Event Lighting Design & Production in Nashville
Lighting designers, DMX programmers and show operators — since 1995
Designing a show? You’re in the right place — this page is the designer, the plot, the DMX programming and the operator. Just need the fixtures? Prices and packages are on our event lighting rental page — uplighting from $500, stage lighting rental from $2,000.
A Nashville Lighting Company That Designs, Programs and Runs the Show
Renting fixtures gets gear into a room. Lighting design decides where every one of them points, what color the stage is when the CEO walks out, and what changes the second the band starts. That is the job of a lighting designer, and it is what this page is for.
Nashville Audio Visual has designed and run event lighting in this city since 1995 — concerts and award shows, general sessions and town halls, galas and weddings — with lighting directors who have worked Nashville’s biggest stages, including CMA Fest and the NFL Draft. We own the inventory, so a design is never limited to whatever a rental house has on the shelf that week.
Our lighting team regularly works at Nashville’s most recognized venues, including The Hermitage Hotel, Gaylord Opryland Resort, Hutton Hotel, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, The Factory at Franklin, Belmont Mansion, and outdoor event spaces across Davidson and Williamson counties. We know how to get the most out of every room — from intimate barn weddings to grand hotel ballrooms.
Lighting Design & Production Services
Our lighting team combines artistry with precision engineering. Whether you need subtle ambient warmth for a gala or a full DMX-programmed moving light show for a concert, we bring the design, the gear, the crew, and the operator.
- Lighting Plot, Fixture Schedule & Power Plan Before Load-In
- Stage Lighting Design & Setup
- DMX Programming & Live Show Operation
- Pipe & Drape Installation for Stage Backdrops or Room Partitions
- Power Distribution & Cable Management
- Gobo Projection & Atmospheric Effects
Lighting Design for Galas, Weddings & Ballrooms
For ballrooms and intimate rooms, the design is about mood and faces: compact, high-output fixtures like LED uplights and pin spots, placed with intention. A soft warm glow for a keynote, saturated accents for a live set, candlelight tones for a reception — every fixture has a reason to be there.
For one example, see the incandescent string lights, gobo floor projections, and DMX dimming we designed for a Grand Ole Opry Studio A gala.
- LED Uplights & Battery-Powered Wireless Fixtures
- Custom Gobos & Monogram Projection
- String & Rope Lighting
- Chandeliers & Pendant Fixtures
- Pin Spot Fixtures
- Ambient Color Wash
Concert & Stage Lighting Production
For concerts, award shows, and large rooms, we deploy concert-grade rigs — moving head fixtures, laser systems, and big LED washes — programmed into a synchronized show and run live by directors who have lit some of Nashville’s most iconic stages, from CMA Fest to the NFL Draft.
- Automated Moving Head Fixtures
- HOG 4 & DMX Lighting Consoles
- Truss Structures & Rigging
- Stage Wash Lighting Fixtures
- Hazers, Foggers & Atmospheric Effects
- Lighting Technicians On-Site
Renting the rig and running it yourself? See stage lighting rental.
How a Lighting Design Comes Together
- The walk-through. We visit the venue, or work from the floor plan: rigging points, power, sight lines, and what the house lights can do.
- The plot. A drawing of every fixture, its position and its purpose, with a fixture schedule and a power plan.
- The programming. Looks and cues built on the console ahead of time, matched to your run of show.
- The show. An operator runs every cue live from the console and adjusts to what actually happens in the room.
- The strike. Down and out on the venue’s timeline.
Our Nashville-based DMX and intelligent-lighting operators and designers bring premium gear, expert programming, and hands-on support from load-in to strike.
We design weddings, galas, and corporate events across Middle Tennessee — one Nashville Audio Visual crew from the first walk-through to the last cue. See weddings and corporate event AV.
View Lighting Gear
Why Nashville Audio Visual for Lighting
We run Chauvet, Martin, High End, and ETC fixtures, all regularly maintained and tested, with lighting directors experienced in everything from country music award shows to intimate corporate galas. We’re not just technicians; we’re creative collaborators who take pride in making your event look as good as it feels — see how we lit the Nashville Soccer Club photo shoot.
- Serving Nashville since 1995
- 25,000+ events lit and produced
- Trusted lighting crews in premier Nashville hotels
- CMA Fest & NFL Draft experience
Need the Lighting Without the Design?
If you just need fixtures — uplighting for a reception, string lights for a patio, a stage rig your own operator will run — our event lighting rental page has the packages and prices: uplighting from $500, stage lighting rental from $2,000, plus string lights rental and chandeliers. Delivered and focused, or picked up at will-call.
Lighting Design & Production FAQ
What does a lighting designer do for an event?
A lighting designer decides where every fixture goes and why. Before the event that means a walk-through, a plot (a drawing of every fixture, its position and its purpose), a fixture schedule and a power plan. During the event it means cues programmed to your run of show and an operator running them live, so the room changes when the program does, not on a guess.
What lighting services do you offer for Nashville events?
Lighting design, stage lighting, DMX programming and live operation, intelligent moving heads, LED uplighting, gobo projection, pipe and drape, atmospheric effects (hazers and foggers), and power distribution, for events of any size across Nashville and Middle Tennessee.
How much does event lighting design cost in Nashville?
Designed and operated stage lighting with DMX programming and moving heads runs about $2,000–$10,000+, from our published rental ranges. A gala with uplighting, stage wash, and a programmed show typically sits inside a $5,000–$15,000 total production; see the event production cost guide. Every proposal is itemized: fixtures, rigging, programming, and operator time on one page.
Do you provide DMX programming for concerts and corporate events in Nashville?
Yes. Our lighting directors are experienced DMX programmers who have worked Nashville’s biggest stages, including CMA Fest and the NFL Draft. We handle full console programming and operation for concerts, award shows, galas, and corporate productions of any scale.
What lighting equipment brands does Nashville Audio Visual use?
Chauvet Professional moving heads and fixtures, plus Martin MAC Aura XB, High End Systems SolaFrame 750, the ETC Source Four family, Chroma-Q Color Force II, and ADJ, controlled from HOG 4 consoles. It is all our own inventory, regularly maintained and tested; see the moving heads and consoles and the fixture inventory.
Do you offer lighting services for outdoor events in Nashville?
Yes. We provide outdoor lighting for festivals, concerts, corporate events, and private parties throughout Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Outdoor setups include weatherproof fixtures, power distribution, and an experienced crew.
Can I rent lighting without a designer?
Yes. Uplighting, string lights, and smaller fixtures are straight rentals: we set them, focus them, and leave, or you pick them up at will-call. Packages and prices are on our event lighting rental page, including stage lighting rental from $2,000.