mwalz 110 Posted December 10, 2013 Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 Well am i crazy? This years display got done about a week ago and i'm already planning for next year. I want to go crazy next year. Probably not animated because that is really expensive. But if i upgrade to LEDs then i can have a ton more lights. Some plans in the works are 3 10' stars on the peak of the house, a 30' mega tree, and wrapping the 50'-65' tree next to the house with lights. Maybe not a bunch of lights on there but at least a few thousand minimum. But is it too early to think about next year? If i put up any more than i do now, i will have to start before Halloween because i only work on the display on weekends. Which means not much Halloween but I'm fine with that! People already think I'm crazy with my 18,000 light display. I want to go bigger! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Christmasjunkie 6 Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 Mwalt It's is never too early to think about next year. Richard Holdman used to say he started planning next year while he was putting up this year's display. I do most of my initial thinking while I'm watching my display run..."Hmm. If I did this...If I changed that...If I added the other thing...." It also gives you the opportunity to evaluate your sequencing in a real life situation. This hobby is learned by doing. My wife usually goes crazy at that point because she's lived with lights and set up for weeks and is ready to think about something else at that point. Just start dreaming....walk around the display as it's operating...Talk to viewers....They will give you great ideas. Sometime in January, someone will start a thread here on "What I plan to do next year." It's never too early. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Fleming 0 Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 I'm already thinking about next year. I'm making plans in my head and writing stuff down. I'm also planning small 1 controller displays for valentines day, st. Patrick's day, 4th of July and Halloween. it never ends and I love it. I've always been into lights but now it really is an obsession now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bgraham34 1 Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 I always think about next year when I start putting up lights. I just do a static display but I enjoy it and people seem to like it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Billings North Pole 0 Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 Same here its go time for 2014! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pipersmall 0 Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 I was out enjoying seeing my lights running late on switch on day on December 1st this year and when the mrs got home at 10:30 we sat on our front "lawn" and had a glass of wine enjoying some quiet time with the kids in bed. I went through the whole layout of the show and then saying what I want for next year and how I'll improve or change things next time. It's always a work in progress but it's easier to see when it's actually up and running in December then when it's all in storage in June. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Russ 1 Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 Actually, now is the perfect time to start thinking about next year. If nothing else, I start putting together a list of what I want to add, then hit up the after Christmas sales. :-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve G 10 Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 Its never to early! I'm thinking already to revamp the whole show for next year. Call me crazy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eggbah 20 Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 I started thinking about next year before I put my first light on my house! Never to early to start planning Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sidetrack73 5 Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 Hi... My name is Sidetrack73 and I am a Christmas Light addict... Step one... Admit that you have a problem to yourself and others.. ?? I have an addition to Christmas and lights, and more Christmas, And next years Christmas... and LOR, and PC, and and.. never mind.. I don't want to change.. If a person who drinks all the time but doesnt want to quit is a drunk, not an alcoholic.. what does that make us who just want to feed the addiction? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
joesmoe2013 1 Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 I'm always keeping a list on what I want to add, and check the sales as they come up. Time and money always come into play but I'm always thinking about what I want to add. If I'm driving around and see something cool (or on here), I add it to the list. Same thing in stores, snap a pic of item and price and start planning and saving. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sidetrack73 5 Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 I was watching the light fight tonight and while they dont show much on the setups I saw something simple that will greatly help me with setup, take down and storage. One member used what looked like square pipe and had the lights wrapped on each one. Set up arches, verticals etc by simply dropping section on and connecting. Love this idea and makes it easy to change out sections..next year definitely gonna have to do. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LangfordDave 5 Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 I agree with Eggbah - I started planning 2014 before I even began hanging lights this year! And if you're going to participate in a presale you NEED to be planning now. I had planned out my presale purchases last week but I've already changed my mind several times about what to do next year. I get excited planning it all out and pricing everything...I feel like a kid in a candy store when I'm putting my presale wish list together! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mwalz 110 Posted December 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 I agree with Eggbah - I started planning 2014 before I even began hanging lights this year! And if you're going to participate in a presale you NEED to be planning now. I had planned out my presale purchases last week but I've already changed my mind several times about what to do next year. I get excited planning it all out and pricing everything...I feel like a kid in a candy store when I'm putting my presale wish list together! Lol, i'm the same way, i need to get my list together. A friend of mine works in a dept. store and can tell me when the lights get discounted at the end of the season. All sotres use the same rules for that. I will make a post about it when i remember to ask him again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eggbah 20 Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 My motto is derived from Blake (Baldwin's character from Glengarry Glen Ross) instead of ABC, always be closing, I say ABP: always be planning! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NH - Dave 23 Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 If you dont continuously think about it, it will not grow. Its not a pot of boiling water. Watch it and it will grow; build it and they will come! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dougp 35 Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 I too am already planning for 2014. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Billings North Pole 0 Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 I want to add LOR's to my display next year if the money allows. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sidetrack73 5 Posted December 22, 2013 Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 Have been planning 2014 since we started putting up 2013. I know we are going to 64 channels vs the 16 we have. we are adding a spiral tree (think 20 ft), Leaping arches instead of static ones, and turning the display around so arches are in front and the Center Pole toward back of house. Also adding Mini Trees atleast 8 probably 9. Estimating roughly 4x as large as this years display. based on calculations my daughter and I have already worked out.. lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hotrod1965 44 Posted December 22, 2013 Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 A lot of folks plan for the following year in the previous year. We actually changed how we do our pre order sale to make sure we can get lights to people sooner than ever before. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Camper1972 1 Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 NOW ! is the only time you can get those red & Blue strings you need for the July 4th display, I haven't done Easter yet, we usually still have snow on the ground here in Maine in March and the rebars from Christmas are still frozen in the ground. But Pink, yellow, blue and green Lights are in the Future for the Next Easter in April. Halloween and Thanksgiving are already covered Orange & Purple for Halloween along w/ additional yellow and green for thanks giving w/ plain foam pumpkins and corn stalks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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