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By Mark Newton and Magdalena Werneke
Not all portable stages are created equal, so you should do your due diligence before you purchase to help make sure you buy a stage that best fits your application and budget.
Here are some helpful hints to help make your stage search easier.
What Brand of Stage Should I Purchase?
You are almost always going to get your best value and level of service buying directly from a U.S.-based staging manufacturer. They have a complete understanding and detailed knowledge of their products and are better able to assist you when you need it most.
There are also many resellers of portable staging, but they typically offer an imported stage that will not offer you the same quality and support that a U.S. manufacturer can.
You should always look at buying a portable stage as a long-term investment. When choosing your stage based solely on the lowest price, be aware that it may cost you more in the long run with less than optimal performance, service, and support.
Reputable manufacturers of staging and staging products are more likely to stand behind their products and do whatever it takes to make the situation right.
Surfaces
The most common stage surfaces are polyvinyl, weather-resistant polyvinyl, carpet, natural wood, and Plexiglas.
You should always select a surface that best fits your needs and application, and you should research and consider all options when getting a price quote.
If you are using your stage outdoors, for example, you want to consider a weather-resistant stage even it costs a little more.
Size
Although portable stage decks come in many sizes, 4’ x 4’ and 4’ x 8’ decks are the most common.
By designing your stage so that the depth is a multiple of 4 and the width is a multiple of 8, you’re able to create your platform using the fewest number of stage decks.
You will get the best value with 4’ x 8’ decks, followed by the 4’ x 4’ decks.
Some manufacturers will also offer other standard sizes plus custom sizes, allowing you to design a custom stage. As with everything else, custom dimensions usually equate to higher cost.
Structure
The design of the stage is very important when it comes to safety, stability, usability, and quality. The weight of each stage section is also an important factor in the true portability of the stage.
Most staging is made from aluminum or steel. Aluminum-framed stages will always be lighter, making them easier to set up and take down. The 4’ x 8’ stage decks in the 107 to 120 pound range are considered very manageable.
Another weight-related topic is called “Allowable Live Load.” This is the amount of weight per square foot, when spread out evenly, that the stage can support.
While a load capacity of 125 PSF may be the minimum allowed, 175 to 200 PSF is considered much more desirable, for obvious reasons.
Reputable staging manufacturers will voluntarily disclose the load capacities and specifications of their staging.
Once you have selected a stage, you then need to select the legs to support it. Although stages with folding legs may seem to be the best choice, they are heavier and do not allow you to change stage heights or have adjustable feet.
Stage decks that use removable aluminum legs are typically lighter, more stable and offer you the ability to change the height of your stage at anytime just by buying new legs, which are very affordable. They also come standard with an adjustable screw foot for fine leveling, which you probably need.
Setup
Setup time for a well-designed stage depending on overall size can be set up in 30 minutes or less little or no instructions.
Stage decks that offer “Coffin Locks” for connecting decks to each other make setup quicker, lock tighter and use no parts or pins that are easily lost or broken. The only tool required is a T-Handle for turning the locks.
You also want to consider a stage that comes standard with Velcro already installed in the frame to quickly attach stage skirting so no clips are required.
Many staging manufacturers have created short instructional videos for product assembly and installation of their staging and staging accessories. Make sure that you ask questions about the setup and takedown procedure of the stage and accessories before you purchase.
Conclusion
There are many factors involved with choosing the proper stage for your application.
Portable stage decks can be used for bands, preaching, drum, keyboard, guitar, choral and seating risers plus camera platforms. Ultimately, you must determine which features are most important to you and best fit your needs.
Performing due diligence and properly researching your stage before you purchase will help to ensure that you find a safe, stable, easy-to-use and high-quality stage that will serve your needs for years to come.
We advise you to reach out to several staging companies that you are considering purchasing a staging system from and discuss all your options. In addition, get a detailed price quote in writing with shipping costs.
Mark Newton and Magdalena Werneke are employed by Quik Stage, a manufacturer of high-quality portable staging and portable staging accessories located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, www.quikstage.com.
Bad lighting is a big mood killer at any party; it means your videos and photos will be blurry and generally unpleasant. When choosing lights, you want to ensure they fit the requirement of your event. For example, the lighting for a wedding is totally different from the lighting needed for a concert and the lighting needed for a DJ set.
However, getting the best stage lighting equipment doesn’t have to be hard with the right guidance. This article will give recommendations for the best DJ stage lighting equipment and tips for choosing the right gadgets.
Let’s dive in.
Top Best Stage Lighting Equipment 1.TENKOO LED Par Stage Light
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I wanted my first choice to be affordable, so naturally, I went with TENKOO LED Par Stage Light. The lights can be used for different events including karaoke, Halloween, disco, pubs, Christmas, weddings, etc. Their versatility makes them a great option for homeowners who don’t want to have several pairs of lighting equipment in their garage for different events.
These DJ lights have interesting features; for example, you can adjust their color speed and brightness depending on your preference. Each packet has 36 bulbs; 12 are green, 12 are blue, and 12 are red. Their changing modes are sensitive than normal setups. The different effects include sound-activated, gradient, pulse, master/slave, and jump.
Users also love that the bulbs are easy to install because they’re portable and lightweight. They also come with a mounting metal bracelet.
What we like
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2. Clay Paky Show-Batten 100 LED Moving Bar
The Clay Paky Show-Batten 100 LED Moving Bar is a great choice for professionals who hold huge events or people interested in wall washing. As the name suggests, the show-batten 100 has ten high-power Osram Ostar RGBW LEDs housed in 39 inches (100 cm) cylindrical aluminum bars.
The lights have a control that allows you to control each parameter of the LED individually; color, 24 Hz strobe, and 8 bit dimmer. Additionally, the light lens is fitted with an electric linear zoom, which works well for wall washing. The zoom is also very fast as it moves from 0.3 s from minimum to maximum.
Colors are generated from B, R, G, and W channels, but you can also choose the colors from a wide pallet with over 60 macros. Using a dedicated CTO channel, you can adjust the color temperature from 2500 K to 8000 K. And lastly, the bulbs can rotate smoothly and fast.
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3. Leprecon LP-624-MPX-DA
The Leprecon LP-624-MPX-DA is among the industry’s most reliable stage lighting equipment. The company used the same travel faders and rugged aluminum chassis they used on their touring consoles to design their stage lights. They are all elegant because they have big bright LEDs, bump buttons, and fader knobs that were built for professional uses.
If you’re tired of staging lights that are complicated to operate and even harder to install, the LP-624 may be a great option for you. They’re very easy to use and they’re designed to withstand even the most demanding situations.
The equipment comes with DMX and Microplex, and they’re great for houses of worship, small theatres, rental homes, schools, and A/V companies. Its great features include 24 preset faders, a two-scene preset mode with 24 channels, and 96 preset memories. Additionally, its preview mode allows you to check cues without bringing the scene on stage and edit the existing cues without re-recording the entire cue.
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With competitive price and timely delivery, TOPCAT sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
4. GLP GT-1 FL Spot BeamThe GLP GT-1 FL Spot Beam is a bit fancy, and it also has an outstanding performance. Its feature functionality is instantly available since it uses an optical design that doesn’t require any activation modes.
When the lighting equipment is on spot mode, it offers a range of effects, including eight rotating gobos, CMY color mixing, 14 fixed pattern gobos, beam reduction gobs, and a variable speed animation wheel. It also features three rotating prisms and a fixed color with color correction filters to widen the color pallet further.
When the GT-1 is in beam mode, it produces a near-parallel beam of light at 3.5° via its 145mm diameter front lens. The latter is consistent and bright even over long distances.
Lastly, when the device is set on wash mode, it produces a soft-edged beam giving the level of wash that you need.
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5. GLW LED RGB Flood Light Stage Lighting
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The GLW LED RGB Flood Light Stage Lighting is for people looking for high-performing stage lights that save energy. Their service life can go up to 13000h, which holds more than 80% of electricity compared to halogen bulbs.
Besides the energy-saving feature, the lights have a multi-function system; they have 16 different colors and 4 selected modes, strobe, and smooth plates. You can also adjust the brightness to your liking. If you don’t know how to set up the lights, you can have someone do it before the event because they remember the last programming that they were set to.
Another great advantage of these bulbs is the installation process; it’s straightforward since no wiring is required. You can hang or mount the lights anywhere.
It’s also worthwhile to note that the lights are safe for use. They have an IP65 rating and high light transmittance coupled with a solid housing made of aluminum material and advanced aluminum heat sinks.
You can use the lights for weddings, outdoor & indoor activities, grassland, courtyard, etc.
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6. TSSS RGBW Pattern Stage Light 64Leds Auto and Voice
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The most interesting feature of these stage lights is the design. They look like a small airship, which is what inspired the owner. Every light comes with 64 high-brightness LEDs, including 28 green, 4 red, 12 white, and 20 blue lights.
The TSSS RGBW Pattern Stage Light 64Leds Auto and Voice have a fixed bracket that allows you to mount the lights on the ceiling making the installation process easy. The lights work well in a club, bar, or live music venue, especially when bought in bulk. Besides their brightness, they’re convenient because they consume less energy.
TSSS RGBW Pattern Stage Light 64Leds Auto and Voice have built-in light show programs and a strobe & pattern rotation with sound activation.
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7. SAHAUHY Stage Lights
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The Sahauhy stage lights are another example of budget and high-performing light equipment. Like many users, I was blown up by how vivid and bright the colors of the stage lights were considering their price range. They’re great for a DJ setup or any small setup to give it a new look.
Another great feature of these stage lights is the simplicity of using them. The bright LED lights are easy to set up, and they come with a remote for control. You can also connect your lights with a DMX controller using DMX cables and then control the system using the action button or the DMX controller. It’s even possible to control the stage lighting to show one color instead of all three.
The SAHAUNY stage lights use the latest LED technology and they’re safe, efficient, and durable.
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8. OPPSK Stage Light
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The OPPSK Stage Light is slightly expensive than other stage lights on this list but they’re worth it if you’re looking for the best stage lights for professional purposes. Unless you’re using the lights to hold huge events at home or you’re looking for something for stage lights for a backyard wedding, I recommend checking out our other options.
The 70-watt lighting system has a huge amount of power and brightness, making it applicable for huge events. The LED can stay up to 50000 hours and has a beam angle of 45 degrees. It also has 9 different operational modes available, including strobe, color fade, and hopping.
Operating the system is easy as it comes with an IP remote easy controller and a standard DMX512 control system.
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Stage Lights Buyer’s Guide
Whether you want stage lights for a small stage, lights for a band, or an event, there are common features that you can consider to make an educated pick.
Below is a breakdown of the factors to consider when buying stage lights.
SizeThis is solely based on taste and preference. Before shopping for lights, decide whether you want a big lighting setup, a small lighting setup, or a moving head. If you’re looking for stage lights for a small setup, of course, it makes sense to go with a small setup. This also applies to anyone who is looking for a portable setup.
It’s important to note that small lights can also be very effective and powerful; you don’t have to settle for something dim.
LED LifetimeAnother thing you need to consider when shopping for lights is the LED units because they determine the life of your stage lights. Cheaper lights will mostly last for a few hours, which means you’ve got to replace the whole setup. I recommend buying stage lights that last for at least 50000 hours.
BracketsInstallation can be very tasking, so you can choose something easy to set up. For example, if you’re planning on mounting your lights on the ceiling or walls, ensure they have brackets.
Operating ModesStage lights have different operating modes. The most common modes include voice/ sound-activated mode, master/slave, flash, pulse, and gradient. Good lights also have an option to control the brightness, speed, and effects.
The right effects are dependent on your requirements. For instance, theatre performances stage lights don’t require strobe lighting, but the feature is very important for band lighting.
Remember to ensure that the system is easy to operate and you can comfortably shift from one mode to another. The ability to plug the system into a DMX controller and use a remote also comes in handy when using the system.
Best Stage Lights (Final Words)
The right stage lights can significantly affect the mood at your parties or theatre. Therefore, it’s important that you choose the stage lights based on your needs. You want to consider the features, installation process, lighting modes, and how easy it is to operate the lighting effects.
I hope you got a great option from my list, and if not, the buyer’s guide will help you make choose high-quality lighting for your future events.
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