New on Lasers

Hi I'm new to the forum and new to lasers. I'm a musician and always loved to watch lasers at concerts, now I'd like to add lasers to my own performance, i've read some threads about safety, what to begin with, diodes, housing, etc. But I'm not sure if I need that for my application. What I want to have a few laser effects, like tunel and other more I see on Pink Floyd Pulse dvd (downsized of course :yh and a fog machine to start. I've been looking at some dj laser projectors on ebay, but i'm lost. Also I can't control it since I'm playing, so it gotta have some kind of start by sound, or a on/off footswitch or maybe a computer program. Of course I'm just starting to learn about it and want to start small and have fun with it. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

There are lots of legalities and regulations in most places about public laser shows. YOu don't say where you are, but if I were you i'd research the applicable laws in your country before you get carried away with spending any money on lasers.

Ahh, nice that's something I didn't know, well I'm in Florida, anyways, I don't know the rules here but I'll do some laser even if it's in my house, thanks, That's something I learned already.

In the US, 'public demonstrations' of lasers over 5mw, which is considered anything where anyone other than yourself can possibly be exposed to the beams, requires a FDA variance and FDA approved laser equipment.

Some of the bigger and more annoying restrictions are that beams can't pass within 3 meters of any person, and audience scanning with lasers is pretty much a nono.

There are lots more, and you should probably read up on all of them, though whether or not you choose to follow them is entirely up to you but you should remain aware of what the laws.. and consequences, both are.

Oh yes, the more I read , more I understand that laser are serious thing and we have to be careful.

Welcome to LPF