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X-Real-To: stagecraftlist [at] theatrical.net Received: by prxy.net (CommuniGate Pro PIPE 4.2.10) with PIPE id 24204292; Sun, 14 Aug 2005 03:01:22 -0700 X-ListServer: CommuniGate Pro LIST 4.2.10 List-Unsubscribe: List-ID: Message-ID: From: "Stagecraft" Sender: "Stagecraft" To: "Stagecraft" Precedence: list Subject: Stagecraft Digest #488 Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2005 03:01:01 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-Disposition: inline X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-5.5 required=5.0 tests=ALL_TRUSTED,AWL,BAYES_00, SARE_STILLSINGLE autolearn=ham version=3.0.4 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.0.4 (2005-06-05) on prxy.net X-TFF-CGPSA-Version: 1.4f2 X-prxy-Spam-Filter: Scanned For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- Stagecraft Digest, Issue #488 1. Re: Turntable installations solicited please by "Paul Guncheon" 2. job opportunity at Brock University by "David Vivian" 3. Re: Turntable Shmurmtable by Loren Schreiber 4. Re: Beefy faux chain by Michael Powers 5. Re: Beefy faux chain by "Jon Ares" 6. Re: Audio Power Sequencer by CB 7. Re: Turntable installations solicited please by CB 8. Re: securing the facility by CB 9. Re: Audio Power Sequencer by "Jon Ares" 10. Re: Turntable Shmurmtable by Mark O'Brien 11. Re: Turntable Shmurmtable by "Occy" 12. Re: Turntable installations solicited please by "Bill Nelson" 13. Re: Turntable installations solicited please by "Bill Nelson" 14. Re: Turntable Shmurmtable by "Bill Nelson" *** 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 01:41:46 -1000 From: "Paul Guncheon" Subject: Re: Turntable installations solicited please Message-id: <001901c59ffb$fd0b96d0$c6354104 [at] yourxhtr8hvc4p> References: A thought on this seemingly interminable discussion... Why not suggest the installation of a removable turntable and accompanying surround decking? Laters, Paul "I must be on a visit", Tom guessed. ------------------------------ Message-ID: <003301c5a00a$2f3385b0$561796cd [at] CPQ30167272061> From: "David Vivian" Subject: job opportunity at Brock University Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 09:23:18 -0400 NU xx/2005 THEATRE TECHNICAL PRODUCTION ASSISTANT DEPARTMENT OF DRAMATIC ARTS FACULTY OF HUMANITIES (Job Group H) The Department of Dramatic Arts, part of the School of Fine and Performing Arts, Faculty of Humanities, requires a Theatre Technical Production Assistant for an eight month (September to April), 40 hours per week contract position. The Theatre Technical Production Assistant will assist with the maintenance and deployment of Department technical equipment and facilities as directed by the Technical Director, including documentation and replacement as required, as well as the maintenance of a small inventory of audio-visual and computer equipment. Duties will include providing technical and artistic support to Department productions as coordinated by the Technical Director and the production team, including providing guidance to students, SFPA outreach events for the University, etc. The successful candidate will also collaborate with course instructors to support course delivery as it relates to design, stagecraft and wardrobe. Qualifications include a degree in technical theatre or equivalent with at least one year of professional experience, or five years of diversified professional theatre experience. Training in operation of digital and analog sound systems, computer sound and video editing, computerized lighting systems, etc. is desirable. Familiarity with safety protocols for a theatre production environment and first aid training are assets. Must possess excellent interpersonal, communication and time management skills to be able to work in a collegial and committed environment. Must be flexible to work evening and/or weekend hours as required. Heavy lifting, working at heights and other physical tasks are required to perform the job. For more information, please see www.brocku.ca/dramatic_arts or contact David Vivian at 905.688.5550 x4401. Applicants are invited to apply on-line (jobs [at] brocku.ca) or submit a resume and cover letter, including salary expectations and contact information for three references, and quoting the vacancy number by August 16, 2005 to Human Resources, Brock University, St. Catharines ON L2S 3A1. Visit us at: www.brocku.ca/hr It is Brock University's policy to give consideration to qualified internal applicants ----- David Vivian, Assistant Professor and Scenographer e-mail: dvivian [at] brocku.ca phone: 905.688.5550 x4401 fax: 905.984.4861 urgent short messages: davidvivian [at] fido.ca Department of Dramatic Arts School of Fine and Performing Arts Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario L2S 3A1 http://www.brocku.ca/dramatic_arts/ ------------------------------ Message-Id: <6.1.1.1.2.20050813092111.02a02cf8 [at] mail.sdsu.edu> Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 09:36:47 -0700 From: Loren Schreiber Subject: Re: Turntable Shmurmtable In-Reply-To: References: I am aware of that. If I were contemplating a permanent turntable installation, I might inquire of those who actually employ turntables (permanent or portable) in their institutions as to how they have actually come to be used. Like others have mentioned here, it might be fun for a few shows, but after the umpteenth rotating scene change it will be boring--after the umpteeumpth, excruciating--after the umpteenth umpteeumpth the audience will run screaming from the theatre. The turntable will then sit there until the casters get flat and the system won't turn at all anymore. As time passes, the unit will gradually slide from memory. A layer of hardboard will be laid down to cover the seam between the turntable and the surround for some dance show. Then archeologists will later uncover the unit and wonder at how quaint the school must have been to have installed a permanent turntable when a portable would do. At 03:00 AM 8/13/2005, you wrote: > > There is a huge difference here. The turntable you are talking about is a > > removable unit that is placed on stage for use. The one being contemplated > > for the other school is a permanent built-in system, probably motorized, > > that is a permanent part of the stage. Loren Schreiber, Technical Director School of Theatre, Television and Film San Diego State University Long Reach Long Riders announce dates for the 2006 Charity Ride. Check out www.sapsis-rigging.com/LRLR.html for more information. ------------------------------ Message-ID: <58f67b0f05081310235e9c1628 [at] mail.gmail.com> Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 13:23:59 -0400 From: Michael Powers Subject: Re: Beefy faux chain "Jon Ares" <> Jon, I have made large chain from PVC pipe, from 1/2" (for 3" single links) to 1-1/2" (for 12" links). Stuff the pipe with sand, close off the ends with gaff. Heat until pliable. The sand prevents kinks and allows the pipe to bend smoothly. It also hold the temp so you have more working time. For chain you can precut the pipe into shorter section for ease of handling but NOT as short as individual chain links. You will lose 3 to 4 pipe diameters at each end as waste. The best heat is a vacuform oven if you have one, it allows you to heat large sections at a time. The commercial bending ovens for electrical bends are also good. It can be done with a high temp hot air gun but it is hard to heat up more than a few inches at a time.=20 Don't use any open flame type of heater as the runs the risk of over heating and charring the pipe. Although you can "smell" the pipe when you heat it, there are no toxic fumes released until you reach the char point, check the MSDS. Figure out what size you want the INSIDE of your links to be and make a mandrel that size. For the 3" links I used a piece of 1x2"T , and rounded the edges slightly. For the 12" links, I used 3 2x8s in a sandwich. The two outer pieces had a 45 bevel rip along each edge. Wrap the pipe loosely around the mandrel in a tight coil. That's not an oxymoron, loosely in circumference, tightly side by side. When the pipe cools, undo the ends and roll the pipe to get a large portion of the sand out, then blow air in from the top end while holding it vertical. Slit the pipe along one of the narrow sides and you will have a bunch of individual links that look like the bent split repair links you buy at the hardware store. Now you can get the last of the sand out. I have found it easiest to do most of the painting while the links are still single but there will be touch up after they are linked. To link the chain heat the first link gently with a hot air gun on the end opposite the slit and twist closed as soon as possible. Now slip the next link in and repeat the heat-twist closed process until you reach the length you need. If you close the links before joining, you will not be able to spread them enough to join. The PVC pipe chain is surprisingly strong. I used the 12" chain for a "Man of La Mancha" stair. Each strand was 25 feet long and the slits were sealed with tape for paint purposes only. The PVC chain did not, of course, lift the stair, it only looked like it. The show was playing in rotating rep in a no fly system house and the light weight roof trusses would not have had a chance of lifting the stair. The landing at the top extended 6' up stage, the stair was hinged at the top and the end of the landing was pulled down to lift the stair. The stair was a totally self contained unit that rolled on and off in seconds.=20 The chain went up to the "grid" and over pulleys make of empty wire rope spools. The chain was attached to a wire rope that ran off stage to a standard pulley and down to a sand bag counterweight. When the stair rose up, the sand bag went down and it looked as if the chain was doing the lifting. With a little help from the sound designer it was totally convincing. In fact the archetect on the board that helpped up renovate the space into a theatre came up to me after the show and told me he was very concerned about the roof structure supporting that much weight. Initially I was worried about how to secure each link of the chain to properly support the sand bag, considering plastic welding, metal straps, etc. but during the joining process I discovered how stiff the links were. I tested the chain supporting up to 150 pounds dead weight. As it only needed 20 pounds counter weight to work I was beyond a 5:1 safety factor, the sand bags were in locations that could not be above anyone. For the rep change overs, the chain was unclipped and pulled up to the grid, the stair was rolled to the shop and the change was done. Michael Michael Powers 413-863-4376 home 413-522-3036 cell ------------------------------ Message-ID: <000b01c5a03a$335c1ff0$0600000a [at] BRUTUS> From: "Jon Ares" References: Subject: Re: Beefy faux chain Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 12:07:07 -0700 > Stuff the pipe with sand, close off the ends with gaff. Heat until > pliable. The sand prevents kinks and allows the pipe to bend > smoothly. It also hold the temp so you have more working time. For > chain you can precut the pipe into shorter section for ease of > handling but NOT as short as individual chain links. You will lose 3 > to 4 pipe diameters at each end as waste. <> ...Or, I'll probably go with the $10 chain from the costume supply house. Your process sounds like a major pain in the tuches for 4" chain, but I'm keeping this recipe for monster chain for shows like Man with La Munchies like you described. I bet it looked great. - Jon Ares www.hevanet.com/acreative ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20050813121153.00cfa718 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 12:11:53 From: CB Subject: RE: Audio Power Sequencer >You're spending thousands on nice audio kit and >then not worrying about keeping that kit safe. I know that the person run it >should know what they are doing and basically how things work, but alas this >doesn't always happen, D'ya see the irony in the above question? Why would you spend thousands of dollars on a nice audio kit, and then skimp on the most dangerous part of the show, teh operator? If the kit is so nice, only someone that appreciates that professionaly, and had the skills to protect it, should be allowed to operate it. At this point you are suggesting that that same kit should be operated by kids and / or the janitor, and spend a coupla hundred bucks on some automation to protect it. You could get the same results by buying great gear and setting fire to it in the parking lot. As many have said, just because you have automated the on/off sequence, it doesn't mean that you gear is protected. [shout] Sound guys (good ones, anyways) are wrth their weight in gear! Not only do they prevent the gear from getting trashed, they actually make the show better![/shout] I'm sorry, what's the argument against having a sound guy actually in the building when sound gear is on? 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... ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20050813121530.00cfa718 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 12:15:30 From: CB Subject: RE: Turntable installations solicited please > I believe Doom is >referring to the Chandler Center for the Arts, which uses turntables >for the house, to have additional seating which can be separate >spaces or part of the main house for increased seating. Interesting, >but I don't think it was what you were looking for. Yup, the Nogales High School has a proscenuim theatre (actually, quite nice!) with two classrooms at the back fo teh house that will rotate on turntables to become part of the house. Classrooms by day, cheap seats by showtime! A better use of a turntable in a high school theatre IMHO. 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... ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20050813122146.00cfa718 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 12:21:46 From: CB Subject: Re: securing the facility >I was told that >they wanted this group on campus because of the company they are >affiliated with and they would "talk to them." Needless to say they >have >there run of the place and I end up cleaning up messes and dealing >with >general chaos with nothing to do other than bend over.... I've long asdvocated teh use of 'preformance art' in these circumstances, and this quote starts things in the right direction: >To that I would say leave the messes to the custodial crews. Unless >that's in your contract or your boss has already told you to clean up >after them. Let the teachers/professors of the class rooms complain >about it and see what happens then. If it's not thier problem, its, well, not thier problem. Ya need to find a way to make it their problem. If you want to get all the cats into the kitchen, you can spend an hour or two tracking and trapping cats, or a second or two shiking the bag of cat treats. The first is you dealing with it and leaving the cats' motivation completely out of the equation, the second is using the cats' motivation to complete the task. (Don't quote me, I stole this!) 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... ------------------------------ Message-ID: <001301c5a03f$ad4a03e0$0600000a [at] BRUTUS> From: "Jon Ares" References: Subject: Re: Audio Power Sequencer Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 12:46:20 -0700 > I'm sorry, what's the argument against having a sound guy actually in the > building when sound gear is on? Money. I know, we've all heard it before, preaching to the choir, blah blah... I deal with a school, and understandably, they put all available monies into getting more teachers in the classroom, rather than 'support' staff for facilities and equipment. (After all, isn't that what we hire janitors for?) Specialization is for bugs, right? Heading off in a tangent... our world is a-changin'. More of our everyday functions and tools are becoming high-tech, and no longer for the 'jack-of-all trades.' Think of auto mechanics: just knowing how a piston or carburetor works isn't enough to repair a car made after 1990.... it's all computer-controlled, and the tools to repair the cars are as well. It's a different world. Yes, there will always be a need for janitors who have the skills to repair drywall and scrub grout, but even the floor polisher has microprocessors in them now. Computerized basketball hoop and bleacher winches, etc..... My school will probably never hire a facility manager-type person. That's what janitors are for. And so in the sound spec for the new mainstage, there's what sounds like a complicated, "no operator required" combination of automated mixer with non-overdrivable amps and other complicated "ease of use" equipment designed for the basic PA system. No sliders, no buttons (other than 'power'). Yes, so the janitor can just 'turn it on' and walk away. (We'll see how long this over-priced bevy of equipment lasts.) - Jon Ares www.hevanet.com/acreative ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20050813185236.ywwg44ogwwkkw0co [at] www.email.arizona.edu> Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 18:52:36 -0700 From: Mark O'Brien Subject: Re: Turntable Shmurmtable References:

In-Reply-To: Quoting Loren Schreiber : The turntable > will then sit there until the casters get flat and the system won't turn at > all anymore. I ask... Does that mean we have to use the co-efficent of friction, rather than rolling resistance to calculate HP? Just wondering what the required HP would be for a 24' diameter turntable that weighed 6,000 lbs, with a maximum rim speed of 3 foot per second.... with flat neopreme casters skidding on steel. (max accel is 1 foot per second) Mark-O Mark O'Brien Opera Technical Director University of Arizona, School of Music 520-621-7025 520-591-1803 Mobile ------------------------------ Message-ID: From: "Occy" References:

Subject: Re: Turntable Shmurmtable Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 23:35:13 -0700 Caster are used for that are moveable things like flight cases, couches, tool boxes, refrigerators and carts. Wheels are used permanent installations, may they be cast iron or steel without coverings on the wheels. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Loren Schreiber" > The turntable will then sit there until the casters get flat and the > system won't turn at > all anymore. As time passes, the unit will gradually slide from memory. > Loren Schreiber, Technical Director > School of Theatre, Television and Film > San Diego State University ------------------------------ Message-ID: <3283.64.28.53.44.1124004882.squirrel [at] webmail.peak.org> In-Reply-To: References:

Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2005 00:34:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: Turntable installations solicited please From: "Bill Nelson" > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > The biggest problem with permanent turntable will the grim that falls in to > the cracks between it and the full stage to its sub floor of turn table > mounts. Which will need to be cleaned out often unless an over floor is > put over it. It is possible to design around that. It is only a minor concern. To me, the largest concern is the safety of the machinery - especially around high school students. The next concern is the expense of the thing. $70,000 is not going to get a very good turntable - so ongoing repair has to be added into the computations. Bill ------------------------------ Message-ID: <3287.64.28.53.44.1124005162.squirrel [at] webmail.peak.org> In-Reply-To: References:

Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2005 00:39:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: Turntable installations solicited please From: "Bill Nelson" > A thought on this seemingly interminable discussion... > > Why not suggest the installation of a removable turntable and accompanying > surround decking? I believe I made that suggestion a long time ago. Any decent set designer can design and build a decent turntable. Our local community theatre has managed to build two - and they work well. I doubt if it cost more than a couple of thousand dollars total for both. They don't have any surround decking, just manage with the turntable above the level of the stage. It gives the directors another level on which to play. Bill ------------------------------ Message-ID: <3323.64.28.53.44.1124007240.squirrel [at] webmail.peak.org> In-Reply-To: References:

Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2005 01:14:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: Turntable Shmurmtable From: "Bill Nelson" > Caster are used for that are moveable things like flight cases, couches, > tool boxes, refrigerators and carts. Wheels are used permanent > installations, may they be cast iron or steel without coverings on the > wheels. Not quite. A caster/castor is a wheel or wheels in a swivel frame - or with a post designed to fit into a hole that allows it to swivel. But castors do not belong on a turntable. Bill ------------------------------ End of Stagecraft Digest #488 *****************************