Stage lighting is an important feature of any performance. It can make a huge difference in how the actors and musicians look on stage, but it’s also necessary for the audience members who are watching. Without proper lighting, you might not be able to see what’s happening up there. More than that, it can significantly change the audience’s experience of the show. Unfortunately, stage lighting is also one of the most expensive aspects of putting on a performance. If you’re working with a tight budget, you might be wondering how you can get more stage lighting without spending too much money. The good news is there are 5 tried and true ways to do just that.
1. Look For Package Deals
Much like with any other kind of shopping, getting the things you need as individual items will often cost more than getting a package deal. According to a firm that offers stage lighting hire in London, you ideally want to work with a specialist that will create a package deal specifically designed with your needs in mind. After all, a school talent show doesn’t require the same kind of lighting as a rock concert. Consider the different kinds of stage lighting there are, and which types will work best for the particular performance you’re organizing. From moving, trussing, to distro lighting, each of these lights has its own purpose and effect, but you may not need all of them. Talking it out with a professional and getting a package deal on the lights you need will help you save some money without sacrificing the amount of light you’re getting.
2. Consider Renting Lighting Equipment
Unless you’re in the business of organizing staged events, it might be cheaper to rent than to buy the lighting you need. In other words, if it’s something you plan to use only a few times a year, it makes more financial sense to simply rent the equipment when you need it and return it when you’re done. This is a great way to get top-quality lighting without having to spend too much money upfront, which means that you’ll have more room in your budget for other things as well. Of course, this will allow you to not only get more lighting than if you were to purchase everything on your own, but you’ll also have a wider range of options to choose from. You’d get to custom pick the perfect setup for your stage without having to worry about fitting it all into your budget.
3. Get Professional-Grade Lighting
While it might be tempting to go for cheaper, lower-quality lighting options, this is often not the best idea. Not only will you have to replace them more often, but they also won’t give you the same results as professional-grade lights. It will mean that you’ll have to get more lights than if you were using professional-grade lighting. The key to getting more stage lighting isn’t to have as many different fixtures as possible, but as much light as you want. That means that you have to take several factors into consideration when choosing the lighting. For starters, you want to check how many watts each bulb uses. Second, take a look at the beam angle and decide how wide or narrow it should be. You also want to consider the color temperature of the light, as well as its CRI (color rendering index). Professional-grade lights will give you more light while using fewer watts, which means that you’ll save money on your power bill as well.
4. Use Energy-Efficient Lighting
As we mentioned before, one of the things you want to consider when choosing your stage lighting is how many watts each bulb uses. This is important because it will directly impact your power bill. Of course, if you’re hosting the event in a venue that you rented, this isn’t much of a concern as these costs will already be included in the price. However, if you’re hosting at your own establishment, energy bills are definitely something to look out for. This means you want to choose LED lights over traditional incandescent bulbs whenever possible. Not only do they use less power, but they also last much longer. This means that you won’t have to replace them as often, which will save you both time and money in the long run.
5. Plan Out The Stage Design Well
Finally, as was hinted at before, you want to make sure you have a clear plan of not only what kinds of lights you need, but their placement as well. This might seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised at how often people forget about this crucial step. After all, the stage is where your performers will be spending most of their time, so you want to make sure it looks good. But more importantly in this context, you want to make sure that the lighting is effective. To do this, you need to take into account the shape of the stage, the surroundings as well as the size of the audience. All of these factors will play a role in how your stage should be designed and lit. If possible, it’s always a good idea to have a light technician on hand to help with this process.
As you can see, there are several things you can do to get more stage lighting without spending too much money. From renting equipment to using energy-efficient bulbs, there are plenty of options available to you. The key is to plan everything out well in advance so that you can make sure everything goes smoothly on the day of the event.
