What is a light show and what are the most common types

In the field of visual shows, there are many types of performances using light technologies. At Aliatrix, we mainly create LED shows. We often find that we are mistakenly listed in the program as a laser show, for example, even though we don't use any lasers in the show. We completely understand that the term light show can be broad and confusing to the layman - let's explain the difference between the most common types of light performances.

Lightshow (LED show)

All of the light shows we offer primarily use LED technology. What does this mean? The performers' costumes and equipment contain LEDs that light up during the performance - with colors or even patterns. These lights are synchronised with the music and choreography and by lighting up at the right moment, they create the resulting impressive visual effect.

Laser show

The main effect of laser shows is not LED technology, but laser beams placed on the costumes of the performers or laser projectors. These can be programmed to music.

We don't have lasers in any of the light shows we offer, but we can create such a show on request. For example, we have used lasers in a fire show for Wonderland Halloween.

UV show

This type of show uses a UV light to illuminate the stage, under which the performers' costumes, equipment and make-up are lit up. A UV show uses special fluorescent paints and fabrics that react specifically to the ultraviolet light spectrum. They do not glow on their own and there are no LED lights on the costumes.

The show can either be a black theatre, where only the fluorescent elements stand out in total darkness, or it can be illuminated with other lights.

We have created shows with UV elements in the past, for example, for UNIS anniversary. We don't currently have any UV shows on offer, but we will be happy to tailor make one for you.

What technology do we use in our lightshows?

What types of effects can you look forward to in our light shows and which ones come directly from our workshop?

Light costumes

In our shows we use costumes decorated with LED strips with special programmable chips. We design and manufacture costumes from the ground up to the finished product - each piece is sewn, glued, soldered and dressed before going on stage with love.

Original designs are created by our creative director, Terezka. Her ideas are inexhaustible. She also made most of the costumes herself.

We have been developing and manufacturing LED costumes and light show equipment for over 5 years and our technical and creative teams are constantly working to improve them. Thus, all the costumes you can see in our shows are unique author's pieces.

Light equipment

Performing with equipment is our main specialty - in our choreographies we dance with staff, fans, poi and other types of equipment and show new circus tricks - so called flow arts.

We use programmable LED technology in our equipment as well. We can therefore create light effects that are precisely synchronised to the hundredth of a second with the music in the colours of your choice, and not only that - some equipment such as staff and poi have digital LED strips that can display patterns and images in motion.

Visual poi

We use this special type of equipment with the highest resolution on the market to display logos and other graphics of your choice at the end of the show. Your logo will appear directly in the hands of the performers during the show. It's one of the most popular moments of the show and guaranteed to get the audience cheering.

Light decorations

Even the decorative LED poles and special vases placed on guests' tables are developed by the Aliatrix team. Yes, they are also programmable! So they will glow in sync with the effects in the show. Imagine this - a dancer comes on stage and with one wave of her hand lights up the performers' costumes. She then points towards you and, as if by magic, lights up a vase on your table that you previously thought of as an ordinary floral decoration. The light decorations are a captivating effect that will bring the action on stage to the entire room.

Our team will also able to create any bespoke light decorations with enthusiasm and commitment.

Projections

A beautiful additional effect to our lightshows are projections onto an LED screen, projection screen or projection mapping onto the performers costumes. The artists interact with the projections, multiplying the final effect.

Last but not least, we also offer projection mapping on buildings. Both separately and with sophisticated laser effects.

We have ready-made projections available in which we can add your logo. These projections can also be thematically adapted or completely customized.

Creating programs and projections

Show for us does not start with packing up and leaving. As soon as the order is placed, we task the team and start creating the visuals.

How does the programming and projection preparation for a light show work?

In case you order one of the shows from our offer, we use pre-prepared programs and projections, in which we add your logo, text or other thematic image that you send us. This customization is part of the service. It is therefore important for us that you send us your logos as soon as possible so that we can get to work. If you have the option of a white logo on a black background, we recommend using that - it stands out best of all.

Customisation

We are happy to customise or create all aspects of the light show completely from scratch - from the colours of the program and the content of the projections to the music and the look of the costumes. Please note, however, that such customisations can take several weeks to months depending on the scale. Please contact us early so that we have enough time to prepare everything according to your wishes :)

Before leaving for the show

On the day of the show, work for us starts 3 hours before departure. We upload the prepared programs into the equipment and test everything carefully. We then charge the equipment and costume batteries to full, pack the suitcases with every last cable and pin and head out to meet you.

On site

For light shows, we arrive on site at least two hours before the show. Smooth on-site preparation and communication with the client is the responsibility of the show manager, who travels with the performing team to each event. Upon arrival at the venue, they will discuss all organizational details with you. You can leave everything else to us - the show manager will take care of communication with the sound engineer, lighting technician, presenter and projection technician and also ensure that the performers are prepared on time.

Light and sound

Communication with the sound engineer and lighting technician is crucial for a light show. Let's talk about why.

In order for the program to match the music precisely, the music must be running at the original tempo (DJ mixers sometimes use a speed up and slow down function for remixing) and only at our signal when everything on stage is precisely set up. The resulting wow effect of perfect synchronization thus depends not only on the performing team, but also on the quality of communication with the technical team on site. You don't have to worry about this arrangement, we will explain and arrange everything to the sound engineer.

For the lighting effects to fully stand out, the room must be dark, or at least intensely dim. So, before ordering a light show, make sure that the lights at the venue can be turned off on command. If the show is outside, or in a room with windows that cannot be covered, the show time must be after dark. But we don't need total darkness, on the contrary - soft illumination with coloured spotlights is very well suited for a lightshow.

If backlighting is possible at the venue, the show manager will advise the lighting technician on what colour and intensity of light to choose for maximum effect.

Videomapping

If you choose a show with wing projections, a solo with a projection gate, or if we create a bespoke show with videomapping for you, we will arrive on site even earlier. A projection technician will come with our team to fully manage the projections on site. He will take care of mapping the space, setting up the projector and running the projections in the show.

Make-up

We pay attention to details in the final look of the show. While the show manager arranges the technicalities, the performers spend time on make-up and hair. It might seem that a lot of lighting effects would take the attention away from the performers' faces, but the opposite is true. We really enjoy interacting with the audience during the show. We look at the people in audience, smile at them and sometimes even get close to them. We are then getting smiles in return, and that's the best part of our job.

Dressing and wiring costumes

We can't put on a LED costume in 5 minutes like a regular costume. The LED elements need to be connected and carefully set up. The whole process can take 30 minutes to an hour depending on the type of costume and the number of performers. The costumes and equipment are taken care of by an on-site technician.

If you book, for example, two different shows on the same night, there must be sufficient time between them for costume changes.

Preparing the equipment and turning it on

It often happens that the show time is delayed. This is not a problem for us, but the team needs to know the exact time of the show 10 - 15 minutes in advance so that they have time to get everything on and ready. For a dance group or band performance, it's no problem to announce one minute before the show that it's time to go on stage. Unfortunately, this is not possible with us. The show manager will be in contact with you and you will agree on the time of the performance together.

A special attention should be paid to moving the show to an earlier time than agreed - this also happens sometimes. We try to accommodate wherever we can, but please bear in mind that this is not always possible. Our preparation schedule is planned exactly as agreed upon.

Starting the show

The start of the show itself is a very key moment. The performers need a minute or two to set up the light equipment on stage. We often start this preparation during the moment the emcee introduces us. Only when everything is in place can the sound engineer start the music on our signal - not before. The signal is agreed on in advance.

The costume and equipment program is then started with a press of one button.

Feel free to contact us

There's a lot of information and details about a light show, isn't there? Don't worry, you don't have to remember them. That's the job of a show manager and a team of professional performers. They'll be happy to answer your questions, advise you on everything and ensure the show runs smoothly.

Do you have any questions for us that were not answered in the article? Ask us.

We hope to see you soon at your event and have the opportunity to show you everything in practice. We are looking forward to it!