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"How do we cut down on the time it takes to set up our lights....and what can we do to stop crushing light fixtures?"
That was the big question DJ Rich asked after years of setting up traditional horizontal lighting trusses. It
wasn't that he didn't want to set up lights; in fact, mobile lighting was a sales tool and, quite frankly, an important
part of his business. Customers loved that they not only hired professional DJ entertainment, but also impressed their
friends and family with an outstanding light show. Rich knew that many of the DJ companies just didn't want to take
the time, or have the expense of light shows...and he understood why. For him, lighting wasn't an option he sold to
make more money. A light show was always included...and that got more business....more money was the result. As
his buiness grew, and he hired other DJs, he wanted his light shows to be the same for every set up....but not every employee
was as careful as he was about carrying and stowing the light battons. He was really frustrated by having to replace
many of his light fixtures every year. It seemed that you either had to remove all of the light fixtures from the truss
after every gig and pack them up, or come up with some way to protect them as you carried them in and out..throwing them in
minivans or trailers.
He knew what didn't work. Building heavy cases, or surrounding the lights in wood boxes just wasn't an option.
Too heavy, too expensive..and just didn't look impressive enough. Having to hoist horizontal truss on big, three-legged
stands was getting old (ok, maybe DJ Rich was getting old)...well it was too much work anyway.....and it was too easy
to drop something or get hurt. Carrying in horizontal truss worked fine..but the more lights you left on...the heavier
it was....and you couldn't balance it too well on speakers or cases as you were rolling in to the gig. There was no
way that he was going to be clamping fixtues on and off during set up. "You can't charge a customer more because you spend
an extra three hours to set up and tear down."
So, how to have a light show that was better than most of what he saw out there...and how to get it in and out and set
up without damage...and in the shortest amount of time? Well, DJ Rich's old high school buddy, drove one of the busses
for a Brittany Spears concert tour...so, naturally, DJ Rich got to see a free concert and hang out with the roadies and security
guys...and catch a little close up time with Ms. Spears. It was after the concert that he saw the roadies wheeling
huge box truss (full of light fixtures) in and out of crates.....and an idea was born. "That's what we should do.....but
much smaller.....that's perfect!"
It seemed like a perfect idea...once you got past all of the details, engineering, and the truss prototypes...and
the measuring of ceilings, testing light fixtures, deciding on truss lengths and widths......etc, etc.etc...and don't forget
a year of testing out in the field. Loading into trailers, SUVs, minivans...you name it. This all leads to what
is, undecidedly, the best all around lighting system in the industry today.........Rock-N-Roll To Go Lighting Systems.
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In 2002, after 21 years (and thousands of hours) of setting
up traditional, DJ horizontal truss lighting systems....and constantly replacing damaged light fixtures, founder DJ Rich had
the idea to incorporate square truss into the design. He first started with quick-connecting horizontal truss with quick
power connectors, but the fixtures still were getting damaged transporting in trailers and carrying into venues. Here's
fhe first set of 18" steel box truss towers...we had to carry a tall base and a short base for 8' ceillings. These were
too wide...too heavy.....too much wasted space..and you couldn't stack them in an SUV.
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Shown above in the two most popular set ups....the 10' for unlimited ceiling height..(all three sections)
and the 7' 5" set up for 8' ceilings (the top and bottom sections). You can set the middle section off to the side and
operate your fog machine.
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