Another Thanks to S&MLL. Without the advice from good people, any Jackass would continue to do silly things. sleepyhead, don't take it personal. We are brothers helping brothers (for the most part). Let's keep the organization on that level, OK?
MY demo kit weighs...
I gotta tell you, I am developing a love/hate relationship with my demo kit. the more I use it, the more jobs I get, which i am thrilled to say i have picked up 3 landscape light jobs in the past week, after doing 6 demo's. after a dead time of a month, I am happy to be doing at least part time lighting work again before the big christmas light work starts September 15.
my love hate thing goes like this- I love having 4 75 ft runs of multi-plug cord, 20 brass mr-16 uplights, 5 deck lights with clamps, 2 600 watt trans, and a few paths and a few extension cords. really everything you need for a decent medium home demo.
my hate thing is weight. I have maxed out 2 very large ice chests on wheels w/ collapsable handles ( like luggage) , and I keep the paths and deck lights in a seperate box. each ice chest easily weighs 65-75 lbs, and I am tired of loading and unloading these things in the back of my truck.
I know that firefly does awesome demo's, and probably easily doubles the weight of mine, but I am also curious about the rest of you guys- what do you bring and how do you lug it around? how much time do you give yourself to setup, bid and load back up a demo? I am taking about 35-45 minutes to setup, 15-20 to write out and bid, and 20-25 minutes to load up and go home. all by myself. some demo's take longer if the customer wants me to move around lights, but a single demo typically takes me from 7:30 pm leave house time to around 9:30-10:30 get back home time at this time of year. February is much easier as you can get there at 4:30 pm and be back home by 6:30 pm. let me know if my experience is normal, or what you guys are doing different.
my love hate thing goes like this- I love having 4 75 ft runs of multi-plug cord, 20 brass mr-16 uplights, 5 deck lights with clamps, 2 600 watt trans, and a few paths and a few extension cords. really everything you need for a decent medium home demo.
my hate thing is weight. I have maxed out 2 very large ice chests on wheels w/ collapsable handles ( like luggage) , and I keep the paths and deck lights in a seperate box. each ice chest easily weighs 65-75 lbs, and I am tired of loading and unloading these things in the back of my truck.
I know that firefly does awesome demo's, and probably easily doubles the weight of mine, but I am also curious about the rest of you guys- what do you bring and how do you lug it around? how much time do you give yourself to setup, bid and load back up a demo? I am taking about 35-45 minutes to setup, 15-20 to write out and bid, and 20-25 minutes to load up and go home. all by myself. some demo's take longer if the customer wants me to move around lights, but a single demo typically takes me from 7:30 pm leave house time to around 9:30-10:30 get back home time at this time of year. February is much easier as you can get there at 4:30 pm and be back home by 6:30 pm. let me know if my experience is normal, or what you guys are doing different.
21 - 40 of 67 Posts
To all those concerned about my (q) problem, I have fixed it. My apologies to Uni(q)ue.
:laugh: Sorry to hijack the post with this silly stuff, but in all fairness it wasn't your post to begin with. It was about heavy demo kits. BTW, I use the plastic tubs w/ wheels you find at HD and Walmart. I find the Stanley's are heavy by themselves, so I stay away from that as I don't need the added weight. As you know, I'm one of those who don't do demos anymore but as the times get tough, you have to do what you have to do. Demos always sell better than you can IMHO. Best wishes to all for a prosporus fall! (dang that rhymes)
Can't get no lightin without a little fightin. :laugh: Now I'm a rapper? :cool2:
Can't get no lightin without a little fightin. :laugh: Now I'm a rapper? :cool2:
Chris, I tried some large plastic tubs from lowe's to save money, and they are in pieces on my garage floor.
Also, for what it's worth, anyone planning on purchasing the cool opening tool chest from stanley (upright, expands outward, several drawers, on wheels), beware that it is not even close to rain proof. That being said, it's an awesome way to instantly organize. I use it for installs and try not to leave it in my truck overnight for threat of rain.
For demo's I like the stanley roller that is at h-depot & lowes and plan to get a second one.
Also, for what it's worth, anyone planning on purchasing the cool opening tool chest from stanley (upright, expands outward, several drawers, on wheels), beware that it is not even close to rain proof. That being said, it's an awesome way to instantly organize. I use it for installs and try not to leave it in my truck overnight for threat of rain.
For demo's I like the stanley roller that is at h-depot & lowes and plan to get a second one.
I don't know what your buying, but the tubs I bought are 8 years old and still going strong. I haven't done a whole lot with them in the past few years, but when I did I worked them hard. Blue plastic with tan lids. Very light, and wheels too!
I get the feeling Sleepyhead enjoys the freedom of expression he is able to exercise behind a mask of anonymity.
The best demo kit IMO is the one that Vista sells. Heavy duty rolling case. Portable transformer on a stand. Six uplights.
http://www.vistapro.com/files/inst/pdk-250-inst.pdf
I picked up extra trailer connections at my local NAPA store and made up addiitonal pathlights and downlight demo samples.
My thought is, as far as the uplights go, it doesn't matter whose fixtures I use if I mainly want to demonstrate what the various lamps can do..
As far as the other fixtures I use , it's a mix of NS, FX, Vista and a handful of others.
http://www.vistapro.com/files/inst/pdk-250-inst.pdf
I picked up extra trailer connections at my local NAPA store and made up addiitonal pathlights and downlight demo samples.
My thought is, as far as the uplights go, it doesn't matter whose fixtures I use if I mainly want to demonstrate what the various lamps can do..
As far as the other fixtures I use , it's a mix of NS, FX, Vista and a handful of others.
I don't know about Pete Scalea but Pete Scalvo is here.Hey where is Pete? But anyway to call a client a victim is just all around stupid. Sleepyhead you might be an amazing designer/installer but it doesnt show by your constant reference of clients as victims.
You are exactly correct Gregg. It doesn't matter what fixture you use for a demo. The lamp is what does the work. so the "holder of the lamp" is irrelevant. Even if you use pars for demos, which I would not, your intention is to give the client an "idea" of what is to be expected. I always explain what's going on, and I make the client very aware of the issues with the demo, ie, not the correct voltage, no lenses, no consistency, etc...The best demo kit IMO is the one that Vista sells. Heavy duty rolling case. Portable transformer on a stand. Six uplights.
http://www.vistapro.com/files/inst/pdk-250-inst.pdf
I picked up extra trailer connections at my local NAPA store and made up addiitonal pathlights and downlight demo samples.
My thought is, as far as the uplights go, it doesn't matter whose fixtures I use if I mainly want to demonstrate what the various lamps can do..
As far as the other fixtures I use , it's a mix of NS, FX, Vista and a handful of others.
different fixtures give different effects. specially those with deep or no glare shieldsYou are exactly correct Gregg. It doesn't matter what fixture you use for a demo. The lamp is what does the work. so the "holder of the lamp" is irrelevant. Even if you use pars for demos, which I would not, your intention is to give the client an "idea" of what is to be expected. I always explain what's going on, and I make the client very aware of the issues with the demo, ie, not the correct voltage, no lenses, no consistency, etc...
You are a drunken fool. Please go to bed and sleep it off before I go off and get kicked off the forum.
I'd have to agree with the rest of the folks about the victim thing. I refer to my clients as blessed, as anyone else would have done a worse job no matter the cost. If you're so confident about what you say, then change your screen name to your real name and business, then speak as you wish. When folks google me, they can read all my posts. I'm proud of them.
I'm also pretty sure a 20 watt 60 degree ushio in 10 different fixtures gives pretty much the same effect, given the glare shield difference. some fixtures may put it deeper in the fixture, but for the most part, you can't se the difference in the demo. I use brass fittings because they can get scratched up and still look good to the consumer. I'd never use pars in demo's becasue I don't install pars. I've tried a dozen different par bulbs, and they just don't last a year no matter the hour rating or what voltage I feed them.
2-3 hours for a setup? I need work, and man, are those demo's beautiful, but I don't see myself going that far. I felt pretty good setting up 20-25 fixtures.
I'm also pretty sure a 20 watt 60 degree ushio in 10 different fixtures gives pretty much the same effect, given the glare shield difference. some fixtures may put it deeper in the fixture, but for the most part, you can't se the difference in the demo. I use brass fittings because they can get scratched up and still look good to the consumer. I'd never use pars in demo's becasue I don't install pars. I've tried a dozen different par bulbs, and they just don't last a year no matter the hour rating or what voltage I feed them.
2-3 hours for a setup? I need work, and man, are those demo's beautiful, but I don't see myself going that far. I felt pretty good setting up 20-25 fixtures.
All my pars have lasted well over a year...i have some over a year and a half old.I'd have to agree with the rest of the folks about the victim thing. I refer to my clients as blessed, as anyone else would have done a worse job no matter the cost. If you're so confident about what you say, then change your screen name to your real name and business, then speak as you wish. When folks google me, they can read all my posts. I'm proud of them.
I'm also pretty sure a 20 watt 60 degree ushio in 10 different fixtures gives pretty much the same effect, given the glare shield difference. some fixtures may put it deeper in the fixture, but for the most part, you can't se the difference in the demo. I use brass fittings because they can get scratched up and still look good to the consumer. I'd never use pars in demo's becasue I don't install pars. I've tried a dozen different par bulbs, and they just don't last a year no matter the hour rating or what voltage I feed them.
2-3 hours for a setup? I need work, and man, are those demo's beautiful, but I don't see myself going that far. I felt pretty good setting up 20-25 fixtures.
I've been using a borrowed vista kit and I'm WAY overdue returning it. Its nice but I did have to modify it some for it to be really useful.
What I did was take the trailer light connectors and male 120v connectors and made some little converters. I hook the trailer light end to the fixture and then run an extention cord to a multiport surge protector. I hook the surge protector up to the TF using a female/trailer converter.
I works really well.
As far as the box I'll be making my own demo kit so I'll look for something similar to the vista minus the fitted foam insert.
What I did was take the trailer light connectors and male 120v connectors and made some little converters. I hook the trailer light end to the fixture and then run an extention cord to a multiport surge protector. I hook the surge protector up to the TF using a female/trailer converter.
I works really well.
As far as the box I'll be making my own demo kit so I'll look for something similar to the vista minus the fitted foam insert.
Something else I thought about doing. Call it a drive-by demo. or just a dumb idea.
If I had a 10gauge line ran from the battery of my truck to a multi-plug in the bed area. take 4 maybe 6 spooled extention cords run them from the truck be to the front area of a house. Hit the house in a few places do a couple of trees. How fast could you do that?
When youre down unplug the lights, roll the cords back in and move on down the road. Thats after you sign a contract of course.
I need to figure out how many lights I can run off the truck. The lights will do fine on DC for a demo purpose.
If I had a 10gauge line ran from the battery of my truck to a multi-plug in the bed area. take 4 maybe 6 spooled extention cords run them from the truck be to the front area of a house. Hit the house in a few places do a couple of trees. How fast could you do that?
When youre down unplug the lights, roll the cords back in and move on down the road. Thats after you sign a contract of course.
I need to figure out how many lights I can run off the truck. The lights will do fine on DC for a demo purpose.
I've never run lights on dc, so I would not know, but maybe...?
that just seems unprofessionalSomething else I thought about doing. Call it a drive-by demo. or just a dumb idea.
If I had a 10gauge line ran from the battery of my truck to a multi-plug in the bed area. take 4 maybe 6 spooled extention cords run them from the truck be to the front area of a house. Hit the house in a few places do a couple of trees. How fast could you do that?
When youre down unplug the lights, roll the cords back in and move on down the road. Thats after you sign a contract of course.
I need to figure out how many lights I can run off the truck. The lights will do fine on DC for a demo purpose.
Fact is, you will still need to mess with many main runs and leads at various unpredictable lengths, and need time to plan a design, position and aim fixtures, lamp properly, climb trees maybe, etc. etc.
There are freakin wires everywhere, man. No short cuts.
The best thing I came up with to save time and stop sweating so much and to feel less stressed out, was to be organized. Figure your lighting plan. Unload the fixtures. Place the fixtures. Extend the leads. Unload the transformers, place them. Unload main wires, lay them all out on the ground first so you can see them. Select your wires for runs, hook them up. Hook up your hubs.
Whatever the system, just stick with one task at a time and try to be organized. I also learned to clean up my demo kit the same way, focussing on one area at a time, grouping the stuff I collect on the lawn, and putting it all away neatly, so my next job is faster (everything where it belongs, no tangles, etc.).
While setting up or breaking down, I tend to lay-out and organize lots of stuff on the lawn so I can readily know what I have and get it quickly.
This keeps me from changing my mind, running back and forth to the truck for each specific item, and it keeps me from being distracted or overwhelmed. It also keeps me from "jogging" around. I take my time, relax, and practically go into autopilot.
My first demo's were unfocussed and made me worn out, creatively and physically.
A great idea my labor guy had for me was to use a checklist before going. So I hung a white board in my garage, and wrote checklists for "Installs" and "Demo's" ... No more, oops, where's the ladder?
Oh yeah, I'm still learning--I'm not an expert. By the time I master them, I probably won't need to do demo's anymore. hehe.
There are freakin wires everywhere, man. No short cuts.
The best thing I came up with to save time and stop sweating so much and to feel less stressed out, was to be organized. Figure your lighting plan. Unload the fixtures. Place the fixtures. Extend the leads. Unload the transformers, place them. Unload main wires, lay them all out on the ground first so you can see them. Select your wires for runs, hook them up. Hook up your hubs.
Whatever the system, just stick with one task at a time and try to be organized. I also learned to clean up my demo kit the same way, focussing on one area at a time, grouping the stuff I collect on the lawn, and putting it all away neatly, so my next job is faster (everything where it belongs, no tangles, etc.).
While setting up or breaking down, I tend to lay-out and organize lots of stuff on the lawn so I can readily know what I have and get it quickly.
This keeps me from changing my mind, running back and forth to the truck for each specific item, and it keeps me from being distracted or overwhelmed. It also keeps me from "jogging" around. I take my time, relax, and practically go into autopilot.
My first demo's were unfocussed and made me worn out, creatively and physically.
A great idea my labor guy had for me was to use a checklist before going. So I hung a white board in my garage, and wrote checklists for "Installs" and "Demo's" ... No more, oops, where's the ladder?
Oh yeah, I'm still learning--I'm not an expert. By the time I master them, I probably won't need to do demo's anymore. hehe.
21 - 40 of 67 Posts
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