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Subject: Stagecraft Digest #589
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For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see <http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
---------------------------------------------------

Stagecraft Digest, Issue #589

 1. Re: Crew calling software
    by Jim Hyslop <jhyslop [at] dreampossible.ca>
 2. Re: Crew calling software
    by Bill Sapsis <bill [at] sapsis-rigging.com>
 3. the upcoming SM thread consolidated
    by Paul Marsland <paulbmarsland [at] yahoo.com>
 4. Gas Smell...
    by Heather Hillhouse-Deans <hjh2 [at] Lehigh.EDU>
 5. Re: Sales - It's not just a plaid jacket
    by "Michael Finney" <mfinney [at] thinkwelldesign.com>
 6. Re: Sales - It's not just a plaid jacket
    by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com
 7. Re: Crew calling software
    by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com
 8. Re: Crew calling software
    by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com
 9. Screw base LED bulbs
    by Michael Heinicke <mheinicke [at] sbcglobal.net>
10. Re: Sam Gossard
    by Brian Munroe <bpmunroe [at] gmail.com>
11. High End Studio Command
    by Chris Echols <Chris.Echols [at] worddome.net>
12. Re: Sales - It's not just a plaid jacket
    by Bruce Purdy <bpurdy [at] rochester.rr.com>
13. Re: question about seats
    by Mike Brubaker <mdbrubaker [at] insightbb.com>
14. Re: Gas Smell...
    by Dale Farmer <dale [at] cybercom.net>
15. Re: Crew calling software
    by "Jeffrey E. Salzberg" <stagecraft [at] jeffsalzberg.com>

*** 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.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message-ID: <437CEE31.4080600 [at] dreampossible.ca>
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 15:55:13 -0500
From: Jim Hyslop <jhyslop [at] dreampossible.ca>
Organization: DreamPossible Inc.
Subject: Re: Crew calling software
References: <list-25582551 [at] prxy.net>
In-Reply-To: <list-25582551 [at] prxy.net>

FrankWood95 [at] aol.com wrote:
> Maybe. When there is a computer that can walk the stage before the show, and 
> check that all the lights are working, and pointing in the right direction, 
> and that no gels have burned out, I'll buy the concept. Until then, I'll have to 
> do it by hand.

Could be done now, actually. Mount a digital camera (or several, to get
complete coverage of the area), take a snapshot of each instrument (or
dimmer) at, say, 80%, and store the image. Before each show, the
lighting board automatically runs up each dimmer, takes a snapshot and
compares it against the stored image. Edge-detection algorithms can
detect and ignore objects that are in one shot but not the other (e.g.
someone walking across the stage, set pieces not preset yet, etc.). For
checking burned-out gels, you could even have a user-configurable option
to set how much the gel is allowed to burn out before the system flags
it for replacement.

-- 
Jim Hyslop


------------------------------

Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 16:08:01 -0500
Subject: Re: Crew calling software
From: Bill Sapsis <bill [at] sapsis-rigging.com>
Message-ID: <BFA25B61.5318%bill [at] sapsis-rigging.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-25584599 [at] prxy.net>

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo.  Theatre, especially live theatre, is about real
live honest to goodness people.  You should take the digital age only so
far.  It's bad enough that many shows these days look suspiciously like
movies, what with the projected scenery and stuff.  I don't wanna work a
show that doesn't have people involved.  I don't.  And you can't make me.
(I hope)

Bill S.
www.sapsis-rigging.com
800.727.7471
800.292.3851  fax
267.278.4561 mobile

Join the Long Reach Long Riders on their 3rd annual cross country charity
motorcycle ride.   <www.LRLR.org>






On 11/17/05 3:55 PM, "Jim Hyslop" <jhyslop [at] dreampossible.ca> wrote:

> Could be done now, actually. Mount a digital camera (or several, to get
> complete coverage of the area), take a snapshot of each instrument (or
> dimmer) at, say, 80%, and store the image. Before each show, the
> lighting board automatically runs up each dimmer, takes a snapshot and
> compares it against the stored image. Edge-detection algorithms can
> detect and ignore objects that are in one shot but not the other (e.g.
> someone walking across the stage, set pieces not preset yet, etc.). For
> checking burned-out gels, you could even have a user-configurable option
> to set how much the gel is allowed to burn out before the system flags
> it for replacement.



------------------------------

Message-ID: <20051117215934.76818.qmail [at] web52203.mail.yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 13:59:34 -0800 (PST)
From: Paul Marsland <paulbmarsland [at] yahoo.com>
Subject: the upcoming SM thread consolidated
In-Reply-To: <list-25584771 [at] prxy.net>

> From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net]
> On Behalf Of June
> Abernathy
> 
> Well, this thread is back, is it? We usually back
> into
> in when Frank goes on a rant about how operators
> don't
> need an SM to call cues since they have their
....

> I propose that we save a wee bit of bandwidth this
> time and avoid the Repeating Stage Management Thread
> this time. Any takers?
> 

Hey June, 

A very well done summation of what would have taken a
week of my patience to slog through.  The players, the
plot, the climax, BRAVA!

Do you have a similar "June's Notes" for the
"Autopilot will replace spot ops" thread that I
haven't seen yet?  I can't wait...

Your favorite adult beverage is on me when (if?) you
get to Raleigh next year.  Meantime, I'm going off to
my corner to grumble until this comes up again.

Paul


	
		
__________________________________ 
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 
http://mail.yahoo.com

------------------------------

Message-ID: <437CFE70.9070008 [at] lehigh.edu>
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 17:04:32 -0500
From: Heather Hillhouse-Deans <hjh2 [at] Lehigh.EDU>
Subject: Gas Smell...
References: <list-25575626 [at] prxy.net>
In-Reply-To: <list-25575626 [at] prxy.net>

Hi All- I've tried looking at the Archives, and for the brief period I 
was able to access it, I found some good info, but from '98, and I'm 
wondering if there have been any advances on this topic....   We're 
doing /How I Learned to Drive/ in the spring, and the set/lighting 
designer has approached me about having a "gasoline smell" during the 
show.... he is imagining something that is very very low and diffuse, 
and VERY slowly builds until you actually can identify it after quite a 
while. Here are the disclaimers- I don't know if we will really do it or 
not, I know there is some disagreement on whether smell is really a good 
thing to include in performances, I know many people don't like the 
smell, I'm sure we would have some sort of lobby sign, and  I don't have 
any intention of actually using gasoline. I'm just trying to find out if 
there is a source for the smell without the actual thing, and what my 
options might be.  I've investigated the "smell-o-matic" I found online, 
but they only have pretty scents. Any ideas?
Thanks-
Heather Hillhouse-Deans
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Sales - It's not just a plaid jacket
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 14:39:00 -0800
Message-ID: <AE704B0123616D4BBE8BD0A464A0FD2938ED4A [at] ESERVER.mail.local>
From: "Michael Finney" <mfinney [at] thinkwelldesign.com>

 On Thu, 17 Nov 2005 Ken Romaine <ken.stagecraft [at] gmail.com> said
(amongst a *bunch* of good things):

<<Many people on this list sell - even if it doesn't say "Sales" on
their business card.  They do it to put food on their tables, and the
tables of their employees.  They do it when they don't like it -
although I really enjoy my job.  I'm doing what I like, dealing with
generally terrific people, in an amazingly fun industry, and they
actually PAY me for it.  How great is that?  (Geez - I hope the boss
isn't reading this.)>>

Well said Ken!  I'd strongly agree with Ken's point that good
salespeople do much more than just push product - in our industry, the
salesperson is sometimes the only one who can keep up with all the ins
and outs of a particular product line and help guide the buyer in the
right direction.  Good ones are worth their weight in prime hops - and I
have been known to pay more to go through a particular salesperson just
because I know they're going to be there to help (or have helped in the
past - it's *good* to sometimes not get forced into strictly low-bid
situations).  And I really, really love the ones who will steer me
towards a competitor's product....and it guarantees I'll be back, 'cause
*that's* a salesperson who has my interest in mind (at least a little!).

And I also appreciate those who've crossed from the production side to
the sales side - again, these are folks (like young Mr. Romaine) who
have a good idea of what my concerns and "issues" are going to be.

And you're right - we're all in sales.  Even my "crew bodies" go out
with business cards - they're representing the company, and that's part
of selling our services.

And Ken's right - ain't it great to be paid to do this?

BTW - Ken, could you email me your contact info? I passed your card
along to Francois and he lost it for me.....
=20
Michael Finney
Thinkwell Design & Production
mfinney [at] thinkwelldesign.com
www.thinkwelldesign.com <http://www.thinkwelldesign.com/>=20
=20


------------------------------

From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com
Message-ID: <ce.756b3c9b.30ae6bd3 [at] aol.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 18:27:15 EST
Subject: Re: Sales - It's not just a plaid jacket

In a message dated 17/11/05 19:52:15 GMT Standard Time, 
ken.stagecraft [at] gmail.com writes:

> Thanx.  Your apology is accepted - but unnecessary.  I knew what you
>  meant when I read it.
>  
>  > I know that I should be damn bad at it, and have never tried.
>  
>  Stranger things have happened.

Not many. Hell I can't sell myself well enough to get promoted. I used to 
teach in our engineering school. and the clincher was when the promoted one of my 
pupils over my head, by two steps. It was all downhill after that, and I was 
glad when they made me redundant. It may not have been that daft, though. I 
was an engineer. Give me a problem, current catalogues, and time, and I'll solve 
it for you. I know what I can do, and I'm not a good manager. Mind, neither 
was he. He wakled into my workshop one day, with his permanent smile stuck on 
his face, and told me that henceforth, smoking was banned. I told him a few 
home truths, and ignored him. After 28 years service, I think I desrve better 
treatment.


Frank Wood

------------------------------

From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com
Message-ID: <1ea.47d6416c.30ae6eb0 [at] aol.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 18:39:28 EST
Subject: Re: Crew calling software

In a message dated 17/11/05 20:55:49 GMT Standard Time, 
jhyslop [at] dreampossible.ca writes:

> Could be done now, actually. Mount a digital camera (or several, to get
>  complete coverage of the area), take a snapshot of each instrument (or
>  dimmer) at, say, 80%, and store the image. Before each show, the
>  lighting board automatically runs up each dimmer, takes a snapshot and
>  compares it against the stored image. Edge-detection algorithms can
>  detect and ignore objects that are in one shot but not the other (e.g.
>  someone walking across the stage, set pieces not preset yet, etc.). For
>  checking burned-out gels, you could even have a user-configurable option
>  to set how much the gel is allowed to burn out before the system flags
>  it for replacement.

Yes, it could be done. I should not like to be tasked with writing the 
software.
 

Frank Wood

------------------------------

From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com
Message-ID: <46.766bdaaf.30ae6fca [at] aol.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 18:44:10 EST
Subject: Re: Crew calling software

In a message dated 17/11/05 21:09:27 GMT Standard Time, 
bill [at] sapsis-rigging.com writes:

> Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo.  Theatre, especially live theatre, is about real
>  live honest to goodness people.  You should take the digital age only so
>  far.  It's bad enough that many shows these days look suspiciously like
>  movies, what with the projected scenery and stuff.  I don't wanna work a
>  show that doesn't have people involved.  I don't.  And you can't make me.
>  (I hope)

Three cheers! 

Frank Wood

------------------------------

Message-ID: <20051117235534.58448.qmail [at] web81502.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 15:55:34 -0800 (PST)
From: Michael Heinicke <mheinicke [at] sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Screw base LED bulbs
In-Reply-To: <list-25574531 [at] prxy.net>

I seem to remember seeing in a trade magazine an LED
color mixing bulb that will fit into a standard US
medium screw base socket. I know that Color Kinetics
makes one, but what I seem to remember was a unit that
could be programmed externally then have it stored
onboard. Am I imagining such a product? Was I dreaming
when I saw it in a magazine and read something about
controlling the unit through power lines?

Mike H

------------------------------

Message-ID: <b7aa28010511171607h3b9bf1b6wd6fa0fb21fbcb952 [at] mail.gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 19:07:14 -0500
From: Brian Munroe <bpmunroe [at] gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Sam Gossard
In-Reply-To: <list-25583452 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-25583198 [at] prxy.net> <list-25583452 [at] prxy.net>

On 11/17/05, Bill Sapsis <bill [at] sapsis-rigging.com> wrote:

> Sam came out of the Minneapolis area in the late 70's.  He may have been =
at
> Acadia for a while.  His own shop closed around '85 or so.  He was the ho=
use
> flyman at the Shubert (I think).

Sam was the house carpenter at the Shubert.

Brian Munroe
bpmunroe [at] gmail.com

------------------------------

Message-Id: <41D4C532-0CE0-4B54-BD0C-C9F001475F23 [at] worddome.net>
From: Chris Echols <Chris.Echols [at] worddome.net>
Subject: High End Studio Command
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 18:22:30 -0600

Does anyone have any pricing info on the High End Studio Command  
fixture?  Is this primarily a wash fixture with zoom and no gobo's?

Thanks,

Chris E. Echols, CTS
Chief Audio Visual Engineer
Faith Chapel Christian Center
Birmingham, AL
(205) 380-3378 office
(205) 533-5148 cell
Chris.Echols [at] worddome.net
www.worddome.org
http://tinyurl.com/bhb7w



------------------------------

Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 21:38:50 -0500
Subject: Re: Sales - It's not just a plaid jacket
From: Bruce Purdy <bpurdy [at] rochester.rr.com>
Message-ID: <BFA2A8EA.B469%bpurdy [at] rochester.rr.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-25581713 [at] prxy.net>

>>  These are the first techniques that a professional con-man learns, or a
salesman.In my book. there is little difference between the two.
> 
> Unfortunately, your attitude about salesmen is all
> too common - in and out of our industry.

    Ken, I understand and completely agree with all that you had do say.
There is certainly a "Good side" to sales, and you are part of it.

    On the other hand, the public image of salesmen is not entirely
undeserved, and it's not just the "Used car salesman" or the plaid jackets.
Advertising (Which I would argue is sales) deserves much of the blame.

    To sell a product, it must fulfil a need, or solve a problem. The goal
of most adverts is to *create a perceived need or a perceived problem* when
one doesn't really exist.

    Just watch the junk pushed on us on television or in print. In order to
get us to buy their products they prey on our insecurities, and convince us
*not* to be happy with who we are. If that is not the con man's art, then I
don't know what is!

    Of course that is quite different from the type of sales you are talking
about, but it does explain the public perception of salesmen as con artists.

Bruce
-- 
Bruce Purdy
Technical Director
Smith Opera House


------------------------------

Message-Id: <7.0.0.10.0.20051117105839.01a5b1d8 [at] insightbb.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 11:15:29 -0500
From: Mike Brubaker <mdbrubaker [at] insightbb.com>
Subject: Re: question about seats
In-Reply-To: <list-25580177 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-25580177 [at] prxy.net>

Can you post pictures of the chair?  Then take out the seat and post 
pictures of the inside of the seat pan?

Mike

At 10:59 AM 11/17/2005, you wrote:
>No where on the exposed part of the seat can I find anything to identify
>the manufacturer.  I don't mind taking one apart.  Is there some secret


------------------------------

Message-ID: <437D55B7.B792664D [at] cybercom.net>
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 23:16:55 -0500
From: Dale Farmer <dale [at] cybercom.net>
Organization: The  fuzz in the back of the fridge. 
Subject: Re: Gas Smell...
References: <list-25575626 [at] prxy.net> <list-25585503 [at] prxy.net>



Heather Hillhouse-Deans wrote:

> For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see <http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
> ---------------------------------------------------
>
> Hi All- I've tried looking at the Archives, and for the brief period I
> was able to access it, I found some good info, but from '98, and I'm
> wondering if there have been any advances on this topic....   We're
> doing /How I Learned to Drive/ in the spring, and the set/lighting
> designer has approached me about having a "gasoline smell" during the
> show.... he is imagining something that is very very low and diffuse,
> and VERY slowly builds until you actually can identify it after quite a
> while. Here are the disclaimers- I don't know if we will really do it or
> not, I know there is some disagreement on whether smell is really a good
> thing to include in performances, I know many people don't like the
> smell, I'm sure we would have some sort of lobby sign, and  I don't have
> any intention of actually using gasoline. I'm just trying to find out if
> there is a source for the smell without the actual thing, and what my
> options might be.  I've investigated the "smell-o-matic" I found online,
> but they only have pretty scents. Any ideas?
> Thanks-
> Heather Hillhouse-Deans
> Lehigh University
> Bethlehem, PA

    You can use benzene.  It's more aromatic, has a lower flash point,
and a wider explosive range than gasoline.






That is to say, don't bother with this. Too damn dangerous.



    --Dale


------------------------------

Reply-To: <stagecraft [at] jeffsalzberg.com>
From: "Jeffrey E. Salzberg" <stagecraft [at] jeffsalzberg.com>
Subject: RE: Crew calling software
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 23:20:25 -0500
Message-ID: <00b501c5ebf7$69d1be10$6601a8c0 [at] Dell>
In-Reply-To: <list-25584772 [at] prxy.net>



> I don't wanna 
> work a show that doesn't have people involved.  I don't.  And 
> you can't make me. (I hope)

I'm doing an opera right now.  That's almost as good as doing a show with
people, isn't it?



------------------------------

End of Stagecraft Digest #589
*****************************