Positioning Of Projector For Portable Church

[passmaster16]

Hi,

We're a new church plant getting ready to launch this fall in a school gym. To start off, we're going to be using the school's projector. They don't have a screen so they just project on to the middle of the white wall at the back of the stage.

Now here's my concern and question. We are planning to use the stage during the worship services. The band will be up there during their worship set and pastor will preach from there. How can we project on to the wall without the image either being cut off by people standing on stage or being severely blocked by the overhang at the top of the stage? The people at the school tell me that they usually have the projector on a little cart down on the gym floor but they never really had people on stage while using the projector from the floor. I know this will be somewhat trial and error but any ideas for getting the image to clear people on the stage? The projector is relatively small so probably short throw. I was wondering if it would be helpful to elevate the projector on a stand or tripod of some sort while using it from the gym floor? We would like the image to be as large as we can get it. The pics might give you a better idea of what I'm talking about.

Thanks,
Josh

[Esoteric]

Either a super short throw projector or hanging the projector from the ceiling. I doubt you can get a tripod tall enough to clear people.

[cmchamp]

There's the possibility of adapting a ceiling mount upside down to the top of a lighting tripod, HOWEVER that's a lot of lumens worth of ambient light to cut through

[passmaster16]

Originally Posted by cmchamp

There's the possibility of adapting a ceiling mount upside down to the top of a lighting tripod, HOWEVER that's a lot of lumens worth of ambient light to cut through

We're not going to be using the HMI as house lights so it will be significantly dimmer during our services compared to the photos. Using a ceiling mount upside down is an interesting thought. Thank you!

[bpalermini]

I would agree with Corey. You can easily adapt a hanging projector mount that has a pipe connector to a light or speaker stand. It might take some gaff tape to make the OD size of the stand match the ID of the pipe nipple and then a bit more to hold it all together but it works. I just built one of these contraptions last week for an event we are having next week.

[Esoteric]

They make pipe mount projector mounts. But you would need a 14'-18' lighting stand at least to make it work.

[Brad Weber]

Originally Posted by Esoteric

They make pipe mount projector mounts. But you would need a 14'-18' lighting stand at least to make it work.

The projector would make a difference in terms of where it could be relative to the screen and the amount of vertical lens shift and keystone correction possible, but if you're trying to clear over people and sets on stage and also under the overhang, both of which are in front of the 'screen', then the projector would need to be somewhere between the top of anything you want to clear on stage and the bottom of the overhang, which may be pretty close to those heights.

[rjwalker]

Judging from the pics - you have plenty of "screen" above head height.

The issue will come down to the focal length of the projector lens and, to some extent, ambient lighting during the service.

The further the projector is from the stage, the easier to clear heads, but the projected image will be larger and dimmer.

Since it is their cart mounted projector, hanging would seem to be out of the question.

I'd consider putting it on the top of a 6' or 8' step ladder - well protected from accidental bumps, probably with some sand bags/weights on the bottom step or two for added stability.

[Brad Weber]

Originally Posted by rjwalker

Judging from the pics - you have plenty of "screen" above head height.

That seems to depend on how large an image is required or desired and what all may be on stage when the projector is in use. Also keep perspective in mind, because of the angle of the pictures it may be difficult to tell just how much height there really is between the top of anything that might be on stage and the bottom of the 'overhang'.

Originally Posted by rjwalker

The issue will come down to the focal length of the projector lens and, to some extent, ambient lighting during the service.

The further the projector is from the stage, the easier to clear heads, but the projected image will be larger and dimmer.

Most projectors have zoom lenses and the clearance required is going to be a factor of where the heads, etc. are in relation to the screen as well as where the projector is in relation to the heads and screen. To give the most flexibility you would seem to want the projector above the top of anything on stage, that way it would not matter where the projector had to be located or where anything was on stage.

Originally Posted by rjwalker

Since it is their cart mounted projector, hanging would seem to be out of the question.

It would require some hardware and some effort, especially with the high ceiling and divider, but hanging the projector seems more ineffective and impractical than necessarily being out of the question.

Originally Posted by rjwalker

I'd consider putting it on the top of a 6' or 8' step ladder - well protected from accidental bumps, probably with some sand bags/weights on the bottom step or two for added stability.

That may not be the best idea. With the height of the stage plus the people on it I have a feeling you may want the projector higher than 6' to 8', however I'm more concerned about safety and the risk of damage to the projector. This seems to be getting into where industrial shelving, scaffolding, a custom attachment to a Genie lift, a heavy duty crank-up stand or similar may be appropriate.

[Esoteric]

Originally Posted by Brad Weber

The projector would make a difference in terms of where it could be relative to the screen and the amount of vertical lens shift and keystone correction possible, but if you're trying to clear over people and sets on stage and also under the overhang, both of which are in front of the 'screen', then the projector would need to be somewhere between the top of anything you want to clear on stage and the bottom of the overhang, which may be pretty close to those heights.

Yeah, those were TOTAL eyeball estimates based on the standard positioning we normally use and NOT anything specific.

Mike

[passmaster16]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to head over there this week to see what we're working with.