Concert Venue Lighting

A concert should be an experience for the concert goer. While the music is the main focus, the lighting plays its own unique role. The actual lights concert goers see on stage are different from the overall lighting solutions of the venue. As a venue owner or designer, there are a few things to know about concert venue lighting to help create the best experience for concert goers.

1. Light by area

   The first thing to understand about effective concert venue lighting is that every area is different and has its own unique lighting needs. For example, the entrance or lobby area has vastly different lighting needs than the seating area or the restrooms. You should consider each individual area separately to determine the right lighting fixtures for the area. While recessed can lights may be ideal for one area, another area such as the seating area may benefit from spotlights or track lighting.

2. Opt for LED

   Regardless of which fixture types are right for the scope of your location, concert venue lighting can benefit greatly from the use of LED solutions. For starters, LED fixtures offer the best return on investment thanks to the overall efficiency and performance. An LED solution uses less energy to create higher lumen outputs for a brighter yet more cost-effective option. LED also offers the best in terms of color temperature from warm to cool so you have more choices on this important matter. Another way LED trumps the competition is the overall quality of the light produced since LED is consistent, flicker-free, and helps to reduce shadows. Best of all, LED can be found in just about every fixture type from spotlights and troffers to accent lighting and can lights.

3. Pay attention to safety concerns

   As with any location that services the needs of the public, the matter of lighting for safety reasons should come into play in the planning. A few ways to light for safety include adding rope lighting to walkways or halls where viability might be compromised, lighting guardrails and stairways with adequate lighting, and properly marked exit paths and exits signs in the event of an emergency. The key is to light for visibility when the concert is ongoing in a way that allows guests to easily and safely navigate the venue.

4. Install controls

   Finally, you want to make sure the lighting solutions are easy to manage for staff. When it comes to concert venue lighting, adding a few easy to operate controls is a smart move. Controls should be easy to access to for staff yet out of the way of concert goers to avoid any issues. Controls can be anything from dimmers set to come on at the start of the show to lights which turn off and on at set times in the evening.