First Light Show!

ummm.... if u go on ebay u can check out the luna-4...im thinking of getting that for myself. also consider buying a vertigo or maybe if your lucky 2! u can get vertigos on ebay for about 70 bucks! that will save u about 30 bucks from the store. maybe also double durby. juss sum plain effects that I think will work for u but it might coast u a lil more the 500, but u gotta go look at the luna-4 and a vertigo for sure

I've managed to find most of the things on ebay for pretty cheap. What I'm wondering is, how many effects should I get.

I've been told to go with a "10 min on/10 min off" cycle. How many effects should I have going at any one time?

Well personally, i think you should get 4 auto spots , 2 djscans and umm maybe 10 high end Trackspots. O wait that wasn't 50,000 dollars was it.

GET AS FOLLOW:
-4 cheap moonflowers that move to the beat, you could get those for 40 buck each on ebay.
-Get 2 strobes, and a vertigo.
-if you dont got a stand, get the $50 +or- Light stand.
That is about the range you have.

Change the lighting for each song you play.
-Have Jewels on when you are doibng slow dances.
-Vertigo for pop songs
-Strobes for fast song.

Be sure to have each jewel have a different color gel in each lense. All white sucks. If lucky get your self a FOGGER!
SPENCER GIFT Has a cheap one for 20 bucks!

quote:

SPENCER GIFT Has a cheap one for 20 bucks!

i have it its a piece of junk it cost about 30 bucks and it worked for bout a week

ok man, well i got 2 fog storms and one ****py one that was made by elation which i bought 6 years ago, but all three work great!

also might i remind you that fog storm have massive out put for there small bodies

Great, then Fogstorm it is. =)
I've found the 700 on ebay for like $40-50 (including S&H). I don't want to buy ****py equipment that'll break in a week, or a month even. That would really suck.

Most of the effects I've found on ebay are discontinued... hence, cheaper. But they still look great, just don't have the linking features that the newer ones have. (Right?)

Here's what I'm thinking of getting:

Mystic: $120
4x ColorPod: $240 or Luna 4: $300
2x Strobes (not sure which I need): ~$80-$90

Maybe 1 more effect... I figure I can use a few 6-plug power cords with power switches.. and just turn the effects on and off through that.

Question.. do the strobes work in unison if you turn their power on at the same time and if they're set to the same flashes/sec? Or do I need a controller for them or something?

yea u might need a controler for that but im not sure

Strobes will not work in unision unless you link them (and use a controller). I've heard of some that will link with one being the master, other the slave. Strobes that will link will cost just a bit more than the cheapo's. Typically you have a small controller (on/off switch and pot for strobe speed) which then links to the strobes via 1/4"plug line cables.
It is not necessary to link them to use them. Linked is a nice, neat, clean effect but unlinked strobes give a more confused, erratic effect. If you want both those effects ... well, you're into DMX strobes - and that's another story

No no no... 1 effect is enough for me. =) But I prob wanna link them. What strobes do you think I should get? And if I need a controller, what's the cheapest you can think of?

Would I need any controllers for the other things I wanna get? Or simple on/off is enough in those cases?

Also, all of those are 10mins on/10 mins off, right? Even the strobes?


Lastly, for now, what do you all think of "DJ Smirny Claus" for my DJ name? Smirny is my last name..

Never leave a strobe on that long! Everyone will have seziures. Dont even get a powerful one.

Dont follow 10 on 10 off so tightly either. Make the lights be on the the apropriate music.

i've found for more formal occacions, its best to leave the strobes out....strobes affect seniors alot more as well....seziors.....elipisy....

I agree with Drew and Megastever. Strobes are a 'special' effect and best if used in short 'bursts' - a minute or less. Only use them on really rockin' songs - not likely at 'formal' gigs with the older crowd around.
I would recommend a couple Snapshot II's with an S-10 controller. The Snapshots are really nice and light (not like the heavy, metal, older ones) and the S-10 gives you good control (even a sound active mode!). You can find older/cheaper strobes/controllers but they will be heavy and won't have some of the S-10 control features. Strobes are a classic so if you plan on doing this awhile, go ahead and spend a few extra bucks on the decent stuff - it's not THAT much more expensive.

i have my strobes on all the time, except slow songs, i'm running 2 mega strobes with a controller, it only goes off every few seconds to the beat which gives a nice punch to the show. plus it doesn't mess with the older people as much

To hell with the older people... if you can't handle the strobes, go home. Hahahahahh!

But seriously, its a 13 year old bday party, and they love lights. I plan to have strobes on for maybe like 1 song length... maybe just flash them a few times during some songs, etc.

As for lights, I was thinking keeping them on a cycle of 2-4 songs, depending on song length. I'd swap the Mystic and the moonflowers at the end of the song that's closest to 10 mins.



And what about that DJ name? =) DJ Smirny Claus!

what are you planning on doing about slow songs???

I've got a few slow songs lined up already... not too many though. I could use some ideas for more good ones.

Soluna - For All Time
Savage Garden - Truley Madly Deeply
Aaliyah - I Care For You
Mariah Carey - Hero

Any other good ones you people can think of? I figure that I'll play 1 or 2 every 20-30 mins, so I'll end up playing maybe 6 or so throughout the 2 hours I'll be DJing.

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Why won't someone tell me what they think of the DJ name? Is it THAT bad? =)

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If I get strobes, you people recommended I get 2 Snap Shot IIs ($60 each), and a controller ($40). Why not just get a big 750 watt strobe (I found some on ebay for $105)? Then again, with my budget, both options seem kinda expensive... I dunno.

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Another thing... what do you all think of lasers? I was thinking of maybe getting 2 Laser Widows on ebay or something. Would they be worth it? How long should I leave them on for... and how often should I use them?


Teach me, oh wise ones!

I have the laser widow and I am satisfied with its performance. Looks nice and I usually just leave it on sound activated the whole time on a wall or something.

They are good for the price, but they just dont make enough of ann effect for me.

maybe u shuld forget the strobes for now and use that money to buy a slow effect light, like a couple of jewels or sparkles. again, strobes are only gonna be short bursts, they are kind of like a buffer to your show, not a mainstay. i would get the slow song lights first, and then go with the strobes if you have the extra $$$

Or how about I get nothing for now, and save 100% of my income to buy better lights later on? Yeah, let's do that.

I visited the restaurant where the Bar Mitzvah is gonna be, and talked to the PR manager, and the band manager. They agreed to let me use their equipment, for a % of my income. When they found out I was actually an invited guest, that I knew the kid, they said I can use their equipment for free.

We're talking about an entire stage of sound equipment, and a full club level DMX light-show. He said the controller is already programmed with a few programs, and I can just use them... no need to make my own. Also, this means no having to bring all my equipment (just music, players, and mixer), and especially not having to park in Brooklyn, which is an imposibility in of itself.


Sweet! Next time I ask for light advice, my budget will be a bit over $500.