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Let's Talk About Lighting
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Author:  Big Mike [ Mon Oct 11, 2004 11:37 am ]
Post subject:  Let's Talk About Lighting
I'm looking to invest in some lighting effects for my shows, and I want to pose this question to you folks.

What lighting effect do you own that you would most hate to give up? I'm not talking about intelligents or anything like that, but I wanna know about effects that can be picked up for under $200 that give the most bang for the buck.
Author:  Lonman [ Mon Oct 11, 2004 11:49 am ]
Post subject: 
I wouldn't go overboard with lighting for the singer. Most get distracted by alot of flashing lights. I would get 4-8 par 46 or par 56 cans mounted on tree stands. Would need a dimmer pack & light controller. This kind of system works well for karaoke. You can set individual "mood" scenes (nice blue with a little red for ballads for example) for certain types of songs, lower lights if too bright, change to 1 color light, tap sync the lights to follow the beat of the music, some controllers allow you to program your own chase scenes as well.

The flashing type lights are distracting to singers & very bright if it hits their eyes. These types of lights are geared for dance floors. You could stick one behind a singer aiming up, but if you don't have any kind of regular lighting in front, the singer will become a flashing silouette & some of the lights will hit audience eyes which could bug them as well.
Author:  Big Mike [ Mon Oct 11, 2004 4:06 pm ]
Post subject: 
I suppose I should clarify myself.

I am investing in lighting because I am getting more and more wedding/DJ party type work coming my way. I believe that I am a great host with good sound, but the only thing my show is lacking is a lighting package to give that added pop.

I agree Lonnie that disco lights and karaoke don't work all that well. I have a small Chauvet fixture with 4 colored bulbs that I might put up but other than that, it really makes no sense.
Author:  Lonman [ Mon Oct 11, 2004 4:13 pm ]
Post subject: 
For dance floors I would invest in a some kind of a mirror ball or mirror ball effect for ballads & something like a Vertigo or other type of helicoptor light for faster songs. A company I know use those exclusively for the dance floor & always put on a great show. They are one of the highest paid & most sought after wedding/corporate mobile dj in Tacoma/Seattle area.
When they do karaoke they also have a portable stage with an 8 can light for the stage as well. Disco type lights don't generally work "on" a singer, they can work if it's just an accent behind a singer, but unless there is enough area to work with, I would stick with plain par cans for the singer.
Author:  drummin22nwv [ Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
I am new to doing Karaoke shows. I have done 5 shows.

I bought everthing at Musiciansfriend.com. They gave me 12 months same as cash. My purchasing were: Chauvet fog machine 700 watt, Chauvet Duo scan moonflower,Chauvet Pizazz and American Dj Aggressor
and American dj crank truss system.
All these lights kick butt. I wish I would of got a better fog machine. I also picked up a stobe light on ebay,and a controller to run it all {$85.00}.
I had some par 38s already for stage lights.
Im just glad I didnt listen to the "KJ pros'" everyone told me I didnt need lights that nobody danced at Karaoke shows. They are wrong. The lights go over great. The singers love the fact people are dancing to there performance and it certaintly gives me an edge. Plus its great for down time and breaks.
I have much to learn but im glad I went my own way on this.
Author:  Lonman [ Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:39 pm ]
Post subject: 
drummin22nwv wrote:
I am new to doing Karaoke shows. I have done 5 shows.

I bought everthing at Musiciansfriend.com. They gave me 12 months same as cash. My purchasing were: Chauvet fog machine 700 watt, Chauvet Duo scan moonflower,Chauvet Pizazz and American Dj Aggressor
and American dj crank truss system.
All these lights kick butt. I wish I would of got a better fog machine. I also picked up a stobe light on ebay,and a controller to run it all {$85.00}.
I had some par 38s already for stage lights.
Im just glad I didnt listen to the "KJ pros'" everyone told me I didnt need lights that nobody danced at Karaoke shows. They are wrong. The lights go over great. The singers love the fact people are dancing to there performance and it certaintly gives me an edge. Plus its great for down time and breaks.
I have much to learn but im glad I went my own way on this.


Careful with the fog machine. Many people, I found out the hard way, are allergic - some highly, to the smoke that it produces. We had to call an ambulance on one lady. Anyone with any kind of breathing disorder could be very suceptable to irritation some violently ill. I finally got rid of mine.
I don't think anyone here has said that lights don't work at karaoke - it's all placement.
Author:  metalgod [ Tue Oct 12, 2004 12:49 am ]
Post subject: 
Lights without fog is just not going to cut it. You dont need London peasoup fog but some is needed. Also many singers hate the fog machines including myself. But it looks great for video taping ...
Author:  Lonman [ Tue Oct 12, 2004 8:03 am ]
Post subject: 
metalgod wrote:
Lights without fog is just not going to cut it. You dont need London peasoup fog but some is needed. Also many singers hate the fog machines including myself. But it looks great for video taping ...


Yeah but if the fog is hurting your customers, then you don't use it. I've found the smoke from cigarrettes are adequate enough in most places. Fog smoke is more abrasive than cigarette smoke.
Author:  Big Mike [ Tue Oct 12, 2004 9:37 am ]
Post subject: 
OK OK OK enough fog fighting already!

I want to know what your favorite lighting effects are, not debate the merits of fog!
Author:  Lonman [ Tue Oct 12, 2004 9:43 am ]
Post subject: 
Big Mike wrote:
I want to know what your favorite lighting effects are, not debate the merits of fog!


It's all personal taste & budget what it comes down to. Many of the lights have similar effects. The spinny/flashy, the intelligent type lights with multi colors that are either stationary or move, then you have the wall effect lights. In the end, certain types, they look "pretty much" the same.

I prefer the spinny/flashy for dance floors with a couple of intelligent type lights thrown in & a mirror ball effect.
Author:  Jingalls3 [ Tue Oct 12, 2004 7:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
I started out as a DJ, and my lighting rig consists of 8 Par 38 cans, I like more and smaller so I can work in more colors. I also have the ADJ Aggressor, for disco songs, etc. Have a couple of strobes, but don't use them much. Also use bubbles, fog, and a mirror ball. Lastly, I have a couple of red gumballs when I want people's attention. I agree that for karaoke, this is way overkill. Just some mood lighting with the pars is plenty. Most singers get distracted. I have had some shows that start out DJ and work into KJ, so my lights are up. If I get an exceptionally good singer with alot of energy, turning on the lights fills the dance floor, and the singer really gets off on it. Gotta be the right situation though.
Author:  hitwtom [ Wed Oct 13, 2004 6:51 am ]
Post subject: 
Big Mike wrote:
OK OK OK enough fog fighting already!

I want to know what your favorite lighting effects are, not debate the merits of fog!


For Karaoke I use some colored lights only (red, blue, green) and a small spotlight. I have a set of colored Christmas lights around the top of the stage ( the kind with 5 different flash sequences, but I just set it on random). For live bands or DJ's I have an Mini-Gresser II, Vertigo, and a sound activated laser. If I were to do it over I think I'd go with one or two of the moving head type effects like a DJ Scan (where the light projects on a small dish mirror or multi-mirror, then back down to the dance floor). I am thinking about adding a background effect, something like the Mini Abyss or Groove Wheel.
Just my .02
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