From: someone@anywheret.net   
      
   "JimD"  wrote in message news:2018022714471644434-email@nowherecom...   
      
   > They were old halogen style pars, converted to LED bulbs, but they were   
   > not DMX.  They were midi controllable, and well, that's just in the past   
   > for us.   
      
   I'll take LEDs over the fragile, heavy, costly to operate alternatives   
   anytime!   
      
   > Last year we started buying dmx lights, but hadn't switched over to a dmx   
   > controller.  We could dim the old lights with the midi thing, but let the   
   > newer Chauvet Par56's run on their internal programs. Basically those just   
   > slowly, gradually changes the wash colors of the stage.   
      
   The only interest I'd have in color is how well it goes with the Vibe.   
      
   > Decent quality dmx led fixtures are pretty pricey, approaching $100 per   
   > light unit, so it's taken a while to get enough of them to  make a big   
   > switch.   
      
   One single light costs that much??? Maybe ought to wait until the prices   
   drop.   
      
   > I don't have unlimited deep pockets, like ah, an actual DJ would :-)   
      
   No one should have to be RIPPED OFF!   
      
   > There are computer systems to control dmx. Theaters and well paid DJ's   
   > have those.   
      
   Anything with a USB port should be able to do it...notebook computer,   
   tablet, smart phone...they're only lights!   
      
   > We're seeing many of the places we work expecting us to bring lights.   
      
   Something simple, small, and light weight, sure...but sophisticated?   
      
   > In the past, dance clubs and rock places had house lights made of old   
   > black PAR's with halogen bulbs. Big heavy. Ok, really really heavy.  Hot,   
   > hard to move. Took a lot of electric.   
      
   Miserable!   
      
   > With LED's now they're nothing to transport. Heck, I have three fixtures   
   > on an aluminum speaker tripod to test the setup. Had to move that   
   > yesterday for rehearsal. Guess what ?  It's so light you'd be amazed.   
   > Weighs, like, I'd say maybe 10 lbs total, pole and 3 fixtures.  Nothing,   
   > like air.  In the past just moving one of our old light poles ( tripod   
   > with crossbar and pars ) really took two people. One guy, eh, it might get   
   > away, fall and kill someone.   
      
   I like LEDs.   
      
   > Dancers pay the bills.  We are a working band, not a charity.   
      
   That's only the reward, but where's the fulfillment, i.e. the enjoyment that   
   comes from the audience enjoying your Music?   
      
   > Don't fret. Our drummer doesn't understand either. He want's to play old   
   > jazz music.  Or modern " country ".  One so he can feel superior, the   
   > other to watch the boobies bouncing on the dance floor.   
      
   Playing to feel superior! NOT pure motives! As for the other thing, why   
   would modern 'country' be more conducive to that?   
      
   > The contoller is in my rack stack.  I'm using 4 skb rack case. Bottom is   
   > an 8 space with power amp, a stereo DBX comp, a korg tuner, and a power   
   > strip.  Sitting on the is a 6 space, with a headphone amp, the AT in ear   
   > transmittered and the Chauvet obey 40.  Sitting on that is a 4 space with   
   > the XR18 in it.  Sitting on that will be a 2 space where I'm gonna move   
   > the AT transmitters.   
      
   Sounds kind of big.   
      
   > Stack those up, and it's about shoulder height, has all the gear I use (   
   > including power supplies and guitar wireless stuff ) and guess what, the   
   > dmx controller is right there, right off the end of my keyboard. I reach   
   > over and hit various scene buttons then get back the important stuff.   
      
   I'd sure Hate to have to move that!   
      
   > So, no, it's nothing extra.  I can ignore them, or reach my arm out and   
   > change them.  I have several scenes with different color washes ,,,, and   
   > some where the lights slowly vary in color and brightness.  Change it up   
   > now and then.   
      
   Does that mean that in addition to your usual playing, you'll be fiddling   
   with lights instead of a fiddle? ;)   
      
   > I do.  Remember I play solo gigs, sometimes with just a guitar and mic,   
   > and no tracks.  Been there, enjoyed it. Same with bands. I spent a   
   > lifetime in bands, out there riding in vans, and busses, eating crappy   
   > truckstop food, sometimes expensive hotel food.  Been sleepy. Been late.   
   > Been rushed. Been thru Canadian customs.  Even worse, I've had to come   
   > back in to the US thru our crazy customs.  Been all over the country.   
   > Played in Texas for a summer.  Swam in the gulf of Mexico.  Stood on the   
   > top of a butte in Wyoming.  Been on the radio. Had songs I played on on   
   > the charts. Been on TV ( a lot ).  Backed up name people.  Have the   
   > pictures to prove it.  Played in OpryLand USA.  Stood on the stage of the   
   > Grand Ol' Opry ( as a guest, not a performer ).   
      
   Was any of that actually fun? ;)   
      
   > Yep, it's not like I just dropped into existence last week :-)   
      
   No, it's nothing like that. I meant I hope you can *still* truly enjoy the   
   Music *now*, in the present, and future, not the past!   
      
   > I love music. I love making the audience happy.  I love my little nothing   
   > gigs here in Ohio.  No one knows me here, no one knows anything about me.   
   > I never worked in Ohio when we were " real ".  Because, there is no music   
   > industry in Ohio.  There are a lot of good players, but no places to   
   > actually BE a working musician.   
      
   So Ohio isn't interested in Music...too bad...probably for the usual   
   reasons, no more Awesome, FRESH Originals!   
      
   > You can play music here, but you probably can't earn a living at it. I   
   > don't need to worry about that as much anymore, so I'm happy.  I'm working   
   > with one ( ok, two if you count Tim ) of the best singers I've ever met.   
   > I can spend my days recording tracks. That's what I did today.   
      
   I've never heard of not travelling to make a living with Music.   
      
   > Tomorrow, band girl and I will meet in a nearby town, and sing for an hour   
   > for some seniors.  Maybe we'll meet earlier and have a pizza there.   
      
   Eat first, then sing later? How do you do it? ;)   
      
   > This isn't about gloating, or bragging. It's just what I do.  I explain   
   > some so you know where I'm coming from.  I'm old. I've been around the   
   > block a few times. I don't have any need to prove anything to anyone   
   > anymore. I'm just trying to enjoy my life and not hurt anyone.  Just get   
   > thru and know there is an afterlife, and it'll be a better place. I   
   > believe that. One, because it's true. And two, because it costs me   
   > nothing. And it makes for a happier, less stressfull life.   
      
   My motive for getting into Music is to make The Difference, for which our   
   duo-band is named.   
   I want rock & roll to have a rebirth far greater than its first one.   
   I want to see Zombies DE-Programmed by Awesome, Creative, Innovative, FRESH,   
   Substance-Rich Original Brand New 'Classic Rock'!   
   I want to see, and hear newly formed bands once again going all out to Write   
   their Own Original Awesome material and working on it until they've finally   
   got it right!   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)