Tag: event planning

What Are LEDs and Why Do They Last So Long?

Posted on by J3551CA

Advances in modern technology have meant that you can now illuminate your home, venue or other area with low-energy, cost-effective, long-lasting light sources that offer the same amount of light as traditional light bulbs, without the heat and expense.

LED (Light Emitting Diodes) use very little energy and last a really long time.  Unlike energy saving light bulbs, they light up instantly and do not take time to reach the desired brightness, making them the perfect choice for venues or events looking for full illumination at a fraction of the cost.

These types of modern LEDs produce light in a totally different way to how old-fashioned incandescent bulbs do.  With incandescent light bulbs, the electricity is passed through a thin wire filament, With LED light bulbs, the light is produced with the use of a semiconductor that emits light energy when the electrical current is passed through it.

While it is true that LEDs can be more expensive to purchase initially, the low energy output and long shelf life make them an excellent investment for anyone looking to maximize their lighting abilities, either in the home or within a professional environment.

How Do LEDs Last So Long?

Because LEDs are as much as 90% more effective than incandescent light bulbs, they have a much longer lifespan. This is because they have no working parts that will burn out or break over time.

An average LED light is a very robust piece of kit.  They are solid-state devices with no glass to break, nothing to wear out and they are not made from fragile glass that is likely to break.  In turn, this means that they will last a whole lot longer than regular light bulbs.

For the technically minded, the way they produce light is a crucial element of their longevity.  Because they are made of substrate semiconductor materials and have two specific two doped regions, P – positive and N – negative. When current passes through the PN junction it causes electrons to jump to higher atomic energy states. When the electrons return to the ground state, light in the form of photons is emitted. This phenomenon is called electroluminescence and it consumes very little energy since very little heat is generated.

How Long Should an LED Light Bulb Last For?

Well, if it has no way of burning out or becoming damaged, technically it should last forever?  If you invest in LED lights for your home, it may well be the last time you have to purchase light bulbs for a very long time indeed.

LEDs are touted to have a 50,000-hour average life. This is a massive increase in lifespan when you consider that the average life of a halogen 50-watt bulb is only between 1,000 and 2,000 hours.

How the LED is fitted and how long it is used for will obviously affect the real-world efficiency of your light source.  For example, an office that is lit for 10 hours a day using an LED light source should only have to replace the LEDs every 8-9 years.  A homeowner with LED lights in the living room, where lights are only one for a few hours a day, may not need to replace them for almost 20 years!

Frank Gatto LED Stage Lighting Solutions

LED lighting has completely transformed the way in which are able to illuminate studio sets, outdoor broadcasts and large events and occasions.  Our state-of-the-art LED lighting solutions provide high output, flicker-free, single-source lighting that runs cool with low current draw, saving up to 90% in energy costs while still providing the best-looking lighting for every event.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.  If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Phone: 561-368-0101

Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 

We can be found on Social Media at the following links.

            

Frank Gatto Lighting Has Your Event Covered

Posted on by J3551CA

No matter what the occasion, Frank Gatto & Associates offer 30 years of expertise to capture your event in the very best light possible.  From large outdoor sporting events to intimate indoor ceremonies, the team is on hand to design and create the perfect lighting.

Covering all of the USA and the Caribbean, the team at Frank Gatto will ensure that every aspect of your lighting requirements is completely covered before the big day itself.  From the initial design to the transportation of equipment, everything will be carefully crafted to ensure that your audiences never misses a moment.

Lighting Design And Planning

Our Lighting Director will be able to create stunning visual enhancement for multi-camera productions.  Working closely with the director and the rest of the production team, we will deliver the type of pictures that they are hoping to see.

A lighting plan will be devised that sets out exactly what the lighting needs to achieve, by taking our directions from working from a cue list and complete plan of the set.  From here, we can design the most effective and awe-inspiring lighting for your entire production.  Our light desk operators will create a program that knows exactly when to move and change for maximum impact.

We will also undertake comprehensive risk assessments that will include all aspects of the rig, scale drawings of all lamps and their positions, and what lighting gels and circuits to use and when.

Set Up And Construction

Our “Gaffers”  are responsible for all the practical aspects of your lighting and location requirements.  They work closely with our Lighting Director to realize the creative vision for the production and will be involved during the pre-production stages to assess exactly how much crew and equipment will be required for filming.

Having studied the lighting plan, our Gaffers will brief the rest of their crew and advise them of all relevant health and safety requirements.  Having carried out a detailed risk assessment, they will then be charged with overseeing the setup and construction of lighting rigs and lamps, as well as the operation of the lighting board.

Transportation

Because we are experts in our field, we can advise on the best types of light to use for every kind of occasion, and will personally ensure that they reach your event or set in full working order.  We work alongside specialist contractors who transport lighting rigs and equipment on a regular basis, to ensure that they are ready to be installed and illuminated on arrival. Our team can also provide fast and efficient load-ins and load-outs, meaning that there is less time spent setting up, and more time spent filming.

Maintenance And Care

We want our lighting equipment to be perfect for every occasion which is why we only supply the very best technical specifications available to us.  All of our equipment is regularly tested and fully maintained to ensure our lighting services are second to none.  We never work with faulty or underpowered pieces of kit, and our risk assessments cover every aspect of any set, event or outdoor broadcast that we work on.

Frank Gatto – Working Together To Achieve Perfection

Because we understand that great television and video requires a wide range of talent, we work in collaboration with other members of the technical team and crew on every occasion.  In the preparation stages, we will meet with the producer, director and other department heads in order to be able to understand their vision and requirements.  Our team is able to integrate and assist with all other members of the crew as necessary, and you will never find us to be anything less than friendly, helpful and professional with everyone we work with. If we could help with your next event, call us today on 561-368-0101.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.  If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Phone: 561-368-0101

Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 

We can be found on Social Media at the following links.

            

We Are Not Just Lighting Professionals, We Are Illumination Artists

Posted on by J3551CA

Here at Frank Gatto & Associates, we are experts in the art of illumination. We can transform a dark room into a brightly lit set ready for action, with the use of a wide range of state of the art lighting equipment. We work with some of the biggest names in the business, and we turn every occasion into an epic event using cutting-edge lighting technology.

Ever watched a major sporting event on TV? Well, it might just be thanks to us that you were able to watch every goal, every win, and every near miss. For 30 years we have designed television and special event lighting for world-renowned networks and companies, including HBO, ABC, ESPN, CBS, NBC, Fox, Showtime, Telemundo and Univision. Because we understand the importance of great lighting for every event, our Lighting Directors, Crew Chiefs, and Stage Hands all understand that the successful set-up and operation of lighting equipment is the key to world-class production.

Planning a large event? No problem! We have worked at some of the most prestigious venues in the US, including Madison Square Gardens, the Home Depot Centre and the Staples Center, as well as a wide range of large sports arenas, local convention centers, and theaters.

Award Winning Illumination Artists

Yep – that’s right! Our lighting services are so good we have even won awards for them. Frank Gatto’s groundbreaking lighting design work has so far earned us 3 Emmy’s, and we hope there will be many more to come! We also offer consultation work to assist with lighting sets during the planning and pre-production stages as well as attending and holding seminars on television lighting, news sets and sporting events.

Event Lighting As An Art Form

Here at Frank Gatto & Associates, we truly believe that great lighting is an art form. The key to success is in the planning, and we cover every aspect of your lighting requirements, regardless of the size of the venue or type of event. We illuminate your set so that it can be perfectly captured on video. What’s more, we design the lighting to enhance the viewer’s experience, and show your event in, quite literally, the best light ever!

We have the LED lighting fixtures to meet any creative, technical, or environmental challenge that is asked of us. From fixtures that provide high output, flicker-free, single-source lighting that all run cool and offer low current draw through to weatherproof fixtures that run on both AC power and DC batteries, we have what you need.

Our unlimited range of lighting applications, coupled with our 30 plus years of experience, has enabled us to turn event and television lighting into a true art form. Whatever the requirements, we can provide first class, tailor-made lighting solutions to suit.

Would you like to know more? Call our friendly team today on 561-368-0101 to find out how we can provide you with the bet lit set this side of Hollywood.

Specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.
If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc.
2263 NW Boca Raton Blvd #107, Boca Raton, FL 33431

Phone: 561-368-0101
Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 

We can be found on Social Media at the following links.

 

Plan Your Perfect Event

Posted on by J3551CA

A soccer game, a boxing match, a fundraiser or even a wedding, all big occasions need to happen seamlessly in order to be enjoyed.  And to do that successfully, you need to ensure that everything is perfectly planned beforehand.

Here at Frank Gatto & Associates, we have worked with many of the major players in sporting and entertainment events. But we are not so big that we don’t remember what it feels like to walk the red carpet on prom night or pick up a medal at your high school soccer tournament.  That is why we want to ensure that whatever the occasion, your special event is well planned and absolutely perfect for the night.

If you are planning a big event, here are our top tips on how to plan everything you need to think about in advance.

Your Venue

The right venue is key when it comes to the success of your big events. Are you looking to hold a formal, seated, indoor event or something more active or sports-based that will need to be held outside?  From the school football field or sports track, to garden weddings or sit down dinners, the venue needs to match the requirements of the event.

You will need a venue that can safely hold the number of people you are expecting to attend, will offer suitable bathroom and catering facilities if required.  You will also need to ensure that your venue is safe and meets all local regulations in respect of fire safety and other important ordinances.

Sound System

If you are planning on having hundreds of people turn up to your party or event, simply playing a few tunes on your home speakers really won’t be enough to get everyone on their feet.  You can hire home PA systems from most audio companies who will be able to advise you on the best size speakers and equipment for you.  If you are having an outdoor event, or large-scale indoor affair, you should include microphones in the mix to compere your event, and advise guests of their obligations during the event.

Lighting

Depending on the type of event you are organizing, chances are you will need to hire some extra lighting.  Night time events will obviously require assistance with illumination, whether they are inside our out, and even some daytime events will also require extra rigs.  You can usually hire sufficient lighting fixtures from a lighting specialist who will be able to advise you on what you need.  Don’t leave your guests in the dark – light up your stages, vendor stalls, turnstiles, and exits with easy to use, portable lighting rigs.

Seating Plan

If you are holding a sporting event, your stands will be plenty good enough to accommodate your audience.  If you are looking at a more formal event, you will need to not only ensure that you have enough seating, but that you often have a comprehensive seating plan in place.

Weddings especially, call for well planned and carefully thought out seating arrangements prior to the event.   With a little forward planning, you can ensure that everyone enjoys your event, wherever they are sitting.

Contingency planning

Some events are dependent on external influences.  Outdoor events, for example, are entirely beholden to the weather conditions on the day.  If you are in an area that is subject to variable weather, make sure you go ahead and plan for some kind of protection from rain or winds.  Portable outdoor structures can easily be hired from local companies including gazebos and marquees and will offer you and your guests protection from the elements.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.  If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Phone: 561-368-0101

Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 

We can be found on Social Media at the following links.