Suggested Equipment for a Talented Beginner?

doberman

Member
I need some suggestions for you experienced concert lighting people. I have someone who has a great eye and instinct for live music lighting, and has done a small amount of it, and now wants to work with some bands. What would you recommend as a good, starting package of lighting? It has to be good enough to reward the user in a small club or bar scene situation. It has to allow for some growth and artistry. I ideally it would be expandable, or at least have some room to add things. It has to be portable enough so it can be carted around in a car or small truck and set up fairly easily. I know almost nothing. Would love some suggestions about what you would recommend. Thanks!
 
That kind of depends on a lot of factors. I would really recommend looking at LED fixtures, few pars ( 56 or 64)possibly two sticks of truss around 6'ft. High, and some boom bases. If possible two or three small movers and some type of PC controller. Does this person have some preferences as to the equipment that they like to use? Budget is going to be a factor because budget is always a factor. you can end up spending a lot very quickly for gear that may not last. If you don't mind my asking, what is your relationship with the designer? I'm assuming that your not working with a rental company. On that note, Probably a better way to approach things as opposed to flat out buying fixtures would be to look around and rent the gear that your looking for. Please tell us a little more.
 
This is a very good friend, who I would like to help with a career transition. So it would be a gift. I would say budget is probably 2K. The person does not a equipment preference, but I think it should be relatively simple, yet have the ability for her to actually show her stuff, and demonstrate what a great eye she has lighting live music. Would love some specific recommendations if you could make them. Thanks!



That kind of depends on a lot of factors. I would really recommend looking at LED fixtures, few pars ( 56 or 64)possibly two sticks of truss around 6'ft. High, and some boom bases. If possible two or three small movers and some type of PC controller. Does this person have some preferences as to the equipment that they like to use? Budget is going to be a factor because budget is always a factor. you can end up spending a lot very quickly for gear that may not last. If you don't mind my asking, what is your relationship with the designer? I'm assuming that your not working with a rental company. On that note, Probably a better way to approach things as opposed to flat out buying fixtures would be to look around and rent the gear that your looking for. Please tell us a little more.
 
I agree that their facts about dmx article is totally untrue. When the difference between mic and data cable really come out is when you have a less than perfect data topography and you are running data next to power sources, especially dimmers. Also before dmx every brand used their own protocol. If you want to research the real truth behind dmx go to doug fleenors website aka dr dmx. Doug Fleenor Design - Ph. and Fax (805) 481-9599 also dmx consoles were out way before 1999 by Highend, celco, Jands, ETC, avolites and many more.
 
If the person you're giving this to is planning on making money by lighting bands in small bars, the money you budgeted for equipment would be better spent corrupting this person (I was going to use a far less politically correct term) than on buying equipment. There's no money in bar band lighting. I speak from much experience (both working in them and patronizing them). Any small venue (like 500 person or less) is going to have a cheap, but serviceable system in place (i.e., crappy par cans with dusty gels and a control board with most of its knobs missing) run by the sound guy, who often doubles as the talent booker and the liquor buyer. Any band that brings in their own is bringing in 8 pars on tripods that they bought themselves, or rented for $50 a day. If the place is big enough to attract decent sized bands, the venue will have a contract with a production company who runs all that (and brings out far more equipment for far less money than is logical), and/or the acts will have a rider specifying equipment far and above what your $2k will buy.
 
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Thank you guys. You're being very generous with your knowledge.

Here is one package that was recommended to me. Any thoughts on this? Good? Flexible? Limited? Overkill? Underkill?

Chauvet Show Xpress 512 Software Controller for mac 0S
2 Chauvet Color Rails
4 Chauvet LEDrain56
2 Abyss LED 2.0 for effects
4 Chauvet Splash 200B
4 Tripods, cables etc.
 

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