All posts by lscjonathan

Main Street Station Event Lighting, AV

Main Street Station, Richmond, Virginia.

The Lighting & Sound Company can meet all of your Main Street Station Event Lighting and AV needs.

Originally opened more than a century ago in 1901, Main Street Station remains an iconic and historic landmark in Richmond. The train shed has recently been renovated, and is now one of Richmond’s largest and most popular event venues. Main Street Station is a fantastic venue for large corporate events and meetings. Our crew loves working in this beautiful space. MSS is located right down the street from our Richmond Office!

Richmond Magazine held the 2018 Elbys in the renovated train shed.

The new event space is pretty large, seating nearly 2,000. The old shed roof is easy to rig from, and most types of shows can fit between the glass-encased walls. Since it’s re-opening in 2017, the popular venue hosts political events, weddings, awards shows, charity auctions, corporate meetings & parties and more. Many annual and biannual events, such as the Richmond Wedding Expo, are moving from smaller venues to the new space.

The Lighting & Sound Co. provides production for the Richmond Weddings Fashion show and has since 2015.

Because of it’s convenient location down town, MSS is the perfect venue for corporate events. Main street station is walking distance from many hotels, restaurants, and bars. It’s also a train station, which originally worried us because of the noise. Thankfully, the trains aren’t loud enough to be distracting from any event we’d done so far. For a production company like us, ease of load in is very important. The train shed doesn’t have loading docks, but it does have multiple loading entrances that are easy to access, making it easy to load in alongside other vendors.

Rigging in Main Street Station is made easy by the multiple on-site lifts.

Gobos (Monogram Projection) for Weddings and Events

Event lighting doesn’t just have to be a column or circle of light. The skilled designers and technicians at The Lighting & Sound Co can customize the output of some lighting fixtures to project a pattern of light. This element is often referred to as a “gobo,” though it’s also called a template, light pattern, or texture. Gobos can be created from nearly any design, and most flat surfaces are a great place to display a gobo.

Monogram Gobos

Perhaps our most popular gobo service is a custom wedding gobo, often including a monogram. These designs can be chosen from our catalog of custom layouts and fonts, or provided from client artwork. A typical wedding gobo might have the bride and groom’s names in a stylized font, and the wedding date.

Custom Monogram Gobo

Pattern Gobos

A common corporate event service, but also seen at many high-end weddings, is a pattern or design displayed on the walls or ceilings around the venue. The design might be a scenic element, or an abstract projection that creates texture on the wall.

Pattern Gobos projected on the ceiling of The Hotel John Marshall

Logo Gobos

Many events need to display the logo of the event sponsor(s) or the company holding the event. A custom logo gobo makes it easy to project the logo. Most corporate events need a logo flanking the stage, or at the building entrance.

Custom Logo Gobo Projected on Building

Aerial Gobos

Most concert lighting will include a haze or other atmospheric effect, which allows the beams of light to show up in the air. We can slot a pattern into the light path, and consequently make fantastic aerial effects possible. Our powerful moving head fixtures have numerous pattern choices that, when combined with prisms and rotation available from the fixture, have the ability to take a show to the next level.

Aerial Gobos in use at a concert

Contact Us Today!

If you would like more information about any of our custom gobo services, feel free to get in touch with us via email at events@149.28.40.141 or by phone at (804) 893-5066.

Jazz Nativity Lighting

We just wrapped up this year’s run of Jazz Nativity with Gayton Church. This is our second year providing production for this amazing performance that benefits Feed My Starving Children. Every year our team looks forward to working with this group of talented performers.

Some pictures below taken by Katelyn James. The full collection can be found on her blog.

Uplighting for Weddings & Events

Uplighting, out of all of the lighting services The Lighting & Sound Co. provides to its customers, is the most popular option. It’s also one of the quickest and most affordable ways to add the “wow factor” to your event. A perimeter of uplights can change an event space from dull & drab to magically beautiful. There are thousands of choices to make for your event, but uplighting is a great place to start.

Wedding and event uplighting science museum richmond virginia

There are thousands of choices to make for your event, but uplighting is a great place to start.

Uplighting is Decor Item

Like most lighting services, it is usually set-and-forget to one color. There are also options available to have the lighting change throughout your event. Perhaps you want one color for dinner, and a different color for dancing. Going with a few colors? The lights can be set to automatically change colors throughout the night, requiring no extra day-of staffing.

wedding and event uplighting at the commonwealth club richmond va

Uplighting can be virtually any color.

The Sky is the Limit with Uplighting

With 6-color LEDs, virtually any color is possible. You can pick from a range of sample colors and see the impact different colors have on your event space using our one-of-a-kind color picker. You can also use the color picker to see the impact of Pin-Spotting, another important lighting service.

This is one of the more versatile lighting services. It fits into any space, and suits every type of event from corporate events to large and extravagant weddings. No power available? No problem. Wireless battery-powered LEDs are an option that fit into most event budgets.

Wedding and event uplighting ward center pertersburg virginia

String lighting is a great compliment.

Uplighting and Other Lighting Services

Great as a standalone decor item, uplighting is even better when combined with other services such as bistro lighting and other string lighting.

Take complete control over the ambiance of your event space. While other decor items help make your event space look amazing, only lighting can make your event both look and feel magical.

The Hotel John Marshall

Want to see more? Check out our uplighting gallery!

Wedding String Lighting

Wedding String lighting & bistro lighting have taken over the special event industry- learn about the different types of string lighting available so you can make the best decision for your event. When it comes to string lighting, little decisions can make a big difference. Let’s start with the basics.

String Lighting Color

Picking the right cable color for your event string lighting is the first decision you need to make. Traditionally, bistro & string lighting comes in black & white colors, with specialty colors such as gray available in some areas. There really isn’t a bad choice here most of the time. Some people want the cables to blend into the background, some people like them to stand out- the decision is yours. Black bistro is great against the backdrop of the night sky.

Garner Pavilion SMOV Wedding Bistro Lighting

Black Edison Bistro strung in a zig-zag pattern for a wedding at the Garner Pavilion in Richmond.

String Lighting Varieties

Like everything else about your wedding lighting, Lighting & Sound Co. offers a large variety of options to ensure that your event turns out perfectly. Scroll through some of the options below and find the style that fits your event.

Black & White Edison Bistro

Black Edison bistro is by far the most popular type of string lighting used for events. The classic look and soft incandescent light at a magical ambiance that is impossible to capture using other methods. Edison bistro is popular mainly because it not only lights the space well, its affordable and looks fantastic in pictures. This type of wedding string lighting is best for traditional looks, such as zig zags & parallel styles. For more on bistro styles, check out our article on Bistro Lighting Styles For Weddings, Corporate Events & More!

Black Edison Bistro at the Valentine musuem

Black & White Globe Bistro

Globe bistro is the diet version of string lighting. Smaller bulbs than Edison bistro provide slightly less light, but make the strings lightweight and versatile. Globe bistro lighting is great for accents, & tracing bistro lighting styles.

The globe bulb can also be replaced with a candelabra style bulb, for a slightly different look:

A white globe bistro accent for a drape canopy at Independence Golf Club

White Globe Bistro as an accent to a drape canopy at Independence Golf Club

Globe bistro on a tent for a wedding at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens.

RGB LED Edison Bistro

LED bistro is a low-power solution for bistro, with an added bonus: It can change colors! These string lights looks just like Edison bistro. In addition to providing a lovely incandescent look, they can also change to brilliant colors to fit your theme. Great as accents where there is already enough light and you want to add a wow factor.

RGB LED Festoon Lights

Festoons are the most versatile string light available. Festoons have a slightly different look than Edison & Globe bistro, and they can be used for pretty much anything. These lights are fully controllable, with each individual bulb being able to be changed to a specific color. RGB mixing means pretty much any color is possible, making Festoons an extremely versatile string light.

RGB LED Festoon bistro string lights pink

Festoons in pink for The Love Story at Short Pump Town Center.

Black & White Mini String Lights

Traditional Mini Lights, more popularly referred to as Christmas lights, can be used for a ton of different purposes. These lights not only come in strings, but in nets and drapes too, giving you even more options for your event. Great for making drape canopies sparkle, for waterfall effects, and for wrapping around columns or just draping in vertical sections.

String light drape canopy as a backdrop for the wedding party table.

Wrapping the bases of tree with mini lights is another fantastic effect to add some detail to your wedding.

These are just some of the most popular options for string lighting, reach out to an LSC Designer to learn more about string lighting for your wedding.

6 LIES Your Wedding Vendors May Be Telling You

More than once a day we’ll hear a bride or groom mention something about one of our local wedding vendors that makes us scratch our heads. Since some of the things we’ve heard have been rather outrageous, we decided to compile a list of things you need to watch out for.

1. Wedding Vendors who say specialization in events is vital.

Some wedding vendors may try to convince you that their services are superior because they only serve wedding clients. While you don’t want your caterer to be bringing in the lights, it isn’t unusual for production companies to serve different types of events. For the most part, the design concepts you’d see applied to lighting large corporate dinners are similar to ones used for weddings, just on a different scale. Many production companies have different departments that handle various event styles. This allows them to deal with different client types on their own levels, while still having access to the same professional-grade equipment, resources and event partners.

Design concepts are typically similar from one event type to another.

2. Vendors who claim offering a smaller number of services is better

Some companies will tell you that because they only offer a select number of services, their services are of higher quality than their competitors. This is like saying Google can only be good at email, search engines, navigation apps, OR self-driving cars; it just isn’t true. Having a single production company with extensive resources to cover your lighting, AV, and drape needs makes life a lot simpler. Working with one vendor for all your related needs means one point of contact, one contract, and one vision. It also typically means lower cost to you through reduced delivery and labor charges.

3. Anytime someone tells you that you’re on a short clock to sign the contract

Many smaller companies can only handle one or two events at a time. Because of this, there is a possibility that they will book up during wedding season. Don’t let this pressure you into signing the contract to lock in your date. You only have one chance to get it right, so make sure you take your time and select a vendor who puts your satisfaction first. Select a vendor that won’t rush you into signing a contract.

4. Lighting providers that claim Wireless LEDs are preferable for uplighting

Taken from 7 Things You Need To Know About Wedding Lighting

Some wedding vendors mislead brides and grooms into thinking wireless solutions are the only way to go. Be wary of companies that claim to only use battery powered LEDs and use phrases such as “no messy wires.” Any professional production company should be able to offer both solutions. Wireless LEDs are often required for areas that are impossible to get power to. However, wired LEDs are far more powerful and brighter. Experienced lighting companies know how to hide all wires out of sight anyway, so make sure you go wireless for the right reasons!

Wired LEDs are far more powerful than their wireless counterparts.

5. Wedding Vendors that claim you always need an on-site technician

Some wedding services like catering or a band need on-site staff to provide the service. The same is true for some, but not all, wedding lighting services. However, if you have only ordered uplighting, this is considered a decor item. There is no need to have a technician watch over your wedding. Consider a production company that will provide a on-site tech at your request, but not force one on you by saying it is “included.”

6. Vendors that say an early setup costs more

If your event starts earlier, there may not be time to set up everything the same day. Hotels usually set all of the tables and place settings the evening before; lighting and decor can be done at the same time. This way, you can arrive and not worry about a set up crew rushing to finish. Some companies try to use an advance setup as a way to extract more money from a client. Choose a company that will set up at a time that is convenient for you and does not impede other vendors or guests. Production companies should typically only charge for use day in these circumstances.

Fourth at the Fort 2017 – Concert Lighting, Sound, & Stage Support

We spent this Independence Day providing concert lighting & sound support for Fourth at the Fort. Fourth at the Fort is an annual concert event hosted at Fort Lee in Petersburg, VA. This year the event featured country artist’s Maddie & Tae, and a 20 minute fireworks show. Our event partners at Temp Power provided generators: a 45KVa, and two 125KVa generators. Main Stage Productions provided the Stageline SL320 Mobile stage. Despite the morning heat, and heavy thunderstorms in the afternoon, our crew had no issues. The show went up and came down without a hitch.

Setup

Power

Our basic concert lighting rig is very efficient and operates on only a 45KVa three-phase generator. A separate 125KVa unit was used for sound, with another backup on an automatic transfer switch to ensure we would never lose power. Temp-Power provides highly reliable generators, so the transfer switch is mostly a formality to serve a special request by our client.

LSC Production Manager Jonathan Blake Coordinates with Temp-Power

The Rig

Concert Lighting Package

We brought out a full array of LEDs and a few Beam Movers. Our LED crowd blinders kept the crowd well lit at crucial moments in the show. The simple rig consisted of 20 Chauvet Colorados, setup in what we call an “Eye-Candy” style. For moving lights, we utilized 8 Elation Platinum Beam 5Rs. On our down stage truss we had 8 ETC Source Four Lekos for face light, 16 IP65 Elation SixPAR 200 IPs for color. Rounding off this turn-key concert lighting rig were LED Elation CuePix WW4 blinders.

LSC Lighting Designer Dylan Adams operates the lighting console for Maddie & Tae.

Concert Sound Package

For sound we utilized a flown Vertec Line Array. The main system consisted of 16 JBL Vertec 4889 boxes, and four JBL VRX932LA-1 tops for center fills. 16 JBL SRX 4719 subs provided the low end for the show. We brought out Venue SC48s for FOH and monitor mix.

Gallery

White Poly-Premier drape with Sheer Champagne Gathers for a wedding at the Hotel John Marshall. Uplights add an amber glow to the look.

John Marshall Ballroom Wedding Time-lapse

John Marshall Ballroom Wedding Lighting & Drape

Memorial day weekend is always busy, and this year was no exception as we had a number of lighting and drape events. So we created this time lapse for one of our Sunday weddings with CCS Events to show you some of the craziness. Our crew creates a drape backdrop to cut the room in half for the ceremony, and CCS staff preps tables for the reception. Sheer champagne gathers and amber uplights complete the look. We also place amber uplights around the ballroom and hang pin spots and wash lighting for the ceiling in the balcony above. The wash lighting adds a warm amber glow and washes over the room.

Once the ceremony is over, there is a short window during cocktail hour for the event staff to reset the room. CCS staff relocates tables and chiavari chairs and LSC techs clear out the drape. The room changeover is completed with plenty of time to spare.

Are you booking a wedding or event at the Hotel John Marshall? Check out our services to learn more about what we can do to help make your event perfect. We have an extensive portfolio of events at the John Marshall Ballrooms, and other venues all over the state.
Venue: John Marshall ballrooms
Date: March 28, 2017
Planner: CCS Events

Speaking Lighting

At The Lighting & Sound Co, we have provided event lighting and sound reinforcement for many years. Our start came from the concert and stage production world, which involves plenty of jargon and unique terms. Clients in that world typically have an idea of what their needs are and usually specify (often with a rider) exactly what equipment their production requires.

Weddings and special events, however, bring clients who have a vision but might be unfamiliar with the terms that describe what they want to see and hear. It’s our job to explain the services we can provide that will accentuate and exemplify a vision that is given to us. We “speak lighting” and translate for our clients.

From Vision to Reality

Our design and sales team consults with clients every day who tell us where they are having an event, how many people are attending, and might share a picture that they saw and would like to replicate. We take this information and translate it into a complete event design, making it easy for our clients to have a perfect event. If the venue is a spot we haven’t worked at, we’ll do a site survey to get measurements of a space, evaluate the feasibility of different lighting products, plan electrical usage and loading access, and find any limitations of the event site. Many times it is useful to meet the client on site to demo some lighting products or get a feel for what colors will look good in an event space. Of course, we also provide our clients with a virtual color picker, to choose colors in advance of an event.

There are thousands of different styles of lighting fixtures and ways to add light or leave an area dark, as may be required. We might “wash” a wall or ceiling with a single color, or, accent just the columns of a room with sleek, narrow uplighting. We can shoot a client’s logo as a”gobo” on a wall of drape or put narrow spots on the centerpieces of tables. If a large projector screen is needed right on the edge of a seating area, we’ll be sure to use a rear-projection screen so the image isn’t blocked by people walking in front of it.

Once we have an idea of a client’s vision, and have taken a look at the venue, we’ll offer lighting, sound, AV, and decor options that align with the theme of the event, look sleek and classy without having unsightly components, and, most importantly, provide for a safe event. A portfolio of lighting options is available to examine a selection of choices. The client selects the style they prefer and we set it up at the event. In the background, our technical teams are taking the equipment specified by the sales team and determining the safest and most efficient way to set it up. Very occasionally we’ll find that we need to add a component to safely do a job or provide the best experience for the client. If we lose money doing the job right but the client is happy, we are also happy.

How can we make your event perfect?

We specialize in delivering perfection, even with difficult or unusual requests. If you were told that a certain service couldn’t be done, give us a call. We imagine new ways to provide solutions that used to require significant expense or unsafe methods. Clients and venues often say to us, “Nobody ever did that here before!”

It pays to know people. If there’s a task we can’t handle, chances are we know someone who can. Our network of event partners spans numerous industries, hundreds of people, and multiple states.

Let us handle the complex or technical aspects of your event, so you can concentrate on other details. Tell us what you want to happen, and we’ll transform your vision into reality. Our promise is “Event Perfection” and we won’t stop until we achieve it.

Bistro Lighting Styles for Weddings, Corporate Events & More

Bistro lighting is one of the most popular wedding lighting options, and The Lighting & Sound Co provides every style of bistro lighting you may need!

Also known as string lighting, festoon lighting, or cafe lighting, what we refer to as bistro lighting, is an individual strand with bare lightbulbs dangling down at even intervals. Bistro lights provide a classic, timeless look with a warm glow. The lights are often hung over a reception area, but can also go over a dance floor, patio, or entrance area. Typically, our technicians will install multiple strings of bistro at an event site, arranged in a particular pattern.

One of the best features of bistro lighting is that it can be used nearly anywhere. We commonly install bistro light strings in tents, but have hung them in barns, over open fields and courtyards, in hotel ballrooms, on top of swimming pools, and around food courts and skating rinks. It also neatly complements other types of lighting including uplighting and chandeliers.

Styles of Bistro Lighting

Following are several styles of lighting installations. This is by no means an exhaustive list but includes our most commonly-provided services:

Tracing Bistro

Typically installed in a frame tent or other space with exposed rafters, this style follows the roof supports. This style uses simple bistro which, while not as bright as classic bistro, offers a great look when used for tracing, and is great for shorter tents.

Tracing bistro lighting on a tent for a wedding at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens.

Fanning (or festooning) Bistro

Often used outside, all of the strands of lights fan out from one point, on a building or other support structure.

Festooning Bistro Lighting for an Event at Tredegar Ironworks in Richmond, VA.

Traditional (or Zig-zag) Bistro

Our most common service which provides a classic glow in any space, be it a ballroom, tent, or open field. If there is no place to hang the bistro from, we will bring appropriate support structures that don’t distract from your event.

Gathered Bistro

Commonly used to gather all the strands together over a key spot like a dance floor.

Gatherered Bistro Lighting for an outdoor event.

Parallel Bistro

Effective where there are balconies, buildings, or roof structures that create a long rectangular area.

Bistro lighting paper lanterns dance floor

Parallel bistro lighting with paper lanterns over a dance floor.

Crossing Bistro

An excellent style for tents, because some tents are shorter than others. A stylish way of hanging bistro lighting, great for frame tents and long but thin indoor or outdoor areas.

Crossing Bistro Lighting with chandeliers at a networking event for Richmond Weddings.

Bistro Arch

Also good for shorter tents, but works in any tent; bistro strings follow the angles of the roof to leave plenty of headroom for guest.

Bistro Arch inside a tent for an event at Tredegar Ironworks.