Recommend some stage lighting

[Sonic007]

Hi all,

 

We are a primary school with a sports hall that is also used for our end of term shows, Christmas nativity, and music performances.

It measures 20 metres long by 18 metres wide.

The Stage is a small removable thing that measures approx 7 metres by 3 metres.

 

 

 

Up until now we have been using an old set of theatre par can lights that are heavy, get very hot, and not in the best of condition.

They are on a T bar at the back of the hall and connected to a small DMX controller.

 

 

Now I'd like to get some new lights and preferably go down the LED route. A kit that can be easily put away and stored is key here as the hall is a sports hall.

I've been shown these:

https://prolight.co.uk/product/gigabar-mkii-4-x-30w-rgb-cob-bar-system

 

Would these do? Would they need to be at the front nearer the stage or are they long range and can be positioned at the back like my previous lights?

 

What do you use and recommend for a setup that can be easily packed away after use and provides adequate lighting?

 

 

Many thanks.

Edited January 19, 2023 by Sonic007

[Aprice]

I generally tend to class the example you have given as 'pixel' type lights mode for looking directly at rather than a flood, as there quite diffused. I'd suggest something like this - Chauvet 4Bar if you're after something in the same sort of package as that one.

 

With 20 metres of distance you would get quite a lot of spread on the light output, so the further forward you can get it the better really.

 

They have 2 channel modes - 3 and 15 channels. 3 Just gives you RGB for all 4 lights at once, 15 gives you individual control + some other effects, so just depends on your desk.

 

 

For something simple it's probably fine, to make it better I'd be looking at higher wattage LED pars mounted separately on a T-Bar, but that would likely add setup time, cost and be more difficult to store.

 

Something like 4 of these would be considerably brighter

https://www.dv247.com/en_GB/GBP/Showtec-LED-Par-64-Short-Q4-18-Black-/art-LIG0009992-000?campaign=GShopping/GB&ProgramUUID=HADAqJarPzAAAAFlea9yjI.G&campaign=GShopping/UK&ProgramUUID=HADAqJarPzAAAAFlea9yjI.G&gclid=Cj0KCQiA8aOeBhCWARIsANRFrQHpyXAHMVPrvmRp3pRWZ2cI5080-8gWMLwehY3mQY6ZtzBJPldg6uQaApQbEALw_wcB

[Andrew_C]

That is "disco" lighting. Would need to be on stage really.

 

Quality LED is £CHING. Especially if you want to be back away from the stage.

[howartp]

Speak to Ben Taylor at A.C. (https://www.ac-et.com/product-category/lighting/)

 

They're the UK dealer for Prolights.it (not Prolight - different brand) but we've bought quite a bit for school and my church from him, both new and used.

 

Depending how far south of the Midlands you are, he'll bring demo kit for you to see what throw/brightness/function is in your space.

Edited January 19, 2023 by howartp

[dhicks]

Now I'd like to get some new lights and preferably go down the LED route.

 

Ooh - me too! We have a similar size hall and stage, although our lighting points are positioned closer to the stage due to the shape of the room.

[dhicks]

Quality LED is £CHING.

 

Those Showtec lights linked to above are around £210 each - does that sound about the right kind of price range? For that kind of price I can probably get one to try out and buy more as needed.

[Andrew_C]

No; those are just flood lights; from 20m away they'll light up half the room. They would be OK actually ON the stage, or over it, or REALLY close.

 

To control the beam you'll need lenses and think £1k as a starting price.

[dhicks]

No; those are just flood lights; from 20m away they'll light up half the room. They would be OK actually ON the stage, or over it, or REALLY close. To control the beam you'll need lenses and think £1k as a starting price.

 

Hmm - our lighting points are probably around 3m from the front of the stage, flood lights might be just what we need to light the front of the stage properly, maybe with a couple of spotlights. I'm probably looking at around £3,000 total, so at least I now have a figure I can work with. Are there any specific spotlights you might recomend?

[Aprice]

Hmm - our lighting points are probably around 3m from the front of the stage, flood lights might be just what we need to light the front of the stage properly, maybe with a couple of spotlights. I'm probably looking at around £3,000 total, so at least I now have a figure I can work with. Are there any specific spotlights you might recomend?

 

We've got a pair of ADJ Encore Profile 1000 Colours, provided you can get easy access to move / focus them then they're great for spots - Around £600. Then I'd put some of those Showtec pars or similar for flood colour.

[TheRobins]

I have 2 of these, JBL systems COB 4 bars. https://www.terralec.co.uk/led_par_cans_spots__floods/pre_mounted_rgb_4_led_par_can_lighting_system/33566_p.html

 

Easily portable and store nicely. They just use speaker stands to mount. I purchased so extra length speaker stands as our hall is very high and the stage is around 5ft higher than the main floor.

 

They come with leneses so you can go from flood to pin spot, match it up with a Cobra 12ch DMX unit https://www.terralec.co.uk/dmx_lighting_controllers/cobra_colour_control_12_dmx_controller/32486_p.html

 

You will find it a very capable system with plenty of scope in the DMX controller for programming scences and light runs. Some of the auto programms in the bar are very good for disco's and events. I have even just used the IR Remote at times.

[Sonic007]

Thankyou for your replies. Lots to look at. Will check out the links. Thankyou.

[dhicks]

For the flood and spot lights suggested, do people think this controller would make for a nice, simple control interface for the average pupil / teacher?:

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/QTX-Fader-Lighting-Controller-Channels/dp/B07SNG3QMB/ref=sr_1_23

 

I realise that more fully-featured / complex desks are available, but ideally I want something that just works as soon as it's turned on, ready for teachers to fade the stage lights up/down.

[PotNoodleTech]

Subscribing - our lighting is some 30 years old really need to get up to date with LED and some kind of computer controller but hey no money :/

[icechris]

I have 2 of these, JBL systems COB 4 bars. https://www.terralec.co.uk/led_par_cans_spots__floods/pre_mounted_rgb_4_led_par_can_lighting_system/33566_p.html

 

Easily portable and store nicely. They just use speaker stands to mount. I purchased so extra length speaker stands as our hall is very high and the stage is around 5ft higher than the main floor.

 

They come with leneses so you can go from flood to pin spot, match it up with a Cobra 12ch DMX unit https://www.terralec.co.uk/dmx_lighting_controllers/cobra_colour_control_12_dmx_controller/32486_p.html

 

You will find it a very capable system with plenty of scope in the DMX controller for programming scences and light runs. Some of the auto programms in the bar are very good for disco's and events. I have even just used the IR Remote at times.

 

Do you think those lights would be a better thing to aim for than something like this for a primary school?

https://www.terralec.co.uk/stage_lighting_sets/stage_lighting_package_with_8_rgbwa__uv_led_par_cans_stands__controller/36459_p.html

 

We were looking at the above but I assume they pretty much just flood the stage with light?

[TheRobins]

I was just looking to see if I could find a bit of video when they are all setup I could share, but nothing saved.

 

I would have said the set above would be brighter, you would also have more channels of DMX control. The reason I went for the COB 4Bar was the lenses. I tend to use them in a pair, one either side of stage. Then use 2 with lenses for pin spots and then 2 without the lense for stage flood on each side. Can create some nice background like, but also pin spot where people stand or when something inmportant is happening.

 

That set from Terralec looks a good little package for the money,

 

JB systems have this little video about the 4bar here -