Here's the first book-for-idea giveaway > The Creative Leader by Ed Young Jr, Spark the story behind Cirque du Soleil's creativity, and Cracking Creativity.
We're going from rear projection to front projection in our new theater location starting Easter. We're trying to figure out how to elevate our video projector in the back of the theater to at least 7 feet high. We know about ladders, which are too ugly, horizontal truss, which is too expensive, and drilling, which is not an option. =)
What affordable solutions have worked for you? Including links would be extremely helpful. The most useful idea to us will win the books... which by the way, have already been lovingly read by me [some with notes included =]. Creative Leader is signed by the author. =) I'll contact you for an address.
Ben, we struggled with this when we were in the theater. At first we used a table - too low. Then we used a table with a sound case on top of it - too unstable. Our solution - we built something custom that worked better than anything we could have bought. Cost - FREE.
Our powerpoint guy built a custom shelf that actually attached to the projector window above the back row. It had brackets that went in the window and down the other side to stabalize it completely - it was solid. Then, it had a simple adjustable knob then enabled us to easily change the angle of the projector (projecting from up there you'll have to pitch downwards quite a bit). It kept the projector steady and up above everyone's heads so there was no shadow on the screen - even if someone sat in the very last row and jumped up and down.
Make you a deal - if I win the books, I'll pack it up and mail it to you - to either use or have your guys build something similar. It cost nothing and was an amazing solution. Email me if you want more details!
Posted by: bill streger | February 06, 2007 at 09:05 AM
And we have a winner! Ha. That sounds really good. I was going to suggest a custom build as well. But it would include heavy (very heavy) pipe with a base that weighs a ton. It's about the only thing I have seen that works for the height you would need. Will you be able to project the distance needed with the projector you have?
Posted by: Mark Seekins | February 06, 2007 at 09:27 AM
we had the same problem in the theater and our guy came up with a simple custom solution.
he attached a small shelf the size of the projector to the top of a very nice video camera tripod. a good one, not the cheap wal mart ones. in addition to being small, it's got three levers to allow for all the angle adjustments. very flexible, very small, and very quick to set up.
Posted by: michael | February 06, 2007 at 09:46 AM
Doesn't the Container Store have those stackable tables with detachable legs? Why not just use 3 or 4 of those and maybe a book or two on top to get over the lip, if necessary?
Tim
10,838 days
Posted by: Tim McGhee | February 06, 2007 at 10:43 AM
Or you could use those light boxes that cost Turner $2 million in Boston! Haha... :)
Tim
10,838 days
Posted by: Tim McGhee | February 06, 2007 at 10:45 AM
I think we do an awesome job of doing church on a shoe-string budget. So, yes, we used a ladder, but we covered it in black fabric. We always kept the lights dimmed in the theater, and quite honestly people didn't notice it. Their eyes are drawn to the front of the room. Not a winning entry...but cheap and easy.
Posted by: Shaula | February 06, 2007 at 11:01 AM
I would say hire that 7-foot-9 basketball player, Sun Ming Ming. He could hold the projector at chest level. He's playing ball in Maryland, so you might have to pay his gas to and from Reston.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070201/ap_on_fe_st/bko_tallest_player
Posted by: nathan. | February 06, 2007 at 11:52 AM
Hi Ben,
I'm not sure I can add anything to what has already been given but for us, a custom build was cheap and the right fix. I had a man in my church build a shelf with the carefully selected pilot holes to mount the project to each week. We attached this custom build to a simple heavy duty speaker stand! That's right, cheap at the guitar store and we built a custom bracket to attach the shelf and then, we had a fully adjustable, stable, and easily portable custom projector stand that would allow us to go whereever we went. Now, we hardly ever use it outside of school but for a movie night, sports event, etc..This stand also protects your investment and adapts to other settings. We've had no problems with it (other than people wanting to borrow it so much!) and it worked for us when we made a similar switch as you are doing!
Be blessed
Scott
Posted by: Scott | February 06, 2007 at 01:39 PM
Dang, you guys are smart. :)
We run 40 ft of trussing across a middle section of seating with lights and a projector on each end that shoots up on the screen.
Not easy at all so I don't recommend it but it does look good.
Posted by: Gary | February 06, 2007 at 02:35 PM
gary, you're like the pro basketball player who stops by the street game to go a few minutes. =)
I'LL DECLARE A WINNER BY END OF TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, FEB 7. Great ideas! Keep 'em coming!
Posted by: Ben | February 06, 2007 at 02:41 PM
Ben, after reading some of these good ideas, I feel like an more like an idiot for not finding a easier way to do what we do :)
Posted by: Gary | February 06, 2007 at 03:14 PM
I would try Airplane wire, it holds steady and looks trendy. Just an idea? I can send you a sketch of you want. I used to use it when I was in engineering.
Posted by: Chad Miller | February 06, 2007 at 06:10 PM
Ben, we do the same thing Scott suggestted a couple posts up. Single speaker stand ( ultimate support) witth a custom built shelf and a pipe mounting bracket. We have had the setup in multiple rooms and facilities for the last 6 + years and it has worked flawlessly in every situation.
Posted by: Peter Bishop | February 06, 2007 at 06:35 PM