Check Out All of The Posts About Technical and Artistic Concepts Here:
What is Stage Lighting? (And Why Should I Use it?)
Stage lighting, in the obvious realm, is lighting that is on a stage. Practically, we see that stage lighting provides[...]
What are the Basic Parts of a Stage Lighting System?
A massive lighting show takes up a whole arena, bathing an artist or speaker in vibrant light. A corporate[...]
The Complete Guide to Wash Fixtures
Today, I want to take you on a tour through the different types of lighting fixtures that you may encounter.[...]
The Complete Guide to Spot Fixtures
We started off our guide to basic lighting fixtures with the wash fixtures. Today we will overview spot fixtures or[...]
Do I Need Need Moving Lights? + Moving Lights Buyers Guide
Moving lights are a load of fun! Whether you're a band, church, DJ or in the theatre world, the dream[...]
What is a Lighting Console?
You walk into a room- lights are fading up and down, moving, and colors and shapes are dancing on the[...]
How do I Focus Stage Lighting?
While moving lights are more common than ever, non-moving LED and conventional lights are by far the most common lights[...]
What Angles are Best for Stage Lighting?
Go to any theatre, large church, or other entertainment event space, and you'll see lights mounted everywhere, all pointing at[...]
What is DMX? DMX 512 for Lighting Explained
When you're beginning with lighting, it's not going to be long before you have questions about DMX. In lighting, DMX[...]
How do I Create an Awesome, Even Wash of Stage Light?
You've got lights and a console all set up and working, but when you turn everything on you've got huge[...]
What is an NSI Microplex Lighting System?
NSI Microplex is a proprietary control protocol made by NSI- now owned by Leviton lighting. Microplex is a digital protocol, like[...]
How Do I Address My DMX Lights or Dimmers?
One of the first things that you need to do when you get a new light out of the box[...]
How Do I Focus Moving Lights?
Moving lights are wonderful tools that are becoming more and more commonplace in the lighting world every day. The ability[...]
How do I Hang a Stage Light?
You might think that hanging a stage light is self-explanatory - attach the clamp, hang the light and viola! The[...]
What Are Cues and Cuelists?
In a modern lighting console or software, cues are the basis of programming your show. And while different lighting consoles[...]
What is HTP? What is LTP? Why Should I Care?
Imagine this...You sit down at your lighting console and start bringing up various looks on stage and recording the scenes[...]
How do I Set Up a Portable Stage Lighting System?
Whether you're planning a small concert, church service, or any other type of event - if it's going to be[...]
What is a Lighting Special, and How Do I Focus it?
If you've worked with anyone who has theatrical training, then you may have heard them refer to a lighting "Special".[...]
How Do I Tape Down a Cable? – The Complete Guide to Taping Down Cables with Gaff Tape and other Solutions
When it comes down to it, we run a lot of cables in the world of lighting. Data one way,[...]
What is Bench Focusing? + My Complete Bench Focusing Guide
Do your ellipsoidals not seem as "punchy" as they once were? Do you want to get significantly more output from[...]
Can I Touch a Stage Lighting Lamp when I change it?
If you work with incandescent stage lights, you've probably heard the rumor that you aren't supposed to touch the halogen[...]
What Are Stage Directions?
Whether you are working directly with musicians, setting up equipment, or planning your next staging design, clear communication is really[...]
What is the “Standard” Lighting Design?
One of the questions that often hits my inbox starts like this: "What is the standard lighting design for a[...]
What is Beam Angle? What is Field Angle? Why Does it Matter?
If you've been reading LSL for any amount of time, you know that I am big on making you an[...]
How do I Bolt Together Lighting Truss?
I remember my first job in lighting clearly. I was working as a tech/laborer for a small, rural lighting company[...]
What are Fixture Numbers and Why Do I Need Them?
The first lesson I learned on a modern lighting console was how to patch fixtures. And if you use pretty[...]
How To Clean Your Stage Lighting (Without Making a Mess)
When was the last time you cleaned your stage lighting equipment? Perhaps it's been awhile since you last were up[...]
How to Do Special Event Lighting for $$ – Part 2
This is another post that gets me excited. After years "in the trenches" of event lighting, working countless corporate events[...]
Microplex to DMX – The Complete Guide
Say you have a DMX lighting system and want to use a microplex dimmer or console. Can it be done?[...]
Can You Use Microphone Cables for Lighting? DMX Vs. XLR Demystified
When it comes to plugging in your lights to DMX, ask 5 different people, and you'll probably get 5 different[...]
How to Light For IMAG – 5 Ways to Improve Your Lighting Rig for the Camera
If you've recently gone visited a large church, attended at child's graduation or flown to a national sales meeting, chances[...]
What Are the Rules to Using Color in Stage Lighting?
If you open your eyes, and you're like most people, you see color. I know this is simplifying it a[...]
How Do I Convert, Split and Merge DMX? What if I Do it Wrong?
If you're using more than a few DMX fixtures, or have them spread out across your stage, you're going to[...]
How Do LEDs Save Money?
I remember the day I first worked with LED stage lighting. Back in the time frame of the mid-2000's, I[...]
How to Wrap Cables Properly (And Save Time!)
Do you ever come across poorly wrapped cables that just tangle and knot the second you go to use them?[...]
The Complete Guide To Stage Lighting Power Connectors & Plugs
When you're looking to install a lighting system, buy new gear or begin in stage lighting, the amazing variety of[...]
The Complete Guide To Stage Lighting Data Connectors & Plugs
In this article, we're going to go over the basic data connectors in stage lighting, and end all of the[...]
How Do I Run My Show From Stage?
Picture this - you're in a band, are a DJ or are in a small church worship team, and you[...]
Fog and Foggers – The Ultimate Guide
Have you ever woken up, looked outdoors and seen beautiful, hanging fog with the sun streaming through? Perhaps you were[...]
What Makes Big Concerts So Cool? The Dynamic Range of Light:
You might know what dynamic range is in the audio world; it’s the difference between the loudest and softest sound.[...]
How To Get Started In Set Design Without The Hassle
Set design can be one of the most underutilized aspects of stage lighting in many circles. Sometimes it's because people[...]
The Complete Guide to Beam Fixtures
Want a huge beam of light that zooms across the sky? Stepping back into history, the first way to accomplish[...]
How to Wire DMX for Stage Lighting
For beginners in stage lighting, one of the ideas that can be baffling is how to wire up all of[...]
How to Troubleshoot DMX Problems
One of the most crushing feelings you can encounter when working with lighting comes when things don't work right! [...]
What to Do When the Show Runs Off it’s Tracks
Picture this: You're running through your setlist, down the agenda, or through the service flow....things are going well. You're hitting[...]
Where Do I Focus My Lights?
You may have just read the headline to this article and thought "duh! At the stage!" as the answer to[...]
How to Make Your Big Event Special (Without Losing Your Shirt)
This post has been brought to you by Pro Lighting Rental. Imagine this: You have a big show/service/drama/production coming up,[...]
How to Fix Broken DMX Cables
If you're like many folks doing lighting, and you setup and teardown your lights, cables are gonna break! It's just[...]
How to Pre-Wire Your Lights to Save Yourself Time and Frustration…
Pre-wiring has been one of the tricks that professionals have been using for years to cut down setup time. If[...]
How to Begin With The Chauvet Obey 40
The Chauvet Obey 40 is a really popular and basic DMX lighting console. If you've sat down at one, however,[...]
How to Begin With Lasers
Lasers are cool. I mean, who doesn't want a pencil-thin beam of light scanning across the room to add to[...]
How Can A DMX Splitter Save You Time and Money?
One of the most common questions I get is "Do I Need a DMX Splitter"? And while I'd like to[...]
Review: Stage Light Company Hex Par Pro 12 and Pix Bar Hex Pro 6
Recently, I was given the opportunity to review the Stage Light Company Pro Par Hex 12 and Pix Bar Pro Hex[...]
Review: M-Touch Lighting Console
Recently, I took the opportunity to do a full review of the M-Touch lighting console which I recently purchased. I[...]
How to Create Movement (Without Expensive Moving Lights)
There's no doubt that moving lights are cool. Really cool. And a lot of fun to play with. But the[...]
I Just Bought An ENTTEC DMX Interface – Now What?
One of the very best ways to begin controlling DMX lighting is with an ENTTEC USB interface and any number[...]
What is DMX Polarity and Why Do I Care?
Many entry level DMX consoles, such as the Chauvet Obey 40 and 70, have a curious little switch that is[...]
How Much Light Do I Have? Footcandles, Lumens and Lux
If you've ever sat down to attempt the purchase of new lights, one of the first questions you have is[...]
What Lights Should I Buy?
When you write a website dedicated to teaching stage lighting, the most common question you get is "Should I buy[...]
How to Prevent Power Loss When Using a Mobile Generator
Today's post is a guest post written by Lukas Conant of ATI Electrical. Have you ever had a power[...]
How Do I Set Up a Lighting Console “Show Computer”?
A funny thing is happening as we move forward in time. Computers are getting faster, cheaper and more reliable, and[...]
So You Want A Lighting Visualizer…
Visualizing your lighting on the computer is one of the very best ways to waste a solid afternoon. 🙂 Seriously,[...]
How do I Use MIDI Hardware to Control My Lighting Console?
In the past 10 years, lighting consoles have changed and progressed A LOT! Particularly, in the last few years we've[...]
When Should I Use Color on My Stage?
Color is probably the most powerful single tool that we have in our toolbelts as lighting folks. Whether on the[...]
How Do I Create Great Lighting Effects With Color?
Color is by far my favorite attribute of light. Whether you're a professional lighting designer, or just want a great[...]
What are Art-Net and sACN?
It used to be that we just used simple DMX cable out of our console to our lights to control[...]
LED Tape and Pixels 101 – How to Create Custom Lighting for Your Stage!
Over the past few years, using custom LED tape has been all the rage on stages of all sizes. Just[...]
What is RDM and Why Does It Matter to Me?
If you've been working with lighting for a while, you might be aware of the term RDM, or remote device management. [...]
How Do I Begin Working With A Professional Lighting Console?
It used to be that there was a divide in the lighting world between professional and consumer - between big[...]
What is TouchOSC and How Do I Use it With Lighting?
I'm a big fan of getting as much hands-on control as possible when I'm programming and running lights. That's why,[...]
Should I Use Wireless DMX? The Complete Guide to Running Data to Your Lights Wirelessly
Until we get wireless power, running wireless data to our lights is one of the biggest time-savers and problem solvers[...]
Review – ENTTEC Pixel Port
ENTTEC has a new way to get control of LED pixels - and it's easier than ever! A few months[...]
How Do I Run DMX Over Ethernet Cable?
DMX, the signal we use to talk to our stage lights, requires the use of DMX cable so that everything[...]
Control Lots of Pixels – Without Losing Your Mind!
If you’ve played around with controlling LED pixels, you know that getting the infrastructure set up to control your pixels[...]
How Do I Setup My First Lighting Network?
Whether you like it or not, networking is quickly becoming a necessary part of stage lighting. While you still can[...]
Are you ready to take on your first project of running lights for a live band? It doesn’t have to[...]
Online Training For Elation’s Onyx (formerly M-PC)
Elation's Onyx software is hands-down my very favorite professional-grade software for running lights. Not only is the software freely downloadable,[...]
Programming: How to Set Up Your Cues for Success!
Whether you've got a simple console or something complex, learning how to lay out your lighting looks into something useful[...]
What is the Lightshark?
If you have been following Learn Stage Lighting for a while now you know that at times I will review[...]
How to Begin With the LightShark
I had the opportunity to work with LightShark and created videos on how the LightShark LS-1 and LS-Core work. In[...]
How Can I Control Lighting From My Mac?
We see posts on a weekly basis in the forums and on Facebook groups where people will ask what lighting[...]
Fundamentals of a Mixing Console – The Master Control For An Audio System
I remember the very first time I stepped up to a large format analog mixing console. It was in Chicago[...]
How Do I Begin With Onyx?
Here on Learn Stage Lighting, it is my goal to feature and teach the very best in lighting consoles and[...]
Onyx Video Training Tutorials
Want to learn Onyx, but don't know where to begin? Here, I've put together my best Onyx video resources in[...]
My Favorite Flashlights for Lighting (and WHY)
Every day I try to provide helpful tips when it's come to lighting and the equipment that I use every[...]
What are Strobes and Blinders, and How Do I Use Them in My Show?
When it comes to creating a punch of light on stage or in the audience, professional lighting designers turn to[...]
How Do I Setup My First sACN or Art-Net Device?
When looking to set up your first devices, networking can be a challenge when first starting out. In this post,[...]
What Software Should I Use to Control LED Pixels?
When it comes to working with individual LED pixels, pixel tape or some other pixel products, the first step is[...]
Should I Leave My Lights On All The Time? DMX Relays and Sequencers 101
This one is for the folks who have their lights permanently installed: Do you leave your LED's and moving lights[...]
How to Buy the Right Lighting Today That Will Still Work For You In The Future
One of my biggest frustrations in life is when I buy something, and then a year or 2 later, it[...]
What DMX Mode Should I Put My Lights In?
Whether you're working with LED's or moving-head lights, at some point you have to decide which mode you're going to[...]
How Do I Control DMX Lights?
Do you have DMX Lights but don't know how to control them? Sure you can set the lights on Sound[...]
How Do I Find Out What DMX Channels My Lights Have? And How Do I Control That from My Console?
Here is a question that I get all to often here on Learn Stage Lighting - "I've got __________ no-name[...]
How Do I Control Pixels With ENTTEC’s ELM?
Perhaps you have heard of ENTTEC's ELM. What is it exactly? ENTTEC ELM is basically a Media Server. It's a[...]
What Lighting Console Should I Buy?
If you been around for a while it's very obvious that I really like Lighting Consoles. Why is this? The[...]
How Many Colors can an LED really make?
Today, I am going to share how many colors can an LED really make. There's a lot of myths out[...]
Why Does My Lighting Look Orange On Camera?
When working with lighting and video you'll find that it can be very tricky to not get everything to look[...]
How Do I Create and Install My Own Fixture Library for DMXis, D-Pro, or Show Buddy Active?
With DMXIS, Show Buddy Active, and D-PRO, if you don't see your fixture in the patch/fixture library section, you have[...]
What Do I Do When my DMX Light Doesn’t Work Right?
If you have a DMX Light that's not working properly or even at all, here are some effective steps to[...]
Should I Use Grand MA3, Vista, Hog, Chamsys, or Onyx?
A very common situation is trying to select which professional grade console you should go with. Now, more than ever[...]
Can I Use The M-Touch and M-Play with Onyx without a Touchscreen?
Recently, I had received a challenge from one of our Learn Stage Lighting Labs members wanting to know how much[...]
5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Using ENTTEC DMXIS
Here at Learn Stage Lighting I've mentioned and worked with ENTTEC DMXIS very often. It's a great program for those[...]
4 Things I Wish I Knew Before Using ENTTEC D-Pro
There are a lot of PC based lighting consoles available. Some are great and others, not so much. But one[...]
3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Using the LightShark
Since starting with the LightShark it's become one of my favorite consoles to work with. If you've been following Learn[...]
3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Using Elation’s ONYX
ONYX has become my favorite professional console. Elation's Onyx was formerly known as Martin M-PC / M-Series and since the[...]
Eurolite Bigfoot: First Impressions
There’s very little info around about the Eurolite Bigfoot DMX controller, so I thought I’d post a few first impressions[...]
5 Ways To Make Your Live Stream Video Look Great
In this 2 part video series, we're teaming up with Ballast Media to discuss 5 ways to make your live[...]
What is the ENTTEC Pixel Octo, and Why Do I Care?
The ENTTEC Pixel Octo is a new product that drives pixels. This unit will drive any type of LED pixel[...]
How Do I Save Money Buying Lighting Gear?
Today I want to help save you some money when you plan to purchase lighting gear. Whether you are looking[...]
How Do You Use Timecode with Onyx?
In this post, we're going to break it down on how to use timecode with Onyx. Lately, I've seen a[...]
How to Use LED Pixel Tape on Your Stage
In this video, I walk you through how to use LED pixel tape on your stage. Pixels have come a[...]
Simple, PC Based Lighting Console Setups
In this post I'm going to share with you some simple but effective console setups that you can use with[...]
How to Use ONYX for Church Lighting
In these video tutorials, I dive into how to use ONYX for church lighting. I've worked with many students and[...]
Can You Make a Great Lighting Rig with 1 DMX Universe?
Talking with some students from Learn Stage Lighting Labs I've found that there are some situations where you are limited[...]
What is the Difference Between Basic, Intermediate and Professional Lighting Consoles?
On Learn Stage Lighting I often have the usual consoles that I like to refer to and work with. However,[...]
What to Lay Out on Buttons, On-Screen and on Faders
One of the questions I often get from people is this: How should you prioritize certain cues over others when[...]
How to Program an LED Par Light with DMX
In this video, we will review how to properly set up and get you started with the basics of programming[...]
How to Choose a Basic Lighting Console (Software vs Hardware)
If you are brand new and just getting started with lighting you have come to the right place. Over the[...]
How Do I Program a Basic Moving Light?
In this video and post, we're going to help walk you through on how to program a basic moving light[...]
Should I Buy a PC-Based or Hardware-Based Lighting Console?
There's always the age-old debate that comes up about whether you should go with a PC-Based or Hardware-Based lighting console.[...]
How To Begin with the Onyx NX Touch
The ONYX NX-Touch has become one of my favorite PC console wings to work with because it allows you to[...]
How to Use the Elgato Stream Deck to Control Stage Lighting
In this article, we dive into how to use Elgato Stream Deck with different lighting and other show control software[...]
Should I Buy Moving Lights or Non Moving Lights?
In this post, we're going to take on the great debate of moving lights. Should you buy moving lights or[...]
Should You Buy Spot, Wash, or Beam Lights?
When you begin shopping for new light fixtures you generally have the main categories of a spot, wash, beam, and[...]
How Do You Run Your Band’s Lighting from a Console?
How do you set up your lighting console for a band? The answer will depend on the band you are[...]
Should You Trigger Your Church’s Lighting From Stage or From The Booth?
When it comes to lighting in the church, I believe this is the area that has the most potential in[...]
How to Trigger Your Church’s Lighting from Stage
To trigger your church lighting from the stage, we're going to start with two different programs that I like to[...]
How Do You Choose the Right DJ Lights?
When getting started as a DJ, the equipment and the number of options you have can be overwhelming. In this[...]
Run Audio, Lights, and Video Together: LiveTraker Review
A question I often receive is: "What program can someone use to trigger lights, play videos, and music?" The truth[...]
How Do You Sync Visuals and Lighting Together for DJ or EDM Lighting?
When working as a DJ or an EDM artist eventually you're going to want to incorporate graphics or visuals into[...]
How to Use LiveTraker with DMXis to Control Lights from Stage
LiveTraker is a program I've been using more of lately to output MIDI, audio, and even videos. Up until now,[...]
What is a DMX Profile or Fixture Profile?
A couple of questions I hear often are what is a DMX fixture profile? Why do I need one? And[...]
What Do I Need to Begin with My First Lighting Network?
Having lights set up on a network is more common now than ever before. Generally, it used to be where[...]
How Do You Manage Your Cables for Lighting, Audio, and Video? My Favorite Tools to Get it Done!
Keeping your cables and wires organized may seem simple but it also very important especially when it comes to safety[...]
3 Types of Lighting Consoles or Software – Which is Right For You?
Why is it important to make sure you find the right lighting console for you? Working with others in lighting[...]
What Basic Lighting Console is Right for Me?
When it comes to choosing a basic lighting console there are actually two different types to choose from. You have[...]
LightShark – Is it the right lighting software for me? + Interface Guide
Now more than ever, there's a lot more to choose from when it comes to intermediate consoles. As an intermediate[...]
Which DMX / Playback Interface Should I Use with lightShark? Do I Need One?
A question that comes up very often is when choosing between lightShark LS Core and LS1 Console, what interface options[...]
LightKey – Is it the right lighting software for me? + Interface Guide
LightKey is what I would consider to be an intermediate console and it's definitely made it's way to the lighting[...]
Why Use Lasers in Your Lighting? + Who should add lasers to their show?
In this post, we're going to cover some basics of what lasers are and if they are right for you.[...]
How Do You Use Lasers Legally and Safely?
Unlike working with the usual stage lights such as LEDs or moving lights, setting up and using lasers has more[...]
How Do You Control Lasers – ILDA, Mercury, FB4, Lasercube?
Learning how to get started with lasers is one thing but trying to decide how to get control of lasers[...]
How Do You Make Lasers Look Great?
Once you have lasers to add to your lighting rig, you're going to want them to look great and as[...]
Do I Need a Visualizer?
More often than ever before, events are getting cancelled and rescheduled due to Covid-19. This has also presented the opportunity[...]
How Do Lighting Visualizers Work?
Just as a console wouldn't program stage lighting on its own, using a visualizer won't build your show on its[...]
What Computer Do I Need For a Visualizer?
3D visualizers are cool, but can your computer run it and how do you know if you have enough computer[...]
How to Build Low-Resolution Video Panels (Controlled by ONYX or ELM)
If you turn on your TV and watch any live performance, you're going to see video panels and pixel-lights in[...]
4 Steps to Planning Your Next Event
In this series, we're going to deeper into the 4 steps of planning your next big event. What would qualify[...]
How Do You Lay Out Your Stage Lighting?
A question that lighting and stage designers often ask is where and how should you start laying out your lighting?[...]
Wiring and Power 101
When working with cables and wires, you may already notice how quickly things can get tangled up. In this post,[...]
How Does Stage Lighting Work?
How does stage lighting work? If you're new to lighting it's most likely very overwhelming to understand the lingo when[...]
How Can You Get Started with Stage Lighting From Nothing?
If your new to stage lighting and not sure where to start, how do you get started from nothing? In[...]
How Do I Control Stage Lighting Wirelessly?
In the lighting industry there have never been so many lights offering a wireless control option. One of the most[...]
Should I Use a PC or Lighting Console or Board for my Stage Lighting?
In this post, we're going to tackle the question of "Should you use a PC based or a stand-alone console?"[...]
How to Buy Stage Lights (The $50,000 Mistake)
So, you want to buy some stage lights? Where, what, and how do you even begin this process? In this[...]
How to Budget For Buying Stage Lights
When it comes to budgeting for stage lights, the cost of the individual light or lights is only part of[...]
What is “Good Enough” to meet your needs When Buying a Stage Light?
When purchasing lights, you may have noticed the amount of different options to choose from. What would be considered good[...]
The Biggest Secret to Getting a Great Price on Stage Lighting
Once you have an idea of what type and which lights you want to purchase, the next step is getting[...]
How Do You Make a Small Venue Look Great?
Some would consider lighting a small space a challenge and at times it can be. However, there are some great[...]
Small Venue Lighting 101-Think About The Environment
When you work in a small venue, It's critical to light the whole space for the biggest impact. The good[...]
Small Venue Lighting 101-Think About Control
When it comes to working in a small venue or church, you often don't have a space to place a[...]
Choosing The Right Lights for a Small Venue
If you buy lighting for a small venue or church, then you need to know these tips for choosing lights[...]
Using Non-Standard Lighting for a BIG Impact in Your Stage Lighting
Often times what you need to really make your stage pop and to make a big impact during your show[...]
Looking for an RGBW Houselight? GAMMA Penn Review
There are more houselights on the market than ever before, and today I'm going to look at a mid-sized RGBW[...]
Automation – The Secret To Great Lighting With a Small or Non-Existent Crew
When you're gigging as a small band or run the worship for a small church, choosing to automate some or[...]
How to Automate Lighting With Backing Tracks (Pt. 1)
Let's discover how to run lights via backing tracks through MIDI or OSC commands. What programs do you need, and[...]
How to Automate Lighting With Backing Tracks (Pt. 2) – Using Timecode
Timecode allows us to automate our lighting in a way that we only have to do setup on the lighting[...]
How to Automate Lighting Without Backing Tracks
Syncing automation when you have backing tracks to use along with your show is essentially quite easy, but what about[...]
How Do You Make A Mid-Size Venue or Church Look Great? – The Unique Challenges – Create Depth
Let's talk about the basics of lighting your mid sized venue so that you can put on the best show[...]
Extend and Move the Stage – How Do You Make A Mid-Size Venue or Church Look Great?
Creating different spaces with your stage is another great way to make a mid-size venue or church look great. Learn[...]
If You Have Height – Use it! – How Do You Make A Mid-Size Venue or Church Look Great?
Using the height of your space can transform the way your stage looks - whether you use it all or[...]
Recycle? How Do You Make A Mid-Size Venue or Church Look Great?
Using what you already have on your stage can be a GREAT way to make a new look. Here's how![...]
Stage Lighting Control for a Mid-Size Venue or Church
When it comes to choosing a lighting console or software for a mid-sized venue, what do you need to look[...]
Can you build an LED Tape or Pixel Design Without Soldering?
Most LED tape projects involve a bunch of soldering. Not if you use this approach! https://youtu.be/C2DLhDugteg When it comes to[...]
How To Control LED Tape and Pixels with DMX
You need to get great control of LED tape and pixels. What are the best programs and ways to do[...]
Fill Your Space With Patterns
Watch this video to learn practical tips for lighting in a larger venue, how you can use different sets of[...]
Keep Different Sightlines in Mind
In larger venues it's more likely that you'll need to accommodate odd sightlines and camera angles - but how do[...]
Leave Room for Negative Space
The last tip I have for larger venues is to leave room for negative space - there are two ways[...]
When Lighting Isn’t Just Lighting: How Can We Incorporate Video in Our Events?
Are video and lighting the same thing? If they are, how do we combine them together? In this video, David[...]
How to Trigger Video Clips Along With Your Stage Lighting
Today, let's discuss why and how to trigger both your video and lighting together for a seamless live event. https://youtu.be/Se4ZqwStM8U[...]
Lighting for the Camera – How is it Different From The Stage?
The camera has been a part of live events for some time, but in the post-2020 world more and more[...]
The Hybrid Event – How to Use “Video Lights” With Regular Stage Lighting
Balancing stage lighting, video lighting and the camera can be difficult. Let me show you how to optimize all 3[...]
Audience Lighting 101 and Console Setup For The Camera
The last step to great hybrid or livestream event lighting is to balance your audience lighting. In this video, I[...]
Video Lighting NOT on a Stage 101 – Angles, Balance, Ways to Make it Pop! – featuring GVM
Lighting for the camera is more common then ever before - even off a stage! In this video, I show[...]
How Did You Get Started with Lighting?
I asked the audience if there was something they would like me to cover in one of my videos and[...]
2 Ways to Easily Add To the Environment for Your Next Event
Lighting the Environment around your stage can be one of the best ways to make an event truly remarkable. Here[...]
How to Set Up Your Console for Room and Environmental Lighting
Controlling room and lobby lighting out of your console isn't as cut and dry as it may seem. Grab my[...]
Lobby and Entrance Lighting Do’s and Don’ts
When it comes to lobby and entry lighting, there are a couple of things to avoid - and a few[...]
How to Streamline Your Lighting or AV Setup
This month, we're talking all about how to streamline your lighting or AV setup, and in this video we begin[...]
Label like a mad-person
Labels - even if you think you don't need them, they will save you SO MUCH time and energy when[...]
Think Twice About Your Wiring
How do you keep wiring nice and clean while working with lighting? These are my top tips! https://youtu.be/NFi9zprQcO4 Making your[...]
How to Install the Mega Lite DECO Series Houselights
The MEGA Lite DECO houselights are a really great and simple system that allows anyone to install these low-voltage lights[...]
Easy Setup Stage Lighting – Ground-Supported Only
How do you put together a lighting rig that can go together and be setup QUICK for your band or[...]
Easy Setup Stage Lighting – When You Have No Atmosphere (Haze or Fog)
How do you put together a lighting rig that can go together and be setup QUICK for your band or[...]
Easy Setup Stage Lighting – The Solo Artist
How do you put together a lighting rig that can go together and be setup QUICK for a solo artist?[...]
How Do You Begin with Lasers in Stage Lighting? (Updated 2022!)
Lasers are cool. And if you already have a decent-sized rig of lights, they can be a really great next[...]
How Do You Program Lasers to Blend in With Your Show vs. Being the Centerpiece?
Lasers don't have to be a show-stopping effect. They do that well, but if you mix them in correctly, they[...]
Lighting Console Layout for Live Music
When it comes time to lay your lighting console out for live music, where do you put various cues? What[...]
Lighting Console Layouts for Corporate Events
Corporate events are their own blend of fun...and I've done a lot of them. Let me show you some ways[...]
Protecting Your Gear – Rack Bags and Soft Cases
When it comes to transporting your lights, what is the best way to keep them protected? In this video, I[...]
Protecting Your Gear – DYI Plastic Bin Cases
When it comes to transporting your lights, what is the best way to keep them protected? In this video, I[...]
Protecting Your Gear – ATA Style Road Cases
ATA style road cases are thought to be the "best" way to transport your gear. Let me show you what[...]
Networking in Lighting – What Do You Need?
Networking can seem really complicated, but it doesn't have to be. In this video, David shares how to get started[...]
Basic Network Setup for Stage Lighting
What does it take to get a basic network setup for a stage lighting system? In this video, David shows[...]
Stage Lighting Networks for Larger Events
Larger events don't have to be more complicated when it comes to networks. In this example, David shows us how[...]
What is Wire Gauge and Why Should I Care?
Wire gauge refers to the size of a wire, usually expressed in terms of its diameter or cross-sectional area. It[...]