X10 is the same thing, handle up to 50 amps.

http://www.thehomeautomationst...home-automation.html

I used to use them.

Interesting, how did you use it & what do yo use now?

I made a four circuit gang box and from there to my on off switch box. I used to use them for lights on my ultimate stand that I use now.

What do you use now?

Lighting should be used as an enhancement to your show and not a distraction. I know DJ's that will spend twice as much time setting up the lighting than they do setting up the sound system. This also makes tear down at the end of the event take longer. My lighting set-up is very simple...I use a T-bar stand with a double derby light and a mushroom...a 20" extension bar extends forward from the top of the stand with a 16" mirror ball and motor...the pin spots are mounted on the legs of the stand and point upward toward the mirror ball...the lights are all plugged in to a wireless controller mounted on the stand..the whole system is controlled from a tiny remote that I wear on a lanyard around my neck once the show starts. The whole thing takes me about 15 minutes to set up. I have found over the years that the real magic is in the music...if you have the ability to read a crowd and provide them with a good mix of music..something to please everyone...they go way happy. Don't get me wrong, I often spend my time surfing the internet looking at some of the impressive lighting set-ups...it is fun. But for me...the lights are merely an enhancment tool...my focus is on the sound and the Bose L1 systems have taken me to a new level.

my lights only take 5 minutes to set up. Same as my sound.....

When I went into another room once when I was at a Marriott Hotel there was a dj with a full truss of lights and wires all over the place. All over running strait down from each fixture to the floor where his power strip was. I just can't believe they get business being this messy. It looked actually worse than one of the previous posts on this topic.

I don't use my truss any more for two main reasons - one it takes a good 5 min. to set up just the truss. The second reason being it does look messy- big & bulky no matter how you set it up. I still have my truss but haven't used it since I got the L1's. Big & bulky looks plain wrong with the sleek & slender L1's.

I use ultimate stands & put my lights in either side of the pole & I typically like to position the stands directly behind the L1. I also use some up-lighting most of the time. As far as time- It takes me 5 to ten min. for the sound & 5 to ten for the lights.

I always set up the sound first the lights second. My set up time changes because my set- up changes depending on the type of event & room I'm in.

quote:

It takes me 5 to ten min. for the sound & 5 to ten for the lights.

I keep reading posts how fast you guys are setting up, I just don't know what I am missing here. I don't have an over complicated setup, just a table, mixer, 2 laptops, wireless receiver and 2 on-stage light stands with 2 lights each, but for some reason I can't get my stuff out of the bags as fast as most of you setting up [[<<..>>]] My typical setup time once everything is in the building is 45 min to an 1 hr.....


Edit: Forum-Admin changed a disallowed word -- please see our Terms of Service link at the bottom of every page.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Forum-Admin,

I really enjoy sharing ideas with other DJs regarding streamlining our light and sound systems. When I first started DJing about 9 years ago...I used to think elaborate was better...but I am not getting any younger...I am 53 years old and at this point in my life making things simple is important to me. I have always been a DJ gear geek..over the years I have probably owned every speaker, amplifier and mixing board known to man. I bought my first system at Radio Shack...it consisted of a mixing board, a heavy, bulky power amp about the size of a small refrigerator and 2 15" carpeted radio shack speakers....I started out playing gigs with two Sony minidisc players and a Sony CD player mounted into a carpeted roadcase. My music collection consisted of maybe 500 songs (does anyone remember the original "DJ tools" collection)...it was pathetic. The first wedding I ever did I went home with my tale between my legs...it was embarrassing....you always hear about people going to the event and saying "the DJ sucked"...I was who they were talking about. I realized very quickly that if I was going to be in this business I needed to expand my music collection. As I started to meet other DJ's I began to learn how to do things in a more professional manner. It gave me a sense of pride that made me want to make improvements to my own business. Building new and improved sound and lighting systems became a very enjoyable part of my life. I have bought and sold more systems over the years that I can't even keep track of them. The other day I found a picture of myself DJing an outdoor wedding....I looked at the DJ set-up and didn't even remember owning that system. A year ago, my DJ gear buying fetish came to a screeching halt...I got married. I sold 4 complete DJ systems in the past year and plan to keep only a minimum amount of gear. Discovering the L-1 Compact system has been revolutionary. I currently have one Compact and plan to buy a second one after the first of the year. I am definitely sold on the Bose L1 line...someday I hope to own a larger L1 system with dual subs...but that is probably a couple of years down the line. I appreciate the feedback from other DJ's...I am glad Bose has given us such a forum.

quote:

...I am glad Bose has given us such a forum.

AMEN!!

i thought exactly the same thing...if you could invent a sound and lighting system that could set up in five minutes....you would be a very rich man. It usually takes a minimum of an hour for me to set up if I am using lights...I have streamlined my sound system now so that if I am not using lights...I can have the system set-up...the computer booted up and everything plugged in and turned on in about 20 minutes. Sometimes I will put on some low level background music (I have created a few generic playlists that I use for this) while I am still setting up wireless mics, concealing cables and sliding my totes inconspicuously beneath the draped table. But yes, I would like to see how that five minute set-up works myself.

ok, I'm up to the challenge to show you. I'll get my cell phone ready to show you how it's done... Stay Tuned!

if i had to guess..there must be a good portion of your system already assembled. Lights are probably pre-attached and you must have a roll-in DJ console which just needs to be plugged in. I have not seen a conventional DJ system that can be set-up in that short of period of time. If you are using folding tables, table drapes, etc. Then there are microphones, cables, wireless transmitters, etc. I will admit the L1's will make set-up a bit quicker because you don't have speaker stands and bulky speaker cabs to contend with. But frankly, you have peaked my curiousity. I am prepared to be amazed.

quote:

Originally posted by musicman7261:
if i had to guess..there must be a good portion of your system already assembled. Lights are probably pre-attached and you must have a roll-in DJ console which just needs to be plugged in.

You guessed correctly!

I'm a very small DJ operation...I probably do less than 25 shows a year. Full-time I am a paramedic...so I have to schedule my shows around my ambulance schedule. Most of my business is in the Summer. I do a lot of corporate and community events such as festivals, fairs, car shows etc. I'm not a wedding DJ, been there done that, too labor intensive and you have to deal with too many temperamental personalities. I do appreciate watching a good wedding DJ at work...but it is just not my thing. I like being the MC/game show host..interacting with the crowd and giving away raffle prizes...my music primarily provides a backdrop to other events...I do get the crowd involved in dance contests, games, etc ...I get a lot of "thumbs up" gestures (well most of the time they use their thumbs )from the crowd indicating that they are pleased with my music mix. I have found a small niche market who have become repeat customers year after year.
My point is; being a small DJ business I really can't afford a trailer and a vehicle large enough to haul around a large show. I use my Dodge Grand Caravan...so this allows very little room for equipment to be pre-assembled. Sometimes my van is packed to the ceiling with gear if I am doing a larger show. I used to spend several trips back and forth from the van to unload everything. Now, with the advent of the L1 system, I have been able to streamline my show enough that I can generally bring everything in in one trip. I would suspect that most small DJ services operate in a similar fashion, hauling the equipment in the back of a van or truck. My wife would really like to put the seats back in our van someday, so I think a small trailer is probably in my future

Musicman...
Similar situation but different.
We do about 25 to 40 gigs a year, mostly weddings (I prefer weddings) and some corporate galas but only one gig a week. I’m retired with a pension and my wife is the event coordinator for a near by event center. We can live on our combined income so this is a bonus but not necessary.

Two years ago, I picked up a small Haul Mark trailer, roughly 6' X 4' interior dimension. Cost me below 2K with tax and license. It holds my 2 L1 M1’s, 4 B1’s, 2 SKB DJ stations, 2 light tripods, follow spot, lights, lap tops, tabel tops, projector and more with ease. The total load is well below this trailers capacity as well as the capacity of my tow vehicle, a Hyundai Santa Fe.

It also provides a good storage place for the gear. I either back it into the garage, or lock it to an eyebolt buried in the driveway.

Last winter, I hauled my rig and some toys 2000 miles to the West Coast of FL and plan to do it again in January. No problems!

I really appreciate the feedback...for my small systems I wouldn't need a very big trailer...I could probably even pull it with my mini-van. I think the trailer is inevitable. My wife is tired of my gear being in the garage. It would organize and protect the gear a bit more if it was in a trailer. Another concern to me is this...I live in Michigan, is it okay to store some of that stuff in a cold trailer. I currently keep my PA systems, including my L1 Compact in a closet in my home. What are your thoughts about storing gear in cold conditions?

quote:

I live in Michigan, is it okay to store some of that stuff in a cold trailer. I currently keep my PA systems, including my L1 Compact in a closet in my home. What are your thoughts about storing gear in cold conditions?

It has been asked before. As long as you let it warm up, say an hour in the room, before you fire it up, should not be a problem.

Here is one discussion on the issue...

Cold storage?

And another
Fire and Ice