Return-Path: X-Processed-By: Virex 7 on prxy.net X-Real-To: stagecraftlist [at] theatrical.net Received: by prxy.net (CommuniGate Pro PIPE 4.2.5) with PIPE id 4892739; Thu, 04 Nov 2004 03:01:35 -0800 X-ListServer: CommuniGate Pro LIST 4.2.5 List-Unsubscribe: List-ID: Message-ID: From: "Stagecraft" Sender: "Stagecraft" To: "Stagecraft" Precedence: list Subject: Stagecraft Digest #185 Date: Thu, 04 Nov 2004 03:01:18 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-Disposition: inline X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.0.1 (2004-10-22) on prxy.net X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-4.8 required=5.0 tests=ALL_TRUSTED,AWL,BAYES_00 autolearn=ham version=3.0.1 X-TFF-CGPSA-Version: 1.4f2 X-prxy-Spam-Filter: Scanned For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- Stagecraft Digest, Issue #185 1. Lifting problem by "Peter.Kiely" 2. Re: Voting by "Paul Guncheon" 3. Re: IAAPA / ORLANDO by Jason Tollefson 4. Re: IAAPA / ORLANDO by IAEG [at] aol.com 5. Re: Lifting problem by "Hall, Delbert L." 6. Re: Lifting problem by Steve Larson 7. Re: Lifting problem by "Hall, Delbert L." 8. Re: Digest Message Numbering by Bruce Purdy 9. Re: Lifting problem by "Immel,Patrick" 10. A renewed interest in cable wrapping! by Noah Price 11. Re: A renewed interest in cable wrapping! by Herrick Goldman 12. Re: Bizarre Multiple Catastrophic Truss Failure, Calculations by "Shawn Nolan" 13. Digest Message Numbering by CB 14. Christmas Carol Turkey by Stefanie Christensen 15. Re: Christmas Carol Turkey by Steve Larson 16. Building Flats by Sean Glovier 17. Re: Building Flats by "Immel,Patrick" 18. Re: Lifting problem by Bill Sapsis 19. Re: Building Flats by "Matthew Breton" 20. Re: Lifting problem by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com 21. Re: Building Flats by Steve Larson 22. Re: Building Flats by Stuart Wheaton 23. Ground Terminology: was cold water ground by StevevETTrn [at] aol.com 24. Numbering Stagecraft Digest Posts by June Abernathy 25. Way off-topic, but ... by John Arrowsmith 26. Re: Building Flats by "Matthew Breton" 27. Re: Select paint area on drop- UPDATE by Chris Wych *** Please update the subject line of your reply to use the subject *** line of the message you are replying to! Please only reply to *** one message subject in each reply. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Peter.Kiely" Subject: Lifting problem Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 13:07:53 +0200 Message-ID: <000001c4c195$5f3e9000$5c95fea9 [at] Peter1> In-Reply-To: Firstly thanks to all for their advise on the dry ice fog making methods - worked very well. For our little show next year, I would like to make an actor appear out of the roof. The height of the ceiling above the stage floor is only 3 meters, but if I cut a hole into the ceiling, there is a standard "A" frame beams in the ceiling which is high enough for a person to stand. Does anyone have any diagrams to show how I could rig up a lifting type platform that could be used to raise and lower actors into the ceiling as apposed to fixing some sort of rope to the actors themselves? Best Regards Peter Kiely, ------------------------------ Message-ID: <007d01c4c199$5510add0$0202a8c0 [at] MyLastPC> From: "Paul Guncheon" References: Subject: Re: Voting Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 01:36:16 -1000 Me somebody, eh? Last night, I received personal phone calls from President Bush, Ex-president Bill Clinton, 2 calls from Arnold Schwarzenegger. I must really be important for these leaders of our nation to take the time to sit down, look up my number, and call me to personally urge me to vote. I didn't have the heart to tell them that I had voted on Saturday 'cause hey, why ruin their day? I also got one from some local candidate who mumbled his name so I didn't get it. Laters, Paul "Not tonight, dear...I'm too tired," Tom said, petering out. ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20041103122005.7301.qmail [at] web54709.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 04:20:05 -0800 (PST) From: Jason Tollefson Subject: Re: IAAPA / ORLANDO In-Reply-To: I'll definitly be here in Orlando during the show and would love to attend. Do you know where I could pick up a couple of floor passes? Jason Tollefson > Any one planing on being in Orlando and attending IAAPA in November? > > let me know, > > > very best, > > Keith Arsenault ------------------------------ From: IAEG [at] aol.com Message-ID: Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 08:14:22 EST Subject: Re: IAAPA / ORLANDO In a message dated 11/3/04 7:20:43 AM, jason [at] tollefsondesigns.com writes: > >I'll definitly be here in Orlando during the show and would love to attend. > Do you know where I >could pick up a couple of floor passes? > >Jason Tollefson comp floor passes to IAAPA are few and far between, , , not like LDI very best, Keith Arsenault ------------------------------ Subject: RE: Lifting problem Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 08:47:59 -0500 Message-ID: From: "Hall, Delbert L." Peter, Unless you go with a ground supported lift (like a personnel lift) it = does not matter whether you are lifting the performer directly or = lifting a platform on which a performer is standing or sitting, the = problem is exactly the same. In fact, you must deal with a greater load = if you utilize a platform on which a performer is standing or sitting - = the weight of the platform.=20 Here are some questions that will help me understand your needs better: 1) What is the show? 2) What is the weight of the heaviest performer that will = ascend/descend? 3) How far does the platform need to ascend/descend? 4) How fast does the platform need to ascend/descend? 5) Is there a floor in the attic where several operators can stand? 6) What are the dimensions of the attic and where in the attic will the = trap/platform be located? 7) What size platform do you want to lift? 8) What is your budget for this effect? 9) Where are you located? There are several ways to tackle this problem, but the solution will = probably come down to a combination of mechanical advantage and = counterweight. =20 You might want to email me privately. Delbert L. Hall, President Hall Associates, Inc. Phone: 423-773-HALL Web: www.flyingfx.com -----Original Message----- For our little show next year, I would like to make an actor appear out = of the roof. The height of the ceiling above the stage floor is only 3 = meters, but if I cut a hole into the ceiling, there is a standard "A" = frame beams in the ceiling which is high enough for a person to stand. Does anyone have any diagrams to show how I could rig up a lifting type = platform that could be used to raise and lower actors into the ceiling = as apposed to fixing some sort of rope to the actors themselves? Best Regards =20 =20 Peter Kiely, =20 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.786 / Virus Database: 532 - Release Date: 10/29/2004 =20 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 03 Nov 2004 08:51:08 -0500 Subject: Re: Lifting problem From: Steve Larson Message-ID: In-Reply-To: AND BUDGET! the solution will probably come down to a combination of mechanical advantage and counterweight. STEVE ------------------------------ Subject: RE: Lifting problem Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 08:54:34 -0500 Message-ID: From: "Hall, Delbert L." AND BUDGET! Steve - see question #8. -Delbert =20 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.786 / Virus Database: 532 - Release Date: 10/29/2004 =20 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 03 Nov 2004 10:26:42 -0500 Subject: Re: Digest Message Numbering From: Bruce Purdy Message-ID: In-Reply-To: > Would anyone else who takes Stagecraft as a digest appreciate having the > messages numbered? The messages are numbered in the index at the top of > the page, but corresponding numbers do not appear in the body of the > messages. Message-Id is not information that is particularly helpful to > me, but if it were possible, a Message Number would be a great time saver. YES! I agree about the Message ID as well. Message numbers corresponding with the index would be much more helpful! Bruce -- Bruce Purdy Cayuga NY USA bpurdy [at] rochester.rr.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: <147CF8DFB9C5D41187300001FA7EE3902277CC8B [at] mail.nwmissouri.edu> From: "Immel,Patrick" Subject: RE: Lifting problem Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 09:41:37 -0600 Peter, Check out this link: http://info.nwmissouri.edu/%7Epimmel/usitt/source_guide/index.htm Look at issue #31 "A LEVER-ACUATED ELEVATOR TRAP". Maybe this is something that you could use! Patrick Immel Lighting & Scenic Designer Northwest Missouri State University Editor - Technical Source Guide > -----Original Message----- > From: Peter.Kiely [mailto:Peter.Kiely [at] telkomsa.net] > For our little show next year, I would like to make an actor > appear out of the roof. The height of the ceiling above the > stage floor is only 3 meters, but if I cut a hole into the > ceiling, there is a standard "A" > frame beams in the ceiling which is high enough for a person to stand. > > Does anyone have any diagrams to show how I could rig up a > lifting type platform that could be used to raise and lower > actors into the ceiling as apposed to fixing some sort of > rope to the actors themselves? ------------------------------ Message-Id: <2A91E842-2DB6-11D9-AA61-000A958ABBF8 [at] theprices.net> From: Noah Price Subject: A renewed interest in cable wrapping! Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 08:34:00 -0800 I took the web site off line yesterday afternoon, since I couldn't figure out why there was a sudden spike of activity that looked like it could interfere with other sites. Turns out Chris' world famous cable coiling drew attention from Slashdot: Specifically: Congratulations, Chris! :-) The Stagecraft site is back on line, with some router magic to contain the impact to that site. So, if the Stagecraft site seems sluggish, that's why! This is unrelated to other problems you may find with the site, caused by instability in the archive database server. I have some upgrades planned to fix that, too. (that server is completely separate from the list or my main "production" web servers, so no other sites or email were affected) Thanks, Noah -- | Noah Price | http://stagecraft.theprices.net/ | | Stagecraft Mailing List | stagecraft-web [at] theprices.net | ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 03 Nov 2004 12:02:45 -0500 Subject: Re: A renewed interest in cable wrapping! From: Herrick Goldman Message-ID: In-Reply-To: Hey I read that site evry day and it's a great honor to be slash-dotted. Congrats chris! -- Herrick Goldman Lighting Designer, NYC www.HGLightingDesign.com "To the scores of silent alchemists who wreak their joy in darkness and in light bringing magic to life, we bow most humbly. "-CDS ------------------------------ From: "Shawn Nolan" Subject: Re: Bizarre Multiple Catastrophic Truss Failure, Calculations Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 12:47:16 -0500 Message-Id: <20041103174141.0BACC44345 [at] mailin-1.isoc.net> Dale, I will be happy to put together a formal set of calcs. I will need some additional info on the truss to do this analysis. This is especially important if I am to do this analysis without knowing who made the truss (I do not want to know who made the truss!!). Here is what I will need to know: -- Truss cross sectional profile including tube spacing and chord outside diameter and wall thickness. -- Truss side "elevation" showing the web tube dimensions and including the web tube outside diameter and wall thickness. Also, obviously, overall dimensions. -- End plate configuration including all dimensions and method of connection. -- What type of connection fasteners were used. -- Rough estimate of weld sizes using standard criteria for weld size measurement. If you need info on how to measure the weld, contact me off list and I'll give you the best guidance I can. Your weld engineer friend may also be able to help. It may be as simple as getting a set of welding inspection gages (I think these are readily available from places like McMaster-Carr or Grainger for about $25) and checking the weld sizes. Probably a set of fillet and butt weld gauges would suffice. -- Loading info. Ideally, this would be an elevation sketch of the truss with the curtain shown as it was attached. This will show me the irregular profile of the curtain so I can figure the loading accurately. Also, an idea of the material used in the curtain. Also, any other loads that were applied to the truss. You can either post all of this data to the list or email it directly to me. Either way is o.k. with me. I will need to make some conservative assumptions about material strengths for the tubes, weld metal and connection plates but, this should not be too much of a problem. My analysis will not be 100% accurate since I will not know precisely the material properties and weld sizes (as designed) but, it should get us pretty close. If you can get me this info by Friday, I will put together some formal calcs over the weekend. I will then create a web link to the calcs for all to view. I'll post this link to the list when it is ready. Shawn Nolan, P.E. Entertainment Structures Group A Division of Steven Schaefer Associates 10411 Medallion Drive, Suite 121 Cincinnati, OH 45241 (513) 699-2571 direct line (513) 542-3300 main line (513) 542-5540 fax (513) 706-3125 mobile Shawn.Nolan [at] EntertainmentStructures.com www.EntertainmentStructures.com ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20041103110627.0197e118 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Wed, 03 Nov 2004 11:06:27 From: CB Subject: Digest Message Numbering >Would anyone else who takes Stagecraft as a digest appreciate having the >messages numbered? I'd just like the folk who DON'T get it in digest form to trim just a little bit. Ya KNOW that you're screwing up when your post has "---Original Message---" more than once. Look, its like turn signals, kids. It ain't necessarily for you, but it could mean a whole lot to the next guy down the road. Not only is it good manners, but its the expected norm according to the posting guidelines you (were supposed to) read when you joined the list. Plus, I reiterate, how can you take the suggestions of a technician that can't figure out how to trim his replies? C'mon, there is enough laziness and greed screwing enough things for enough people already. It's time y'all jumped off this bandwagon. Chris "Chris" Babbie Location Sound MON AZ Delete key training and post trimming done by appointment. Rates negotiable, will trade for typing lessons/ADD treatment... ------------------------------ In-Reply-To: References: Message-Id: <29BBA9C0-2DC8-11D9-BD8B-000A9582D34C [at] charlestonstage.com> From: Stefanie Christensen Subject: Christmas Carol Turkey Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 13:42:50 -0500 We are doing Christmas Carol and were wondering if anyone had a good looking turkey from the butchers shop for the end of the play that we could rent, borrow, steal? Thanks Stefanie P Christensen Technical Director Charleston Stage Company 19 Warren Street Charleston SC 29403 (843)577-0868 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 03 Nov 2004 14:23:31 -0500 Subject: Re: Christmas Carol Turkey From: Steve Larson Message-ID: In-Reply-To: A fake 20# roast turkey retails for about $120. http://www.barnardltd.com/$spindb.query.listall4.tdview will take you one such vendor. I googled "prop food" to find that. Steve on 11/3/04 1:42 PM, Stefanie Christensen at spirch [at] charlestonstage.com wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > We are doing Christmas Carol and were wondering if anyone had a good > looking turkey from the butchers shop for the end of the play that we > could rent, borrow, steal? > > Thanks > > Stefanie P Christensen > Technical Director > Charleston Stage Company > 19 Warren Street > Charleston SC 29403 > > (843)577-0868 > > > ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 03 Nov 2004 14:17:12 -0600 Subject: Building Flats From: Sean Glovier Message-ID: I am building a flat for a Technical Fundamentals class, and I was curious on how to go about it. The only specifications are that it has to be 3'by 4'. It also has to be able to be rigged on a fly system. I need suggestions because before this class I could not work a power drill. Thanks! This message was content scanned by the TLU McAfee Webshield. ------------------------------ Message-ID: <147CF8DFB9C5D41187300001FA7EE3902277CCE5 [at] mail.nwmissouri.edu> From: "Immel,Patrick" Subject: RE: Building Flats Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 14:35:27 -0600 Hi Sean, I would sit down and talk with your instructor with your questions. Hopefully you went over in class, how to build a flat (standard and/or hollywood). Also I hope your instructor trained you in the proper operation of all tools needed to build your flat. Anyways...you should first go to your instructor! I hope this helps, Patrick Immel Northwest Missouri State University > -----Original Message----- > From: Sean Glovier [mailto:seanglovier04 [at] earthlink.net] > Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2004 2:17 PM > To: Stagecraft > Subject: Building Flats > > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > > --------------------------------------------------- > > I am building a flat for a Technical Fundamentals class, and > I was curious on how to go about it. The only specifications > are that it has to be 3'by 4'. It also has to be able to be > rigged on a fly system. I need suggestions because before > this class I could not work a power drill. > Thanks! > > > > > This message was content scanned by the TLU McAfee Webshield. > ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 03 Nov 2004 17:05:47 -0500 Subject: Re: Lifting problem From: Bill Sapsis Message-ID: In-Reply-To: on 11/3/04 8:47 AM, Hall, Delbert L. at HALLD [at] mail.etsu.edu wrote: > For our little show next year, I would like to make an actor appear out of the > roof. The height of the ceiling above the stage floor is only 3 meters, but if > I cut a hole into the ceiling, there is a standard "A" frame beams in the > ceiling which is high enough for a person to stand. > > Does anyone have any diagrams to show how I could rig up a lifting type > platform that could be used to raise and lower actors into the ceiling as > apposed to fixing some sort of rope to the actors themselves? Peter. There are a number of methods you could use to solve this problem. Anyone attempting to tackle it, however, will need considerably more information. I would think that a mechanical device, probably rentable, might work well. Scissors jacks, linear actuators, possible a chain hoist all come to mind. I would caution against using a counterweight system however as the load shift of the actor getting on and off the platform will cause some problems. Hope that helps Bill S. www.sapsis-rigging.com 800.727.7471 800.292.3851 fax 267.278.4561 mobile We stand behind, and under, our work. ------------------------------ From: "Matthew Breton" Subject: RE: Building Flats Date: Wed, 03 Nov 2004 18:08:13 -0500 Message-ID: >I am building a flat for a Technical Fundamentals class, and I was curious >on how to go about it. The only specifications are that it has to be 3'by >4'. It also has to be able to be rigged on a fly system. I need >suggestions because before this class I could not work a power drill. Most stagecraft textbooks (Parker & Wolf and Gilette are probably the two most used ones) contain schematics and building techniques for studio and theatre flats, as well as flying scenery. Both also go into some detail into the engineering component (eg, why cornerblocks are necessary on theatre flats, and which way the grain should be laid) as well as flying scenery. Three feet by four feet ... your instructor must be trying to save on lumber costs ... most flats are four by eight :) Matthew Breton Stage Manager Shakespeare Now! _________________________________________________________________ Don’t just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search! http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/ ------------------------------ From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com Message-ID: <65.3765ccd7.2ebac549 [at] aol.com> Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 18:35:37 EST Subject: Re: Lifting problem In a message dated 03/11/04 22:05:36 GMT Standard Time, bill [at] sapsis-rigging.com writes: > I would caution against using a counterweight system however as the load > shift of the actor getting on and off the platform will cause some problems. Been there, got the T-shirt. We did John Whiting's "Penny for a Song". This involves an actor making his first entrance in a hot-air balloon, coming down from the flies, and dropping into a well. That bit, we got right.There was a crew member down the trap to charge the balloon basket with stage weights, so that it could fly out under control. There was another crew member with the unenviable duty of carrying them down under the stage. One night, this was omitted. As we were using a counterweighted method, this took the actor down rather faster than we had anticipated. Thankfully, our alignment was good. It worked, but good fortune is no guide to safe working. Frank Wood ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 03 Nov 2004 19:15:20 -0500 Subject: Re: Building Flats From: Steve Larson Message-ID: In-Reply-To: ... your instructor must be trying to save on lumber > costs ... most flats are four by eight :) Not at any theatre I worked at in 30 years in the business. Depending upon the size of the stage, I would think that 10' or 12' flats were the norm. I'm sure a 10' flat on a Broadway stage would be quite undersized. Of course, it all depends upon the design also. Steve ------------------------------ Message-ID: <418978E6.2070806 [at] fuse.net> Date: Wed, 03 Nov 2004 19:33:42 -0500 From: Stuart Wheaton Subject: Re: Building Flats References: In-Reply-To: Matthew Breton wrote: > Three feet by four feet ... your instructor must be trying to save on > lumber costs ... most flats are four by eight :) That's silly! Flats are as big as they can be as long as they are fractionally smaller than the loading doors to the theatre, and they can still be managed by the crew. Sometimes flats are fractionally larger than the hallway between the loading doors and the stage, but that's a whole other story! No, I have NO IDEA why (or how) that phone was removed from that wall. ;-) Stuart ------------------------------ From: StevevETTrn [at] aol.com Message-ID: <1e0.2e61f468.2ebaf490 [at] aol.com> Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 21:57:20 EST Subject: Ground Terminology: was cold water ground Original question: >...cold water ground ...and how it helps alleviate hum in sound? One answer: >Ground is the reference to which all signal relates. when there >are two different grounds, there are two different references. Another answer: >When we refer to a ground loop, we usually mean that more than one >return path has been established. Another answer: >Cheap and simple, unbalanced audio systems are heavily dependent on the earth system. >These use the earth as one of the signal paths. Professional ones are run as >balanced systems, where the earth is not in the signal path. Cold water ground, reference, return path, Earth....(and, in the Nat'l Electric Code, Grounded and Grounding are two different things)...Terminology is fun isn't it? In a former life, I did a lot of audio work, including the design and installation of sound reinforcement and recording systems. Then there was the former life in television where ground loops were visible as well as audible. Then, for some real excitement, see what happens when the lighting console at one end of a facility has a significantly different ground potential than the dimming system on the other end. In lighting systems now, opto-isolators are highly recommended on the data links. After a varied career dealing with so much "folk knowledge" in our industry, I'm most interested now in moving from "it worked before" voodoo to solid science and engineering principles. The recent posts on truss failure illustrate the concept. There are a number of experts on rigging working in that area such as Bill S and Shawn N. so I'll leave it to them The area I'm trying to move forward is Electricity. Be it audio, video, power feeders, or branch circuits the electrons all follow the same basic laws. Once we figure out how to talk about them, in a common language, and develop uniform standards based on them, and establish a personnel certification baseline for our industry, I think the voodoo may diminish. I find that this list forum is a great place to get a cross section of viewpoints and occasional get a sense of what topics cause confusion. Thanks to all who chime in. I learn something new everyday. Steve Vanciel Orl, FL ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20041104050227.69637.qmail [at] web14105.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 21:02:27 -0800 (PST) From: June Abernathy Subject: Numbering Stagecraft Digest Posts On Nov 2, 2004, at 9:39 AM, Mark Harvey wrote: > Would anyone else who takes Stagecraft as a digest appreciate having > the messages numbered? The messages are numbered in the index at the > top of the page, but corresponding numbers do not appear in the body > of the messages. Message-Id is not information that is particularly > helpful to me, but if it were possible, a Message Number would be a > great time saver. A bunch of us have asked about that. Yes, it would be really good. It was one of the nice features of the old list. Noah has said that it is difficult to do on this new list for some reason, but I believe (hope) he's still working on it. June Abernathy IATSE #321 (Tampa) FOH Electrician The Lion King National Tour (Gazelle) __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Check out the new Yahoo! Front Page. www.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: <$+tR5ODHTeiBFwrL [at] johnarro.karoo.co.uk> Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2004 08:13:59 +0000 From: John Arrowsmith Subject: Way off-topic, but ... Sorry, but couldn't resist this - just spotted it in my local Church of England church's monthly magazine ... A child, who'd misheard the Lord's Prayer, prayed "... and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from emails ..." John -- www.rockchallenge.co.uk, THE adrenaline-laden anti-smoking / anti- drunkenness anti-drugs-abuse performing-arts explosion that's got around 14,000 UK 11-to-18s hooked - they'll be on-stage / back-stage in 2005. ____________________________________________________________________________ This email and all attachments have been electronically scanned by Kingston Communications' email Anti-Virus service and no known viruses were detected. ____________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------ From: "Matthew Breton" Subject: Re: Building Flats Date: Thu, 04 Nov 2004 03:32:38 -0500 Message-ID: >Depending upon the size of the stage, I would think that 10' or 12' flats >were the norm. >I'm sure a 10' flat on a Broadway stage would be quite undersized. Many theaters develop an inventory of stock flats which can be pulled, re-faced if necessary, and put together to make a set (or most of it). The size of the stock flats is going to vary, depending on the size of the stage; a larger proscenium opening will require a taller flat, and, as another poster noted, there are also load-in considerations of I offered that most flats are 4x8 because that's generally the same size as the facing material (and let's not start that discussion again...) You can make oversized flats by adding a header piece to a standard flat, though you develop problems in stiffness, seam lines, and weight-bearing capacity as the overall size increases. Since the original poster mentioned the flat was being built for an academic program, I found the size he gave quite unusual. Many instructors start with a standard 4 x 8 flat, because building it addresses some issues (basic screwgun technique, making joints, attaching facing), while not getting into some of the complications (cutting luaun to size, lining up grains, seaming joints). You gotta crawl before you can walk, sometimes. Which complications you would run into, of course, when building a 3 x 4 flat ... which is more like an insert for a window than an actual flat. Or maybe it's just an sized for an off-off-off-off-off-off-Broadway house? :) Matthew Breton Stage Manager Shakespeare Now! _________________________________________________________________ Check out Election 2004 for up-to-date election news, plus voter tools and more! http://special.msn.com/msn/election2004.armx ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20041104061141.31052.qmail [at] web40706.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 22:11:41 -0800 (PST) From: Chris Wych Subject: Re: Select paint area on drop- UPDATE In-Reply-To: Well, just yo update you on what we did. The set designer decided that the super sharp line wasnt what she wanted we ended up just cutting the moon space out of luan and laying it ontop of the drop with some stage weights on it while we painted with the supersat on top of it and around it. It seemed to work for what we wanted. http://theatretechie.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=Misc&id=DSCF1040 <--- shows a picture of the drop during the drying period. (its the one at the top.) Once the show opens and we get the drop hung in the space (actually the shop since were using that for part of the set/show) Ill add pics of it with the lights and such. Thanks for all the suggestions Chris Wych --- Paul Guncheon wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > > --------------------------------------------------- > > < some > other small areas too) so that when I paint the rest > of the drop with thin supersat that it doesnt blead > into the area of the moon. >> > > Honestly never tried it but my first thought would > be to checkout batiking > techniques, i.e. outlining the blank spaces with hot > wax using a tjanting. > > http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1631-AA.shtml > > Please let the list know how you finally do it... > what worked and what > didn't. > > Laters, > > Paul > > "I know all the wherefores," said Tom wisely. > > ===== IL State U. Theatre Student a_small_idiot [at] yahoo.com ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ My Theatre Techie Sites: Links- http://www.theatretechie.com Webpage- http://members.aol.com/CPWTCH007/tech.html ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Check out the new Yahoo! Front Page. www.yahoo.com ------------------------------ End of Stagecraft Digest #185 *****************************