This is the concert that I did Uplighting on last night. Thanks again to everyone here who gave helpful input. Best I can tell, they were highly complimentary and, for the most part, I feel pretty good about it.
I used an Elation DMX Operator Pro controller and ran 3 wireless segments. Had to buy 2 new Chauvet D-Fi units and have 3 other of the older style D-Fi. FYI, it looks like the new and old units are not compatible (Ben, maybe you'd care to comment?). I ended up having to parallel 2 transmitters. Had 1 receiver for the upper section of 20+ lights. Had 2 other segments on the floor (stage left and right) which each ran about 5 lights each. Also FYI, be warned that a silver-metallic wall absolutely EATS color alive. Very hard to light. I also noticed that my Chauvet Slimpar 56s showed up much better than my Blizzard Puck RGBs. Not sure if it's because of a tighter beam on the Slimpars but there was a definite difference. In front of the choir, I put 10 lights, all set static Amber, hitting against a medium-dark oak wood grain. For the ceiling above the choir, I used 2 Source Four Jr Zoom lekos with pattern gobos and a medium-dark amber gel. Pretty easy gig, after everything was setup. Did very few moves during songs but usually switched color schemes between each selection. Front lights were the house system. The house lighting guy was really nice and let me know that the director had called for full stage lights the entire concert. He apologized, given the color we had to work with, but I'm still pleased with the results. Now for the critique.
I had one mistake. The church has fixtures behind two large vases (behind the choir). I did the install on Saturday and decided against installing a fixture on top of theirs so I installed front lights Sunday night, before the concert. I apparently did not hit SAVE on right fixture (Chauvet Slimpar 56) so it reverted back to blue. Since the first scene showed blue I didn't catch it until we were into the concert. I simply avoided green and amber scenes and concentrated more on the blue/magenta scenes to compensate. When I arrived Sunday afternoon, I found that all my stuff had been plugged in (I'd un-plugged it on Saturday) and the main wireless segment didn't work. Had to shake my head and thought "You're kidding me. You guys torpedoed me on a VOLUNTEER gig?" It's absolutely pitiful that grown adults will guard their "turf" so jealously in a church setting. I also received a "visit" from one of the guys from the lighting company who normally does their Easter and Christmas concerts (paid). He made sure to let me know this was their gig and also said "Thanks for helping US. WE really appreciate it." Obviously I'm a bit biased but I actually feel like this presentation was much better than what they've been getting out of the paid guys, for the past 15 years. Okay, I'll stop patting myself on the back now. Just thankful that it's over and thankful that the industry cats (whom I was trying to impress) seemed genuinely taken back by the results. I got some compliments out of some cats that are heavy hitters and they don't pass compliments cheaply. Here are the pics.
https://plus.google.com/photos/1049...ms/5869684401559474545?authkey=CK-IxYTryeTECg
.
Bruce Watkins (Dolly Parton's fiddle/acoustic player and major session cat)
Tom Hemby (session cat)
Craig Nelson (session bassist)
I used an Elation DMX Operator Pro controller and ran 3 wireless segments. Had to buy 2 new Chauvet D-Fi units and have 3 other of the older style D-Fi. FYI, it looks like the new and old units are not compatible (Ben, maybe you'd care to comment?). I ended up having to parallel 2 transmitters. Had 1 receiver for the upper section of 20+ lights. Had 2 other segments on the floor (stage left and right) which each ran about 5 lights each. Also FYI, be warned that a silver-metallic wall absolutely EATS color alive. Very hard to light. I also noticed that my Chauvet Slimpar 56s showed up much better than my Blizzard Puck RGBs. Not sure if it's because of a tighter beam on the Slimpars but there was a definite difference. In front of the choir, I put 10 lights, all set static Amber, hitting against a medium-dark oak wood grain. For the ceiling above the choir, I used 2 Source Four Jr Zoom lekos with pattern gobos and a medium-dark amber gel. Pretty easy gig, after everything was setup. Did very few moves during songs but usually switched color schemes between each selection. Front lights were the house system. The house lighting guy was really nice and let me know that the director had called for full stage lights the entire concert. He apologized, given the color we had to work with, but I'm still pleased with the results. Now for the critique.
I had one mistake. The church has fixtures behind two large vases (behind the choir). I did the install on Saturday and decided against installing a fixture on top of theirs so I installed front lights Sunday night, before the concert. I apparently did not hit SAVE on right fixture (Chauvet Slimpar 56) so it reverted back to blue. Since the first scene showed blue I didn't catch it until we were into the concert. I simply avoided green and amber scenes and concentrated more on the blue/magenta scenes to compensate. When I arrived Sunday afternoon, I found that all my stuff had been plugged in (I'd un-plugged it on Saturday) and the main wireless segment didn't work. Had to shake my head and thought "You're kidding me. You guys torpedoed me on a VOLUNTEER gig?" It's absolutely pitiful that grown adults will guard their "turf" so jealously in a church setting. I also received a "visit" from one of the guys from the lighting company who normally does their Easter and Christmas concerts (paid). He made sure to let me know this was their gig and also said "Thanks for helping US. WE really appreciate it." Obviously I'm a bit biased but I actually feel like this presentation was much better than what they've been getting out of the paid guys, for the past 15 years. Okay, I'll stop patting myself on the back now. Just thankful that it's over and thankful that the industry cats (whom I was trying to impress) seemed genuinely taken back by the results. I got some compliments out of some cats that are heavy hitters and they don't pass compliments cheaply. Here are the pics.
https://plus.google.com/photos/1049...ms/5869684401559474545?authkey=CK-IxYTryeTECg
.Bruce Watkins (Dolly Parton's fiddle/acoustic player and major session cat)
Tom Hemby (session cat)
Craig Nelson (session bassist)
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