While sometimes I would prefer the softer beam a PAR fixture produces, in most churches where projection, creative lighting, and even set designs are used, I'm not willing to give up the beam control that ellipsoidal fixtures offer. Ellipsoidal light fixtures combine good, fairly even light across the beam with the control of a tight beam along with the ability to shutter off parts I don't want. Front LightingĬonventional ellipsoidal fixtures have long been my favorite fixture for front lighting in churches. It's nearly impossible to think of every use and scenario you'll need lights for before getting into a building, so planning upfront for some extra lighting positions and DMX access will save you a lot of headaches, and possibly money down the road. Because if you don't do it now, you'll have wished you did later. This is one area in which it's pretty important to be forward-thinking and go for a little overkill on distribution. It will always be cheaper to put in more power and DMX access than you think you'll need upfront than it will be to add it later.
You run the power once and have the flexibility of changing what type of power those outlets have at any point in the future by simply sliding in a new module. We most often do this by using stage lighting dimmer packs, for example, ETC D20 modules (20 amp dimmers), ETC CC20 modules (constant 20 amp power, not DMX controlled), or ETC R20 modules (20 amp relays, controlling on/off via DMX). We often find that the most strategic thing we can do when locating power is to future proof the kind of power needed at any given outlet by making it convertible from dimmable to non-dimmable power. It's true that with conventional stage lighting fixtures you need dimmable power and with LED and intelligent stage lighting fixtures you need power distributed throughout your main auditorium at strategic locations. Regardless of what kind of stage lighting fixtures we use, churches need power.
Basics Components to Setting Up A Stage Stage Lighting Power Follow our guide to create an engaging and powerful stage lighting system for your church. We'll also discuss basic elements of stage lighting systems we're putting together for the average church building size we see, which is somewhere in the 400-500 seat range. For the final edition of our Lighting 101 series, we're going to talk about creating a whole lighting system. Over the past couple of weeks, we've discussed a lot of aspects of Church stage lighting, including everything from power to stage lighting fixtures. Library Cases & Media Library Media Cases