Tune in as Johnathan Lewis, aka DJ Tutor, puts COLORband™ PiX-M on the review bench. A must-have LED fixture for mobile DJs, bands or nightclubs, COLORband™ PiX-M is powered by 12 tri-color LEDs and features DMX controllable motors to sweep back and forth, or from position to position, creating movement and dynamic effects. Get an overview of its operation, check out the built-in programs and see it action.
To create a fun and energetic atmosphere during a 21st birthday party held at a private residence in South Africa, Ijan Maasz, owner of I.M. Soundz, uses 13 CHAUVET® DJ fixtures to add splashes of color and movement. Maasz, who caters to weddings, birthdays, school and corporate functions, artist performances and all other private parties, is responsible for the sound, lighting, music and entertainment at each gig. For this particular celebration, he used the following gear: four SlimPAR™ 64 and four SlimPAR™ 56 wash lights, 4PLAY™ and 4PLAY™ CL effect lights, a CHAUVET® DJ lighting stand, an Obey™ 70 DMX controller and a Hurricane™ 1300 fog machine. Read on for his take on event lighting.
“Without incorporating lighting into this type of event, it simply would not be the same,” Ijan Maasz said. “Lighting makes the music come to life and allows you to create an atmosphere. After every event, customers always tell me how impressed they are with the lighting setup and how it drastically improved their experience. They are also amazed at the amount of effects produced by such a small number of fixtures.
SlimPAR™ wash lights, as well as the Hurricane™ 1300, are my favorite fixtures used at this event. SlimPar™ 64 is an extremely bright wash light that emits warm colors and can be used at almost any event for uplighting, stage lighting or adding effects to the dance floor. SlimPAR™ 56 is perfect for uplighting because of its beam angle and rich colors. Both fixtures can be setup and torn down in minutes, are easy to program, take up a minimal amount of space and are very lightweight.
Another fixture that makes a big difference is the Hurricane™ 1300 fog machine. It has a short warm up time and fills almost any room with fog within minutes. I am amazed at how little fog fluid it uses for the amount of fog it generates. It makes the lighting come alive and brings out the best of each fixture.”
Greg Hinchley, owner of IDJ Entertainment, started DJing at the age of 13 and now has 24 years of experience under his belt including 14 seasons dedicated to weddings. He has a collection of 32 CHAUVET® DJ fixtures to choose from when it comes to lighting events, including: four LXW™, two 4PLAY™ and two 6SPOT™ effect lights, two 4BAR™ all-in-one wash lighting systems, a Nimbus™ professional dry-ice machine, 17 wireless Freedom™ PAR RGB wash lights and four Intimidator™ Spot LED 350 moving heads. He recently used the Nimbus™ and other CHAUVET® DJ gear at a wedding — read on to see how guests reacted and check out some photos.
“My favorite Chauvet fixture used during this event was the Nimbus™,” Hinchley said. “When the first blast of the fog disseminated, you were able to hear gasps of appreciation from guests. No one had ever attended an event and experienced the type of effect Nimbus™ is capable of producing. We were able to run it for three spotlight songs and even had time at the end for the children in attendance to play in the clouds. My uplighting fixtures are my go-to lights. The room was blacked out and all the lighting performed flawlessly.
All of our events feature Chauvet and I’m happy with the product — the lights are very easy to program, setup time is minimal and the look is professional. Thank you Chauvet for all that you do in order to keep us mobile.”
Photo courtesy of Mark Whipple
Every year, the Baltimore Area DJ Association (BADJA) hosts an annual cookout for all of its members. Mark Whipple, program director for BADJA and owner of The Sound Investment DJ Co., hosted this year’s event and threw a pool party complete with good food and camaraderie. To add excitement to the event, Chris Bartosik, BADJA member and owner of Raptor Productions, brought his Nimbus™ professional dry-ice machine and flooded the pool with thick clouds of low-lying fog. Thank you to Alex Kolego, BADJA member and owner of An Event to Remember Entertainers, for sharing this photo with us on the CHAUVET® DJ Facebook page.
Tune in as 32-year veteran DJ Mikey Mike, owner of Direct Sound, reviews the robust 75-watt LFS-75DMX gobo projector and framing spot.Get an in-depth look at the unit, obtain the facts on the features and see it in action.Don’t forget, CHAUVET® DJ VIP members earn 700 points when you add this powerful fixture to your setup!
Michael Iffla, owner of Iffla’s Productions, uses 14 CHAUVET® DJ fixtures to add excitement and ambiance to a school dance held at Lanier High School in Austin, Texas. During this event, he used the following fixtures: four LEDrain™ 64C, two LEDrain™ 38C, four COLORsplash™ Jr., LED Techno Strobe™ RGB, Eclipse™ RGB and Scorpion™ Burst GB. He also incorporated a Hurricane™ 1300 fog machine into this setup to accentuate the light show and programmed all the fixtures using the ShowXpress™ software.
“Lighting makes the show — it gives the “wow” factor and that’s what we try to capture at every event,” Iffla said. “My favorite fixture used at this event is the Scorpion™ Burst GB laser — hands down. I’ve only had it for a month, but with the right programming, it can take your setup to a new level. For example, use ShowXpress™ to black out all the lighting except Scorpion™ Burst GB — everyone will point and look at it saying, ‘awww awesome.’ I’ve used it at three proms this year and that was the response I received each time.”
Jay Valdez, also known as DJ Akshen, is an energy power house. Originally from Los Angeles, Valdez resides in Phoenix where he owns and operates Kreative Development LLC which specializes in weddings as well as private and corporate events. He serves on the advisory committee for an accredited DJ program at Scottsdale Community College and manages and teaches the DJ program at Cyphers – The Center for the Urban Arts. In addition to writing and developing workshops, he judges local and national DJ competitions and performs at some of the hottest nightspots across the country and overseas. Valdez is also a special guest DJ on the Disney Dream — a ship that is part of the Disney Cruise Lines fleet. Through seamless mixes and a sharp sense of selection, he can transform any venue — whether it’s a club, live stage, bar, or even the deck of a cruise ship — into an all-night party. Read on and get to know more about your fellow DJ.
1. How and when did you get started as a DJ?
My brother introduced me to DJing back in 1984. I was also heavily influenced by KDAY 1580 AM in Los Angeles. I would listen to KDAY Mix Masters Tony G and Julio G, record their shows on cassettes, and work for hours trying to learn their techniques. I worked hard on developing my skills and still consider myself a student of the game.
2. Is this a full-time job or something you do on the side?
DJing is not only my job, it’s my career and my life.
3. What fixtures are included in your setup?
I have a monthly residency at the Bar Smith nightclub located in downtown Phoenix. My setup features a DJ Bank™ effect light and a MotionDrape™ LED backdrop. I’m looking to add the LX5™ effect light, a COLORpalette™ wash panel and two SlimPAR™ 38 wash lights.
4. What is your favorite fixture and why?
My favorite fixture is the Geyser™ RGB. The combination of light and fog is brilliant. Plus, the effect it brings on stage is second to none.
5. Best advice you can give someone just getting started in the DJ industry?
Practice, practice, practice. Network, network, network.
6. What are your top three most requested songs?
I don’t take requests — I take suggestions. If it works with what I am doing at the time, then I will definitely throw it in, but if it doesn’t, then it will have to wait. I’m not killing the vibe for anybody, unless they are writing my check. I am a DJ not a jukebox.
“Right now, my favorite fixture is the COLORrail™ IRC — wow, what a light,” Thacker said. “We received these fixtures two days before the show and barely scratched the surface in terms of programming. The colors are VERY bright, the built-in chase effects are excellent and I love that it operates on 120v. Also, the daisy-chain feature and 26 channels of DMX control per light allow you to put on one heck of a show. For lighting performances in small clubs and bars, this light is perfect for our needs. I believe a good light show enhances a band’s performance and makes the crowd feel like they are at a show. The eyes and ears go hand in hand — if your lights move with the music, you not only create a mood that you hear, but also see and feel. As a musician, I know first-hand that good lighting makes all the difference in the world — there is more enthusiasm on stage so you add that extra pose or throw in a drumstick twirl. Again, I would like to thank Chauvet for making a great product for the weekend warriors like ourselves.”
Music Trends, one of the first independently owned DJ gear and pro audio stores on Long Island, showed their gratitude and hosted a Chauvet Customer Appreciation night. Bob Savarese, owner of Music Trends, and his team coordinated the event which included demonstrations of the latest CHAUVET® DJ lighting and TRUSST® trussing systems, bonus CHAUVET® DJ VIP Rewards points and the chance to win free gear. The battery-powered Freedom™ and EZ™ series, as well as the TRUSST® Goal Post Kit, proved to be crowd favorites. Attended by Bruce Garry, northeast regional representative of BMG Sales, and Bob Laino, northeast territory sales manager for CHAUVET® DJ, the event was a huge success amongst attendees – scroll on for photos!
Tune in as Johnathan Lewis, aka DJ Tutor, conducts an informative and entertaining review of Intimidator™ Spot Duo. Get an in-depth look at the fixture and its components, as well as a complete overview of its functionality. Designed for any mobile application, Intimidator™ Spot Duo features two fully and independently controllable moving heads mounted on an easy-to-rig bar. Tune in and see why your setup craves it!
