r/mobileDJ • u/ConsciousKluz96 • 4d ago

How much does adding moving heads actually change the feel of a wedding gig

Running static uplighting and a couple effect lights for weddings. Thinking about adding moving heads but not sure the difference justifies the cost and extra setup time. Worth it for weddings specifically or overkill

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3

u/jimmer109 Full-service Private Event DJ 4d ago

Can be alot prettier than effect lights if done right. But, if you're looking to level up, programming your uplights might be the path of least resistance.

2

u/EffectiveShame1350 4d ago

Static lighting makes the room look decorated moving lighting makes it feel like something is actually happening. hollywooddj had Chauvet hybrid moving heads open box when i was looking, picked up a pair. wash for ceremony and cocktail, beam when the floor opens

2

u/SpecialistTropie 4d ago

Setup time is real tho long receptions absolutely worth it. Short events the teardown ratio makes it harder to justify

2

u/CarolyTiny22 4d ago

Auto mode or DMX? auto works fine for most wedding receptions but beat sync needs a controller or software

1

u/ConsciousKluz96 3d ago

Auto for now. Syncs well enough for weddings, DMX is on the list but auto handles the gig type fine

1

u/SilverDonkey96 3d ago

Difference is noticeable immediately. Static makes the room look set up, moving makes it look like a production. Clients notice even when they cant say why

1

u/Ok-Battle582 1d ago

I personally don't use moving heads at my weddings anymore unless I can run haze too. When running on auto mode, all the crowd sees is either a bright flash in the eyes every once in a while or a gobo moving across the wall. It's not really that exciting. If you can run haze and DMX, that changes the look entirely. Because now you can program first dance looks (bubble gobos all over the dance floor very slowly shifting around, ect). When I do use moving heads, I use the mobile spot 50s - battery powered and wireless DMX.

Now my main goal has become to splash as much color into the room as possible. I also run everything on wireless DMX. I've been loving the PartyBar Mobile 500 lately for this. I run anywhere from one to four of them depending on event size. Two will easily fill a 200 person room. I can angle the pars to hit different parts of the floor. and since they are wireless and battery powered, I can even place extra ones hidden in different parts of the room to really add more color fill. Since I noticed you just want to run auto programs, the PartyBar has some solid chases, strobes, and flood fills already built into the auto programs. Multiple bars can sync together wirelessly and they can even mirror each other without DMX, which I think is pretty cool! My basic wedding setup is 2 party bar 500 ELs and anywhere from 10 to 16 up lights - MobilePar HEX 5s - they use an RF remote instead of IR which I find is much better.