Bud Light

[Randaling]

Does anyone know what ever happened to the guy in Ohio whos house was used in the Bud Light commercial a few years ago?
Ryan

[Brad Caudill]

He is not around on PC anymore but he is still out there. Last I heard he was doing a display in a park or something like that near him and he is doing displays in malls and such too.

[Randaling]

Thanks for the update Brad. I figured he must still be involved in it in some capacity as he was kindof a computerized Christmas display celebrity. Anyway, thanks again.
Ryan

[nmonkman]

I remember that commercial. There were a lot of people that stopped by and kept saying, "It's just like that house in the beer commercial".

Was it Bud Light or Miller Light?

I did a Google trying to find it, but all kept getting was Carson's house/video and it seemed to me that the house in the commercial was a different one.

[nmonkman]

Okay,

It was Miller Light and it was Carson's house.

Here is a link to the commercial:

CLICK HERE (http://xmas.planetmonkman.com/videos/carsoncommercialvideo.wmv)

[Michael B]

Carson last posted on here in December of 07'. I think he lurks, but dosn't post much. He is the reason I started animating my display and came here to PC. My neighbors thank you Carson!

[Randaling]

Yeah, he was the reason I got into this as well. I remember the first time I seen the commercial I thought it had to be some digitally created video. Man, that was so awesome. Now look at me now, LOL. Spending countless hours and money on Christmas lights.:-(
Ryan

[ChrisL1976]

He is the reason I started animating my display and came here to PC. My neighbors thank you Carson!

Same here.....saw the video.....looked into doing it more as a How it done and was surprised that the cost was pretty reasonable...well for one controller and software anyways.....3 more controllers later and LOTS more lights..welll...$$$$...heck, its a hobby....who cares the costs. :)

[Squeakton]

That was inspiring--I just wouldn't have a clue how to go about it! LOL

My hat is off to all of you that can and do. Keep up the good work!!!!!

[ChrisL1976]

That was inspiring--I just wouldn't have a clue how to go about it! LOL


Its really not all the complicated......if you want to know, start a post and ask any question you have.

[nmonkman]

I wonder exactly how many people Carson inspired? Probably hundreds or more.
I know it was his video that got me hooked.

I guess you could call him the "Bobby Fischer" of Christmas lights.

[ChuckHutchings]

I wonder exactly how many people Carson inspired? Probably hundreds or more.
I know it was his video that got me hooked.

I guess you could call him the "Bobby Fischer" of Christmas lights.

You can count me among them. A friend sent me the video link in 2005. Unfortunately, I got it too late to order LOR that year but that's when I joined PC.

By 2006 I had my first 5 controllers.

Now I don't know for certain how many I have. (I can understand how John McCain doesn't know how many houses he owns.) :p

[tfischer]

I wonder exactly how many people Carson inspired? Probably hundreds or more.

Somehow, Carson managed to get noticed by people who hadn't noticed the folks doing it years earlier. For about 3 years prior I had forwarded a link to our website to my coworkers and friends, inviting them to come see our display, yet I received dozens of emails from said coworkers/friends, forwarding me the video and asking "when are you going to do something like THIS, Tim?" It was always ackward replying "uh, I have been for a few years now..."

Carson didn't self-promote either. It was basically random luck that his video went viral... The luck (or curse) of the draw, I gues... :)

-Tim

[festivus4u]

I know that he inspired me! I always did a BIG static light display but when that video went out on the airways I was hooked and my hubby knew it! He looked at me and said don't even think about it! And now I am doing it adding each year and with his blessing.

[txgstraitbullrider4]

i seen that house on you tube and it was great!!

one thing is he sure can do that programing well

[bobbeo]

It's not what you know, but who you know..the bud light comm. was the Perfect example..
Somehow, Carson managed to get noticed by people who hadn't noticed the folks doing it years earlier. For about 3 years prior I had forwarded a link to our website to my coworkers and friends, inviting them to come see our display, yet I received dozens of emails from said coworkers/friends, forwarding me the video and asking "when are you going to do something like THIS, Tim?" It was always ackward replying "uh, I have been for a few years now..."

Carson didn't self-promote either. It was basically random luck that his video went viral... The luck (or curse) of the draw, I gues... :)

-Tim

[bobbeo]

You have boatloads. It's at the bottom of your post. DUH!! Time for you to wear the LOR (hat of shame). LOL
You can count me among them. A friend sent me the video link in 2005. Unfortunately, I got it too late to order LOR that year but that's when I joined PC.

By 2006 I had my first 5 controllers.

Now I don't know for certain how many I have. (I can understand how John McCain doesn't know how many houses he owns.) :p

[tfischer]

It's not what you know, but who you know..the bud light comm. was the Perfect example..

Yep. Everyone on the internet saw it, then the commercial made sure anyone who has missed it there saw it.

Lots of publicity for the hobby. At the time, I think most of us "old dogs" thought everyone knew about what we were doing, but evidently not ;).

-Tim

[Brian Mitchell]

I had already boarded this train in July '05 before "The Video" took off. I think a lot of us got the "Wasn't that your house on the internet?" comment that year. I was happy to be at least one step ahead of the crowd.

[ChuckHutchings]

I had already boarded this train in July '05 before "The Video" took off. I think a lot of us got the "Wasn't that your house on the internet?" comment that year. I was happy to be at least one step ahead of the crowd.

You said "Yes it was" didn't you?!? ;)

[mlittle]

A friend sent me his video also, I always run a big lighting display, bought a pallet of lights on sale at menards and then the controllers from LOR. Started in 2006 with 24 channels, 2007 went to 96, this year will be running 128.
Found PC late 2007 and

L O V E T H I S P L A C E .

[Randaling]

Yeah man, Carson deserves Sainthood or profet status. I had no idea that so many would respond saying he was the reason they got into it. We need to push for an official holiday, "St. Carson Day". Lots of beer colored green, red and white.
Ryan

[Robert Cox]

you can check out Carson's website to see what he is up to now

www.consarlights.com


bob

[relxerd]

I also seem to remember watching HGTV one year and seeing someone using a computer to control the lights on their display. This guy owned a "mansion" and obviously had the money and time to spend on this hobby. At the time, I thought that this was only something that could be done by people with lots of money! So I just kept adding more lights to my yearly display. I think that this is when (2002) I noticed the great deals on Christmas lights after Christmas. I went on a crazy buying spree and spent a whopping $175 on lights from Kmart and Walmart. Just 6 years ago, the lights were like $.35 at 75% off. I don't know why I keep the receipts from back then?

Then, last year, my friend shot me the youtube link around December 4th or 5th (2007). This was just after I had finished decorating our house with 8500+ lights. I told him it was so cool that "maybe" I would try it next year! That "maybe" turned into the biggest hobby I've ever had. Oh well, what are ya gonna do? I spent over $500 on lights at the sales after Christmas last year and was still finding great deals up till January 20th 2008.

Carson inspired me too.

[Classic.Lights]

It is a very expensive hobbie, and very addictive, not only money but a lot of time also. I remember when carson video showed up I was just getting started computor displays, boy it shot me over the top, no stopping now.

[Mike Sigmond]

Yes, Carson turned alot of heads. In my case someone had showed me the video and bet me that I could not do it . I said "O yea, your on" I didnt even know about LOR or any of the animated companys out there. I started from scratch with a Basic Stamp controller, then I found LOR and threw the BS controller over my shoulder.

It's amazing how much I have learned about the community these last 3 years and all the neat people just like me to interact with. I just wonder how long of if I would get into this at all if it hadent been a bet between my buddy and I.

With the people I have met around the US already, I cant imagine myself away from this community.

We are all inspired by something or we would not do what we do. I do think Carson should drop in and say hello once in a while, I would, but mabe thats just what happens when you make a Million Dollars( not fact) off your display.

[nmonkman]

Okay, I admit it, it was MY house.

Of course it was before the remodel job. I was always tired of that nasty old second floor that I never used so I hacked it off.

As more royalties came in I decided I didn't like the garage on the left side of the house, so I moved it to the right side.

Also, I didn't like that brick finish so I changed to stucco.

Finally, when I moved to Florida, I decided to bring the house with rather than go through the hassle of selling it.

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

[Randaling]

Okay, I admit it, it was MY house.

Of course it was before the remodel job. I was always tired of that nasty old second floor that I never used so I hacked it off.

As more royalties came in I decided I didn't like the garage on the left side of the house, so I moved it to the right side.

Also, I didn't like that brick finish so I changed to stucco.

Finally, when I moved to Florida, I decided to bring the house with rather than go through the hassle of selling it.

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Wow, that's amazing because I was just thinking that if the garage and and the second floor were replaced and the brick was relayed it would be the Miller Light house just before it was moved to Florida. Now that you mention it I think I remember reading something about that in the news papers. Well, you still got it. Thanks for the update.

[Obewan]

You can count me among those that had my eyes opened by Carson's video. In my case, my daughter showed me the video, and I thought it was video animation because of the compression. I began thinking, "I'm an electrical engineer, I can do that too".

I started a design based on a PIC controller, and while researching I stumbled on PC and LOR. After lurking for a number of months, I threw away my design and jumped in over my head. I ordered 6 controllers, received in early November 2006, and had the show running the second week of December.

As others have said, this hobby is very addictive. Each year it gets bigger and more expensive, but we're having too much fun to worry about it :D.

I realize he was only one of many doing this at the time, and we can only guess exactly why his video took off, but to many of us it was the first we had seen or heard of this hobby. So, thanks Carson; and to all the 'old timers' that paved the way for us to join the fun.

[Ed_Faranda]

Carson video was my inspiration as well. Saw it in 2005, missed the boat in 2006 and actually put a Task Reminder me to get some controllers for the 2007 June Sale. Purchased my first two controllers in June, setup a Fourth Of July display, purchased two more controllers in September to have a total of 64 channels for Christmas 2007.

This year, added another 3, and thinking about getting one more.

Another big inspiration for me was the Lindsay Lights (http://www.lindsaylights.com/). I really liked there roof grid and did something similar on my house. It made my display last year. People loved it.