The "beam" effect

[skenmy]

This may belong in the Effects forum, I apologise if it's in the wrong place!

 

Hey all,

 

I've started planning for a large rock concert we host in October. For the first time, I'd like to hire in some moving lights - but I'm worried they won't have the impact I want.

 

What I would like is to be able to use them as moving beams of light from different angles. None of the design has been done yet, so I'm just starting to think about options. The last time we tried using a hazer to create the "beam" effect from our stationary lights it didn't work as anticipated, whether this was due to our inexperience in special lighting effects or whether we had a bad hazer is still unknown. This time, I am planning to invest a few hundred pounds into this - so I want it to go right.

 

Is a Hazer the piece of equipment I am looking for to create these effects? If so, whereabouts should it be mounted? On the main rig (suspended over the audience), under the stage (over the performers, where the moving lights will most likely be), or to the side, or somewhere I have missed? Any tips for how to adjust it to create the effect I am looking for - clear "beams" of light from the moving heads. The venue itself will be near-on pitch black when we run the concert.

 

Thanks in advance!

[paulears]

A hazer is what you need. Cheap hazers are more like fine smoke. A proper one can just be left stage side to chug away and fill the room quite quickly. Then all your beams will be visible. I wouldn't put it above ground because filling is a pain!!!

 

The only problem you may have is wind. My venue has severe draft problems, and depending on the wind, it's quite possible to haze a wing, and have none on stage, or haze the auditorium. So we move the things about depending on the weather. Most venues don't have this problem.

[skenmy]

So perhaps something like a Le Maitre Neutron XS Hazer would do the job? It's not a HUGE venue, maybe holds 300-400 people, so it would fill quite quickly?

[prolightdesigner]

Hi

 

A haze machine definitely seems like the best solution for you. Like others have said, it's probably best to keep the machine on the ground (especially since fog and haze typically rise) and experiment to find the best spot to put it. Another thing you may want to consider, since you said you'll be bringing in moving lights, is the intensity of their light source. Especially since you want aerial beam effects, make sure the lamp in the movers is bright enough to do that well, otherwise the effect will be kinda lame. Also, the birghter the beam is the less fog or haze you will need to get the desired effect.

 

-Jeff

[LXbydesign]

Yes - or ive found most jem/Martin hazers to be good enough.

 

Pauls comment about drafts is very valid though. Haze is horribilly affected by wind and drafts - so make sure that u have any air handling or a/c systems over the stage area turned off or ur haze will be sucked out as fast as its pumped out!!

 

Then just find a good place to put the hazer , depending on drafts and, as paul said , just let it chug away and ur venue will be hazed up a treat!

 

On that note , id like to know what machines they use for Weakest Link and Millionare - caus thats the best haze ive ever seen!!

[skenmy]

I think the drafts issue will be a problem, here. We have a backdoor to the stage which is used when performers enter / exit the backstage area (which is practically a tunnel :)). This back door leads directly into a small foyer which has doors opening directly outside - and they have to be kept unlocked due to fire regulations.

 

Thanks for the useful information, everyone!

[niclights]

That won't stop you from being able to achieve the effect. These conditions are normal for most rock'n'roll, as are the effects you want to achieve. Usually some experimenting with position, smoke level (assuming it's adjustable) and possibly a fan is all that will be needed.

 

For the perfect result use a mineral oil type hazer such as DF-50 if available. This will give a more even coverage with no clumping or swirling cloud and will be much less affected by general air movement.

[skenmy]

With any luck I'll have access to all the equipment for a few days before the concert, so I'll be able to play around, both in silence, and during our tech rehearsals. I'll just open all the doors and see what happens - then experiment with positioning.

[mr_towers]

Goes without saying, but check fire alarms before working with hazers! The number of times the fire service gets called out to theatres because the fire alarms haven't been set correctly . . .

[skenmy]

We've been pretty heavy with smoke machines before now (cries of "I can't even see the ceiling!") and the alarms haven't gone off. I *think* it is pretty much all manual activation.

[Neil Hampson]

...intensity of their light source. Especially since you want aerial beam effects, make sure the lamp in the movers is bright enough to do that well, otherwise the effect will be kinda lame. Also, the birghter the beam is the less fog or haze you will need to get the desired effect.

 

Remember the haze will show up all of the light beams, including all of your generic fixtures.

 

so probably more importantly, it's the contrast between the moving effects and the rest of the rig, Cheapo disco gear can look great in the right environment I.e when the rest of the room is practically a blackout. If however the movers are trying to cut over a 4 point wash made up of possibly 50Kw of fresnels or PARs then you need to be looking at a very bright source.

Of cousre this visibility of the PAR beams can be used to just as good effect as the dynamic effects

[Guest lightnix]

A hazer will help, yes; but the positioning of the lights is more important.

 

The strongest-looking beams will always be the ones you're looking into; so position most of the movers upstage and use them as back and top light, with some on the floor for more of a "multi-angle" look (and a faster get-out :) ).

 

I don't know how many movers you'll be getting; but based on experience, I'd roughly distribute them along the lines of...

 

50% overhead upstage - for back & toplight

20% overhead FOH - for washes and solo positions

30% on the floor - mostly upstage, but with "a few" at the side and "a couple" right downstage.

 

Click here for an old post of mine, with a list of links to other band-related lighting threads.

[Jamtastic3]

I'd add that you should think about what kind of gobos to use as well. Make sure they are focused and even the simplist of gobos (such as a circle) can give you a wow factor with haze (as it will look like a tunnel when you looking straight into it). Also you could go for what I call the 'stadium' effect :P which is to use the frost effect (or wash moving heads) with a large area of movement out onto the crowd from upstage but this time use alot of haze. I do it alot now with just open white - looks great against banks of red parcans.