Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does it take to put the display up and take it down?
A: For 2016, it took about two weeks to put up and about two days to take down. I start earlier than Halloween and normally take advantage of warmer days when I can.

Q: How does everything work?
A: I'm using a combination of software and hardware. For software, I currently use Light-o-Rama (www.lightorama.com) and xLights to do the pixel programming.  It allows me to hook up all the lights to "channels" that can be dimmed, brighten, shimmered, flashing, or turned on or off.  Each pixel can be controlled to be one of about 2 million different colors. The show is controlled by a computer that allows me to sequence the lights to the music.

Q: How do you send the music to our radios?
A: Many believe that we send our music to a radio station. That is not the case! I'm using a legal 1 watt EDM FM transmitter that is dialed down to about 25 milliwatts. I have an antenna in the garage attic. Most of the time, the signal sounds good in the cul-de-sac and then degrades as you leave.

Q: How long does it take to sequence a song?
A: It takes about 30 hours sequencing each song.  It takes much longer now that I have to sequence video, the new pixel tree and all of the other lights. I had 10 songs for 2016.

Q: How much electrical cost does it take to run the display?
A: When I had all incandescent lighting, it cost an around $35 extra.  Yes...only $35!  The reason why is because the lights are not constantly on except for certain parts of the show.  This is another great reason to go computerized.   For 2008, I replaced most of my incandescent lighting with LED's which only use up to 20% of what incandescent is. Here are my actual electric bill costs for:

                  2015 (break year)
                  $138.94 December's bill (for electricity used in November)
                  $137.24 January's bill (for electricity used in December)
                  $140.14 February's bill (for electricity used in January)

                  2014
                  $153.61 December's bill (for electricity used in November)
                  $180.89 January's bill (for electricity used in December)
                  $147.80 February's bill (for electricity used in January)

                  2013
                  $161.85 December's bill (for electricity used in November)
                  $185.69 January's bill (for electricity used in December)
                  $147.32 February's bill (for electricity used in January)

Q: I heard that you once worked for Disney.
A: No. That is not true. Never worked for Disney. I would have liked to, but it was not in the cards.

Q: How much money do you make off the donations?
A: Zero! Nadda! Nothing! Since we started in 2002, we have donated 100% of everything we received directly to the charity we collect for. We are able to pay for display items with both our own money and by moonlighting with our business Vivid Illuminations, LLC (www.vividilluminations.com).