Shine a Light: Lighting & Stage Effects Sales Still Struggling

As goes the fate of live music performance, so too goes the fortunes of related income and purchases. While perhaps not connected in quite so obvious a manner to a vibrant club and concert scene as, say, sound reinforcement equipment, sales of lighting and stage effects gear has also been taking a beating as venues remain closed, operate at limited capacity, or vacillate between being open or closed as pandemic related protocols and restrictions evolve throughout the country and the world. On a larger scale, postponed, cancelled, rescheduled, and truncated touring schedules for bands and theater groups don’t help the situation either.

Are there any reasons to be optimistic? Well… In a similar survey from last fall, when asked about lighting and effects products, 76 percent of respondents reported that sales were down compared to 2019. This year, that figure dipped to 70.4 percent, so that’s an improvement – albeit minimal. And it’s worth remembering that participants in this month’s survey are reflecting on the entirety of the past year – much of which was just as challenging as 2020 – so that’s bound to have an impact.

Tellingly, one question which was asked in this poll – What trends have you been noticing in this market segment of late? – got so few responses that we’re not even bothering to “quote” any of them in the summary below. The bulk of the feedback amounted to one- or two-word answers: terrible, awful, don’t ask, dead. One participant who specifically asked not to be named offered the following: “Lighting sales will remain down until live performance returns in a consistent and large-scale way.”

As the “Delta surge” seems to be receding, therapeutics continue to be developed, and vaccination rates continue to increase, there is reason to hope that such a return may well be on the horizon. Fingers crossed…

Compared to last fall, your store’s sales of lighting gear is…

Down: 70.4%

Up: 26.6%

Level: 3%

For your business what types of lighting are selling most?

Par Cans: 34.1%

Color Changers & Wash Lights: 18.2%

Lasers & Strobes: 11.9%

Spotlights: 6.2%

Lighting & Effects Packages: 3.3%

Black & UV lights: 3.1%

Fog, Snow, & Bubble Effects: 1.1%

LED Video Panels & Packages: .8%

What brands of lighting are driving sales for your store?

CHAUVET DJ/CHAUVET Professional: 87.4%

ADJ: 36.4%

Blizzard: 19.3%

Martin Lighting (Harmon): 17%

Stagg: 10.5%

Venue: 9%

Elation: 8.5%

Stomplight: 7.3%

ColorKey: 6.1%