Again as I have mentioned before, some of this blog is just notes for myself. Hopefully this will help others in similar situations.
Last Show
Started taking parts of the display down on Jan. 3rd. *Thought* I was going to run the last show was going to be New Year's Eve. Watch the very last song, Disney's Believe In The Holiday Magic (which is my favorite and I will be keeping it forever ;-) Lots of different songs and just makes me think of DISNEY every time I see it.) "Made my tummy happy" (as my daughter says...) when I watched it, but was sad to see my "Show Closer" come up knowing almost a full year of work was about to come to an end. Always sad to see the show end, but you REALLY want to get everything down and away...once that process starts. Thinking...need a break...but more stuff comes your way to make the brain start thinking for next year. More on that in a moment.
I mentioned that *Thought* it was the last show...well...it rained later that night. So I waited since I didn't want to put stuff away wet. So, I ran the show on Jan.1st as well. Misting rain. Show ran fine. Started raining harder and harder. Finally a GFCI tripped. The one plug I took out (GFCI) didn't trip. I WILL BE TAKING OUT THOSE GFCI'S TO FIX THAT PROBLEM. I don't suggest it, but honestly...am tired of this happening.
Few Thoughts For Next Year
I may be going to some type of Coro Tree or some other types of trees. Another solution is also a totally re-imagined type of plexiglass type of tree. This last one REALLY has some neat stuff that is over the top. Fountains and all. Either way...it would be a huge undertaking which will require me to really start early on the display. I know these post go in reverse order...so I will mention if your reading this one...go back to the "ABC Emailed Us!" thread.
Be Patient On Christmas Sales...
This year and last year....seemed like there were NO lights after Christmas in the big box stores OR the Drug Stores. Last year I did score BIG on green LED's from Walgreens. (Those are great lights!) I think that most just didn't buy as many lights at the first of the season. Anyway, I found at 75% off several different Christmas trees. These were 4 foot white trees at $6.50 a piece. My thinking is that they would take the place of my "Twig" or "Holdman" trees. I could do something with the RGB modules and maybe some 3 channel controllers. Here is where I got the idea at over at Holidaycoro.com. I could use some "dumb pixels" and this controller and do basically the same thing with a lot less amp pull. So I have 5 of those trees and hope to get one or 2 of the 6 foot trees. I may grab one of the small 3 foot trees at $5.00...and see what white paint does for it ;-) If that works...I can find TONS of the green trees at yard sales. Really opens things up. Good deal though on the other trees.
Found at LOWE'S som "FlexTech" strips for $15.00 a piece. Got 4 of them. Trying to find out if they are hackable. This would replace my arches. BTW, I have the solid white ones. The multi color ones will not change colors in individual pixels.
Also picked up a "Twig Tree" for $25.00 at Lowe's. Wouldn't have if I knew about the Walmart deal....but got it before going to Wally World. Will sell that one just to make money back if the RGB trees work out.
Passing Thoughts...
Be sure and look at after Christmas sales for GREEN EXTENSION CORDS. They always go on sale and do not get snatched up quickly. Have gotten several more. Never can have too many extension cords.
Take your display down slowly. Don't know about you, but with me...gives me more time to think things through for next year. Write things down. Label EVERYTHING. Take inventory of what you have and where you store it. Your lucky if you get to store everything in one place....that is not me :-(
Another thought on packing... I have taken all my extension cords that go with a certain prop and am storing it with that prop. Even though it is labeled, it will make for easier setup when everything is right there together. This will even include the lights that I took off my Christmas trees against the house.
Last Show
Started taking parts of the display down on Jan. 3rd. *Thought* I was going to run the last show was going to be New Year's Eve. Watch the very last song, Disney's Believe In The Holiday Magic (which is my favorite and I will be keeping it forever ;-) Lots of different songs and just makes me think of DISNEY every time I see it.) "Made my tummy happy" (as my daughter says...) when I watched it, but was sad to see my "Show Closer" come up knowing almost a full year of work was about to come to an end. Always sad to see the show end, but you REALLY want to get everything down and away...once that process starts. Thinking...need a break...but more stuff comes your way to make the brain start thinking for next year. More on that in a moment.
I mentioned that *Thought* it was the last show...well...it rained later that night. So I waited since I didn't want to put stuff away wet. So, I ran the show on Jan.1st as well. Misting rain. Show ran fine. Started raining harder and harder. Finally a GFCI tripped. The one plug I took out (GFCI) didn't trip. I WILL BE TAKING OUT THOSE GFCI'S TO FIX THAT PROBLEM. I don't suggest it, but honestly...am tired of this happening.
Few Thoughts For Next Year
I may be going to some type of Coro Tree or some other types of trees. Another solution is also a totally re-imagined type of plexiglass type of tree. This last one REALLY has some neat stuff that is over the top. Fountains and all. Either way...it would be a huge undertaking which will require me to really start early on the display. I know these post go in reverse order...so I will mention if your reading this one...go back to the "ABC Emailed Us!" thread.
Be Patient On Christmas Sales...
This year and last year....seemed like there were NO lights after Christmas in the big box stores OR the Drug Stores. Last year I did score BIG on green LED's from Walgreens. (Those are great lights!) I think that most just didn't buy as many lights at the first of the season. Anyway, I found at 75% off several different Christmas trees. These were 4 foot white trees at $6.50 a piece. My thinking is that they would take the place of my "Twig" or "Holdman" trees. I could do something with the RGB modules and maybe some 3 channel controllers. Here is where I got the idea at over at Holidaycoro.com. I could use some "dumb pixels" and this controller and do basically the same thing with a lot less amp pull. So I have 5 of those trees and hope to get one or 2 of the 6 foot trees. I may grab one of the small 3 foot trees at $5.00...and see what white paint does for it ;-) If that works...I can find TONS of the green trees at yard sales. Really opens things up. Good deal though on the other trees.
Found at LOWE'S som "FlexTech" strips for $15.00 a piece. Got 4 of them. Trying to find out if they are hackable. This would replace my arches. BTW, I have the solid white ones. The multi color ones will not change colors in individual pixels.
Also picked up a "Twig Tree" for $25.00 at Lowe's. Wouldn't have if I knew about the Walmart deal....but got it before going to Wally World. Will sell that one just to make money back if the RGB trees work out.
Passing Thoughts...
Be sure and look at after Christmas sales for GREEN EXTENSION CORDS. They always go on sale and do not get snatched up quickly. Have gotten several more. Never can have too many extension cords.
Take your display down slowly. Don't know about you, but with me...gives me more time to think things through for next year. Write things down. Label EVERYTHING. Take inventory of what you have and where you store it. Your lucky if you get to store everything in one place....that is not me :-(
Another thought on packing... I have taken all my extension cords that go with a certain prop and am storing it with that prop. Even though it is labeled, it will make for easier setup when everything is right there together. This will even include the lights that I took off my Christmas trees against the house.
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