Scanners as follow spots

[SmokeAndMirrors]

I work with a band in venues seating 200-300 (no more than 25m from FOS to the mixer pit). One of the big issues at the moment is lack of lighting from the front. Having some LED banks and tubes has to some extent helped, but we're still suffering from a lack of follow spot for guitar solos etc. Such devices are too expensive and bulky for our setup (not to mention needing an operator!), so I was considering using a cheap scanner (say 150W) which is mounted on a T-Bar next to me. Then I can simply wire in the performer positions during setup / soundcheck. Has anyone tried this? Does it work? Any other suggestions? (A hoisted truss FOS is definitely not practical).

 

Cheers

 

S&M

[norty303]

There was a reasonable size thread very recently with a title virtually the same as yours, a quick browse or search should turn it up.

[paulears]

Actually - this is a bit different. In this case what we're talking about is something out front that can do preset positions - not a follow spot.

 

Seems like a good idea. The only visually iffy bits are more to do with the fixture. If it doesn't dim, then the gobos lurching about togo from black to open are a bit naff, but - for picking out band members glued to mic stands, it should work fine.

[lightsource]

We've done similar things, with mixed success.

 

We've had a bank of 4 colorscan 250w scanners (A1/259 lamp) on a T bar, located at FOH, with various locations for them all to iluminate, from highliting soloists, to strobing on the drum kit.

 

It worked reasonably well, but light output struggeled over our Par cans.

 

Maybe a couple of 1000w Par64 NSP may be more cost effective.

 

edit to add the word 'cost'

[SmokeAndMirrors]

We have no parcans, our show is all scanners (100 / 150W), lasers and LEDs. So I'm thinking it's a reasonable bet.

 

I don't want to dazzle the band members too much though - I can't gauge how it might compare to a follow spot?

[Modge]

Well a follow spot is generally upwards of 1kw (often well upwards), you're talking about using very much dimmer units, so that makes a certain difference. Also relevant is position - If you use a pair out wide and they look forwards It'll be different to being hit strait on. It'll also look different, but they'll be brighter than there surroundings which is what draws attention to them. Using a 3rd in the middle of the stage behind them would create the pool of light I suspect you want. (depending on where you focused it, obviously).

 

I would tend to agree that 150w is a bit dim but then if it's what you can afford then it'll have to do. I'd be more concerned that some of the cheaper nasty 150w scanners (OK, cheap any size scanner, but more common with small ones) do have a tenancy to loose there calibration over the course of the night: what was pointing at the guitarist pre gig may now be 3 foot to the left of him. However there's nothing to stop you giving it a try and seeing how bad they are.

[Jamtastic3]

I've done this many times but with 300W HTI lamps It depends on your ficture really. If it is a 150W discharge then you might just be bright enough yet open white is going to look pretty cold against someone's face. If it is a 150W halogen fixture then it's going to be pretty dim. Then you need to think about the distance between the band members and the fixture....

[paulears]

If you don't have any conventional light sources - I'm guessing but you have no way of washing the stage at all? Just effects. If this is the case, then if it was me, I'd go for some colour wash from out the front. One thing the band will notice is that people can then really see them, AND they will notice lights in their eyes for the first time. even a really dim light shining straight on will be squint city till they get used to it! Being able to do just a red or a blue wash can really be useful - it gives the effects lighting something to key onto - so a blue stage with yellow cross beams, or a red stage with white etc becomes possible and looks better than just a few stray beams,

[SmokeAndMirrors]

If you don't have any conventional light sources - I'm guessing but you have no way of washing the stage at all? Just effects. If this is the case, then if it was me, I'd go for some colour wash from out the front. One thing the band will notice is that people can then really see them, AND they will notice lights in their eyes for the first time. even a really dim light shining straight on will be squint city till they get used to it! Being able to do just a red or a blue wash can really be useful - it gives the effects lighting something to key onto - so a blue stage with yellow cross beams, or a red stage with white etc becomes possible and looks better than just a few stray beams,

 

I use 2 of these for some gentle wash. Bear in mind it's a Pink Floyd tribute band, so bright wash lighting isn't a priority for me. The last venue we played we had some 50% dark blue wash from the house LX. I just want to be able to pick out the soloists from time to time in an appropriate colour.

[cliveybaby]

I think

 

1 Need good output 250w discharge +

2 Main probs distance/placement/size of beam

 

My opinion dont try to do it with cheap scanners

 

much better off with a few floorcans uplighting each area

(or from rig if you can)

you could even still use a few more led pars and then 'reduce'

the rest of band for solo bits

 

 

Cliveybaby

[Jivemaster]

The huge problem with low end scanners, is the narrow beam angle. While putting a well defined beam of significant brightness out, the trade-off is with how big the beam is. My 575w discharge scanners scanners are narrow beam and can be positioned be x,y controls on faders or joystick BUT at 5 metres they don't illuminate a whole person. At two metres a performer's natural motion can move them in and out of the beam.

[Dmx512]

I do this a lot with four Golden scan HPE`s they really punch through the other lighting and also have the iris facility and if you get about 45 degrees to the performers on your front truss this gives a nice lighting angle too.....Dave www.q-lights.co.uk