When it come to basic lighting on the stage you don't want to blind the person. So remember to place the lights high enough to not be in the person's face and far enough out to achieve approx. a 45ยบ angle. It doesn't have to be exact, just close. The angle helps minimize the shadows on the face. Just remember, the higher you place the lights, the further they'll have to be placed in front of the stage. The further you get from the stage area with the lights will also determine to fixture you need to hang. Different fixtures are designed for different throw distances. The throw of the fixture is from the fixture itself to the stage area. The further you get from the stage the more the light will spread, so keep that in mind when ordering light fixtures.
Light fixtures used for lighting stages come in many shapes, sizes and names. If you're close to the stage, within 15 feet or so, the par cans and fresnels will do just fine. I work on mostly the mid sized range in lighting, which is between 15 and 50 feet. A combination of fresnels, pars, ellipsoidals and border lights are what are normally used.
I know you'll ask "What brand is the best?" I can only answer that ETC makes one of the best lights but you will pay for it. Altman makes a very robust and long lasting fixture. I have acquired some used Altman fixtures that work just as well as new ones. I don't sell either of these brands on my website although I do have an ETC look alike fixture that works just as well made by Lightronics. Very good inexpensive fixture and equipment line that is very durable and long lasting(and most of it is made in the USA).
Hope this helps answer some of your questions. If you have a question please feel free to e-mail me at info@controlyourstage.com and I will get back as quickly as physically possible.
Dear ControlyourStage,
ReplyDeleteThis isn't a comment, but more of a request for help. I've agreed to do lighting for a stage production that's being done on a college campus, by students, in New Delhi, India. The production is Extremely low tech, so my lighting is going to be with light bulbs! I hope you don't laugh. As money is a huge constraint, I've decided to try it with light bulbs, as a challenge, instead of the option of no lights, keeping in mind & being okay with the possible make shift appearance the production might have.
I was wondering if you give me some advice on using bulbs.Ive got no spots, no halogens, no CFL bulbs even, absolutely no fancy lighting equipment. I'm thinking I can use bulbs and paint black the outer edges say, and get something close to a directional light, use a top hanging bulb and one from the side to mix, use regular coloured paper around bulb to get some colour. Could you please tell me what you think the possibilities of this are? And could you suggest how I can possibly create a daylight effect with this tech situation? The play is Dostoevsky's 'white nights'. Ive worked on a lot of plays as an actor and this is my first time doing lights.
I hope I haven't asked too much of you, but I'd be deeply grateful if you could reply, either here or at this email address. I am writing assuming you wouldnt mind helping a student out.
Thanks a lot,
S P
My email address is
psarathys at the rate of yahoo dot co dot in