InTents IDEA Book 2023 - 8

tents | lighting
Flores notes incandescent lighting is
still crucial to certain tent lighting designs,
but solar lighting will likely be
utilized more in the future as it becomes
more reliable.
LEFT AND RIGHT: Exec Sandy Mulrey
points to two prevailing tent lighting
trends in her region: the elegance and
luxury represented by these glass
chandeliers and a more natural look, as
exemplifi ed by these fi nely wrought wicker
lanterns. Photo left courtesy of Alex Paul
Photography @alexpaulphotography.
Photo right courtesy of photographer
Shannon Cronin @shannoncronin.
" Communication between
your decor and audiovisual
people is crucial. " -DJ Smith
At West Coast Event Productions in
Portland, Ore., string and strand lighting-
especially with café-style bulbs-is still
in strong demand, reports event account
manager DJ Smith. And some clients want
it to feature colors moving in different
sequences instead of just static white light.
West Coast also installs a lot of chandeliers
above tables, dance loors and/or cakes,
with ixture styles changing every few years
based on decor trends. Other clients favor
pattern lighting relecting either abstract
designs or symbols that reference the event
in some way, though he notes monograms
are less popular these days. " Directed about
5 feet off the ground, pattern lighting can
make the ceiling go away and add focus to
things around you, " he explains.
Other prevailing trends: Clients increasingly
coming to the company with
their own lighting ideas, and clients asking
for blends of different kinds of light.
" They might ask for ive different
styles-maybe string-and-strand combined
with indirect light bouncing off the
ceiling, with a soft wash of light on a focal
area like the head table, the buffet table or
the stage, " Smith explains. " That can provide
enough ambient light for the rest of
the space while making certain key areas
glow warmly and stand out. We can also do
pattern lighting with color washes, a scrolling
through of colors, moving headlights or
different patterns to add a little liveliness. "
Smith says clients often need to be
reminded that even afternoon and earlyevening
tent events need strategic lighting
design, since the canvas tends to ilter out a
lot of light.
" It's nice when clients ask for lighting design, "
he notes. " That's driven by their use of
phones, Google images, Pinterest and different
social media platforms. Only about 10%
of the time are they overshooting their budgets
with their ideas. "
Since West Coast began as a lighting
company and now offers a strong technical
services division, it's often able to make
clients' ideas a reality. For example, Smith
8 intents IDEA book 2023
InTents IDEA Book 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of InTents IDEA Book 2023
