so why

[the grinch]

After our adelaide mini few people have got my gears turning upstairs ! Primarily in our lives lights are useful to live as such to basically habitat too see what we are doing in darkness ! but during our mini noticed whenever a light or element was lit we all where drawn too like insects myself guilty also ? is this just normal human nature ? Why do we like the lights is it the colors the flashing the ability to synchronize sound too or too please others or even just the xmas spirit ? Why do we spend 11 months out of 12 preparing for xmas and ever improving our displays ? So why do we do it ? Are we normal ? what makes us tick !

 

[Wendys]

WHATS NORMAL

 

[thecrazylightlady]

I cant believe you are thinking about our lights only 11 months of the year....not good enough!!

 

[the grinch]

So as reply to my question yes I definitely started as a grinch it was my wifes passion as pure lover of xmas but now !yes I sorta like it lol .myself I do enjoy the xmas festive season ! I enjoy being able to control the lights and creating the effects I like . I also like building stuff am very mechanical minded . And yes enjoy that our display pleases many people's

 

[fasteddy]

Its because most of us here are infected with CLAP

 

[diyer]

So as reply to my question yes I definitely started as a grinch it was my wifes passion as pure lover of xmas but now !yes I sorta like it lol .myself I do enjoy the xmas festive season ! I enjoy being able to control the lights and creating the effects I like . I also like building stuff am very mechanical minded . And yes enjoy that our display pleases many people's

Funny, it was my wife's passion too which rubbed off onto me, is this a common "problem"?

 

[scamper]

Funny, it was my wife's passion too which rubbed off onto me, is this a common "problem"?

No. In my case it was me who started to tinker.
My wife questioned everything I spent money on the first year, so I hid a few items here and there.
After she saw the finished product, she was impressed, but wanted more
So now she makes suggestions, helps to setup, always looks for prop ideas and synchronises songs.
But it is still my hobby, and I spend many hours over winter in the shed with the fire blazing making props.

 

[algerdes]

Just remember - you asked!
Light is always an "eye catcher" to us humans. We, either through need for security or curiosity, want to use our one sense toward early detection - sight.
Now with folks who have acquired the super human state of "Computer Lighting Adjusted Personalities" (it is not a disease, but a higher level of consciousness), seeing a light is usually followed by an expectation that the light will change and we want to see that change.

My electronics, audio, stage (techie) background got me into doing Christmas lights a long time ago. I was asked to help with a new show in our park. My wife, who is always right there to help, learned the basics. Several years later, she made the mistake of going with me to the Expo. C.L.A.P. overcame her natural ability to fight it off. Now, I'm pretty much full time working on it - at her insistence.

 

[scamper]

. My wife, who is always right there to help, learned the basics.

I first read that with a comma in between right and there

 

[marmalade]

..out of curiosity, I really enjoy building the hardware, electronics,and display elements (as well as shopping for new stuff!) but literally cringe at having to create sequences (especially with music). This is at best a complete chore and I would happily give the job to someone else, problem being the more lights you add the more work it is in xlights/vixen etc.

How do you guys motivate yourselves to do this?

 

[fasteddy]

..out of curiosity, I really enjoy building the hardware, electronics,and display elements (as well as shopping for new stuff!) but literally cringe at having to create sequences (especially with music). This is at best a complete chore and I would happily give the job to someone else, problem being the more lights you add the more work it is in xlights/vixen etc.

How do you guys motivate yourselves to do this?

Sequencing is where you can become very creative and where you start seeing all your hard work come together, sequencing should be exciting because its what brings life to your display.

 

[diyer]

..out of curiosity, I really enjoy building the hardware, electronics,and display elements (as well as shopping for new stuff!) but literally cringe at having to create sequences (especially with music). This is at best a complete chore and I would happily give the job to someone else, problem being the more lights you add the more work it is in xlights/vixen etc.

How do you guys motivate yourselves to do this?

Marmalade like you, I’m a “constructor”, I’ll have a go at building anything but programming and sequencing are areas that I don’t excel in. I get by, but struggle in some areas, so motivation can be hard to find

Maybe members should combine their resources and trade their expertise?

 

[algerdes]

To all of my fellow "constructors", step out of your comfort zone and "come over to the sequencing side". I found that once I did, all of a sudden it all came together - including better constructions.

 

[scamper]

To all of my fellow "constructors", step out of your comfort zone and "come over to the sequencing side". I found that once I did, all of a sudden it all came together - including better constructions.

You are not wrong here.... I start my constructions often with a sequence in mind! If not, I soon work it out as I am building. Maybe my mind wanders too much, but I often picture how the prop will look in the display and what it will do.
I do still struggle now that I have soooooo many elements, when I try and come up with new sequences, but then that is why I got my family involved.

 

[GCAllan]

I start my constructions often with a sequence in mind!

A famous quote says "If you build it they will come" and because of the CLAP thingy, i'm always thinking about what more things I can make to ensure my viewers love what they watch. I too love the challenge of 'building' a new element and thinking of how it will fit into the display and watching it come to life. The problem is we need to also make sure the element comes to life in a sequence and look pretty with all the other blinky's going on.