Rob Posted April 2, 2003 Share Posted April 2, 2003 I am putting together some designs for a summer ball in June. I had hoped to have a profile over each of the 16 tables to keep it quite intimate. However, because of the cost of putting in the rigging (all has to be ground supported) I don't think this is viable. The event has a Bedouin theme and I'm looking for some sort of lightsource to put on each table that will radiate but not be too bright - Ideally something low voltage I think. Candles are out of the question as I think it will be too much of a fire risk and a general hassle! I don't think flicker candles will be bright enough either - the tables are about 2mtr diameter. Does anyone have any suggestions of cheap solutions to either buy or hire? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Alcock Posted April 2, 2003 Share Posted April 2, 2003 Rob, What about using lightsticks (those Cyalume things that you bend and crack to start them giving out light). You could make some kind of shade to fit over the top, and some kind of base (squares of ply with a hole in to sit the lighstick in). You could even use all different colours - be quite groovy really. They'd even mellow and fade as the evening wears on. No batteries, no flames, no heat - ideal. You can get them from camping shops, but a web search would reveal other sources I'm sure. Any good? Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter Posted April 2, 2003 Share Posted April 2, 2003 Could you do something funky with rope light (coil it neatly into a 'snail shell' in the centre of the table?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickLee Posted April 2, 2003 Share Posted April 2, 2003 I must say, Pete's suggestion not only sounds cool, but easy - and cheap, cos you can get these thinks in bulk, and if you got say three colours (or whatever), you could combine to your satisfaction.An alternative is those thin paper (coloured, often red or blue) things - coverall shades on metal frames, with the low-wattage halogens inside 'em - they glow nicely, and are fairly simply - but require cabling on each table, something the above suggestion does not. -- Nick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owen_mcauley Posted April 2, 2003 Share Posted April 2, 2003 Have you ever tried stringing up a steelwire grid and attaching par 16's? Works a treat, did 87 tables and four ice sculptures that way once! Owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted April 2, 2003 Author Share Posted April 2, 2003 I really like the idea of glowsticks, but I think I'm looking for a cool or white lightsource. I'm thinking of lighting the (white) ceiling with quite a deep colour (not sure what yet, maybe purple) and covering the walls with black serge. Therefore, I want something a bit more easy on the eye to provide some ambient light. If I do go for something mains powered, I think I can get away with a small cable sized hole in the centre of each table. Something either battery powered or self powered would be ideal though. My first thought was some kind of basic candelabra with a BC candle bulb... Have you ever tried stringing up a steelwire grid and attaching par 16's? Works a treat, did 87 tables and four ice sculptures that way once! I have thought about this quite carefully. The span is about 15mtrs and so I'd have to sort some reasonably chunky rigging points. Definitely my preference if I can do it though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robloxley Posted April 2, 2003 Share Posted April 2, 2003 I had hoped to have a profile over each of the 16 tables to keep it quite intimate. However, because of the cost of putting in the rigging (all has to be ground supported) I don't think this is viableThis sounds like a big marquee job - why can't you hang some rigging from the roof - most marquees have points on their structure, or can have points added? I did quite a fun wedding where we ran 15m of multicircuit lo-vo tracklight down the ridge with quite a ridiculous number of birdies, and birdie profiles (with breakup gobos)! It would seem that a good answer would be to sort out hanging capability with the marquee company? Otherwise, any lamps on each table will have to be cabled at ground level, which will be a pain, a mess and possibly a trip hazard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted April 2, 2003 Author Share Posted April 2, 2003 School hall I'm afraid! There are concrete beams running along the ceiling, and I did think of using quick clamps or Gaffer grips to attach birdies to them. I'm just not happy its safe enough though. If we do go down this route, I would want to double up the clamps, so that if one failed there was a backup - It all starts getting a bit more expensive again. Clamps are about a fiver each - so two of those and the hire cost of a birdy I'm back to looking at £15 per table which is more that I would like to spend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryson Posted April 2, 2003 Share Posted April 2, 2003 I know we're back onto overheads, but Par 36 pinspots are the only way to light table centres... Direct vertical is nice, but with pinspots you can get away with quite a shallow angle (comparitively.) Most hire co's do 4-way banks of par 36's. What are the dimensions/rigging point positions? Running cable across the floor is going to be horrible... And deep Purple breakup washes across everything... If you have to do table-based lights - could you do soemthing with those battery-powered "dome" lights like the ones for sheds and understair cupboards and the like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Russell Posted April 3, 2003 Share Posted April 3, 2003 Candles are out of the question as I think it will be too much of a fire risk and a general hassleOne thing I have done in the past that is quite nice, is to use a small glass bowl with some floating candles in, If anyone knocks the bowl then the candles usually put themselves out. Peter Oh and if you are feeling arty then you can put some glass pebbles in the bottom of the bowl which will catch the light (I think I still have thirty or so of these type of table centres in the garage somewhere and they were quite cheap to put together) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulsar Posted April 4, 2003 Share Posted April 4, 2003 Hi Just received a copy of Bright Life -UK from Bright life UK Harrington Dock, Liverpool L70 1AX 0870 234 1234 They have a mini emergency Lantern looks like old small Hurricane Lantern works of 4 c "C" cell batteries £4.95 each The mag has loads of cheap gadgets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piers Shepperd Posted April 5, 2003 Share Posted April 5, 2003 My vote is on Par 36 pinspots and a length of trilite / lite beam down the centre. I've done this a few times in Marquees. Cabling is easy because its all running down the same truss. Rigging the truss could be done with ground support, but truss hire would be way cheaper then lots of extra clamps. Things running off batteries generally run out or get dim at some point, and when people complain that they can't see their food / wine / menu / whatever, you open yourself up to alot of criticism. Par 36 pinspots can be focused and coloured but more importantly have brightness control if you can run to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lightnix Posted April 5, 2003 Share Posted April 5, 2003 Have you seen these... Litecubes I'm thinking of getting some in for the summer, possibly. When frozen the gel inside goes cloudy and is beautifully illuminated by the single LED. They come in six colours (including white) and the (non replaceable) batteries last for about 10-12 hours continuous. I got sent a green one as a sample the other week - not much cop for illumination, but pretty as heck. I think you can get them in the UK already from some gadgety places, usually about £5.95 a pair. They'd probably wind up getting nicked, tho' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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