Lighting for stage at Village Hall UK

Subject: Lighting for stage at Village Hall UK
From: Rasener
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 05:15 PM

I am looking at getting better stage lighting for Faldingworth Live

I want to have 2 bars secured from the ceiling with whatever cans are needed and a desk to control dimming and switching off/on individual cans, together with the necessary cabling.

I would peefer to buy a complete set of two bars with cans.

I don't want to blind the performers, but have sufficient light to show the performers on stage.

Most of the cans seem to emit one hell of a lot of heat as well as dazzling light. I would like to get away from that if I can afford it.
I would like if at all possible to allow the performers to see the audience. I don't know if that is possible.

I am not sure what the budget will stretch to, but preferably no more than £1000 in total.

Can anybody guide me on this please. Any help would be very much appreciated.

Any links to a complete set on a website would be very helpful.

We are looking at lighting a stage area no wider than 5 metres wide by 3 metres deep.

Many thanks
Les Worrall

Subject: RE: Lighting for stage at Village Hall UK
From: bruceCMR
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 05:53 PM

Les,

If it's only for a once-a-year thing, you'd probably be better hiring something. That way you don't have to worry about maintenance, safety checks, replacement lamps etc.

Your requirements are quite specific - LED lighting may play a role here - it's very cool, but still doesn't have the "punch" of tungsten - although this is constantly improving.

I'd suggest talking to a local lighting hire specialist.

Subject: RE: Lighting for stage at Village Hall UK
From: bruceCMR
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 05:55 PM

... and I can highly recommend Paul at 10outof10 Productions
http://www.10outof10.co.uk/ for both sales and hire.

Subject: RE: Lighting for stage at Village Hall UK
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 05:55 PM

I'd go for side lighting Les (assuming you have room in the wings). Much more dramatic than high front, and doesn't dazzle the performers.

Most village hall lights are designed for plays, so are far too bright and flat for music.

I light my village hall shows with just four Pin Spot PAR 36s from Maplins (here)mounted on the speaker poles. They cost £18 each plus £6.25 for the lamp. Buy some coloured discs too (can't find them on the website) and get creative. You may be better with 6 or 8 and you'll need to spot them on faces and hands once the act is set up, but they'll do the job far better than ceiling mounted, and you won't need a dimmer.

I also have four of the smallest HMI security lights (a few quid from BnQ) with coloured lamp gel trapped in the cases. These give a good flat flood (again, from the side for drama) at minimum cost if the Pins can't reach everything.

Use the minimum and enjoy the shadows! Tom

Subject: RE: Lighting for stage at Village Hall UK
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 06:04 PM

Tom beat me to it ! I was going to suggest having a look at Maplins !

Subject: RE: Lighting for stage at Village Hall UK
From: bruceCMR
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 06:06 PM

Be careful with the security lights. They run very hot - there's small print on the boxes which says "for outdoor use only". If you use them indoors, and cause a fire, your insurance company may not pay out.

A 500W one will burn the gel. Even a 150W won't last long if it's too close - a useful tip is to bolt 2 bulldog clips to the lantern, and "bow" the gel across the front, so that it's a few inches away from the glass.

Also, proper theatrical lights will have a wire grid across the front to catch any large fragments if the lens shatters. Security lights won't.

Subject: RE: Lighting for stage at Village Hall UK
From: bruceCMR
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 06:07 PM

Maplin kit is aimed at "disco dave". You'll get better pricing, and better kit, from suppliers like CPC (www.cpc.co.uk) or 10outof10, who I mentioned above. Look at some of their "school kits".

Subject: RE: Lighting for stage at Village Hall UK
From: bruceCMR
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 06:14 PM

... for example, the Par36 units mentioned above are 18 pounds, + 6 for the lamp from Maplin. From CPC, they're 9 + 4.....

Subject: RE: Lighting for stage at Village Hall UK
From: skipy
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 06:18 PM

Check out ebay, I bought brand new lights for my stage last year with stands & gels and it worked out cheaper than 1 event hire! They should last me "forever"
Skipy

Subject: RE: Lighting for stage at Village Hall UK
From: skipy
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 06:19 PM

Me again! just type par 66 can or stagelight into search.
Skipy

Subject: RE: Lighting for stage at Village Hall UK
From: Rasener
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 06:29 PM

Wow what a response. Thank you all so much.

We have monthly concerts so do not want to hire.

We have a couple of cans on either side already, up on the wall.

I don't really want to have stands on the floor as space and safety are an issue. The hall is not very wide.

I do want to go the route of cool feel lighting with dimmer controls. We do not intend to move this equipment around as it will be a fixture of the hall and out of the way of the general public.

However I do not want to dazzle the performers. Maybe we could fix them on an angle on the sides and dim accordingly.

Hope that makes it a bit clearer.

Keep teh ideas coming please.

Les

Subject: RE: Lighting for stage at Village Hall UK
From: Rasener
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 06:50 PM

Such a lot out there. I do plan to go and see some lighting shops around the lincoln area, so if anybody has ideas of where I can go, that woudl also be very useful.