Events' lighting greatly affects the ambiance and mood of the occasion. It has the ability to transform a boring environment into a classy one. However, in order for this to happen, you must first understand how to maximize the functionality of your lights. According to Jon Retsky, co-owner and lead designer at San Francisco-based Got Light, "Lighting carries a strong and immediate presence — defining personality, style, vibe, time, season, theme, emotion and energy from the moment guests enter a space, immediately informing guests of the event's environment and story."
Retsky utilizes lighting to conceal everything from unsightly carpet to obtrusive ceilings. "Proper lighting can also darken a space—hide the unattractive features of a venue, while highlighting the core elements of an event," he adds. "Obviously, lighting alone cannot make everything disappear, but the proper highlights on the important aspects of an event can greatly help define the boundaries and parameters of the space," he says.
One of the most important factors to take into account during the planning stage of any event is creating the ideal lighting. Humans are essentially visual creatures. Therefore, with the right technology, they may be physically steered to important areas of any event's venue and content. The purpose of event lighting goes beyond simply illuminating your location. It can enhance a speaker, set the tone, highlight a theme, or even affect the attendance' conduct. But how can you tell if your lighting plan is efficient and in line with the objectives of your event and audience expectations?
Types of Professional Event Lighting
Lighting plays a crucial role in planning an event, there are various types of professional event lighting.
Functional or Decorative Lighting
Event lighting can be categorized into various groups according on its use. The goal of functional event lighting is to allow your audience to view your performers, speakers, featured products, and so on. This category includes your venue's own lighting system, as well as stage lighting, washes, dimmable lights, spotlights, backlighting, and other effects. Usually, these apparatuses are installed, rigged, or placed on stands surrounding the stage. They can hang from the roof or another overhead structure. LED walls is ideal for use in this situation as a lighting source due to their brightness.
Effective event lighting makes presenters, products, etc. more visible to your audience. Functional lighting can be as simple as turning on or off the lights in the house. Your event, of course, dictates your functional requirements. Dimmable lighting is required if there are videos or other on-screen materials. Stage lighting will be necessary if you plan to record your event in order to make the stage and presenters' faces visible for the camera and for images.
Decorative lights, on the other hand, are fixtures that are installed primarily for the purpose of arousing emotions from the audience. They also generate a particular ambiance in line with the event's theme. They are ideal for improving architectural and event design elements and set the mood for the whole event. Decorative lighting gives you the ability to dramatically alter an area in addition to producing astonishingly high-impact atmospheres. For instance, moving lights can provide color and character to a room that is too plain or simple for your event. They can also add depth and dimension to the room. They are ideal for use on ceilings, walls, backgrounds, dance floors, stage sets, and scenography, among other things.
Static or Moving Lights
Lights can also be categorized according to how easily they move. This impacts how they are used at every event. Static fixtures include backlighting, uplighting, static washes, fixed spotlights, Gobos (fixtures with a special plate that controls the shape and color of the emitted light and its shadow, perfect for static logo projection), PAR lights (mostly used for concert settings in the past), LED lights, etc.
These lights are stationary. As opposed to the incredibly popular and adaptable moving heads, also known as moving lights or intelligent lights. They come in three types: the well known overhead beams, follow spotlights, and washes. Naturally, most moving heads today have internal Gobo plates. These produce a range of hues, patterns, etc. for a particular impression. The "moving category" can also include laser beams, which are becoming more and more popular, as well as kinetic lights. Intelligent lighting is controlled and programmed by control systems. These enables you to be as creative as possible with your light design. They also make your event a beautiful experience for your audience.
Indoor or Outdoor Lighting
We don't truly distinguish between indoor and outdoor lights based on the kinds of fixtures that are available. Most types of light, on the other hand, are ideal for use both indoors and outdoors. As long as the fixtures are appropriate for the conditions you intend to submit them to (this has to do with the make, material, and durability of the product). Indoor and outdoor light varies mostly due to the environment and time of day when your event takes place.
Depending on the theme of the event and the mood you want to create, you can amp up or tone down practical lighting, put ornamental lights, and so on. You can also make creative use of natural light if your event takes place during the day and your venue permits it.
The time of day and the weather conditions are the most crucial considerations when it comes to outdoor lights. They both have an impact on the kind of lights you have to use. Certain products will not operate during daylight outdoor events. Such as a festival performance or a reception, due to natural light. However, LEDs and bright lights are always a good bet. However, at night, your options are really limitless!
Weather conditions such as rain, wind, snow and ice, heat, dirt, and even air pollution will have an effect on your lighting. In terms of how they affect the fixtures (and the structures to which they are attached). How they function, and also in terms of how these conditions influence how the light that they emit behaves under extreme conditions. Of course, today's manufacturers make sure that outdoor light fixtures can withstand even the most extreme weather conditions.
Event Lighting Techniques
In addition to many other things, event lighting has the ability to elicit emotions, focus audience attention, highlight products. It can also transform a venue, inspire attendees to take action, and boost overall enjoyment. Depending on the objectives you wish to accomplish at your event, various lighting approaches can be employed and combined in a variety of ways.
General Lighting
The lighting that makes it easier for attendees to see one another and the venue, to put it briefly and simply.
Podium Lighting
This is the kind of lighting that is used for speakers who are on stage. Even though it should be bright, it shouldn't cast shadows or make the speaker blind. When it comes to close-ups captured on camera, it is very crucial!
Scenography and Furniture Lighting
Due to its custom design for your occasion, this light will make your gathering one-of-a-kind and unique. You can employ back-lit furniture, transparencies, screens, LED integration, and so on. Using the colors of your corporate brand will strengthen the message you want to communicate to your audience.
Uplighters
These are the LED lights that we employ to make a big impression and establish a general mood. This could entail illuminating the paths you want visitors to take. It also includes any other elements you want to draw attention to, such as columns, draperies, walls, doors, and exits.
Outdoor Lighting
These are the signals that everyone will see at your event, whether or not they have been invited. It must be outstanding, powerful, and sophisticated. under terms of design, it must function even under adverse weather conditions.
Stage Lighting
Stage lighting makes it possible for speakers and presenters to view their surroundings. It also allows for the audience to clearly see them. White and neutral light are usually employed, however colors can be used to portray different emotions at times.
Always remember to illuminate the front, sides, and back of the stage to eliminate any shadows. Also create the illusion of depth in order to frame and define the stage. It does not necessary imply that the lighting must be focused on a stage. But rather that it is utilized to attract the audience's attention to the performers, presenters, and so on using colors and light-dark contrast.
The Main Purposes of Professional Event Lighting
One of the most important factors to take into account during the planning stage of any event is creating the ideal lighting. Being primarily visual beings, humans may be physically directed to key components of any event location and material with the help of the correct technology. Let us take a quick look at how exactly lighting can elevate your event:
Illuminating Effect and Focus
While it may seem like we are stating the obvious, lighting refers to more than just turning on the lights and getting your event going. The precise area that you want your audience to focus on at any particular time is illuminated by professional lighting. Lighting can "hide" your presenter(s) or performers from the audience when it is essential. It does that either statically or by moving with them. It displays what you want viewers to see, highlights buildings like landmarks or facades. Lighting also highlights internal elements of your venue, individual sets or the entire stage, etc.
This sharpens our focus. Throughout your event, lighting is the simplest and most effortless approach to focus the audience's attention. The stage, the exit, a brand wall, certain audience members, presenters or performers, etc. can all be the focus of your lighting design, depending on the program or agenda. Strategic lighting helps your audience keep their eyes on the "main attraction" without losing focus. Or growing weary at events that are either longer or busier in terms of exciting senses. This is especially crucial when it comes to keeping audience engagement.
Setting the Scene
Lighting may help you set the mood and ambience for your event. It ensures that it will have an impression on your audience and stick with them. Making it happen is one of the simpler steps because a skilled lighting expert will design a lighting that not only fits your venue and event needs. It will also provides the visual wow-factor that gives it that extra "oomph."
The effect can be breathtaking and noticeable, regardless of whether you use uplighting to create a soft ambiance. Harsh lines to give off an industrial, possibly unsettling vibe. Intelligent lights to create a magical atmosphere or a dazzling and colorful light show, a full theatrical lighting setup for your stage. Or whether you decide to work with the available natural light at your event.
Evoking Emotions
Finally, we must discuss emotions and the various ways that expert event lighting can arouse them. First, there is the psychology of colors, which we are all aware with. Choosing not just the style of lighting for your event, but also the hue, is crucial based on the emotions you want your audience to experience. White, for instance, is related to purity and cleanliness, whereas crimson is related to passion and danger. Blue is known to provide a cooling, soothing impact, whereas yellow has been shown to radiate warmth and happiness. Green is obviously the hue of nature, etc. Even before the event actually begins, colored lights are a fantastic method to elicit these feelings in the audience and create the right atmosphere.
Using the surroundings as a canvas to paint on with lights also works very well when the venue and its architectural characteristics are illuminated. Like at museums, exhibitions, theaters, and of course outdoors. Including audio's influence in the equation is another effective approach to use lights to produce feelings. Syncing a lighting show or the movements of programmed lights with music and/or its lyrics can have a magnificent effect. It will undoubtedly give your audience goosebumps. The music can be provided by a rock band, a solo singer, a string quartet, a DJ, etc. Check out this article for more information.
Conclusion
You must measure and examine some important indications in order to assess the effect of your lighting on the objectives of your event and the audience experience. Quantitative information like attendance, engagement, feedback, sales, or leads can be included. As well as qualitative information like comments, reviews, testimonials, or social media posts. You can also use questionnaires, polls, or interviews to get feedback from your participants on the lighting during your event. It is also possible to inquire about their emotions, preferences, memories, or takeaways from your event lighting, for instance. You may determine what worked well, what needs improvement. Also, what you can do differently for your next event by measuring the influence of your lighting. Visit the lighting collection page of our website for more information.
