Compact yet effective stage lighting

[two fingers]

So, as long as I've been doing this (more than thirty years) I have never had to design and/or buy a lighting system.

Plus, with the onset of LEDs, and a decade or so to work out the kinks, times have changed with regard to lighting.

The rest of my new band owns some PA gear. I need to come up with some lights.

I know precisely zero about lighting.

I'm thinking a couple trees of four lights each on the front. Maybe a couple of small LED lights facing up at the drums? Or possibly one of those bar lights? I could even do a couple of bars on the ground in front too.

Are there inexpensive brands thay are still quality? Or is it a "you get what you pay for" kinda thing?

Advice? Experiences? Anecdotes? Funny lighting stories? Links?

 

[richntiff]

Chauvet - the brand you see everywhere - is good,and relatively inexpensive. Pickup two Chauvet DJ Wash LED lights for front of stage/washback lighting and 6-8 LED par cans on a back row truss. Add a cheap DMX controller and you are set unless you are playing big gigs that require full production. My drummer purchased most of our lighting - I think I bought one of the DJ wash lights. He runs it via an inexpenxive DMX controller. It’s killer. Lighting doesn’t have to take you down 5 rabbit holes - don’t let it. Caveat - this works GREAT for standard gigs - bars, private parties, etc. anything bigger and we bring in full on professional sound and lighting production. Worth it in so many ways...

 

[lowplaces]

Subscribed

I know nothing about stage lighting either and would like to know so I'll be lurking.

My contribution will be bumping the thread

 

[Goatrope]

I’ve been following this other thread for a while and have picked-up some great tips:

Weekend Warrior Stage Lighting Discussion

Most of our gigs are in smaller places, so I just clamp a Chauvet Wash FX to one of the mains poles, and run it with a DMX Controller.

 

[two fingers]

I’ve been following this other thread for a while and have picked-up some great tips:

Weekend Warrior Stage Lighting Discussion

Most of our gigs are in smaller places, so I just clamp a Chauvet Wash FX to one of the mains poles, and run it with a DMX Controller.

Thanks. I shoulda done a search. Thanks for the tip. There's a lot of good info over there.

 

[guy n. cognito]

There's plenty of pre-packaged sets at Guitar Center that work well for the general bar / small venue band. Definitely go LED for size and heat reasons. Main thing.....don't overthink it! Get something that will light the stage, and maybe put on a bit of a show. Stop yourself before you start adding fog machines and flame throwers.

 

[two fingers]

There's plenty of pre-packaged sets at Guitar Center that work well for the general bar / small venue band. Definitely go LED for size and heat reasons. Main thing.....don't overthink it! Get something that will light the stage, and maybe put on a bit of a show. Stop yourself before you start adding fog machines and flame throwers.

I'm a bit of a pyro..... maybe just one little flame thrower?

 

[bound'n'blocked]

Drink a bunch of coffee. I mean a lot of the stuff. While you are doing that, buy a bunch of lamp receptacles for light bulbs. And a bunch of rheostats, and some wire. When you get done drinking about eight cans of coffee, cut a hole in the bottom of the can and attach the receptacle to the bottom of it. Then put one of those big colored flood lights in the can. wire about four of these together and then run them to your rheostats. Oh, and make sure wherever you play has a couple of 30 amp circuits for each side.

What? That's how we did it "back in the day"...!

BnB

 

[48thStreetCustom]

Cheap Moonflower lights work good combined with floods because they add movement. They're usually sound activated. Generally, the more you spend, the more they spread out. You can also place them on the floor behind the band pointing up on the wall.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MRNXJ06/ref=psdc_11974371_t1_B0012T6FSO

 

[48thStreetCustom]

I'm a bit of a pyro..... maybe just one little flame thrower?

American DJ Volcanos look like piro but they have no flames.

 

[theduke1]

I purchased a pair of Chauvet mini bar4 2.0 they come with stands bags and a controller
I just saw a pair of these on eBay new for $379
They can be used as stand alone as each unit has its own controller or linked with dmx
I purchased a Chauvet Foot 2c dmx controller for more options
379 is a great price for these
Duke

 

[Jeff Scott]

Yes, lighting has certainly changed since the days I studies and got a BA in Technical Theatre. I'm still used to real Lekos and fresnels and Super Troopers, along with pot(s) to control the stage manually with real lighting faders. We did have presets on banks of cards with even more pot(s)! IIRC, the last show I designed had around 110 lights in the air! Little much for a bar gig, eh?

 

[Richland123]

My first band had one of these for a lighting system.

Seriously, we are using a compact LED light system but those lights are very fragile and wires seem to come loose easily if you do not handle them and pack them carefully.

 

[ElroyPatrick72]

I think led lights are always a good idea. You can use them to decorate the house for a special occasion. Before the holidays, I always ask Google about this year's trends.

 

[guitarflinger]

I'm a bit of a pyro..... maybe just one little flame thrower?

I bought a Chauvet smoke machine. You could use it for an Army mission - tremendous output. Unfortunately, I can't use it for gigs - it makes our lead singer choke.

 

[ElroyPatrick72]

I think led lights are always a good idea. You can use them to decorate the house for a special occasion. Before the holidays, I always ask Google about this year's trends.

Till now, led lights haven't gone out of fashion! I love the red and blue ones. But this year, I want to experiment with these amazon led light bulbs. There are so many available colors. From warmer to cooler ones. Besides, they are energy savers. Good for Earth and the pocket xd. I suggest you check on the website and choose something for your house. The bulbs are a great idea to get as a gift too.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Till now, led lights haven't gone out of fashion! I love the red and blue ones. But this year, I want to experiment with these amazon led light bulbs. There are so many available colors. From warmer to cooler ones. Besides, they are energy savers. Good for Earth and the pocket xd. I suggest you check on the website and choose something for your house. The bulbs are a great idea to get as a gift too.

Are you a shill, or something, for them?