jkeefauver
Member
So let me apologize up front for not knowing a darn thing about lights. My daughters are involved with a small, non-profit children's theater near our home and I've donated and setup the entire sound system. Now it's time for lights and I've made the decision to donate the necessary equipment. Problem is, I truly need some advice on equipment, wattage, etc. I'll get right to it...
The stage is approximately 40-ft. wide and about 15-feet deep in the wings and 25' in the center "thrust" section. Drop ceiling is appoximately 15-feet and seating is 100 people.
Front mounting will be approximately 10' out from the front of the thrust stage (approx. 25' from back wall in the center.
Productions range from having 2 or 3 kids on stage at a time to the entire company of nearly 50.
I want to go LED for this and want to be as budget conscious as possible. Now, my questions...
1. Director and I believe that a software controller is the way to go here both for cost and for ease of operation (also we have a laptop that was donated to run the lights). Do you agree and if so, what package should we look at? SoundXpress, Elation Compu Live, Light Jockey, etc.?
2. I am anticipating 16-20 LED PAR cans hung as front lighting. Question is can I get away with 1/2-watt PARS or do I need the 1-Watt units?
3. I am planning on a scanner on one side or the other initially (gobos and special effect stuff). Intimidator 2?
4. I am planning on one moving light hung center stage out front to be able to hit pre-determined marks as a spot and/or for gobos and fx. ADJ VIZI?
5. I am planning on using 3 LED color strips as "foot lights" across the front. Chauvet Colorstrip?
I would really appreciate anyone's expert opinion on this as I truly am in over my head here. Now, that being said, I'm pretty savy in technology so hopefully between your advice and my background, we won't end up in the dark!
The stage is approximately 40-ft. wide and about 15-feet deep in the wings and 25' in the center "thrust" section. Drop ceiling is appoximately 15-feet and seating is 100 people.
Front mounting will be approximately 10' out from the front of the thrust stage (approx. 25' from back wall in the center.
Productions range from having 2 or 3 kids on stage at a time to the entire company of nearly 50.
I want to go LED for this and want to be as budget conscious as possible. Now, my questions...
1. Director and I believe that a software controller is the way to go here both for cost and for ease of operation (also we have a laptop that was donated to run the lights). Do you agree and if so, what package should we look at? SoundXpress, Elation Compu Live, Light Jockey, etc.?
2. I am anticipating 16-20 LED PAR cans hung as front lighting. Question is can I get away with 1/2-watt PARS or do I need the 1-Watt units?
3. I am planning on a scanner on one side or the other initially (gobos and special effect stuff). Intimidator 2?
4. I am planning on one moving light hung center stage out front to be able to hit pre-determined marks as a spot and/or for gobos and fx. ADJ VIZI?
5. I am planning on using 3 LED color strips as "foot lights" across the front. Chauvet Colorstrip?
I would really appreciate anyone's expert opinion on this as I truly am in over my head here. Now, that being said, I'm pretty savy in technology so hopefully between your advice and my background, we won't end up in the dark!