Uplighting: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering uplighting

You place uplighting along the walls of venues to set the color and mood for weddings, parties and corporate events. Clients want a room that looks finished and cords that stay out of guests' way.

What customers ask

  • How many lights do I need for my room?
  • Can you change the color through the evening?
  • Do you run the cords safely, and how?
  • What power does the setup need?
  • What happens if a light fails during the event?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask for the room size, the palette, the mood and the event times
  • Bring photos of uplighting in rooms that match the client's size and layout
  • Visit the room before you quote and check the outlets, the wall space and the traffic path
  • Put in the quote the number of lights, the color program, the power plan and the setup and teardown times
  • Show the cord routing and the covers you will use to protect guests
  • Test every light and the color program before guests arrive, and keep a spare for each zone
  • Confirm in writing who runs the color changes during the event

What to put on your profile

  • Post photos of rooms before and after the lights are placed
  • List the event types you light, such as weddings, galas and corporate dinners
  • Show the light types and the color options you offer
  • Describe how you route cords and protect guests
  • Add a short color program example that shows a full evening

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a repeat booking for the client's next event at the same venue
  • Suggest a monogram or gobo for the couple's first anniversary
  • Recommend a dance floor light set for the reception
  • Share a short guide on choosing colors that suit a room's walls and flowers

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required to install event uplighting. Any hardwired work, such as a new circuit or a fixed fixture, is commonly done by a licensed electrician, so refer that work out. Carry liability insurance and follow the venue's rules for power and cords.

Questions

Do I need a license to plug lights into a venue outlet?

Plugging in event lights is usually part of the service. Hardwired work is different and is commonly done by a licensed electrician. Check the local rules for any work beyond plugging in.

What if the venue's outlets are not enough?

Tell the client and the venue before the day. Do not overload an outlet, and do not add new power without the venue's approval and a licensed electrician when it is required.

How do I keep cords safe on a dance floor?

Route the cords along the walls or under floor covers rated for the job, and check them before the event. Do not run cords across the open floor.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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