enough profit for us to make it worth the effort.
How much profit do you think you need to justify the 5mins it would take to set it up? Quite likely there is already room in your current pricing to absorb nominal cost of equipment itself.
How much profit do you typically like to turn on 5mins of your time? :tribiggrin:
Unnecessary absorption of expenses is for sponges.:triwink:
5 mins? You can't even carry a desk lamp into most venues and plug it in and take it out in under 5 minutes. :tribiggrin:
The acquisition, maintenance, upgrading, replacement, liability, depreciation, etc. of non-intelligent lighting are all factors that enter my calculations in determining my acceptable profit levels, not simply how long it takes to strike.
Simply put, the clients that want a less inexpensive/cheaper light show don't value the service enough to make it worth it for me. Fortunately, I have a relationship with an A/V company that will deliver, set up, pick up, and bill the client directly for those circumstances and they do it at a price that satisfies them and the client. I do the same for my clients' larger video requests.
Plus, when I'm not with my family and friends, I try to make sure every minute of my time is spent maximizing my earnings. I like, appreciate, and respect my clients, but I love my family. The price I require for being away from them is personal.
There is also another factor, that I will not reveal unless asked, into why I don't offer simple/cheap lighting.
I simply work the cost of the "basic" lighting option into the base rate, so no unnecessary absorption takes place. If they want it, I'll throw it up. Yes... in 5mins or less
If they want more/better, then we simply asses the needs/wants and price accordingly.
As for the "unless asked," I'll let someone else bite. Or just see how long it takes you to burst. :tritongue:
If they want more/better, then we simply asses the needs/wants and price accordingly.
As for the "unless asked," I'll let someone else bite. Or just see how long it takes you to burst. :tritongue:
Lights are more intensive...sound is merely piling up 24 boxes in a specific organization and run 10 speaker cables (3x60, 2x30, 2x10 and 3x20 feet), running a patch from the source rack to the amp racks, 220 from the distro to the amp racks, and power to the distro from wherever we can find the appropriate amount of juice. Couple hours moving slowly. Lights take the bulk of the time in setup and teardown.