Band lighting help

[rickster]

where should the par cans be facing?Last week the bar ownr hung the lights right down in my face.I couldnt see anything so I pushed it to the ceiling
Ive noticed in lots of pictures of live bands the cans are situated behind or beside them shining at their backs?Where do you put yours?

[Merge]

If you only have 2 sets of lights, I'd out them out front. If you put them behind you, all anyone will see are shadows on stage. If you can get a few sets of lights, put 2 in back and 2 in front. My band usually has one set of 4 lights on each side of the stage, and some rain lights on a scaffold set up behind the drummer.

[BloodyFingers]

I like par cans over the band facing dow on them. adds more color to the set.

[lonewolf]

We use two hi-output LED fixtures out front, mounted on top of our main PA speakers. I aim the stage left light at my position on stage right and the stage right light at Matt's position on stage left.

This is similar to having a standard tree of PAR 56 cans on each side and aiming them at one performer on the opposite side of the stage. This crossing effect gives the beam enough distance to flood and also helps to get light on both sides of the performers. Although we don't have anybody on center stage, the lights cross there and provide lots of light from both sides in the center.

I don't see much use for flood lighting in the rear facing toward the front. As Merge said, all that does is make outlines in shadows. In the back, we have a 5' wide lighting tree with a THE VERGE logo lighted sign. On each side of the sign, there is an American DJ X-color LED color changer spot light, aimed thru Matt & I onto the dance floor. These LED spots have beams that you can see in daylight and really cut thru a darker stage without fog. I recommend this kind of FX lighting in the rear.

Floods on a truss in front of you? If they aren't aimed straight down, its gonna suck for your eyes. If they are PAR 64's its gonna suck for your sweat glands. Welcome to living on a lighted stage.

[LHSL]

Definitely light from the front first. If you have lights for the back, then it's a bonus. The most important reason to have lights is so the crowd can see your faces. It's hot and bright, but that's show business.