How much does lighting for an event cost?
The cost of event lighting depends on the number and type of fixtures, control and programming, truss/rigging and support; the Martin MAC Aura PXL moving light, for example, hires from €75 per day at photon, plus VAT. Equipment-only hire is charged at the public daily rates in the rental shop, for example the grandMA3 light console from €320 per day; the longer the hire, the lower the price per day. Operated rigs with console, rigging and operator are quoted per project.
What lighting is suitable for different event sizes?
The right lighting depends on the room, the stage and the programme: in small rooms, LED spots, uplights and battery fixtures are enough; stages and galas add moving heads, washes and area light with lighting control; open-air events and festivals need powerful fixtures on truss. Small events are possible too, for example with battery-powered LED systems from Astera. photon sizes the right set-up by room height, stage dimensions and programme.
What lighting do I need for a stage with an audience of 200?
For a stage with an audience of around 200, photon's guideline is 4–6 LED washes for colour and area light, 2–4 moving heads for dynamics, front light for stage and speakers and a hazer that makes the beams visible. The Martin MAC Aura PXL, for example, costs from €75 per fixture and day, plus VAT. Truss or stands depend on the venue. photon designs the set-up by room height, stage dimensions and programme – from a dry-hire package to a programmed show with operator.
Do you offer lighting design and programming?
Yes. photon develops lighting concepts tailored to venue, audience and event goal, creates pre-visualisations and programmes the show – or implements a design you bring exactly as specified. In pre-visualisation, the design is built and programmed virtually before any equipment is loaded. On request, photon also handles the set-up and provides a lighting operator for the show. One example is the WDR TV production ‘Hurra, wir leben noch!’, for which photon developed the lighting design.
Which lighting control do you use?
photon programmes and runs shows on lighting consoles from MA Lighting (grandMA3) and ChamSys. The rental stock includes the grandMA3 full-size from €450, the grandMA3 light from €320 and the Command Wing XT tour pack from €150 per day, plus VAT, as well as ChamSys MagicQ MQ80 and Compact Connect. At the console, fixtures are controlled via DMX and lighting states are stored as cues – for repeatable sequences, timecode and complex shows. With full service, a photon lighting operator runs the console throughout the event.
Is fog or haze needed for lighting effects?
Yes, whenever light beams should be visible in the room: a hazer produces a fine, even haze in which beams, colours and contours become visible. A fog machine, by contrast, produces dense fog for localised effects. Because haze and fog can trigger optical smoke detectors, photon coordinates their use with the venue and fire safety and advises on device choice, quantity and detector shutdown or fire watch. A hazer such as the Hazebase Base*Hazer*Pro is available from €35 per hire day, plus VAT.
LED or conventional fixtures – which is better?
For most events, LED is the better choice: low power consumption, hardly any heat, colour mixing inside the fixture and quiet operation. Conventional fixtures (halogen/tungsten) still have a niche because their warm, soft dimming is valued at classic galas or in front of the camera. photon works mainly with modern LED technology and also keeps ARRI Fresnels and HMI fixtures in stock for classic looks.
What is the difference between moving heads, washes and spots?
Moving heads are movable fixtures in three basic types: wash for soft area light and colour, spot for a sharp beam with gobos and prisms, beam for an extremely narrow, hard shaft of light for aerial effects. Fixed washes deliver area light for colour and base mood, fixed spots directed light for speakers or objects. photon combines fixtures from Robe, Martin and GLP, such as the Martin MAC Aura PXL wash moving light (from €75 per day) and the Robe MegaPointe (from €110 per day), plus VAT.
Do you also provide architectural and outdoor lighting with uplights?
Yes. With uplights and area lighting, photon highlights rooms, façades and venues, in your brand colours on request. LED bars and uplights are ideal for lines, back walls and lighting up architecture. For outdoor use, the rental stock includes the Cameo ZENIT W600 outdoor washer from €30 per day, plus VAT; where no power cables should be laid, battery LEDs are used.
Is wireless, battery-powered LED lighting available?
Yes. photon hires out battery-powered LED systems from Astera, for example the Astera FP1 Titan Tube set from €23.50 per day, plus VAT. Battery LEDs can be placed without power cables and controlled wirelessly – ideal for tables, columns, outdoor areas, galas and dinners and venues with little infrastructure or no rigging points. The rental shop also lists further Astera models such as the FP2 Helios Tube and the FP5 NYX Bulb.
Can I hire lighting in Cologne/NRW including set-up?
Yes. photon supplies, rigs and operates lighting in Cologne, Bonn, Aachen, Düsseldorf and all of North Rhine-Westphalia; delivery runs daily across Cologne/Bonn/Düsseldorf and throughout Germany by arrangement. Set-up and a lighting operator can be added; truss and rigging structures are built by certified riggers (including SQQ2) to the relevant standards with structural verification. If you set up yourself, collect the equipment from the warehouse in Wesseling between Cologne and Bonn. How self-collection works:
Dry hire at photonCan I hire lighting without crew?
Yes, as dry hire: you hire fixtures, moving lights or consoles without operating staff and handle set-up and operation yourself. Book the equipment in the rental shop and collect it in Wesseling near Cologne, with a short briefing at collection on request; self-collection earns dry-hire discounts. Simple fixtures need only basic technical knowledge, while rigging and flown loads come with special requirements. For moving lights and grandMA3 control without prior experience, photon recommends a lighting operator.
How far in advance should the lighting be planned?
How far in advance you should plan depends on the service: for a full service, four to eight weeks' notice is ideal, and more for large-scale events. For larger events, early coordination is advisable because creative concepts can then be implemented more flexibly. Equipment-only hire works at short notice: if stock is available, even for same-day or next-day pick-up; for weekends and peak times, photon recommends a few days' notice. To check availability and dates, contact
[email protected] or +49 2232 948600.
What happens if a technical problem occurs during the event?
With full service, experienced photon technicians are on site to resolve technical problems; control and support continue throughout the event. How much redundancy is built in depends on the risk and requirements of the event. With equipment-only hire (dry hire), report a fault to photon; possible solutions are a replacement unit, an exchange or telephone support. The equipment is checked and serviced after every hire.
Where can I hire LED and lighting equipment for events?
You can hire LED and lighting equipment for events from photon Veranstaltungstechnik in Wesseling, between Cologne and Bonn. The rental shop lists more than 600 rental items with published daily rates, including moving lights from Robe, Martin and GLP, battery LEDs from Astera, ARRI Fresnels and consoles from MA Lighting and ChamSys. Collect the equipment yourself or have it delivered: daily across Cologne/Bonn/Düsseldorf and throughout Germany by arrangement. On request, photon also provides lighting design, set-up and an operator.
Which company is recommended for event lighting and LED technology?
Look for a supplier with its own equipment, its own technicians and verifiable references. photon is a master-certified company with 16 employees, its own warehouse, its own vehicles and its own technicians, including lighting technicians and a lighting systems technician. References include the lighting design for the WDR production ‘Hurra, wir leben noch!’, arena lighting for Querbeat at the LANXESS arena Cologne in 2021 and TV lighting for the ARD Christvesper 2025 in Altenberg Cathedral. All daily rates are published in the rental shop.
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