1m Truss Totem

Hire TOTEM1 a 1 Metre Truss Totem Lighting Stand

The TOTEM2.5 is a freestanding vertical truss column for positioning lighting fixtures at height without a ceiling hang point or a conventional lighting stand. A 300mm square section of box truss, 1 metre tall, on a steel base plate with bolts, a floor protection felt pad, and sandbags for stability. It puts a fixture in the air at a useful height in any venue where the ceiling cannot be used and a standard microphone-style lighting stand is not the right look. Hire code HTOTEM1.

The standard configuration is a single fixture mounted on top of the column; a moving head, a wash light, or a PAR can with the truss column itself as a clean vertical structural element. The 300mm square truss section has a contemporary industrial aesthetic that suits corporate and entertainment events, and it can be left bare as silver truss, covered in a black lycra sock, or covered in white lycra depending on the visual requirements of the event. The lycra cover is available in black or white as a separate hire item; some clients prefer the look of the exposed silver truss alongside a styled event environment.

The base plate is fabricated steel at approximately 15kg, bolted to the truss column and laid on the felt pad to protect the floor surface. Sandbags are included alongside the base to add ballast and reduce tipping risk. Totems should always be positioned out of the path of foot traffic and away from areas where a bump or a push is likely. The freestanding design relies on base weight and ballast rather than a fixed anchor point, so placement judgment matters — keep them clear of doors, thoroughfares, and audience edges, and weight the base appropriately for the fixture being used on top.

Additional fixtures can be mounted to the sides of the truss column using boom arms (hire code TRUSSBOOM), which are a separate hire item. The TRUSSBOOM has a safe working load of 150kg and allows PAR cans, pixel bars, wash heads, or other fixtures to be clamped at any point along the column height rather than just at the top.

Package contents:

• 1 metre 300mm square box truss column
• Steel base plate, approximately 15kg
• Bolts and hardware
• Floor protection felt pad
• Sandbags for ballast

Available in three standard heights:

• TOTEM1 — 1 metre
• TOTEM2 — 2 metres
• TOTEM2.5 — 2.5 metres

Custom heights of 1.5 metres and 3 metres can be configured on request for specific design requirements. Contact the hire team to discuss.

Lycra cover: available separately in black or white. Bare silver truss is also a finished look that suits many event environments.

Boom arm: TRUSSBOOM available as a separate hire item, 150kg SWL, for mounting additional fixtures to the sides of the column.

Fixtures That Mount on the TOTEM1

On top of the column:

The TOTEM1 at 1 metre puts the top fixture at a height that works well for most corporate and event stages. Moving heads on top provide overhead wash, beam, and gobo effects from a position that a floor stand cannot achieve and a ceiling hang is not available for.

Compatible top fixtures include the HAVOCH200 moving head hybrid (15kg), the HAVOCW19 19x40W wash moving head, the LM7X30W compact RGBW wash head, PAR cans and battery uplights, and the PIXBAR12H pixel bar oriented horizontally for a downward wash.

Heavier fixtures such as the HAVOCW19 and HAVOCH200 require careful base weighting with the included sandbags and should only be positioned on flat, stable floor surfaces well clear of foot traffic. The HAVOCH600 at 31kg is not recommended for totem top mounting.

On the TRUSSBOOM boom arms:

Boom arms attached to the sides of the column allow PIXBAR12H pixel bars to be mounted vertically along the column face for a vertical colour strip effect, PAR cans to be clamped at mid-height pointing outward for stage side lighting or audience wash, and smaller fixtures at any height for fill and accent positions. Multiple boom arms can be used at different heights on the same column for more complex fixture arrangements.

How Edwards Uses Them

One each side of the stage. The most common configuration: a totem at stage left and stage right, each with a moving head or wash light on top. This puts colour wash and beam effects at the correct height to cover the stage from the sides, complementing any fresnels on front stands and any fixtures on a rear truss or overhead positions. The totem pair frames the stage visually and anchors the lighting rig in the room without requiring any ceiling infrastructure.

A row along the back of the stage. Three or four totems spaced evenly across the back of the stage, each with a PIXBAR12H on top or attached vertically to the column face, create a lit backdrop of colour bars behind the performance area. This is particularly effective for DJ events, entertainment stages, and corporate product launches where the back of the stage needs to be a visual feature in its own right.

Room perimeter for venue theming. Totems placed around the room perimeter, each with uplights or pixel bars attached via boom arms, create a series of lit columns that define the space and add colour and structure to a plain venue. The lycra-covered column in white or black becomes a clean design element that suits gala dinners and styled events.

Totem and goal post configurations. Two totems connected at the top with a horizontal truss bar form a goal post or portal arch structure. This requires additional truss sections and hardware from the Edwards staging range and should be discussed with the hire team at the planning stage for any event requiring this configuration.

A Note on Stability and Placement

The TOTEM1 is a freestanding structure that relies on its base weight and sandbag ballast rather than a fixed anchor. It is lower than the others so not as top-heavy, but still requires sensible placement. Keep totems out of aisles, doorways, and any area where an audience member or crew could walk into them or brush against them. On smooth floors such as polished concrete or timber, the felt pad reduces slip risk. On carpet the base sits more securely.

For heavier top fixtures, use all available sandbags on the base plate. If an event environment has a high pedestrian traffic risk or an active crowd, contact the Edwards hire team to discuss whether additional securing measures are appropriate for the specific venue.

Frequently Asked Questions - TOTEM1 Hire

Can I get a different height?

Yes. Edwards also stocks a 2 and 2.5 metre version (TOTEM2) and a 2 metre version (TOTEM2.5). A 1.5 metre and a 3 metre can be configured on request when the standard heights do not suit the design. Contact the hire team with your height requirement.

Is the lycra cover included?

No, the lycra cover is a separate hire item available in black or white. Many clients are happy with the bare silver truss look, which suits industrial, contemporary, and production-styled event environments. If you need a covered column for a more formal or branded look, add the lycra cover to your hire quote.

What is the TRUSSBOOM and when do I need it?

The TRUSSBOOM is a boom arm that clamps to the truss column and extends horizontally, allowing fixtures to be mounted at the side of the column at any height rather than just at the top. It has a safe working load of 150kg and is the right addition when the design requires side-mounted pixel bars, PAR cans at mid-height, or multiple fixtures at different positions on the same column. It is a separate hire item — ask the hire team to add it to your quote if you need it.

Can the HAVOCH600 go on top of the totem?

The HAVOCH600 weighs 31kg, which is at the heavy end for totem top mounting and is not recommended however it would be OK at this low height. The HAVOCH200 at 15kg, the HAVOCW19, and lighter wash heads are the appropriate top fixtures for the TOTEM1. The HAVOCH600 is better suited to truss or ceiling hanging positions where a fixed attachment point can be used.

How many totems do I need?

For a basic stage framing setup, two totems — one each side of the stage — is the standard starting point. For a fuller room effect or a larger stage, four totems allow the stage back and sides to be covered or the room perimeter to be addressed. The Edwards hire team can advise based on the venue and the event's visual goals.

Is delivery and setup available?

Yes. The totem kit is manageable for a self-collect hire; assembly is straightforward and the components are not heavy individually. For events with multiple totems, complex fixture arrangements on boom arms, or where heavy moving heads are being mounted on top, delivery and setup by an Edwards technician ensures everything is correctly assembled, weighted, and positioned. Contact the hire team at hire@edwardsnz.co.nz or (09) 571 0551 to discuss your event.