Lighting crew on live events hang and focus fixtures, run DMX control cable, execute the LD's cues, and strike cleanly at the end of the show. Understanding the most common fixture types and how DMX addressing works gives you a foundation to be useful in any lighting department from your first call.
The Role of the Lighting Department
On most live events, the lighting department is responsible for hanging and focusing fixtures, running cable, programming or executing cues, and striking everything cleanly at wrap. Depending on the size of the show, you might work under a lighting director (LD), a master electrician (ME), or both.
Common Fixture Types
- PAR cans — simple, rugged wash fixtures. Great for stage wash and backlight. Still common on touring and club shows.
- Ellipsoidals (ERS / Lekos) — focused spotlights with shutters and a lens system. Used for key light, logo projection, and precise beam control.
- Fresnels — soft-edged wash fixtures common in theater and broadcast. Diffuse, flattering light.
- Moving lights — motorized fixtures that pan, tilt, and change color/gobo from the console. Heavy, expensive, and require careful handling during load-in and strike.
- LED wash/blinders — energy-efficient, low-heat, and increasingly common on corporate and touring shows.
DMX: The Control Language
DMX-512 is the protocol that carries lighting control data from the console to the fixtures. It runs over 5-pin XLR cable (though 3-pin is common on lower-budget shows). A single DMX universe carries 512 channels of data. Each fixture is assigned an address — a starting channel number — and responds to control values sent on its channels.
When running DMX, always terminate the last fixture in a chain with a 120-ohm terminator. Missing terminators cause erratic fixture behavior that can be difficult to diagnose.
How to Focus a Light
Focusing means physically aiming and adjusting a fixture so it hits exactly the right spot on the stage. The LD calls out positions from the house while someone on a ladder or lift adjusts the fixture. Good communication is critical — develop clear verbal shorthand with your team.
Cable Safety
Lighting cable runs at line voltage (120V or 208V for larger fixtures). Always de-energize a circuit before plugging or unplugging a fixture. Never coil energized cable. Check connectors for bent pins, cracked housings, or scorch marks before use — damaged connectors are a fire hazard.
The Strike
Strike starts from the top down — get fixtures down before you break down truss. Coil cable neatly with over-under technique. Fixtures go into cases with the correct foam inserts. Leaving fixtures unprotected in a truck is a good way to end your relationship with that rental company.