Selem 2008 Contest
Laser Wizardry (Karl) and Laser Wizardry East (me)
are sponsering a contest at this years SELEM.
Winner gets 3 new MM1s 3 new L brackets for MM1s and new3 MM1 angle mounts , plus one of Karls Optiklenze(tm) optics cleaning kits. Buffo knows about this already. The prizes already shipped to Buffo.
More prizes may be added.
A beam capable projector with some rather excellent real time software from a big west coast laser company will be attached to a standard PC keyboard. I will NOT disclose the software type, but suffice it to say it is bug free and most excellent. Beam effcts will be assigned to the function keys in banks using shift, control, and alt to switch banks. Mouse driven icon mode is available if you wish to go that way A rather upbeat song that will be musically challenging but not THAT hard will be played, the same song for each contestant. Each contestant will have to do the whole song, or may surrender at any time. The contestant and projector will be up in the balcony, alone except for a safety person. Your peers will be looking up at your work, litterally. NO audience scanning though :-) From my point of view one song is easy, try doing it for a 12 hour long rave to say, goa, hiphop, or trance.
You may not change settings in the software, although mouse activated x,y, and z rotates and a cancel button will be enabled.You get to fire two optional bursts
of smog from a small 19$ antari fogger , if we get the alarms off.
You thus have to do a beam show in real time using gear you've never seen and you'll have never seen the frame bank either! When I went to classes on doing laser shows in Canada, this was a common test. Contestant order will be randomly choosen from a hat. Judging will be by non contestants, maybe even the auditorium staff. (and if its like last year, a firefighter with a thermographic camera). Buffo and I have have the final say. We will preview you 10 of the 40 or so effects and you can take notes on the key assignments for those effects. Things may be color, things may be yag, thats a matter of logistics, you dont know till you get there.
If I'm not there because of my medical condition, Buffo may elect to put the prizes in the regular drawing or run the competition. Contestants may NOT discuss the software or song until every one has competed. If buffo wishes to compete, he may nominate a "second" dualing style to act as moderator.
after all the guy does a heck of a lot of work to put this meeting on, it is unfair to single him out. I've had a jury of professional peers say I did well at this,more then once, so I'm out of it as its my gig.
First prize, the above mentioned MM1s and a optics cleaning kit and a cheezy trophy.. Since its low level hazmat, if you flew in you may elect to receive it FOB Phoenix AZ. For overseas attendees we may have work something out, as pure acetone is illegal in any amount on airliners
Second prize One bag of pure pinto beans and a cheesy trophy, and a copy of the frame set on CD.
Third prize, A box of Krafts macaroni and cheese and a cheesy trophy and a copy of the frame set on CD.
If you surrender, a super soaker may just be along for fun !(naw, just kidding!)
This is really a fun contest and a good teaching exercise. My mentor in the laser business used to do this with his students and guests, its a riot!
PS, please note that while a understanding of how to play music is helpful, it does NOT guarentee a win at this. You would be surprised at whom may do well and whom will fail.
Some people really sweat it, others just set there and laugh. Either way, you learn something and have fun.
Hint for noobies at keying a real time show,for techno or dance, learn to count to 16 and you might want to google what "coda"s and "refrains" are in terms of music. We may even play the song once to make it easier on the first guy or gal.
The main goal is to learn how to become more then a "projectionist"
Comments and suggestions welcome, but remember the goal is to learn and have fun. Void where illegal, many will enter, few will win, all will have fun.
Steve Roberts
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buffo
Originally Posted by Stuka
. I am glad to see this contest, now people will know how a live show is done right. There is no preprogramed show that you hit play and walk away to. Just 40 frames to choose from and alot of hot keys. Everyone there who hasnt done this before should try it, even if they are judging (just wont be able to win)
