“Yes, it’s back, Panda’s back.” While the lyrics might be different, the message remains the same for the professional lighting industry. Red Panda Lighting originally burst on to the scene in the early 2020s, founded by Lewis and Pat Mulligan alongside Nathan Connelly. 84 The brand’s mission was simple but effective: to provide high-specification, innovative lighting solutions specifically designed for the professional mobile DJ and event market, without the usual premium brand price tag.

By mid-to-late 2023, however, the brand entered a period of significant transition. Despite possessing a loyal customer base and a strong product lineup, the original company faced the logistical and financial pressures common to rapidly growing hardware startups in a post-pandemic economy. In late 2023, the brand officially went on hiatus, and by early 2024, the original corporate entity was dissolved. To the outside world, it looked as though Red Panda Lighting had joined the long list of promising brands that couldn’t quite scale the mountain.

As of early 2026, Red Panda Lighting has officially returned to the market under new ownership. The brand was acquired by a group headed up by Jamie Clifton, bringing deeper manufacturing ties and a streamlined logistics network that allows the brand to fulfil its original promise of high-spec innovation with much more stable backing. This new range of video DJ booths is just the start of a series of products to come, including moving heads, spots, bee-eyes, and hybrids, alongside high-end uplighters and accessories.

It is certainly a brand to keep a very close eye on as we move through the year. The role of the DJ has undergone a radical transformation in recent times. We are no longer just the person in the corner playing the music; we are now the centre of a high-end visual experience. Clients for weddings, corporate events and milestone parties no longer want a messy table hidden behind a piece of black spandex.

They want a focal point, and this is where the new range of video DJ booths comes into play. I took a deep dive into this range to see if it lives up to the hype and whether your back – and your van – can handle the transition to the big leagues of visual production. Red Panda offers the Curve booth in two distinct sizes, allowing you to tailor the unit to your typical stage footprint. First is the Small Curve, though you should not let the name fool you.

Even the small version offers a commanding presence on stage. It is designed to be compact enough to fit into tighter hotel function rooms or boutique bar spaces while still offering that immersive 270-degree wrap-around visual. It is the ideal choice for the solo performer who wants maximum impact with a slightly more manageable footprint. RED PANDA CURVE VIDEO DJ BOOTH red The external dimensions are Furthermore, 1600mm x 1140mm x 560mm vulnerable to (LxHxD), whilst the useable passing hand shelf space measures 1065mm x difficult to 1100mm x 585mm. drink can module.

There is a Large Curve as well, but it is truly substantial in size. Red Panda has While it extends the visual real on board) estate significantly, creating a massive step massive ‘centre of attention’ professional. aesthetic, it requires a significant guests are amount of space. The external for requests, dimensions for the large unit are in hand, this 2100mm x 1140mm x 650mm, absolute must. with a useable shelf space of the entire LED 1675mm x 1100mm x 585mm.

If in a transparent, you are regularly playing on large epoxy resin. stages, in warehouse spaces, or at shield that is high-end corporate balls in grand meaning it hotel venues, then this may be rigours of the the booth for you. However, in my against the opinion, as the industry trends it, the LEDs towards a ‘less is more’ aesthetic, The resin layer the smaller option feels like the surface perfect balance for most working proof. You can professionals. your booth cloth to get To truly appreciate this booth, you must understand the technology behind the screen.

Most mobile DJ s a n d e ve n t p ro companies are familiar with standard SMD (surface mounted device) LED walls. These are the industry standard for largescale concer ts and outdoor billboards. In a traditional SMD setup, the individual Red, Green, and Blue LED chips are mounted directly onto the surface of the PCB. While SMD offers great brightness, it has a significant Achilles’ heel in the mobile events world: fragility.

The tiny LED beads are exposed, meaning if a guest at a wedding bumps the booth with a chair, or if a flight case lid catches the edge during setup, those pixels can easily snap off. This leaves you with dead spots that look amateurish and are expensive to repair. RED PANDA CURVE VIDEO DJ BOOTH panda curve video dj booth SMD LEDs are or drink splashes, something that the static shock of a would destroy a traditional SMD and are notoriously wall. clean; a single spilt short out an entire Additionally, the GOB coating helps with light refraction, offering a wider viewing angle and utilised GOB (glue reducing the moiré effect – those technology.

This is a strange wavy rainbow lines – often up for the working seen when guests take photos or In a product that videos of the booth with their going to get close to smartphones. often with a drink technology is an The versatility of an LED booth In a GOB display, cannot be overstated; it is no longer module is coated just a DJ booth, but a digital signage high-strength solution and a multimedia playback This layer acts as a device. It allows you to offer value impact-resistant, or an upsell that local DJs simply can withstand the cannot match.

Imagine the impact road. If a guest leans of displaying drone footage of the booth or knocks into wedding venue taken earlier that remain safely encased. morning as guests walk into the also makes the room. You can showcase a slideshow moisture-proof and dustof the couple’s ceremony photos wipe the front of during the wedding breakfast, or down with a damp feature a personalised, animated rid of fingerprints welcome screen. 85 red panda curve video dj It turns the DJ setup from a piece In the professional of utility gear into a central part is considered the of the wedding decor.

Outside for stability, and of the party environment, the particularly impressive booth’s utility is endless, providing eliminates the need a high-tech first impression as sending box and a welcome reception desk at a boasts a massive corporate AGM, or displaying the of up to 1.3 million names of sponsors and nominees is more than enough as guests arrive for drinks at an high-definition awards gala. It is also a magnet for both the small and trade shows, allowing brands to with ease.

The run high-brightness promotional feature a 4-core A55 videos and logos that cut through and 32GB of the noise of a crowded exhibition allowing it to play hall. files smoothly. Most for event pros, it We must also look at the Synchronous mode brain behind the operation: mirroring and the inclusion of the NovaStar for standalone playback. AD20 processor. This is a newgeneration, all-in-one multimedia The AD20 makes player and controller designed visuals on to the booth specifically for high-performance straightforward LED displays. main methods.

86 booth world, NovaStar gold standard Synchronous Mode, you simply the AD20 is plug your laptop directly into because it the HDMI input on the back of for a separate the AD20, and the booth acts as media player. It a second monitor. Whatever you load capacity play on your screen – be it drone pixels, which footage, music videos, or V-loops – to drive the appears on the booth in real-time. GOB panels in If you prefer Wireless App Control, large booths the AD20 features dual-mode powerful internals Wi-Fi.

You can use the ViPlex ARM processor Handy mobile app or the ViPlex internal storage, Express PC software to connect back 4K video to the booth’s internal Wi-Fi and importantly wirelessly send JPEGs, PNGs, or supports both MP4s directly to its 32GB internal for live memory. This is perfect for installs, Asynchronous mode as the scheduling feature allows you to pre-load sponsor logos and set them to loop on a timer. getting your remarkably While ViPlex Express is not through three currently available for Mac users, NovaStar provides other professional tools like V-Can or their newest flagship software, COEX VMP, which are fully compatible with macOS.

Finally, for a quick setup, you can use the USB Plug-and-Play method by loading media on to a standard USB 3.0 drive and plugging it directly into the AD20’s frontfacing port. Because the AD20 is so capable, the booth essentially becomes its own self-contained broadcast station. Whether you’re using the small or large version, the inclusion of this processor ensures that your high-resolution content stays pixel-perfect and flicker-free, even under the harsh scrutiny of guest smartphones and professional cameras.

However, regardless of which version you choose, you must manage your expectations regarding portability. The booth is a solid, professional-grade piece of engineering that comes in a heavy-duty, custom-built flight case equipped with highquality casters. RED PANDA CURVE VIDEO DJ BOOTH The sheer weight and dimensions of the unit its case mean that this is not a product for the ‘car DJ’. You are going to need a van and a ramp to allow safe loading by a single person.

While the booth wheels out of the case easily once you are on flat ground, getting it from point A to point requires a dedicated transport solution and careful planning. Inside the booth, the layout is clean and professional. There is ample room for a standard professional controller; for instance, the AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ fits with a few hundred millimetres to spare on the small booth. The internal height is well-judged for the average DJ, and the build quality of the internal frame feels rugged enough to handle week-in, weekout use.

Behind the booth is a centre section with a storage drawer, below which the NovaStar processor mounted. On either side are three shelves for headphones, microphone receivers, and anything else you need for the event. On the larger video booth, you get wider shelves with the addition of lockable doors, making it even more suitable for permanent installations. It is not all perfect, however.

If I have one critique for the design team, it is the lack of an integrated laptop shelf. In its current configuration, most DJs will find themselves using a separate laptop stand. Because of the LED front, you cannot easily clamp a stand to the side, so a foldable laptop stand is a necessity you are not using a standalone unit. Given the premium nature of this booth, the addition of a built-in, height-adjustable shelf for laptops or lighting controllers would be a massive advantage. a booth that looks this sleek from the front, keeping the cockpit tidy is essential.

So, is a £4,000 investment worth it? It is certainly not an impulse buy for the hobbyist or bedroom DJ. It is a tool for the professional DJ looking to move into the premium sector or looking to offer lucrative upsell options to their clients. In an era where social media appeal is a massive part of a DJ’s marketing, standing behind a glowing, curved video wall is certainly something out of the ordinary.

It looks incredible in photos, it blows clients away in person, and it allows you to charge the kind of rates that will see the booth pay for itself in dozen gigs. RED PANDA CURVE VIDEO DJ BOOTH in B is “As someone who’s attended every single conference and retreat, I can honestly say that my business - and my personal life - wouldn’t be where it is today without the friendships I’ve made and the knowledge I’ve gained along the way. If you’ve ever doubted whether there’s a DJ community that truly wants to see you succeed, come to the conference.” if - ALAN MARSHALL In PRO MOBILE CONFERENCE 2026 The Village Hotel, Solihull Sunday 22nd & Monday 23rd March TAKE YOUR DJ BUSINESS BEYOND LIMITS! - BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW! - https://conference.promobile.online a