Lighting is an important aspect of all major events. Event organisers can now incorporate better lighting setups by using LEDs, even while saving substantially on costs.
By Baishakhi Dutta
Event planning is big business these days. Whether it is product launches by big corporations or major press conferences, the organisation of events involves big spending, and a lot hinges on the success of a show. One of the major responsibilities of an event manager is to create an attractive ambience to attract a big crowd, and to set the relevant mood. So a major chunk of what is spent on the setting of a stage and the audience space goes into lighting. Earlier, conventional lighting technologies like fluorescents dominated the lighting at events because of their lower upfront costs. The introduction of LEDs has changed that, because these offer higher energy savings, lower operational costs, a longer life span and better lighting effects.
Different types of lighting for events
Depending on the type of event being hosted, one can choose from a variety of LED lighting systems offered these days. Thanks to the technology available, there is so much more that can be done with lighting.
Up lighting: This is a technique by which luminaires are placed on the ground and aimed upwards to project light either onto a wall or at a specific object. It’s a useful way of highlighting certain decorations, parts of the room, the speakers during their presentations, or other elements.
Gobo lighting: A gobo is a type of stencil that gets placed over a light source. As the light passes through the gobo, the stenciled image gets projected onto whatever surface it’s pointed at. Gobos are popular for the endless imaginative possibilities they enable.
Outdoor lighting: If your event can be held outdoors, several extra lighting options become available. Paper lanterns can be strung to evoke a dreamlike aura while maintaining a fun mood. And string or bistro lights can be used to create a ‘light’ canopy over a dance floor or dining area.
Spot lighting: As the name implies, spot lighting is when the light is focused on a single point and is usually used to highlight a specific object or person. This is similar to when up lighting is used, but the difference is that spot lighting doesn’t need to be beamed from below. This kind of lighting is most commonly used in stage lighting, to highlight speakers, objects or performers.
LED lights used on stage offer an output equivalent to conventional lighting of 6kW capacity, yet reduce energy consumption by more than 80 per cent. Listed below is a comparison of the luminous efficacy of different lighting technologies:
|
The benefits of LEDs at events
Today’s entertainment industry requires highly creative engineering to accomplish what clients want. LEDs are becoming more and more common on film sets. They can be powered by batteries, which makes them very portable. And they do not require separate ballasts or heavy cabling.
While their higher upfront costs have prevented LEDs from picking up momentum in the Indian market, the high savings during operation can recover the investments quite quickly. A senior technical engineer from a national events company, on condition of anonymity, shares, “The bigger players in the events vertical have completely shifted to LEDs. However, the hesitation to switch comes from the small and medium scale companies in India. Some of them have partially transitioned to the technology, and are receiving about 10 to 12 per cent cost benefits. If they adopt LEDs completely, the savings will go up to a guaranteed 30 per cent, at the very least.”
Engineers are currently working on creating cutting-edge designs, which use the latest technology in the LED market. Manufacturing solutions for LED devices and equipment are on the rise. The stage, film sets and event locations in the entertainment industry are using LEDs on a large scale. The aim is to create visually appealing scenes that evoke the right response from the audience. LEDs are much more efficient, longer lasting, have higher efficacy, are nearly maintenance-free and operate at much cooler temperatures.
Selection tips
A good event lighting company will ensure that it has a good selection of uplights, string lighting, pipes and drapes, as well as custom gobos. Those looking for lighting solutions at events must ensure that uplight shields are being offered for the safety of guests. Light stands must be covered to make the lighting system look elegant.
The lighting service must have a remote control which dims the lights according to the programme’s requirements. For example, lighting during a speech requires a spotlight to focus on the speaker. Other lights in the room or area must be dimmed to their minimum levels to highlight the speaker better. Dance lighting will require a constant change in the lighting and must suit the music.
Finally, while hiring an event management firm, one should read a few reviews about the company to get some feedback on their work. Check the types of event lighting they offer on their website. Looking at an event company’s previous work will always give you a better understanding of their knowledge and expertise.
What the future holds
The media and entertainment (M&E) industry and the events vertical is a sunrise sector for the Indian economy and is making great strides forward. It is currently going through a growth spurt, backed by rising consumer demand, improved advertising revenues and a greater reach due to the Internet. So the demand for energy-efficient, innovative LED lighting in this sector will continue to increase.
