I'm in the market for a system to mount a pair of 3W projectors and one or two fog/haze machines. I was hoping to go with a truss system for the stability and professional appearance but after seeing the prices of a system large enough to meet the height and width requirements I've been a little turned off. I'd be willing to shell out $1K for a 3m X 3m kit but that's only about half of what it would cost. On the other hand, I could pick up a pair of 3-4m tripod crank stands and an "I" beam for about $500. My only concern with this route (other than the slightly less professional appearance) is the stability of the tripods. Is the inherent risk of collapse any greater with this system as opposed to a goal post style truss or is it acceptable to use tripods? I remember seeing Karl (Laser Wizardry) do a show using a tripod but I vaguely recall him making a casual comment about what the inspector might say if they saw it. Are there regulations regarding how you mount a projector in the US and New York in particular? Any advice and/or opinions are much appreciated.
-Luke