A Look Into Event Lighting

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If you have experience in planning events, you already know there are a wealth of things to consider. In fact, there are many things that people simply do not realize when it comes to the in-depth details of event organization. One aspect that is often overlooked is lighting. However, planning a major event involves a number of considerations related to lighting. Let’s take a look at an overview of event lighting practices and things to consider. 

Lighting Techniques

When planning an event, there are countless options when it comes to lighting techniques. Typically, lighting falls into one of two major categories: functional or decorative lighting. Functional lighting deals with aspects that are aimed at conducting the events while decorative lighting is used to enhance the atmosphere.

Within these two categories, there are countless options for different types of lights. In fact, we would need a lot more time to cover all of them in detail. So we’ve provided an overview of some of the types of lighting to consider for your next event. 

Stage Lighting

In many ways, you could consider stage lighting to be an artform. This deals with how the overall venue is lit in order to direct people’s line of sight and create an overall atmosphere among other things. 

GOBOs

 A gobo serves as a stenciled disc that is placed onto a light in order to create a pattern, thus causing the light to show the respective pattern on the surface it is cast. This is often used with stage backgrounds, or throughout rooms to provide texture and breakout patterns. 

Uplighting

This is where lights are placed at the base of specific areas and focused upwards to create a more elegant look and enhance details of architecture as well as provide some ambient lighting for the room and its guests.

Moving Lights

These can also be called intelligent lights but they are essentially different types of lights that fluctuate their positioning to create a sense of excitement or are moved during an event to create a different atmosphere at different times. Lighting designers utilize multiple different types of consoles and softwares to program these lights for an individual approach to your unique event. 

Cafe Lights

These are a series of small, typically dim lights that are strung on long strands, often to create somewhat of a canopy. This is often used for outdoor events and in social areas to create a warm intimate feeling. 

Pin-Spotting

This is a lighting technique aimed at highlighting unique details of an event like center pieces or certain aspects of décor

Station Lighting

Integral to large and mid-sized events, station lighting is broader than pinspotting and used to highlight major areas such as registration tables, bars, or dessert stations.

Important Lighting Considerations 

If you have experience in planning events, you already know there are a wealth of things to consider. In fact, there are many things that people simply do not realize when it comes to the in-depth details of event organization. One aspect that is often overlooked is lighting. However, planning a major event involves a number of considerations related to lighting. Let’s take a look at an overview of event lighting practices and things to consider. 

Venues

The venue is perhaps the most critical aspect when it comes to making lighting decisions for events. After all, the venue will often determine which lighting techniques will and will not be effective. When considering the venue, here are some questions to ask yourself:

  • Can I dim the existing lights or only turn them off and on? 
  • What types of lights exist in the room?
  • Is there enough power to support additional lighting? 
  • How is the lighting of the venue controlled and will this work with my event plan?
  • Is there space to place additional lighting fixtures to accent my event?

Speakers

There are also a number of considerations to take into account when thinking about speakers. Many of these deal with exactly who will be speaking but some also involve event organization. Here are some questions to ask yourself regarding your speakers. 

  • What colors will speakers be wearing? 
  • Will speakers be stationary or moving around the stage?
  • Will there primarily be one speaker at a time or multiple?

Event Purpose

Finally, it is important to consider the purpose of the event when making lighting decisions. Here are some of the questions to ask in regard to this area. 

  • What emotions do you want to create in the audience? 
  • Is the event going to be broadcast virtually or recorded? 
  • Do you have specific themes or colors you want associated with the event?
  • Will you be doing any projection? 
  • How far away is the crowd from the stage? 

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are many things to consider when it comes to putting together a lighting plan for an event. At Maryland Productions, we have organized a wide array of events from large to small. We are experts in event management including making lighting decisions to optimize your event to ensure its success. Feel free to reach out and get in touch with one of our professionals for a consult today. 

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