I think that lighting effects should add to the party, and not distract you due to being too overbearing. I find that the lighting effects at many parties I have been going to recently either seem unnecessary or distracting.

Here are a few specific gripes I have with lighting effects:

Lazers: In the Guvernment, although I don't really like lazers, they're fitting and they make sense. However, nothing is worse than lazers in a small club. Clubs like Hotel and This is London should not have lazers. Especially This is London because I find it really detracts from the classy atmosphere I thought the club was trying to create.

Strobelights: Unless used very sparingly (which they most often are not), they can be very distracting and often times disorienting. There have been a number of times that I've been at This is London and I've had to leave the dancefloor when I was having a lot of fun because I thought a few more flickers of the strobelight were going to cause me to go into epileptic shock, lol.

Cliché lighting systems in Toronto clubs: I can only think of one club in Toronto that has a unique and creative lighting system: Sonic. Every other club that I go to has the cliché black light, lazer and strobe combo. I usually can't help being reminded of high school dances in days of yore.

What are your opinions of lighting effects?

i thoguht republik had really cool lighting

I WHOLE-HEARTEDLY agree with you on all your points made, Graham.

Though, my preference now is to have NO lighting at all.

My ideal venue would be a place such as The Comfort Zone or 99 Sudbury (raw with a dirty, unrefined underground feel) with very, very minimal lighting (black lights where possible instead of regular lights! and no lasers at all, or strobes)

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quote:

Originally posted by Flec i thoguht republik had really cool lighting

I think Republik looks like the starship Enterprise. I don't like the way that club looks at all. Very tacky IMO.

To each their own though.

quote:

Originally posted by The Highroller I think Republik looks like the starship Enterprise.

Well now!! I feel like I really need to check out Republik finally if it indeed draws a comparison to the Starship Enterprise!

That is something I must see and experience in a club venue before I die!

I love the Starship Enterprise.

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TECHNO IS THE BEST NOISE ON EARTH.
Save Techno - Stop Minimal / Tech-House

*Paging Lightshow*

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lazers are over rated. i know many think they are siiikkk, but i am more of an intelligent lighting kinda guy. the lighting at sonic is nice.

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quote:

Originally posted by NuERA but i am more of an intelligent lighting kinda guy. the lighting at sonic is nice.

The ONE (1) simple, green laser they had in use at 99 Sudburry for Adam Beyer coupled with the small small disco ball on the ceiling was the most ingenious, effective use of a laser I've beheld. It was minimal (how appropriate) and simple, and was nicely done. Added to the vibe, suited the occasion and venue, took nothing away and didnt diminished anything!

That is excellent laser work.

___________________
TECHNO IS THE BEST NOISE ON EARTH.
Save Techno - Stop Minimal / Tech-House

I'm not a fan of lazers at all.. but at a large event at the right moment they can be great.

as for everything else.. you gotta have strobes and you gotta have moving heads or at the very least some shit trackspot like intelligent light with at least a few differnt gobos.

most importantly, you need need to have a lighting guy that knows how to use it all effectively and appropriately. There is an art to lighting. It's about creating a visual environment to compliment the music.

quote:

Originally posted by NuERA lazers are over rated. i know many think they are siiikkk, but i am more of an intelligent lighting kinda guy. the lighting at sonic is nice.

blasphemy

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quote:

Originally posted by activate I'm not a fan of lazers at all.. but at a large event at the right moment they can be great.

thats true, like at a big trance party when the lasers make their first appearance and everyone goes nuts!

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I love the lighting at sonic for sure. A couple of times though, they had them on for WAY too long and it just pissed me off. I don't know about other people but when I go to a real afterhours the last thing I want to experience is full on lighting for 3 minutes.

The lights in guv can be alright, but sometimes they are overdone.