Structural strength of stage lighting stands on the playa?

[mooserider]

Another topic came up during planning for my regional's exhibit. I suggested using stage lighting stands (lighting trees) to hold up signs and whatnot, but others were concerned about the stands having sufficient strength to survive the playa. Are there any folks (especially DJ's) who have tried using these devices on the playa, and have any opinions on their safety, stability, and strength in the playa environment? I'm talking about devices like this:


Obviously, they would have to be staked/guyed down to prevent them from toppling in a strong wind or strong crowd of drunks. But has anyone actually accidentally broken one of these on the playa?

[VultureChow]

I've never used them on the playa, but those things are ridiculously strong compared to some of the things I have used. They're designed to handle a significant amount of weight. I'd be more concerned with them toppling then breaking. Guy lines and perhaps so windholes in whatever banners you are using and I'd think you would be fine.

[Jovankat]

Are there any folks (especially DJ's) who have tried using these devices on the playa, and have any opinions on their safety, stability, and strength in the playa environment?

That was a joke right?

A lighting tree will hold up the same amount of weight on the playa as it will in defaultia. What you've got to be worried about is wind. LX trees tend to be more of an indoor solution and as such don't have any way of anchoring them built in. VC is right that guy lines could help but that is going to look messy and create trip hazards. If LX gear is somehow easy to come by for you I'd recommend a stick of truss on a base plate like this;



Then rather than a top heavy upright guyed to the ground you have a fairly bottom heavy structure, assuming you're only hanging fabric. You could improve things with rebar or lagscrews through the extra holes in the base (there's usually holes) or by stacking heavy stuff on the plate, big jugs of water are the usual trick.

But really for fabric banners this is overkill. You could easily knock up a custom frame out of wood that will look better and likely be cheaper. Plus then you avoid the ire of the lighting hire company when you bring back their gear covered in dust, which for the trees would be even more annoying than the truss since they have moving parts.

Hope that helps.
Lighting Tech who wouldn't let a DJ anywhere near her gear.

[trilobyte]

I've produced quite a few events on the playa as well as in defaultia. I would never use those one of those things for on playa, or for that matter any kind of high traffic area. They may work great in certain club and lightweight mobile applications where you've got a few lights to hang, but they are not in any way built to withstand high winds or either a drunk or accident-prone participant bumping into it. Staking it wouldn't likely prevent either the wind knocking it over or a person from running into it, it would just complicate the mess and possible injury.

Go to a music or lighting store and take a look at one in person. You'll see for yourself that they're made to be lightweight and convenient, and of course many of them are at bargain basement prices (as in, cheaply made). Those "features" are unfortunately weaknesses when it comes to playa. The tripods are usually quite flimsy, and the lightweight design/construction means that they don't hold up well when being seriously staked down. Even if you're in a controlled environment, they get top-heavy really quick and they're not the sort of thing you would want to put in any kind of high traffic area.

[trilobyte]

I'm noticing on your profile that this will be your first burn. I'd connect with some of the other folks in your region, if I'm not mistaken there are a number of established camps in that area including some who've done a fair bit of stage production. I'd suggest working or volunteering with one of those groups for a local event or two, and chat with some of their crew as you get the opportunity. They can share war stories as well as give you tips on the kinds of things you'll need to do to ruggedize your project for the playa.

[Meat Hunter]

Prepare for a hurricane.

Plan for a flood.

Build for a herd of blind falling-down stumbling drunks at 3:00 am.

And, remember; Murphy was an optimist.

[mooserider]

Sounds like you've answered my question, i.e., lighting stands are not nearly stable enough for the playa.

Just FYI: I own several of these trees already, because I used to be in the service of rock'n'roll. Not big stadium acts, but small acts in a neighborhood bar or at a wedding reception, with local bands (small enough that the musicians were their own roadies). Anybody remember the band Pharoah's Child in the Albany, NY area back in 1982-83? I was their lighting dude then. So I'm familiar with the suicidally stupid behavior of drunks around electrical equipment. I've used my personally owned lighting gear for community theater operations after I got out of rock'n'roll (couldn't take waking up smelling like an ashtray when I don't smoke), but most of the gear is just collecting dust in my basement. So I was trying to find out if any of it might be useful in the extreme environment of the playa.

[trilobyte]

Trust me, those out of the way corners of a club or wedding hall are nothing compared to the exposure they'll face in the desert.