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Lighting Controller
We've really started using the lights much more than I originally
thought. We used them weekly this summer for VBS, some for kids worship and just
recently for a drama in our Wednesday night service. Our lighting mixer looks
pretty simple, but can handle some complicated projects. Currently, I run 4 to 8
Par Cans (lights) with one dimmer pack. So, I can control 4 lights individually,
or 8 lights, with 2 on at a time. The mixer can also be programmed for different
scene settings, but I've not gotten that far yet. The mixer connects to the
dimmer pack with a standard microphone cord. I ordered all the lighting system
off the internet.
I have since order a second dimmer pack to give more control to my lights.
Stats: 8/16 channel console, 3 user selectable modes enable
2 scene manual preset with individual bump buttons, 8 memory scenes, 16 channels
in a single scene , and 2 user programmable chases, Micro - Plex, DMX-512
 Lights
I have four PAR 64s. These are way to big (or bright) for my children's
worship area, but work great in our Family Life Center (or gym). I have four used
lights that are about half the size of the big ones. I found a small light set
at a local music shop. It had been rented out, but works well. It came with a
small mixer/dimmer that is sound activated.
I bought all of my lighting gear from CCI, except for the stands and
trussell.
Most sound/lighting places have lighting packages. I found it cheaper to piece
my own set together. CCI is at www.ccisound.com.I
ordered my second dimmer pack from CCI and years later, they still have
some of the best prices!
Fake Fire
You've probably seen these before. Basically it's some type of plastic bowel
that contains a fan, one or two small lights and colored material cut in a flame
shape. These plugs in at at the flick of a switch, you've got a fire. We put
wood around it to hide the black base and from a distance it really looked like
a fire. We've used this for a kids program that had a daily fireside chat,
indoor camp outs and skits. Shop around, novelty store carry the same items that
lighting stores are charging a fortune for. Look for these in stores around
Halloween. Be careful how you use this. I built a beach scene for a booth at a
local Kids Fair and more than a few people were fooled.
Black Lights
These lights cause everything in black to be unseen and florescent material to
glow brightly. You can have lots of fun with black lights. Check out the
puppetry sections for more tips and ideas on black light use. You can find black
lights in four inch, battery powered units to four foot, fluorescent tubes. The
easiest and most common set up are the 18 inch black light fixtures sold at
puppetry supplies stories. You can also find these at Wal-Mart in the lighting
section. You got to experiment with the correct placement of the lights and the
amounts for your use, but they do make an impact. Oneway
Street also sells special hangers to hang your backlights on your puppet
stage, or if you're handy with a pair of pliers, you can make your own using pieces from a
wire clothes hanger.
Strobe Lights
These can be fun and picked up around Halloween time. You can do some special
effects or simulate lighting with these lights, however, strobe lights have been
know to trigger seizures in some people. So we always posted signs alerting people
that we are using them and never use them when we know a child coming has had
seizures. With several of our kids having seizures, for various reasons, we
almost never use strobes. If we do, it's a small lighting effect and last a
short time and faces away from the kids.
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