What lights do you use??!

Amazing video, thank you!!

Absolutely perfect!

Always great information.

All these tips you shared are awesome! Thanks for making this video Nick! That pastel color tip and staying away from red are things I didn't know!

Thanks brother, your awesome sauce

You really just opened a whole new view of things one should be aware of during a wedding party. I love it because I am planning on starting into this venue in about six months. So keep those tips coming.

Thanks!

Thanks mate 👍

Boom!!! Nick with the dj data!!!

Spot on! 😎

Excellent tips Nicky

Another great video, thanks Nick!

Awesome video Nick. This was hugely helpful for my wedding game! and I agree that when vendors work together at a wedding, everybody wins 🙌

Hey now, I love those cheesy Spencers party lights and red lights in general (red light is so cozy at night), but I guess for a wedding specifically, you got some good points lol cool video!

Very helpful, thanks a lot!

THIS! you've articulated a lot of the thoughts I've had but never really knew how to explain to other djs. Spencer's gifts lighting is my new go to description. I've advocated wash lighting as an aesthetic preference forever now. And I've had photographers ask me not to use green because it makes the subject look like a witch lol

loved it....

I've binge watched your entire channel! Nick knows his shit and is very entertaining! Never change bro!

That was very useful info, thank you Nick as always.

So true

Great video

Super useful video!!

Great tip i use swarms 6 or 7 years ago and totally agree the ruin shots, currently use fx2 for wash and movers .

Awesome brother well done !!

Life saving tips!!! wow!

Great Tips !!!!

You are brillianted

Thanks Nick I’ve been I the wedding game for about two years now full time and found your video very insightful.

Great tips.

Been in the entertainment business for a little while. Really like this channel. Thanks Nick.

This video has fantastic advice

I agree. I have the gig bar Move and disconnect the laser. I also point the derby lights up.

I learned a lot. Thank you for sharing.

thank u thank u thank u

The bombs and nuggets you continue to drop are so valuable. You are sharing content I have never heard from a pro event DJ and all makes great sense. I am a fan!

I loved Digital Dave’s setup so much after doing a few events with him that I went out and bought my own! I use a Chauvet Par9FX light on both speaker stands and DMX them together. I still use the auto sound mode but the DMX cord allows both lights to be doing the same colors and patterns at all times!

I gotta tell you, the swarm 5 is great for kids parties. They love it. For weddings.. I agree with you.

Lighting is something I always shyed away from when I was a wedding DJ, it seemed like a another skill set and a little intimidating. really great tips and seems simple. I've learned a lot from your channel and wish these vids were around in 2009. I would have been set up for success.

Great tips! Literally just had this conversation with a photographer. He was wanting to know what the norm is for our industry. I told him that lasers and derby's are dated & if the DJ is using them ask him to stop/turn them off. He didn't have lighting in his contract so he will be adding that since our conversation.

Thank you brother... VERY very informative... Things I took for granted... Great 4 step process to keep in your arsenal.. Much appreciated brother ..

Such an awesome video! As a newer business I’ve held off on buying lights until now so I can try different ones. This video helped a bunch dude!

Awesome video Nick your video was very detailed thank you so much I’m just starting out truck driversfrom Southern California

So many good tips as always. I have a couple of the cheapie movers(made a video on my channel) and I have to agree. I think they are ok for some parties, and for the roller discos I do, but you're right they have small coverage area. I also mention in my vid that a better option might be the Chauvet Wash FX 2 rather than a cheap mover. Especially because the Wash FX will always work well as you upgrade the rest of the lighting. And they can even look good on some rockville totems. I didn't know that about the red lights. Dots are pretty much a given, but I didn't know about the red. Thanks for that! Also 🙌 Gary Vee. Lol

100% agree with the wash effects. I own the gig bar move for parties, set it and forget it. Will not use it for a wedding or formal event.

Thanks for the tips i did all that long ago since last march i been upgraded my system lights and sound and u are right about dots and red bring on the bad omen also i dont turn on my light till the first dance

I am a lighting Tech and work lots of Weddings, Birthday Parties, Debutant Balls. I usually run the mobile gigs with a wireless DMX controlled setup with Luminair 4 on an iPad, or Chauvet Show express. I agree…Keep it classy and use minimal lighting in the beginning (up lights, a couple of movers for ceiling during cocktail hour and a RGB strip light set to “warm white and dimmed” on a stand to wash the dance floor. I save most of the dance lighting (Wash FX2’s, AdJ Rayzer with laser turned off) until all the formalities are done and the dance floor is open to everyone, then I switch everything over to party mode. I usually tell the photographer or videographer if something special is coming like the “ Dancing on a Cloud” dry ice effect so the can prepare for it and know where the co2 fog machine operator will be. The lasers and Swarm FX 5 is used mostly for Parties,School dances, and Glow parties with haze. By the way the Wash FX 2’s work great for UV glow (black light ) party’s. Just (4) of them in each corner can easily cover a 20 ft x 20 ft area.

Thanks about the red brotha!

Damn good Video man!! I'm halfway through and I have laughed out loud 3 TIMES!! I touch base on this because it can be hard to do, so I'm very excited to finish and watch more!! Love the style of your teaching and super informative without making me want to smack my head really hard,, on my pillow!! Great humor, energy and passion!! Thanks dude and keep up the great work :) Ok back to learning!!

wow!!! I hope as DJs we all know this, but this is the first video I’ve seen explaining this. I think does old school laser light look very good at a dance party on the ceiling only. Excellent Video ❤

Only time I use a laser now for a wedding is when it is in a Marquee, and then I project into the roof to give a nice effect as IMHO wash lights can get lost in that space. Great video, keep up the great work. 😎 😎 😎 👍👍👍

Im seeing this video a year later.. but this is gold tips! Thank you! 👏🏻

Facts

Nice

Great tips Nick! Thanks for sharing! First time viewer! Always watch and check out other DJ’s channels to get ideas on lighting, equipment, other tips and tricks that might make things better, easier, and more exciting that I can incorporate into the show! Always evolve, right? Lol. That being said, it’s a shame that some people dis other DJ’s equipment, lighting, etc., when we’re all trying to do the same thing for our clients! Create that exciting environment with light and sound, and be the best DJ/MC we can be! Different people have different ideas when it comes to lighting, and not necessarily wrong, just different! I think that’s why we’re always looking for a different unique set up, lighting, that sets us apart, and/or gives us a different look! It still should be all about the clients, and their needs/wants though! Was going to add a lot more here, and where I appreciate your insight, you just gotta do you and get the best equipment you can afford at the time when starting out! If happens to be gig bars (Yes I bought one of those as well unfortunately - Lol), or a laser (maybe the Chauvet Scorpion Dual RGB, instead of the infamous red/green dots) layered on top of wash fixtures for effect, then you have to do what you gotta do! It’s always great to be able to bring in the team as well for lighting, etc., but that depends on how much you want to make individually, and/or the area you market yourself in, or even the type of events you do (maybe all you do is higher paying gigs, I don’t know, but sometimes you gotta pay the bills!) Lol. Case in point, to me, some wash fixtures are just downright boring, yes they add color (I do agree with “primary” red and green colors though), but if you want exciting lights, yes, moving heads are the way to go! I have the ADJ Focus Spot 2’s, and the Focus Spot 4Z’s, controlled with the airstream bridge, along with the Element Hex/Element Hex ST/QA5 bars for up lighting. That being said, if you don’t control them though, then they just look “random” as well! When you do that, the lights are moving ALL OVER THE ROOM, especially on the ceiling, the walls, everywhere BUT the dance floor! Isn’t that why we call it “dance floor” lighting? Shouldn’t they basically be positioned to be ON THE DANCE FLOOR??? 🤔😖 It just looks like the circus came to town then, or it looks boring, because they’re just all over the place, doing the same pattern for the ENTIRE night! Even the ape labs which are awesome lights, but when I see them all strobing along the walls, it freaks some people out as well, becomes way too busy, and if you have someone in the audience like I’ve had in the past, they’ve asked me to not use lasers, a lot of strobing or similar effects, or at least limit their use (which I always try to comply with! We NEVER want to see anyone have issues when they’re supposed to be having a great time!), but in my opinion, that look is as bad as you’re “dots” that you mention! I These lights today can cost as much as “your first born”, so I get it, but you still have to get the best your pocket book can afford, right? Thanks again for the insight! Much appreciated! Happy Holidays!

Thanks Nick just ordered the Gig bar 2 yesterday seen your video and guess what that rascal is going back to the store today!!! lol

Wow, great Tips. Keep up the good work:) Also red is often the color, that is less brighter than the others on moving heads, so even if you would use red you would have to adjust the brightness constantly

I'm doing a wedding gig soon and I'm wondering how many lights should I bring or should I keep it simple on a tripod, plus should I bring a facade or black chavet booth. Your tips will certainly help me on this one, plus I LOVE your logs. Awesome. Thanks

Good common sense approach. After all you're in the "good" customer service business If you want referrals you make sure everyone involved is happy, within reason that is.

Great video! What lights do you use for uplighting.

First thing I learned was the tickle your pickle. I recently bought D-fi xlr from chauvet to run my chauvet 355 irc lights wireless. I use adj airstream so I was planning to update my scenes. This color advice couldn't come at a better time. God knows how many tomato faces I created. I will say at least I had the common sense to turn lights during dancing. Just getting through formalities is more than my brain can handle. Thanks for the tips.

Love the Gary Vee reference can’t wait to see where you go after going hard on Alex Hormozi haha 😂

Are there any videos of your lighting set up in action. I'd love to see that.

Nice video. In addition to the laser points, does anyone remember those tacky fire lights from a few years ago?? I had a few local DJs using them a few years ago - such an impressive light show LOL. And I agree, when most DJs have intells lights they usually simply put them in one auto mode the ENTIRE night.

I gave my dot lights to a 14 year old, I dj tutor. I use wash fx and moving heads.

Great video as always. We gotta get you to try out Soundswitch

2x Martin RUSH Wizard's on upright poles and LEDJ 12Q5 LED Bars behind the starlight DJ Booth.

I needed this video in like 2010. I was that tacky light DJ 🫤.

I don´t use dots and almost no washers either, I anly use dmx controlled gobo roller effects. Two for the crowd/dancefloor and two for the crowd/ceiling. Use two mowin head washer placed a bit away from the dancefloor mostly as uplights.

Can you show us a video of your dance floor lights?? I’m a wedding DJ and have the new gig bar and learned quite a bit from this video. Thanks in advance.

How do you keep your laptop stable when scratching ??

i’ve got those $80 chinese movers. wash on one side and spot on the other. mounted to the tops of my speakers- 4 movers/4pars. a pair of hemisphere on the floor in front of them and 20 h1 up lights. hazer when allowed to use it. all controlled by SoundSwitch. all depends on how you use them - so your advice was spot on..EXCEPT i expected you to say the worst color is GREEN. i always use shades of magenta (red+blue) and only green to make cyan and yellow. color theory of light: red+green = yellow (amber) blue+green = cyan red+blue = magenta RGB -> White = light /additive CMY->Balck = paint /subtractive so the pastels generally are created with the CMYK color pallet which you need to convert to for lights. auto programs are almost always RGB and look terrible as you say. and not only is too bright a problem, sometimes too dark is too. it’s not safe if your lights go total black out and there’s no ambient light.

Great video! I have had some problems with djs lighting during the first dance when they use the spot light two bright on the couple, I don't get it why many of them instead of power down the light to avoid dazzling the couple, they prefer to shine the light from the waist down. Then all the photos of the couple turn out with an ultra bright blowout dress and their faces two dark.

I know this a year old but just now seeing it. What is an elegant way of getting the wash lights up in the air yet also on a budget? Are T bars considered kind of low class ?

What lights do you suggest with a good pastel color

You briefly mentioned introductions for a wedding. I do a lot of middle eastern events. For us, the weddings are hyped and the couple come to the dance floor and invite all the guests to join them and get it hyped. With American weddings, I tend to go high energy entrance straight to the first dance. What do you usually do?

Great vid, agree 100 hunnit! I like to keep it classy. Question, looking for lighting that gives “dancing under stars” type effect. Any suggestions?

An you provide a pic of what your light look like at a wedding. That would help a lot. Thanks.

Nick I have Yorkville LP-LED4X Four Pod wash lights. What do you recommend to accompany this 🕺💃🏻

Do you recommend Wash FX 2? And how to exclude red colour on DMX?

I used 🔴 at a wedding 😅😅 but it looked the best for the room.. (a lot of dark wood) but I didn't do an overkill.

A lot of the issues lighting can cause for a photographer or videographer has to do with exposure, quality of lighting, and color temperature. A good photographer knows that a very large source of light as close to the face subject as possible provides the softest shadows and the best lighting for portraits. Basically, the exact opposite of what a spot light is. When it comes to "natural lighting", this is gonna come from getting close to large windows. Also, getting the subject the right brightness in comparison to the background (one stop higher to be precise) is huge. It keeps everything properly exposed and within the appropriate range of brightness. By adding spots and washes, you're now exaggerating the difference between the bright and dark areas of the room, making it harder to get a properly exposed image. And finally there's a color temperature issue as well. When taking photos or video, you want all light in the room to be the same color. You want it to have the same amount of orange, blue, magenta, and green. If you go really extreme with the color and use it to back light or side light, it can come across as an effec (which is what it is supposed to be doing). But the closer it looks to a normal light, the more it can really make a photo or video look funky. Just in case you were wondering the specifics of what you're actually putting the photographer through, these are the first things that come to mind.

Loved the video!! Great points. With literally dozens of years in this game, I am still trying to evolve. In my opinion, there is a time and place for everything. More DJs are going to wash effects for weddings and formal gigs. For kid parties and birthday celebrations, I like the moving heads and even the effect lighting. I agree that big effect lighting may not be for the formal stuff, but please note that at a school dance or even less formal birthday gigs, you need more than a few up lights. I’ve have been asked to bring my big lights and mirror ball twice over the last few years. Once for a 50th birthday disco themed party and then for a sweet 16. Go figure. Lol

You actually felt our buttholes? Eeek!! Bwahahaha Seriously though, FULLY agree on using wash lights only. There was a time back when I first started in 1997 and throughout the mid 2000s, that I had all those dot/shape lights + lasers on a big ridiculous trussing, and let's not forget about fog! But for well over a decade now, I've only been using wash lighting. Keep it classy, San Diego! Also, FULLY agree about never turning on lights for the formalities. Uplighting doesn't count in this instance. But like you said, anything that's going to light up the dance floor. Not necessary. And likely will ruin first dance pics, F/D dance pics, etc. Yes, RED sucks not only for dancing, but at concerts too. I mean, some death metal bands look good in an all red stage (like blood/hell haha), but for the most part red is the absolute worst. Also many lights now come with wifi APP control. So if you don't get a lighting controller, at least get lights that have the app control. Great video, and funny that you used that pic of Barry at Spencer's, because my wife says you remind her of Barry. Not sure if that's a good thing or not LOL

I still see a lot of dots and mushroom designs at weddings. We s,so prefer the wash effects. We’re primarily a wedding company. Yup…if your a house party dj, you can let it fly. They also KILL THE PICTURES. We have 4 of the Chauvet Hybrids. Of course we have the wireless up lights and the Showven sparklers.

Also lights that have a dedicated white color (not just rgb, cause color mixing white can be a hassle)

I'm a D/J K/j and I am getting ready to do my first wedding. Like in one of f your videos I am super nervous. I was trying to find you scripts.

You can RENT GEAR!! You don't have to buy anything! Where I live all DJ equipment other than a laptop and controller can be rented very in expensively. You can also buy lights that can be used as controllers. You don't HAVE to buy a controller to control all lights. If you buy the right kind of lights you can avoid needing a controller. You're also wrong about red. I've never heard any photographers in 30 YEARS tell me my lights made it difficult to get good pics. Red is one of the most complimentary colors on a person. Saying that I've rarely used red for a wedding but for a fast dance having red in the color mix is good. I listen to the client and discuss lighting with the photographer before I use them just in case. The light you want to avoid using is white. I've had people ask for white and its bizzare. Why have any lights if they want white? Why not just turn on the venue lights.

What uplighting are you using in the title pic to light the booth and trusses?

This video was a 10+ you really hit on some great issues that I will be changing like the pastel colors. And I’m going to check the brightness 🔆 also Thank You 🙏

Great video Nick! Can you walk us through your normal lighting package and how you control the lights? I use a Dotz TPar because it's 1) only a wash light and 2) I can easily control some aspects of it with a foot petal. I'm nervous to have to bring another laptop and have to switch my lights while I DJ. I'd love to see how you do it when you don't have a lighting assistant.

Dude that shirt is fire where you get it?!?

16 ape lab light cans with the w app controller.3000 but worth every fkn penny and easy peasy to use and control !!!!

I'm surprised you said no red. I find that during songs that are hot/sexy...red/orange hues really set it off. Gotta say, though, lighting preferences change like the seasons - so just talk with the couple and have a variety of things for them to choose from.

Does anyone here have experience with Martin MAC 500 or 600 moving heads? There's a local company selling these and I'm wondering if it's worth buying a few since I don't have any spots/moving heads

I use the blizzard lighting weather system EXA ! Very high quality . Thanks for telling us about the RED. and I use myDMX GO on an iPad !

I hate my lighting it's dated, but just can't update yet. I think I will go with just 2 wash fx and my jelly dome. I don't care, I love my jelly dome, and I get complements on it all the time, It's kind of used in place of the mirror ball.

Good advice, but if you are slick---get a couple Chauvet Firebirds

Is lighting something you should always include like a sub or something to charge extra for?

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