Designing lighting for any venue or environment can feel like a daunting task! If you are overwhelmed by the thought of it, you are not alone. Remember that everyone had to start somewhere, including lighting designers. Whether you hope to gain a better understanding of lighting design as you get into the world of directing and producing or you are discovering that lighting design may be a new passion, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. So where does a lighting designer begin? As with most everything else in life, you start at the beginning! Resources Abound for Beginners Before t ..read more

The warp speed of advancements in technology and manufacturing have created more affordable modern lighting trends for productions of all sizes. Innovative lighting design was previously cost-prohibitive for many organizations and theatrical houses. Not only has the lower pricing opened the door for more professional stage lighting across all venues, but newer equipment takes up much less space and does not require the technical expertise as lighting of old! With a much smaller budget, front of house now has a much larger opportunity to transform theatrical production with the latest lighting ..read more

Online Theater Tips With the current pandemic still in play, many school teachers and private theater companies are finding ways to continue their instruction online. Rather than simply shutting it all down while hoping things return back to normal, there are ways to adjust and continue molding young creative minds through the use of today’s technology. When gathering crowds came to a crashing halt in March of this year, many production companies turned to streaming. For example, Richard Nelson conceived an original drama titled “What Do We Need to Talk About?” which centers on an online famil ..read more

The Importance of Lighting for Safety Offstage When it comes to lighting for productions, most people are only concerned with lighting up the stage. This is totally understandable given all the time, attention, and other resources that go into quality production lighting. It is important to remember, however, that every venue is also a workplace. With the building design that goes into making a venue effective for hosting productions, it also requires even more of a focus on lighting to keep everyone safe than more typical workspaces. The need to design lighting for keeping actors, speakers, t ..read more

The rise of senior living facilities across the country continues to skyrocket and the trend shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. When it comes to senior living facilities, there is a long list of special considerations that must be adhered to in order to keep up with the industry. For facilities that want to be listed as the most innovative and provide the best experience for their residents, one factor needs special attention. Unfortunately, this aspect often winds up on the cutting floor. In a market that was valued at $83.2 billion last year and with an expected annual growth of mo ..read more

Stage Lighting Basics that Take Your Performance to the Next Level Stage lighting impacts all aspects of any production—from the mood of the audience to the safety of the performers. The way lighting is designed, programmed, and distributed can make or break the scene. The key to the best stage lighting begins with the right mindset. Rather than feeling the pressure to get it all perfect with the right tones and transitions, those who are responsible for lighting the stage should see it as an opportunity to be creative! There is so much that can be done with the use of stage lighting and—withi ..read more

Basic Stage Lighting Guide to Transform the Quality of Your Performance or Event When it comes to raising the quality of a theatrical performance, concert, or other event, you might think that the only factors are training and rehearsal. However, this is another element that affects the quality of any production, and it has little to do with the talent itself. Raising or lowering the level of dramatic effect has more to do with other elements of a performance than you may think. The use of theatrical lighting on and around the stage is a big factor in the experience of the audience. Not only d ..read more

Three Easy Strategies Churches Can Implement for Worshipping Online During COVID When the pandemic first hit almost a year ago, many churches were left scrambling to develop a plan for pursuing their mission and vision. This includes a weekly gathering, or worship service, for the majority of churches. Congregations across the country were forced online and the pivot was jarring for many church pastors and leaders. Fortunately, we have learned a lot since going online and there a pile of resources that can benefit the weekly virtual experience. Change Your Mind and Take Advantage of Opportunit ..read more

You never want an audience to think about the role of the lighting designer. In fact, the only time the role of lighting designer comes to mind is when the lighting goes bad. The best lighting magnifies whatever production, speaker, or concert is being presented as part of the overall show. It quietly enhances the experience without much appreciation for all that goes into it. The process for designing lighting that does exactly this begins well before fingers ever touch a trackpad or lighting controller. The best lighting designers understand the leadership adage that you must begin with the ..read more