Lightshows

[Dj Bebop]

I've always liked lightshows though I've never had the reason or the money to create one. I was thinking would it make sense to buy a lightshow, then rent it out to people and set it up for them? Just food for thought.

[Designer]

You can make some money doing that but the initial outlay of a good lightshow can be quite large, expect people to want to hire a lighting rig that costs around £5000+ for around £100 a time, so making your money back would take some time, but in the long run once it's paid for itself then everything you make will be a profit.

[DJNaviss]

Yea, When I first started DJ-ing, I spent alot and I do mean alot of money on speaker's lighting etc... And it will be year and year's before I get my money back....

But, I didn't just buy it to make money, I did it because I enjoy it... However I wouldn't mind some help taking it down and putting it up. :squint:

[Designer]

Thats the problem with DJing, it can cost you a fortune. But sticking at it does eventually get you your money back and more



The other problem with lighting rental is you'll probably get your gear trashed, so your insurance on it will cost a bomb if your renting it out.

[DJNaviss]

I haven't rented anyof lighting, I own and paid for it all..

However if I didn't, It isn't like I have any place to rent lighting... I kind of wish I did, I wouldn't mind seeing some new light's before I would buy them.
All I have to see a light, Is just online video's.

[Designer]

Sorry Naviss, the 2nd part of my post was meant in reply to Bebop's rental suggestion at the beginning of the thread.

[DJNaviss]

Bah, I see... Go slow with me... I tend to learn fast, But remembering and reading everything, I'm still having a problem with. :banghead:

[jamesnet]

Thats the problem with DJing, it can cost you a fortune. But sticking at it does eventually get you your money back and more.

I didn't make jack for 4 years with the lighting, but after you get everything streamlined, it works out.

[Dj Bebop]

Alright, so I take it that in the beginning you don't make anything, but eventually it pays for itself. Can anyone suggest some lights to start with? Currently I own 4 parcans and a moon flower effect light by American Dj. Thanks for the help :)

[jamesnet]

Well, martin mx-1's are a great intelligent light (See other thread) and you can get their mc-1 controller for like 100$ and control them until you want to go to full DMX.

[Designer]

It really depends on your budget. If your looking to hire stuff out youll want to use intelligent lighting. So maybe some martin MX-1's (around $450 each) These will work on any standard DMX controller but i'd opt for something PC based like martin lightjockey or if you want to go a bit cheaper then sweetlight.

Edit:- James, I think we were both posting at the same time. :lol:

[jamesnet]

See, 1 minute apart.. good advice... It just flows out of the lighting forum :argue:

[DJNaviss]

Then you got people like me, Watching every post you make, Taking note's, Trying to learn everything we can, Before we start asking dumb question's. :banghead:

[Designer]

No questions are ever dumb Naviss,

A good example of a really dumb question is what I said in an electronics store this morning, I asked the sales assistant "How much are those £2.99 XLR connectors". The sales assistant replied "Er, £2.99 Sir?" :rolleyes: . So I said "I'll get my coat".

The whole point of a forum is for everyone to help each other out with problems and stuff, it always works out that someone you help out will end up helping you out with something later down the line. :)

[Dj Bebop]

Thanks for all of the tips. I'm thinking about getting a set of four American Dj Pocket scan lights.

http://www.pssl.com/bitemdetail.tpl?eqint_KeyIDdata=36329&UID=2004072620465015&TType=[TType]

I can get them for a very good price so I thought I'd go with those.

[Designer]

Do you know what the controller is like?

It might be worth upgrading at some point to the Cahuvet DMX50 or Showtec scanmaster 2/3 to put you in a bit more control if the basic one is just a blackout type controller.