Whenever a new Rock Gig is advertised there is always lots of interest from fans who are willing to travel the length and breath of the country for the chance to see their favourite group. The most famous punk rock groups are the Sex Pistols, The Clash, Mohecans and Tartan. These punk groups have an enormous following and at every Gig thousands of young fans will sometimes arrive at the location days before the event just to make sure they are near to the stage. Stage lighting is particularly important at these shows for maximum effect on stage and by using outdoor lighting and outdoor garden lights together with different types of lighting instruments, a good atmosphere is created for the fans.

Because these shows have such a big impact it is important that the grounds in which the show is being held is well lit. Most of these Gigs will be held at night and so the lighting is very important. As well as the stage being illuminated by the use of outdoor lighting, outdoor garden lights will be placed in the ground so it is easy for fans to see their way around. Stage lighting can be made even more spectacular by the use of special laser effects, generic and LED fixtures as well as theatrical fog. For fans at the back of the ground, big screens are erected so everybody can see the show and not come away disappointed. Fans very often bring their sleeping bags and food and drink with them. By doing this many of the fans will still be in the grounds well after the Gig has finished. Punk rockers have a very bad reputation because of the bad language they use and the strange way they dress. Wearing clothes that are held together with safety pins and raggy trousers make these fans stand out in a crowd. Also the spiky hair styles often dyed in various colours such as pink, blue or yellow. Some will shave their heads and just have a strip of hair called a Mohican which will be dyed in a bright colour for maximum effect. Also many of the fans will have studs in their lips and noses.

Outdoor lighting has made these Gigs so much better by turning the audience’s attention from one area of the stage to another. Very often if only one member of the rock group is on stage the lighting will just be focused on the one person. Also dimming lights will be used to add special effect and shapes can be altered to create a three-dimensional effect. Scenery on stage can be lit up or maybe just one area of particular interest to the fans. Not only is outdoor lighting and outdoor garden lights used at Rock Gigs they are also used in theatres, for dancing and operas. When people go to see a show inside a theatre, the lighting must be effective to make sure that the characters on stage can be seen. Lighting also sets the mood and a red light will have a completely different effect to a lavender light. By using a blue light night time can be created and the use of gobos are used for moon and stars.

Rock Gig’s are big business so they will be advertised sometimes months in advance. Fans will very often queue all night the day before the tickets go on sale, otherwise they might come away empty handed. The tickets will be sold within the first couple of hours even though they are very expensive. Coach companies also put on special trips to take the fans to see the Gigs so the car parking around the grounds will have outdoor lighting. The music at these punk rock shows is usually very loud and the fans love it. Fans will want to join in and the whole atmosphere can be electrifying. Some fans can get so carried away by it all they faint or become sick and an ambulance is always ready to deal with any emergencies that need more than just first aid.