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I'm going to start by listing all of the general parameters you can control in a moving light. So for those that have never really programmed moving lights before, let me share some information about using presets that will help you “intelligently” wrangle the lights into submission. Over the years the moving light manufacturers' marketing machines have done a great job convincing the uneducated that using moving lights is easy because of the “intelligence” of the lighting fixture, but any good programmer knows it's the intelligence of the programmer that makes the lights look good. The misconception about moving lights being intelligent doesn't help. Little do they know the amount of time required to actually get the system set up and in a usable state once you have power and data to the fixtures. In their minds I should be ready because they know you just turn on the system and push the buttons on the console to make everything go. It's that look of confusion on their part as they try to figure out why I, as the lighting programmer, wasn't ready to give them the grand lighting tour. Of course, the look that I got when I told them to come back tomorrow was priceless. Then they both look at me and the worship leader says, “OK we're ready to see all of the lighting looks that you are going to use for the program.” “Yeah, this is going to really make the drama look good this year,” adds the drama director. “Alright, this is awesome!” says the worship leader.
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Five minutes ago I turned on the breakers that power the lighting rig and it has just sprung to life for the first time ever. So the church worship leader and drama director walk up to me excited because they see the lights starting to come on and begin to move and flash.