Using ADj megs profile pro plus. 4 of them on a T bar. Thanks for making this video! That controller tip is game changer with the brightness. I turn mine on when dancing starts and angle the lights to hit the ceiling and reflect off. I'm definitely getting a chauvet obey controller and learning programming cause when a slow song comes on and I use sound active its tacky. Plus all the lights are a different color so I think making them connected will be a game changer
I have a smaller basic setting that has two Chauvet 4 Bars - I’m very sad they stopped making the Tri’s so quickly because they do a fabulous job. I do have a Gig Bar 2 but I only plug it in when it’s actually party time. I have a dozen ADJ Mega Par Pacs that are great, but the cables are a headache. I want to switch those out for wireless uplighting. I also have a couple ADJ Starbursts and Chauvet Intimidator 355Zs which I offer for an upgraded lighting package. I use DMX receivers that plug into the lights that need it, and I control it all with Luminair on an IPad.
I use swarm5 at weddings all the time...but selectively using DMX programmed scenes....wash light ( I have 8 ) can be boring....I like to mix it up with a couple small movers , a couple of wash and the swarms at every wedding....all pre programmed scenes....nothing worse than sound active on a slow dance
This guy does the equivalent of a parent telling their kids its not nice to fart around people, but for djs. Crazy good job with the vids, really helpful
Hey now, I love those cheesy Spencers party lights and red lights in general (red light is so cozy at night), but I guess for a wedding specifically, you got some good points lol cool video!
THIS! you've articulated a lot of the thoughts I've had but never really knew how to explain to other djs. Spencer's gifts lighting is my new go to description. I've advocated wash lighting as an aesthetic preference forever now. And I've had photographers ask me not to use green because it makes the subject look like a witch lol
I am a lighting Tech and work lots of Weddings, Birthday Parties, Debutant Balls. I usually run the mobile gigs with a wireless DMX controlled setup with Luminair 4 on an iPad, or Chauvet Show express. I agree…Keep it classy and use minimal lighting in the beginning (up lights, a couple of movers for ceiling during cocktail hour and a RGB strip light set to “warm white and dimmed” on a stand to wash the dance floor. I save most of the dance lighting (Wash FX2’s, AdJ Rayzer with laser turned off) until all the formalities are done and the dance floor is open to everyone, then I switch everything over to party mode. I usually tell the photographer or videographer if something special is coming like the “ Dancing on a Cloud” dry ice effect so the can prepare for it and know where the co2 fog machine operator will be. The lasers and Swarm FX 5 is used mostly for Parties,School dances, and Glow parties with haze. By the way the Wash FX 2’s work great for UV glow (black light ) party’s. Just (4) of them in each corner can easily cover a 20 ft x 20 ft area.
Great tips! Literally just had this conversation with a photographer. He was wanting to know what the norm is for our industry. I told him that lasers and derby's are dated & if the DJ is using them ask him to stop/turn them off. He didn't have lighting in his contract so he will be adding that since our conversation.
I'm doing a wedding gig soon and I'm wondering how many lights should I bring or should I keep it simple on a tripod, plus should I bring a facade or black chavet booth. Your tips will certainly help me on this one, plus I LOVE your logs. Awesome. Thanks
Lighting is something I always shyed away from when I was a wedding DJ, it seemed like a another skill set and a little intimidating. really great tips and seems simple. I've learned a lot from your channel and wish these vids were around in 2009. I would have been set up for success.
You really just opened a whole new view of things one should be aware of during a wedding party. I love it because I am planning on starting into this venue in about six months. So keep those tips coming.
I would like your thoughts on uplighters around the room. Biggest problem with a lot of lights is preventing children touching them and picking them up which puts me off using uplighting
wow!!! I hope as DJs we all know this, but this is the first video I’ve seen explaining this. I think does old school laser light look very good at a dance party on the ceiling only. Excellent Video ❤
Damn good Video man!! I'm halfway through and I have laughed out loud 3 TIMES!! I touch base on this because it can be hard to do, so I'm very excited to finish and watch more!! Love the style of your teaching and super informative without making me want to smack my head really hard,, on my pillow!! Great humor, energy and passion!! Thanks dude and keep up the great work :) Ok back to learning!!
I loved Digital Dave’s setup so much after doing a few events with him that I went out and bought my own! I use a Chauvet Par9FX light on both speaker stands and DMX them together. I still use the auto sound mode but the DMX cord allows both lights to be doing the same colors and patterns at all times!
You actually felt our buttholes? Eeek!! Bwahahaha Seriously though, FULLY agree on using wash lights only. There was a time back when I first started in 1997 and throughout the mid 2000s, that I had all those dot/shape lights + lasers on a big ridiculous trussing, and let's not forget about fog! But for well over a decade now, I've only been using wash lighting. Keep it classy, San Diego! Also, FULLY agree about never turning on lights for the formalities. Uplighting doesn't count in this instance. But like you said, anything that's going to light up the dance floor. Not necessary. And likely will ruin first dance pics, F/D dance pics, etc. Yes, RED sucks not only for dancing, but at concerts too. I mean, some death metal bands look good in an all red stage (like blood/hell haha), but for the most part red is the absolute worst. Also many lights now come with wifi APP control. So if you don't get a lighting controller, at least get lights that have the app control. Great video, and funny that you used that pic of Barry at Spencer's, because my wife says you remind her of Barry. Not sure if that's a good thing or not LOL
First thing I learned was the tickle your pickle. I recently bought D-fi xlr from chauvet to run my chauvet 355 irc lights wireless. I use adj airstream so I was planning to update my scenes. This color advice couldn't come at a better time. God knows how many tomato faces I created. I will say at least I had the common sense to turn lights during dancing. Just getting through formalities is more than my brain can handle. Thanks for the tips.
The bombs and nuggets you continue to drop are so valuable. You are sharing content I have never heard from a pro event DJ and all makes great sense. I am a fan!
Only time I use a laser now for a wedding is when it is in a Marquee, and then I project into the roof to give a nice effect as IMHO wash lights can get lost in that space. Great video, keep up the great work. 😎 😎 😎 👍👍👍
i’ve got those $80 chinese movers. wash on one side and spot on the other. mounted to the tops of my speakers- 4 movers/4pars. a pair of hemisphere on the floor in front of them and 20 h1 up lights. hazer when allowed to use it. all controlled by SoundSwitch. all depends on how you use them - so your advice was spot on..EXCEPT i expected you to say the worst color is GREEN. i always use shades of magenta (red+blue) and only green to make cyan and yellow. color theory of light: red+green = yellow (amber) blue+green = cyan red+blue = magenta RGB -> White = light /additive CMY->Balck = paint /subtractive so the pastels generally are created with the CMYK color pallet which you need to convert to for lights. auto programs are almost always RGB and look terrible as you say. and not only is too bright a problem, sometimes too dark is too. it’s not safe if your lights go total black out and there’s no ambient light.
A lot of the issues lighting can cause for a photographer or videographer has to do with exposure, quality of lighting, and color temperature. A good photographer knows that a very large source of light as close to the face subject as possible provides the softest shadows and the best lighting for portraits. Basically, the exact opposite of what a spot light is. When it comes to "natural lighting", this is gonna come from getting close to large windows. Also, getting the subject the right brightness in comparison to the background (one stop higher to be precise) is huge. It keeps everything properly exposed and within the appropriate range of brightness. By adding spots and washes, you're now exaggerating the difference between the bright and dark areas of the room, making it harder to get a properly exposed image. And finally there's a color temperature issue as well. When taking photos or video, you want all light in the room to be the same color. You want it to have the same amount of orange, blue, magenta, and green. If you go really extreme with the color and use it to back light or side light, it can come across as an effec (which is what it is supposed to be doing). But the closer it looks to a normal light, the more it can really make a photo or video look funky. Just in case you were wondering the specifics of what you're actually putting the photographer through, these are the first things that come to mind.
Thanks for the tips i did all that long ago since last march i been upgraded my system lights and sound and u are right about dots and red bring on the bad omen also i dont turn on my light till the first dance
So many good tips as always. I have a couple of the cheapie movers(made a video on my channel) and I have to agree. I think they are ok for some parties, and for the roller discos I do, but you're right they have small coverage area. I also mention in my vid that a better option might be the Chauvet Wash FX 2 rather than a cheap mover. Especially because the Wash FX will always work well as you upgrade the rest of the lighting. And they can even look good on some rockville totems. I didn't know that about the red lights. Dots are pretty much a given, but I didn't know about the red. Thanks for that! Also 🙌 Gary Vee. Lol
You can RENT GEAR!! You don't have to buy anything! Where I live all DJ equipment other than a laptop and controller can be rented very in expensively. You can also buy lights that can be used as controllers. You don't HAVE to buy a controller to control all lights. If you buy the right kind of lights you can avoid needing a controller. You're also wrong about red. I've never heard any photographers in 30 YEARS tell me my lights made it difficult to get good pics. Red is one of the most complimentary colors on a person. Saying that I've rarely used red for a wedding but for a fast dance having red in the color mix is good. I listen to the client and discuss lighting with the photographer before I use them just in case. The light you want to avoid using is white. I've had people ask for white and its bizzare. Why have any lights if they want white? Why not just turn on the venue lights.
I don´t use dots and almost no washers either, I anly use dmx controlled gobo roller effects. Two for the crowd/dancefloor and two for the crowd/ceiling. Use two mowin head washer placed a bit away from the dancefloor mostly as uplights.
Great tips Nick! Thanks for sharing! First time viewer! Always watch and check out other DJ’s channels to get ideas on lighting, equipment, other tips and tricks that might make things better, easier, and more exciting that I can incorporate into the show! Always evolve, right? Lol. That being said, it’s a shame that some people dis other DJ’s equipment, lighting, etc., when we’re all trying to do the same thing for our clients! Create that exciting environment with light and sound, and be the best DJ/MC we can be! Different people have different ideas when it comes to lighting, and not necessarily wrong, just different! I think that’s why we’re always looking for a different unique set up, lighting, that sets us apart, and/or gives us a different look! It still should be all about the clients, and their needs/wants though! Was going to add a lot more here, and where I appreciate your insight, you just gotta do you and get the best equipment you can afford at the time when starting out! If happens to be gig bars (Yes I bought one of those as well unfortunately - Lol), or a laser (maybe the Chauvet Scorpion Dual RGB, instead of the infamous red/green dots) layered on top of wash fixtures for effect, then you have to do what you gotta do! It’s always great to be able to bring in the team as well for lighting, etc., but that depends on how much you want to make individually, and/or the area you market yourself in, or even the type of events you do (maybe all you do is higher paying gigs, I don’t know, but sometimes you gotta pay the bills!) Lol. Case in point, to me, some wash fixtures are just downright boring, yes they add color (I do agree with “primary” red and green colors though), but if you want exciting lights, yes, moving heads are the way to go! I have the ADJ Focus Spot 2’s, and the Focus Spot 4Z’s, controlled with the airstream bridge, along with the Element Hex/Element Hex ST/QA5 bars for up lighting. That being said, if you don’t control them though, then they just look “random” as well! When you do that, the lights are moving ALL OVER THE ROOM, especially on the ceiling, the walls, everywhere BUT the dance floor! Isn’t that why we call it “dance floor” lighting? Shouldn’t they basically be positioned to be ON THE DANCE FLOOR??? 🤔😖 It just looks like the circus came to town then, or it looks boring, because they’re just all over the place, doing the same pattern for the ENTIRE night! Even the ape labs which are awesome lights, but when I see them all strobing along the walls, it freaks some people out as well, becomes way too busy, and if you have someone in the audience like I’ve had in the past, they’ve asked me to not use lasers, a lot of strobing or similar effects, or at least limit their use (which I always try to comply with! We NEVER want to see anyone have issues when they’re supposed to be having a great time!), but in my opinion, that look is as bad as you’re “dots” that you mention! I These lights today can cost as much as “your first born”, so I get it, but you still have to get the best your pocket book can afford, right? Thanks again for the insight! Much appreciated! Happy Holidays!
Hey Brian, I completely agree with all of this! I also use moving heads, I have the Chauvet 140SR Hybrids and loveeee them. They do so many cool effects. I recommended the wash stuff for DJs that are just starting out and can't afford the better stuff or to pay someone to run them which is another thing I agree with you on. I have a person who controls my lights live at every event. Makes a night and day difference. My macros are CRAZYYYYYY haha
Hey Nick! Much agreed with you as well, in regards to having someone run the lights if you can afford that, to get the most out of your lights, and/or to add that wow factor to our clients big day, if they like that! Who doesn’t like the “Wow” factor, right? Lol
Good common sense approach. After all you're in the "good" customer service business If you want referrals you make sure everyone involved is happy, within reason that is.
I still see a lot of dots and mushroom designs at weddings. We s,so prefer the wash effects. We’re primarily a wedding company. Yup…if your a house party dj, you can let it fly. They also KILL THE PICTURES. We have 4 of the Chauvet Hybrids. Of course we have the wireless up lights and the Showven sparklers.
Can you show us a video of your dance floor lights?? I’m a wedding DJ and have the new gig bar and learned quite a bit from this video. Thanks in advance.
Wow, great Tips. Keep up the good work:) Also red is often the color, that is less brighter than the others on moving heads, so even if you would use red you would have to adjust the brightness constantly
Great video! I have had some problems with djs lighting during the first dance when they use the spot light two bright on the couple, I don't get it why many of them instead of power down the light to avoid dazzling the couple, they prefer to shine the light from the waist down. Then all the photos of the couple turn out with an ultra bright blowout dress and their faces two dark.
Loved the video!! Great points. With literally dozens of years in this game, I am still trying to evolve. In my opinion, there is a time and place for everything. More DJs are going to wash effects for weddings and formal gigs. For kid parties and birthday celebrations, I like the moving heads and even the effect lighting. I agree that big effect lighting may not be for the formal stuff, but please note that at a school dance or even less formal birthday gigs, you need more than a few up lights. I’ve have been asked to bring my big lights and mirror ball twice over the last few years. Once for a 50th birthday disco themed party and then for a sweet 16. Go figure. Lol
Nice video. In addition to the laser points, does anyone remember those tacky fire lights from a few years ago?? I had a few local DJs using them a few years ago - such an impressive light show LOL. And I agree, when most DJs have intells lights they usually simply put them in one auto mode the ENTIRE night.
You briefly mentioned introductions for a wedding. I do a lot of middle eastern events. For us, the weddings are hyped and the couple come to the dance floor and invite all the guests to join them and get it hyped. With American weddings, I tend to go high energy entrance straight to the first dance. What do you usually do?
I know this a year old but just now seeing it. What is an elegant way of getting the wash lights up in the air yet also on a budget? Are T bars considered kind of low class ?
I'm surprised you said no red. I find that during songs that are hot/sexy...red/orange hues really set it off. Gotta say, though, lighting preferences change like the seasons - so just talk with the couple and have a variety of things for them to choose from.
I hate my lighting it's dated, but just can't update yet. I think I will go with just 2 wash fx and my jelly dome. I don't care, I love my jelly dome, and I get complements on it all the time, It's kind of used in place of the mirror ball.
If you don’t do weddings, you’re missing the point. I absolutely HATE seeing only wash/intelligent lighting at events, clubs, parties. It only makes sense for weddings because everything needs to look crisp. And without haze, those dot effects are ugly af. But there’s nothing cringier that rocking up to a party where the DF is shrouded in coloured light + a few moving heads. It’s way too bright, and looks super cheesy. A kid spending less than $1000 can make a much more exciting light show with haze than the $5k moving head show without haze Great video!
Great video Nick! Can you walk us through your normal lighting package and how you control the lights? I use a Dotz TPar because it's 1) only a wash light and 2) I can easily control some aspects of it with a foot petal. I'm nervous to have to bring another laptop and have to switch my lights while I DJ. I'd love to see how you do it when you don't have a lighting assistant.
