Hi there! I'm a total noob to the laser world, and feel overwhelmed with what I'm seeing here. 
My experience started with a little red pointer I tease the cats with. Then, as I assembled the lighting system for my new band (I'm a past full-time professional, now a weekender), I thought scanners and lasers would be a nice addition to the traditional pars. Needless to say, I was underwhelmed with the standard Chauvet/GC/Musician's Friend offerings. :cryyy: It just so happens that I recently bought a Radio Shack 5mW green pointer, and for the first time, I saw the beam in the air without a bunch of smoke, even under normal living room lighting conditions! That's how I found this forum, to discover why my RS pointer outperforms my more expensive and complex "light show" laser. I've searched, read Sam's Guide, and followed links all over the place. Now I got ideas -- and lots of questions!
Since my main interest is working lasers into a stage show, I think I'll mosey on over to the light show forum and kick a few ideas around . . .
My experience started with a little red pointer I tease the cats with. Then, as I assembled the lighting system for my new band (I'm a past full-time professional, now a weekender), I thought scanners and lasers would be a nice addition to the traditional pars. Needless to say, I was underwhelmed with the standard Chauvet/GC/Musician's Friend offerings. :cryyy: It just so happens that I recently bought a Radio Shack 5mW green pointer, and for the first time, I saw the beam in the air without a bunch of smoke, even under normal living room lighting conditions! That's how I found this forum, to discover why my RS pointer outperforms my more expensive and complex "light show" laser. I've searched, read Sam's Guide, and followed links all over the place. Now I got ideas -- and lots of questions!
Since my main interest is working lasers into a stage show, I think I'll mosey on over to the light show forum and kick a few ideas around . . .
)