Ways to build it · September 30, 2026
Keep the moon.
Simplify the machinery.
A sphere on a low ground cradle is the strongest starting point for the full-scale projection idea. A smaller hemisphere costs less; a moon lit from within removes the projector rental entirely.
Every baseline below is dry land, unoccupied, with no internal GoPros. A person can stand beside the piece and appear through an optional external camera. Supporting a performer inside a sphere needs a separate design, review and budget.
These are planning ranges, not quotations. The defaults allow six rental days, paid help and professional review, then 25% contingency. Tax is excluded. No water placement, free anchor, vehicle access or grant approval is assumed.
Read assumptions and sources · Download baseline line items · JSON · Truck mounts, aerial rigs and trees
Compare the whole installation.
All prices are USD. Counts below are projector counts, not a promise of seamless 360° coverage. Click a layout to inspect and edit its individual allowances.
| Installation | Projectors | Planning range | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| A lit moon on the ground | 0 | $4,500–$13,750 | Lowest technical burden |
| Ground-supported hemisphere | 1 | $9,338–$21,463 | Cheapest projection version |
| Full sphere on a ground cradle | 2 | $19,300–$39,675 | Recommended first full-scale direction |
| Fixed in the truck bed | 2 | $21,050–$44,050 | Truck as scenery and transport |
| Freestanding fixed pedestal | 2 | $22,675–$47,175 | No truck, no overhead suspension |
| Hang from an existing approved point | 2 | $21,675–$44,675 | Conditional on a real host structure |
| Fixed truck cantilever | 4 | $42,975–$79,850 | No articulation; still a custom structure |
| Hang from a freestanding gantry | 4 | $36,975–$67,975 | Independent of the truck and host anchors |
Where the money changes.
Water → dry land. Removes marine placement, splash/wave and recovery work from this scope. Outdoor rain, wind, electrical protection and site permissions still matter.
Four projectors → two or one. At the current $495/day anchor and six days, each projector accounts for $2,970 before contingency. Fewer projectors means a deliberately narrower viewing experience.
No internal cameras. The original four-camera BOM line is $500–$1,600. Removing capture also simplifies synchronization, but that additional labor saving has not been measured.
Fixed does not automatically mean cheap.
A sphere supported over a truck bed avoids a long cantilever. A fixed arm extending beyond the truck still needs custom attachments, stabilization and structural review. Existing hitch ratings do not approve this geometry.
Hanging needs an actual approved point.
The host-point option carries an access allowance. It is conditional on owner and event approval, the complete load path and a wind plan. If no appropriate structure exists, use the independent gantry price.
Start with an optical bench.
The original P0 allowance is $1,875–$5,750 including contingency. That is a separate early prototype, not a complete event installation. Use it to choose the material and verify projection before committing to a full sphere.
Prices with their context.
Miami Sound Rental lists a 6,000-lumen projector in an IP65 truss enclosure at $495 per 24 hours, with delivery/setup from $240 per order. Its page advertises 15–30% multi-day savings; the baseline uses no discount until a dated quote confirms it. The listed 18-foot throw and chosen lens need a site-specific check.
Resolume Arena is listed at €799 for one computer. This is a euro price; the USD media/software rows remain allowances, with no exchange rate or tax asserted.
The remaining ranges are new concept allowances informed by the supplied v3 BOM. Its combined P0 + P1 estimate was $40,875–$111,500 including contingency; these alternatives change the experience and cannot be treated as vendor savings against an identical build.