client wants to buy me lights! Thoughts?

I'm working a wedding in October for the daughter of a very good friend I teach with. She is wanting uplighting galore. She's having a gym draped in fabric and wants 32 uplighting fixtures!!! This is something that I want to start offering, but with LED fixtures eventually. I use 8 par 56's right now...nothing fancy at all but look nice. I hesitate to buy (she's buying) 24 more cheap par 56 fixtures, but maybe this is a way to get started?

I've built 8 very nice custom bases that hold the lights and hide the cord....this purchase would mean I'd need to build 24 more of them (yikes)

Thoughts?

Well, on the plus side, you'll likely not need to bring any other lighting. I did a wedding back in December where there was a lot of uplighting done in the ballroom. The bride's father did it and it looked beautiful. However, there was to much ambient lighting in the room for our lights to be very visible.

If you plan on keeping all of these, I would recommend that you not charge to make all of them, but I'd say at least half the materials cost, maybe more, since you have to do the labor yourself.

Well, on the plus side, you'll likely not need to bring any other lighting. I did a wedding back in December where there was a lot of uplighting done in the ballroom. The bride's father did it and it looked beautiful. However, there was to much ambient lighting in the room for our lights to be very visible.

If you plan on keeping all of these, I would recommend that you not charge to make all of them, but I'd say at least half the materials cost, maybe more, since you have to do the labor yourself.

I actually didn't add on any cost for building the bases...to keep the cost down for her. I built the first 8 in about a day (with painting and all that). The materials will probably cost me about $125 for 24 more bases.

Be wary of the can's proximity to fabric......

supersoak that fabric (beat you to it Jon....lol)

knardini: Good to hear the cost is low! :)

I have to agree with thatmusicguy because the lights could be a bit dangerous. It's not much of a concern with LEDs, but with halogen bulbs, be careful. :sqcool:

Yep, good for looking out. I'll keep it safe, but like I said in a couple years I'd like to have 18 or so LED cans for this reason, will be a great upsale.

If its traditional par cans, I would be worried about power requirements... They suck the power, We did one with 12 and we had to unplug a few because it would trip a breaker.... I would see my local guitar center and see if they would rent me the 24 LED par cans for that day..

If its traditional par cans, I would be worried about power requirements... They suck the power, We did one with 12 and we had to unplug a few because it would trip a breaker.... I would see my local guitar center and see if they would rent me the 24 LED par cans for that day..

Yeah, I considered that and may need to bring along a generator just in case. I am going to look into rentals too...hard to pass up someone buying you lights and extension cords no matter what the light. Good suggestion though thanks.

I would have a pro lighting company come in and do the job. You won't end up stuck with the lights and the cost may be cheaper than building the stands and material treatment.

I would have a pro lighting company come in and do the job. You won't end up stuck with the lights and the cost may be cheaper than building the stands and material treatment.

The reason she came to me with this is her quote from a pro lighting company was $1400 for 14 LED pars!!!! This is also why I'll offer LED lighting in a couple years :sqwink:

What I plan on doing is aquire the lighting and cords, build all the bases then in a couple years go all LED - have all the bases already and sell off the par cans for beer money :sqerr:

I had a thought... and you know how dangerous that is... but what if you bought the materials and had the shop class put them together as a wood working project?....

I had a thought... and you know how dangerous that is... but what if you bought the materials and had the shop class put them together as a wood working project?....

That's actually not a bad idea...except it's getting late in the year and I'm a perfectionist when it comes to anything DJ related. I'd probably end up with a couple good ones and a bunch of crappy ones. Teenagers with power tools is a scary thing:sqerr:

That's actually not a bad idea...except it's getting late in the year and I'm a perfectionist when it comes to anything DJ related. I'd probably end up with a couple good ones and a bunch of crappy ones. Teenagers with power tools is a scary thing:sqerr:

Yeah but it would be good practice for their mitering (sp?) skills.... and good practice if they ever want to build their own speaker cabs for their junked out Nissans.... lol

Okay change of plans:

This is why I posted this thread, I knew I would get some great advice. I've taken what has been said to heart (heat issues, renting) and got ahold of an old contact (thanks JT) who is willing to rent LED pars for next to nothing...Since my client wants so many, I'm only charging her enough money above the rental fee to buy some extra cords to make it all look nice that night. In return, I will get some great video of color changing the whole room to put on my site and offer as an add on to my receptions. Down the road I will continue to rent when I book this add on until I get my own.

The client is VERY happy

I get to play with 30 or so LED pars

I get to grow my business

I DON'T HAVE 30 OLD PAR 56's SITTING IN MY GARAGE TAKING UP SPACE!!

I'm very happy with the plan...I'll make sure to post pics down the road

Thanks everyone for getting me to this point!

Later

That's what im talking about Kris. Good move.

That is a much better plan, Kris. LED pars are definately the way to go.


As mentioned above, the par cans will take an incredible amount of power, and many gyms do not have enough circuits for all the power that will be needed for the pars, your system, the caterers, etc. The heat produced by 30 par cans will also have an effect on the ambient temp of the room in addition to the fire hazards.

Don't forget the pictures