Theater stage lighting rig — illustrative — illustrative service image

AV systems · Lighting

Stage lighting that supports the performance and the room.

Coordinate front light, color, architectural accents and control around the events your space needs to host.

Planning the system

Define the lighting positions before choosing effects.

Stage lighting installation begins with the performance area and the audience view. Presenter lighting, music, dance and camera work can need different positions and control. Fixtures should serve those uses without blocking sightlines or creating avoidable glare.

Architectural lighting supports the room outside the show. Coordinate stage, house and work lighting so operators know which system controls each area and which functions remain separate.

Stage lighting — moving lights and wash fixtures over a live performance space — illustrative service image

Project concepts

See the possibilities for your space

Drag the divider to compare before and after, or open a comparison for a closer look.

Installed stage light concept — illustrative design concept — View comparison

Installed stage light concept before work, illustrative comparison — View comparison

Room & equipment detail — illustrative design concept — View comparison

Room & equipment detail before work, illustrative comparison — View comparison

Scope of work

Bring the lighting plot and infrastructure together.

Performance requirements

Identify presenter positions, movement, camera needs and recurring event types before defining lighting coverage.

Fixture and lens choices

Compare appropriate static and moving fixtures around beam coverage, color, noise, maintenance and operator needs.

Positions and mounting

Coordinate approved hanging locations, access and sightlines with the structural and rigging scope.

Power and data

Plan fixture power and lighting-control paths with the electrical design and the selected equipment's requirements.

Control and scenes

Define console or wall-control operation, useful presets and the boundaries between stage and architectural lighting.

Focus and programming

Include aiming, focus, cue preparation and operator practice in the completion scope.

Light that shapes the moment — and the power behind it. — illustrative service image

Make the lighting useful between productions.

A practical system includes clear everyday scenes as well as production control. Plan how staff prepare a lecture, rehearsal or meeting without modifying the show programming.

FAQ

Stage lighting questions before the fixture list.

Start with the event requirements and operator experience. Static fixtures may suit consistent presentation positions; moving fixtures can add flexibility but also introduce programming and maintenance considerations.

Read the detailed guide: Bright Stage, Dark Faces: Fix the Lighting Position Problem First →

DMX is a lighting-control protocol used to send commands to compatible equipment. The project needs an agreed control path, addressing and documentation so the console and fixtures operate together.

No. Use the actual fixture input requirements and the planned distribution. Also review control compatibility, cooling, noise and mounting rather than deciding from light-source type alone.

They may be coordinated where the equipment and design support it. Define ordinary operation and overrides, while keeping required life-safety functions under their appropriate dedicated design.

Read the detailed guide: One Interface for House and Stage Lights: Define Priorities First →

Schedule focus and programming around the actual stage use. Save the agreed scenes and provide a fixture/address record and operator run-through before treating the lighting system as handed over.

Specify camera use before selecting fixtures and test the actual cameras at intended frame rates, shutter settings and light levels. Some LED fixtures provide documented frequency settings, but their availability and effect are product-specific. A fixture looking steady to the eye does not prove that it will record cleanly. Include low-level dimming, fades and the final streaming or recording output in acceptance, then retain the approved settings for operators and future service.

Read the detailed guide: Stage Lighting Looks Fine in Person but Flickers on Camera →

Document which fixtures misbehave and whether the fault follows a controller, cable branch or operating mode. DMX is a lighting-control data connection, so correct power alone does not establish a healthy control path. ETC identifies termination, cabling and short direct-path testing as useful checks. Confirm fixture addresses and personalities against the patch before changing equipment. Intermittent faults should be retested for a relevant duration with the complete intended rig, not declared fixed after one cue.

Read the detailed guide: Random DMX Flicker: Isolate the Control Path Before Replacing Fixtures →

The cue, selected fixture personality, decoder or driver and LED assembly all contribute to the visible fade. A console curve changes how levels are commanded, but it cannot necessarily create stable light below the assembly’s usable range. Test the actual equipment with slow fades up and down and a restart into the lowest intended scene. Document any accepted minimum level or mode limitation. A static demonstration at full brightness does not establish smooth theatrical dimming.

Read the detailed guide: LED Fades That Jump or Pop On: What a Better Curve Can and Cannot Fix →

Explore all 5 stage & architectural lighting guides →

Plan your project

Tell us what happens on the stage.

Share the room layout, existing lighting positions, event types and the people who will operate the system.

Discuss your project (650) 550-0819

Equipment references

Lighting equipment to explore.

Fixture and control choices follow the lighting positions, performance requirements and people operating the system.

Equipment options — illustrative design concept — Equipment illustration. Final products and specifications are selected for the project.

ETC

Lighting, controls and stage infrastructure

Explore manufacturer equipment

CHAUVET Professional

Stage and performance lighting

Explore manufacturer equipment

Elation

Professional lighting fixtures

Explore manufacturer equipment

Manufacturer examples for project planning. Brand references do not indicate a dealer or certification relationship. Equipment compatibility and availability are confirmed during selection.

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Local Services

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(650) 550-0819

Stage lighting that supports the performance and the room.

Define the lighting positions before choosing effects.

See the possibilities for your space

Bring the lighting plot and infrastructure together.

Performance requirements

Fixture and lens choices

Positions and mounting

Power and data

Control and scenes

Focus and programming

Make the lighting useful between productions.

Stage lighting questions before the fixture list.

Do we need moving lights?

What is DMX?

Does LED lighting remove the need to review power?

Can stage and house lighting use one control interface?

What happens after the fixtures are installed?

How do we prevent stage lighting from flickering on camera?

What should we check when DMX lights flicker randomly?

Why do LED fixtures jump instead of fading smoothly?

Tell us what happens on the stage.

Lighting equipment to explore.

ETC

CHAUVET Professional

Elation

Request A Consultation

We're in your city.

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