Lighting for a show

[LostPuppy]

i'm doing a show , its a while from now , but i need lighting.

what do i need to light u ask? i need to basicly light a stage , with power lights, possible also gels but basic lighting first then i'll worry about frills.

i'm in markham ontario , does anyone know of a good lighting equipment place near me? or perhaps someone in the area that has equipment that could hook me up (for money of course)?

thanks

[homing]

Well il depends on the dimension of the stage and the luminosity you want to have. I would refer to a professional lighting company.

But you will need parnels to "wash" the stage

few leekos for the FOH (front lights)

[tdeagan]

The key factors you need to determine are;

#) how big is the stage?
#) how far is the throw (how far back from the stage are you going to have to hang the lights)?
#) how bright does it need to be (do you need to be able to see people's lips moving or the color of their eyes, or is it more 'rock and roll')?
#) what do you want to accomplish?
##) do you need to change colors (use color changers or multiple instruments individually gel'd)?
##) do you need to dim or turn the lights on and off (use DMX control or somesuch)
##) do you need to provide chase sequences?
##) do you need moving lights (DMX scanner heads or a manual follow spot)?
##) are you expected to light the dance floor with DJ style lights as well as the stage?
##) do you need to do 'cool' things like gobo projection?
#) is it a proscenium stage, is there a thrust, is there a grid over the stage?
#) VERY IMPORTANT - what kind of power is in place?
#) what is the grid like (pipes in the ceiling, truss towers, or are you going to have to bring stands?)
#) what is the control like (is there a house system, DMX, analog, homemade) or will you need to rent something?
#) how far are the runs from the dimmers to the control location, from the power to the instruments?
#) what instruments are already there? What kind of plugs do they have?
#) what dimmer packs are already there? What kind of plugs do they have?
#) Does the house already have a useful set of gels?

Odds are, if you're on any kind of budget, a portion of the folks will be cheesed about something. Few people clue to what it takes to do good stage lighting. If you're not ready to listen to people whine (often because they didn't tell you their needs until right before the show starts,) get a lighting company to do it. It's pricy (for a reason.)

This article at VJCentral http://www.vjcentral.com/article/show/9300 DMX usefulness for VJ's might be of a little help.

[LostPuppy]

not exactly what i was looking for , but very informitive thank you.

i guess i'm in search of a lighting rental place now then.

[WordVirus23]

there are phonebooks whereever you're at... look under Stage/Productions... or A/V Hire companies... if they can't help you, I'm sure they can point you to a local who can help you out...