Weekend Warrior Stage Lighting Discussion

[SuperK]

I've been thinking about picking up some lights to help us stand out a little more live.
I am starting from scratch as I learn about this stuff so this thread has been really helpful...lighting is definitely an art and a science.

2 questions so far:

1. Almost every place we play has lights and a sound system. I want to add some lights but I wouldn't feel right attaching them to someone else's stuff. So I'm thinking tripod-mounted, or sitting them on the floor. Any lighting principles/considerations I should be thinking about for adding lights to what what be a different lighting setup pretty much every night?

2. I've read about using fog or haze machines to help the lights pop. My singer doesn't like fog machines as they cause some throat irritation. Does anyone know if the haze machines are also irritating?

I am by no means an expert but this is my $.02.

1. I wouldn't try to integrate your lighting into the existing lighting. I would have a tripod or truss mounted lighting system of your own that you can set up and run independent of the venue's. If they have a good lighting system then I would just use theirs. It's one less thing to have to setup and take down. If theirs isn't that good then set up your own and ask them to turn theirs off. I think there are too many variable to try to mix lighting systems together and make them work the way you want.

2. Foggers and hazers are two entirely different animals. Foggers are oil based and fairly inexpensive. They can leave a residue on everything including your gear. This may be what your singer is referring to when he says that it irritates his throat. Hazers are quite a bit more expensive and use a water based solution. This is what the pros use and my guess is that it won't irritate his throat since it is water based.

Again I am no expert but this is how I like to run my band's lighting.

 

[Maureen M]

I am by no means an expert but this is my $.02.

1. I wouldn't try to integrate your lighting into the existing lighting. I would have a tripod or truss mounted lighting system of your own that you can set up and run independent of the venue's. If they have a good lighting system then I would just use theirs. It's one less thing to have to setup and take down. If theirs isn't that good then set up your own and ask them to turn theirs off. I think there are too many variable to try to mix lighting systems together and make them work the way you want.

2. Foggers and hazers are two entirely different animals. Foggers are oil based and fairly inexpensive. They can leave a residue on everything including your gear. This may be what your singer is referring to when he says that it irritates his throat. Hazers are quite a bit more expensive and use a water based solution. This is what the pros use and my guess is that it won't irritate his throat since it is water based.

Again I am no expert but this is how I like to run my band's lighting.

I'm a rank beginner so I absolutely appreciate the feedback.
Seems like additional lighting would be too much trouble, but it might be worth looking into a haze machine at least. Something to jazz up the visual side of things without hurting anyone's throat.

 

[bassmike2010]

First time in this lighting forum. I'm a bassist and this week will bring out
to my sadly under equipped band, a set of front wash lights. Older (square
black metal) fixtures w Edison colored floods. Simple and inexpensive, they
more than adequately light the performers and stage area. This because
they've been using a fixture similar to the American DJ Lotus but w three
rows of tinted glass lenses w DRA LL-64514 Lamp 300W 120V Halogen bulbs.
Four mounted per tree/ one each side. Heavy. Bulky and ancient technology
which on a dark stage makes it look like a cheap acid trip. On a dark stage.
Sort of like the old Gems. Let alone they don't adequately light the performers.
Going to get them to place them upstage (behind the backline) for backlit color effect.
I run a sound and lighting company and for customers typically run
ADJ COB Cannons for front wash with RGBAW Par64's on either two trees
or accompanied by 250w movers on a 10' or 12' truss. Run either sound active
or 512DMX scenes from an Acrobat controller. If you're in a band and don't
want to fool w all that, get a couple ADJ DOTZ T bars for backlighting
(that way you don't have to run jumpers between fixtures) and any type of
PAR 64's for front lighting. Gaff tape the mounting bracket to top of mains and
call it a day. If you can afford- battery powered PARS- one less set of cords
to fool with. And you can place them anywhere. Lighting is important-
Music is only half the show. Well- good sound. 50% lighting, 50% music,
50% good sound. And animated pro front man who works the crowd.
"Our chief weapon is surprise..."

Oh and on the fog/ haze business. Most all fog machines these days
are water based- no residue. Scented or not. Unfortunately most venues
don't like fog and will tell you so. Or that's been my experience in recent years.
I have a 1500w and two 800w Antari's and limit their use to outdoor festivals.
Which makes it hard to get the most out of your LED/ laser lighting, indoors.

 

[Cazman]

I am by no means an expert but this is my $.02.

1. I wouldn't try to integrate your lighting into the existing lighting. I would have a tripod or truss mounted lighting system of your own that you can set up and run independent of the venue's. If they have a good lighting system then I would just use theirs. It's one less thing to have to setup and take down. If theirs isn't that good then set up your own and ask them to turn theirs off. I think there are too many variable to try to mix lighting systems together and make them work the way you want.

2. Foggers and hazers are two entirely different animals. Foggers are oil based and fairly inexpensive. They can leave a residue on everything including your gear. This may be what your singer is referring to when he says that it irritates his throat. Hazers are quite a bit more expensive and use a water based solution. This is what the pros use and my guess is that it won't irritate his throat since it is water based.

Again I am no expert but this is how I like to run my band's lighting.

Pretty much what SuperK said.

We use a couple Chauvet gig-bars on tripods to bring some movement to the dance floor and more recently a pair of FXarray Q5's on either side to illuminate the band and add some dazzle to the stage. Coupled with a hazer (and these are water-based solution, so shouldn't bother your singer.) to enhance the light beams and it's perfect for pub/bar/small-med size rooms.
Good hunting!

 

[Session1969]

First time in this lighting forum. I'm a bassist and this week will bring out
to my sadly under equipped band, a set of front wash lights. Older (square
black metal) fixtures w Edison colored floods. Simple and inexpensive, they
more than adequately light the performers and stage area. This because
they've been using a fixture similar to the American DJ Lotus but w three
rows of tinted glass lenses w DRA LL-64514 Lamp 300W 120V Halogen bulbs.
Four mounted per tree/ one each side. Heavy. Bulky and ancient technology
which on a dark stage makes it look like a cheap acid trip. On a dark stage.
Sort of like the old Gems. Let alone they don't adequately light the performers.
Going to get them to place them upstage (behind the backline) for backlit color effect.
I run a sound and lighting company and for customers typically run
ADJ COB Cannons for front wash with RGBAW Par64's on either two trees
or accompanied by 250w movers on a 10' or 12' truss. Run either sound active
or 512DMX scenes from an Acrobat controller. If you're in a band and don't
want to fool w all that, get a couple ADJ DOTZ T bars for backlighting
(that way you don't have to run jumpers between fixtures) and any type of
PAR 64's for front lighting. Gaff tape the mounting bracket to top of mains and
call it a day. If you can afford- battery powered PARS- one less set of cords
to fool with. And you can place them anywhere. Lighting is important-
Music is only half the show. Well- good sound. 50% lighting, 50% music,
50% good sound. And animated pro front man who works the crowd.
"Our chief weapon is surprise..."

Oh and on the fog/ haze business. Most all fog machines these days
are water based- no residue. Scented or not. Unfortunately most venues
don't like fog and will tell you so. Or that's been my experience in recent years.
I have a 1500w and two 800w Antari's and limit their use to outdoor festivals.
Which makes it hard to get the most out of your LED/ laser lighting, indoors.

I like the dots par lights that I have. I bought 4 of them and usually put two to a tree, right behind the mains with two pointed to the front and two to the back. We use them for small stages and private events. With my board , I can set the color fade to a slower speed than what's available on the fixture. It looks damn good for a set and forget type situation.

 

[dubstacy]

I like the dots par lights that I have. I bought 4 of them and usually put two to a tree, right behind the mains with two pointed to the front and two to the back. We use them for small stages and private events. With my board , I can set the color fade to a slower speed than what's available on the fixture. It looks damn good for a set and forget type situation.

I've got the same setup, but I just use the IR remote. I'd like to start using a controller. What model do you use?

 

[maxmaroon]

I've read about using fog or haze machines to help the lights pop. My singer doesn't like fog machines as they cause some throat irritation. Does anyone know if the haze machines are also irritating?

Hazers are great to help the lights pop and they seem to be easier on the throat. The key here is to buy top quality fluid, I swear by Froggy's Fog products: huge improvement over the store bought stuff.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I haven't quite worked out how to send data from QLCplus to showexpress to visualise it, but thanks for the tip. Maybe I'll swap to showexpress, assuming it works with my cheapo DMX interfaces.

 

[SuperK]

Pretty easy...you need a usb cable/interface with midi in/out. You change the midi preferences and then you can have the software learn the midi note for each scene you want. I set up 100 macros/scenes, one for each pedal of the FCB, and then you open the button trigger window, click midi trigger, then click learn, and then activate the pedal you want that scene/macro on...super easy.

I'm having trouble getting my FCB to work and I had a question. When I press a pedal on the FCB it triggers the correct scene or macro button. But when I press a different pedal it activates the next scene but keeps the previous one active also. So I now have two different scenes running. When you press a different pedal does it turn off the original scene and just activate the new one?

 

[maxmaroon]

I'm having trouble getting my FCB to work and I had a question. When I press a pedal on the FCB it triggers the correct scene or macro button. But when I press a different pedal it activates the next scene but keeps the previous one active also. So I now have two different scenes running. When you press a different pedal does it turn off the original scene and just activate the new one?

Yes, I did see your post on the Showxpress forums (I'm kind of an erratic forum poster/checker of postings). I used the "release all buttons" feature (right click on a macro for the setting... I also checked the "solo buttons" box for each button page that holds my macros): when you hit a macro that has the "release" option checked then when you hit that pedal it will cancel everything except that macro button. The only downside is you have to click the release all buttons for each individual macro to set them all up...just takes a few minutes to get them all.

 

[SuperK]

Awesome! I'll give it a try.
Thanks.

 

[Stinsok]

I bought 4 Marq Colormax PAR 64's this week. Inexpensive and works with a remote control.

 

[DirtDog]

I bought 4 Marq Colormax PAR 64's this week. Inexpensive and works with a remote control.

Interesting...

What's the beam spread on those - are they focused beam or could you light good chunks of the stage with them?

 

[maxmaroon]

I bought 4 Marq Colormax PAR 64's this week. Inexpensive and works with a remote control.

I recently added Marq rezotubes to our rear truss and they are great.

 

[Big Hoss]

They have most every fixture preloaded and there are some sample generator scenes (for moving heads) and a few other things preloaded but from what I have encountered there isn't a ton; I didn't look to far into them because I had a really good idea of what I wanted to do and just jumped into programming it from scratch. To me, the software is easy to understand and program. It can be time consuming depending on how complicated you want it to be. There are some good tutorials on youtube that helped me decide on showxpress (link below).
I also leaned towards showxpress rather than elation or martin because (from what I read) showxpress is better suited for how I run the lights...martin and elation are geared towards the individual who is actively running a light show and not triggering scenes from a foot controller (IIRC, martin and elation have a lot more preloaded material (but I'm only going by other user's opinions).

Thanks for sharing this!

 

[Stinsok]

Interesting...

What's the beam spread on those - are they focused beam or could you light good chunks of the stage with them?

The specs say it is 30 degrees. I got the lights in today. The remote is due tomorrow.

 

[Ox Boris]

I've got 2 of these. Where shall I stick 'em?
Front, back, sides? Together, separate?
All pointing the same way or something else?

 

[SuperK]

I've got 2 of these. Where shall I stick 'em?
Front, back, sides? Together, separate?
All pointing the same way or something else?

We put our 4Bars on the side. Are these your only two fixtures?

 

[Ox Boris]

Yep, that's it. Going to put them on "sound" and employ judicial use of the blackout and colour footswitches. It's a pity one can't set the colour for the colour pedal.

 

[SuperK]

Yep, that's it. Going to put them on "sound" and employ judicial use of the blackout and colour footswitches. It's a pity one can't set the colour for the colour pedal.

I've had mixed results with the "Sound" setting on these lights. Sometimes it acts as I would want it but other times it is completely unpredictable and random. Give it a shot and see how it works for you. We ended up selecting one of the built-n programs that changed colors about every 5 seconds. Eventually you may want to get some DMX software or a controller so you have more control over the lights.