Concert Lighting and Its Effect on The Concert Experience
There are many things that affect a concert experience. However, one thing in particular can affect everything from the mood of the audience to how interactive they feel with the artists on stage. Concert lighting is one of the most important things when setting up a concert experience. Not only does lighting determine what the audience is seeing but also the connection the audience feels they have with the artists on stage.
Concert Lighting and the Stage
Anyone that has ever had a concert experience knows that it is not just about the music. Today’s technology allows anyone to have their favorite songs at their fingertips. So, what makes going to a concert an actual experience? The lighting of course. Furthermore, there are so many different lighting effects that are used during shows.
Think about the differences between a small karaoke night at your favorite coffee house compared to a sold-out concert in a stadium that holds thousands. Not only is the overall atmosphere completely different but the stages are complete opposites. The coffee house may have a single light bar with a few different LED bulbs that are under the control of a single button. The sold-out stadium, however, would have a grander setup.
LED Lighting’s Addition to the Music World
LED lighting has made extravagant concert lighting more of a reality. Lighting directors are taking advantage of the different available LED colors to represent the band’s specific genre and taste. In addition to the colors LED lighting offers an alternative to other lights that give off large amounts of heat. Another perk of LED lights in a concert setting is the new advancements in cell phone apps and wristbands.
There are now bands that will advertise their shows while including a link to a special app that they have designed for their audience. These apps help replace the lighters that concert goers would use during shows. Additionally, these apps have lighting that goes along with the rhythm of specific songs.
Similarly, there are some bands that will provide wristbands at their concerts. Within these bands are small LED lights that are programmed to react to certain songs or notes that are played. Therefore, these wristbands help the audience to feel like they are more included in the concert experience. They no longer feel like they are just witnesses to the bands on stage but that they are also a part of the show.
For example, click the video below from a Coldplay concert where LED wristbands were used:
