by Brian Chandler

Created on: April 11, 2008

Lighting in the entertainment business is a very rewarding experience if you fancy creativity as well as principle. Although lighting design is very subjective, it plays an important role in delivering the quality of a live or recorded performance.

Acts will vary concerning lighting needs and requests. Depending on the presentation of the act that you will be lighting, you may become involved with anything between a huge multi-week rehearsed production to a "one-off" (a single performance)where you may find that less is more in terms of execution. Rehearsals often define the quality product but talented designers will want to research the music or the show to familiarize themselves with the up-coming project before they step into it.

As unique as a painting, each and every entertainer's performance is a piece of art and should be complimented by a lighting designer that can help relay the feel of the desired presentation. The absolute most simple rule to follow while designing a show or production is to think of yourself as another instrument in the band. Complimenting the band with proper lighting and not taking away from their performance with distractive lighting can be a fine line with certain types of music. Skill and experience are definite requirements. It is often said that if the audience doesn't notice the lighting you are doing well.

Even though they may be more forgiving in terms of execution, In lighting rock shows accents are critical to making the music move. Too much movement too often gets dull and loses it's effect- so break it up. Accent timing is critical to it's effectiveness. If your timing is off no one really notices too much but if you are on; the music really comes alive.

Another important tip is to be sure to save something special for the big song or the crux of a dramatic moment. In other-words, do not show all of your lighting effects in the first song.

If you are lighting theater then you are diving into a world of deeper mood setting sometimes including times of day as well. In theater you will discover that darker shades of color with greater intensity may be used to define a nighttime effect as opposed to turning down all the lights. This allows the actors and their shadows to become more visible and much more dramatic at times.

Whichever entertainment show you are lighting, remember that you can't hurt anyone with lighting execution and that if the sound is bad- you are covered.

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