When it’s time to party, you want to do it properly. You need to get out there and show your guests that you want to show them a good time. The best party hosts, though, know that it takes more than some good tunes and a dance floor to get everybody dancing. Here’s everything you need to know about DJ lighting effects and why you need to be using them in your celebrations.

You Need More Than a Good DJ to Put on a Great Show

A good DJ can go a long way towards making your party pop. They can read the mood of the room, play the tunes that the crowd seems to love, and take requests to ensure that everyone hears what they want to hear.

A DJ on their own though isn’t enough. The DJ needs the right finishing touches to really finish off the feel of the event. Imagine a DJ playing in a room with no lights or decorations. It’s odd, isn’t it? People attending events now expect the full package when it comes to the dance floor. That’s why you need something to take it to the next level.

Adding the Finishing Touches to Your Venue

So, what is it that you need to really get the party started? The answer is good DJ stage effects. Gone are the days when a rotating light ball was enough to light up the dance floor. Nowadays there are all kinds of lighting effects you can buy, that help set the scene and tone of the party.

If you’ve never shopped for lighting before, you’d be amazed at what’s out there for you. Modern lights can be programmed to flash with the music, really integrating the effects with the songs, and creating a more integrated experience. It’s something you have to try at least once.

Lighting Equipment You Can Use At Your Next Celebration

Not sure where to start with lighting effects? Here’s some ideas, so you’ll know what you’re looking for once you start shopping:

• Strobe lights: These lights are becoming more common, and so are becoming cheaper. They’re a simple effect, but they look great on a dance floor and are a good place to start if you’ve never bought lighting effects before.

• Beam effect lights: These lights are made up of multiple colored lenses that rotate across a light, projecting different colors onto the dance floor. Again, it’s a simple effect, but if you combine it with a smoke machine you’ll love how it looks.

• Moonflower lights: These lights hark back to the golden age of disco, as they are reminiscent of the old school disco ball that many people love. However, these lights bounce and refract all colors of light around the dance floor, creating a fun and exciting atmosphere.

• GOBO projectors: You have already seen these lights in effect at weddings or other events. These light project any image you want into the walls, or the dance floor. A stencil is placed in front of the light in order to create the image. You can have any image you like, from writing that says something like ‘Happy Birthday!’ to images that evoke the mood of the event. You can really go wild with these lights.

Other Equipment You’ll Need

Of course, the lights on their own won’t do anything. You’ll need the equipment to go with it and really set your party off.

• Fog machine: As mentioned above, these, when combined with lights, can create a real ‘club’ feel and encourage your guests to get up and dance.

• Cables: You’re going to need the cables to hook all your lights up. When ordering your lights, don’t forget these.

• Control panels: If you’re looking to create more complicated lighting shows, then you’re going to need a control panel to arrange it all from. A DMX mixer is the best thing to buy, to get your lighting looking perfect.

If it’s time to buy DJ lighting, then come talk to us at Digital DJ Gear. We have the most comprehensive stock of DJ lighting effects around.

If you’re a self-employed DJ who is regularly booked for parties and corporate events, then you probably know the pain of arriving at a venue where the available equipment is less than ideal. When it comes to mixers, CD decks, or turntables, you may be prepared for every gig, but do you have your own stage effects to add to the atmosphere? If you’re without DJ lighting, then you’re probably not putting on the best show that you could. At Digital DJ Gear, we provide some of the best and most affordable solutions for working DJs, and if you’re not sure where to get started, then this quick guide will surely help you out.

Make Sure That You Choose Lighting That Will Enhance the Music

No matter what kind of set you regularly play, lighting will be able to create a better atmosphere for your audience. With that in mind, it’s important to choose the right kind of lighting for the music that you typically play. If you’re a DJ mostly involved with electronic music, then strobe lights and lasers might need to be in your inventory. If you play a lot of corporate events where the music is mostly mainstream, then you would probably want to use more traditional colored lights.

The most important thing for you to do is to choose the lights that will suit you the most, but also choose DJ lighting that is versatile. There will be times when you will need to accept contracts that are slightly outside of your comfort zone, but if you’re prepared with all of the right equipment that enhances the music, then you’ll always be able to perform a great job and continue to develop your reputation.

Start Small When You Are Investing in a Portable Setup

Full size stage lights can be expensive, they take up a significant amount of space, they’re heavy, and they need specialist truss systems to be mounted properly. When you need to buy DJ lighting that is portable, make sure you start with small items that have been designed for solo performers.

We supply a range of lights for productions at all levels, including smaller lighting arrays for solo musicians and DJs. If you’re looking for a great package to start with, then you could consider the Chauvet DJ 4 Bar package. This includes everything that you need for a basic portable lighting setup, including a professional LED light array, mounting hardware, and a tripod stand so that you can get set up anywhere that your next job takes you.

Don’t Forget About Your Effects

Standard lights are absolutely necessary for any DJ, but you should also consider adding some extra effects to your lighting setup, which will help you to create more impressive shows with improved overall atmosphere.

• A cannon wash is becoming one of the essential DJ lighting effects, and there are great high powered and affordable options from companies like American DJ.

• You could use an LED backdrop behind your DJ booth, or even behind a main stage, to create impressive and customizable lighting effects. Chauvet produces a high quality LED backdrop which can be operated alone with an included controller, or it can be connected to a DMX for integration with a larger lighting system.

• You can use other effects such as smoke machines, color blasters, and moonflowers for highly impressive shows at almost any event.

If in Doubt, Go for an All-In-One Multi-Light Package

Want to have DJ lighting effects and a standard light show from a single package? Purchasing a kit like the Chauvet DJ Gig Bar 2 will allow you to get great effects and standard lighting from a single stand. It’s similar in design to other Chauvet packages, with the difference being that you could set up one or two of these at small to mid-sized venue, and you wouldn’t have to worry about other adding any additional effects to put on a professional DJ and lighting show. The Gig Bar even comes with a footswitch controller, so you can change your lighting show on the fly, even as you are working the mixer and your decks.

Purchase with Confidence from Digital DJ Gear

You’re the one who will have the best idea of your DJ lighting needs, and now that you know some more about what’s available, you’ll be able to make an informed decision for your next purchase. You can get the best quality equipment from Digital DJ Gear, so start browsing today, and become one of the countless DJs who have upped their stage game with our extensive range of products.

As the DJ, you’re not usually thinking about the decor of the event you’re working at. Your concern is making sure you’re playing the tunes that get people up out of their seats and dancing. However, it’s not just your music choices that are going to do the job.

DJ lighting actually has a real effect on your performance. Having the right equipment on hand really shows that you are a professional, and it adds the finishing touches to your set. It can also encourage guests to get on the dance floor, believe it or not. Here’s the three types of lighting that most DJs forget to use in their sets, and how you can use them.

Why Lighting is so Important

Imagine a party, wedding reception, or Mitzvah that has no lighting other than the building lights. It’s dull, isn’t it? When it comes to creating memorable events, DJ lighting effects can really add the finishing touch to the room. The best DJs are those who take the time to ensure their kit really enhances the music they’re playing.

The Three Most Forgotten DJ Lighting Options

Many otherwise excellent DJs often forget these three lighting options when they’re working at events. Make sure they’re included in your equipment to get the most out of what you do.

1. Uplights: These aren’t always near the dance floor, but often around the walls of a venue. They sit at the bottom of a wall, and cast a static light up the wall itself. They’re fantastic as they bathe the whole venue in any color of your choosing, meaning it’s easy to match it to the theme of the event.

What’s really great about uplights is that they can work wirelessly, too. That means you can change colors with a press of a button when you want to get people’s attention. For example, at a wedding you can change the lights for the first dance, for speeches, or the cutting of the cake. You can let your imagination go wild with them.

2. Spotlights: You would think these lights are a staple in anyone’s equipment list, but you would be surprised. A spot light concentrates light on a certain point in a room, bringing people’s attention to it. It’s perfect when you want to showcase what’s happening on the dance floor.

The best spotlight to get is a follow light. These spotlights are easily aimed and moved, meaning you can follow someone as they move. They’re great for highlighting the bride and groom as they enter the room, picking out people on the dance floor, or showing somewhere else in the room, such as the bar, when needed.

3. Gobo lights: You may not be familiar with this term, but you have most probably seen them before at past events. These lights work a lot like a spot light, but they’re personalised to show names and dates. For example, they could read ‘Ashley’s Sweet 16th 2017’, or ‘Congratulations Mark and Anna 2017’. It’s up to you how they read, and they can add an extra special touch to the dance floor. Photographers often take a shot of them, as they’re great for the covers of photo albums. They’re well worth investing in.

Other Options for Your Lighting

Of course, these aren’t the only options you have when you’re looking for DJ lighting effects for sale. Here’s some of our favorites that we think would be great additions to your kit:

• Sound activated lighting: These lights respond to the music you play, and change in time with the beat. They’re a staple of many parties, and with good reason. They look fantastic when set up, and there’s nothing more encouraging to guests than lights that dance with them. You can usually aim them at the dance floor, but they can also cover a small room if needed.

• Laser lights: These lights are similar to Gobo lights, as they project an image onto the wall or floor. They can be set up to read names and dates, but you’re not limited to plain text. You can have images of almost anything you’d like. Buy a few different styles and you’ll be ready, no matter what kind of party you’re working at.

• LED panels: These lights are really versatile, and every DJ should have some in their kit. They can be used to create spectacular light shows when combined with music, put into rope lights and draped around the rest of your equipment, or used as backlights to your entire set up. Use them in any way you’d like.

As you can see, there are a plethora of options when it comes to your lighting. If you don’t have any, now’s the time to get adding to your equipment set.