Video/light show?
We are looking at upgrading our basic light kits for our shows. I have been wondering if anyone here has ever used those video projectors for effects, visualations, background, etc. during their shows. I have been to rock concerts where they have big movie screens with film footage or whatever in the background, but I am wondering if there is anything that a modest cover bar band could do with this type of equipment but on a smaller scale.
Right now we have a couple of Chauvet 4 colored light boxes that chase the beat and and Waterfall light effect for the dance floor. Since none of us in the band know anything about lighting and effects, I am asking for suggestions to improve our light show. Thanks for any suggestions.
Right now we have a couple of Chauvet 4 colored light boxes that chase the beat and and Waterfall light effect for the dance floor. Since none of us in the band know anything about lighting and effects, I am asking for suggestions to improve our light show. Thanks for any suggestions.
Comments
The other thing to remember is that there's an entire crew dedicated to creating and operating these visuals for a show.
If you're a \"normal\" band, chances are you don't have the bux for the equipment, personnel, preparation or presentation of such elaborate visuals.
If I were me, I'd stick to less intensive lights, until either your gigs are paying for them, or someone else is. While visuals have much more impact - and will stick in fans' memory better - let the focus be on the sound, not the visuals.
And have your wife set me up with her hott single friend. 8)
Umm, I think we're a \"normal\" band and we barely have enough money left over to pay our soundman (bless his heart), let alone a light show.
JV
LED lights are awesome too. Many pluses for color and chase schemes including strobes. Best of all, very low power consumption, and seldom any worry over duty cycle.
Great suggestions. I found this LED moonflower effect http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Chauvet-LX10-LED-Moonflower-Effect-Light?sku=801641 that we could afford and that would fit in with our other light effects. If you have time to check out the link, I'd appreciate your feedback.
We have been thinking about getting a fogger, especially for the upcoming Halloween show, but I have heard alot of negative comments from the crowd when the DJ uses the fog machines. Is a hazer a lighter fog machine? The negative comments I heard about fog machines is that they make it hard or uncomfortable to breath the air. The last thing we need as a live singing band is to be coughing due to a hazer/fog machine.
Although I understand the suggestions that we concentrate on our sound instead of our lights, I will only say that we put many hours into our shows and practice our songs every weekend. To me, a light show is like frosting on the cake. You might not need it, but it can surely add something to the overall show.
And, let's not forget, we are competing against DJ's with their almost unlimited selection of professionally recorded songs that we can only hope to cover a few well, and they also have lots of flashing lights and effects. As a working band, we need to find where our strength is and work that in our competition with the DJ's and Karaoke guys. We are really trying hard to make personal contact with the audience and getting them involved in our show. Even our modest light show improves the atmosphere.
The idea of using a video projector is just a thought I got this past week when I bought a video projector for my home theater. The projector only weighs 6 lbs and comes with a carrying case. I was just wondering if anyone out there is using these projectors in their shows and if they found it successful or not. No, we don't have a dedicated crew to run our lights/video, but that is not where I was going with my question. I am just trying to think of new ways of adding something to our show. I agree that the music is fundamental, but any improvements we can bring to the show and add excitement for the crowd reflects well on us.
DJ music is fine to LISTEN to, but it's a whole different experience to WATCH music being played. Many people don't care - it's enough for them to listen - but lots of people enjoy actually SEEING music played, at least if it doesn't suck.
Visuals do increase the impact of a show, but I stand by my statements about the expanse and complexity of visuals. And while g or others could better comment on this, I'd suggest that no or minimal visuals are better than crappy ones.
BTW, I thought the MonnFlower thing was pretty kewl, and especially so 'cuz it's not too expensive, and will run by itself without needing a \"lighting guy\".
Thanks, Shredd. I agree that crappy visuals are bad. That is why I always ask in this forum what effects go over well. So far, the advice I have received and the effects we have purchased have been good for our band. Since we don't have a sound/light guy, the effects we choose are pretty much set and forget. That is what I liked about those Chauvet chasing light banks we purchased and now I am looking at that LED Moonflower effect.
With a DMX controller, you can program your lights and effects (LED's, Moonflower, Fog, Laser, Scanners, Spotlights...) to a memory channel, then play them automatically as you do your set.
For simple example:
You have 4 songs to play. DMX controller has 8 channels.
Song 1 Rock= Program 1 DMX (fast red LED's, laser, fog)
Song 2 Love= Program 2 DMX (slow blue LED's, blacklight)
Song 3 Blues= Program 3 DMX (scanner/spots follow lead guitarist during solo)
Song 4 Finale= (LED's, laser, blacklight, fog, scanner/spots, all lights fade out)
Still have 4 memory channels available to program 4 more light shows.
You could even take time to program 1-4 onto channel 5, as ONE program! Then you could just hit start program 5, go play your whole show, and don't worry about the lights as they'll now work automatically for you!
It can be done as affordably or expensively as you need.
For Halloween, red/blue LED's, strobes, blacklights are good for effects.
My personal opinion mate.
As alot of bands invest in some form of lighting, usually 2 trees one on either side. I feel it just takes on a generic feel/look. With all the lighting and effect options out there these days. Done right, it can definitely inhance the bands image and sound, as it is heard in a different light! LoL
Seriously your patrons are drinking and sound is sound and they get aclimated to it. Isn't that why every set and in a set the volume goes up a few db's, to grab their attention. And so should the visuall aspect. But you know that.
I don't recall seeing/knowing anyone lately doing a back screen, so I can't comment. If you go forth with it good luck, hope it works for ya.
Like anything, if your rehearsal space will allow for it. Have you set up the light show in a mock stage and played recorded music of your set lists to see for yourself how the different lights/effects impact the the music? No matter how cool something is to much of it or used in the wrong place will get old and won't have the desired effect. imo.
I know money is a factor, but when shopping ( I'm sure you do! ) try to think of how that effect/light will fit a particular song-s that you do. You might even want to go second hand for this type of equipment.
Second to that, the venue. There are many times the power to the stage will minimize your use of lighting. LED cans can deliver the lighting needed. Standard par 64 consumes the same power as 150 LED cans. Par LED's do not get hot. Something to consider.
HAZERS have a less dense fog and are very good for lighting. Foggers, the user can get crazy with it and obscure the entire band in few short bursts. In short, hazers still provide visibility, and foggers promote a thicker heavier obscuring effect. Many venues will be ok with hazers more than foggers. Certain foggers can leave a residue depending on the oils or base within the fog juice ( not nearly as much as they used too).
LIGHTING accents your show no doubt. Lighting control helps to control the feel of the performance. Example, if you come out of song and have the fade out. Drummer kick goes and a light is on his kick drum ( but that's it).. the whooooooo factor is there. The mood is there.. now when the band starts to come in lights are mid tone, vocals come in, and full bore go the lights.
You can emphasize lighting for the band and have control over the dance participation. If you see a group getting ready to dance, kick on the moonflower or scanners to paste the floor with lighting. No doubt it adds to the fun.
I've seen great performers with subtle lights and the crowd factor or response is not as engaging. Same group with a decent light show and the difference in participation can be 10x greater than just having a wash effect or chasers.
If you use typical cans, connect a DMX and control rig to it to allow fades and dimmers and you will notice a big change overall. Your band members will be more into it. Visuals are and can be as much a part of any show as is the music being played. Good Movies need great sound, and great sound performances go better with visuals. We like stimulus. The visuals by far can set a mood as much as the song that is played.
Start with simple effects- Moonflowers, Scanners are popular. Things to look at are Duty Cycle ( how long you can keep the effect on before the light has to cool ), Amount of GOBOs ( little discs that change the effect design), and of course power consumption because you don't want lighting to kick on and trip a breaker.
Typically, par cans, scanner ( or two) and hazer are about all you need. Laser is very cool effect but only if used appropriately. Do not point lasers at crowds at eye level unless you want a lawsuit. Lasers are awesome when used properly with a hazer. I only use them on the back wash of the stage behind the drummer. The visual is amazing as the beams split across or a ceiling gets flashed. Sort of a peacock feather effect.
There are many ways lighting can enhance any show. It can make less than great performances go better. It can take great performances steps above in terms of audience participation and even controlling the mood of your sets.
Ex: Comfortably Numb- Side pars are Green, Laser on ( panning), for intro and verse. When the bridge to chorus comes in, kick on a few more dim lights or add the scanner, laser off. As that keyboard part is going.. during the heavy jam, Lights active from the Kick, you get the point.
If you have an acoustic song, set a couple pars as a spot, no stage wash and performance from the audience perspective is focusing just on that performer.
Ever go midnight bowling where they use black lights and colored pins??? Does lighting enhance that game? Does it enhance the fun? That should answer your question about visual aid.
What we did was set a camera up stationary for about 1 1/2 hours on a windy day and every once in a while run in front of it or something. This was cool because it was more like a moving back drop.
moral of the story: background videos are a pain in the *ss! If the place you're playing at doesn't have a projection screen it's going to set you back quite a bit more than your average set of lights. And if they already have one it tends to be a distraction from the music - for both the band and the audience.
Thanks for the feedback on your experience with projectors at a gig. We don't need any more pains in the a$$ so maybe I'll just let the video projector idea die. I too thought it might be cool, but it also has the potential to be a real pain to setup and run. Also, if it distracts the band and the audience, then that is definitely a killer.
I have taken some good notes about the other suggestions concerning the lights. I think I will get the Moonflower effect and start looking at hazers. There seems to a consensus about their effectiveness. I know a good light show should enhance the music, and not distract from it. That's why I am coming to you guys for advice. The salesmen at the stores will tell you every effect is great and that we should buy it. I'd rather hear from working musicians what really works at their gigs.
1. Stage Fill lighting- Par Cans, Moving heads**, etc on trees or truss, preferably both sides or trussed down facing the performers.
2. Back fill- behind the drummer accent lights are really essential and those usually remain on for breaks. Solid color or color changer options.
3. Scanners, Moonflowers, Dance floor effects.
4. Special effects- Strobes, Spots, Hazer, Fogger, Laser
5. Front aimed fill or wash. Accents each perfomer, only works on riser stages.
DMX control via LEDS or dimmer/ controllers can be programmed ( as previously mentioned) within sets, songs, styles, etc. You can really do a nice show with animated lighting effects via dmx.
Moving heads are great but not usually in the reach of most simple performers groups. Moving heads are costly, but they really do make for an amazing light show. Mostly found in fixed club installations.