Stage Lighting

Tic Tac Blinders

Matt Groves from The Naz in Grove City, OH brings us these scattered blinder boxes. (Originally posted October 2014)

While watching a country music concert, Matt noticed right away their use of scattered audience blinders that were slightly dimmed. They used them more as part of the set rather than a tool to light the audience up. Matt really liked the effect and decided to give it a try. However, the price of blinders and the amount of fixtures that he needed did not work out to meet his budget. So like any other frugal stage designer, he looked around to see what he already had that he could piece together and make work. After some trial and error, he decided to make the blinders out of wood.

He used 2×4’s for the frame and 1/2″ plywood for the back. Matt reused light sockets, wiring, and plugs from another set they built. The dimensions of the blinder ended up being about 2’x2′. To attach the blinders to their truss and stands, he removed the steel yokes from six freznel lighting fixtures they had and attached them to the backs of the blinders with 2×4’s and lag screws. After everything was built and painted black, he had spent $0.

After purchasing 54 60watt Par38 lamps at the local hardware store, the final cost of the project was $269.19. They did not dim the blinders up to full 100% during the services, only to 20%. Just enough to make them glow.

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7 responses to “Tic Tac Blinders”

  1. Josh says:

    I can’t get over the fact that the cameraman on the stage is wearing kaki shorts. Get that kid in blue jeans at least.

    • paul says:

      Really? Why do you care what the guy wears to church you whitewashed tomb

      • Dillon says:

        He cares because the guy is on stage and it’s not professional. It has nothing to do with the fact that he is wearing shorts to church. It has to do with the fact that your roaming camera operators should not be noticeable. Because it is distracting.

  2. Lee says:

    I agree with the camera person comment. Shorts are okay if you are behind the scenes, but when you are front and center, I’d go for all black or something that at least matches what the praise team is wearing.
    Also, you have to include the cost of the 6 Fresnel fixtures. They can’t be used. If they were extra, you could at least sell them, but who would buy them w/o the yoke. So, it has to be included in the cost, since they most likely were paid for at some point. Or, at the very least, the cost for the replacement yokes to make them whole again.

    • Aaron says:

      unless he plans on replacing them when this stage design is finished. IN that case, the yokes are just “borrowed”.

  3. robel says:

    how can i get a lesson or idea

  4. can you send me the instructions? I love these blinders !!

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