TOKYO – There are many ways to measure the success of a lighting design. At the top of the list is how well it supports the spirit and flavor of the music being performed on stage. At Kennedy House, an iconic nightspot in Tokyo’s Ginza area, this means reflecting the classic hits popular in Japan from the 1960s through the 1980s.

The Hibino Lighting team kept this goal firmly in mind when redesigning the lighting rig at the club, which opened its Ginza branch in 1985. “Songs from the classic era make up most of the music at this venue,” said Hiroshi Adachi of Hibino Lighting. “Most of the clientele grew up in that era. They come here to enjoy a meal, listen to music, and have fun. So, we wanted to create lighting that contributed to this atmosphere without interfering with the artists on stage.”

Evoking the right atmosphere was only part of the Hibino team’s mission. They also had to ensure that their design would be camera friendly since Kennedy House videos these performances for streaming. They achieved both goals with a balanced, flexible rig that features 42 CHAUVET Professional fixtures from Hibino’s own lighting inventory.

Drawing on his experience as a lighting designer for Japanese TV music programs, Adachi designed a rig that enlivens the stage without creating distractive images on camera. For example, understanding how the round light of a follow spotlight behind the stage could sometimes spoil the scenery, he arranged fixtures so that the front light would brighten up the performers wherever they walked on the stage.

Additionally, he placed moving lights so they create richly textured gobo images on the background. By doing so he ensured that a bright, engaging background would fill the video screen even when a large group of performers are on stage. He also tried to create an engaging space by combining gobos and prisms in beautiful 3D-like movements in the background. However, Adachi says that “it would be boring if the entire space were bright,” so he intentionally arranged his fixtures so dark areas and 3D effects could be created.

Adachi also took the relatively small size of the Kennedy House stage into account when designing its lighting system. Since the lighting fixtures are by necessity placed close to the artists, he was careful to ensure that light would not shine directly into faces.

Playing a key role in help him achieve this are the rig’s 24 COLORado 1 Solo fixtures, 16 of which are used for stage lighting, while the remainder are focused on individual performers. Contributing to the impeccable stage lighting are three Ovation P-56FC Fresnel units used for front lighting, and an Ovation E-930VW, which serves as a follow spot.

The dept and textures, as well as the engaging gobo patterns that are added to the stage are the result of six Rogue R1X Spot fixtures, which cover the walls on both sides of the stage, two STRIKE Array 2 fixtures, which serve as blinders behind the stage, and two COLORado Solo Batten 4 units that provide flat ceiling light over the stage.

Of course, the LED technology used to create these smoothly integrated, camera-friendly looks at Kennedy House didn’t exist back when the classic songs that entertain fans at the club were first recorded. However, thanks to the skill of the Hibino Lighting team, new tools are being used to create retro looks in an efficient way, while still retaining all of their original charm.

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