Return-Path: X-Processed-By: Virex 7 on prxy.net X-Real-To: stagecraftlist [at] theatrical.net Received: by prxy.net (CommuniGate Pro PIPE 4.2.6) with PIPE id 17776897; Tue, 08 Feb 2005 03:01:22 -0800 X-ListServer: CommuniGate Pro LIST 4.2.6 List-Unsubscribe: List-ID: Message-ID: From: "Stagecraft" Sender: "Stagecraft" To: "Stagecraft" Precedence: list Subject: Stagecraft Digest #289 Date: Tue, 08 Feb 2005 03:01:01 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-Disposition: inline X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.0.2 (2004-11-16) on prxy.net X-Spam-Status: No, score=-5.5 required=5.0 tests=ALL_TRUSTED,AWL,BAYES_00 autolearn=ham version=3.0.2 X-Spam-Level: X-TFF-CGPSA-Version: 1.4f2 X-prxy-Spam-Filter: Scanned For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- Stagecraft Digest, Issue #289 1. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when.... by Jerry Durand 2. Re: Why not use single phase for stage lighting by Jerry Durand 3. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day, or week when.... by Michael Millar 4. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day, or week when.... addendum by Michael Millar 5. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day, or week when.... by "Delbert Hall" 6. Portable Audience Seating by Robbie Hayes 7. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day, or week when.... by "Pamela Abra" 8. Re: Super Bowl Intermission by "Michael Finney" 9. Re: Super Bowl Intermission by IAEG [at] aol.com 10. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day, or week when.... by John McKernon 11. Lockable rope locks by "James, Brian" 12. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when... by Jason Tollefson 13. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when . . . by Loren Schreiber 14. Re: Lockable rope locks by "Delbert Hall" 15. Source for architectural columns by Ruth Neeman 16. Re: Orchestra Acoustic Barrier by Dale Farmer 17. Re: Lockable rope locks by "Waxler, Steve (waxlers)" 18. Re: Lockable rope locks by "James, Brian" 19. Re: Source for architectural columns by "Waxler, Steve (waxlers)" 20. Re: Lockable rope locks by "Waxler, Steve (waxlers)" 21. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when . . . by Dale Farmer 22. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when . . . by Mike Brubaker 23. Re: piano tuning by Bruce Purdy 24. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when . . . by "Pamela Abra" 25. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when . . . by "Pamela Abra" 26. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when . . . by "Chris Warner" 27. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when.... by "Jason" 28. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when.... by "Jason" 29. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when.... by "Jason" 30. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when.... by "Jason" 31. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when.... by "Jason" 32. Re: Lockable rope locks by "Randy Whitcomb" 33. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when . . . by "Pamela Abra" 34. Landau Foam by Jonathan Zitelman 35. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when.... by Martha Kight 36. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day, or week when.... by "Tony" 37. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day, or week when.... by "Tony" 38. Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when.... by "Tony" *** 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: <6.2.0.14.0.20050207144824.04104988 [at] localhost> Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2005 15:52:50 -0800 From: Jerry Durand Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when.... In-Reply-To: References:

At 09:02 AM 2/7/2005, you wrote: >But I think the best was the load-in morning when we went to get the >trucks from the parking lot and found that someone had stolen the >batteries. Two years ago we were doing a medium-sized July 4th fireworks show. The truck with several hundred pounds of pyro in it developed an electrical problem on the (hours long) trip from the magazine to the show site and wouldn't reliably start. There was only one person in the truck so he couldn't leave it idling at rest stops. He managed to get the truck to the shoot site where it died (but we could unload it at that point). I could just see calling for a tow of a truck full of fireworks. :( ---------- Jerry Durand Durand Interstellar, Inc. 219 Oak Wood Way Los Gatos, California 95032-2523 USA tel: +1 408 356-3886 fax: +1 408 356-4659 web: www.interstellar.com ------------------------------ Message-Id: <6.2.0.14.0.20050207164805.0413aa20 [at] localhost> Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2005 16:51:47 -0800 From: Jerry Durand Subject: Re: Why not use single phase for stage lighting In-Reply-To: References: At 03:25 PM 2/7/2005, you wrote: >I should like to >know, though, how you get 800KV DC down to something reasonable. >Interestingly, >motor generator sets are very efficient, but I don't see an 800KV DC motor. Stacks of high-voltage semiconductors. For example, do a web search on FT1500AU-240 , 12KV, 1500A thyristor. ---------- Jerry Durand Durand Interstellar, Inc. 219 Oak Wood Way Los Gatos, California 95032-2523 USA tel: +1 408 356-3886 fax: +1 408 356-4659 web: www.interstellar.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: <42081054.1090106 [at] ix.netcom.com> Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2005 17:05:24 -0800 From: Michael Millar Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day, or week when.... I arrive to rig, rehearse, and fortunately stay to fly yet another college production of Peter Pan. A bunch of students are hanging around the pin rail while another student is up on the loading rail loading stage weights. One of the girls has her hands bandaged. She tried to catch a runaway lineset by grabbing the rope. First lessons for the day: Don't stand under the rail while weights are being loaded. Second: if a lineset runs away, so do you! Next, I select the linesets I'll need for my rig. I bring in one of the pipes, and hear a strange groaning from the grid when I move the pipe in and out. I ask the student in charge of the theatre what was up. He's said he had no idea, it's been like that for awhile. We go up to the grid. Most of the lights don't work. I ask him to get some new bulbs. He says it's university maintainence's job. I ask himif he is responsibvle for the space. he say yes. I tell him to go get some lights up here now. We change the lights. I crawl out onto the grid. The lineset in question is sawing halfway through a 5 gallon bucket that was place to catch rain water. The grid is full of trash. Loose trash. I tell the students to clean up the trash. Wouldn't want anything falling on us, especially while I am rigging the pendulums. Remove bucket, check lineset. Looks undamaged. I rig my tracks and pendulums, spend a few hours with crew and cast. Come back early next day to rerig flying scenery (don't ask). I don't want this stuff coming down on my head. Rehearsal. Going thru Pan/Hook battle. How does Hook jump off ship to his doom? It's a 5 foot tall wagon. They threw a couple of mattresses stolen from the dorms onto the floor. I ask the tech director if he was going to try jumping first? I'm kinda nuts, but I wouldn't. And the Hook du jour is a rather large, bulbous, softy kid. Not at all althetic. He was the captain of the drama club so he got the role. So we don't do his exit that day. I suggest the aqcuire a crash pad from athletics. It's winter in New England. Who pole vaults in the snow? They'll have a spare. We get all the flying down. The safest place for Pan was in the air on my wires. Not enough time to really rehearse the show, typical college schedule. So, opening night is first and final dress rehearsal. Fisrt thing to happen during the show is Hook goes down the stairs which I hadn't noticed were 1x12s with carriages 3 feet apart. Hook being a hefty fellow takes a few of them out on a stumble down the steps. But he's ok. The TD comes up with a 'genius' plan for the Hook overboard business. A 1 inch marine ply waxed nice and slick. And those damn mattresses at the bottom of it. Hook never got to rehearse it. Slides down, hits the floor feet first as the mattresses slide away. Both ankles snap. Needless to say, Hook does not reappear as dad in end or for curtain call. He's on his way to the emergency room, poor kid. We get a guy in who auditioned for the role but since he wasn't the captain of the drama club, he wasn't cast. We rehearse. TD gets a crash mat from athletics. We all try jumping off the ship. New Hook is brilliant. Adlibs half the scenes, but comes off well. Michael Millar Former Foy ------------------------------ Message-ID: <42081422.1080106 [at] ix.netcom.com> Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2005 17:21:38 -0800 From: Michael Millar Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day, or week when.... addendum just remembered. After opening night, I was woken up in the wee hours in my lovely Motel 2 (4 less tthan a 6) with the fire alarms going off. There's what appears to be smoke in the stairwell. I help get folks out of the hotel into the freezing air. Firemen show up. Some punk had blown off a fire extinguisher in the stairwell. The particulates set off the alarm. Nice. Michael Millar Glad to be in corporate theatre and staying in nice hotels. ------------------------------ Message-ID: In-Reply-To: From: "Delbert Hall" Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day, or week when.... Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2005 20:35:03 -0500 After loading in the flying systems for a high school production of WIZARD OF OZ, I show up for the first flying rehearsal only to find: no director, no assistant director, no SM, no TD, only half of the flying crew, an ASM who had never been to a rehearsal, and twice as many kids who say that they are to fly as as roles for flying performers, but not two of the major characters who fly. (all the missing folks went to the football game) -Delbert Delbert L. Hall 423-773-HALL (4255) ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3cdaccaa36b598b21c15294f439dd666 [at] georgetown.edu> From: Robbie Hayes Subject: Portable Audience Seating Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 20:42:52 -0500 New to the list and looking to purchase new Chairs for a flexible space. Narrowed it down to the Wenger Portable Audience Chair and the Clarin 4400. Does anyone use these particular chairs and or have an opinion about them? The Wenger is more comfortable, but storing them is a bear. Or if you have a product that you love, let me know. Thanks, Robbie Hayes Georgetown University ------------------------------ Message-ID: <002a01c50d7f$4e7475b0$fedcb440 [at] pamscomputer> From: "Pamela Abra" References: Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day, or week when.... Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 17:41:27 -0800 I am enjoying reading these experiences Some of them are sad and very unfortunate. Pamela (new member) ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Super Bowl Intermission Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 17:41:28 -0800 Message-ID: From: "Michael Finney" <> The floor and ramp units were very nice LED video wall/reader board assemblies topped with lexan (so you can walk on them). The set was a Steve Bass design.... Michael Finney (sent via PalmPilot) ------------------------------ From: IAEG [at] aol.com Message-ID: <1b9.cb99c03.2f3973a7 [at] aol.com> Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 20:45:11 EST Subject: Re: Super Bowl Intermission In a message dated 2/7/05 8:44:24 PM, mfinney [at] thinkwelldesign.com writes: >The set was a >Steve Bass design.... it's so nice that we almost always have a member who knows the inside scoop! thanks Mike keith arsenault ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2005 20:58:56 -0500 Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day, or week when.... From: John McKernon Message-ID: In-Reply-To: > I am enjoying reading these experiences > Some of them are sad and very unfortunate. I've been resisting, because we could tell war stories for years, but here's a fun one: One night on the national tour of "Lettice & Lovage", the lighting console broke down 5 minutes before curtain, and there was no backup of any kind, and the rehearsal lights FOH hadn't been hung because it was a split week and no understudy rehearsals were planned. Fortunately, the dimmer rack was one of those old LMI racks where there are bump buttons on each module. The electrician ran to the wardrobe mistress and borrowed a bag full of clothespins. Yes, clothespins! For the rest of the night, the light cues consisted of dimmers either "on" or "off", made possible by clipping the appropriate bump buttons down with the clothespins. Whenever a blackout was needed, the electrician (and helpers) pulled the clothespins off. When the lights were to come up, they came up one or two dimmers at a time, as quickly as they could clip clothespins onto the rack. Needless to say, the board was fixed the next day, *and* they got a backup console. - John ------------------------------ Subject: Lockable rope locks Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 21:38:05 -0500 Message-ID: <89DE71075FCD6E44A4D117FBFBBD801CE97D43 [at] fangorn.cc.vt.edu> From: "James, Brian" I have seen a few adds for the lockable (with a key type device) rope = locks, I believe that Clancy makes them. Does any one hear have any = experience with these things, good or bad? We are looking at the possibility (i.e. starting the fight for money) to = upgrade/replace one of my counter weight systems. Due to the = accessibility of the hall (one of those odd university deals) this seems = like a good idea. Any way, any one with feedback, I would love to hear it. Feel free to reply off list if you prefer. Enjoy. ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20050208024424.68829.qmail [at] web51005.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 18:44:24 -0800 (PST) From: Jason Tollefson Reply-To: jason [at] tollefsondesigns.com Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when... In-Reply-To: I had to drive a truckload of lighting gear from a Summer Rep season back to the shops after the load out. It was just after midnight and I was heading down the interstate at around 65mph when I hit a badger crossing the road (stupid creature). Both rear tires blow out and the truck spins two complete revolutions before coming to a stop facing the wrong way on the road. I waited half an hour for a highway patrol officer to stop and lend assisstance then another 45 minutes for a tow truck to come pick me up. Amazingly, the next day when we checked out the gear it was all fine: No cracked lenses and not a single broken lamp. Jason Tollefson www.tollefsondesigns.com ------------------------------ Message-Id: <6.1.1.1.2.20050207185106.039883e8 [at] mail.sdsu.edu> Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2005 18:56:56 -0800 From: Loren Schreiber Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when . . . In-Reply-To: References: . . . you get to work and discover a homeless person has burned down your theatre trying to keep warm. (Lowell Davies Festival Stage, 1984) The theatre was built to replace the one burned down by an arsonist. (Old Globe Theatre, 1978.) Hint: don't offer the managing director a book of matches for remodeling the remaining stage. He won't think it is funny. (The Cassius Carter Center Stage.) Loren "Grits" Schreiber, Technical Director and Long Reach Long Rider School of Theatre, Television and Film San Diego State University http://sapsis-rigging.com/LRLR.html ------------------------------ Message-ID: In-Reply-To: From: "Delbert Hall" Subject: RE: Lockable rope locks Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2005 22:22:39 -0500 Tiffin Scenic makes them. http://www.tiffinscenic.com/html/rope_locks.html Some people like them, others do not. -Delbert Delbert L. Hall 423-773-HALL (4255) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2005 22:24:11 -0500 Subject: Source for architectural columns From: Ruth Neeman Message-ID: I am looking for a source for light weight, (plastic, styrofoam, vacuum mold) architectural column parts � Doric or Tuscan. I would appreciate pointers to websites of companies that offer these items for sale or rental. Thanks Ruth Neeman www.setbyruthneeman.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: <42083248.1AAF4459 [at] cybercom.net> Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2005 22:30:16 -0500 From: Dale Farmer Subject: Re: Orchestra Acoustic Barrier References: "Eccleston, Mark" wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > I need some ideas on how to construct an Orchestra Acoustic Barrier for one > of the local high schools. The orchestra space is 40" below the stage level > and approximately 17' from the front row and around 50' wide. The concern > is that the orchestra will over power the first few rows of the audience and > they won't be able to hear the performers. I have a few ideas, but thought > I'd ask the list of there recommendations. Any ideas on what to use for > sound absorption? How high should I make it? Ultimately it will be portable > and be able to be put in storage when not in use. Thanks in advance... > > Mark S. Eccleston > Huntsville, Alabama > 256-694-8575 Basically you line the edges of the pit with materials that will absorb the sound, if the orchestra is unable to play softly. Carpeting with padding underneath it will also help. Paradoxically, if you are micing the orchestra, putting in a few monitor wedges in the pit so they can hear themselves better will sometimes help them play softer, especially if one of these wedges is pointed squarely at the conductor. Messing with their heads a bit, but it sometimes works. May want to ask this question on the theater sound list as well. \ --Dale ------------------------------ Message-ID: From: "Waxler, Steve (waxlers)" Subject: RE: Lockable rope locks Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 22:29:14 -0500 We have them and we like them. One theater is Clancy equipment and another is Tiffen. They need a little maintenance but they do work well. In a university setting it is nice to know that you can leave the theater and things will be where you left them. Steve Waxler Technical Director College Conservatory of Music University of Cincinnati -----Original Message----- From: James, Brian [mailto:bej [at] vt.edu] Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 9:38 PM To: Stagecraft Subject: Lockable rope locks For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- I have seen a few adds for the lockable (with a key type device) rope locks, I believe that Clancy makes them. Does any one hear have any experience with these things, good or bad? We are looking at the possibility (i.e. starting the fight for money) to upgrade/replace one of my counter weight systems. Due to the accessibility of the hall (one of those odd university deals) this seems like a good idea. Any way, any one with feedback, I would love to hear it. Feel free to reply off list if you prefer. Enjoy. ------------------------------ Subject: RE: Lockable rope locks Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 22:31:24 -0500 Message-ID: <89DE71075FCD6E44A4D117FBFBBD801C09F9B0CF [at] fangorn.cc.vt.edu> From: "James, Brian" What kind of maintenance? Just the mormal stuff? -----Original Message----- From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net]On Behalf Of Waxler, Steve (waxlers) Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 10:29 PM To: Stagecraft Subject: Re: Lockable rope locks For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- We have them and we like them. One theater is Clancy equipment and = another is Tiffen. They need a little maintenance but they do work well. In a university setting it is nice to know that you can leave the theater and things will be where you left them. Steve Waxler Technical Director College Conservatory of Music University of Cincinnati -----Original Message----- From: James, Brian [mailto:bej [at] vt.edu]=20 Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 9:38 PM To: Stagecraft Subject: Lockable rope locks For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- I have seen a few adds for the lockable (with a key type device) rope = locks, I believe that Clancy makes them. Does any one hear have any experience = with these things, good or bad? We are looking at the possibility (i.e. starting the fight for money) to upgrade/replace one of my counter weight systems. Due to the = accessibility of the hall (one of those odd university deals) this seems like a good = idea. Any way, any one with feedback, I would love to hear it. Feel free to reply off list if you prefer. Enjoy. ------------------------------ Message-ID: From: "Waxler, Steve (waxlers)" Subject: RE: Source for architectural columns Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 22:38:47 -0500 Try Outwater plastics Steve Waxler Technical Director College Conservatory of Music University of Cincinnati -----Original Message----- From: Ruth Neeman [mailto:ruth [at] setbyruthneeman.com] Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 10:24 PM To: Stagecraft Subject: Source for architectural columns For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- I am looking for a source for light weight, (plastic, styrofoam, vacuum mold) architectural column parts - Doric or Tuscan. I would appreciate pointers to websites of companies that offer these items for sale or rental. Thanks Ruth Neeman www.setbyruthneeman.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: From: "Waxler, Steve (waxlers)" Subject: RE: Lockable rope locks Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 22:40:32 -0500 They should be kept somewhat clean and a touch of lubricant now and again. The screws that hold them in place are hard to reach so it is better to make sure they are tight, occasionally than having to replace them. Steve Waxler Technical Director College Conservatory of Music University of Cincinnati -----Original Message----- From: James, Brian [mailto:bej [at] vt.edu] Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 10:31 PM To: Stagecraft Subject: Re: Lockable rope locks For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- What kind of maintenance? Just the mormal stuff? oy. ------------------------------ Message-ID: <4208379F.321FA0EC [at] cybercom.net> Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2005 22:53:03 -0500 From: Dale Farmer Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when . . . References:

Doing a convention. Loadin on Friday into a hotel ballroom for a saturday evening show. ( They have speeches and stuff in the room all day saturday. ) Rented the lights from BASH-NJ, the show is in Westchester, at the Escher Hilton. ( Where you can walk down the hall, up a ramp, and suddenly find that you have gone from the eighth floor to the fourth floor. ) LIghts are hung and we try to focus. Board is dead. Okay, no biggie, we can focus with hot patching and get a new board for tomorrow. Except the rental office is closed, the shop number doesn't answer, neither does the emergency number or the emergency pager. Some hair is torn out, until someone gets the idea and calls information asking for the phone number of the people's names we can remember. This eventually produces a live human who can get a new board. New board arrives Saturday morning, cues get programmed, much ass chewing is unleashed at the rental house and life goes on. Or does it.... About 3pm, guess what, the new board dies. PHone call to the emergency number this time is promptly answered. They 'yeeek!' at the bad board, and one of them start driving north with two replacement boards. One of our guys drives south to meet them at the Vince Lombardi Service area on the NJ turnpike. Boards are traded, and drive like bat out of hell to get back. Get back and plug board in about five minutes before curtain. Do the show with no presets, just the magic sheet and some coaching from the director on the headset to the board op. Director was also the LD, board op was the then ten year old son of one of the tech crew. ( volunteer gig. ) Show went on pretty much fine from there. But it was hell to get there. --Dale Then there was the time that we had an attempted kidnapping by the non custodial parent.... *sighs* ------------------------------ Message-Id: <6.2.1.2.0.20050207235202.03e4e378 [at] mail.insightbb.com> Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2005 23:58:59 -0500 From: Mike Brubaker Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when . . . In-Reply-To: References:

Doing the lighting design for a local civic theatre summer season at the local amphitheater (not their home venue). They did three different productions in three weeks. The space has a Colortran Scenemaster 60. Theirs had some loose connections on the back at the time, most notably the DMX connector. At the end of the final dress, after a rehearsal's worth of changes, tweaking, and adjustments, it's time to save the show. Looking for the disk, I realize that I'd slipped it under the front edge of the board. That's fine, no problem. Just lift up the front edge of the console to retrieve the disk. Screen goes blank...Set the board down, it powers back up--it's experienced a hard clear: all cues, patch, etc., deleted. Turns out that the connector shorted to the case, clearing the board. Also turns out that someone (me) hadn't bothered to do any incremental saves prior. It took three hours to reprogram the show from memory. Mike ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 08 Feb 2005 00:40:09 -0500 Subject: Re: piano tuning From: Bruce Purdy Message-ID: In-Reply-To: Fred Fisher wrote: > One other note, when cleaning off the outside of a piano, never use > furniture polish. It will just make a mess of the finish. Just a clean, > soft rag, maybe dampened a bit if you want to remove fingerprints. I use a *slightly* dampened clean lint free cloth to remove dust, and always with the grain of the wood. Furniture polish is definitely a no no, but my tuner did recommend a supermarket product called "Gardsman" for removing finger prints. Haven't tried it yet though. Bruce -- Bruce Purdy Technical Director Smith Opera House ------------------------------ Message-ID: <003001c50da1$e18e43e0$fedcb440 [at] pamscomputer> From: "Pamela Abra" References:

Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when . . . Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 21:48:57 -0800 I FEEL for you !! Pamela ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Brubaker" To: "Stagecraft" Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 8:58 PM Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when . . . > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > Doing the lighting design for a local civic theatre summer season at the > local amphitheater (not their home venue). They did three different > productions in three weeks. The space has a Colortran Scenemaster 60. > Theirs had some loose connections on the back at the time, most notably > the DMX connector. > > At the end of the final dress, after a rehearsal's worth of changes, > tweaking, and adjustments, it's time to save the show. Looking for the > disk, I realize that I'd slipped it under the front edge of the board. > That's fine, no problem. Just lift up the front edge of the console to > retrieve the disk. Screen goes blank...Set the board down, it powers back > up--it's experienced a hard clear: all cues, patch, etc., deleted. Turns > out that the connector shorted to the case, clearing the board. > > Also turns out that someone (me) hadn't bothered to do any incremental > saves prior. It took three hours to reprogram the show from memory. > > Mike > > ------------------------------ Message-ID: <003301c50da1$fef286d0$fedcb440 [at] pamscomputer> From: "Pamela Abra" References:

Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when . . . Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 21:49:46 -0800 Be thankful you didn;t have to reprogram the show as many times as I had to. hahah. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Brubaker" To: "Stagecraft" Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 8:58 PM Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when . . . > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > Doing the lighting design for a local civic theatre summer season at the > local amphitheater (not their home venue). They did three different > productions in three weeks. The space has a Colortran Scenemaster 60. > Theirs had some loose connections on the back at the time, most notably > the DMX connector. > > At the end of the final dress, after a rehearsal's worth of changes, > tweaking, and adjustments, it's time to save the show. Looking for the > disk, I realize that I'd slipped it under the front edge of the board. > That's fine, no problem. Just lift up the front edge of the console to > retrieve the disk. Screen goes blank...Set the board down, it powers back > up--it's experienced a hard clear: all cues, patch, etc., deleted. Turns > out that the connector shorted to the case, clearing the board. > > Also turns out that someone (me) hadn't bothered to do any incremental > saves prior. It took three hours to reprogram the show from memory. > > Mike > > ------------------------------ Message-ID: <070b01c50da3$a7f72730$6501a8c0 [at] chris> From: "Chris Warner" References:

Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when . . . Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 22:01:39 -0800 This sounds like a Strand GSX, with the faulty format command! Chris ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pamela Abra" To: "Stagecraft" Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 9:49 PM Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when . . . > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > Be thankful you didn;t have to reprogram the show as many times as I had to. > hahah. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Mike Brubaker" > To: "Stagecraft" > Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 8:58 PM > Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when . . . > > > > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > > --------------------------------------------------- > > > > Doing the lighting design for a local civic theatre summer season at the > > local amphitheater (not their home venue). They did three different > > productions in three weeks. The space has a Colortran Scenemaster 60. > > Theirs had some loose connections on the back at the time, most notably > > the DMX connector. > > > > At the end of the final dress, after a rehearsal's worth of changes, > > tweaking, and adjustments, it's time to save the show. Looking for the > > disk, I realize that I'd slipped it under the front edge of the board. > > That's fine, no problem. Just lift up the front edge of the console to > > retrieve the disk. Screen goes blank...Set the board down, it powers back > > up--it's experienced a hard clear: all cues, patch, etc., deleted. Turns > > out that the connector shorted to the case, clearing the board. > > > > Also turns out that someone (me) hadn't bothered to do any incremental > > saves prior. It took three hours to reprogram the show from memory. > > > > Mike > > > > > > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.8.6 - Release Date: 2/7/2005 > > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.8.6 - Release Date: 2/7/2005 ------------------------------ Message-ID: From: "Jason" References: Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when.... Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2005 21:23:05 -0800 Here is a good one from early 80's Jefferson Starship was going to play a one off to near sold out crowd 14k people. Starship people wanted to show up at 10am on a sunday. When they did show with their gear. First question that comes up where is the house lighting rig ( first 2 years we had house system that wasn't used enough in the past to rent it another season or store it when not in use). And this on a weekend too. At 2pm they found a rig that was warehoused for week off still in one piece (it was Ted Nugent's) then to find trucking as it was 60 miles away. It arrived at 5:30pm Figuring out to assemble the rig so that the cabling fit and other made some kind of since it was up by 7:30 then a seat of the pants focus by a very troubled LD by 8pm as the house watched. Time to climb out of the truss get a drink of water and run spotlight as the show started 10 mins late. I worked my off that more mental than hard work running the crew and figuring the stuff out. There were a few funny looks as the board was program for a different focus, the LD didn't his colors as the rig stayed as it was colored but it worked lots of flashy lights and I don't anyone in the house even knew the difference as for the aroma in the out venue was. ------------------------------ Message-ID: From: "Jason" References: Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when.... Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2005 21:23:05 -0800 Here is a good one from early 80's Jefferson Starship was going to play a one off to near sold out crowd 14k people. Starship people wanted to show up at 10am on a sunday. When they did show with their gear. First question that comes up where is the house lighting rig ( first 2 years we had house system that wasn't used enough in the past to rent it another season or store it when not in use). And this on a weekend too. At 2pm they found a rig that was warehoused for week off still in one piece (it was Ted Nugent's) then to find trucking as it was 60 miles away. It arrived at 5:30pm Figuring out to assemble the rig so that the cabling fit and other made some kind of since it was up by 7:30 then a seat of the pants focus by a very troubled LD by 8pm as the house watched. Time to climb out of the truss get a drink of water and run spotlight as the show started 10 mins late. I worked my off that more mental than hard work running the crew and figuring the stuff out. There were a few funny looks as the board was program for a different focus, the LD didn't his colors as the rig stayed as it was colored but it worked lots of flashy lights and I don't anyone in the house even knew the difference as for the aroma in the out venue was. ------------------------------ Message-ID: From: "Jason" References: Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when.... Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2005 21:23:05 -0800 Here is a good one from early 80's Jefferson Starship was going to play a one off to near sold out crowd 14k people. Starship people wanted to show up at 10am on a sunday. When they did show with their gear. First question that comes up where is the house lighting rig ( first 2 years we had house system that wasn't used enough in the past to rent it another season or store it when not in use). And this on a weekend too. At 2pm they found a rig that was warehoused for week off still in one piece (it was Ted Nugent's) then to find trucking as it was 60 miles away. It arrived at 5:30pm Figuring out to assemble the rig so that the cabling fit and other made some kind of since it was up by 7:30 then a seat of the pants focus by a very troubled LD by 8pm as the house watched. Time to climb out of the truss get a drink of water and run spotlight as the show started 10 mins late. I worked my off that more mental than hard work running the crew and figuring the stuff out. There were a few funny looks as the board was program for a different focus, the LD didn't his colors as the rig stayed as it was colored but it worked lots of flashy lights and I don't anyone in the house even knew the difference as for the aroma in the out venue was. ------------------------------ Message-ID: From: "Jason" References: Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when.... Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2005 21:23:05 -0800 Here is a good one from early 80's Jefferson Starship was going to play a one off to near sold out crowd 14k people. Starship people wanted to show up at 10am on a sunday. When they did show with their gear. First question that comes up where is the house lighting rig ( first 2 years we had house system that wasn't used enough in the past to rent it another season or store it when not in use). And this on a weekend too. At 2pm they found a rig that was warehoused for week off still in one piece (it was Ted Nugent's) then to find trucking as it was 60 miles away. It arrived at 5:30pm Figuring out to assemble the rig so that the cabling fit and other made some kind of since it was up by 7:30 then a seat of the pants focus by a very troubled LD by 8pm as the house watched. Time to climb out of the truss get a drink of water and run spotlight as the show started 10 mins late. I worked my off that more mental than hard work running the crew and figuring the stuff out. There were a few funny looks as the board was program for a different focus, the LD didn't his colors as the rig stayed as it was colored but it worked lots of flashy lights and I don't anyone in the house even knew the difference as for the aroma in the out venue was. ------------------------------ Message-ID: From: "Jason" References: Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when.... Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2005 21:23:05 -0800 Here is a good one from early 80's Jefferson Starship was going to play a one off to near sold out crowd 14k people. Starship people wanted to show up at 10am on a sunday. When they did show with their gear. First question that comes up where is the house lighting rig ( first 2 years we had house system that wasn't used enough in the past to rent it another season or store it when not in use). And this on a weekend too. At 2pm they found a rig that was warehoused for week off still in one piece (it was Ted Nugent's) then to find trucking as it was 60 miles away. It arrived at 5:30pm Figuring out to assemble the rig so that the cabling fit and other made some kind of since it was up by 7:30 then a seat of the pants focus by a very troubled LD by 8pm as the house watched. Time to climb out of the truss get a drink of water and run spotlight as the show started 10 mins late. I worked my off that more mental than hard work running the crew and figuring the stuff out. There were a few funny looks as the board was program for a different focus, the LD didn't his colors as the rig stayed as it was colored but it worked lots of flashy lights and I don't anyone in the house even knew the difference as for the aroma in the out venue was. ------------------------------ Message-ID: <000801c50da6$ded461c0$0300a8c0 [at] D4D3R151> From: "Randy Whitcomb" References: Subject: Re: Lockable rope locks Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 23:24:36 -0700 ----- Original Message ----- From: "James, Brian" >I have seen a few adds for the lockable (with a key type device) rope >locks, I believe that Clancy makes them. Does any one hear have any >experience with >these things, good or bad? We've had the padlock style from H & H Specialties for 2 years now. http://www.hhspecialties.com/Rope%20Lock-Locking%20Rails.pdf We're a high school and had a couple of incidents of unauthorized use. Nothing serious mostly PITA stuff. Since we've been able to lock the hand lines, we've had no problems. Randy Whitcomb, TD Price Civic Aud. Loveland, CO ------------------------------ Message-ID: <005f01c50da9$6c5a0480$fedcb440 [at] pamscomputer> From: "Pamela Abra" References:

Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when . . . Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 22:42:55 -0800 It sure was!! That was my first experience with a Strand Board. I was only used to ETC before that. I've worked with others since that experience... NISI, Leprecon, an old Apple 2 e, and a Lightronics controller. Each one has its own special features. > > This sounds like a Strand GSX, with the faulty format command! > > Chris ------------------------------ Message-ID: <42086563.2060304 [at] tlu.edu> Date: Tue, 08 Feb 2005 01:08:19 -0600 From: Jonathan Zitelman Subject: Landau Foam I'm currently working on designing a scenic element for a production of King Lear. For the exterior I'm attempting to use 1/8" thick landau foam on a wire and rebar armature. Has anyone else worked with this medium before? Any tips or tricks for modeling, attaching, etc.? I have read that scuffing the surface of the foam is necessary for glue to adhere properly, however, that seems to be the extent of the information available. Thanks in advance. -Jonathan Zitelman � JSZitelman [at] tlu.edu ------------------------------ Message-Id: Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 23:45:16 -0800 From: Martha Kight Subject: RE: You know it's going to be a bad show day when.... Several Bad Show Days... 1. The worst - Opening night of an original piece, one of the five actresses (all roles equally vital) had a miscarriage (11th week of her pregnancy) about 20 minutes before curtain. The house was sold out, and they had all arrived by the time it all happened (very quickly). Awful - horrible having to go out and tell them the performance was cancelled -and of course all of her friends that were there realized she wsa the one missing and quickly surmised why. Delayed opening til the next week - there was a wonderful young actress in the opening night audience who agreed to do it until the original actress was better and came back. The good news is, now she has a fabulous two year old and is doing great. 2. Same show ("Bite Me, Cleopatra" :) ): It was a backstage comedy/farce - very funny, quick, big chase - and there were places where the characters had lines like, "Bite me!!" and "shut up" etc and, the set is a women's dressingroom and there are several costume changes that take place onstage - nothing exposing, just down to slips and suchlike. But lucky us - house buyout {{{SHUDDER!!!}}} VERY drunk opthalmologist's convention (the theatre is on a paddlewheel boat that is also a hotel) - they could have given a toss what they were seeing. And every time one of those lines came, the charming audience would take it up like a call-and-response (or a hue and cry!) "BITE ME!!!! " SHUT UP!!!" etc.... And POOR leading lady when she removed her outer costume for her changes - wolf whistles, catcalls... WORST house EVER - I was afraid they would throw glasses and bottles (the house allows them to bring in their cocktails - more bar sales). We VERY nearly left the stage several times (can't believe we didn't). I actually broke the 4th wall - twice - and sharply SHUSHED! them - couldn't help it. It sure did go about three times as fast as usual. AND THE WORST OFFENDERS WAITED FOR US FOR 45 MINUTES TO TELL US HOW MUCH THEY LOVED IT. Go freakin' figure. We *did* tell them how horrid they were and that they should be ashamed. We still blanch at the mention of that night, 4 years later. 3. I fortunately bowed out of a production of "Merrily We Roll Along"VERY early on. The scenes are written in backwards chronoloigical order - it was an excercise for Sondheim - doesn't always work, but the music's interesting and kind of fun. The idiot...erm, "director", told us that he had gotten personal permission from Mister Sondheim to reverse it back to Chrono order since that's why it flopped on Broadway... a-hem. Turns out, when the local reviewer wrote the rental house for press clippings etc. since it was an interesting project and he wanted to feature it in the paper, they not only denied that the putz had permission to edit it (duh - we were naive then), but it was more like, "WHO is doing it, WHERE?!??". He hadn't even procured the bloody rights to perform it as written. "Cease and desist " came, but not until the poor cast and crew had already opened it and played two performances. I was never so relieved to have made an early decision to quit a show. 4. And... A production of Company. Our orchestration/accompaniment was all programmed onto a synth and played through the keyboard (you do NOT have to tell me how many ways that is WRONG... don't get me started) and the facility rented out the theatre to a private party between shows... There was a gang riot, several windows were shot out, a fire was lit in the men's bathroom - and they stole the whole sound system - including the backup set of discs, which the musical director had made - but left sitting on top of the keyboard. :| We had to close the show a week early - not the *best* production values ever, but the preformances were pretty decent - devastating to close a show early. Knock wood. -Martha Kight Synergy Stage, Sacramento, CA ------------------------------ Message-ID: <005501c50db9$51783370$0800000a [at] Tony> From: "Tony" References: Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day, or week when.... Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2005 08:36:40 -0000 How about manual interference..... Panto season year before last. I wasn't due down at the theatre that week, there being a full crew on board. The LX desk had been programmed by one of my more experienced designer/users, and an LX op was in place who knew how to drive cues but unfortunately wasn't up on the desk (300) config. I get a call at 6.45pm on opening night to say the desk had gone haywire and they couldn't get a thing up on stage. So I jumps into car and hares down to the theatre, arriving just after the 7-o'clock calls. Turns out the meddling squeek had been poking around the LX desk and pushed a few buttons that he shouldn't have and basically wiped out the patch! Unfortunately, the backup disk for the show was with the designer (in his bag). Fortunately the paper copy was there, so I spent a very hectic half hour re-plotting the patch (once I'd figured out what was amiss and found the sheets) and got them back on line in time for a 1 minute delay on curtain. You could've cut the air....... Ynot ------------------------------ Message-ID: <005901c50dba$36f744e0$0800000a [at] Tony> From: "Tony" References: Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day, or week when.... Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2005 08:43:05 -0000 Another one from panto season.... Annual big panto post Xmas - 2 week run in our am-venue. Middle Saturday night show, house music has been running fine, calls just fine, squeek winds down the house and is about to do final 'bums on seats' call when the desk decides to take THAT moment to croak! I'm next door on LX op so wen I get the panic call over cans that something's "wrong" I nip next door to find a desk with it's feet firmly in the air!!! After concluding in about 5 minutes flat that it's beyond easy repair that night gets on the phone to a local contact who I know has the same desk in his hire stock - fortunately I have his home number - he says yes it's available and is down with desk in just over 20. We strip the old one whilst he's driving over, plan how to get by the shortage of channels and insert one of the smaller 12- channel deks to compensate and lay the cables in ready. He arrives, we patch and sound check, and we go up only 65 minutes late to rapturous applause from the understanding audience (who by the way have been topping up the bar profits for the night in the past hour!) The show was the success it always is and not a single person complained...... But it could all have been very different.....! Ynot ------------------------------ Message-ID: <008e01c50dbb$b4364c70$0800000a [at] Tony> From: "Tony" References:

Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when.... Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2005 08:53:40 -0000 You certainly worked a lot with Starship in the 80's (judging by the umpteen posts on the topic!!) 8-)) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jason" To: "Stagecraft" Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 5:23 AM Subject: Re: You know it's going to be a bad show day when.... > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > > > > Here is a good one from early 80's > > Jefferson Starship was going to play a one off to near sold out crowd 14k > people. Starship people wanted to show up at 10am on a sunday. When they did > show with their gear. First question that comes up where is the house > lighting rig ( first 2 years we had house system that wasn't used enough in > the past to rent it another season or store it when not in use). And this on > a weekend too. At 2pm they found a rig that was warehoused for week off > still in one piece (it was Ted Nugent's) then to find trucking as it was 60 > miles away. It arrived at 5:30pm Figuring out to assemble the rig so that > the cabling fit and other made some kind of since it was up by 7:30 then a > seat of the pants focus by a very troubled LD by 8pm as the house watched. > Time to climb out of the truss get a drink of water and run spotlight as the > show started 10 mins late. I worked my off that more mental than hard work > running the crew and figuring the stuff out. There were a few funny looks as > the board was program for a different focus, the LD didn't his colors as the > rig stayed as it was colored but it worked lots of flashy lights and I don't > anyone in the house even knew the difference as for the aroma in the out > venue was. > ------------------------------ End of Stagecraft Digest #289 *****************************