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Where to start with stage lighting for events

Stage Lighting for Events: Making the Right Choice

If we had a pound for every time someone told us they weren’t quite sure where to start with stage lighting for events, we’d have quite the stash by now. Choosing the right lighting can feel a bit like walking into a sweet shop with too many options, and we know just how dizzying all the choices can be. But that’s where we come in – we’ve seen it all, and we’ve got the know-how (and some very handy Chauvet kit) to make your stage lighting as smooth and seamless as it should be.

Our approach: Understanding your vision

At Technical Stage Services, we’re not just here to hand over some lights and send you on your way. No, we’re here to understand your vision, match the setup to your space. We don’t just settle for “good enough” lighting; we’re all about finding exactly the right fit because when the lighting’s right, it doesn’t just illuminate, it transforms.

Isn’t all stage lighting for events the same?

“Surely stage lighting’s all pretty much the same?” Well, here’s where we’ll stop you—because the right lighting does more than just shine a spotlight. It’s about guiding attention, creating depth, setting a mood, and drawing people in. But stage lighting isn’t one-size-fits-all; the setup can vary significantly depending on the event. For example:

  • Corporate Events: Stage ighting is often softer and more professional, focusing on clear visibility and a polished look.
  • Gigs and Concerts: These setups usually involve dynamic, colourful lights to match the high-energy environment.
  • Festivals: Large, open-air stages need robust, weather-resistant lighting with powerful beams for visibility across wide spaces.
    At TSS, we have lighting options suited to every type of venue and event, whether it’s a compact indoor stage, a corporate seminar, or a grand outdoor concert setup.

And if you think this is just about the equipment, think again. We’re here to make the whole process easy for you—from setup to showtime. We’ll handle the technical side, ensure all the cables and controls are ready, and give you a full rundown on how everything works. In fact, we’re so committed to getting it right that we’ll even set aside time for a test run, so there are no surprises when the big moment arrives. It’s all about wowing your audience.

Starting with stage lighting: Key considerations

The importance of stage lighting for events

We know choosing stage lighting begins with understanding why it’s essential. The lighting on a stage isn’t simply there to keep performers visible—it’s a storytelling tool, a mood setter, and a means of drawing in the audience. The right stage lighting can direct attention to key elements, like a lead performer or a speaker, keeping the audience engaged and ensuring that their focus stays exactly where it needs to be. A well-lit stage also defines the atmosphere, using colour, brightness, and motion to convey the emotions and tone of the event. For instance, vibrant, energetic lights can heighten excitement at a concert, while softer, ambient lighting can create a sense of intimacy at a wedding or small private event.

Where to start with stage lighting for events - a guide on choosing the right lighting setup for any venue or event type
Understanding the venue’s impact on lighting

Location, location, location!

To select the best lighting setup, you need to consider not just the event itself but the venue. Every venue comes with its own challenges, and different layouts call for different approaches to lighting. Small, intimate spaces with low ceilings might benefit from compact fixtures that avoid overwhelming the room, while larger venues require more robust lighting to ensure that the entire stage is well-lit. Understanding the venue’s limitations and opportunities—like available power sources, rigging points, and ceiling height—helps shape a lighting design that complements the space rather than overpowering it. Chauvet’s range of lighting products, from compact options perfect for smaller venues to powerful moving head fixtures for expansive stages, provides the flexibility needed to work effectively within any venue’s constraints.

Choosing the right lighting for your event

Spotlighting key areas

The types of lighting chosen for a stage depend on the goals of the event and the kind of experience you want to create. Spotlights, for example, are a vital part of any stage setup because they direct attention to specific people or areas. By isolating key figures, like a lead actor, keynote speaker, or solo musician, spotlights help to keep the audience’s focus where it’s needed most. Chauvet’s Rogue series of moving spotlights, known for their precision and adaptability, is ideal for both dynamic and stationary lighting needs, whether the focus is on a single speaker or a high-energy performance.

Wash lighting for integration 

Wash lights are another key component of effective stage lighting, providing soft, even illumination across the stage to create a cohesive look. Unlike spotlights, which focus on specific areas, wash lights help to fill in the gaps, adding warmth and unity to the overall lighting design. Chauvet’s COLORado wash lights excel at this, offering a broad range of colours that blend smoothly and allow for easy transitions that can match the changing mood of an event.

Creating depth with backlighting and side lighting

For a sense of depth and dimension, backlighting and side lighting are invaluable. These lighting types help to avoid the flatness that can sometimes occur on stage, creating shadows, highlights, and contours that give the stage a more dynamic, three-dimensional look. Backlighting is especially effective at creating dramatic silhouettes, enhancing movement on stage, and distinguishing different areas of the set. Used thoughtfully, backlighting and side lighting work together to give the stage a sense of space and depth.

Stage lighting tips: choosing spotlights, wash lights, and LED options
Adding flair: Effects lighting and LED advantages

Increasing performances with effects lighting

For concerts and performances that need a little extra flair, effects lighting is the way to go. Effects lights like strobe lights, coloured spotlights, and patterned gobos add excitement, texture, and energy to the event. These lights are particularly useful in high-energy events where lighting plays an active role in the performance itself. Chauvet’s Intimidator and SlimPAR series offer versatile effects lighting solutions, adding that “wow” factor without overpowering the performance.

The advantages of LED lighting

In recent years, LED lighting has revolutionised stage lighting, offering versatility, energy efficiency, and greater creative control. LED lights, like those in Chauvet’s SlimPAR series, come with a range of benefits that make them ideal for various stages. LEDs consume less energy than traditional lighting options, saving on operating costs and making them more environmentally friendly. They also produce minimal heat, keeping the stage cool and comfortable for both performers and crew. LEDs offer a wide range of colours and can be adjusted in real-time to match the shifting mood of the event, making them perfect for events that need frequent changes in brightness or colour.

Setting up for success: Lighting control and testing

The importance of a reliable control system

Choosing the right lighting setup is only half the battle. To manage the lighting effectively throughout an event, a reliable control system is essential. Lighting consoles allow operators to adjust brightness, colour, and effects in real-time, ensuring smooth transitions and seamless coordination with the event’s flow. Chauvet’s lighting integrates well with most major control systems, making it easy to achieve a polished, professional setup that adapts to the event’s needs.

Testing and adjusting the lighting setup

Testing and adjusting the lighting setup before the event is crucial for ‘Where to start with stage lighting for events’. A thorough test run ensures that each fixture functions as expected, allowing time to make necessary adjustments to brightness, positioning, or colour before the event begins. Testing is especially important for larger or more complex setups. A lighting technician can be invaluable during this process, helping to catch potential issues early and ensuring that the final setup meets the event’s goals. You can find out more about how to be health and safety compliant at your event here.

Ready to light up your event?

So, whether you’re planning your first event or your hundredth, give us a ring. We’re always up for a chat about your ideas, even if they’re just sketches on a napkin. We’ll talk through the setup, suggest a few tricks you might not have considered, and work out how to make the most of your stage, your budget, and your vision.

It’s as easy as asking, “Can you help with this?” and we’ll take it from there. We love hearing what our clients want to create, and we’re here to help answer your questions on where to start with stage lighting for events. Give us a call, or drop us a line.

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Where to start with stage lighting for events - a guide on choosing the right lighting setup for any venue or event type
29 October 2024

Where to start with stage lighting for events

Stage Lighting for Events: Making the Right Choice If we had a pound for every time someone told us they weren’t quite sure where to start with stage lighting for events, we’d have quite the stash by now. Choosing the right lighting can feel a bit like walking into a sweet shop with too many […]

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