How To Choose A Video Projector For Stage Performance 

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I have only had anecdotal experience with this but I'll share what I know. In short, I haven't had any problems with flicker. The longer version: In the US, our AC power alternates at 60Hz (60 cycles per second). In Europe it's 50Hz. Therefore the standard TV framerate was based on those rates, ending up as ~30fps (frames per second) in North America and ~25fps in most of the rest of the world. These days, most projectors will use a framerate of either 30 or 60 in the US and either 25 or 50 elsewhere. Also, most TVs and projectors these days use "progressive" frames (as opposed to "interlaced"). That's the "P" (for progressive) on 720P or 1080P. You may have recording problems using interlaced projectors because the interlacing in the projector may be out of sync with the camera. But as long as you've got a "P" projector and your recording device is also recording at a similar rate as your projector, you should be just fine - which is to say, use a US-model camera to record a US-model video projector. I get the feeling that this was more of an issue with older analog equipment than it is with current digital stuff. These days, you can, for instance, hold your phone up and record your TV just fine without flicker. You should have a similar experience with your projector. But there was always nasty drift when you held your VHS camcorder up to record your CRT TV - for those of you who can remember that. That was an analog interlaced TV being recorded by an analog interlaced recorder. These days everything is digital and progressive and we don't have those problems. I don't believe laser projectors will be any better/worse for flicker. At least that's been my experience. If anyone has better information, please correct me!

Scrim projections! Very cool. For anyone who doesn't know, a scrim is a piece of meshed cloth (sometimes called a mosquito curtain) which can appear either transparent or opaque depending on how it is lit. I don't have experience with that yet. But brighter is just about always better. Remember that the scrim is translucent - which means that some, if not MOST of the light that you project onto it will go THROUGH it rather than appearing to the audience. So you're reducing the practical lumen level by losing light to the holes in the scrim. My gut feeling is that 4 to 5,000 lumens is going to be the minimum that you'd need.. and depending on the production level, you'll probably need more than that to be happy. Let me know how it goes. I'd love to learn more about scrim projection.

Pretty sure the 585 cannot throw from the ground, so you'd have to mount it to something to throw from above. Curious what you ended up landing on projector wise?

Sorry, late response. I ended up with the 535w. It’s great for my needs.

The larger the projection image, the more diffused (dimmer) the picture will be. So you'll want a brighter projector. Also, the larger the projection image, the further the projector will need to be from the wall. So you might want a short or ultra short throw projector. The shorter the throw of the projector, the flatter your projection surface will need to be. Traditional cyclorama backgrounds are curved, so if that's what you're projecting on, a conventional-throw projector might work better if you've got the space. If you're doing a permanent installation in your own studio, you can ceiling mount and you'll have a lot more control. But if you're looking for a projector to bring to a 3rd party venue, an ultra short throw will be less likely to be in the way of the dancers. Ultra short throw projectors can be a bit bulky though. And you might find a more portable short throw that would work for you. Okay, that's a lot of information. Here's the short version: Get a minimum 4,000-lumen short- or ultra-short-throw projector. The brighter the better. 1080P is probably fine. A laser projector will be a bit more rugged and last you longer, but anything will do. Respected brands include Epson, BenQ, Optoma, ViewSonic, Sony, and Panasonic. Hope that's helpful. Also, check out Visibox! It's a great way to project visuals during performances. It's also a nice system for audio playback. spaceage.tv

Funny you should ask! I just picked up a factory-renewed LS100 from Epson a few weeks ago (via eBay). It's 4,000 lumens, which is very good for an ultra-short laser projector. And it was just $1500. Looks like you can still find them on eBay (be sure you're buying directly from Epson). This thing is BIG though. I also picked up a Pelican iM2875 case to haul it to SXSW and NAMM in the coming months. It's road-ready now, but the case cost another $375. 🤦‍♂

@@spaceage thank you!!

Certainly, buying a lightly-used projector will be a better deal than a new one. That being said, the Espon PowerLite 1781W is super portable and has 3200 lumens for USD ~$800, but it's got a relatively long throw and relatively low resolution (~720P). These laptop-sized Epson PowerLite projectors have been around for a while and you can find them on eBay for pretty cheap. Those are good starter projectors. Check lumen level, resolution, and lightbulb hours before buying. Epson also has a bunch of short-throw projectors that you can find good deals on in the used market. The 435W or the 535W might a good way to go. Again, check bulb life and maybe budget to buy a new bulb. I just bought a refurbished Epson LS100 4000 lumen, ulta-short-throw laser projector for USD $1500. It's a beast, but it's nice and bright and takes up virtually no space on stage. And you don't have to worry about bulb life with a laser projector. I may post a video about this projector soon. I like the Epsons, but there are other good brands out there. www.projectorcentral.com is a great place to look up data on projectors that you find on the used market. Good luck!

@@spaceage thanks for info

I've certainly played a lot of shows with bright lights shining in my eyes. It can be irritating, distracting, and headache-inducing. For better or worse, it also creates a level of disconnectedness from the audience. Projectors are just a more focused, super-bright light to contend with. Bright lights in general, and laser projectors in particular, could potentially damage your retinas. Maybe sunglasses would help? 😎 The further you are from the projector, the more dispersed the light will be, but ultimately, you'll need to test it out and see what works for you. I suppose you could also use a light meter and do some research on the dangers of retinal damage. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3144654/

Can I ask you how it is cheaper? I am sincerely curious, as I am trying to decide which is the best option for live gigging.

@@michelebucceri Well, when you buy a projector you also need to buy a light bulb for it, and several replacements in case the bulb or projector explodes. Plus, projector screens can be very expensive and the scrim can wear down easily. And you’d need a lot of projection mapping programs to get the effects you’re after, so the money it costs for each program adds up quickly. On top of that, since projectors and specialized lightbulbs consume a lot of power, the power bill for your gig is likely to be quite high…and because of the added heat, you run the risk of fire damage to ceilings, walls, or other surfaces. LED Screens don’t require special programs, bulbs, replacements, or scrim, despite being priced a bit higher at first. And the power draw is lower so the power bills will also be lower, plus maintenance doesn’t need to be carried out as frequently.

@@co-jt6gd thanks for the thorough response man! Could you mention a few models to keep in mind, since you seem quite expert?

@@michelebucceri ADJ, Chauvet, Blizzard, Elation to name a few.

You can't project an led screen onto a set. An led screen is basically useless in theater except as a special