Stage Lighting on a Budgetup
Kevi...@gmail.com
I'm in a college band, playing mostly frat parties and bars, and we
want to take our show to "the next level." We figure that lights
would be pretty badass, but our budget is maybe $1000 at most.
Ideally we'd spend no more than $500.
We'd need a pretty basic setup, beat sensitivity is a must, and some
control from the stage would be ideal. I'd like to be able to program
a few scenes, but don't know if that sort of thing drives up the
purchase price. Obviously value and durability are important
considerations.
Any suggestions? I'd be especially interested in links to sample
setups from online retailers, so I can get a feel for how to interpret
entries in catalogs. I don't have much experience in this area, but
I'm hoping that the knowledge in this group can point me in the right
direction.
Thanks!
Kevin
Bert Morris
Dear Kevin Yanu,
Want to kick it up a notch? Add just one followspot [rent along with
your light package], and start augmenting with basic color wahses for
the band. The only limitations are your imagination and sense of
presentation.
Even a simple lighting rig will read as "professional" when you add the
followspot 'look', so go for it and let us know what you decide. For
beat 'sensitivity', any good LX console should have the prerequisite
'bump' buttons and sub masters to allow music tracking.
The most important thing is this: you MUST have the rehearsal time to
get all the benefit from your band's product combined with your lighting
rig. I think it is an exciting learning curve, and if you make wise use
of the time you have with the lighting package, you can do original and
very exciting presentation.
Regards,
Bert
Rich Dionne
Kevin,
Some quick math:
2 Lighting trees + crossbars: $350
8 Par 64s (classic concert fixtures + cheap = good!): $800
Even before you think about dimming and control, you're over $1,000.
(Prices courtesy of BMI Supply: www.bmisupply.com.)
Perhaps, as Bret alludes to, you might want to consider rental
packages, as opposed to purchasing. There's no upkeep and maintenance
for you to worry about, for starters. Plus, you can decide which gigs
will require the lighting, and pass on the rental costs to those
venues only--allowing you to continue doing gigs where you charge less
to keep the money coming in.
Or, find a sugar-momma that wants to give you some cash--you might
want to look more at the $3,000 range, though.
I'm not sure what you mean by "beat sensitivity"; if you mean a setup
that can respond to your playing, you're talking about a lot more
money than you're planning to spend. It's probably cheaper to pay a
buddy who's not rhythmically challenged $50 to control the lights for
you.
Rich
RickR
>
> - Show quoted text -
Many many options await you!
On the above ideas:
1. Get Par56 lights, smaller lower wattage but come in halogen so you
get the same light output.
2. Consider 2 LED fixtures (Coemar is current favorite.) They can be
set to sound responce and have many pre-programed sequences and will
perch wherever you can put them in addition to the "house" lights.
Then they can just run on automatic.
If "automatic" lighting tweeks your artistic soul then you have really
only one good option. Find a good lighting guy, and let him run your
gigs, pick your gear and do all the worrying.
--RickR
Lloydj
>
> I'm in a college band, playing mostly frat parties and bars, and we
> want to take our show to "the next level." We figure that lights
> would be pretty badass, but our budget is maybe $1000 at most.
> Ideally we'd spend no more than $500.
>
Check out Pro Sound and Stage Lighting, I think it's PSSL.com or
something like that. They have DJ packages already made up of PAR56
fixtures, trees, dimmers, etc. and I believe they have "beat
sensitivity" in some of the kits. It's low-end gear but should get
you started. Also look to e-bay to find new/used gear. I've seen
some packages of chrome plated PARs that insult my aesthetic, but
might suit your needs.
HTH,
Lloyd
Duncan Wood
wrote:
> On May 4, 5:34 pm, KevinY...@gmail.com wrote:
>> Hey all,
>>
>> I'm in a college band, playing mostly frat parties and bars, and we
>> want to take our show to "the next level." We figure that lights
>> would be pretty badass, but our budget is maybe $1000 at most.
>> Ideally we'd spend no more than $500.
>>
>> We'd need a pretty basic setup, beat sensitivity is a must, and some
>> control from the stage would be ideal. I'd like to be able to program
>> a few scenes, but don't know if that sort of thing drives up the
>> purchase price. Obviously value and durability are important
>> considerations.
>>
>> Any suggestions? I'd be especially interested in links to sample
>> setups from online retailers, so I can get a feel for how to interpret
>> entries in catalogs. I don't have much experience in this area, but
>> I'm hoping that the knowledge in this group can point me in the right
>> direction.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Kevin
>
> Kevin,
>
> Some quick math:
>
> 2 Lighting trees + crossbars: $350
Even in th UK I can get them for £45ea
> 8 Par 64s (classic concert fixtures + cheap = good!): $800
£14 for the can , £12 for the bulb.
>
> Even before you think about dimming and control, you're over $1,000.
> (Prices courtesy of BMI Supply: www.bmisupply.com.)
>
are obviously not the place to go for kit for a "pub band"
> Perhaps, as Bret alludes to, you might want to consider rental
> packages, as opposed to purchasing. There's no upkeep and maintenance
> for you to worry about, for starters. Plus, you can decide which gigs
> will require the lighting, and pass on the rental costs to those
> venues only--allowing you to continue doing gigs where you charge less
> to keep the money coming in.
>
> Or, find a sugar-momma that wants to give you some cash--you might
> want to look more at the $3,000 range, though.
>
Or buy showtec etc.
http://www.thomann.de/gb/stairville_lichtset_startup_dmx.htm
> I'm not sure what you mean by "beat sensitivity"; if you mean a setup
> that can respond to your playing, you're talking about a lot more
> money than you're planning to spend. It's probably cheaper to pay a
> buddy who's not rhythmically challenged $50 to control the lights for
> you.
>
> Rich
Well that'll probably work better, but the lightfoot's not too bad
Duncan Wood
Something like the elation 4 channel foot controller & a couple of 4 way
par56 trees, add a 3rd dimmer & a couple of 300W floods as floor lights &
you can actually do a 1/2 decent looking set.
Brimmy
Kevin
I would also try to add a fog machine or a hazer, to spice up your
lighting!!
Paul
Adam Aglionby
LED Parcans,of the ADJ/Chauvet Wiedamark variety with a foot
controller.
Easy on the power than 8 500W parcans and about as bright in saturated
colours as a 300W can but a lot lot less power, handy down the pub.
Don`t need seperate dimmers which is a big saving on unwieldy and
expensive electrical spaghetti.
http://srforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/m/172473/0/#msg_172473 nice
shootout.
HTH
Adam
Jim Murray
> LED Parcans,of the ADJ/Chauvet Wiedamark variety with a foot
> controller.
>
> Easy on the power than 8 500W parcans and about as bright in saturated
> colours as a 300W can but a lot lot less power, handy down the pub.
>
> Don`t need seperate dimmers which is a big saving on unwieldy and
> expensive electrical spaghetti.
Seconded.
The low-end LED kit is now perfectly acceptable for small band use. It's
still a long way from the sort of output required for large venues but
for bars and similar small venues it's ideal. You get the advantage of
more colours from less fittings, a degree of control over the show
(though you will need a DMX controller and someone to run it) and you
avoid the power nightmare than large trees of PAR's brings in small venues.
For washes, check out some of the AmericanDJ range. I have several of
their Mega Panel units in band use and find them very effective on
smaller stages. Typically I'll use 4 of them as washlights, a number of
scanners (waggly mirrors) for gobos & patterns and up to 8 standard PARs
for front light/drum riser.
It works well, but putting it all together at once will probably blow
your budget to hell. Build it up slowly, and don't forget you will need
mounting for it (floor stands or trussing).
Jim.
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