So: would renting a bunch of
LED PARS be best for this sort of job? If so, how do I
power them? I can't just rent a
dimmer rack, right? How would I get
power for it?
Yes,
dimmer racks are available for rent. But if you get
LED, you don't need dimmers. If you're renting lights, you should be able to rent data and
power as well. If they're
LED, you'll be able to run anywhere from 5 - 30 fixtures on one
circuit. Say the
spacing between lights is 10'. Get 10' ac cords, 10' data cords, and you'll need to buy some triple taps from the hardware store. Then just
daisy chain both data and
power. It's unlikely the rental
house has MOX (multi-outlet extensions) for rent.
Also, what happens if I use non-DMX lights? Like a
conventional source four? Then how do I control it with the lighting board if there are no
stage pin connectors, no
dimmer rack and no
grid?
Some dimmers can run
edison plugs. If you're using a
dimmer rack, you'll probably have to use
socapex cables, heavier, overkill, and likely more money to rent, too. I'd advise against it.
Additionally, would it be best to actually use an
ETC Express lighting board for this sort of job? Or would it make more sense to rent something else? Is it at all
practical to rent an
ETC Express board for this job, if it's one of the only boards I feel comfortable with?
And lastly, last question -- suppose I wanted to do some lighting onto each individual table. You know, make all the tables orange at one
point, then blue... what would be the
neatest and most
professional way to hang such fixtures? Would You have to rent an entire
truss system, and hang them overhead? Or could you get away with a few pipe trees around the room and just focusing each
fixture onto each table? My only concern then would be that the light would be hitting people as opposed to just coming straight down.
Thank you!
Pinspotting tables and how you rig depends on the ceiling. Is there points? Even so, no bride is going to want trussing strung all over the ceiling of her
ballroom, which means you're goiing to need to
swag the
truss in a fabric that is flame retardant and color coordinates with the ceiling. Good luck with that. Your choices are mostly (but not exclusively) pipe and
base, dazzlers (an extension screwed into the recessed lighting
fixture with a
drop down arm and a spot), or
airwall hangers. However, a
fixture that changes color means an
led par, an
ellipsoidal, a moving light,
etc. Does the bride even have the budget for that?
LED pars aren't great for a tight, focused beam. Ellipsoidals with color scrollers? Moving lights are the ideal, as they can be focused remotely, but they're $$. It also means
truss, so you're back to that whole issue.
Not that you asked, but it sounds like you've been "hired" but there's no firm design in place and that you don't really have the experience to organize this. If that's true, either you're going to be disappointed in that you'll lose money on this project, or the bride will be because of your lack of experience.
. 
