2011 Show: Analysis

The show is done and lights are coming down. 2011 was a huge success. I have no idea how many visitors came by to watch the lights, but it was a lot more than I would have ever expected! Due to that high response, I am expecting it will be bigger next year and I’ve got to think through some issues (such as my neighbor’s yard being turned to mush). But having lots of people wanting to watch the show is a GOOD problem to have!

This was my first year, so this year was, in my mind, more of a learning experience than anything else. Important, but small things that I have learned this year:

• You can NEVER have too much extension cord.
• I don’t really like how the “slower songs” turned out.  I think I’ll stick to fast songs only next year.
• I need to start constructing display elements MUCH earlier if I want to be ready by Dec. 1.
• The commercial-grade LED lights are a lot brighter than the store-bought LEDs or the classic incandescent strings.
• Mini-lights outlining the house just aren’t bright enough.
• After Christmas, the lights playing Christmas music aren’t very exciting. So I want to program some other songs to carry the lights through to New Year’s Day.
• Did I mention needing more extension cord?

So, what will Christmas 2012 look like? Oh, I have LOTS of plans! (My budget may not allow all of the plans to come to fruition, but we will see.  I am working on my light order now.  They have to be ordered by mid-January to arrive by April. If everything happens how I would like, this is what the show will look like:

• 8 white mini-trees, rewired with LED lights in white, red, blue, and green (2011 – 8 trees in white incandescent).  This will make the trees MUCH brighter, have a whiter white, and will allow for colors.
• 4 mega-arches, wired with LED lights in White (2011 – 2 arches in white incandescent).  The arches were a favorite of lots of people (and I like them too!), so I’m going to add two more and by doing them in LED lights, they will be even brighter and more dramatic!
• Windows and Doorway will be outlined in White, Red, Green, and Blue LED lights.  I will hopefully rewire these so they are a bit “cleaner” in appearance, and also add in the upstairs window (ran out of time to have it done for 2011).
• 4 columns, lighted in LED white. I may or may not double the lights on these… they were already quite bright.  I might double the channels, so that there are 8 positions for the lights to go up and down, rather than 4.  I’m just not sure yet.  One thing I do know is that I will rehang them with coroplast keeping the lights facing forward and the wires hidden, which will give a much cleaner appearance.
• Yard lighting to include rows of white, red, green, and blue in the yard and outlining the sidewalk. I had these lights ready to go, but just not the time to put them up for 2011.
• NEW FEATURE: Lighting around the roof lines which will consist of large RGB lights (based off GE ColorEffects).  I’m taking GE ColorEffects and removing the controller chips and replacing it with my own.  This will allow me the ability to control each and every single bulb; the color, the on/off state, and fading.  This will open a HUGE window of options and effects.  I’m really excited about this potential!
• NEW FEATURE: 20 foot tall Mega-Tree! This feature may cause my neighbors to wonder about my sanity.  I’m going to be constructing a tree of lights that is 20 feet tall and will have red and green lights on it that I will be able to create a spinning color effect.  I’m also adding strobe lights to the tree.

Stay tuned for more updates as things come together for Christmas 2012!