Welcome to today’s show and in this episode we’re doing our Why segment. I wanted to start this segment with exploring various topics and asking the simple question, Why? Today, why do I talk so much about getting an even wash of light on your stage and what are the exceptions? Show Sponsorship (2:17) The sponsor of today’s show is Learn Stage Lighting Labs. If you’re new here, the Labs is a great community for those that are getting started with lighting and ready to take it to the next level. Inside of the Labs, we have action plans, tutorials, and a forum for all Lab members. It’s a great resource and it really works. As a promotion, I want to offer my listeners a free month inside of the Labs, you can check the page here: Join the Labs! This is a great opportunity to join and see if it is a good fit for you. You’ll have an entire month to binge watch the videos, check out the action plans, and join in on the discussions in the forum. If you decide after the 1 month trial it’s not for you then you can just cancel. It’s very easy to do. If you decide you want to stay on longer we have monthly and annual payment options. Main Segment (5:12) Today’s topic is why do I talk so much about creating an even wash on the stage? In a short description, an even stage wash is when from one end of the stage to the other end, there are no dark spots of lighting. It’s just an even wash of light. Regardless of the type of show, stage, or location even when there’s not a camera, there’s a camera. Nowadays, almost everyone has a smart phone and can take pictures or videos. What this means for you, is that you want to make sure that the image or video is going to look the best it can on the camera. When getting the show to look right, this will entice people to come to see the show or the church service in the future. That’s why I am often sharing ways to make that even wash and help make it look good on camera. Related: How Do I Make an Even Wash of Light for the Stage? The Exceptions and Downsides There are some exceptions and downsides for when you may not want to create an even wash for your stage. One of the downsides of an even wash is that even though the stage has an even wash, that means the light is also shining up the backdrop and sidewalls. Some people don’t want the light to do that. If this is a pain point for you, then I recommend trying to focus the even stage wash towards the front of the stage and leaving the edge of light off of the backdrop. Some of the exceptions of an even wash is that it takes away some of the mystery of the edges for example, when someone walks off the stage. Some setups do want a darker space on the stage where the audience attention will not go to. If you’re with a church or in a position where you want to highlight a speaker or performer, you’re going to want to highlight the main entertainer. In these instances is where having an even wash isn’t necessary. If you’re working with performers or a band, it’s good to communicate that there are light spots on the stage. A great way to approach is to highlight that the lead singer w...