The tour's set pieces were created by Diamond Dogs tour artist Mark Ravitz, who created the most elaborate stage set yet. It featured structures such as large columns, overhanging lintels, and a giant right hand pointed upwards. The main difference between the Serious Moonlight tour and Bowie's former tours was the emphasis on lights rather than props. Alomar later told Buckley that the tour was his favourite Bowie tour, mainly because "it was the first tour where we did all the hits". Pegg states that the setlist was "unashamedly a greatest hits package aimed at acquainting the new mass audience with Bowie's back catalogue." Buckley describes the tour's setlist as "relatively mainstream pop-rock", with none of the "quirks" of the late '70s tours. Many of the arrangements were redone with horns to make every song sound fresh.