Wireless Uplighting For $5,000 - Is It Worth It?

[@djkanoya]

Uplighting was THE BIGGEST purchase I ever made in my DJ system. I was worried if it would ever make me money. And in this video, I'll show you how long it took for my ROI, as well as selling tips!

[@DJBrianHarris]

Great video, Justin! I have had uplights for 5 years now (Vividlite Shadowboxes), but ready to sell them and buy different ones (Both Lighting). So I'm out scanning the reviews. Had to watch your video, because the $5000 thumbnail pulled me in haha

[@djkanoya]

My clickbait worked!!!

[@byromtaylor6482]

Uplighting in a venue has advantages and disadvantages ... Advantages 1 looks good....Disadvantages 1. Can be stolen in a large venue. (ape labs best uplights but especially easy to take)

[@djkanoya]

All true ... but I would hope the type of events I am at (private events) that attendees are not the kind of people looking to steal lights.

[@byromtaylor6482]

@@djkanoya People dont look to steal lights they do it for a laugh/too much drink etc but my venue mine was stolen from was actually a exclusive golf resort. and the other place was a medieval castle both were very 'up market' venues Dont be so sure you know what you are talking about - trust me buy sheilds for your ape lights or you will be sorry you did not listen.

[@808djsho]

Great video. Quick question. Do you have any issues with power lasting long enough? I'm just worried that the power would die out during a long wedding event.

[@djkanoya]

Definitely not ... Check out the battery life for 100% (that is full brightness for each color). The likelihood you would be doing that is very low. So full brightness for a single color or a mix of colors nearly doubles the run time. I'm comfortable doing back to back events with mine.

[@djenterprisesmobilediscjoc9091]

Great way to break it down! Thank you for posting. I have offered uplighting for years, and yes like you it was the corded type.. Wasn't my favorite thing. I recently purchased 48 fixtures from Ape Labs Lighting, 24 Maxies, 12 cans and twelve coins and four coin banks. I'm controlling them with the Ape Labs WAPP. I'm not going to say what I spent (In case my wife reads this) but in my mind it was worth it! These things are AMAZING!! I really don't think I will make my investment back quickly but I will be the only DJ in the area with a setup like mine.

[@djkanoya]

Wow! You really went all in! I have one case (of six) of Maxi's and love using them. You may recognize they are the lights I use to backlight my videos. LOL. I'm not totally sold on how to best use the coins, so keep me posted on what you do with those. But definitely start getting use out of them and getting pictures! And if your wife is reading, based on my expert knowledge, your purchase cost no more than $1,374. 😉

[@djenterprisesmobilediscjoc9091]

@@djkanoya I'm using the coins in the coin bank setup from Ape Labs. It's a way cool way to create some wall art. I was sceptical at first, but after getting the cans and playing with them a bit I couldn't wait to get the coins. I also purchased two dozen of the magnetic swivels that mount to both the cans and coins. It's a whole new world for DJ lighting!

[@djdashdfw]

Just made the expensive leap my man! Not worried about it, like you said, marketing, pictures and video highlighting the before and after will make them sell themselves.

[@djkanoya]

Awesome! Which set of lights did you get!

[@superstardjsyko]

Up lights is what has been holding me back to take on wedding gigs. My mind is that you are supposed to do lighting no matter what

[@djkanoya]

I think there should always be some dance floor lighting. Uplighting is total add on and upsell. Get yourself a Gig Bar or Dotz T Par light system for the dance floor, earn some wedding income and save up to buy uplights!

[@jamesbeta8614]

Just remember -- if you're doing a wedding, to chat-up the photographers and ask them what they need of you during some of the special dances. Not so much for uplights, but nobody wants wedding photos with little lasers and coloured dots on the couple's faces.

[@jamesbeta8614]

Thanks for the great video. What do you use to control your uplights? Do you ever set up any sort of "moods' throughout the event? Do you ever incorporate them with your other "DJ Lighting" rig?, or are they primarily stand-alone, and controlled independently?

[@djkanoya]

Thanks for watching. I control via the FlareCon app, as well as with an analog controller. It just depends on the need. When in use with the analog controller, I have my dance floor lights assigned to channels 1-12 and the uplights 13-16. This way I can control the "two" fixtures independently or create scenes where they work together. For instance, during dinner, I might have one static color on the dance floor and the uplights. but when dancing gets going, I'll have them doing different things.

[@djwinshell9414]

Great video!

[@djkanoya]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MrJFunkSanchez]

Thanks for the tips on selling uplights. I did the same thing and bought expensive ADJs. Still have some wired ones but hardly ever take them out. Plan on using them at my next gig and surprising the B&G. Take photos and create a nice portfolio. With LightRider in my iPad and the Airstream DMX Bridge I’m making some cool shows. Keep up the good work.

[@djkanoya]

Awesome! Hope your surprise goes over well. Now go out and sell those lights!

[@leewright4941]

Excellent video. I'm just about to get some. I was thinking of just going to different venues mid week & getting some photos & giving some photos to the venue for their own us but offering them for free at upcoming events is probably a better idea since the room will be all set up & will look more authentic not to mention providing extra value to customers.

[@djkanoya]

Good idea ... I think it might also be difficult to get venue access in the evening, as I would imagine most would be closed if there is not an event going on. Good luck!

[@djnino1216]

Thanks for sharing, do have a question : you bought those lights back in 2016, now we’re at 2021 does those lights perform as they did back in 2016 or are you considering upgrading them ?

[@djkanoya]

They are working fine. I wouldn't mind switching to Ape Maxi's, but that's just not financially smart right now! Especially since what I have is totally working for me.

[@stepssounds-dancevideo5412]

Thanks for the video.. QQ: what is the difference between a $285 corporate event and a $780 corporate event? - what is the ~ 500 difference for?

[@djkanoya]

Thanks for watching ... the pricing difference is mainly on quantity. The lower end might have just been 4-6 lights in a retail shop, while the upper end was likely a large event utilizing all my lights.

[@djceelos5427]

I would have that same reaction with potential clients when they asked for my uplights that were powered by cables at the time 😂 I’ve made the switch to battery powered and worth the investment on time and setup alone. Now just need the events and pictures to build my pictures portfolio. Thanks for the tips By the way, what are your thoughts on Ape Labs products? I just bought the Lightcans

[@djkanoya]

Bro ... you now exactly what I was talking about then! And it's not like you could charge more for the labor either. You just had to suck it up. Anyway, I have one case of Ape Lab Maxi's (which is six fixtures). I love them. I honestly would totally convert over if it made financial sense, but I've got these Freedom Pars that work just fine. I really like the Ape Sticks and might get a couple of those. I think they would work well behind the DJ booth. Do you have other fixtures besides the cans?

[@djceelos5427]

@@djkanoya yes I have the coins as well which are very cool. Love the magnetic features it offers. I also bought WAPP transceiver and the coin bank which I’m looking to try out soon for my upcoming weddings as a way to highlight the sweetheart table or behind me. The Maxis or Minis at their price to get 12 is just a little bit out of my price bracket 😂

[@Nogi-aka-DJNugz]

great video, I just invested 5K in lights as well.

[@djkanoya]

Great 👍 Which ones did you get, and how do you control them? I contemplated SoundSwitch for a while, but have not made that leap just yet.

[@Nogi-aka-DJNugz]

@@djkanoya apelabs - I was an early adopter of the apelabs maxis and stuck with them. They have their own transmitter and you can dmx or run through IOS or Android.

[@djkanoya]

@@Nogi-aka-DJNugz Yep, big fan of Ape Labs. I really like the sticks and wouldn't mind having just one to place behind me. I have one case of six that I use pretty regularly when I just need a small number of lights.

[@villanousspyder405]

What is up with everyone in the comments buying Ape Labs? I bought 20 more my dam self, and waiting for them to arrive 🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😭😭😭😭 No wonder some companies have them on backorder.🤣🤣🤣🤣😂