Lighting strike effect

[TechGuy]

I was wondering if there was any to create a lighting strike effect?

A quick flash of all up/down lights usually works great. You could program all the lights on a submaster and when needed just hit the bump button.

A few crowd blinders adds to the blinding effect of a lighting strike. Just aim a few pars right at the audience. This might make them even blink their eyes, which is all good.

[Gail Rizzo]

If you have lighting instruments with a gobo or iris slot you can get a lightning bolt gobo from rosco (http://www.rosco.com/us/gobocatalog/...ges/77178.html and http://www.rosco.com/us/gobocatalog/name_index.html )or apollo (http://www.internetapollo.com/produc...px?t=Lightning) and use them within a cue either as an individual element, a combo of gobos or in conjunction with other lights.

[Gene]

Your lights may not respond quickly enough to get a good simulation of lightning. If that's the case, a strobe light would work (a quick Google shows some inexpensive ones; I don't have any experience with them, though.) But the real key is not the light but the sound. I've been within 100 yards of a lightning strike (my parents' neighbor's sailboat was struck on the mast), and it was LOUD We'd heard some rumbles in the distance, pretty quiet, then BOOM!.

[D.R.HADDOCK]

I once saw an theatre stage play with a lightning effect that worked real well! they used a heap of old floro tubes that where worn out, and wouldnt start! you know,the ones that just cant get going, so they just sit there and flash randomily, I know it sounds corny, but it works and its simple. but I also think that the sound effect is the biggest key for maximum impact.

[WindWorks]

Since lightning requires very fast on/off, you are better suited using smaller wattage lamps so the fillaments will go on/off faster. Large 575W leko lamps, or 500W par lamps are often too slow. Strip lights typically have 120W lamps in them, and will blink on/off much faster. The best effect is to use a Martin Atomic 3000 strobe. The Atomic has a lightning mode which gives the desired random-ness from it's internal processor. And for church events, you will also find the Atomic's "blinder" mode very useful for big events. Blinder is a continuous burst of very bright, white light for about 4-5 seconds. Effective for explosions, dramatic entrances, or the start of a more subtle effect to get the parishoner's attention.
Rgds,
Art