As an event planner, you want your speakers and performers to look good—after all, that’s going to make you look good! Making them look good, however, requires the right stage lighting when they’re on stage. The right lighting can direct an audience’s focus, create a mood, and “sculpt” speakers and performers to make them stand out and seem larger-than-life. But before you exclaim, “let there be light!” and flood the stage with brightness, you should have an understanding of various stage lighting fixtures and fixture placement options.
6 Types of Stage Lighting Fixtures
When it comes to lighting the stage, and ultimately the subject on stage, there are numerous types of stage lighting to consider. A good event production or AV company can help you determine what lighting is best for your event and help you determine how to properly light a stage, but here are some stage lighting basics you should familiarize yourself with.
1. ERS
Short for ellipsoidal reflector spotlight, ERS lights consist of a projector and a reflector which work together to direct light through a barrel and lens, emitting a relatively narrow yet very powerful beam to illuminate a speaker or performer.
2. Floodlights
The standard “bulb in a box” does just as it promises—floods the stage with light. While floodlights are generally unfocused and not really controllable, they provide excellent stage illumination if that’s what you’re looking for.
3. Followspots
Shining a light on a subject that doesn’t like to stand still? A followspot light can be moved by a lighting operator or software to track the person as they move about during their speech or performance.
4. Fresnels
Fresnel lights (the “s” is silent, so be sure to pronounce them as “fray-nels” to avoid embarrassment!) were first developed for lighthouses before being used as large spotlights at movie premieres and other events. Now, because of their ability to bend light toward a subject, they’re being employed by event production companies when it’s difficult to hang a fixture in an optimal location.
5. Par Cans
Short for parabolic aluminized reflectors and called “cans” because the barrel of the original light resembles one, the highly versatile and cost-effective par can may be used to create either a narrow spot or a wide floodlight (you’ve probably seen them at clubs or concerts). At events, they’re often used to fill parts of a stage a spotlight won’t cover, or to wash the entire stage. While par cans typically don’t have a zoom or focus option they’re available in a variety of lens types to provide different beam angles.
6. Strip Lights
Putting a dynamic speaker or performer on stage? Strip lights—a versatile, multi-colored, and effects-driven style of illumination—is a form of stage lighting used to enhance a performance or presentation. LED strip lights consist of a number of individual LED emitters mounted on a narrow, flexible circuit board usually covered with a hard gel that can be placed anywhere on a stage.
4 Methods of Lighting Fixture Placement
Now that you have an understanding of some of the types of stage lighting that are available, it’s time to consider the placement of the fixtures. This will depend on a number of variables, such as the look you hope to achieve, the ceiling height, and the weight and throw distance of the fixtures. Here are four examples of lighting fixture placement.
1. Single-point Lighting
The most simple type of placement, single-point lighting provides a natural look like you might expect from the sun itself. The light comes in placed in front of the subject, and while it is an attention-getter, it can also give the subject on stage a flat, almost two-dimensional look if positioned too low.
2. Two-point Lighting
This lighting method places a light in front of and behind the subject on stage to give a more three-dimensional appearance. Often, the light behind the speaker or performer will be a different color to add more dimension and sculpting.
3. Three-point Lighting
Using two lights in front of the subject on stage and one in back, this is where stage lighting techniques begin to get real! A major benefit of three-point lighting is that most shadows are removed from the perspective of the audience, making it a great option for lighting performers.
4. Four-point Lighting
Considering capturing the presentation or performance? Four-point lighting is the way to go as it eliminates all shadows, which can look cool in person but be problematic on video or when live streaming. Four-point lighting is the same as three-point lighting, with an additional light placed in front of the subject. With three lights coming at your presenter or performer, however, the light intensity will need to be manipulated so that they complement one another and create a well-balanced look.
Need Help With Lighting for Your Next Event?
Hopefully, this has provided you with a better understanding of stage lighting basics, but if you’re still feeling left in the dark, we’re ready to help! One Way Event Productions team of audiovisual experts will work with you, going over the different types of stage lighting available to you and advising on which lighting for performers and speakers will be best for your unique event. If you’re planning an event in the New York City area, contact us today!
