Calling all DJs

[BrentEvans]

I am not a DJ, I don't really care to become a pro DJ. It's not my bag, so to speak. However, my brother-in-law is getting married next week and I was asked to "DJ" the reception (which will mostly consist of setting up gear and running a prepared playlist, and playing certain cues at the appropriate times.

My question is about lighting. I have some lights that I obtained to do video, but I'd like to set up something for them (they don't have much, and every touch matters). I have an Elation Stage Setter 8 DMX console, 3 Elation 4 channel dimmers, 4 Par-32s, 2 Par 64s, and 2 18 inch scoops. I have a couple speaker stands to clamp things to.

I can't buy much, maybe some color gels (cheap enough, can be used elsewhere). What would you pro DJs reccomend for best effect? It's a small room (35x50 or so).

[Gregory East]

Get the kids to play with mirrors and make animal shapes, cost, 1x 5 buck acryllic mirror chopped up.

[doncolga]

I have only two 4Bars and they've done me very well. I think what you have will be fine. On each bar I point two to the floor and two to the wall or ceiling for down and up lighting. Slow songs get smooth fades, fast songs fast fades and audio triggers, usually on the choruses of the songs. Works great for me and it's not a hassle to run while picking songs for the dancers. Darkness is a bigger deal than lighting...lol.

For a song playing tip...be sure to put in enough slow songs.

[guitarkeys.com]

Just make sure you wear a hat cocked to the side and you'll be fine...

Jamie

[bassmonster]

If you need chasers, I'm a big fan of the Chauvet Color Bank. It comes in either LED version called the DJ Bank or the standard Color Bank with filament bulbs. It's either sound-activated with a microphone sensitivity dial or you can manually adjust the speed of the flashing with a different dial. It's simple, cheap, and it works great for small gigs, and looks awesome in the dark. You can buy more bulbs of the same color and run a light wash or whatever you want

[BrentEvans]

If you need chasers, I'm a big fan of the Chauvet Color Bank. It comes in either LED version called the DJ Bank or the standard Color Bank with filament bulbs. It's either sound-activated with a microphone sensitivity dial or you can manually adjust the speed of the flashing with a different dial. It's simple, cheap, and it works great for small gigs, and looks awesome in the dark. You can buy more bulbs of the same color and run a light wash or whatever you want

I am not a DJ, I don't really care to become a pro DJ.
<<snip>>
I can't buy much, maybe some color gels (cheap enough, can be used elsewhere).

Looking to implement what I have for a one-off event that is a gift, not a paying gig. Looking for suggestions on setup, implementation, etc.

[Gauss]

Cheap lighting set-up for next week? Tough one. Does your Elation have sound activation? If so, just point the two big ones at the ceiling, the rest on the dance floor and program scenes to change to the beat. Yes, you will need colored gels for them to be interesting.

If you can get a mirror ball, a little goes a long way. http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHAUVET-MBK-2-1 ... 727wt_1141

I hope their prepared play list gets the results they want.

[doncolga]

I hope their prepared play list gets the results they want.

+1 I usually request couple give me a list of about 30-40 of their favorite songs and work those in with what I'm requested and what I know will work. That seems to make for a good combination.

[Lastcat]

Check out the Mirco Galaxian. I run 2, and they work great, and inexpensive. Just 1 alone, throws great coverage.



http://www.bestbuy.com/site/American+DJ ... ku=2761538

[subharmonic]

Check out the Mirco Galaxian. I run 2, and they work great, and inexpensive. Just 1 alone, throws great coverage.



http://www.bestbuy.com/site/American+DJ ... ku=2761538

+.5
i have one of these, amazing effect for little cash. Go for an adj one with the rf remoter, the ir remote on my galaxian sucks hard. It is less than a 8" range. The adj gobo looks sweet. I will be changing to adj when i have some spare cash.

As for the preset playlist. That can be tricky, unless they really know what they are doing. I find that the crowd and the B&G can be off a little. But if it is big hits that everyone knows you should be good. What do they have on their list?

[BrentEvans]

Cheap lighting set-up for next week? Tough one. Does your Elation have sound activation? If so, just point the two big ones at the ceiling, the rest on the dance floor and program scenes to change to the beat. Yes, you will need colored gels for them to be interesting.

No sound activation. It does have chase patterns though, although I've never programmed them. That will take a bit of learning, but I'm sure I can handle it.

If you can get a mirror ball, a little goes a long way. http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHAUVET-MBK-2-1 ... 727wt_1141

Might be able to borrow one of those.

I hope their prepared play list gets the results they want.

They're a little more.. eh... liberal... than I, but I don't gather that it's going to be a big dance event. I just want to make it look pretty.

[Gauss]

Liberal? Well, if you have some control, wait until the folks are drinking to play the nasty stuff. My business niche is 'clean' music, so I don't have the drama that comes from an inappropriate song choice. Did a wedding two months ago with unusual must-plays, but we did our best to stick these screaming punk rock and sing alongs in the set where they fit and it worked. Not much of a dancing crowd at that one. Lights will help, mostly by being dark when it's time to dance, in order to set the mood.

Since you're not cueing music, you can change the programmed lights to the beat.

[BrentEvans]

Liberal? Well, if you have some control, wait until the folks are drinking to play the nasty stuff. My business niche is 'clean' music, so I don't have the drama that comes from an inappropriate song choice. Did a wedding two months ago with unusual must-plays, but we did our best to stick these screaming punk rock and sing alongs in the set where they fit and it worked. Not much of a dancing crowd at that one. Lights will help, mostly by being dark when it's time to dance, in order to set the mood.

Since you're not cueing music, you can change the programmed lights to the beat.

Well.. AFAIK, there will be no booze... when I say "liberal" i mean "dancing and pop music in a church fellowship hall." We don't do that kind of thing where I'm from... but it's not my wedding.

I know little to nothing about pop music - I honestly can't name ten pop songs or artists without having to think about it - so the playlist is a must.

So how would you guys deploy the lights for best effect?

[doncolga]

Liberal? Well, if you have some control, wait until the folks are drinking to play the nasty stuff. My business niche is 'clean' music, so I don't have the drama that comes from an inappropriate song choice. Did a wedding two months ago with unusual must-plays, but we did our best to stick these screaming punk rock and sing alongs in the set where they fit and it worked. Not much of a dancing crowd at that one. Lights will help, mostly by being dark when it's time to dance, in order to set the mood.

Since you're not cueing music, you can change the programmed lights to the beat.

Well.. AFAIK, there will be no booze... when I say "liberal" i mean "dancing and pop music in a church fellowship hall." We don't do that kind of thing where I'm from... but it's not my wedding.

I know little to nothing about pop music - I honestly can't name ten pop songs or artists without having to think about it - so the playlist is a must.

So how would you guys deploy the lights for best effect?

I think especially for that venue floor and ceiling wash would be fine. If you can add other stuff that's great, but I think it will do. This is all I've used for sweet sixteens in a converted Catholic church (now a social hall about 75X40, capacity about 200) and it's been just fine. I've never had any gig where there was any suggestion that my lighting was lacking at all. Some is certainly needed, but I just get the impression that it doesn't have to be as over the top as we may think, but that's my .02. My LED's change colors and it looks quite nice especially if the room is pretty dark...which may be anther thing in that venue. The lights are probably in sections so get your section as dark as possible. The reception I had last night had *lots* of nice lights installed. It was nice in addition to mine, but didn't completely knock me out either. I only ran the house lights on fast songs to keep them effective and interesting when they were on. Definitely don't run them full tilt all the time.

[BrentEvans]

Well, got my first taste of the DJ world.... Borrowed a few extra par 64s and a disco ball... Bride and groom were thrilled and everyone had fun.



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