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Song Count / Show Length


Aaron Maue

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Tried to see if I could find an old post but didn't find what I was looking for (or maybe gave up too soon).

At any rate, I'm new to this. 2011 will be my first year and I'm trying to get a start on everything. I'm wondering how many songs I ought to try and sequence. What's a good show length? By song count and time. Should I shoot for 5 songs that total around 20 minutes? 10 that total about 30 minutes?

Interested in hearing thoughts from everyone. Thanks.

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This will be my first year also. My idea on this is take your time. If you have a show with one, two, or even three songs that are programmed perfectly. It would be a way better show than a show with 20 songs that are poorly programmed. Attention to details and a few special effects will WOW people more than a long program.

In time the show will grown on it's own.

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Hi Aaron

http://mysite.ncnetwork.net/resrqteh/

that is my site in Ohio. It has all of 2008, 2009, and four songs of nine for 2010.

I will have all nine songs of 2010 posted as time permits.

I highly recommend introductions. This year I had the wife announce each song. At least the listener will know whats playing. I enjoyed the effect.

The 2010 show was 30 minutes. I am waiting for neighbors feedback whether that is to long.

The 2011 display will have a different show every other day.

One timing thought that I use is a couple of 3 to 4 minute songs with a 1 to 1 1/2 minute song mixed in.

Thats my thoughts.

It is your show and it is yours to do as you wish.

Frank A.:)

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we do our best to keep songs in the 2 minute or less area. Sometime's it's tough, but with some creative and careful editing it can be done. It just seemed that once you got past 2 minutes for a song it tended to drag on too much. We actually had one song that was only about 40 secs long (plus a 15 sec introl) this year and it was one of the favorites. (The Grinch by the Whirling Dervishes)
Video:



We've found that for us a 12-14 minute total show is about right. It keeps the traffic moving but is long enough that it was worth people's time to come by. We actually had to shorten it by a song or two several nights this year because of traffic backing up onto a major road.
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I'm new too, but have been reading a LOT, and one major consideration for show length is traffic volume. When folks hear a song repeat they know it is time to move on. Or, a static display that creates an intermission between shows will move folks along. I know some guys do longer shows on weeknights when traffic is lighter and short shows on weekends.

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2010 was my first year. I was super ambitious this past year and had 15 songs sequenced by Christmas time. With voiceovers added my run time was 46 miniutes. This was not a big deal in my area at all. I live in the middle of the block with two exits, three empty lots accross the street, and five north of me.

This year i will be adding channels and switching up the show editor some. I'm thinking about making multiple little shows with different play lists to play each night to keep the show fresh.

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Like others have said, it really depends on a number of things:

(1) your location

(2) your traffic, how fast it build ups, etc.

(3) aspects of your location ... are you across from a park or place with lots of parking, or you on a busy street, or you on a through street, a cul de sac ...

(4) how much publicity you have (again, back to traffic)

(5) your ability and desire to create songs using the software

I'd give you the advise that if you want a longer show, don't go seeking
a lot of attention and publicity ... or you'll be somewhat forced into smaller
shows to keep the traffic moving. IF your in a really public location, that may
happen anyways. If you on a through street with only 3-4 cars that can view ... probably a shorter show unless your in a very remote location, etc.

Good luck!

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I am on a cul de sac. I had 7 songs and most were in the 3 min range. 3 minutes was great because the casual user would watch 2 or 3 and move on. I also had Christmas Eve Sarajevo and it was like 5 min long... almost too much. The great thing about the cul de sac is also it's downfall. It's issolated. Once alot of cars get in, they can't get out.

While some say short keeps it moving I still had a family in the neighborhood that came about 5 times for an hour each time and my show was only 18 minutes.

I agree with those who say do what YOU want. By the end of the season, I wished I had a longer show or more variety for MY family to enjoy. I think I would like the chance of catching a more random part of the show while I'm taking out the trash.

But for a first year I would say start with 5-7 songs. You can probably program 2-3 during the season if you wanted to add more.;)

Nick

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I had about 35 songs and my show would last about 1 1/2 hours.Worked good.Had 50 songs sequenced and the day after christmas i added a bunch of rock n roll songs.

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Thanks for all the excellent responses. Got a good range of things to think about. We're in a pseudo-remote area ('bout a mile outside of town, near the highway) on a cul-de-sac. I'm gonna do some stuff in my backyard to "attract" some passers-by, as it's the backyard that faces the road. Based on how well that does, I could tone down the backyard items to lower the interest level if I want.

Aaron

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2010 was my first animated light display... I jumped into it with 32 channels and 45 mins of music. I didnt start doing anything until late October/Early November and it basically came down to... When I wasn't working or sleeping, I was sequencing for a while.

I suggest aiming for a 20 min show... anything over that is icing on the cake!

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I think if I only had a half dozen songs in the show running over and over all throughout the evening, I'd be so looney by the second week of December that there'd be a dead cow disguised as a reindeer hanging by the neck from our big oak tree. But that's just me and I concede I might be a sequence junkie.

I started in 2008 with 30-some songs. (To be fair, that included three or four TV themes which only run for a minute or less.) I had 70 in 2009. Last year it dropped to 59, and for 2011, I predict it will decline even more. It's real ugly math - one of LOR''s dirty little secrets - as the channel count goes up, the song count comes down.


Aaron - build it and they will come. Build it well and LOTS of them will come.

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George Simmons wrote:

...one of LOR''s dirty little secrets - as the channel count goes up, the song count comes down.
I'm going from 32 channels in 2010 to 176 channels in 2011. I'm a little scared about the sequencing hours that lay ahead of me.


Ultimately, the more songs you get done for a 16-32 channel show... the better the input and constructive criticism you'll get for the following year. But that's not to say you should sacrifice quality for quantity. I already have an idea of what songs I want to drop next year based on opinions of everyone favorites talking to the locals.
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You guys are all great. I can tell I'm really gonna like it here. The voiceovers are a great idea. I'll make sure I incorporate them. And I like the idea of lots of songs and different shows for each night. Given my expected learning curve, I'm just not sure if my marriage can stand me spending that much time sequencing the show. :P Although, I can happily remind her that this was HER idea. I don't think she knew what she was asking for. Hee hee.

Aaron

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Aaron Maue wrote:

... I'm just not sure if my marriage can stand me spending that much time sequencing the show. Although, I can happily remind her that this was HER idea...

It's definitely a balancing act, as many hobbies are. A lot of us here either don't have a life or have already lived it, so that's not as much of an issue for some of us as it might be for you. If you've just recently gotten married, be careful not to cross that very, very hard-to-see line when reminding her of something she might not want to remember. (And yes, mo matter what they say, the rules ARE different for women.) :P

Make sure you're doing one or more of her favorite songs.
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George,

Not a long-timer, but we've been married long enough (11 years and counting) for me to know where that line is (at least most of the time). Sometimes she goes and moves the darn thing on me. :D

Jeff,

Not looking forward to any help sequencing. Input, yes. Help, no. She's gonna be busy on the inside of the house. We're super-crazy on the inside with 18 lighted trees (12 of them 6' tall or taller), a 70+ piece Christmas village, decorations in every room (literally). So, I'd say she's gonna have her hands full already.

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