- Lift before you tweak: +200–300 mm trim removes glare more reliably than any setting in a projector led lights menu.
- Mark no-beam corridors: balcony-to-stage and FOH-to-stage lanes; label them in the showfile.
- Lock APV windows early: confirm by email 48 hours ahead; it protects your commercial laser schedule.
- Network calmly: FB4 static IPs with ILDA patched; fewer surprises, faster strike.
- Pilot first: small-batch orders, free shipping (select regions), two-year warranty.
| Table of Contents |
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1) Low Ceilings, Near-Field Beams: Keep the Look, Lose the Glare
Three things we do on site
- Set a hard floor: tape a line at 2.7 m above GA (higher over aisles). No dwell below it—even for a laser party light chase.
- Phone-at-eye test: slow fan at doors; if anyone squints, add 200–300 mm trim.
- Soften at the edge only: open divergence at the audience boundary; keep motion in occupied areas so lasers for party looks feel alive without harshness.
Haze that photographs well
Water-based haze, short pulses. Two 5–7 s bursts every few minutes read cleaner than a constant cloud. Park the hazer upstage and feed from behind scenic so you reveal beams, not faces—especially when a compact projector led light rig is doing the heavy lifting.
Pre-show vs show looks
- “Blue-Hour” (doors): lighter haze, slightly wider divergence, no eye-level dwell—great with a small lights projector pair.
- “Dark” (show): normal divergence, angles trimmed to respect no-beam corridors, safety zone on.
| Zone | Starting Trim | Practical Note |
|---|---|---|
| Stage front | Lower allowed | Angle away from first rows; verify with eye-level video |
| Thrust / walkways | +200–300 mm vs stage | Protect photographers and the first standing line |
| Aisles | Highest beam floor | Keep clearance; make the E-stop reachable for ushers |
| Balcony overhang | Conservative angles | Respect the balcony corridor; mark it in the showfile |
2) Sightlines: Rows, Balconies & Cameras
Two triangles to draw at the site walk
Sketch balcony front-row ↔ stage and FOH camera ↔ stage. These are your no-beam corridors. Label them on the plan and in the showfile so whoever buses the desk sees them—whether you run a compact laser led light pair or a larger multi-unit wall of lights and lasers.
Put content where it helps the room
Send saturated RGB punches to the upstage wall or ceiling (far-field). Keep side textures low-contrast so peripheral vision isn’t dragged. If broadcast is involved, preview at camera exposure before doors; it avoids “too hot” notes when your laser light projectors hit their mark.
3) APV Noise & Operating Windows: Plan the Clock First
APV rules are local. Confirm quiet hours, check limits and curfew by email. Build the day around three blocks: low-SPL rigging, a defined noise window, and a quiet strike or next-day pickup. A little discipline protects your outdoor laser light load-out routes and your crew.
| Task | Window | How we execute |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy case moves | Daytime / permitted | Roll-in first; ramps checked, corners spotted |
| Hang / focus / address | Low-SPL block | FB4 network online; IP map printed and taped to FOH |
| Loud carpentry | Noise window | Batch tasks; notify venue 15 min in advance |
| Pre-doors vibe | Quiet hours | Lobby visuals + low-level playlist using a compact laser light party scene |
| Strike | Post-curfew buffer / next day | Labeled EtherCON/TRUE1 looms for quiet, fast pull |
4) Control & Cabling Indoors
Standardize on FB4 over Art-Net/sACN with static IPs (e.g., 10.20.0.x/24). Keep ILDA patched for universal fallback. Data rides EtherCON; power is TRUE1. Label both ends and repeat the label on the case lid. You’ll get a quieter FOH and a faster strike—no matter if you tour with two projector led light units or a full wall of laser bars.
5) Field Notes (NL)
- Rotterdam club, 8 m trim: +250 mm trim; opened divergence at the audience edge. Complaints dropped to zero; the room moved forward.
- Utrecht theatre, balcony & broadcast: bold looks to upstage wall, softer sides; one showfile ran all week without changing camera exposure.
- Amsterdam sports hall, strict APV: quiet load-in, lobby visuals pre-doors, fixed curfew buffer. Laser outro carried the last cue while PA stayed conservative; rebooked the tour.
6) Buyer’s Mini-Guide (Rent or Buy)
- Compact 3–5 W: lounges, galleries, small halls—weekday staple; pair with a small led projector lights for room look.
- Workhorse 8–12 W: the middle of most riders; scales from club to theatre.
- Accessories that matter: lens hoods, IP65 covers at doors/docks, 25–50 m EtherCON trunks, TRUE1 jumpers, a pre-addressed rack.
Glossary (Quick Ref)
- APV: municipal by-laws (quiet hours, curfews).
- Trim height: hanging height; small increases often remove audience glare.
- Sightline triangle: balcony/camera ↔ stage corridors to keep beams out.
- Divergence: beam spread that reduces irradiance at the crowd.
- GA: general admission; set the highest beam floor over aisles and walkways.
How-To: APV-Friendly Load-in/Out (7 Steps)
- Put APV windows in bold on the call sheet and confirm by email.
- Stagger crew call; roll heavy flight cases only in permitted hours.
- Hang → focus → address during low-SPL blocks; reserve impact work for the noise window.
- Bring FB4 online; tape the IP map to FOH; keep ILDA connected as fallback.
- Run the Blue-Hour preset pre-doors (light haze, gentle divergence).
- End on visuals near curfew; let lighting carry emotion at lower SPL.
- Strike labeled EtherCON/TRUE1 looms first; hold loud tasks for daytime.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s a safe starting trim height for low ceilings?
Start at 2.7 m above GA, go higher over aisles and balcony rails, then fine-tune divergence and fan angles until nobody flinches during a slow sweep.
Our LED wall blooms. Can lasers still read clearly?
Yes. Push bold looks to the back wall (far-field), keep side textures low-contrast, and pulse haze instead of flooding. Preview at camera exposure before doors so your laser light projectors don’t clip on broadcast.
Is APV national or local?
Local. Ask the venue for their city page; quiet hours and curfews vary by postcode and season.
Do we still need ILDA if we run FB4?
We keep both. FB4 keeps networking tidy; ILDA remains the universal fallback most crews understand.
How do we keep energy up but respect APV noise?
End on light, not loud: a strong laser light projector indoor outro plus pixel accents keeps the room engaged without chasing dB.
Can we run a pilot before a full season?
Yes—small-batch orders, free shipping (select regions), and a two-year warranty make trials straightforward.
Design for wow. Document for yes.
Talk to a Starshine Engineer Chat on WhatsAppReviewed by: Lead Engineer (Show Control & Permitting)
Last updated: 2025-10-28