In the world of international corporate events, lighting for events plays a decisive role in shaping memorable experiences that reflect the essence and values of a brand. More than just a technical element, lighting can become a strategic tool that supports brand storytelling and elevates the overall perception of excellence. But how do you choose the right spotlight for your event?
To answer this question, we spoke to Iván Trullàs, our technical director and experienced lighting designer here at Novelty. Iván offers us a unique and practical perspective on how to choose lighting equipment, how to optimise its performance and how to guarantee an impeccable result anywhere in the world.
When it comes to selecting the ideal spotlight for an event, it’s not just about brand or price. According to Trullàs, every professional should take into account three essential aspects: aesthetics, performance and efficiency.
In global corporate events, spotlights are not just functional, they’re part of the visual design. Trullàs highlights the importance of choosing event lighting with a sleek, discreet appearance, especially when the audience or cameras are nearby. Weight and power consumption are also critical factors as lighter, more efficient lights allow for easier installation and cost optimisation, especially in venues with technical limitations.
The right features are what separate standard lighting from professional event lighting. From internal shutters for precision framing to servo motors for smooth and repeatable movements, every detail counts. Other must-haves include high-quality colour rendering, low noise levels, seamless CMY mixing, powerful zoom abilities and programming flexibility.
When events are filmed or live-streamed, shutter quality and smooth transitions are even more important. Trullàs points out that knowing your gear inside out is the best way to maximise its potential, no matter the venue or scenario.
Price matters, but it shouldn’t be the only factor taken into consideration. In today’s market, spotlights with nearly identical specs can have vastly different price tags. According to Trullàs, decisions often come down to usability, menu navigation and programming ease.
Striking the right balance between performance, reliability and budget is critical to ensure that the brand experience isn’t compromised. Also, in many venues — from hotels and historic buildings to tents — load limits and power constraints make weight and energy use key considerations.
Lightweight, efficient fixtures allow for more units to be rigged safely and within energy limits. The simpler they are to install, the better they adapt to tight set-up schedules.
These weather-resistant fixtures offer durability, lower maintenance and outdoor compatibility. But they come with trade-offs including heavier build, potentially lower brightness and passive cooling that may limit performance in certain conditions.
Although often overlooked, the lighting console operator is essential to delivering an event where lighting responds with precision, emotion and rhythm. Their job isn’t just technical, it’s also deeply artistic, demanding intuition, experience and mastery of the equipment.
Operators must know every function of each light used: from basic effects like dimming, strobe and colour, to advanced features like shutters, prisms, gobos and variable zoom. Understanding how every piece behaves allows them to get the most out of the gear in every scene.
A skilled operator doesn’t just execute, they interpret the design and adapt the resources. For example, if a fixture loses intensity at a wide zoom, they’ll compensate without the need for any extra units. This blend of technical know-how and creativity helps determine the right number of lights and make real-time adjustments.
Especially in corporate events, where visual storytelling is more refined, operators need a strong artistic eye. Transitions should be smooth, colour changes subtle and lighting movements should support the content, not distract from it.
In audiovisual production, improvisation is often required. A speaker might change the order, a performer might improvise or a fixture might fail. Operators must be ready with pre-programmed backups and the skill to adapt without letting the audience noticing a thing.
While we often focus on execution, 80% of an event’s success is defined “long before the first light turns on,” says Trullàs. Pre-production and rehearsals are critical to achieve the desired final result.
Ideally, set-up begins long before arriving at the venue. A best practice is to run technical pre-production tests and a site visit so that gear can be tested, addressed and even pre-programmed if necessary.
Complex events require at least three types of rehearsals:
Technical rehearsal with the stage manager and operator, to define the lighting base.
Creative rehearsal with the client, to align expectations.
Performance rehearsal with speakers or artists — ideally in real event conditions (lighting, time of day, ambience).
Rehearsing for a night event during daylight can produce misleading results. Natural light affects perception of colour, contrast and intensity, so when possible, rehearsals should mirror the final show environment.
The more time spent rehearsing, the smoother the execution. A solid lighting plan enables confident improvisation and gives everyone — from tech teams to clients — clarity on what to expect.
Even when everything is rehearsed and programmed, there’s one final hurdle in event production: making sure that the event runs without any technical failures. That’s where professional-grade redundancy systems and fail-safe protocols come in.
At Novelty, we always use a dual console setup that includes a main console and a backup, both synchronised via processors and nodes. If the main fails, the backup takes over seamlessly and without disruption. This approach is essential for high-profile events where errors aren’t an option.
Each day of programming ends with a crucial step: backing up the show file. One copy is saved to the operator’s USB stick, and another to a corporate USB. This makes it so that if one file is lost or damaged, the show can be loaded onto a new console instantly.
One of the most common mistakes in the industry is using different software versions on different consoles. At Novelty, all desks used in an event are updated to the same version, ensuring complete compatibility.
These protocols do more than avoid disaster, they provide peace of mind. Knowing that everything is backed up and under control frees the operator to focus on creativity. And if anything does go wrong, the audience won’t notice a thing.
In a constantly evolving industry, where new LED spotlights, consoles and protocols appear every year, continuous training is not optional but critical.
At Novelty, ongoing learning is a core part of our strategy to keep internal and freelance teams ahead of the curve.
Early access to new gear: every time a new spotlight or console is added to the inventory, internal sessions are held to explore its features, test it in a real context and resolve doubts all before it’s used at a live event. This shortens learning curves and improves results.
Brand-led technical training: beyond generic manufacturer training, Novelty collaborates with brands to deliver customised training based on how we actually use the gear. This helps our teams go deeper, cut programming time and work more efficiently on site.
A culture of knowledge sharing: knowledge at Novelty isn’t kept quiet but rather shared among the team. We actively encourage collaboration between technicians, lighting designers and operators to exchange tips, solutions and new workflows. This strengthens our team’s collective power to take on more complex events with creativity and precision.
Innovating with purpose: at Novelty, innovation isn’t about chasing trends, it’s about adding real value. Every new technology is evaluated based on practical impact, through comparative analysis, stress testing and real-case studies.
Lighting for events is more than a visual asset: it’s a narrative tool, a technical ally and a decisive factor in audience perception. As Iván Trullàs’ insights show, the key to getting event lighting right includes:
Choosing the right spotlights based on context, space and audience
Working with operators who truly understand the gear
Planning every detail during the pre-production process
Rehearsing under real-world conditions
Ensuring fail-safe systems and clear protocols
Investing in ongoing training and innovation
If you’re planning your next global event, partner with a team that combines expertise, advanced technology and top-tier talent. Contact Novelty to explore our event lighting rental services tailored to brands that want to shine.