How To Set Up Stage Lights

The main purpose to use your stage lights is to control the darkness.  You will want to use your lights effectively, and so you will want to place your lights in only the areas that you wish to have light available.  Doing your lights this way will ensure that you have enough lights for the entire stage.  The other thing you will want to do before you actually set up your lights is to block out any windows.  This way you will not have any glare and you will know that your lights will only illuminate the stage or other areas where you want to direct your audience's focus.

For those on tight budgets, who may not have enough money to buy professional lights, flashlights can make fun alternatives to floodlights.  You can use flashlights as creative follow spots.  If you have someone you trust running the flashlights to hit at the right time, this will go a long way and save you a lot of money.  Also, floodlights will have the same effect as a professional spotlight.   Using a simple C-clamp to hold the floodlight in place will give you a similar effect at a much lower price.

If you have the money, buying some strobe lights, blacklights and perhaps a few spotlights can bring about a great light effect.  Your strobe light will only come into play at very dramatic parts of your performance.  Do not overuse these lights, as it will bring your show's value down a few points to have lights flashing all over the place.  More is not always better when it comes to using lights.  Sometimes less is better, because it will show a more professional look in the long run.  Set up one or two large spotlights to illuminate center stage, and set up smaller floodlights to brighten stage left and right.  If you hook your lights up to a light board, you can switch lights on and off at will to bring an even greater focus to certain parts of your performance.

With your black light, you will want to place it an angle so that it will almost look like you're glowing.  You will want to wear clothing that will ‘glow’ under this type of lighting.  Dark clothing won’t show up very well under a black light.  If you use the light sparingly it will leave an effect your audience will remember.  Overuse it, and your show will quickly go downhill.

Once you have all of your lights in place, make sure that your C-clamps and screws are all tight; then you can experiment with your light show and perfect it before the audience shows up.  By doing this, it will appear professionally done and you can adjust your lights as needed for your stage movements.  Once you’ve got them in the perfect position, get up and rock the stage with music or acting.