Since 2017 I have been creating Halloween and Christmas light and video shows at our house here in Guelph, Ontario. Although I regularly post those shows, as viewed from the road, here on YouTube, I have never done a full behind-the-scenes look at our lighting, show control and video projection equipment.

For 2021 I designed an entirely new show platform, that relies both on Light-o-rama sequenced light shows as well as projection mapping to create an immersive, concert like experience with video, audio and lighting right in my front yard and I am going behind the scenes to share how it all works with you.

In this video I cover both a top-level overview of the hardware and software used to create these light shows as well as some tips, tricks, and considerations that both beginners and seasoned "christmas light enthusiasts" will find helpful.

If you are just getting started with your own Christmas lights or Halloween setup then the content in this video may be overwhelming, but don't let it deter you! You can get started with a basic setup and a bunch of lights for a small house for under $1,000, and get more advanced as time progresses (and your collection of hardware and light fixtures compiles!). Projection mapping is something that I dabbled in during our 2020 shows and now have made it front and center to our holiday displays, but it certainly comes with its own significant costs particularly for larger homes and projection surfaces.

Questions? Comments? Love it or hate it? Leave a comment below and make sure to subscribe to this channel for even more cool how-to content just like this. You can also check out video of our past light and video shows on our channel here:    / shawnmakes  

Resources:
-Light-o-rama Light Show Hardware: https://lightorama.com
-Christie Digital Projectors: https://www.christiedigital.com/
-Fitz Studios Projection Mapped Pre-Made Shows: https://fitzstudios.org