well said Brian. I want to start by saying I also understand the reasons people may like the gigbar. I was running 6 different lights on a tbar and tripod as high up as I could go. basically a gigbar move before the gigbar came out. I felt I had "real lights" so I was better. this really wasn't the case, I was just different . I think the 2 biggest things to take away from this video is practice and sometimes less can be more. last I will say keep learning. I have been doing this for 20 years and I still learn things from different DJs on CZcams like Brian or Rick Web, to name a couple, plenty more out there.
I too use my 2 GigBars higher up than most people for the same reason. I have the Flex version & they mount nicely above my speakers using the Stagg C shaped stands. I position 1 par on each side to the ceiling & the others crisscrossing the dance floor to avoid blinding the crowd as much as possible. The Flex doesn't have the lasers & I always keep the strobes off by using SoundSwitch. I use haze whenever possible, the derbies get pointed at the floor &/or ceiling, & they stay off until we're ready to open the dance floor. Alternatively, I like that companies like Both & OPPSK are making pixel mapped fixtures/tubes that have a diffuser over the LEDs. They're not blindingly bright, wash the dance floor well, AND add some eye candy as well. Using lights like these in a package will also allow me to keep my uplighting as an upsell.
Placement is the key. I run a pair of gigbar moves on totems with the derbys & pars pointed up @ 45 degrees. Sometimes straight up. I Run these with sound switch & haze during open dance. They remain off during the milestone events on the front end of weddings. Also run a pair of intimadators on totems with uplights spread throughout the venue. They add tremendous impact for open dance & our clients/guests love them. Having the houslights dimmed increases the effect. Fast setup, easy teardown, controllability & price makes them a no-brainer for us. Been doing this since the days of having incandescent pars on t-bars with dimmer packs. (1989) Less gear, less cables, greater flexibility & no blown breakers. Fundamentally, this is what makes us stand out in our market.
Colour wash up-lights are good and all DJs should have them to light up the room, but ideally when you want to have a real light show you need more than just up-lights. Ideally we need a system of lights that include moving or flashing lights and animations. And then quality VS price point and eas of use is a whole other debate.
when are using a lighting bar I always try an angle towards the ceiling if the wall and ceilings are painted white I will put it behind me underground, so I can point it away from peoples faces
Great idea! I no longer have much room for lights in my bar residency and have a couple cheap led pars already. I'll link them together and see how I get on. Thanks for the tip.
I find that if the ceiling is dark or made of wood or something the uplighting sometimes isn't enough, I actually put gravity stand around the room and shine lights down in that case. But you can put them high up and around the corners of the dancefloor not beside the dj
I think there are good points on both sides. I have a gig bar and I'm thinking about switching to just par uplights. I think that the argument that gig bars look bad from the audience's perspective is a bit overstated. The people dancing aren't necessarily looking at the dj. They are just as likely to be facing away from the dj as facing towards the dj so it's not always such an in-your-face thing. Also, I will generally point the laser and the derby's off the wall or ceiling so I just have pars washing the dance floor. I still like the uplights idea. I'm not a fan of having the big tripod sitting behind me so I'm thinking about switching but a gig bar is not that bad.
I used gigbars. I stopped because it was too busy for the dance floor. Also, too many Facebook photos I saw had lasers during first dances. Yeah, a wash is better than lasers in my view.
practicality over form = would be brilliant for a chap in your situation with a disability. Lights on stands can be adjusted. I think the pars on the gig bar can be dimmed
You will always be my Friend!! The only time I use mine is for Sweet 16, School Dances, or if a couple wants them for their wedding, which I try to talk the Bride and Groom out of using them!! Great Video Buddy!!!
Brian, my light system is 2 wash fx2, gig bar move ils and 2 intimidator spot 160 ils (with usb dongles) and the hand held remote works with that. You can turn off certain fixtures if you don’t want then on.
I think Gigbars are fine depending on where they are. I think for a wedding scenario where the DJ isn't really the focus, wall wash all the way. But in a small or mock concert scenario, they work great. It makes a one man concert look a lot better, permitted the modules are aimed correctly. That's what i like about the gigbar that i use (Gigbar move) is that all the modules can be aimed, isolated etc.
Thanks for shouting out Rick Web! I’m surprised you didn’t just call it “hit by a truck” lighting like you have before. And I agree, as an intermediate stage lighting aficionado myself, that effect looks tacky from my perspective and outright YUCKY for audiences. I much prefer aiming them down at the floor, or doing up/downlighting with the 5 HEX PARs I have now.
How about moving heads? I've seen lots of DJs use the uplights on the walls and then also use two moving heads strobing on the dance floor. Seen many weddings DJs use that format as well.
Went to a wedding as a guest this weekend with a gig bar running during dance. I would use one for kids parties, that’s about it. Was way too busy with colors and lasers. I wouldn’t buy one-great video!
Not hating, I get it and agree, mostly but the gigbar can be raised high, I even use a taller tripod with extension so mine is a little higher. Not in anyone's eyes unless they WANT to look up at them. Pars fwd, movers moving, dots up or off, laser aways off.
The gigbar ILS is very different than previous models, way more controllability with the gigbar command lighting board as well as the feature to setup a follow spot for intros, podium, cake cutting etc. As long as a venue allows air effects (fog) it looks amazing!
A couple wash fx fixtures on totums that are have uplights is all you need and is not in the audience eyes. Plenty of wash lighting. Nice video Brian, you nailed it again
Absolutely agree. In most venues and portable setups, you can't get lighting high enough to shine down onto the crowd...you end up shining across the crowd, which ends up shining in people's eyes. A Gigbar concentrates that light even more into a small area. Couple that with the Gigbar's laser -- now you're ruining camera sensors and burning retinas. No thanks. Use uplighting on the walls, and Chauvet Wash FX Hex or similar to flood the ceiling.
People should be dancing not looking straight at the lights. 😂😂 if people are there not dancing or just looking at the the lights only they shouldn’t be there 😂😅
I love my gig bar move, but they do suck. You have to DMX it and control it. I hate the derby effect on the top. I would rather 4 spots and the 2 scanners. Oh, the lasers are the worst! I would rather a bar I can make my own.
Gigbars ARE goofy! they're super outdated effects & very weak output.... Just buy some decent movers/pars & permanents mount them on a T-bar if you really want a simple setup
My Gigbar ILS is freaking awesome. I still use uplights around the venue though. Shoutout to everyone dissing them!
well said Brian. I want to start by saying I also understand the reasons people may like the gigbar. I was running 6 different lights on a tbar and tripod as high up as I could go. basically a gigbar move before the gigbar came out. I felt I had "real lights" so I was better. this really wasn't the case, I was just different . I think the 2 biggest things to take away from this video is practice and sometimes less can be more. last I will say keep learning. I have been doing this for 20 years and I still learn things from different DJs on CZcams like Brian or Rick Web, to name a couple, plenty more out there.
Brian you need to look at the whole of the Chauvet ILS system including the new controller, used with or without a gig bar move ILS +
I too use my 2 GigBars higher up than most people for the same reason. I have the Flex version & they mount nicely above my speakers using the Stagg C shaped stands. I position 1 par on each side to the ceiling & the others crisscrossing the dance floor to avoid blinding the crowd as much as possible. The Flex doesn't have the lasers & I always keep the strobes off by using SoundSwitch. I use haze whenever possible, the derbies get pointed at the floor &/or ceiling, & they stay off until we're ready to open the dance floor. Alternatively, I like that companies like Both & OPPSK are making pixel mapped fixtures/tubes that have a diffuser over the LEDs. They're not blindingly bright, wash the dance floor well, AND add some eye candy as well. Using lights like these in a package will also allow me to keep my uplighting as an upsell.
Placement is the key. I run a pair of gigbar moves on totems with the derbys & pars pointed up @ 45 degrees. Sometimes straight up. I Run these with sound switch & haze during open dance. They remain off during the milestone events on the front end of weddings. Also run a pair of intimadators on totems with uplights spread throughout the venue. They add tremendous impact for open dance & our clients/guests love them. Having the houslights dimmed increases the effect. Fast setup, easy teardown, controllability & price makes them a no-brainer for us. Been doing this since the days of having incandescent pars on t-bars with dimmer packs. (1989) Less gear, less cables, greater flexibility & no blown breakers. Fundamentally, this is what makes us stand out in our market.
Colour wash up-lights are good and all DJs should have them to light up the room, but ideally when you want to have a real light show you need more than just up-lights. Ideally we need a system of lights that include moving or flashing lights and animations. And then quality VS price point and eas of use is a whole other debate.
when are using a lighting bar I always try an angle towards the ceiling if the wall and ceilings are painted white I will put it behind me underground, so I can point it away from peoples faces
I have never owned a gig bar I’ve had 2 equinox helix for a couple of years now I’m awaiting delivery of 8 wireless up lights. Can’t wait to use em
Great idea! I no longer have much room for lights in my bar residency and have a couple cheap led pars already. I'll link them together and see how I get on. Thanks for the tip.
I find that if the ceiling is dark or made of wood or something the uplighting sometimes isn't enough, I actually put gravity stand around the room and shine lights down in that case. But you can put them high up and around the corners of the dancefloor not beside the dj
I think there are good points on both sides. I have a gig bar and I'm thinking about switching to just par uplights. I think that the argument that gig bars look bad from the audience's perspective is a bit overstated. The people dancing aren't necessarily looking at the dj. They are just as likely to be facing away from the dj as facing towards the dj so it's not always such an in-your-face thing. Also, I will generally point the laser and the derby's off the wall or ceiling so I just have pars washing the dance floor. I still like the uplights idea. I'm not a fan of having the big tripod sitting behind me so I'm thinking about switching but a gig bar is not that bad.
I used gigbars. I stopped because it was too busy for the dance floor. Also, too many Facebook photos I saw had lasers during first dances. Yeah, a wash is better than lasers in my view.
practicality over form = would be brilliant for a chap in your situation with a disability. Lights on stands can be adjusted.
I think the pars on the gig bar can be dimmed
Watching your videos are literally the highlight of my day!
You will always be my Friend!! The only time I use mine is for Sweet 16, School Dances, or if a couple wants them for their wedding, which I try to talk the Bride and Groom out of using them!! Great Video Buddy!!!
Brian, my light system is 2 wash fx2, gig bar move ils and 2 intimidator spot 160 ils (with usb dongles) and the hand held remote works with that. You can turn off certain fixtures if you don’t want then on.
These types of lights on the gigbars have been around for years. So why are people barely starting to complain about them now?
I think Gigbars are fine depending on where they are. I think for a wedding scenario where the DJ isn't really the focus, wall wash all the way. But in a small or mock concert scenario, they work great. It makes a one man concert look a lot better, permitted the modules are aimed correctly. That's what i like about the gigbar that i use (Gigbar move) is that all the modules can be aimed, isolated etc.
Thanks for shouting out Rick Web!
I’m surprised you didn’t just call it “hit by a truck” lighting like you have before. And I agree, as an intermediate stage lighting aficionado myself, that effect looks tacky from my perspective and outright YUCKY for audiences. I much prefer aiming them down at the floor, or doing up/downlighting with the 5 HEX PARs I have now.
Couldn't agree more Brian,
Ps thanks for the migraine... 🤣
How about moving heads? I've seen lots of DJs use the uplights on the walls and then also use two moving heads strobing on the dance floor. Seen many weddings DJs use that format as well.
Lol love that you have the blinding light on in the back to prove the point
Well, this may lead to the next video? What is the best, affordable lighting set up? I would like to know.
Should mention not labor intensive.
Went to a wedding as a guest this weekend with a gig bar running during dance. I would use one for kids parties, that’s about it. Was way too busy with colors and lasers. I wouldn’t buy one-great video!
Do you have any tips on keeping people with drinks away from your gear? I also use a truss booth.
Not hating, I get it and agree, mostly but the gigbar can be raised high, I even use a taller tripod with extension so mine is a little higher. Not in anyone's eyes unless they WANT to look up at them. Pars fwd, movers moving, dots up or off, laser aways off.
Totally agree. What about two chauvet wash fx lights pointed up? Haven’t used them but thinking about getting those and replacing my gigbar
The gigbar ILS is very different than previous models, way more controllability with the gigbar command lighting board as well as the feature to setup a follow spot for intros, podium, cake cutting etc. As long as a venue allows air effects (fog) it looks amazing!
A couple wash fx fixtures on totums that are have uplights is all you need and is not in the audience eyes. Plenty of wash lighting. Nice video Brian, you nailed it again
Brian's dog... Yep, Dad's in the back yard again playing with lights.
Absolutely agree. In most venues and portable setups, you can't get lighting high enough to shine down onto the crowd...you end up shining across the crowd, which ends up shining in people's eyes. A Gigbar concentrates that light even more into a small area. Couple that with the Gigbar's laser -- now you're ruining camera sensors and burning retinas. No thanks. Use uplighting on the walls, and Chauvet Wash FX Hex or similar to flood the ceiling.
I mean use the gig bar and aim the pars to the ceiling or turn them around to light up the wall behind you. That's a workable solution
Also, DJs that only use mixer to DJ are goofy. They may have life events that led them there. But I’m going to ignore that and call them goofy
Perfectly said
People should be dancing not looking straight at the lights. 😂😂 if people are there not dancing or just looking at the the lights only they shouldn’t be there 😂😅
I love my gig bar move, but they do suck. You have to DMX it and control it. I hate the derby effect on the top. I would rather 4 spots and the 2 scanners. Oh, the lasers are the worst! I would rather a bar I can make my own.
Gigbars look so tacky. They look like something that came out from 2005
Gigbars ARE goofy! they're super outdated effects & very weak output.... Just buy some decent movers/pars & permanents mount them on a T-bar if you really want a simple setup
Gigbars look like toys from spencer gifts. Not professional at all.
It not in their face if it high enough.