Requests from viewers at your show for help?

[taintedsaint]

My wife has been asking me this for a while so thought I'd ask here.
How many of you have had a viewer at one of your shows ask about building a show for them?
What was the conversation and outcome?

[jnealand]

I had a mentor when I started and I would not hesitate to mentor another newbie.  But I would not do a whole show with props and sequencing etc.  Now if someone offered enough money then................. but probably not, I have more than enough issues with my own show.  On another note if you ask folks that have started building and / or selling stuff for others you will most likely find that their own show suffered and still does.  So pick your poison carefully.

[JonB256]

I've been pretty up front with those curious folks once I decide they're at least semi-serious. The folks who are happy with one or two Laser displays from Home Depot are not serious.

I start by describing the setup of controllers and making display items and connecting. That doesn't seem to faze them. Then when it gets into costs, I've lost them all (but one).

Being able to buy sequences and mapping into xLights seems to be a big plus. Most don't want to spend the time programming and they don't want to spend the time building and mounting and removing and then storing.

[taintedsaint]

Interesting input from you both. About what I expected. My first show last year, which was small, I got lots of questions. And exactly as mentioned, when they realized cost and the fact that Lowes or Home Depot doesn't sell a ready made kit and offer installation, they seem less interested in their own show.
I did have one person offer a rather large sum of $$ to build, sequence and troubleshoot but was sure my own issues would get but to the side if I did that.
Thanks for your stories.

[Gilrock]

Bottom line it rarely turns into anything.  I've had people say "hey I run this business XYZ and I've love to pay you to set something up for me next year".  I say sure I can help you figure out what you need to get going and tell them how to contact me and then never hear from them.  I usually tell people I'll be glad to talk to you about what you need to get going but you are really going to need to know what's going on so you can work on your own sequences and fix issues that come up because you are not going to be able to afford me being here the whole time.  I've still been waiting for some millionaire that wants a light show to prove me wrong.

[mikewlaymon]

I've had a couple of "behind the scenes" gatherings at my house right before I begin tear-down after Christmas.  Had maybe a half-dozen folks come by and express interest in the hobby, but most eyes glaze over once I hand them a network diagram and resource list to check things out.  No one's ever offered to pay me to do a show (nor would I accept, unless it was that millionaire).

I am building a 10 foot mega-tree for a friend.  16 strand 180 using a F16V4.  Dependent on the release of the stand-alone functionality.   Could eventually offer other basic props to go along with it in the future.