Anyone still use mirrored balls?

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sawdust123

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Nov 10, 2006
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A good friend of mine just moved out of state. He's 78 and hasn't DJed in years yet he still has the bug and really didn't want to part with any of his gear. His wife finally convinced him not to move most of his old stuff. All his 40+ year old carpet covered speakers that he hadn't touched in 20 years are finally gone (I think to Goodwill). He did take his powered speakers just in case he wants to do a block party in his new neighborhood. He gave me a few items he didn't want to take including his mirrored ball and the special mount I created for him 15+ years ago that held the mirrored ball over his speaker.

Mirrored balls have a nice retro vibe that LED effects have tried to but never really duplicated. I am thinking of putting a hook somewhere inside the house so I can use the ball for some kitschy ambience at a future home party. It got me thinking though if anyone still uses them. Do you still have one? When was the last time you used it?
 
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A good friend of mine just moved out of state. He's 78 and hasn't DJed in years yet he still has the bug and really didn't want to part with any of his gear. His wife finally convinced him not to move most of his old stuff. All his 40+ year old carpet covered speakers that he hadn't touched in 20 years are finally gone (I think to Goodwill). He did take his powered speakers just in case he wants to do a block party in his new neighborhood. He gave me a few items he didn't want to take including his mirrored ball and the special mount I created for him 15+ years ago that held the mirrored ball over his speaker.

Mirrored balls have a nice retro vibe that LED effects have tried to but never really duplicated. I am thinking of putting a hook somewhere inside the house so I can use the ball for some kitschy ambience at a future home party. It got me thinking though if anyone still uses them. Do you still have one? When was the last time you used it?


My sister still has her Mirror Ball. She had to buy a replacement motor like 6 years ago. She still has her old stand for it where you put two lights on the floor base and supposed to point up at the mirror ball. Last time I used it, I C Clamped a Chauvet White LED pin light to the stand pole.

I believe an ADJ Starburst light would be a much better effect if ADJ had put more craftsmanship into the light, and used like a 30 watt LED inside of it.
 
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I love mirror balls....I hate hanging mirror balls I never found they looked right on a truss and in the old days every hall had a hook for them but it was always in the ceiling and I'm scared of heights
 
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I've helped him set that rig up before. It's a lot of work.
I know it's a lot of work. How long does it take to setup all that stuff in the picture and is he given enough time so he doesn't have to rush?
 
I know it's a lot of work. How long does it take to setup all that stuff in the picture and is he given enough time so he doesn't have to rush?

We did it with a crew of 4-5 people and had plenty of time. I don't work with him that often, but he's a quality operator.
 
Funny you bring this up SD, about a month ago or so I had the idea about getting one, I started pricing them and just sort of left it at that, not sure if I am over the idea .
 
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My questions are if you used it at an event how would you hang it and what kinds of events would you use it for?
 
The last time I recall my buddy using it was for a prom but I think he used it for weddings too. I built him an apparatus that suspended the ball above one of his speakers. It clamped to the stand below the speaker and then a pipe went up behind the speaker and then forward. I did the whole thing with copper pipe. I can sweat copper much better than I can bend pipe but I do think a single bent conduit would have looked a little neater. I think the spot lights were mounted to the legs of the speaker stand but maybe we put them on the floor. You forget such details after 15+ years.
 
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I have one, and would really love to use it.
But finding the right place to set it up is difficult.
 
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My sister still has her Mirror Ball. She had to buy a replacement motor like 6 years ago. She still has her old stand for it where you put two lights on the floor base and supposed to point up at the mirror ball. Last time I used it, I C Clamped a Chauvet White LED pin light to the stand pole.

I believe an ADJ Starburst light would be a much better effect if ADJ had put more craftsmanship into the light, and used like a 30 watt LED inside of it.

Wow!, I do remember having the same Mirror Ball Stand!
 
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I found a couple mirror ball photos of last year's pool-side dance. Normally I don't spin the ball because the moving spots affect many older adults. The event was at a 55+ community here in Florida.
 

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