<?>Lighting an Expo Booth, Bridal Show space, etc.

I'm looking at options to light a 10x10 space autonomously. The venue will have its own lighting but charges crazy prices to use their electricity if you want to add anything.

I want to be able to add some catch lights to accent some work that will be hanging in the background as well as on easels.

Has anybody used something similar to these battery powered LED's?
http://www.amazon.com …B000VYEOY8/ref=​pd_cp_hi_1
I wouldn't even know how to mount these.

or has anybody brought in their own power supply to use corded lights?

What do the pros use???

Wow, I just helped a buddy setup his booth at a bridal show. Not only did the not charge for electricity, each booth had basic spot lighting. My parents have been attending trade shows for years and not once have I ever attended a booth or space where we were required to pay for lights or electricity.

Been to many trade shows (not photography related) and I too have never heard of anything like that.

As well as looking for lighting/power options you may want to double check your contract to make sure you are even allowed to bring your own kit. Most venues forbid bringing outside food so that the on-site catering franchises can rob you blind. If they are hoping to rob you for electricity they may well have a clause in the contract forbidding external equipment. Even if it is allowed you will need to make sure you have the necessary insurance.

The only time I've ever heard of charging for access to power is in the case of a need for a clean line. That can be a huge pain for the promoter.

I've done many trade shows in non photography business and you always pay for electrical drops. The more outlets you neeed, the more you pay. Same goes for tables, curtains, plants, carpets etc... In fact, you even pay for having your booth cleaned nightly.

I've done trade shows in Chicago where you were not even allowed to plug your equipment into outlets...that had to be done by service staff that were unionized.

I haven't done any shows yet but I've been to a few and noticed some people had spot lights and some did not and the difference is huge! You can easily spot the lit artwork versus the ambient(venue provided) overhead lit art.

This venue provides 1 6' table with cloth, 2 chairs, and backdrop for everyone is black. To add electrical outlets their prices vary on watts needed:
500 WATTS (5 AMPS) - $132
1000 WATTS (10 AMPS) - $224
1500 WATTS (15 AMPS) - $261
2000 WATTS (20 AMPS) - $300

I read somebody on here using a 'UPS'?? system to power their spot lights but I don't know what 'UPS' means.

Hogloff wrote in post #16723828
I've done many trade shows in non photography business and you always pay for electrical drops. The more outlets you neeed, the more you pay. Same goes for tables, curtains, plants, carpets etc... In fact, you even pay for having your booth cleaned nightly.

I've done trade shows in Chicago where you were not even allowed to plug your equipment into outlets...that had to be done by service staff that were unionized.

Agreed on both counts. Several years ago, I had a part-time job setting up tables and pipe-n-drape. "Free" electricity at the vendor booths was a very, very rare thing.

Sorry I don't have any great advice for you. I wonder if something like a Vagabond would power some LED spot lights for the duration of the event?

I thought about the vagabond but I think I'm leaning towards some battery operated LED's or the lithium charged Sima's for ease of portability and placement.
hmm.....

*Knowledge* wrote in post #16724018
I haven't done any shows yet but I've been to a few and noticed some people had spot lights and some did not and the difference is huge! You can easily spot the lit artwork versus the ambient(venue provided) overhead lit art.

This venue provides 1 6' table with cloth, 2 chairs, and backdrop for everyone is black. To add electrical outlets their prices vary on watts needed:
500 WATTS (5 AMPS) - $132
1000 WATTS (10 AMPS) - $224
1500 WATTS (15 AMPS) - $261
2000 WATTS (20 AMPS) - $300

I read somebody on here using a 'UPS'?? system to power their spot lights but I don't know what 'UPS' means.

Uninterruptible power supply. Basically a batter-backed AC inverter. You would need a pretty big one to run any significant amount of lights for a full day.

While you can certainly find cheaper battery LEDs, the Vagabond Mini is a powerful and more flexible option for future use. It can easily be used with strobes, existing modeling lights, and will power almost anything else - laptop, fan, TV, etc.

Thanks for all the info guys! I have the Vagabond II so I might as well make a test run at home to see if it'll power some lights for 8 hours and go from there.

*Knowledge* wrote in post #16724018
I haven't done any shows yet but I've been to a few and noticed some people had spot lights and some did not and the difference is huge! You can easily spot the lit artwork versus the ambient(venue provided) overhead lit art.

This venue provides 1 6' table with cloth, 2 chairs, and backdrop for everyone is black. To add electrical outlets their prices vary on watts needed:
500 WATTS (5 AMPS) - $132
1000 WATTS (10 AMPS) - $224
1500 WATTS (15 AMPS) - $261
2000 WATTS (20 AMPS) - $300

I read somebody on here using a 'UPS'?? system to power their spot lights but I don't know what 'UPS' means.

That's crazy. $300 is nearly the price of some of the booths locally at some shows.

the flying moose wrote in post #16724102
That's crazy. $300 is nearly the price of some of the booths locally at some shows.

Welcome to the union.

It's usually around $40 per chair and $100 per table (yes, for the same price, you can buy these items at the store). The trade show / convention business is very big dollars, aimed to profit wildly from the ability to have full control over the situation...

... which, when you think about it, isn't too far removed from photography (especially wedding photography).

At some big trade shows (CES, SEMA), each square foot of booth space is $100+. Yup, that means a 10x10 booth costs $10k. That's before you put up a display, print materials, add lighting, etc.