Gelling Strobes

[DDCSD]

I want to shoot some more local bands, but I'm facing ISO3200 1/15s ambient. I can set up some remote flashes, but I'm wondering if I should gel them. I want to keep with the feel of the small club, but would like to make it worth bringing my 20D and making it stink like smoke. ;)

Anyone gel their strobes for small town bands?

[bacchanal]

I haven't used gels for effect, but I do use a gel to balance the flash with ambient light color temp. I use a CTO gel on the flash to give it a tungsten temp (2800k or something like that). I usually shoot in M at a high ISO with the flash on ETTL. Usually I try to keep the flash exposure from totally overwhelming the ambient.

Anyway, it's definitely worth experimenting with flash at small venues, especially when you're fighting with 1/15 shutter speeds. Just try to keep the flash output relatively low, so you aren't blasting the band/audience all night...you also get better refresh rates with a relatively low flash output.