Ready to buy..need advice.

I am eager to start playing around with learning lighting, so after reading tons yesterday and torturing Curtis and everyone on here. Would like to go ahead and buy a 285HV. and a silver/black umbrella. Could I use my tripod as the stand? If so, guess I get a bracket like I saw on strobist...I have a 580 ex to serve as master. Not sure if I need hot shoe adapter and would like either a long cord or a cheap wireless setup...Not ready to go for the PW yet, until I can get a sense of how I will do at this. What else do I need?

Really apprecite any advice!
Thanks.

Tripods can serve the purpose sometimes, but they don't go high enough for typical portrait uses. Economy light stands generally run about $20 and work fine for the amount of weight you're envisioning.

Curtis N wrote in post #2927932
Tripods can serve the purpose sometimes, but they don't go high enough for typical portrait uses. Economy light stands generally run about $20 and work fine for the amount of weight you're envisioning.

Great! Thanks!