15
Running a Show
The Foot Controller
The six-button foot controller is used to control the Solo Performer Show Controller software while performing live.
Starting a Show
A show may be played by pressing the Play/Stop button either in the software or on the foot controller. The show will start playing at the currently selected play list item or, if no row is selected, from the beginning of the play list.
Stopping a Show
Pressing the Play/Stop button either in the software or on the foot controller will stop the playback of a running show.
Controlling the Play List
The play list row selection may be changed by pressing the Play List button on the foot controller. By pressing this button, the play list will go to the next row. When at the end of the play list, a further press will make the first play list item be selected.
Changing the Volume
The volume of a play list item may be adjusted while the show is playing either by moving the volume slider in the software or by pressing one of the two volume buttons on the foot controller. Two buttons are provided; one to decrease the volume and one to increase the volume.
Full Screen Lyrics
The lyric display may be made to occupy the full window of the Solo Performer Show Controller software by either clicking on the lyric display area with the mouse, or by choosing Full Screen Lyrics from the Lyrics menu, or by pressing the Lyrics Window button on the foot controller. The full screen display mode is particularly useful when performing onstage, as the text is much larger thus enabling the performer to see the lyrics from a short distance.
Fog Machine Control
A DMX512 compatible fog machine may be triggered to send out fog by pressing the Fog button on the foot controller. To turn off the fog, simply press the Fog button a second time.
To configure a fog machine to respond to the Fog button presses, the fog machine address and commands are set in the preferences panel. See Chapter 16 for details on setting this up.
The Importance of a Fog Machine
In all cases, it is highly recommended to use a fog machine - even if it is a small and cheap one. Without one, your audience will hardly even see the lights. The difference between having a fog machine and not having one is amazingly substantial. One light, sufficiently fogged, can look much better and give more impact to your show than a set of four color-changing lights with no fog. Fog in the air will make the colors of the lights visible as a cone of light between the light fixture and the floor. Without fog, the audience will not see the colors "in the air", but will only see the lighting on whatever surface the lighting strikes, but nothing in between.
Recommended Pre-Show Preparation
There is little that can ruin a live show worse than pre-recorded playback of a show that does not behave as expected. To minimize the threat of such a disaster, it is highly recommended that the following be done before a show is performed before an audience:
Run through the entire play list prior to performing it.
Verify that all lighting is functioning properly by opening a song in a play list, then choosing Build Lightshow to open the lightshow builder. From here, the sliders should control the lights. Check each slider to make sure that the correct light is responding to the correct channel.
Verify that all of the required files for the show are in their correct places by checking that:
Audio plays for every song on the play list
Lyrics are displayed on screen for every play list item that should have them displayed
Lightshows are present for every song that should have one.
Selecting each song and playing a few seconds of it will be enough to verify these issues.
Reconnecting the Foot Controller
If, during a show, the USB cable becomes unplugged or the connection with the host computer becomes lost somehow, reconnect the foot controller, then choose Reconnect Foot Controller from the File menu.
