my lighting show layout

I've learned a lot about front and back lighting in the past year. Mostly I learned that I really like being a soung guy MORE than lights.

Still, nice and novel idea, but I think instead of the front par cans, get some color changers that equate to the same wattage. I think you'll enjoy the variety it gives you. Plus, since they are DMX, you won't have to carry around additional dimmer packs, so overall they can save you money.

I can see it working. I take it the cans around the drummer are par38's and you're using 56's or 64's for the fronts? Might want some front of stage lights at floor level going UP. That's my next step: stage fill lights.

I like your setup (I am not much for the barrel lights, I like the flat mirrors better).

What type of pars are you using 38, 46, 56, 64?

What is your controller setup? Will you have a lighting tech? or is the sound guy going to tinker with the lights?

Depending on your stage size and pars, maybe you want to vary up your front cans, instead of 4 whites per side, maybe try red, blue, white, white (or yellow).

The other question is setup time... what is your goal for setup time? less than an hour? more/less?


I like the idea of adding floor lights, they look really good when used correctly....

Whatever you do make sure that the lights are hung safely, easily, and of course fits your music.

Every par i have is very narrow 56's. My intention was to try to avoid having a wash for front light, and instead use my front lights almost like multiple angled spots.

I usually keep my white pars to almost 50% the entire show, and my rears at 100%.

What advantage do you guys think I would get from adding color? Other than coloring the members of the band. I used to add a very soft blue in every other white just to add some flavor, but didnt really feel it changed anything.

My short-term goal would be to place two more flat mirrors in the air and two more on the ground, and then 4-6 pars on the floor doing wall stuff.

Adding color to the front lights is a very good thing. It allows you to turn off the spots when someone isn't singing or playing a lead and it won't leave them in the dark. Members of the band also appreciate it because you aren't cooking them with white light all night.

With all white light, they really don't work as spots. It's just sort of light in the front so you can see faces. Spots work because they stand out from the rest of the lighting to highlight a person or object. With the addition of color, you can draw the audience's attention to a particular person or persons on stage when necessary, and pull attention away when necessary.

This keeps the focus on the important stuff and sends some of the not-so-important- stuff to the background.

Also, color in the front lights also allows you to compliment the colors in the scenes you already have (on the truss), rather than washing them out with white light.

I have eight par 56's for my front lights. Four on each side. Each 'bank' has 2 spots (light amber) and 2 washes (one blue, one red). This way, I have a spot for each member of the band and enough wash crossing the stage to fill in from the front when the spots are not on (red and blue compliment many other colors, so that's why they are so). I also use the front wash colors even when the spots are on.

I had a dimmer go out on me a few weeks ago, which happened to control my front wash, and I was stuck using the spots for everything. I hated every minute of it. Having too much bright light from the front really takes away from the lights on the truss.

As for light sizes. Par 56's are perfect for bars/clubs/etc. I use 56's as my mains and fronts. I use 38's for the drums and floor lights, and 42's for specials and ACL's. I tend to dislike 64's because they take up too much space in storage and on the stage (and they cost more). If you really want the benefit of a 64, you need a big bulb, which is more wattage and current. And we all know how valuable electricity is on stage -- so that's another consideration.

You could also look into foot lighting or shooting some white pars upwards so not only your performers faces dont look washed out, you want to be able to see them. Color is also good from the front as well but u do want to have some white in there for better viewing purposes. Trust me learn from experiences of having parents saying "i cant see my baby's face in row three!"

-AMP

Very true. Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying that white light is a bad thing. Having the option to turn it off and not be detrimental to the performance is handy though. It's a balance achieved through experience.

Up-light is nice as well when you have prominent shadowing, particularly on faces.

-Tech

Oo yes of course definately. Im so sorry Tech i didnt mean to make it soudn like I was undermining you. There have been numerous times where i use only colored frontlight, it gives a whole new effect! Prety much it depends on what kinda look your goin for. May the light be with you!