The community theatre I volunteer with has been charged by a benefactor (who is also in a lot of productions) to buy moving lights. He was in Mamma Mia! This past season and they had a stock of old Martin 2K profiles and washes and now he’s in love.
The issue comes in with our venue. I’m not a lighting guy by trade, but I’ve managed to get by with our old (OLD) system with our (OLDER) director, who basically wants around 150fc illumination so “the old agers can see”. (Have I mentioned age enough?)
I’m not afraid to learn new systems, and I have some basic experience with a Hog console during concerts, but this is a problem. Our venue has no fly space, so the grid is about 18’ off the stage deck. From the FOH, the first electric is 11’ away from the plaster line and the second electric is 26’. We’ve been using a mix of old (there’s that word again) Altman and ETC ellipsoidals from the front and mostly PAR56 and fresnels on stage. Limited, but it’s worked.
Now, our benefactor has already talked to two rental houses who have various flash and trash they’d be willing to rent, but it’s all large venue lighting. I’m afraid he’s going to get the Martin 2Ks from one of them and then find out that there’s enough light to melt his face off when they turn on.
I’m looking, like I said, at a 20 to 35 foot throw, and I still would like to be able to use the ellipsoidals as either specials, spots, washes, or something, but I also don’t want everyone to be blinded by a 1200W fixture. Ideally I’d like a few for FOH and a few on stage (I’m aware of all the new power requirements and DMX issues I’m going to have.)
What fixtures would the experts here recommend. The board voted to explore options with the hopes of having some sort of moving lighting for, you guessed it, Mamma Mia! In spring of 2021. What fixtures do you like using that have the typical flash and trash, but can also be useful? I’m not against the MAC 2Ks per se, but I think looking at the output, it’s going to be too much. I do love the options the Profiles give, but again, I’m the sound guy by trade, so I’d appreciate any input, especially with our limitations on the venue.
The issue comes in with our venue. I’m not a lighting guy by trade, but I’ve managed to get by with our old (OLD) system with our (OLDER) director, who basically wants around 150fc illumination so “the old agers can see”. (Have I mentioned age enough?)
I’m not afraid to learn new systems, and I have some basic experience with a Hog console during concerts, but this is a problem. Our venue has no fly space, so the grid is about 18’ off the stage deck. From the FOH, the first electric is 11’ away from the plaster line and the second electric is 26’. We’ve been using a mix of old (there’s that word again) Altman and ETC ellipsoidals from the front and mostly PAR56 and fresnels on stage. Limited, but it’s worked.
Now, our benefactor has already talked to two rental houses who have various flash and trash they’d be willing to rent, but it’s all large venue lighting. I’m afraid he’s going to get the Martin 2Ks from one of them and then find out that there’s enough light to melt his face off when they turn on.
I’m looking, like I said, at a 20 to 35 foot throw, and I still would like to be able to use the ellipsoidals as either specials, spots, washes, or something, but I also don’t want everyone to be blinded by a 1200W fixture. Ideally I’d like a few for FOH and a few on stage (I’m aware of all the new power requirements and DMX issues I’m going to have.)
What fixtures would the experts here recommend. The board voted to explore options with the hopes of having some sort of moving lighting for, you guessed it, Mamma Mia! In spring of 2021. What fixtures do you like using that have the typical flash and trash, but can also be useful? I’m not against the MAC 2Ks per se, but I think looking at the output, it’s going to be too much. I do love the options the Profiles give, but again, I’m the sound guy by trade, so I’d appreciate any input, especially with our limitations on the venue.