That is the question for mobile DJs these days. And there are lots of discussions out there about it: how much to charge, how to achieve a specific look, how to easily set up at a gig, and, more often than not, what fixtures to use. There are so many lighting options, in both traditional PAR cans and LEDS, the task can be daunting. After you read this, we think you're search is over.

Behold the SlimPAR 56 from CHAUVET, a compact wash light with a low-profile design, powered by 108 red, green and blue LEDs and packed with features that will delight the mobile performer. The fixture when flat is only two inches high, and after unfolding the mounting brackets to create a floor stand, it only reaches seven inches. In fact, five SlimPAR 56 fixtures occupy the same space as one traditional PAR 56. It weighs less than three pounds and, when folded flat, can easily fit inside road cases or plastic bins-lots of them.

When we first heard the name SlimPAR 56 we thought it would be a smaller alternative to a traditional PAR can, without a lot of features. As it turns out, the opposite is true. At first glance, its most distinctive feature is its compact size, but SlimPAR 56 is packed with incredible features for mobile DJs and stage performers. Its sturdy double yoke makes it great for uplighting, plus its ideal for truss warming and any non-obtrusive PAR-style wash. Simply put, it is the "must have" light and, at the time of this publication, there's nothing else like it in the market.

On the bottom of the light are a control panel, microphone, sensitivity adjustment, DMX in/out and power in/out. And just below the panel are four buttons for making adjustments. The user-friendly control panel gives you full control of the lights which can be manipulated to do a variety of things. The sub-functions can be used to choose between 3- or 7-channels for color switching and fading, to choose a static color, or RGB color mixing for a custom static color.

One highlight of the color fading and switching options is being able to set how long you want it take to fade or switch colors. There's a range of numbers to do this, 001-100, with one giving the longest time between transitions. Fades with lower numbers stay on the selected color for a good period of time and then very slowly fade to the next color.

If running SlimPAR 56 without a DMX controller, you'll like the master / slave feature. Connect each light together with DMX cables, set one fixture to be the master and it will control all the connected fixtures. The linkable power saves on set up time and up to 46 units can be daisy-chained together. When you are using DMX, it can run either 3- or 7-channels. Another option is using an Obey 3 controller (shown above, not included with the SlimPar 56). It's built especially for easy control of LED wash lights. On the left side of the controller are nine preset color buttons so you can change the color with a touch of a button. Press blue, the light turns blue, press red, light turns red-it's a foolproof controller for any 3-channel RGB LED fixture. The right side has four buttons to give you control over strobe, blackout, manual RGB and sound. And in the middle are three sliders to control red, green and blue for custom color. It was designed for those who don't know how to color mix. The controller is not only easy to use, it's already programmed with color mixing built in-the hard work is done for you. Advanced users can customize colors, fades, speed, chases and strobes. The Obey 3 is a great complement to the SlimPAR 56 and is an awesome, compact solution for controlling your LED system. Both fixtures easily fit into a backpack for the on-the-go DJ or performer.