Where Do I Place My Lights? (5 Minutes to Better Lighting)

[@gabriellau123]

This video is a very useful video. I am a Uni student and also a light designer in the Drama club in Hong Kong. This maybe the foundation of lighting, but the variation of lighting mostly base on these techniques. Thank you for the guidance!

[@kwamesha3477]

I like this simplistick approach. Thanks for the gear guide too!

[@mikkalbreeden956]

I use back spot lights for FX patterns which is different than the old par can days. I use washes for set color. I aim the front lights on my band members and manage to keep the color off their faces. So far it’s been real effective. A lot of outside shows without much of a back drop so the spots angle has been the “curtain”. There was a big debate on the colour of front lights. I use a some blue/white on slow songs and amber/white on most songs. It was a 3 month debate, some members wanted straight white, others wanted warmth. I fought for amber/white cause LED white seems washes out colour. Could be a great discussion video.

[@Divine-Igb]

Could be a very good vid !!

[@sixsentsoldiers]

100% correct. Front lights are critical.

[@sbogati]

Thank you!!!

[@heinricheugenvonhelmbrecht6905]

Very useful! Thank you!

[@addelperezguzman6019]

wonderfull.

[@vincentmcvay2271]

I am wanting to do some uplighting on my talent from a troth on the front of the stage....do you have any videos about that?

[@LearnStageLighting]

You know, I don't. If I made a video, what would you like answered about this specifically?

[@amryoussof6651]

perfect

[@66fitton]

Cool! Great ideas! Thanks!

[@faridalkautsar4359]

where can I get this software? I am interested in thaks!

[@dukekraus4362]

This video is great thank you. Can you suggest what brand and model of front lights you recomend.

[@LearnStageLighting]

There are a lot of factors at play and we'd need to know more about your space - feel free to fill out our quote request at www.learnstagelightinggear.com with a little more info of how far it'll throw and what other lights you use with it, and we can give you an option that fits your needs a little better.

[@DartsandHipHop]

Great video. I’m a DJ. Basic small setup. Small DJ booth 2 tops over 2 subs. Minimal lights but effective. 4 chauvet wash fx hex. Amazing lights especially for my application. And I have a few battery powered pars to light the booth. What is the optimal way to aim all these lights. Every gig I’m using trial And error to find the sweet spot. Thanks

[@KumaBean]

Back when I was in the industry, it was all trial and error at first. We need to be flexible and learn to configure our rigs in different ways, in order to better suit each individual venue and event. If you’re only playing one type of music, such as EDM, this simplifies things somewhat, but if you decide to go out on the road and cater for private events such as wedding and birthdays and such, or corporate events, then we need to look at things like softer lighting, more colour washing, and decor (depending on size and scope of event, this may be supplied by another contractor, as well as lighting, but I digress). The best piece of advice I could give you, despite what I’ve written above, is not to turn your passion and joy into a job, a chore, because something you used to do for fun on your own terms and in your own time, becomes no longer fun, it has to be done on other peoples terms, and it has to be done when they say it has to be done. I was given this exact piece of advice after I did my first school disco at fourteen, when I told an adult mate of mine (he had motorbikes, lol) that I wanted to be a professional DJ ‘when I grew up’ (still working on that, hitting forty soon, lol). I left the industry some years back after I became disillusioned with it all; the more money I was making, the bigger the a**holes the clients (and their guests) were. So, I sold my rig, all of it, and moved on with my life. I’m currently in the process of designing a new rig for the first time in about fifteen years and the passion is back, in a big way, lol. We’ve move house since I sold-off the business so we now have a pretty large back garden with little to no light pollution, I’m already at the stage where I’m drawing 3D animations on clouds, it took some years but the neighbours are going to figure me out real soon, 40th, fck yah! 🤪 All the best mate 🙂 🤝

[@stevosteve]

​@@KumaBean You words were like reading my own life. I started back, way back, with my Sirius 24 desk and rack mounted 240v dimmable packs. Work and divorce and county move stopped all. But now I am helping setup the local small venue lightning. Indeed I am reinvigorated ... . getting well versed in DMX rigs, DMX WiFi networks, etc. and LOVING IT.

[@KumaBean]

@@stevosteve I never managed to get my head around the whole DMX addressing, I’m more of a master/slave plug-and-and go type dude, I really like the idea of having full control though, especially with the lasers 🙂 🤝

[@stevosteve]

@@KumaBean Wow we seem so alike. The manual implementation of using a lighting desk is the best part for me. It is the difference between a LIVE performing artist and a RECORDED/PLAYBACK artist, the LIVE method always has more feel and vibrance. The downside is that if working with popular artists/groups they themselves like to know in advance what they want, they dont like surpises or spontaneity, which means the show scenes need to be preset and then played back as a 'lighting recording' set.Yeah it means the next show is the same as the last and the last etc etc , but still not as good as LIVE operator input. The balance is to use the DMX presets for moving head targeting/colour/fade time/gobo etc, and also as you say laser sequences, then the floods and washes can be manually operator controlled (or over-ridden) for a more 'on the night' feel. Additionally controlling the desk over MiDi and using a keyboard to trigger the lighting makes the light desk operator feel as though they almost a part of the band . . . . and it is fun. Specifc joystick controlled moving head spots/washes reserved for only manual use give the operator great flexibility for when artists are not stnading where they said they would be ha ha ha. Coming back to your statement about DMX, yes I agree. Once you get the DMX addressing understood (esp the starting address chanel and the number of channels used by the specific ficture) then you are sorted. Now I am no longer restricted by using stage mounted racked power panels to feed individual light fixtures, the ease of power always to a fixture and then daisy linked MDX control makes eerything so flexible. Then using DMX WiFi for the odd located fictures just makes it even easier. I am defo still on the learning curve but for me it is fun, not work, and I do what feels best as the weeks arrive. All very lo key 🙂 Oh and just before I go, there are many varied YT vids and ideas out there, some are superb, some are downright fantasy, but they all help you learn. Just because you hear someone tell you 'this or that' is the best method, try it yourself, if it fails then do not always think it is something YOU have done wrong. Leave it and try another method etc etc and in the end YOU learn what works for you. ENJOY !

[@KumaBean]

@@stevosteve Cheers mate 🙂 👌 🤝

[@miiraanell]

How name back light?!

[@73prd]

Should I be mixing coloured lights with clear lights as well?

[@tracycain3745]

We are deciding on lighting for our school stage, which is in a gym. What are the recommendations for front lighting when we can not have a permanent structure for front lighting?

[@LearnStageLighting]

Hi Tracy! Please send us a email to [e-mail] then we can help with the correct system to suit your venue and situation. Thanks.

[@muyiwacaleb]

What software are you using for simulation of these scenario?

[@quinndelano8837]

He uses Capture, there's a link in the description

[@stephenlennartz3466]

Hi! New to your channel. Do you have any videos for lighting smaller groups like a musical duo? Our goals include portable, lightweight, quick setup, and a lighting system that will help us 'pop' visually. Did I mention ''budget friendly'? Thank you in advance for your response!

[@LearnStageLighting]

Yes! Head over to www.learnstagelighting.com and sign up for my free guide to band lighting on the home page. In that video guide I go over the answer to exactly what you are asking. :). Thanks!

[@RexyFan]

Stephen Lennartz What you find ? I’m now after the same set up for my small band in a small - medium hall

[@RexyFan]

Stephen Lennartz What you find ? I’m now after the same set up for my small band in a medium sized room

[@oasisofloveministriescityo1043]

Please how can I install my church light

[@NotSoCoolIsCool]

How do i get the app as I need one to modle for my next proformance

[@gladiators187]

What program do you use

[@danielrobleto2192]

Hey David this is Tito from Miami Florida God bless you how are you doing... I was watching couple of videos from your page.. I want to know how far back can I put my lights stage from my church, The church stage is med side.. 23 long and 11 feet Wide.. I want to know how far back to move the lights from the center of the stage.. The ceiling of the church is only 12 feet .. I have eight LEDs fixtures...

[@LearnStageLighting]

I typically go for a maximum of a 30 degree angle back, the basic idea being that you can keep going back until the light points into the eyes of the people in the front row of seats - at that point, you can't go back any further.

[@djfameinthemix]

do you have any videos showing how to make all the lights or jyst a few on and off i am we are trying to do songs at church with light ,we just have lightkey software and is very good but when it come to worship i have to hit like every bottom to get what i want ,is any way that i can set some lights to do like 3 bottom and make it faster

[@LearnStageLighting]

Sure thing, this is exactly the type of thing we help people with in Learn Stage Lighting Labs (see description for link)

[@victortavarez11]

Hey what if I have low ceilings but I don’t want my front lights to hit the back wall, how can I still get an even wash?

[@LearnStageLighting]

Then you'll have to go wider (and then the shadow falls to the side), OR you can hit a good 45 degree angle with a really, really wide fixture.

[@victortavarez11]

@@LearnStageLighting thank you, i went with adj z100 5k i thought it was good for the price

[@shawnbryant4808]

what software do you recomend for the weekend band?

[@LearnStageLighting]

It really depends on your needs and how you want to run it. For a lot of simpler setups, ENTTEC's EMU (formerly DMXis), you can run it from stage. For setups where there is an operator running lights - LightShark or ONYX. ONYX can also work for a more complex band show that you want to run from stage.

[@kodykyle1297]

Is there a way to get a dealer price on Capture or a discounted price?

[@LearnStageLighting]

Call a dealer in your area. I'm not a dealer

[@kodykyle1297]

Learn Stage Lighting .com I know your not a dealer but trying to figure out who to go through to get Capture through a dealer.

[@LearnStageLighting]

@@kodykyle1297 If you're in the US, Elation dealers are your best bet. For other locations, check the Capture website for the local distributor.

[@photonpilot__]

Generally, there is no dealer discount on capture. My company is an elation dealer and there is no discount on capture products. The price for Capture is the same whether you buy it off their site or from Elation the only difference is the relation version is not a downloadable key to unlock the software. The Elation version is a USB Key.

[@RaulffRelucio]

Hi! What software or app do you use for designing stage lights? Thank you!

[@LearnStageLighting]

I use Capture: www.learnstagelighting.com/want-lighting-visualizer/

[@gerardoroiz6449]

Hi, nice videos, What software you used here?, thanks

[@LearnStageLighting]

This is Capture: www.learnstagelighting.com/want-lighting-visualizer/

[@channa-de4zh]

what is this program u r working on?

[@LearnStageLighting]

This is Capture: www.learnstagelighting.com/want-lighting-visualizer/