Data projector gobo (long throw) this past weekend

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rickryan.com

rickryan.com

Mac Daddy DJ
ODJT Supporter
Dec 9, 2009
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Hendersonville, TN
www.rickryan.com
Ran into a bit of a snag this past Saturday. Bride wanted the monogram behind her head table. There was not enough space, even with my ultra-short-throw projector, to shoot from behind the table. There were a couple of pillars, left and right side, but no power. I was about to give up and hit the dance floor and got an idea. My DJ setup was on a small stage, 75-100 feet from the head table (across the room).
hotobooth_Bowling_Green_Franklin%2520%2528119%2529.jpg

The projector is on the right side, on a tripod. I down-sized the monogram to about 25% of the jpg and fired it all the way across the room. This is using a 2600 lumen Epson EX5210 ($500 at Sam's Club).
Photobooth_Bowling_Green_Franklin%2520%252885%2529.jpg

The bride had originally asked the venue for a black P&D drape behind them and we were going to outline it in amber uplights. They ended up throwing up a 12 foot wide, plain black drape and left the poles showing on the ends. It was butt-ugly and the monogram just died against it. I took a chance and over-stepped my bounds and took down the drape, put up the monogram, outlined it in the same color light we used in the rest of the room, then showed it to the venue mgr. He agreed completely and so did the client. Both she and the groom were thrilled with how everything turned out. Hopefully this will get a good review out of them.
 
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Proformance said:
The room looks good.

Why did you choose to use a $500 video projector with a bulb that might cost $175 to replace rather than a $150 Leiko or framing spot with an $18 bulb?
Click to expand...

To piss off the crusted-over DJs who have missed the boat.
 
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OK... here I go. This isn't intended to rock the boat, but I had to pipe in. The $500 video projector, which very well may run for years without a bulb change (mine has). Projecting a custom "self created" monogram at zero cost, that can be created or edited in seconds. Versus a $150 Leiko, and custom gobos from the factory at a 5 day turnover time, at about $75 to $150 minimum each and every time.

So, you can get your custom monogram projected 3 to 4 times, and I can do it hundreds of times at the same cost. I can't understand why anyone would have to think about it...
 
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Nicely done .... I've long-thrown my $300 Epson many times. :)

This one is the length of a basektball court.

544646_10151279761436124_534576420_n.jpg
 
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Tyrone Blue said:
OK... here I go. This isn't intended to rock the boat, but I had to pipe in. The $500 video projector, which very well may run for years without a bulb change (mine has). Projecting a custom "self created" monogram at zero cost, that can be created or edited in seconds. Versus a $150 Leiko, and custom gobos from the factory at a 5 day turnover time, at about $75 to $150 minimum each and every time.

So, you can get your custom monogram projected 3 to 4 times, and I can do it hundreds of times at the same cost. I can't understand why anyone would have to think about it...
Click to expand...

How many projector's can you hang on the ceiling? How far away from each other and your PC can they be? How will you serve the media to more remote locations? What happens when you drop a projector or a PC? How does the cumulative fan noise go over during toasts and speeches? How many tripods can you setup before you start to look like a construction site? How many spare lamps can you afford to carry?

I'm not saying it doesn't work or look good. Just pointing out that it has some serious limitations and is another case of DJs using consumer gear to illustrate what anyone can bring DIY. Don't be surprised when the grooms start showing up with their own projectors. :)

Different strokes for different folks.
I'd hate to be in the middle of a corporate meeting presentation when the projector lamp goes out because I've been using it as a DJ effect. Doah!
 
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Pro, what he's doing works great for his events. The answers to your questions are simple Pro - you use a different fixture for those different types of events. Fan noise is not usually an issue with the projectors i've used, i have movers that make more noise lol. And why would you need to carry more than one spare lamp? And the level of gear isn't as important as the matter of how it works and how professional it is made to look. Nicely done Rick, keep up the good work. :)
 
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Loneavenger said:
And why would you need to carry more than one spare lamp?
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That's the point.. you can only afford to do one projector, one image. A singular novelty. (What DJs are best at.)
Add another projector throwing a different distance and you potentially need a second graphic source because your image is scaled at the source not the fixture. All these PCs or media servers start to add up - making it a really clumsy and expensive way to do lighting effects.
I didn't say it doesn't work - I'm saying it's limited to being a novelty not an expandable lighting solution.

Leikos come in all kinds of shapes and sizes so you can put them in places you can't get a projector. You can also rent a leiko for about the price of a roll of gaff tape, and stock patterns are about the price of a Happy Meal.
 
Proformance said:
Leikos come in all kinds of shapes and sizes so you can put them in places you can't get a projector. You can also rent a leiko for about the price of a roll of gaff tape, and stock patterns are about the price of a Happy Meal.
Click to expand...

That's funny, I've never once had a client say "Hey use that cool stock pattern for my gobo."
 
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DJ Wes said:
With all due respect Pro, you don't know what you're talking about. Projectors are much more versatile than Leiko, imo.

Here's some of mine.
Click to expand...

Knee jerk response, Wes.
They both pass light through and image and a lens yet, your projector has to have a constant video feed. That's a dependency not a versatility.
Leikos can zoom, rotate and color scroll an image, add water, fire, or other motion effects ...all without software, a media server, or PC.
They come in all kinds of sizes and can be deployed in places a projector can't - including a moving armature or yoke.
They are robust, durable and road worthy - unlike most home/office projectors.
They are the precursor to moving heads and like sized patterns can be loaded in either.
Adding more or various sized leikos is easier, more discreet and aesthetically pleasing.
You can use leikos for more than just projecting images.
You can rent then for very little compared to a projector.

Just sayin'... it may work but, that doesn't make it the right professional tool for the job.
 
Most current projectors can run simply off a USB flash drive (no PC required to be connected). Many can play through a slideshow as well (something a Leko can't do). Images can be modified up to "show time", don't have a multi-day/week turnaround, and can incorporate animation if needed. About the only thing they can't do is physically move around, so if a truly moving monogram is needed, then yes, you'd need to look at a moving head. I'll give the brightness award if needed to the Leko as well.

So while the Leko may work, it's the projector that just may be the right professional tool for the job.
 
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Proformance said:
They are robust, durable and road worthy - unlike most home/office projectors.
Click to expand...

Funny, I've had lekos blow bulbs, mid-gig, twice this year. I've yet to have a projector fail.

I have lekos. I choose to use the projector because it doesn't require a $65 plate and it gives me tons of options in terms of creating a custom gobo. I'm finding the some clients really dig being able to create their own .jpg, then email it to me to put up. They seem to get a lot of joy/satisfaction from that.

Use whatever you want, pro but don't trying feeding any of that crap to the guys here who already use projectors. We're already waaaay ahead of you.
 
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rickryan.com said:
Ran into a bit of a snag this past Saturday. Bride wanted the monogram behind her head table. There was not enough space, even with my ultra-short-throw projector, to shoot from behind the table. There were a couple of pillars, left and right side, but no power. I was about to give up and hit the dance floor and got an idea. My DJ setup was on a small stage, 75-100 feet from the head table (across the room).
hotobooth_Bowling_Green_Franklin%2520%2528119%2529.jpg

The projector is on the right side, on a tripod. I down-sized the monogram to about 25% of the jpg and fired it all the way across the room. This is using a 2600 lumen Epson EX5210 ($500 at Sam's Club).
Photobooth_Bowling_Green_Franklin%2520%252885%2529.jpg

The bride had originally asked the venue for a black P&D drape behind them and we were going to outline it in amber uplights. They ended up throwing up a 12 foot wide, plain black drape and left the poles showing on the ends. It was butt-ugly and the monogram just died against it. I took a chance and over-stepped my bounds and took down the drape, put up the monogram, outlined it in the same color light we used in the rest of the room, then showed it to the venue mgr. He agreed completely and so did the client. Both she and the groom were thrilled with how everything turned out. Hopefully this will get a good review out of them.
Click to expand...

How can anyone find something negative to say about his Monograms, they look absolutely sharp! Very few clients would even know that he projected this from a projector.
 
I have a Source Four and a Source Four Jr. collecting dust because I can do so much more with less effort/expense using a projector.

Looks great Rick.
 
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