When approached by Charlotte Arrangements and Red Moon Marketing to light the fundraiser for Sally’s YMCA, they ask if I could illuminate the space with the colors in the invitations: white and green. Working with green is a difficult lighting ambition. My mind twisted and squirmed when Shyloe from Red Moon Marketing ask me for a green party. Not to say green isn’t beautiful, it signifies a life and a healthy planet. However, enough green illumination quickly turns the most beautiful hair and skin into a sick mockery of the human condition. Not exactly the look for an event that is sure to bring tears and inspiration.

As a solution, we kept the green on the walls and ceiling. For the room lighting, we dimmed par 30’s to a nice warm amber. Candle light was spread across the tables bringing greater warmth to the space. Unable to be captured in the photos with my limited photographic experience, the dim amber lighting provided an intimate family setting.

The most impressive addition to the space was the entrance wall. Two Colorado 1’s cross washed a 50’ length of wall with full color changing capability. A Rosco gobo placed in a 50 degree Leko was stamped with the intimate mission of the fund raiser: An Evening with Friends. The pure ungelled white light cut through the green cross wash impressing the purpose of the event in the minds of all of Sally’s friends and family.

Like most event venues, Center Stage has limited power. We used only 6 movers, one projector, a Leko, and 26 LEDs consuming less than 40 amps of power staying well within the power restrictions of the space. The warm amber from the candles and dimmed pars were accented on all sides with green light. Moving lights slowly scanned the rafters and outer walls with breakups creating a subtle motion through the industrial style open ceiling. Two wooden towers wrapped in Lycra were uplit with LED fixtures framing the stage. As the band played and the speakers addressed the audience, soft and subtle lighting transitions never disrupted the flow and mood. Programming long fades to bring the stage to white prevented harsh light attacks on the audience. Avoiding the look of a performance, an intimate home-like feel encouraged interaction allowing the speaker to have a conversation with the audience.

The event not only was a memory of what was lost but a celebration of what was to come. After the tears subsided, Supa Dave spun a party set reminding Sally’s friends and family of what they have accomplished. Reflecting the mood, the true capabilities of the intelligent lighting rig began to bump. LED’s explored the spectrum of color and the movers began to sweep through the air expressing the energy of the music.

An Evening with Friends was a gathering to honor local students raising money for Sally’s YMCA opening in East Lincoln County, North Carolina. The facility is named in honor of Sally Clark who died in a car accident in 2004. Nearly all of the 7 million required to finish the project has been raised by numerous organizations and donations. However, an Evening with Friends was special. Over a 100K had been raised by the students of Sally’s school. Representatives and project managers from the future YMCA came to honor young fundraisers from Sally’s school. Ron Johnston, VP of the new Y, spoke for the event expressing the purpose and vision of Sally’s Y. Honoring the memory of what was lost; the future YMCA will raise the quality of life for Sally’s friends, family, and home town.