Each Music Source mobile unit includes two operators. One, of course, is the disc jockey who handles the announcing and plays the music. The other is the Light Operator and the LO's job is equally important to the success of any event. Lighting sets the mood and creates the atmosphere. It can be wild and exciting or it can be mellow and subdued. Either way, without lights a performance really loses its energy and guests aren't as likely to get on the dance floor. Think about the last time you were in a nightclub or at a concert. If you were really having fun and hitting the dance floor then there surely must have been a light show. Now, imagine the same setting if you turned off the light show and turned up the house lights. Think about what happens at the end of a concert. Turning up the house lights is how they tell you that the fun is over and it's time to go home. The energy, the excitement, the 'cool' is gone when the light show is turned off. Music Source has performed for more than 2500 events throughout Central Illinois and we have never done a dance performance where we didn't have our light show up and running. We believe that the light show is so intrinisic to the success of a performance that we don't even offer a "no lights" option for dance events. (We do have a "no lights" sound system only option that is perfect for sound reinforcement, wedding P.A., etc.) .

"I Don't Think My Grandma is Going to Like a Lightshow..."
Music Source performs for all ages in all settings. We've done everything from grade school end of the year dances to Valentine's Day at a retirement home. And, yes, we have used our custom lightshow at each and every dance performance.

Actually, we have one retirement home that has us back a couple of times a year and they love the lights! The secret that sets our lightshow apart lies with the trained Light Operator we mentioned above. The Light Operator is controlling every flash and every movement. The show is custom tailored to meet the needs, and tolerances, of each specific audience. If it's a little too rowdy, the Light Operator can back off the motion and intensity. If it's late and the party is heating up, we can start to add more motion and some pretty cool special effects.

"So Just What Kind of Lights Do You Have?"
Good question. The Music Source light show was designed by Music Source founder and president Allen Stare. It was created specifically to integrate with the Music Source sound system and to provide just the right level of entertainment to the various audiences that Music Source regularly encounters. The components that make up the Music Source sound system are:

• The Tetra Light System: The Tetra is the latest addition to the Music Source Light Show. The Tetra is a four head, chase-pattern smartlight system that covers the floor with more than 100 beams of colored light in 16 different chase patterns each triggered by the beat of the music. The 4 Tetra heads are mounted under each end of our existing light bars. The Tetra System has been smoothly integrated into our performance and adds to the general fun and excitement of our overall lightshow. We're very excited about the new Tetra and can't wait to show it to you!
  
  
• Keyboard Controlled Floods: The keyboard controlled floodlight system is the "bread and butter" of the Music Source lightshow. 1200 watts of colored floods are positioned above each of our tripod mounted speakers and across the floor in front of our music control console. Each flood is controlled by a key mounted in a keyboard that resembles a small piano. When the Light Operator hits the key for a flood, it turns on. When the light operator "plays" the piano in time with the music the effect is a custom pattern of flashing colored floods timed to the music. The floods are also fader controlled so that they can be left on at various intensities for things like slow songs or songs that might call for muted movement.
  
  
• Rotating Beacons: At the end of each light bar, and positioned on the floor, are a total of 6 rotating beacons, or "police lights". All 6 are controlled by either a key on the keyboard or, for longer sequences, a stay-on switch on the lightshow control panel. The beacons add to the movement of the show and create an exciting effect that is the perfect punch for upbeat songs, drum solos and disco cuts.
  
  
• Strobes: In the center of each overhead light bar, and on the floor in front of the console, are a total of seven strobe lights. You've probably seen strobes before. Strobes provide a series of fast, white bursts of light many times per minute creating a stop motion or "strobe" effect. The strobes, like the beacons, can be triggered by a key on the keyboard for quick bursts and short accents or they can be controlled via a stay-on switch on the control console for longer sequences.
  
  
• Smart Lights: "Smart" Lights are specialized lights that contain an audio sensor. Smart Lights react to sound, especially bass. The Music Source Light show features a both a "Cyclone" and a "Rotopod" that are sequenced and activated by the music.
  
  
• Lasers: Each Music Source lightshow also includes four Black Widow laser lights. The Black Widow generates a red laser beam that is manipulated to create patterns on the floor or wall depending on the layout of your hall. The laser is also a "smart" light since it uses sound cues to change from pattern to pattern. Sixteen patterns in all are created by the Black Widow, everything from stars to interlocking rings
  
  
• Fog Machine: The fogger enhances the light show by picking up the beams of light and defining them across the dance floor.

Music Source is a proud member of the American Disc Jockey Association. Logo ©Copyright 2008 by the ADJA, all rights reserved.