How do you project your GOBOs?

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idropbeats

idropbeats

DJ
Jun 1, 2019
10
11
36
Think I also put this in the wrong thread and meant to put it in the lighting / effects

Just wanted to get some opinions as there's a ton of options on how to approach doing GOBO work nowadays.
Something about using the right tool for the job yet staying with the times?

For example-- I'm projecting onto a white dance floor 2 weeks from now, and I'm debating whether to just order the 2-color glass GOBO-- or acquire a new video projector and use a usb stick.

1. Do you guys prefer the LED or Non-LED fixtures for GOBO projection?
2. Who is your go-to for getting metal or glass done?
3. Those who prefer to do animated OR static GOBOs using a video projector-- What kind of projector do you use? Are the brightness and black levels satisfactory that you don't go back to ETC or Chauvet?
 
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Projector bast investment you’ll ever make
5000 lumen or more don’t go cheap on it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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We use a 5000 lumens Optima.

We also NEVER do static monograms anymore, now that motion monograms are a thing.
 
djmm said:
We use a 5000 lumens Optima.

We also NEVER do static monograms anymore, now that motion monograms are a thing.
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Traveled to Michigan this past weekend and the DJ Company I hired rented me this cheap shit Epson even though I was supposed to project onto the Dancefloor. Bastards made me look dumb. I was asking for a source4 so I can get the glass made and after weeks of gig prep this asshole 1.5 weeks before says he's renting me a projector to do this, but I thought it was a legit one. I was PISSED because the bride's mom directly ask me "can we point this at the dancefloor?" as it was projected on the wall instead. I had to tell her "these idiots I hired gave me this garbage equipment, I'm going to try but it might not be bright enough to show up. You could barely make it out.

So I was wondering about the 5000 lumens thing and if anyone had pictures of it working on a dark dancefloor type situation?
 
idropbeats said:
Traveled to Michigan this past weekend and the DJ Company I hired rented me this cheap shit Epson even though I was supposed to project onto the Dancefloor. Bastards made me look dumb. I was asking for a source4 so I can get the glass made and after weeks of gig prep this asshole 1.5 weeks before says he's renting me a projector to do this, but I thought it was a legit one. I was PISSED because the bride's mom directly ask me "can we point this at the dancefloor?" as it was projected on the wall instead. I had to tell her "these idiots I hired gave me this garbage equipment, I'm going to try but it might not be bright enough to show up. You could barely make it out.
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Sorry, but I don't blame them for you being not prepared. I never leave ANY important details to someone else to do when it's 100% MY responsibility to do them.
 
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djmm said:
Sorry, but I don't blame them for you being not prepared. I never leave ANY important details to someone else to do when it's 100% MY responsibility to do them.
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It's my responsibility of course, so I do take responsibility. A DJ Company local to the area receiving $3,000 for their support not communicating with me at all until the week of the event despite my emails, texts and calls... that's ridiculous. If I was local to Michigan and was a larger operation, sure it'd make sense to never hire out and do 100% of everything myself.

That family and their family friends have hired me across the country to DJ their weddings, so *they* understand if a vendor screws me in some small way, and I'll still get the 5 star review. I learned my lesson on what I can rely on others for, which is not much considering the level of micromanagement I needed to apply.

Now on the topic of Lumens and whatnot: I think 5000 - 6000 lumens might do the trick, just wondering what are the exceptions that I need to consider? Like which surfaces will still need a source4 type application?
 
idroptheball said:
...the DJ Company I hired rented me this cheap shit Epson....I was asking for a source4 so I can get the glass made and after weeks of gig prep this asshole 1.5 weeks before says he's renting me a projector to do this...I thought (but didn't confirm) it was a legit one... these idiots I hired gave me this garbage equipment ...You could barely make it out."
djmm said:
Sorry, but I don't blame them for you being not prepared. I never leave ANY important details to someone else to do when it's 100% MY responsibility to do them.
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I second djmm's wise take on this matter.

Better practices, not luck, next time.
 
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idropbeats said:
I was PISSED because the bride's mom directly ask me "can we point this at the dancefloor?" as it was projected on the wall instead. I had to tell her "these idiots I hired gave me this garbage equipment, I'm going to try but it might not be bright enough to show up. You could barely make it out.
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So, this wasn't your gig? You're working on behalf of someone else, they do something you don't agree with and you actually called the person who gave you the gig "these idiots" to the client? If you were my sub, you'd be fired from any future engagements. Don't EVER bad mouth the person who hired you to THEIR client. That's a pretty un-grateful attitude on your part and speaks more to your lack of professionalism than it does theirs.
 
rickryan.com said:
So, this wasn't your gig? You're working on behalf of someone else, they do something you don't agree with and you actually called the person who gave you the gig "these idiots" to the client? If you were my sub, you'd be fired from any future engagements. Don't EVER bad mouth the person who hired you to THEIR client. That's a pretty un-grateful attitude on your part and speaks to your lack of professionalism than it does theirs.
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My client. My gig. I flew in from California for it.
 
idropbeats said:
My client. My gig. I flew in from California for it.
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If you hired them then that makes you the idiot that hired those idiots. It still doesn't serve you to bad-mouth them. Either way, you failed to confirm details of what is acceptable equipment. A 3k lumen projector will only work on a floor if it's indoors (no sunlight) and short throw.
 
Yeaaaaaahhhh rick I think the lessons learned ship sailed several times already but thank you for hammering it in a couple more times, grandpa. I'm kidding, but you seem like a no-nonsense group so I don't mind.

I'm not new to DJ'ing or paying subcontracts. This was one of two really negative experiences I've had subcontracting assistance over 10 years. I don't subcontract often because I havent felt it made my life easier, but for once I was hopeful paying *that much* to hire help, because I wanted to enjoy myself a little more, spend a bit less time worrying about setup and a little more time in between events and being around friends I've made over the years at their various family events (about 30 people out of the 450 something there knew me personally). They hoped since I had hired help, I could hang a bit more and not do a 48 hour marathon session to get through a 2 full days of events, so I hired out. I got an hour of sleep, ish. All good. I still absolutely killed it on every aspect across 2 days and 4 events.

On the flipside-- if any of you are ever doing an Indian wedding and want some advice / want to improve your cultural understanding, let me know.
 
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Back to your question ...

A lot depends on the specific need. A Leko or or other gobo spot will generally have a brighter light and more adjustable optics to throw a logo farther and usually with more clarity .. great if you have to go across a room. But the light is basically just for that purpose (unless you need some stationary spots). The projector is "usually" more universal for a mobile jock, since it can be used for other things and it can display animated logos (as they seem to be making an inroad).

I've seen a nice gobo from a 4000 lumen projector, so 5000+ would give you a bit extra reach. Not sure you need 6000 lumens unless in very large rooms, as you tend to move exponentially up the $$ curve.
 
wifedj said:
with a question:

Are you projecting a true gobo or a graphic image, intended/supposed to emulate a gobo projection?
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Based on the OP, it seems BOTH are options ...
 
wifedj said:
with a question:

Are you projecting a true gobo or a graphic image, intended/supposed to emulate a gobo projection?
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Primarily monogram / names. I'm pretty convinced that nothing is better than a glass/metal GOBO placed into a source4 or source4wrd w/ LED as their equivalent Lumen ratings are 8000 to 10000 Lumens. I don't mind paying every time for the GOBO either. Service is #1. I'm fairly certain even 5000 lumens on an HDMI / USB projector isn't going to come close to universally appearing bright enough to rely upon unless I'm absolutely projecting onto a wall with short throw.
 
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