Light show hire

What a light show is and the atmosphere it creates

A light show is not a collection of separate lamps switching on and off, but a coherent whole of colour, movement and effect that moves with the music and the programme. Where mood lighting dresses a space and stage lighting mainly picks out a speaker or act, a light show is all about experience: building towards a highlight, peaking on the drop and dropping back to calm in between. The light itself becomes part of the show.

That dynamic is what makes the difference. A good light show breathes with the evening. During the arrival and dinner part you keep it calm and warm, and as the dance floor opens you switch to brighter colours, moving beams and effects that follow the tempo of the music. The crowd often feels this before they see it: the energy on the floor rises because light and sound move as one. You only get that effect when the show is programmed and operated, rather than left to a standard preset.

The difference with standalone lighting

Individual lighting fixtures such as uplights, spots or moving heads are the building blocks. A light show is what emerges when you combine those blocks, programme them to the music and operate them live. It is all about cohesion: colours that work together, movements that run in sync and effects that arrive at the right moment instead of clashing at random.

When to use a light show

A light show comes into its own at moments where music and experience take centre stage. Anywhere there is a dance floor, a stage or a show moment, a programmed show adds energy.

Specific events

• Parties and company parties: at a party or company party a light show is the difference between a room with a few lamps and a real night out. We build the show around the dance floor and let the light follow the DJ, so the energy on the floor keeps rising all evening.
• Dance events and club nights: here the lighting is just as important as the sound. Moving beams, strobes and colour changes running exactly on the beat largely define the experience on the floor.
• Weddings: at a wedding you let the evening flow from atmospheric dinner lighting into a full party show the moment the dance floor opens. The light grows with the moment, from intimate to exuberant.
• Shows and performances: with a live band, artist or theatrical moment, the light show supports the songs and the dramaturgy, with cues set precisely to the music.
• Corporate events: at a corporate event with a festive finale, a light show helps the formal programme flow smoothly into an evening where people want to stay.

Which setup fits best depends on the type of evening, the space and the music. We decide that together in advance, so the show matches your programme exactly.

The technology behind the show

A light show that looks effortless is full of choices we make in advance and on site. It comes down to the right fixtures, solid control, a tidy setup and a thorough test before the first guest arrives.

Setup and fixtures

The foundation of a light show is a mix of fixtures, each with its own role. Moving heads provide movement and can create both beams and broad washes. Wash fixtures fill the stage and the floor with colour. Beam fixtures give sharp shafts of light that become visible through haze. Effect fixtures and strobes reinforce the peaks. We usually rig these in truss above and around the dance floor or stage, or place them on stands and on the ground where rigging is not possible. We tune the balance and position to the space, so the show works from every vantage point.

DMX and control

All fixtures are controlled via DMX, the standard protocol for lighting control. Each fixture gets its own address, so we can operate them individually or in groups from a lighting desk or lighting software. On that desk we build scenes and cues: fixed combinations of colour, position and movement that we play back in the right order. For a fixed programme we programme the cues to the running order; for a DJ or band that improvises, we work with banks and effects that the technician triggers live and keeps in step with the music. Where it helps, we link the light to the beat, so effects move automatically in time with the music.

Setup, addressing and cabling

We set up well ahead of the programme. First we rig or place the fixtures and roughly aim them, then we address each fixture and run the DMX and power cabling. All cables are routed neatly and safely, including over walkways. We pay attention to the power supply: a large rig with plenty of moving heads can draw more power than standard circuits can handle, so we calculate that in advance and arrange a separate connection where needed.

Programming, testing and live operation

Once everything is rigged and connected, we programme and test the show. We set colours, positions and movements, run the cues against the music and check that every effect arrives where it should. We also check that nothing dazzles in the wrong place and that the beams read well. During the event our lighting technician is at the desk, steering the show live: building towards the peaks, dropping back at calmer moments and moving with whatever the DJ or band does. It is precisely this live operation that turns loose effects into a real show.

Points to consider specific to light shows

A light show has a few characteristics worth keeping in mind in advance to get the best result.

Haze and the visibility of beams

Moving beams truly come into their own only when there is a light haze in the air. Without haze you see only the patch where the light lands, not the beam itself. A light haze machine makes the beams visible and gives the show depth. We tune the amount of haze to the space and take any smoke detectors on site into account.

Height, space and glare

The impact of moving heads and beams depends heavily on the available height. In a low space we choose more compact fixtures and aim the beams so they read well at a lower height without dazzling guests. In a tall hall we can bring in heavier equipment instead. We always make sure that bright beams and strobes do not shine straight into the eyes of the crowd or the artist.

Sunlight and outdoor locations

Outdoors or in a hall with plenty of daylight, a light show has little effect during the day, because lighting only becomes visible once it gets darker. For an outdoor party we therefore plan the show around dusk and choose fixtures with enough output to stand out in the evening as well.

Combining with other disciplines

A light show works best in harmony with the rest of the production. Because we deliver complete AV productions, we tune the lighting to everything else that is happening.

The most important combination is with sound. Light and music create the experience on the dance floor together, so we make sure the light show sits at the same energy as the sound system and the DJ. With special effects you lift the peaks even further: cold sparks, CO2 or confetti at the right moment, controlled from the same desk as the light, so effect and beat coincide. If you are working with a stage or a screen, we link the light to the video, so image and lighting reinforce each other rather than clash. And for the calmer part of the evening we bring in mood lighting and uplights, which flow seamlessly into the party show as soon as the dance floor opens.

Practical tips

• Share your running order and music in advance. The better we understand how the evening is structured and what music will play, the more tightly we can programme the show around it.
• Think about the tipping point. Decide when the evening shifts from calm to celebration, so we can tip the lighting over at exactly that moment.
• Reserve setup time. A programmed show needs time for rigging, addressing, programming and testing. Plan that well ahead of the first guest.
• Check the power and rigging options. Let us assess the location in advance for power capacity and truss or rigging points, so the setup fits and stands safely.
• Combine deliberately. A show with light, sound and a single well-timed effect often makes more of an impression than opening everything up at full tilt at once.

Request a quote for a light show

If you want a light show tuned to the music for your party, show or dance event, we will put together a proposal that suits your programme, your space and the atmosphere you are after. We look at the setup, the control, the build and the operation on site, and we are happy to bring in the other disciplines such as sound, video and special effects. Request a quote with the date, the location and an idea of your programme, and we will work out a complete light show for you. Individual light fixtures without production can be hired online through SpeakerVerhuur.nl.