How NOT to Whip Your Neighbors into an Angry Mob

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By: John Storms

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2020.4

• Work at NVIDIA on compiler software team.
• 2010 First Light-O-Rama Show
• 2014 First pixels
• 2016 Switched to xLights
• Married for 30 years, 2 daughters�

John Storms – Cedar Park, TX

22,000 pixels / 105 snowflakes

0 pixels / 72 snowflakes

2010

2018.3

* Be Honest with Yourself�* Avoiding Problems�* Dealing with Traffic�* Dealing with Rude People�* A Show for Every Occasion�* Managing Risk

Overview

2018.3

Be Honest with Yourself

Who? What? Why? When?�and to What Extent?

2018.3

Ton of effort, time, money.�Why are you doing a light show?�What is the minimum you need to get out of this to make it worth it?�

Honestly, WHY?

Minimally Viable Product

I want to see a line of cars 2 miles long waiting to see my show!

I would do the show even if I were the only person in the world to see it.

2018.3

No Wrong answers�Different people have different values, different reasons.�Don’t confuse your reason for other people’s reasons.�Your reason might change over time.�

Why are you doing this?

2018.3

No Wrong answers�The more honest you are with yourself the better you can avoid problems.�Who is your audience?�Everyone. Prepare for the challenges faced by a music venure�

Who are you doing this for?

2018.3

Who is your Audience?

Public

Vs.

Private

STATIC

SEQUENCED

SEMI

SEQUENCED

INTERACTIVE

vs

You can mix and match

• Static show late at night
• Sequenced show for most nights
• Interactive show for special events

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Why Kind of Show?

Elements: Blow molds, inflatables, wire frame, coro, animatronics, Megatree, Minitrees, Peace Stakes, yadda yadda yadda�Music – None, Speakers, Radio? Christmas, Religious, K-pop?�Interaction: Santa, Performers, Pass out candy canes, Glow with the show, push-button�Drive-Up, Drive-Thru, Walk-up�Money: Commercial, Donations, Free, Sponsors��

What are your Options?

STATIC

SEQUENCED

INTERACTIVE

2018.3

What are you going to create from scratch?�vs. �What are you going to leverage?���

To what extent?

Hush, I’m working on your birthday light display

2018.3

To what extent? Tradeoff

Time for learning new skills?

Spend $$$ to save time

Spend money to learn new skills?

Use DIY skills to save $$$

Use DIY skills to save time

Give yourself more time to do things DIY

What factors are most important to you?

Your important factors will change.

2018.3

How often are you going to run your show?�Daytime vs. Nightime?�When are you going to turn your lights off?�When are you going to turn your music off?�What date are you going to start and stop the show?�When are you going put your lights up? Take them down?����

When?

BTW, I have my controllers on timers vs. keeping them on all night.

2018.3

AVOIDING PROBLEMS

2018.3

PROBLEM TRIGGERS

Rude People

Lights

You

REMEMBER

>>You<< are the root cause of all you’re problems

If you are the root of the problem also means you can solve the problems

30 Rock

30 Rock

2018.3

<preaching>�You are the root cause�You are the one doing the lights�You are also the solution to all your problems�“Personal Responsibility”�How you deal with problems gives insight to your character�</preaching>��

ROOT CAUSE “YOU”

POTENTIAL ISSUES

Traffic

Noise

Litter

Access

Crime

Too Bright

Potential Issues

Rude People

Lights

You

Triggers

2018.3

IMPACT

Too Many Cars

Noise

Litter

Access

Crime

Too Bright

Potential Issues

Rude People

Lights

You

Triggers

Neighbors

IMPACT!

2018.3

POTENTIAL RISKS

Traffic

Noise

Litter

Access

Crime

Too Bright

Potential Issues

Rude People

Lights

You

Triggers

Neighbors

IMPACT!

Police

HOA

Local Govt

Risk

Feud

2018.3

You could always make the lights less amazing�

ISSUE: LIGHTS ARE TOO BRIGHT

Example of Not a viable Option

2018.3

ISSUE: LIGHTS ARE TOO BRIGHT�

• Virtually NEVER, EVER hear this complaint
• Story: Someone’s kid wouldn’t go to sleep because the liked watching lights from bedroom window.
• Best case scenario – avoid buying house that directly shines into neighbor’s windows
• Worst case scenario – offer to buy blackout curtains
• I put all my lights on the front of my house, side neighbors can’t even see them.

BUY THE �RIGHT HOUSE

On a loop or good flow

Not a cul-de-sac

No streetlight in front

Not recessed lot

No across the street neighbors

House with good balance

No big trees

Not a busy street

HOA? Gated section?

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Have a Relationship with your Neighbors

COOKIES

EXPECTATIONS

CONTACT

INFO

NOT JUST

CHRISTMAS

TOLERATE

EMPATHY

INSPIRE NEIGHBORS

• Lights are addictive – use this to your advantage
• Answer questions? Especially kids
• Do an amazing show
• Maybe they’ll want to do a show

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INVITE THE NEIGHBORS

SHOW NEIGHBORS YOU CARE

Neighbors are your VIPs!

• Special neighbor events – block parties just for neighbors
• Take requests
• Sequence a song of all the neighborhood kids singing (Ed Smith idea)
• Give them special access to select songs (remotefalcon)
• Pass out DMX bracelets

Be a value add and not a scourge to the neighborhood

Example: Diwali – Festival of Lights

• Lots of Indian Neighbors
• Diwali starts in fall (sometimes October)
• I found a color palette
• Tuned computer to play a 24x7 Diwali Youtube channel over radio
• Did butterfly effect using the Diwali color palette

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• Nice thing to do and neighbors loved it.

Example: Glow with the Show

• DMX Bracelets: https://www.facebook.com/groups/187336816411791
• Radio controlled, color-changing bracelets

Example: RemoteFalcon

Remote falcon allows guests to pick the next song.

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Consider making this a perk for the neighbors. Make the masses listen to whatever you want them to hear.

Example: GIFT BASKET

INVITE

WEB ACCESS

BRACELETS

COOKIES

VALUE

DEALING WITH

TRAFFIC

2018.3

November�“All my neighbors tell me how much the love the lights!”��December�“My Grinch of a neighbor stopped by to tell me he couldn’t get to his driveway last night”��January�“HOA sent me a letter that saying I can’t do a light display anymore”�

Every year we see the same thing

2018.3

LOVE THE LIGHTS HATE THE TRAFFIC

Traffic is the #1 risk that will get a successful light display shutdown

My first year was 2010 with a humble 32 Light-O-Rama channels

TRAFFIC CAN GO BAD QUICKLY

How to ruin your neighborhood in 3 easy steps�

1. Lights: Put a ton of really cool lights on your house.
2. Camera: Call the media to put your house on TV, in the newspaper, etc.
3. Action: Watch as people line up their cars on your street to come see the lights.

STAY OFF THE @#$& TV!

• Do not advertise
• Do not go on the local news
• Do not post address

At the beginning it is very tempting to put out the word to drum up traffic. Focus on your friends and neighbors and word will spread fast enough on its own.

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NO!

NO!

AVOID A LINE OF CARS

• Typically if there isn’t a line, then there isn’t a problem.
• For my house I can handle upto 5-6 cars at a time before things start getting ‘tight’
• Keep it moving

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HONK!

HONK!

HONK!

HONK!

HONK!

HONK!

HONK!

HONK!

HONK!

HONK!

KNOW YOUR VIEWING AREA

TRAFFIC FLOW

How do people come in?

How do they exit?

Where do they stop?

Try to anticipate issues

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Exit Only

X

Entrance & Exit

TRAFFIC WORST CASE SCENARIO

That one neighbor calls and there is a line of cars a mile long, what do you do? What do you do?

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TRAFFIC WORST CASE SCENARIO

Have a crowd clearing show ready

• Shorten show to 1 sequence
• Pick the most popular, shorter song
• 1.5 – 2.5 minutes
• Drop Sequence: PSA with no lights
• 30 seconds
• Lights off tells people show is over
• Reinforces PSA message
• Gives cars a chance to move
• Repeat

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Sequence

PSA

Viewers view show

Old Viewers leave

New Viewers pull up

DEALING WITH

RUDE PEOPLE

2018.3

Rude People vs. Clueless People�

• Most people aren’t trying to be rude, just clueless – IMHO
• Sometimes you do get a bonafede jerk.

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• Trick is to communicate with them what you want them to do.

^I wish I could say this works

RUDE PEOPLE -- TRAFFIC

Actions:

• Direct traffic (Not my thing)
• Hire off duty police officer (Not my thing $$$)
• Put out traffic cones

luminaries are fun alternative

• PSA (marginally effective)
• Signs (marginally effective)

RUDE PEOPLE -- PSA

PSA – You can buy a custom made recording or make your own and save as a .mp3

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“Merry Christmas. As a courtesy to our neighbors please help us keep our Holiday Cheer in check by dimming headlights, avoiding turning around in driveways, keeping radios at a low volume and especially no honking. Thanks and enjoy the show.”

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2 Versions (with and without lights)

1. Drop sequence: PSA message with no lights. People hear the PSA with no lights and will assume it is between shows and current cars will normally move on allowing traffic to advance.
2. Picture Opportunity: PSA message with all the lights on giving visitors an opportunity to take pictures of/with the display. (good for testing fuses)

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TIP: Record a local kid for the PSA. If you want to be fancy do it to a singing face.

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RUDE PEOPLE -- SIGNS

• Simple & Visible
• Some/Most people don’t read signs

Sign Visibility

• Make sure it is visible
• Position it so people don’t have to drive by to get the frequency.

YES

NO

RUDE PEOPLE -- NOISE

• If I can hear people’s car radios in my house then my neighbors can hear it in their house
• Pro-tip: Turn down the volume on your FM Transmitter so low that even if they blast their radios it still isn’t very loud
• I’ll go out turn the volume down, if I have to do it more than a couple times I’ll make an announcement or make an appearance.

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RUDE PEOPLE LITTER

• Every day, pick up the litter

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Pro-Tip:

Get it before neighbors see it

…or…

Make sure neighbors see you picking up litter

Trash I’ve Found

• Fast food trash
• Cigarette butts
• A dirty diaper
• Beer cans
• Mini cocktail bottles
• Child’s shoe

RUDE PEOPLE – WORST CASE SCENARIO

“That” neighbor calls and there are multiple cars with way too much Christmas spirit honking their horns in beat with the song?

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RUDE PEOPLE – LAST RESORT

• Make Announcement over the radio
• Turn off the sound
• Connect microphone to radio transmitter
• Make a personal appearance
• Friendly, polite, do not escalate
• If it gets too out of control, turn it off
• Shut the show down, wait 15 minutes, start the show back up

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FOR EVERY OCCASION

SHOW

2018.3

Sequence vs. Show vs. Schedule

Sequence A

Sequence B

Sequence C

SHOW

SHOW

SHOW

SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE

Playlist

CREATE YOURSELF A �TOOLBOX OF SHOWS

STATIC

JUST

TRIM

SNOOZER

ZZZ

FULL SHOW

KIDS

PRE-SHOW

IMPRESS

SEMI-STATIC

HIGH

TRAFFIC

CONTEST

PSA

PSA

Those PSA sequences are handy here too!

Schedule = set of shows

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Show = set of sequences.

Example Show

FULL SHOW

Sequence A

Sequence B

Sequence C

Sequence D

Sequence E

Show Opener

Show Closer

Sequence A

Sequence B

Sequence C

Sequence D

Sequence E

Show Opener

Show Closer

PSA

PSA

With and without PSA’s

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PSA’s with all lights on are good photo ops for viewers. People want to get some family photos.

HIGH TRAFFIC SHOW

Have a crowd clearing show ready

• Shorten show to 1 sequence
• Pick the most popular, shorter song
• 1.5 – 2.5 minutes
• Drop Sequence: PSA with no lights
• 30 seconds
• Lights off tells people show is over
• Reinforces PSA message
• Gives cars a chance to move
• Repeat

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Short Sequences

1.5-2.5min

PSA

Viewers view show

Old Viewers leave

New Viewers pull up

HIGH

TRAFFIC

SINGLE SEQUENCE SHOW

• You can have a show with just 1 sequence or animation

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• You can setup a button to kick off a show on demand and play it once
• VERY USEFUL sometimes to interrupt the show and play a PSA
• If things are out of hand kick off DROP for 15 minutes and show starts up when done

PSA

PSA

Single sequence with PSA for audio track and all lights are off

Single sequence with PSA for audio track and all lights are on

DROP

No Audio, No Lights, Just 5, 10 or 15 minutes of silence.

NORMAL EVENING SCHEDULE

• PRE-SHOW – I play the trailer to Christmas Vacation on a loop with ‘some’ of the lights on, but not so many to give it away
• FULL-SHOW – Looping all the songs I want to include in my main show
• SNOOZER – This is a 5 min, slow song, “Spirit of Christmas” that is lightly sequenced. Pretty, but boring.
• SEMI-STATIC – No music, pretty patterns
• JUST TRIM – Late in the evening I transition to just trim like the rest of the hood

JUST

TRIM

SNOOZER

FULL SHOW

PRE-SHOW

SEMI-STATIC

SHOWS AT THE READY

I have the following shows ready to kick off on-demand with a click of the finger.

• HIGH TRAFFIC – A set of sequence that will get that line of cars moving.
• KIDS – All the kid favorites when you see a bunch of kids hanging out
• IMPRESS – OMG There’s another Christmas Light person in front of my house and I want to play my best sequences.
• CONTEST – The girl scout troop is here to judge for the neighborhood light contest.

KIDS

IMPRESS

HIGH

TRAFFIC

CONTEST

PRO-TIP – Repeating Sequence in a Show

• Repeat a popular song within a show
• People hear the song for a 2^nd time, think they’ve heard it all and move on
• Helps with Traffic while keeping the playlist varied

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Sequence A

Sequence B

Sequence C

Sequence A

Sequence D

Sequence E

Sequence A

Sequence F

Sequence G

DON’T FORGET BLOCK PARTIES!

vs

BLOCK PARTY!

• Neighbors love it, look forward to it, ask about it
• Everyone is invited to bring out their camp chairs, their adult beverages, and hang-out and watch the show
• We do this a few times per season in between neighborhood white elephant gift exchanges and progressive dinners
• Glow with the show bracelet really shine here

NEIGHBOR

BLOCK PARTY PREP

• Post reminder on block FB page
• Good time to invite friends, family, co-workers
• Claim my spot with deck chairs (snacks/drinks)
• Cone off in front of house (luminaries work well too)
• Do not cross tape (used once)
• Put out Speakers with FM transmitters
• Test lights and radio before
• Dress up!

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BLOCK PARTY SHOW

Sequence A

Sequence …

Sequence Z

Show Opener

Show Closer

Pre-Show

Post-Show

TRIM

Clark lights the lights!

Aunt Bethany sings the national anthem

Show Plays through once

No PSAs!

~45 minutes is the max

Semi-static with background music.

Just the trim with no music 10:30PM through …

No Music – just pretty effects (9-10:30PM)

Just ON

Lights all on, no music. Pictures and mingling (30 minutes)

We do multiple block parties with different playlist each time

MANAGING

RISK

2018.3

MANAGING THE HOA or LOCAL GOVT

• Contacting HOA in advance?
• Pro: You get ahead of the problem
• Con: You paint a target on your back
• Consider serving on the HOA (!/$)
• Once the HOA starts taking action there isn’t much you can do
• Know your CCNR’s and how fines are determined
• Warning letter, 2 weeks, another warning letter, 1 week
• $45 fine every month after that (I can budget for this)
• Best tactic is to avoid problems reaching the HOA
• If the HOA is involved chances are neighbors are already pissed

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DEALING WITH THE PO-PO

• Know local laws around noise ordinances
• Chances are you’re not in violation of any laws
• Calling the police ahead of the season? Pros/Cons
• Hiring police for traffic control? ($$$$)
• Always be polite and respectful
• Example: First year after starting light show, saw a wave of car break-ins on the block. One neighbor blamed it on the light show bringing a bad element to the neighborhood.

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BE SAFE, DON’T FALL

GET HIGH SAFELY

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EL FIN

2018.3

QUESTIONS?

2018.3

Website:http://listentoourlights.com�Email: listentoourlights@gmail.com�Youtube: http://youtube.com/listentoourlights�Facebook: http://facebook.com/listentoourlights

John Storms

2018.3

Backup Slides

2018.3

“I’M HERE IN CASE YOU SUCCEED”

-Col Jack O’Neil

Getting shut down is a real risk to the successful light show. Don’t let it happen to you.

Overview

2018.3

2018.3