So, you bought an
ION for your personal use?
No, I bought my
Ion for work. I am a gig-to-gig professional
programmer by trade; I feel there is a benefit to owning my own
console. I feel having my own will make me more valuable. Maybe, maybe not. It went to work immediately on a TV show and is now on its 2nd season. When I bought my
Ion, it’s use was decidedly NOT to be used for freebies. Even though covered by my insurance policy, I won’t take it out on just any gig. I have done free ‘personal’ lighting for friends family(using Magic Gadget Shadow-makers , clip lights, pars & lekos) and charities(using consoles & full rigs owned by the charity, or with rental companies being paid or donating the rig). The only freebie an
Ion has done, I gladly went in on a moments notice to help a friend do a live show for a weekend. The vendor “threw in, no cost” an old
console that my friend couldn’t run. I had 24 S4‘s, 4 movers, a dozen other
DMX fixtures trucked from my shop, patched, wrung out & palletized in 2 hours. It worked out flawlessly, and everyone was pleased. It truly felt great to do a relatively easy gig(Theatrical
stage show 88 cues) and have it go smooth with all happy.
I did make the decision that if I get a programming gig, and I cannot get compensated for the
Ion, that alone would not stop me from taking the gig. Being a professional I need a back up plan so I bought an 2nd
Ion. I like the new color too.
Spending extra money for stuff you don't need isn't "cool".
OK, fine, I’m a hoarder. That’s a problem. Yet, ALL my
DMX gear gets used every day I work and even at home, so that part isn’t hoarding. The rest of the shop is surely another story.
There are no style points given for equipment brand. If you saw a show and thought it was good, would you change your opinion if you found out they used an ADJ lighting
console?
My dad worked on the first SR-71 & put up Americas first spy Satellite, I was trained by him: “The sourness of poor quality long outlasts the sweetness of a ‘good deal’.
So I appreciate quality products, is that soo wrong? lol. I try to not be materialistic, but If it is useful, I love it. I sold my Rolex my bro gave as a gift. Maybe it's worth it to Ted Turner, those Rolex's, but not to me! My bro was cool about it!
I will Wholeheartedly stand behind
ETC, as they have stood behind me over the years and even kept my shows running when I’ve been at a loss of what to do to fix the problem
If you saw a show and thought it was good, would you change your opinion if you found out they used an ADJ lighting
console?
Heck yeah, my (you probably think
prima donna tush) would be truly MORE impressed like the other member said!
I too PM'ed the OP:
Hi postmaster,
I want to make sure that you don't miss my message of care & concern that you understand my post suggesting an
Ion.
I don't know you, but I give you full respect as I do all, so I don't want to mis-lead you.
Reading your post it was most STRIKING to me that you have a chance to do a project where there is real funding. So often it seems I hear, " We don't have the (any) money, but we want ... (fill in the costly desire)"
So, YES, MOST certainly, my suggestion of a $10,000-$15,000 lighting
console is 'over the top'!! There are plenty of less expensive( therefore less capable,
IMO)
console to do the task at
hand. Making my
Ion suggestion 'crazy' to most folks here on Control Booth. I would never have gone there if your post didn't mention what it did. I have not done price comparisons, but I was understanding good
LED pars @ costing approx. $1,000 ea.. Waterproof might be more? Therefore, I felt your business will know this is a potentially expensive project. I feel the
Ion can be programmed to have faders set-up with enough "looks" like cues, effects, groups, specials,
etc. that a non educated
programmer can run a show. The elo brand touch monitors (I use model 1928L, $750 ea.) make quick adjustments on the fly really nice. I don't know where you are located, but I'd think you could hire a
programmer to come do the set up & train your personnel( a job I and many many people do for a living) and you'd be set to go. Also, when you have an expensive (
Ion or other brand) you can get great insight & support from the folks here on CB.
So, take my post with a grain of salt, please don't be offended thinking I was trying to do something wrong by you. I have no reason to think you feels that way, from your responses, but I saw the other members freaking out and want to reach out to you to be
clear. I don't mean to come off as a jerk. Sometimes it happens & I really didn't mean to.
Someone said you don't get extra "style points" for brands. I won't argue that. I WILL say IMHO, "You do get GREAT customer service with
ETC(makers of the
Ion).
ETC has REPEATEDLY gone above & beyond the norm to help, solve issues and make end users happy. It's not just a philosophy, it has truly saved my gigs thousands of dollars over the years!!
ETC's 24/7 live phone support that is unmatched in the industry.
My professional lighting career began in the 1980's doing International
Arena Rock shows on very expensive, top of the
line equipment, like Avo consoles costing >$80,000. To date my preferences for top of the
line consoles still cost over $80,000. I was a firefighter on vacation in N.Z. when I got hooked up with a tour and taken for the rest of their run. They let me 'do the lights' for the opening band and I was hooked immediately.
I've been lighting professionally as a sole career ever since, working on Films, TV, commercials, live concerts
etc. in Hollywood and I admit I usually get what gear I ask for. I love the 2
Ion consoles I own and use every day @ work(In my world I must have a back-up) and I plan on using them till I retire(die, lol). Unless I sell them to upgrade to the higher
level consoles
Gio or
Eos.
I wish you the best & I will gladly explain or answer any questions I can. Lucky for both of us finding Control Booth, as it is frequented by the people I respect the most in the Lighting industry.
Gern 310-xxx-xxxx.
BTW. if you ever visit LA, I gladly bring guests to
stage, & show them Hollywood.