Help me spend someone else's money

what's the total budget?
Welcome to the forums.
Sincerely,

I was afraid this question would be asked. I would LOVE to have a budget as he has no ideas at all as to what this stuff costs. If I had to venture a guess... total guess, $2000. So I am trying to get a ball park figure to give him here too. Maybe $2000 is a drop in the bucket, maybe it is over kill. So I am looking for guidance in all aspects.

I don't take that route anymore.

I get a few of those calls a year. "You're a sound guy, design us some lights". I say "I'm a sound guy, go hire a lighting guy".

If they persist, I ask for $10Grand non-refundable retainer. That shuts them up fast. If they have that kind of money, you know you won't have budget problems.

OK, this is what I would do:

You're going to want some "instant show" stuff, which would be your basic hi-tech FX. While not fantastic, they are more than suitable for what you're trying to accomplish, especially if you're just doing DJ/karaoke/dance night. I wouldn't rely exclusively on those though, but it's a start.

As far as the stage, you definately want some front and rear wash lights. I'm recommending LED's for power draw concerns. Front and back. Get RGB mixing fixtures, but also plan to get a lot of them. Maybe 16-20 or more. Elation also makes some good items in this area for RGB LED Cans, as does ADJ so good stuff both ways. You might want to also investigate some of the MegaBar and MegaPixel and Mega Panel items.

Because of all that trussing, you may want to install some other intels as well, namely moving head fixtures and scanners, maybe 4-6 of each. These I find tend to work best in at least pairs or even-numbered groups, but that's observation, not a rule, as any numbers can work. I would at least recommend pairs. Say, maybe 2 of this type of scanner and 2 of that type of scanner, then same logic with some movers. You may want to ensure whatever you buy has a sound active mode in it since you seem to want to keep that feature available. I don't blame you, I like having that option as well.

Now, the LED and intels are going to start adding up fast, it's expensive. You can save money on swapping out the LED cans/wash fixtures for conventionals, but then you have to buy more, buy more dimmer packs and use filters and higher power draw. Honestly, for the costs I paid EACH on my P64 LED Pros, I could have spent around the same on 3-4 conventional Par64 cans at 500-watts each, plus a dimmer, and now a 2000-watt maximum draw(exceeding the dimmer pack even after 2 lights at full draw), or I could draw around 30 watts per fixture, but the ADJ 64 LED Pros are not as bright. I could step up to the Elation products to get better results, which is a step I'm heading in.

Dimmers add up too. You need to make sure you have your hi-tech FX on SWITCHERS, not dimmers. The current hangable dimmer pack, the DP-DMX20L, replaces the older DP-DMX20L DIMMER and the PP-DMX20L power pack(switching) by combining dimming and switching on a selectable per channel basis.

But, I think having dimmer packs up in the air like that isn't a wise thing. I think you're better off with rack mount dimmer packs from a management point of view. Then you have to run power UP to the lights via extension cords, socapex or stage pins with adaptors. In the end, you want your wiring to be as neat and hidden as possible. Based on the photos, you seem to have the advantage of construction being able to play in your favor to cover things up and running conduit and do things all nice and proper.

Now, you need to control it all. So many choices from basic controllers to software like MyDMX. What's good is that if you do your work right, you're still good if someone brings in a better console later on and they can just plug in and go. You may also want to get a DMX distributor such as the Elation OptoBranch/4 for multiple reasons besides just DMX distribution. You could install that at stage-side or near the dimmers.

But, before you go nuts and start designing your dream, it's really essential to get some sort of working budget. This stuff can get expensive FAST. You want good stuff, not garbage.

I'd probably start with options as well.
Say, make a scenario with the staging only lighting, and what you recommend and pricing.

Do similar things with other fixtures. Any moving yoke likes can be aimed at the stage if need be or desired, while I recommend scanners stay in the dance floor.

Hi-tech FX should be dance floor only in my opinion.

Then, chances are you're going to want to add in a hazer as well as a pair of DMX triggerable fog machines. Depending on the route you take, this isn't a super expensive plunge, but it COULD be depending on what exactly you buy.

Have fun!

So here is my thought...

DMX Operator controller @ 192 channels
8 - P64 LEDs for stage use (this will use 48 channels) maybe use 1 as a color wash on the dance floor
1 - PP-DMX20L (4 channels)
4 - effects lights with onboard mics fior the dance floor. (Aggressor, Topaz EX, Dual GEM, Quick Scan system or some such combo)


I figure this will put me at about $2500 and will be quite reasonable to start. Then later if he wants he'll have plenty of channels to add crap to if he wants. Does this sound reasonable?

Well, let's jus say we disagree on a few items, but those aren't important issues.

1: Yup, should work. But, I do recommend going with the ADJ 64 LED Pros instead of the regular ones. The features are better. If you want to save channels, you can match channels on fixtures. I get the concept that you've already gotten that figured out.

Don't get the PP-DMX20L, get the newer DP-DMX20L, you can set each channel to dim or switching.

My choice of FX lights are different than yours, but hey, the only wrong answer is if people don't like them, and you've picked some good classic lights. I don't think you'd go wrong with those. I like the Mystic and the Vertigo, but you do see those everywhere, so maybe it's good to not have those. Besides, you can always get them later if you have to have them.

The DMX Operator is a good starter controller with room to grow. But, for a bit more money, how does computer-based MyDMX sound? Grows with you a bit better and the scene naming can make life easier on an operator.

I do have both the DMX Operator AND MyDMX. Let's put it this way, my lighting requirements were exceeding what I needed to do with the DMX Operator, even though I wans't in need of more channels.

Other than those 2 suggestions, I think you've come up with a decent starter set that you can grow as need be.

Cool, I get what you are saying.

The only place I will differ is with the controller. I won't go MyDMX simply for the fact that there will likely be several folks running lights and though less flexible the DMX Operator should be able to be understood relatively easily by anyone. Plus I don't have to worry about a computer laying around to be broken, stolen, screwed up, forgotten....

Well, that is a good argument.

MyDMX is very easy to operate, but if someone takes out their "computer agro" out on that machine, bye bye lights for a bit!

I do this show 2 times a year(coming up this weekend is the first one) and I had a DJ up and running MyDMX in 5 minutes.

I'd say some console tape and label your scenes and a water-proofed cheat-sheet and you're golden with the DMX Operator.

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Pickett:


I'd say some console tape and label your scenes and a water-proofed cheat-sheet and you're golden with the DMX Operator.

Exactly what I am thinking. Great, thanks for all the input.