Hey there, friends! It’s me again, Sparkle! I hope your summer was amazing and that you’re ready for the rest of 2024. I know I am. With Christmas getting closer and closer, it’s making me more and more excited for the holiday season. One of my favorite things to see is when a homeowner or business sets their lights to music.
Picture it: you’re driving (or, in Santa’s case, flying) around the Northern Florida streets and countryside when you approach a house that’s just a bit different than the others. It’s because they’ve set their lights to music using the various best practices and techniques I wanted to share with you today!
Are you ready? Then let’s get started!
Best practices to set your lights to music
So what are some best practices to set your lights to music? It starts with an amazing playlist! This is your chance to get creative! You can stick with the tried and true classics or switch it up with modern hits. Either way, what you play will influence how your lights move.
Next, you’re going to want to plan your layout. What will the main attraction be for your display? If you’re a homeowner, it might be the roofline, your garage door, or yard decorations. If you’re a business owner, options include your windows and storefront, your doors, and even portions of your building’s facade (provided your landlord is okay with that!).
Then, you’re going to want to pick the right equipment. I’ll talk more about this later; just know that you’re going to need a controller in addition to the lights and other display pieces.
Once you set everything up, test it. You don’t want to automatically assume everything is going to work as intended. There could be a minor mistake in the settings or a cord that came unplugged. Do this during the daytime so that you can easily see what you’re doing.
Finally, have you ever considered having a “launch party” for your display? Since these types of decorations, where a homeowner or business sets their lights to music, are unique, make it an event. Perhaps if you run a store you could have a “big reveal” where you invite customers for a special get-together or after-hours sale to commemorate the unveiling. The options are endless, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few issues you’ll want to keep in the back of your mind.
What are some issues to anticipate?
The biggest consideration when you set your lights to music will be the complexity of your display. If you’re relatively new to this idea, it might sound fun to go all out. You can, but perhaps you want to start small this year and make it spectacular next season.
Another thing to keep in mind is the weather. While you don’t have to deal with six-foot snow drifts and massive blizzards like your friends in the northern parts of the country, weather can still play havoc with your setup if you’re not careful.
Another issue might be the cost of purchasing all of this equipment on your own. The larger you go, the faster the price will increase. And don’t forget about having adequate power to your display, including spotlights as needed and adequate outlets for your strands.
How can you prevent problems?
Safety should always be one of your top concerns when setting up a display like this. That’s why you should only use equipment that’s rated for outdoor use. In addition, if you’re hanging them alone on your roofline, I recommend both C9 bulbs and the corresponding industrial-grade hangers so that your lights stay in place the entire season.
Enter the world of A.I.
So what’s another way to set your lights to music? Have you heard of this thing called A.I.? If not, let me tell you about it.
Artificial Intelligence is a growing trend in tech circles. It’s becoming more and more popular. Now, to be clear, we’re not talking about sentient computers.
Instead, A.I. refers to algorithms that use machine learning to make changes on the fly. That’s where A.I. can help you set your lights to music. Using smart technology, there have been considerable advancements made in controller upgrades. Now, these devices are automatic units that can move lights and other aspects of your display dynamically, responding to and learning from your playlist.
Commercial considerations
Let’s discuss the various controllers available on the market today.
The Falcon line of devices offers several options for commercial customers. No matter what your needs are, Falcon can probably fly you in the right direction!
Residential considerations
In the homeowner world, Lor is a common brand of controllers. They’re exactly what most residents need to create eye-catching and breathtaking Christmas displays with lights set to music. Another consideration for the homeowner is your current smart home features. Often, you can control these with an app — including the A.I. upgrades I mentioned earlier. Integrating them with your smart home is a great way to control your display while you’re away.
The best lighting company in Northern Florida
So, what should you do if you’re ready to set your lights to music but don’t have the time or technical know-how to get started? Well, that’s the easy part: contact my friends at Twinkle Nights. They’re the region’s experts with all aspects of hanging lights, including Christmas yes, but also with patio lights and beyond. They can help you with temporary or permanent displays as well as landscaping lights and more!
Would you like to get in touch with them? Then call their offices today at (844) 820-4613 to book your display for this fall. Or, you can send them your details here and they’ll be in touch soon.
See you next time, my friends!
Here are some other resources to help light up your holiday season!
Favorite Local Outdoor Lighting Company for Gainesville & Alachua County, FL
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