lampwaving

Lampwaving is a term used in common parlance to describe the intentional alteration of the brightness or beam of a lamp in order to convey a gesture or signal. The practice is most often associated with stage performances, film production, and a handful of online video platforms where lighting plays a crucial role in communicating mood or direction to a viewer or performer. Though the word itself is modern, the movement of directing a lamp's light has been employed as an informal cue since the early days of black‑light jazz clubs and pirate radio broadcasts.

In theatrical settings, lampwaving typically involves a single lamp being moved from one edge of the canvas to the other, indicating a transition in narrative tone, a request to change the music track, or a prompt in rehearsals for an upcoming set change. Directors and stage managers often use a green steady‑cam lamp to signal a cue to switches or to signal an actor to prepare for a specific line. The technique is recognized for its subtlety, as the act of lighting can be read as a non‑verbal instruction without spoken dialogue, thereby minimizing auditory noise.

The phenomenon also appears in DIY video production circles, where hobbyists employ lampwaving between shots to maintain continuity of lighting or to signal a scene shift. The term is sometimes used humorously in tech forums and live‑streaming communities, where a content creator might “lampwave” to indicate a change in game or channel. While not formally codified in stage terminology, lampwaving remains a useful shorthand for quick, gentle, and aesthetically aggressive lighting adjustments in various media contexts.