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Recommended Stage Lighting for Outdoor Concerts

Stage lighting plays an essential role in any outdoor concert, whether held during the day or night. Not only does stage lighting function from a practical standpoint of visibility on stage, but it creates an ambience that makes the concert appear exciting and special to audiences. Stage lighting should complement the music and help elevate it to performance rather than recital.
  1. Weatherproof Lighting

    • Purchase outdoor lighting for any outdoor concert. Regardless of whether you are running a permanent or temporary outdoor concert venue, the unpredictability of weather is a hazard for high-powered electronics. Weatherproof lights have special casings that prevent them from malfunctioning while wet or under extreme heat or cold.

    Lighting Board

    • Outdoor venues require a mobile lighting board you can move in and out of a pavilion or other shelter. Mobile lighting boards are either wireless or wired, though wireless versions are more expensive. The typical outdoor lighting board ishould run with at least two 20-amp circuits. A lighting board with dimming and sequencing technology can prove helpful for stage setups and dramatic lighting effects.

    Lighting Power

    • Though the power of your lights will depend on your budget and specific needs, use at least 500 watt lights as the main backdrop of your system. These main 500-watt lights will serve as the basis of your system, with more powerful lights serving as spotlights or utility lights. Use color filters for these lights to reduce glare and add to the ambience.

    Special Lights

    • Special-use lights are recommended for outdoor concerts, such as sound-activated lights, spotlights and strobes. These lights are less practical but can add entertainment value to the performance, matching the lighting to the music and mood more closely.

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