Same display 2 years in a row, is this reccomended?

[JimCanfield 0]

I think I may have burnt myself out with my Christmas display by working on it constantly for 3 and a half years. I have found no reason or motivation to do anything with my display until today. I'm thinking i will not have enough time to get all new songs and sequence them. I'm seriously thinking of running the same exact show as last year in the back yard and in the front yard add a bunch to the static display. What does everyone think of my lazy idea?

[BaldEagleChristmas 24]

I think I may have burnt myself out with my Christmas display by working on it constantly for 3 and a half years. I have found no reason or motivation to do anything with my display until today. I'm thinking i will not have enough time to get all new songs and sequence them. I'm seriously thinking of running the same exact show as last year in the back yard and in the front yard add a bunch to the static display. What does everyone think of my lazy idea?

I don't think your idea is lazy, I think it is smart. But then I have to admit that I just don't get why folks here feel they need new songs every year. I can see the need to re sequence if you add new elements to your display or even add news songs occasionally because you want to freshen things up -- but otherwise there is nothing wrong with running the same songs as last year. In fact, the folks who liked your display last year may be looking forward to coming back and seeing something that they consider a tradition. IMHO

[DanoNJ 23]

talked about this same thing recently. My take - I don't believe most people will recall the whole show. Adding some new static items, or cutouts or move things around this year, Jim. No reason to stress. That will come when you have a channel go out mid season.

[christmaswaters.com 0]

I have learned a few interesting things about my display. My water display stays the same but I have added LEDs each year so I have a much brighter display and people do notice the difference because some have seen it for 4 yrs in a row. I also change the background lighting a bit but get few comments on this. 2 yrs ago I set up my wireframes on computer and only turned on certain sections during different songs. Found out people didn't care for this as they didn't get to see all the wireframes that they remembered from the last year. So I have gone back to static on wireframes and people seem to like this better. So I ended up with extra channels-great! Also learned if you eliminate a feature, boy they notice it big time. So my bottom line is I keep same basic display and have only made changes by going LED lighting and the comments have been very favorable on the LED lights as most people enjoy the vibrant colors. I am making some major changes this year by decorating my driveway (parking section only) by moving features from other areas of my display. This makes sense for people standing in line to see water show. This will include my RR pump car and shorter track, toy factory, talking bear and penguine on trailor, and santa in shack who comes out and sings and dances. Hope to set this up with push button for guest to operate. Anxious to see how this works out.

[DanoNJ 23]

Bill, You have too many props. I think it is confusing to your audience. You need to send some of them up here to me. You can PM me for details and an address. Please don't hesitate to send the Santa in the shack. Thanks in advance from my audience!

[chartrand 0]

I'm going into my 3rd year now, my first year I had my songs and lights at 64 channels. The 2nd year I went up to 96 channels and added a few new elements such as arches and a 2 new songs. This year I'm adding video, moved everything over to LED lights and all new music. Next year who know, I'm about out of music choices, but with an a catalog of several songs now, I can build shows and just switch between the many songs and sequences I have. Year 4, who knows, at the speed things are moving to RGB I suspect we'll probably have many many more channels and a rainbow of colors available to us and our imaginations. As far as getting burned out, I remember seeing one year a picture posted with a big ornament outline with the words burnt out in it. He took a year off and that was his one and only decoration that year as far as i know. It happens and there is nothing wrong with it.

[christmaswaters.com 0]

Bill, You have too many props. I think it is confusing to your audience. You need to send some of them up here to me. You can PM me for details and an address. Please don't hesitate to send the Santa in the shack. Thanks in advance from my audience!

Dan I considered your generous offer but it came to me that these are Florida props and they just wouldn't be happy with your NJ weather. But more important I just don't want to share all my build ideas with you as it would lead to brain overload as we both know you would take these ideas and design 10 new props. I am just looking out for your best interests.

[flaloop 10]

Dan I considered your generous offer but it came to me that these are Florida props and they just wouldn't be happy with your NJ weather. But more important I just don't want to share all my build ideas with you as it would lead to brain overload as we both know you would take these ideas and design 10 new props. I am just looking out for your best interests.

Well, since there not suited to NJ weather, you could send them to Central Florida for their new home.

[christmaswaters.com 0]

Well, since there not suited to NJ weather, you could send them to Central Florida for their new home.

Well Glen it is a good offer but don't want to P.O. Dan. So guess props will stay with me for a while.

[DanoNJ 23]

That's what I like about you Bill, always looking out for me! Thanks for pointing out my oversight.

[ChuckHutchings 0]

I'll be doing the same show this year for the 3rd time. There will be some visual element changes but the songs and sequences will be the same.

(I'm Uber-lazy.)

[cozzi 11]

I'll be doing the same show this year for the 3rd time. There will be some visual element changes but the songs and sequences will be the same.

(I'm Uber-lazy.)

It's notlike people are going to sit there and say " aww crap it's the same as last year". We all have people come back more than one night and they don't mind watching the same songs, nevermind a year later.

[FireMedic4Christ 1]

When I mentioned replacing even a few songs this year I was threatened. Just rework and tweak what you have, there are more important things than a few blinking lights to stress about.

[Bill V 65]

I'll be running the same show this year as well. Added 64 channels and some new props but no new songs. Everything will be fine.

[JimCanfield 0]

Wow, here I was thinking that everybody did all new songs every year! Now I don't feel as bad keeping the same set up and songs.

[MinnesotaMike 10]

slackers....

[fireman5214 4]

ive kept the same show for 2008 and 2009, song order and voiceovers have changed, 2010-2011 season will get House on Christmas Street and multiple other elements added but nothing else as far as show, jsut lights and decor

[Luke Kamp 1]

I'm also keeping the same show as the past 2 years except adding new songs. The parental units won't let me spend money until college is paid for...and unfortunately I'm only a senior in high school.

[ernie18 10]

I'll be running the same show this year as well. Added 64 channels and some new props but no new songs. Everything will be fine.

where do i send the complaints to? haha cant wait to see it this year bill!

[Bill V 65]

where do i send the complaints to? haha cant wait to see it this year bill!

Ok.........Maybe one new song.....

[indytycoon 0]

I'm keeping mine the same as well, actually. I'm moving a few elements around but the sequencing will be the same. So I think it's okay.

[jcazz 0]

This year will be a bump in songs & elements, but I think I'm a bit fatigued already so I can definitely see keeping the same elements & sequences for the next year or two following 2010. I'm with others here, I may re-arrange things on the ground, but channels and display items will not change and the sequences should "just fit".

[decoRator 10]

First year was mostly static items with an animated RWG mega & 8 RWGB mini trees, 9 songs. 2010 show was the same except added 12 animated Snowflakes in Motion cascading down a big tree trunk and a few more static items. 2011 will see blue lights added to mega, revising old songs, adding a couple of new songs, and replacing icicles with roofline LEDs.

[THurrle 10]

I will keep some of the peoples favorites in my show but I am adding a lot of new stuff. I expanded from 64 to 208 channels so I pretty well have to redo it all.

Edited February 23, 2011 by THurrle

[Entropy 0]

Every year I watch the same movies. It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th st (both) The Santa Clause, all of the Rankin-Bass shows and Charlie Brown. I'v been doing it every year and I never get tired of them because they are quality shows. If your show is a quality show then people will keep coming back every year to enjoy it.

Because of a case of burnout, I ran nearly identical shows in 2009 and 2010 except I changed some minis to C-6 LEDs and I fixed a bunch of sequence irritations. The people count increased greatly though because of word-of-mouth. That motivated me to work on adding more for next year.

I know that the 2010 show has come and gone but if you feel the burnout, put up the same show again. Upgrade it as you feel that you want to not as you feel you need to. Your fans will still love it.