It doesn’t matter how great you sound, people still expect a visually exciting experience when it comes to a live concert. That is why all the big artists put on such involved shows. Look at Lady Gaga for example. The visual component is a major piece of her concerts. Now we don’t all have the budget to have a $50,000 worth of lights to enhance our shows, so we have to make do with what we can afford. Fortunately, sometimes less IS more in regards to stage lighting if you make good use of what you have. Here are some things to consider when you are running your own stage lighting gear.
Figure Out Your Stage Arrangement First
Think about the typical stage you will be playing on. Now think about how all of your stage gear will be arranged and where each person will be standing/sitting. Are you or your band mates going to be moving around the stage during the night? Once you have this figured out, you can then start planning your lighting. Why do all that first? Well the answer is simple. Before you can make the most of your stage lighting, you must know what and who you need to light up!
Figure Out How Much Light You Will Need
For solo artists, this is much easier since you have a smaller area and only yourself to light up. For bands though, each member needs to be sufficiently and equally lit up. You will also want to ensure a majority of the stage area is also well lit if any band members move around during a performance.
How Are You Going To Mount/Place The Lights
Unless you buy a whole lighting kit, you will need to look at mounting options. The most common is to use a lighting truss or T-bars. A T-bar is just what it sounds like, where as a truss is a horizontal bar spanning between two stands. Since a T-bar fits on top of a single stand, these can be easier to move around on stage. A truss though will limit its placement options based on its minimum length and maximum length. Also if you place the truss behind or over the drummer, then the ceiling level will affect use of a truss. I have seen bands still use a truss even when it had to be so low the drummer was occasionally hitting the lights on it with his sticks.
Figure Out Where You Need The Lights and Where Your Power Is Coming From
It is not enough to just decide where you want to place your lights on stage. You have to consider where the power outlets are. If you are playing on a well-designed stage you will have outlets all over the place. Don’t take this to mean you can just plug in anywhere though. The best stages will have multiple circuits providing power to the stage and will have the outlets labeled accordingly. When possible always try to keep your lights on their own circuit separate from any PA or stage gear. Once you know where your power is coming from, you then decide where you have space to place lights so that they can be the most useful. A couple of well placed T-bar lighting trusses with 2-4 lights on each can cover a wide area and provide sufficient lighting for some bands. The same lights placed in poor locations on the stage will then prove insufficient. So think about where you will be able to get the most spread from the lights, and where the lights will be able to target the necessary players/stage areas.
Controlling Your Lights From Stage
On top of getting enough lighting for the stage, sometimes you want more than just a static color(s) for the whole night. Many of the LED-based stage lighting kits offer color-changing sequences built in, allowing you to set it and forget it while still enjoying dynamic lighting. Fortunately many of the lighting manufacturers are now making sound-activation a standard feature in many lighting kits as well. One drawback with sound-activation however, is the mic sensitivity can be tough to adjust depending on your stage volume. Another option is using a DMX controller with lights that can be controlled this way. This allows you to program in sequences for the lights. Depending on the controller you get, you may have to trigger it from a button on the controller or you may be able to operate via a footswitch. Using a DMX controller will be a must for more advanced lights such as scanners and lights with moving heads. If you are using regular PAR cans or lights without DMX control however, then you will need to use dimmers if you want to be able to do more than just leave them on all night. Dimmers allow the voltage being fed to the lights to be adjusted so the light output can be changed.
Considering Your Color Choices
If you are using LED lights then you should be able to create from a range of colors since most of the LED color lights actually employ a mix of color LEDs. If you are using PAR cans you will either have to pick specific color lights or use color gels. Of course, going that route means you can’t switch colors for each light during a performance. When choosing colors, think about how each color will highlight you and your equipment on stage. If you are using a DMX controller to sequence your lights then consider the energy levels of your songs when arranging the lights for each song.