Mobile DJ Tip on Lighting

0:00 Quick video here on lighting

Alright folks, quick video here on lighting. Now this unit here is a basic DJ console stand. Now what the DJ will do is put their kit there, music source, CD players, that kind of stuff, maybe fit the amplifier down here, then we've got a bar running at the top here, we've got a bar running across and another one coming down. Now theoretically all this area The DJ will have all the lighting on here facing the crowd. Now let's have a look at a T-bar. Okay, slightly different. We can't attach any DJ gear to this but this is the T-bar. If you follow my finger and it goes across like so. Now generally what a DJ will do here is attach maybe one or two lights, one side, one or two lights the other side.

1:26 First of all people are always asking what kit I'm using

But of course, you know, check the manufacturer's instructions to basically what weight you can put on T-bars. Some will take one or two lights, others will take quite considerably more. But have you ever considered putting lights on maybe a T-bar or your DJ console and shining them at you? I'll explain. Right, are you going to work with me on this one? No. Right, first of all people are always asking what kit I'm using. Now that there is the American DJ Mystic LED. Basically what DJ will do is they'll put the lighting up here, they'll attach it with suitable G-clamp and quite often I'll use cable ties but, alright admittedly cable ties aren't the best things to use, but depending on the weight of the unit I may use up to 10 of them or maybe one or two if it's a very light unit.

2:25 Exactly what I mean

But if you can see right, what's happening there is I've got the light now facing towards the crowd which is fantastic because it gives a good effect on the crowd. But very often a DJ will never ever put any lights on themselves. So I mean put it this way, look at loads of gig logs, look at loads of DJ setups. The crowd look fantastic but can you see the DJ? Quite often you can't see the DJ. And in my book, and I'm going to do this a little bit more, it's great to see what they're doing. So I'll pause the camera again and I'll show you exactly what I mean. Right now first off, this is from Cam. I've done one quick demo on it. It's the LED colour bank number 1. What I'm going to do, I'm going to fit this on the DJ console with maybe a subtle difference. Excuse me. Right, there it is on the crossbar.

Now, I'm situated, let's say, where the crowd would be. And if you notice, that light isn't pointing at the crowd. It's actually pointing at the DJ. But also what I've done, I've fitted it underneath the bar. The reason being is that if I wanted to, at any time, I could just turn it, have it facing the crowd, or logically more importantly, which is what this particular video is all about, is facing the DJ. It's all well and good having the best DJ in the world playing the best music, etc. But people, in a sense, would like to see what they're doing. So this video is basically about having a bit of lighting on you, enabling the crowd, A, to see what you're doing, but also as well so you can see what you're doing as well. What I'll do is later on tonight...

In the dark, I'll show you exactly what I mean. Practice and enjoy.

This transcript was produced automatically from the audio of the video and may contain mistakes.