Used to work a lot of special event type shows at a eariler lighting company. We made a lot of use of pinspots focused at the table top decorations, a lot of up-lighting on the sides by
PAR 38 fixtures and after that
wash lighting. Most popular color was Rx321.
In your case, given ambient light will have to rule as opposed to direct lighting which might become fairly hot, I might focus as many narrow beams on the center of tables as possible given a round table, or medium beams for rectangular tables. This will provide punch to the decoration - you do have this don't you? and ambient light around the table sufficient to eat, plus it's
bounce or
spill will be sufficient to see the people you sit with while still being intamite.
After that, given temperature, I might try doing a ceiling
bounce of light for general illumination. Heat rises thus any heat off the light when bounced off the ceiling should allow the areas under it to stay cooler. Given a black ceiling this might be more difficult but should be able to achieve some general looks. Another option would be to hang something below the
grid to absorb the light bounced onto it thus become a illumisent panel in it's own right. Anything from a
scrim swagged between ends of the
grid, to silk swagged and supported between rigging points. The idea might be to provide an artistic artificial ceiling much less posts for it lit from below also using fabric for the post/swages of fabric. A big draped ceiling in illumisent fabric with illuminated fabric posts holding it up when kept on the simple what is lit side is frequently used for special events in addition to large and ornate table displays. Displays don't even have to be flowers, tubes in the form of such a thing, silver trees reflecting the light, and almost any number of other theme for the night type table displays can be used. X-Mass lights when wrapped around shapes or swagged properly have also a key factor in this kind of thing. A good star
drop on the back of the
speaker stand and lots of other types of concepts. What do you wish and what's your concept? Remember once it was science fiction and space as the theam, the decorators outdid themselves with such odd looking displays that looked great once the lights were dimmed. Sometimes what looks stupid and very odd fits right into such events.
In any case, even if changing colors in how you light your
wash of lighting, it's a coordinated effort in creating an atmosphere which will be most successful. Movers can project a custom
pattern highlighting the
image or graphic key to the night, but overall after that, it's more a question of people at tables in enjoying themselfs after the
stage is lit for the
speaker/fun coordinator plus
dance floor. Lots of design possibilities but it also takes coordination.