Special effects lighting is fun and easy to do, and can be used at events large and small to give the show a little extra excitement. Special effects lights come in many shapes, sizes and special effects functions and can be used indoors and outdoors, at concerts, Halloween haunted houses, magic shows and in dance clubs. With a bit of creative thinking, you can create an inexpensive special effects lighting setup for your own event.
Identification
Special effects lighting is flashy, colorful lighting used at events to create a mood. Often accompanied with a musical performance and frequently seen in dance halls, special effects lighting is used in clubs to add an extra pop of excitement to the DJ's record-spinning style. You may also have seen special effects lighting in theatrical performances that involve deception magic.
Function
Special effects lighting is used to enhance a performance, but it can also be used to hide flaws in the performance. In a dark club, uneven special effects lighting can make everyone appear attractive. Magenta lighting can smooth skin blemishes and give a supple look to the skin. Lights can be used in combination with smoke machines to create a colored smoke field, which can help disguise some tricks in magical or musical performances. Light makes the fake smoke glow, which creates a solid look ideal for hiding sneaky costume changes. Lighted fake smoke can also be used in a club to add flair to a room and hide a dirty floor.
Size
Special effects lighting can come in many sizes. Many music technology supply stores sell small portable special effects devices that can fit almost anywhere. Handheld laser lights are widely and cheaply available, and their portability makes them a great option for moving laser special effects onstage. These lasers are extremely cheap, so they can be used even in a low-budget performance. Lasers create a striking straight light when used in the smoke from a smoke machine, a cheap effect that looks expensive if you aren't privy to the secret.
Types
Types of special effects lights can include lasers, black lights, beacon lights, intelligent lighting and spotlighting. Beacon lights are similar to the police siren lights that you might have seen an undercover police officer stick on the roof of his car in an old movie.
There are two types of black lights; one type, which has a fluorescent bulb, makes white objects, teeth, and bodily fluid stains glow. The other type of black light is simply a purple light bulb that makes the room the color that a fluorescent black light would. Make sure you use black light safety for black light special effects lighting. See References for a guide to black light safety.
Benefits
If you have designed your special effects lighting correctly, it should make your event more interesting, mysterious and exciting. Using the right kind of lights in a club can encourage dancing. Some DJs sync the rhythm of flashing lights with the music, a technique which can have a surreal effect that can leave a clubber feeling disoriented in a pleasurable way. At a musical performance, professionally designed lights can greatly enhance the emotional impact of the music, adding excitement to the performance.
Warning
Though some special effects lights are easy to use, make sure you observe basic common sense; if you are using an indoor unit, do not use it outdoors. Don't stand in a puddle of beer while plugging your lights in. Do not overload your power strip or outlet. Don't hang anything anywhere it could fall on someone, much less overhead, unless you are certified to hang things in a theater venue.
Keep the lights away from the smoke machine in case the fluid might leak; if you're using lights on your smoke, you can set the lights a few feet away. Secure all of your cords away from anywhere that might be a tripping hazard. If you need to secure a large amount of cord near a dance floor, keep at as far away from the floor as you can, and use a heavy-duty tape like Gorilla Tape. Secure the cables well and make sure they can't be knocked loose.
