Things a Lighting Stagehand Can Help With

Whether you're planning a special event or a large-scale production, one of the most important aspects is lighting. After all, lighting can make or break your show. You want the lighting to be just right, which is why it's important to have a professional lighting stagehand on site.

Here's what they can do to help make sure your event is a success.

Lighting Setup & Strike

A lighting stagehand can assist with both setting up and striking (aka dismantling) the lights for an event or production. The setup process is quite involved, as the stagehand is responsible for many different tasks, including assembling the lights, positioning them correctly, setting up cables, and connecting to power sources.

They'll know exactly how each light should be hung and wired, as well as how to safely remove them when the show is over. You don't have to worry about any technical aspects of the lighting system after your event. These highly-skilled professionals will take care of everything for you. And if you need to make changes during the event, they can assist you quickly with minimal disruption.

Lighting Design & Programming

Another critical aspect of a lighting stagehand's job is creating and programming the lighting design for your event or production. They'll work with you to develop a design that complements your event and then use specialized software to program it. This ensures that the lights will be positioned correctly and move in sync with the other elements of your show.

For example, if you have a dance performance, the lights will move with the music and choreography so that each scene looks its best. Usually, this involves programming complex sequences with very precise timing, which is why having a professional stagehand do this is invaluable. They'll be able to make sure that the lights do exactly what you want them to do.

Fixture Maintenance & Troubleshooting

In addition to setting up and programming the lights, a lighting stagehand can maintain the lighting system throughout your event or production. They'll make sure all fixtures are working properly and fix any issues that arise during the show.

You won't have to worry about anything going wrong during an important performance or presentation. These professionals know how to troubleshoot and repair any lighting system to ensure your event runs smoothly.

Common issues that a lighting stagehand can help with include flickering lights, blown bulbs, and broken cables. These are usually things you can't really prepare for, so having someone onsite who knows what to do if something goes wrong is invaluable.