Corporate Stage Lighting Basics: Light a Speaker, Panel or Awards Stage

A corporate event can have an excellent speaker and a poor stage. When the lighting is flat, the speaker looks tired. When it is harsh, they squint. When the screen washes out because a spotlight hits it, the slides are unreadable. Good stage lighting is a small number of well-placed lights, not a lot of equipment. This guide gives you the plan and the checklist.

Three-point lighting

The standard approach for lighting a person has three parts.

• Key light: the main light, placed in front at about 45 degrees to one side and above head height. It sets the look.
• Fill light: a softer light from the other side that reduces shadows. It is usually dimmer than the key.
• Back light: a light from behind and above that outlines hair and shoulders and keeps the speaker from blending into the backdrop.

Lighting a stage this way is standard practice in theater, television and events.

Choose fixtures for the job

For smaller events, a rental company can supply a stand-mounted set. For bigger ones, a lighting designer works from a plot of the stage.

Avoid the screen

Lights hitting a projection screen wash out the image. Keep stage lights aimed at the speaker, not the screen. Check angles when the screen is lowered. If speakers walk, the lights must cover their path, but not touch the screen. Combine with a properly sized screen.

Color and camera

Most corporate stages use a neutral white light on speakers in the 3200K to 5600K range, and a color on the backdrop that matches the brand. If the event is recorded or streamed, tell the lighting team at the start, because cameras are fussier than eyes. Use steady lights with no flicker; cheaper LEDs can flicker on video. Keep the color temperature the same across all lights on the speaker. Our color temperature guide explains the numbers.

Do not use saturated color on faces. Green and magenta light make skin look unwell.

Stage and audience levels

The stage should be brighter than the audience, so attention goes where it should. But the audience needs enough light to take notes, move around and eat. In a ballroom, dim house lights to about half and add warm light at tables, such as table lamps or candles. Banquet tables with centerpiece lighting look good while keeping the stage in focus.

Rigging and clearance

Stage lights need somewhere to hang. Ask the venue:

1. Do you have rigging points, truss or a lighting grid?
2. What is the ceiling height and the maximum load?
3. Are outside lighting vendors allowed? Do they need insurance?
4. Where are the power outlets, and what are their ratings?
5. Is there a freight elevator, loading dock and schedule?

More lighting guides are in our Lighting & Power section.

Power

Fixtures are mostly LED today, with modest draw, but dimmers and controllers need clean power. Sound and light should be on separate circuits where possible. Check event power needs. If outdoors, see generator sizing.

Chicago notes

Chicago hotels, convention spaces and theaters often have in-house lighting and union rules. Ask early whether outside vendors may set up and whether the venue requires its own crew. For suburban venues, ask about ceiling height and rigging before you order any fixtures.

Plan the room and the stage together

Book a free 15-minute seating call and we will place seating, sightlines and stage together, or request a quote.