Emergency lighting

[SeaBassSteve]

Hey chaps.
We are meant to be playing at a pub tomorrow for new years eve ; however the lighting we were meant to be using ( from a friend of the pub) has become broken or unavailable( not really sure which) and as such; we are in need of lighting fir tomorrow. So for a laugh , we are planniing to rig something together quickly. So has anyone made their own lighting? We are on a tight budget, and only need to illuminate the band (5people) on a smallish floor space.
I'm personally tempted to get a few cheap halogen light fixtures and chuck some coloured bulbs in. We have looked at hiring but we are talking half our fee for a t stand and par's. Apologies for spelling, am on phone app!

[ManInPeril]

At one show I rigged together a wire in the rafters and hung flashlights/camp lanterns from it. Was extremely ghetto but looked pretty cool because the flashlights were swinging all night.

I've always wanted to hire someone for lighting, but (like you) i've been too cheap about it.

In my opinion it doesn't really take much for a cool light display, just a bit of creativity and ****** one-off lights.

[Richland123]

2 different ideas.

You can take some empty coffee cans and wire them up with flood light sockets and flood lights and cover them with colored gels but that takes some work.

A much easier thing is to go to any home store like Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. and buy a few clip on flood lights that mechanics, plumbers, electricians, etc. use to attach to a pipe, pole, board, or whatever when they need light to work. You can tape colored gels over them and have instant, cheap lights.

[anonymous122511]

Is there architecture to get a lighting c-clamp onto to hang two 500w medium lens PARs out front to wash the band? You should be able to buy used ones loaded for $50 a piece so renting will be cheaper and they can also provide a couple of 50' cords too. Having been a lighting guy for many years I guarantee in a pub on new years eve no one will know the difference between two pars and six or eight. Assuming from yer turn of phrase yer not in North America? I'd say if the PAR cans aren't available to rent 100w coloured garden floods if you have such things available...a rule of thumb would be minimum one per player if you can hang them, two if they have to sit on the floor. Whatever you do spend as little as possible because NOBODY IN THE AUDIENCE CARES.

[billjr]

I have several individual light fixtures that I bought from a hardware store for very little money. They're the kind that have a lamp style socket for the bulb, an aluminum conical reflector that surrounds the bulb, and a hand squeezable bracket. We have used two of those with color floodlights for general illumination. Nothing fancy, but that was all we had, and it worked. You can get them at pracgtically any hardware or discount store.

[anonymous122511]

Originally Posted by billjr

They're the kind that have a lamp style socket for the bulb, an aluminum conical reflector that surrounds the bulb, and a hand squeezable bracket.

In the vernacular that's called a "clip-light". It is an excellent fixture for a 100w or lower lamp (bulb). For higher wattage garden floods you would probably heat the small gauge wire to unacceptable temperatures. If you paint the metal shade flat black you can make them disappear nicely. Another good thing about them is the give you a place to binder clip (available at any office supply store) gel onto to get your colour.
Clip lights are a good call.

[SeaBassSteve]

Originally Posted by jeff arddun

I'd say if the PAR cans aren't available to rent 100w coloured garden floods if you have such things available...a rule of thumb would be minimum one per player if you can hang them, two if they have to sit on the floor. Whatever you do spend as little as possible because NOBODY IN THE AUDIENCE CARES.

See, that was my first idea, but the other guys thought it would be too bright and blinding!
Can pick up 120 W flood lights for $5 a piece or so!
I also agree on the no one cares, just as no one cares about many things in a cover band, its slightly depressing but true!

[Richland123]

Originally Posted by billjr

I have several individual light fixtures that I bought from a hardware store for very little money. They're the kind that have a lamp style socket for the bulb, an aluminum conical reflector that surrounds the bulb, and a hand squeezable bracket. We have used two of those with color floodlights for general illumination. Nothing fancy, but that was all we had, and it worked. You can get them at pracgtically any hardware or discount store.

Yeah, that is the same type I was referring to. There are now colored flourescent screw type base bulbs (like the new type lamp bulbs) that fit into those sockets and are bright as anything, don't heat up the power chord and cool down quickly. I have seen them in a variety of colors for $4 each and they last a long time. They also come in a flood lamp type model as well for about $8 each.