Tag: rigging

Renting Lighting Equipment can Save you Money

Posted on by J3551CA

It can be far more economical to rent lighting equipment than to purchase it, especially for companies just starting out in the industry. It’s especially beneficial when a job calls for specialty lighting equipment that can be particularly expensive. An added bonus is that lighting rental companies often have a crew that will perform the heavy lifting and work of setting up and dismantling the equipment.

Renting lighting equipment is especially advantageous if a highly specific specialty lighting array is required and it’s something unique or unusual to the lighting expert’s typical work. It’s convenient to own a wide range of equipment and have it on hand, but if it’s something that may only be used once a year or even less, renting can be much more cost effective.

Automated systems are real time savers. They’re also efficient and cost effective. It can be expensive to hire a crew to man the lighting. Automated equipment can require more up-front monetary outlay even when renting, but they save on labor costs.

Less is sometimes more and those responsible for lighting venues must use their knowledge and be creative. There’s a tendency toward pomp and circumstance in everything, but not every event has to be a multi-colored spectacular. Strategic placement of lighting equipment is essential. There are multiple types of less expensive lighting options that can be rented that use state-of-the-art technology.

Another way to save money is by renting wireless lighting technology. It has the potential of reducing costs by as much as 50 percent, but can be pricy to purchase outright. The same can be true of LED lighting, though pricing is coming down. LED lighting arrays use less energy, are easier to set up, and enables lighting professionals to do more with less.

Renting lighting equipment of any kind can be an economical solution for a wide range of lighting situations and requirements. Specialty illumination and technology can be expensive to purchase. Renting can soften the cost.

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.

      

Professional Lighting Rental for On the Road Productions

Posted on by J3551CA

If you are taking your production out on the road, you will need to make sure that all of the equipment you use is compact enough to travel, yet still powerful enough to be effective.

When it comes to lighting for indoor or outdoor events, you can hire pretty much everything you need to ensure that your audience never misses a moment.  In order to be sure that your mobile production is always perfectly lit and absolutely awesome looking, you will need to hire the right equipment for the job

Rigging

The first thing you will need to set on your mobile stage, runway or podium will be the rigging that holds you lighting in place.  Lighting trees and pipework speaker stands are fully mobile and can be used with ease on the road.  To ensure that your lighting trees or pipes are always safe, you should add extra support by way of sandbags at the base of each tree to prevent them from tipping.

Dimming

You will need to be sure that you have enough power to operate all of your dimming packs.  Using a range of dimmer packs will allow you to have intensity control over your lights from a lighting console, allowing your lighting techs to create the affects you are looking for.

Because dimming packs run off of mains power, you will need to find out in advance where your nearest power source is.  You can then run the power to your lighting trees using extension cords, before taping them down to hold the cable secure and take the strain off the power connection.

Lights

The most important part of the whole lighting set up is, of course, the lights themselves.  When you are preparing a mobile lighting set up, you should still be able to produce professional lighting that is equally as impressive and effective as any major theatre or studio production.  Using a mixture of profiles and spotlights, fresnels, pars, floods and beam you can create magical moods and effects, no matter where you are performing.

Consoles and Cabling

Once you have hired all of the light trees, dimming packs and lighting equipment that you need to take your production on the road, you will then need to think about how you are going to control it all.  A DMX console will enable you to control the lighting, and make it dance to the music.  If you aren’t able to control the lights yourself, you can also hire a lighting technician to come on the road with you.

Professional Lighting Hire from Frank Gatto & Associates

Our experienced lighting team can provide you with everything thing you need to take your production out on the road. From cables and consoles through to complex lighting equipment and designs. We can even send our experience and highly efficient lighting technicians out on the road with you.  Call us today at 561-368-0101 to find out more.

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.

            

Rigging and Trusses

Posted on by J3551CA

Everyone knows just how important it is to have good stage lighting at any entertainment event or on a tv or film set.  But, behind the glamour of the spotlight, there are miles upon miles of infrastructure that makes the magic happen.  A complex system of aluminum supports and poles are carefully built to form a solid structure from which to hang all the lighting effects any live show or production could ever need.

This system of rigging and trusses is the unsung hero of the lighting world because without them production teams would be limited to simple floor and ceiling lights that wouldn’t look even half as effective.

What Is A Rig and Truss System?

First off, let’s look at the basics:

Rigging is created using a series of rope lines, pulleys, counterweights and other devices, that enables the stage crew to quickly and safely move lighting and other components around to the back and side of the stage.

Trusses are a series of sticks and poles that can be connected to create a structure that allows lighting fixtures and other staging equipment to be hung with ease.

Rigging and trusses are the behind to scenes saviors of the lighting world, and without them, the audience would have a very boring time watching live events.   Rigging and trusses can be found in theaters, concert venues, arenas and stadiums anywhere in the world.

Who Works on Rigs and Trusses?

Working with rigging involves climbing up high above the stage area, and members of the rigging teams definitely need to have no fear of heights!  Different members of the crew, have different jobs to do to ensure that every part of the rig is safe and that provides effective support for the lighting.

The Ground Rigger looks after the perimeter around the aerial work platform, while the Bucket Rigger needs to be able to operate the aerial work platform as well as undertake groundwork.  High Up Riggers and Rope Riggers will be responsible for the installation of equipment way up high and they are often suspended from the rigging itself by a harness, and they may also need to demonstrate exceptional rope skills.

Why Are Rigs and Trusses So Important for Great Lighting?

The very best way to illuminate a stage is to employ a three-point lighting technique.  In simple terms, that is the first point 45 degrees to the left and 45 degrees up, a second point 45 degrees to the right and 45 degrees up, and a third light 45 degrees up and straight behind the subject.

To facilitate that kind of angles, you need to be able to lift any lighting equipment up off the floor but still be able to suspend it lower down than usual ceiling lighting would allow.  Large venues and professional studio sets require carefully constructed rigs that can contain many individual lights and effects to enhance the performance in front of them, but the ideology is the same – better lighting comes from the ability to elevate your light source.

Here at Frank Gatto Lighting, we have many years’ experience of providing the very best rigging and truss systems for some of the biggest shows on earth, so we are pretty good when it comes to finding the perfect rigging solutions for every event.  If you would like to find out more, call us today at (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.