Lighting Makes A Difference
Why is lighting a good idea?
Entertainment and atmosphere are the two largest contributors to a packed dance floor, and they directly impact the outcome of the night. It’s obvious how important entertainment is. If the music stinks, or the event lacks flow and direction, it’s easy for things to come off track and the outcome will be less than favorable, especially if the goal is a crazy awesome dance party.
Atmosphere is often left out! The number of candles in the event space won’t impact the energy but the overall lighting scheme will.
When I chat with couples, I often hear things like “the venue has beautiful string lights”, or “the lights in the ballroom can be dimmed” so we don’t think we need additional lighting. It’s a common statement by couples because they don’t always know what they need to get to the finish line. If the goal is more of a cocktail party vibe and less of a dance party vibe, then sure, string lights and dim ballroom lights are perfect. But, if the goal is a wild dance floor with tons of energy, string lights and dimmers are not the perfect solution.
I joke that all the lights in my living room are on dimmers and my back patio is completely covered with bistro lights, but that doesn’t mean that if I throw on some music and invite people over, they will instantly feel like dancing up a storm! Don’t get me wrong, dimmable lighting and accents like bistro lighting is a great first step. It’s step 2 that’s the most impactful. Adding elements like uplighting and dance floor wash lighting will make the space come to life. Simple and impactful during special moments but once the transition to dancing starts, the energy from these lighting systems will be epic.
When is the last time you went to a stage performance (concert, musical, play ….)? How about the last time you visited a museum or high-end store? Next time, look around. You’ll notice so many types of lighting being used to create highlights, emotions, atmosphere, and interactivity that bridges audible entertainment with visual entertainment.
What if my venue offers lighting?
The main difference between venue supplied and DJ supplied lighting all comes down to control and coverage. I would ask 2 questions. First, how many light fixtures will be used? The majority of venues require 15-25 uplights to correctly light the room. Second, I would ask if you are able to specify different changes at different times. Refer to the above paragraph where I talk about lighting changes and different themes for special moment dances, dinner, and dancing.
You might find that the lighting the venue offers is a very elementary “set it and forget it”. So that might create a nice atmosphere for dinner, but there is no elevated energy when things transition to a big huge dance party (And let’s be honest, that’s the part of the wedding that most people are super excited for!). That’s the big difference with a DJ providing lighting. Your DJ can coordinate the lighting to work in sync with the music, which takes things to a new level. A DJ’s uplighting and dance floor lighting work together to create amazing energy.
In conclusion.
Take some time to think about it. Is lighting right for you? Do you expect a packed dance floor? Do you want to take that energy and atmosphere to the next level? Lighting can make all types of event spaces come to life.
Written by Andy Sussman of TSG Weddings, Boston, MA
