You want the lights in the yard and a show you can enjoy. Before ordering a package, work through what happens between opening the boxes and starting the first song. A clear list of included parts and remaining jobs makes that process much easier to plan.
Terms such as ready-to-run, assembled, and preprogrammed describe different things. Always read the exact package description and selected option. The useful question is: what will be ready when it arrives, and what work belongs to me?
Check six parts of the complete project
Scroll sideways to see all columns.
| Part of the project | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Lighting and props | Which props are included, whether pixels are installed, and whether frames or coro require assembly. |
| Controller and power | The exact controller, output connectors, included power supply, and configuration work still required. |
| Show playback | Whether a compatible player or computer is included, how it connects, and who sets up its operating schedule. |
| Show content | Which sequences and audio files are supplied, which must be obtained separately, and who maps the content to your layout. |
| Site installation | Mounts, supports, anchors where specified, extension lengths, cable routes, and the work required at your location. |
| Help and handoff | The assistance included, its scope, how appointments are arranged, and the support route after setup. |
Ask for these answers for the option you will actually buy. A description of another size, connector version, or seasonal collection does not establish what is in your package.
Understand what an assembled controller solves
An assembled controller can remove the task of building the controller enclosure and installing its included components. It still needs the right lighting connected and settings that match the intended display. The show also needs a defined way to play its content.
Our Weekend Warrior Ready2Run listing explains this distinction: Ready2Run refers to the assembled controller, while prop work and show configuration remain part of the project. The listing also identifies kit options that need configuration confirmation. Check the current contents and any confirmation notes for your selected kit before ordering.
Match the work to the time you have
Think about which parts of the hobby you want to do yourself. Pixel installation, building frames, arranging the layout, and choosing effects can all be enjoyable projects. They also need time and working space.
If your schedule is tight, list the jobs you want completed before delivery and ask whether they can be included in a quote. Keep shipping, bench testing, installation, content preparation, and a full rehearsal as separate milestones. The delivery date of the hardware is not automatically the date the complete show will be ready.
Decide how the show will play
Identify the device that will start the show each evening. Confirm its compatibility with the controller, the required network connection, how sequences and audio reach it, and whether any software account or paid service is part of the chosen approach.
A lighting controller and a show player perform different jobs, even when a particular device combines functions. Have the seller explain the actual setup in the quote. If the proposed approach uses EZRGB and EZPlayer, our EZRGB and EZPlayer guides provide a useful path through design, content, connections, and playback.
Ask who makes the content fit your display
A sequence created for another layout may require mapping and adjustments to suit your props. Ask whether the quoted service covers that work, how many songs are included, and what happens if you change the layout afterward.
For a custom sequence, agree on the song, the display layout, the intended use, the deliverables, and any revisions before work begins. Clarify which audio and usage rights are included, especially for a commercial or multi-location event. Our custom xLights sequencing page explains the current service and how to request a commercial quote.
Use a simple example to compare offers
Imagine a customer planning a small group of illuminated props with a musical show. This is a planning example, not a description of a particular kit.
- Already owned: a suitable show computer and the intended sound equipment.
- Needed in the purchase: the props, matched controller and power, correct extensions, and specified mounting parts.
- Needed as work: any remaining assembly, the layout configuration, sequence mapping, and testing.
- Needed before opening: a documented start and stop process and a rehearsal using the final equipment.
Compare quotes against the same list. Mark every line as included, already owned, separately quoted, or still unresolved. This exposes missing work without assuming that a longer product list is automatically a more complete solution.
Bring the right details when you ask for help
Send a photo or simple plan of the space, approximate measurements, the exact equipment you already own, the package option you are considering, and your target date. Tell us which jobs you want to handle and where you need assistance.
The Mattos services page is the place to explore the available design, configuration, mapping, and setup help. Confirm scope and availability with the team. The goal is a purchase plan that accounts for the complete path from the boxes to your working show.
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