I'm a bit surprised you're thinking about buying lighting (or making it) until you have the video thought out?

Typical video prduction lighting of the three point kind is designed to give you a key, that shows modelling of features, a fill - to soften some of the deep shadows created by the key, and back light to make the subject stand out from the background. Great for lighting an interview or talking head - but pop video?

If the idea is for them to mime to the track you want to push, what kind of music is it. I can't see Nirvana, Dire Straits or even Beyonce performing in your dad's lounge?

The usual way is to look at the track, and see what's it about? Is there a story? Is there reference to specifics that set location. Maybe a deserted factory, a poppy field, a church graveyard, an empty beach?? What do the lyrics and genre indicate. On the other hand it could be a live gig feel. All these things need very different lighting - none of which are three point interview style. Haze in the air, shafts of light - strong colours rather than white video light.

All these things are the reasons people who make music videos rarely have their own kit, employing a lighting designer who then selects kit that will do specific jobs.

Tell us what you're wanting to do, what kind of music it is and then we might be able to come up with an idea or two (and I bet it won't be a few worklights in your house. PS even if it was, 6 500W floods would cost less than 30p/hour to run. hardly worth getting your dad excited about!

Realistically, electricity is still quite cheap. Tomorrow's show I'm lighting will have about 80Kw worth of lighting, maybe a tad more, and it will still be manageable, although the meters spin quite fast!