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 21007125; Fri, 18 Mar 2005 03:01:07 -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 #333 Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2005 03:00:51 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-Disposition: inline X-Spam-Status: No, score=-5.6 required=5.0 tests=ALL_TRUSTED,AWL,BAYES_00 autolearn=ham version=3.0.2 X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.0.2 (2004-11-16) on prxy.net X-TFF-CGPSA-Version: 1.4f2 X-prxy-Spam-Filter: Scanned For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- Stagecraft Digest, Issue #333 1. Re: retensioning handlines by Bill Sapsis 2. Stage Expo by Jerry Durand 3. Re: Fire Detection by "Nigel Worsley" 4. Re: retensioning handlines by "Bll Conner" 5. Re: NFPA Pyro Regs. by "Bll Conner" 6. Re: NFPA Pyro Regs. by Bruce Purdy 7. Re: Fire Detection by Bruce Purdy 8. Re: Stage Expo by John McKernon 9. Re: Rosebrand Problems by PAUL_RICHARDSON [at] qvc.com 10. Re: Moving Lights by "Daryl Redmon" 11. Re: retensioning handlines by Greg Bierly 12. Re: Work Lights by Greg Bierly 13. Re: Rose Brand Problems by "Waxler, Steve (waxlers)" 14. Re: Rose Brand Problems by "Jonathan Wills" 15. Re: Rose Brand Problems by "Merel Ray-Pfeifer" 16. Re: Fire Detection by Dale Farmer 17. Re: Rose Brand Problems by "Rob Carovillano" 18. Re: Fire Detection by "Nigel Worsley" 19. Re: Rose Brand Problems by "Rob Carovillano" 20. Re: retensioning handlines by "Rob Carovillano" 21. Re: retensioning handlines by "richard j. archer" 22. Re: Fire Detection by Dale Farmer 23. Re: Rose Brand Problems by Boyd Ostroff 24. Re: Rose Brand Problems by Barney Simon 25. Re: candelabra screw base by Alex French 26. Re: Moving Lights by Greg Persinger 27. Re: Work Lights by Greg Persinger 28. Re: Work Lights by Greg Bierly 29. Re: Balloons and smoke alarms by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com 30. Re: candelabra screw base by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com 31. Re: Work Lights by Mark O'Brien 32. Re: Stage Expo by "ladesigners [at] juno.com" 33. Re: Burning smoke alarm (was Balloons and smoke alarms) by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com 34. Direct Boxes by "Rob Carovillano" 35. Re: Fire Detection by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com 36. Re: Direct Boxes by Shawn Palmer 37. Re: Stage Expo by Andrew Vance 38. Re: foam to fabric by Karen Archibald 39. Re: Fire Detection by Dale Farmer 40. Re: Direct Boxes by Greg Bierly 41. Re: Direct Boxes by "James, Brian" 42. Re: Fire Detection by Greg Persinger 43. Re: Direct Boxes by "Jeremiah Minh Greenblatt" 44. Re: Balloons and smoke alarms by CB 45. List etiquette by CB 46. Re: Rose Brand Problems by CB 47. Re: Rose Brand Problems by Boyd Ostroff 48. Re: Rose Brand Problems by "Waxler, Steve (waxlers)" 49. Re: Direct Boxes by jdeull [at] clarktransfer.com 50. Re: retensioning handlines by Stephen Litterst 51. Re: Fire Detection by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com 52. Re: Fire Detection by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com 53. Re: NFPA Pyro Regs. [Was: NIST Station Fire] by murr rhame 54. Re: List etiquette by Brian Munroe 55. Re: Burning smoke alarm (was Balloons and smoke alarms) by Stuart Wheaton 56. Re: retensioning handlines by Bill Sapsis 57. Re: retensioning handlines by Bill Sapsis 58. Re: retensioning handlines by Stephen Litterst 59. Re: consoles by Jeff Forbes *** 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: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 06:53:39 -0500 Subject: Re: retensioning handlines From: Bill Sapsis Message-ID: In-Reply-To: The function of the floor block is to turn the rope in the other direction. It's heavy because it's supposed to keep tension on the line so you can run the set and hit a cue mark accurately. It floats for 2 reasons. One is from the old days of manila, as others have noted. But the other reason is so that the operator can pull the block up, take the slack in the line and twist the line together. This gives the operator control of the lines in an out of balance situation. In a T-bar of J-bar system, the floor block is designed to lock in place under normal use. To raise it and pull some slack, you need to step on the from toe plate and pull up on the offstage (back) operating line. So, no matter what kind of rope you have, you really want those floor blocks to be able to move. Bill S. www.sapsis-rigging.com 800.727.7471 800.292.3851 fax 267.278.4561 mobile Please support the Long Reach Long Riders on their 2nd annual benefit ride http://sapsis-rigging.com/LRLR.html on 3/16/05 8:57 AM, BKHAIN [at] aol.com at BKHAIN [at] aol.com wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > Hi everybody, > > I was just doing this (retensioning the handlines -- hemp) at the theater I > am temporary TD for... I'll apologize up front for my ignorance, but I was > wondering about the floating bottom blocks? Not all counterweight systems I've > used have them. Are they still installed and what is -- or was -- their > purpose? > And some of these have been wedged down with counterweights. Not a good idea > I presume? > > Thanks, > > Benjamin Hain > Temporary TD > Rochester Community and Technical College > Rochester MN ------------------------------ Message-Id: <6.2.1.2.0.20050317070156.0284d4d8 [at] localhost> Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 07:08:48 -0500 From: Jerry Durand Subject: Stage Expo We've already had someone come and get a Stagecraft sticker, be sure and get them before we run out. Booth #853, Jerry or Sharon. I also found out that although my cell company stated that I could not use my phone in Canada, I can make calls and it rings just fine. And, just like in the USA, no roaming charges (I pay a flat per minute rate, no monthly charge). If anyone needs to call me, my number is 408-348-7096. Our hotel is across the street from a condo building, so we have a ton of unsecured WiFi accounts to log into. The convention center asks for your account number, I don't know what their charge is. I have the DALI prototype up and running, and have been promised the MacFOH demo running our controller sometime today. ---------- 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: <041401c52aec$7eb5f6b0$0c00a8c0 [at] Nigellaptop> From: "Nigel Worsley" References:

Subject: Re: Fire Detection Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 12:26:06 -0000 Dale Farmer wrote: > Smoke detectors. These come in different technologies as well. > Photo-cell or obscuration detectors. They pass a beam of light through the > ambient air onto a photocell. I have never come across that type in the UK. Here, optical detectors have a chamber with baffled vents to prevent ambient light entering, and an emitter and detector positioned so that light cannot go between them without bouncing off of something. That something is smoke! Nigel Worsley ------------------------------ Message-ID: <000b01c52aee$24a2a8b0$8a01a8c0 [at] BCA1> Reply-To: "Bll Conner" From: "Bll Conner" Subject: Re: retensioning handlines Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 07:37:36 -0500 Regarding welsh blocks, Benjamin Hain posts: "Are they still installed and what is -- or was -- their purpose?" Interesting subject. The two purposes I know of keeping ever-changing manila handlines taut and, being able to pull the return or rear line out in front of the lock rail so you can turn around an look at the set while hauling it out. Synthetic lines just about do away with need for retensioning. Also, there was a period when manufacturers were changing from fibre guide shoes (what was that stuff really?) to plastic and I found a lot of welsh blocks would rise too easily. Some of this had to do with weight and balance also but you could slow down the set coming in and the block would rise allowing the arbor to keep traveling. Sounds like possibility for Ben's finding weights wedged in to keep them down and not floating. So, as I have asked folks in the know, is it time to get rid of floating welsh blocks? Well, if you like being able to pull that rear line out over the rail, obviously not, but I don't observer that being done in many facilities. Otherwise, other than being the first or braking tradition, why not? There is a lot of momentum in this business to not change. Plus someone would have to invent another mounting and, after all , the t-bar is often there even if it is a weak link in the load path of the handline. Would somebody raise the question at the annual Stump the Riggers session at USITT Saturday? Bill ------------------------------ Message-ID: <001101c52af1$dc8f2220$8a01a8c0 [at] BCA1> Reply-To: "Bll Conner" From: "Bll Conner" Subject: Re: NFPA Pyro Regs. Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 08:03:09 -0500 Bruce posts: "I'm confused by this. I understand wattage from an electrical perspective. Wattage for flames?? If this refers to heat, I know degrees, and if brightness foot-candles or lumens. Watts?" Fires are measured in watts. It is power and specifically this is a measurement of the peak rate of heat release. 1 watt is equal to 3.14 BTU's per hour. Without having access to my bookshelf, I believe a small fire with ordinary combustibles - like you might find in the middle of a shop - might be a 5 megawatt fire. Again - working from memory, a large fire (worse case) in a department sore might be 25 megawatts. Regarding candles, in 12.7.2, the Life Safety Code says: (3) Open flame devices shall be permitted to be used in the following situations, provided that precautions satisfactory to the authority having jurisdiction are taken to prevent ignition of any combustible material or injury to occupants: (a) For ceremonial or religious purposes (b) On stages and platforms where part of a performance Regards from Toronto, Bill ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 08:24:26 -0500 Subject: Re: NFPA Pyro Regs. From: Bruce Purdy Message-ID: In-Reply-To: Bill answered my question: > Fires are measured in watts. It is power and specifically this is a > measurement of the peak rate of heat release. 1 watt is equal to 3.14 BTU's > per hour. Without having access to my bookshelf, I believe a small fire > with ordinary combustibles - like you might find in the middle of a shop - > might be a 5 megawatt fire. Again - working from memory, a large fire > (worse case) in a department sore might be 25 megawatts. Thank you. It's amazing the eclectic knowledge I gain from this list! > > Regarding candles, in 12.7.2, the Life Safety Code says: > (3) Open flame devices shall be permitted to be used in the following > situations, provided that precautions satisfactory to the authority having > jurisdiction are taken to prevent ignition of any combustible material or > injury to occupants: > > (a) For ceremonial or religious purposes > > (b) On stages and platforms where part of a performance That's reassuring to know. "the Life Safety Code"; is this yet a different reg. from any of the NFPA codes mentioned so far? Who oversees that one? Bruce -- Bruce Purdy Technical Director Smith Opera House ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 08:43:24 -0500 Subject: Re: Fire Detection From: Bruce Purdy Message-ID: In-Reply-To: >> Smoke detectors. These come in different technologies as well. >> Photo-cell or obscuration detectors. They pass a beam of light through the >> ambient air onto a photocell. > > I have never come across that type in the UK. I had probably come across them many times and not known it. Unless you know what to look for, you probably wouldn't notice the boxes on the opposite corners of the room a few feet below the ceiling. The beam of light between them is invisible. I didn't know such things existed, and assumed that those boxes in my theatre were for a previous hearing impaired system. No one on staff knew about them until a painter on a scaffold put his head into the beam and the alarm went off. The fire department explained them to us and suggested turning them off until the painters were done. I love learning new things! Learning them the hard way is not the best way to do it, but those lessons do tend to stick! Bruce -- Bruce Purdy Technical Director Smith Opera House ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 08:48:34 -0500 Subject: Re: Stage Expo From: John McKernon Message-ID: In-Reply-To: > Our hotel is across the street from a condo building, so we have a ton of > unsecured WiFi accounts to log into. The convention center asks for your > account number, I don't know what their charge is. Be careful! I heard yesterday that the convention center charges $375 per computer for internet access. My only question was whether that was per day or for the week...:( Fortunately, I'm at the Intercontinental, which has free high-speed access in the rooms! - John ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Rosebrand Problems Message-ID: From: PAUL_RICHARDSON [at] qvc.com Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 09:03:47 -0500 My only advice would be to contact them again. If you have difficulty getting a live person, email me off list and I will give you some specific people to contact. I too have found Rosebrand to be very responsive to customer concerns. It might be wise in the future to bring up concerns about the condition of rental goods when you recieve them. A cheap digital camera has saved me repair charges on more than one occasion. Paul Richardson Scene Shop Supervisor QVC Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 15:20:52 -0500 From: "Rob Carovillano" Subject: Rose Brand Problems Message-id: <000201c52a65$a71d0e90$6601a8c0 [at] LAPTOP> References:

I want to advise everyone to avoid Rose Brand if at all possible. Other than the fact that I have never once reached the person I was trying too without getting voicemail or being on hold for 45 minutes (minimum). They have now trumped up damage charges on us on two separate occassions. Once they accused us of pinning a set of rented legs when we simply hung them and did not such thing. And now they are accussing us of damaging some green screen drops that came to me dirty and with some pulls in the seams. When I inspected them for the return they were in the same condition as when I received them. I do not know if it is their policy to pick on their smaller customers or what but I will NEVER be renting from them in the future. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do about this situation. I am thinking about forwarding the matter to our University's attorney since I make no progress when trying to reach them. Rob Carovillano Technical Director - Bluett Theatre Saint Joseph's University (610) 660-1044 rcarovillano [at] verizon.net ------------------------------ Message-ID: <001d01c52afc$303ac410$6500a8c0 [at] yourfsyly0jtwn> From: "Daryl Redmon" References:

Subject: Re: Moving Lights Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 06:18:25 -0800 Thanks for the reply Greg, I am hoping at a minimum of being able to zoom or iris remotely. Of course being able to dim my moving lights so I can fade in and out and reposition the beam. The add on of the Ellipscan only addresses the reposition of the beam . Of course CYM mixing would be a big plus. > Meteor makes the Ellipscan. Under $350 (US). It is strictly a moving > mirror that is mounted on a source four. Not the most precise unit for a > long run but it sounds like it could be workable for your situation. Daryl Redmon Resounding Light ------------------------------ In-Reply-To: References: Message-Id: From: Greg Bierly Subject: Re: retensioning handlines Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 09:33:40 -0500 > In a T-bar of J-bar system, the floor block is designed to lock in > place > under normal use. To raise it and pull some slack, you need to step > on the > from toe plate and pull up on the offstage (back) operating line. An odd question to add to this. Should you have a person positioned at the floor block to step on the toe plates if they are located remotely from the locking rail? For example if your arbors travel to a pit or if your locking rail is on a catwalk and the floorblocks are at floor level. If so would they be necessary for loading and unloading only or for normal operations? Greg Bierly Technical Director Hempfield HS ------------------------------ In-Reply-To: References: Message-Id: <2ea783954bc844f51cfd88e7bad06eb8 [at] dejazzd.com> From: Greg Bierly Subject: Re: Work Lights Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 09:45:12 -0500 On Mar 16, 2005, at 6:45 PM, FrankWood95 [at] aol.com wrote: > She couldn't hear the words! I think that this is simply because she > couldn't see the lip > movements. I think that we all lip-read to some extent. > Frank Wood I always thought the same thing since I could never hear as well without my glasses. I would keep my glasses by the side of the pool at practice so I could understand the swim coach's instructions. I just read something that made sense this past month on the subject. It stated that seeing the lips moving allows you to focus more acutely to the voice and filter out more background noise. In a broad sense I guess it is still lip reading but it is probably more of a "noise reduction" technique. Greg Bierly Technical Director Hempfield HS ------------------------------ Message-ID: From: "Waxler, Steve (waxlers)" Subject: RE: Rose Brand Problems Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 09:50:53 -0500 Not to add to the "me , too's" but for the most part I also have not had trouble with Rose Brand and on the occasions when something was not right a quick phone call usually solved the problem. While my rep is not always immediately available I have set up a relationship with a few of the reps and they usually can handle my needs if they are immediate. If not immediate, my rep usually calls back shortly. I, too, was going to copy my contact but since a number of you have already done so I wont. I don't have a problem with any one on the list bringing up problems they have with specific vendors, I think that can help us all, I do have a problem with the way it was presented. It could have been: Is anyone else having problems with _______? This is the situation that I have run into. OR: I am having some difficulties with ________ does anyone have suggestions on how to deal with this? If, in fact, there is a vendor that many of us are having problems with that would be a good thing to know. Steve Waxler Technical Director College Conservatory of Music University of Cincinnati -----Original Message----- From: IAEG [at] aol.com [mailto:IAEG [at] aol.com] Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 5:22 AM To: Stagecraft Subject: Re: Rose Brand Problems For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- Florida ------------------------------ Reply-To: From: "Jonathan Wills" Subject: Re: Rose Brand Problems Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 09:54:17 -0500 Organization: Wills Lighting & Stage Message-ID: <0MKyxe-1DBwO310rj-0006sx [at] mrelay.perfora.net> Rob, My question is did you contact Rosebrand about the condition the curtains arrived in? Did you document it with pictures? I normally inspect everything I rent from places especially soft goods and contact the vendor if there are any problems to avoid any it problem later on. Just a good practice that I have found to work. Thank you, Jonathan Wills Wills Lighting and Stage www.WillsLighting.com Toll Free 866.909.4557 Local 423.559.0606 Fax 423.559.0071 I want to advise everyone to avoid Rose Brand if at all possible. Other than the fact that I have never once reached the person I was trying too without getting voicemail or being on hold for 45 minutes (minimum). They have now trumped up damage charges on us on two separate occassions. Once they accused us of pinning a set of rented legs when we simply hung them and did not such thing. And now they are accussing us of damaging some green screen drops that came to me dirty and with some pulls in the seams. When I inspected them for the return they were in the same condition as when I received them. I do not know if it is their policy to pick on their smaller customers or what but I will NEVER be renting from them in the future. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do about this situation. I am thinking about forwarding the matter to our University's attorney since I make no progress when trying to reach them. Rob Carovillano Technical Director - Bluett Theatre Saint Joseph's University (610) 660-1044 rcarovillano [at] verizon.net -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.7.3 - Release Date: 3/15/2005 ------------------------------ Message-Id: Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 09:10:50 -0600 From: "Merel Ray-Pfeifer" Subject: Re: Rose Brand Problems Personally I think it's a little irresponsible to air your dirty laundry in public like this. There should be more effective ways to get results. I don't want to get involved, but I'll forward your complaint to my contact at Rose Brand. | Boyd Ostroff | Director of Design and Technology | Opera Company of Philadelphia | http://tech.operaphilly.com | ostroff [at] operaphilly.com >> I would have to echo Boyd's comments, , not only about my relationship with Rosebrand but also the manner in which you presented your issues with them. Keith Arsenault IAEG - International Arts & Entertainment Group Tampa, Florida You fellows may not have had problems but I did and like the first poster I got zip from customer service. We ordered a lot of muslin to stitch a drop. Ordered a FULL PIECE only to receive 2 pieces, one with a seam in it. When we returned it they charged us for both orders and we had to pay the return shipping. Took a lot of arguing to finally get the credit for the first order that was returned. I voted with my feet, I took our buisness to Syracuse. If you want to tell your reps thanks, I tried on the phone and at USITT and got nothing. That was 3 yrs ago mabye things have changed. I think the poster was looking for other suppliers and wondering if it was only he that had a bad experience. Merel Ray-Pfeifer Production Manager Dept. of Theatre & Dance Millikin Univ. Decatur, IL 62522 217-424-3708 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <42399EF8.306B3630 [at] cybercom.net> Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 10:15:04 -0500 From: Dale Farmer Organization: The fuzz in the back of the fridge. Subject: Re: Fire Detection References:

Nigel Worsley wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > Dale Farmer wrote: > > Smoke detectors. These come in different technologies as well. > > Photo-cell or obscuration detectors. They pass a beam of light through the > > ambient air onto a photocell. > > I have never come across that type in the UK. Here, optical detectors have > a chamber with baffled vents to prevent ambient light entering, and an > emitter and detector positioned so that light cannot go between them > without bouncing off of something. That something is smoke! > That works too. It has different sensitivity characteristics to different kinds of smoke. That just takes the control electronics to look for an signal above a floor value rather than a signal below a ceiling value. It is also more susceptible to undetectable lamp burnout and the dimming of the lamp as it ages causing reduced sensitivity. Transmission detectors immediately know when the lamp burns out, and become more sensitive as the lamp dims. Some more advanced detectors have an additional photocell integrated into the lamp itself, and the electronics just look for differences in signal level between the two, and activate a trouble signal when the lamp dims beyond a given value. --Dale ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 10:18:26 -0500 From: "Rob Carovillano" Subject: Re: Rose Brand Problems Message-id: <002101c52b04$91775e70$a8a44481 [at] rcarovil> References: I apologize for the way in which I presented this but I have just become more and more frustrated and I guess I sort of exploded. I have found that one of the "extensive damages" they found was our responsibility (a little stage blood on the bottom pipe pocket). The other damages "black grease stains" I have no idea about. I did not see them when I returned the items and we dont really have anything in our space that would leave that kind of mark. Anywho I want to thank the board for their support in this matter I guess that is why I posted it here in the first place. I greatly respect and value your advice. Rob Carovillano Technical Director Bluett Theatre Saint Joseph's University 610-660-1044 rcarovil [at] sju.edu ------------------------------ Message-ID: <04a301c52b04$b5154220$0c00a8c0 [at] Nigellaptop> From: "Nigel Worsley" References:

Subject: Re: Fire Detection Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 15:19:25 -0000 Dale Farmer wrote: > Nigel Worsley wrote: >> Dale Farmer wrote: >>> Smoke detectors. These come in different technologies as well. >>> Photo-cell or obscuration detectors. They pass a beam of light through the >>> ambient air onto a photocell. >> >> I have never come across that type in the UK. Here, optical detectors have >> a chamber with baffled vents to prevent ambient light entering, and an >> emitter and detector positioned so that light cannot go between them >> without bouncing off of something. That something is smoke! > > That works too. It has different sensitivity characteristics to different > kinds of smoke. That just takes the control electronics to look for an > signal above a floor value rather than a signal below a ceiling value. It is > also more susceptible to undetectable lamp burnout and the dimming of > the lamp as it ages causing reduced sensitivity. They don't use a lamp, it is an infrared LED. Failure of these is almost unheard of, and there is a test function that consists of putting a small plastic flag into the chamber to test the optical path. Not that anybody would use it, of course. Sensitivity is usually adjustable, and testing with fake smoke is part of the periodic maintenance schedule required in commercial premises. Nigel Worsley ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 10:21:18 -0500 From: "Rob Carovillano" Subject: Re: Rose Brand Problems Message-id: <002501c52b04$f7c58df0$a8a44481 [at] rcarovil> References: Actually I now purchase and rent all of my soft Goods from Syracuse scenery or I Weiss. Instead of immediately being called about damages when I returned something these companies actually call me and thank me for my business and ask what else they can do for me. The only reason I had to go with Rosebrand was because they were the only people who could get us what we needed in the time we had. Rob Carovillano Technical Director Bluett Theatre Saint Joseph's University 610-660-1044 rcarovil [at] sju.edu You fellows may not have had problems but I did and like the first poster I got zip from customer service. We ordered a lot of muslin to stitch a drop. Ordered a FULL PIECE only to receive 2 pieces, one with a seam in it. When we returned it they charged us for both orders and we had to pay the return shipping. Took a lot of arguing to finally get the credit for the first order that was returned. I voted with my feet, I took our buisness to Syracuse. If you want to tell your reps thanks, I tried on the phone and at USITT and got nothing. That was 3 yrs ago mabye things have changed. I think the poster was looking for other suppliers and wondering if it was only he that had a bad experience. Merel Ray-Pfeifer Production Manager Dept. of Theatre & Dance Millikin Univ. Decatur, IL 62522 217-424-3708 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 10:28:03 -0500 From: "Rob Carovillano" Subject: Re: retensioning handlines Message-id: <002901c52b05$e924a190$a8a44481 [at] rcarovil> References:

Just an update. I have retensioned about half the linesets. I am pulling with all the force I can muster and it seems to be going well. I lose some tension after the set is used but since we have fixed floor blocks I suppose it is the price we pay. I figure I will add this to the montly maintenance schedule. I have found as I go that most of the knots (both top and bottom of the arbor) did not have their tails secured. Rob Carovillano Technical Director Bluett Theatre Saint Joseph's University 610-660-1044 rcarovil [at] sju.edu ------------------------------ Message-Id: In-Reply-To: References: Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 10:45:35 -0500 From: "richard j. archer" Subject: Re: retensioning handlines >Bill S said: > > >In a T-bar of J-bar system, the floor block is designed to lock in place >under normal use. To raise it and pull some slack, you need to step on the >from toe plate and pull up on the offstage (back) operating line. > >So, no matter what kind of rope you have, you really want those floor blocks >to be able to move. > Our Clancy system with single line synthetic has the floor block is down in a well about 6' deep. (No, you can't get down there except by climbing in) Kind of hard to reach the toe plate to raise the pulley, to get slack, to twist the lines. Didn't somebody use to make some kind of fancy stick to reach floor blocks in wells?? Dick A TD, Cornell Univ ------------------------------ Message-ID: <4239AAEC.7E1F32EB [at] cybercom.net> Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 11:06:04 -0500 From: Dale Farmer Organization: The fuzz in the back of the fridge. Subject: Re: Fire Detection References:

Nigel Worsley wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > Dale Farmer wrote: > > Nigel Worsley wrote: > >> Dale Farmer wrote: > >>> Smoke detectors. These come in different technologies as well. > >>> Photo-cell or obscuration detectors. They pass a beam of light through the > >>> ambient air onto a photocell. > >> > >> I have never come across that type in the UK. Here, optical detectors have > >> a chamber with baffled vents to prevent ambient light entering, and an > >> emitter and detector positioned so that light cannot go between them > >> without bouncing off of something. That something is smoke! > > > > That works too. It has different sensitivity characteristics to different > > kinds of smoke. That just takes the control electronics to look for an > > signal above a floor value rather than a signal below a ceiling value. It is > > also more susceptible to undetectable lamp burnout and the dimming of > > the lamp as it ages causing reduced sensitivity. > > They don't use a lamp, it is an infrared LED. Failure of these is almost unheard > of, and there is a test function that consists of putting a small plastic flag into > the chamber to test the optical path. Not that anybody would use it, of course. > It's a lamp that produces IR. Other ones use other frequencies. Most all of them use LEDs, and LEDs do fail over time. . > > Sensitivity is usually adjustable, and testing with fake smoke is part of the periodic > maintenance schedule required in commercial premises. > > Nigel Worsley We all know just how good most people people are at actually doing all these PITA annual tests when there isn't a fire marshall watching them in order to renew your occupancy license. Or when the landlord slips them a gratuity to overlook that 'minor malfunction'. I was just trying to give folks a basic grasp of the technologies, not a nit-pickingly expert witness level report. Give it a rest. --Dale ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 11:12:22 -0500 (EST) From: Boyd Ostroff Subject: Re: Rose Brand Problems In-Reply-To: Message-ID: References: On Thu, 17 Mar 2005, Merel Ray-Pfeifer wrote: > I think the poster was looking for other suppliers and wondering if it > was only he that had a bad experience. I'm sorry, we must not be reading the same stagecraft list. Rob's original post said: "I want to advise everyone to avoid Rose Brand if at all possible." He wasn't looking for other suppliers or wondering if his was the only bad experience. I completely agree with what Steve said. He went on to imply that we was considering legal action. It's fine to seek help from the list, but it could have been in the form of "I'm having some issues with Rosebrand, can someone suggest who I need to talk to there." In your case, you did the right thing. You were unhappy with a vendor so you went elsewhere. Syracuse is also a great place - I was designer/TD for Syracuse opera for 5 years and still own a house in the area. Chris, Shelia and their staff are all great people. But I suspect that even she will admit that she doesn't have the capabilities of Rose Brand when it comes to complex projects that need to be done in a hurry. | Boyd Ostroff | Director of Design and Technology | Opera Company of Philadelphia | http://tech.operaphilly.com | ostroff [at] operaphilly.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: <4239B191.2090702 [at] josephchansen.com> Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 11:34:25 -0500 From: Barney Simon Subject: Re: Rose Brand Problems References:

In-Reply-To: Some thoughts, as the owner of a rental house and a softgoods fabrication shop on several comments from several people: > ...ordered a FULL PIECE only to receive 2 pieces, one with > a seam in it.... The reality is that RB (and others in the fabric business) treat "full piece" as what we all might actually think of as volume discount; seams are unfortunately a reality of the fabric trade. Customer service and doing the right thing are very valuable things. >....bring up concerns about the condition of rental goods when you recieve them.... > Absolutely. I am better able to deal with concerns if I get the call on the first day of the rental than if not told of them at all or until the goods are returned. >....The other damages "black grease stains" I have no idea about.... > My experience with "black grease stains" is that they are lethal. I have one customer that I deal with two times a month and almost invariably returns everything with "black grease stains." Having visited the studio where the show is broadcast, I discovered that the stage crew installed and struck the drapes from a personnel lift, and the black grease stains came from either the lift chain or the screw jacks. I pointed this out to the crew and asked them to be more careful; I've seen no improvement. >....I think it's a little irresponsible to air your dirty laundry in public like this.... > > I think that while the semantics might have been overblown, I think the free exchange of ideas and experiences (bad as well as good) is what makes this board a valuable tool. Nothing said was anything I had not heard before, and not the most dramatic presentation of the information either. Barney Simon JC Hansen Co Drapes, Drops, and Dance Floors ------------------------------ Message-Id: Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 12:23:17 -0500 From: Alex French Subject: Re: candelabra screw base The cheapest, lowest-common-denominator version of this is available at: http://www.ceramicdecorandmore.com/supply/wiring/page5.html $0.40 each. You get what you pay for- the failure modes during installation are various and exciting, but I've never had one cause trouble after it was installed and working. YMMV. > I am having a hard time finding 150 candelabra size screw bases for our > current production. They need to connect to the wire with removable > backs that have little points that poke through the insulation 'in-line' > without striping and attaching wire at each socket. > > I've searched Grainger, McMaster-Carr, and similar sites without > success. I maybe using the wrong keywords. Can anyone aim me in the > right direction? -- Alex French MIT Class of 2005 cell: (617) 645-2747 AIM: respectableAlexde ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 11:29:46 -0600 Subject: Re: Moving Lights From: Greg Persinger Message-ID: In-Reply-To: Daryl, For what you are trying to use these fixtures for I would stay with an incandescent fixture. Arc lamped fixtures don't do well with skin tones. You might look at City Theatricals Autoyoke with an ETC S4. Hope that helps. Greg Persinger Vivid Illumination Greg [at] Vividillumination.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 11:31:50 -0600 Subject: Re: Work Lights From: Greg Persinger Message-ID: In-Reply-To: Greg Bierly wrote: > I just > read something that made sense this past month on the subject. It > stated that seeing the lips moving allows you to focus more acutely to > the voice and filter out more background noise. In a broad sense I > guess it is still lip reading but it is probably more of a "noise > reduction" technique. Greg do you know where you read this? I would be interested in reading the article. Thanks. Greg Persinger Vivid Illumination Greg [at] Vividillumination.com ------------------------------ In-Reply-To: References: Message-Id: From: Greg Bierly Subject: Re: Work Lights Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 12:49:49 -0500 > Greg do you know where you read this? I would be interested in reading > the article. I have been trying to remember where I read it. I was just working with someone on a hearing assistance system so it probably was in one of the various emails or websites I researched for him. If I find it I'll post it, Sorry. Greg Bierly Technical Director Hempfield HS ------------------------------ From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com Message-ID: <11.415c77ad.2f6b23fa [at] aol.com> Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 13:18:34 EST Subject: Re: Balloons and smoke alarms In a message dated 17/03/05 02:28:36 GMT Standard Time, dale [at] cybercom.net writes: > The only thing I don't like about rate of rise detectors are the ones > that > don't > ignore temperatures under 100 F or so. I was in a hotel a number of years > ago > that had one of these just inside a little used side door. Except on this > exceptionally cold and windy february weekend when the main door was > unusable for carts. Everytime the bellmen brought in or out a cart and > a gust of wind came along at the wrong moment, filling the little vestibule > with > very, very cold outside air. Then the warm air from the adjacent lobby > would > flow in.... BEEP. BEEP.. BEEP 28 false fire alarms in a two day convention. That's a problem I hadn't thought of. We've just had an alarm system fitted. The consequences of having the dock doors open all morning for the fit-up, and then putting on the full lighting load could have a similar effect. I'll look into it, although the SM can abort the audible alarm. Frank Wood ------------------------------ From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com Message-ID: <1ec.37220506.2f6b2699 [at] aol.com> Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 13:29:45 EST Subject: Re: candelabra screw base In a message dated 17/03/05 02:37:48 GMT Standard Time, jlandon [at] mail.wtamu.edu writes: > I am having a hard time finding 150 candelabra size screw bases for our > current production. They need to connect to the wire with removable > backs that have little points that poke through the insulation 'in-line' > without striping and attaching wire at each socket. > > I've searched Grainger, McMaster-Carr, and similar sites without > success. I maybe using the wrong keywords. Can anyone aim me in the > right direction? Similar things are used in the UK for strings of lights. Over here, we call them 'batten lampholders'. The term comes from back when you took a length of 3" x 1", and ran three lines of flat twin cable along it, screwing the lampholders down. Fit red, blue, and amber sprayed bulbd, and you have an instant three colour batten. That was all the permanent installation at my school, back in the fifties. Three battens like that, and three big dimmers. Frank Wood ------------------------------ In-Reply-To: References: Message-Id: <021ec046153b14d105975a45d6f0b6f2 [at] email.arizona.edu> Cc: marko [at] email.arizona.edu (Mark O'Brien) From: Mark O'Brien Subject: Re: Work Lights Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 11:34:07 -0700 On Mar 17, 2005, at 10:31 AM, Greg Persinger wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > > --------------------------------------------------- > > Greg Bierly wrote: > >> I just >> read something that made sense this past month on the subject. It >> stated that seeing the lips moving allows you to focus more acutely to >> the voice and filter out more background noise. In a broad sense I >> guess it is still lip reading but it is probably more of a "noise >> reduction" technique. > > Greg do you know where you read this? I would be interested in reading > the > article. > > Thanks. > > Greg Persinger > Vivid Illumination Q: How can you tell that a stagehand is lying? A: His lips are moving. Mark O'Brien Opera Technical Director University of Arizona, School of Music Tucson, AZ 520/621-7025 520/591-1803 Mobile ------------------------------ From: "ladesigners [at] juno.com" Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 18:35:02 GMT Subject: Re: Stage Expo Message-Id: <20050317.103544.13910.24427 [at] webmail24.lax.untd.com> My place in Toronto has WiFi AND a RJ-45 router jack freebie, also. /s/ Richard > Our hotel is across the street from a condo building, so we have a ton of unsecured WiFi accounts to log into. The convention center asks for your account number, I don't know what their charge is. Be careful! I heard yesterday that the convention center charges $375 per computer for internet access. My only question was whether that was per day or for the week...:( Fortunately, I'm at the Intercontinental, which has free high-speed access in the rooms! - John ------------------------------ From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com Message-ID: Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 13:45:36 EST Subject: Re: Burning smoke alarm (was Balloons and smoke alarms) In a message dated 17/03/05 04:39:26 GMT Standard Time, dale [at] cybercom.net writes: > As it was explained to me the next day. It was one of the earlier > type ionization smoke detectors, before the use of a radioactive source > was approved. It was in a kitchen, and grease had accumulated in and > around it. Heat from the ionizer ignited the accumulated guck on it. > These were 1970's era smoke detectors. All the possibilities you have to consider. It's a wonder your brain doesn't catch fire. I'll give you another. I once had a Strand Patt.23 catch fire. You wouldn't think it possible. The body of the luminaire is stove enamelled metal, the lampholder ceramic and metal, the wiring (Then!) asbestos sheathed. What is there flammable? Under the lampholder is a disc of paxolin (SRBP). That's flammable. A loose connection at the base set up a maintained arc, and that's hot. At the post-mortem, we found that the faulty brass terminal had actually melted. Frank Wood ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 13:46:33 -0500 From: "Rob Carovillano" Subject: Direct Boxes Message-id: <000201c52b21$a48cc050$a8a44481 [at] rcarovil> References: I know they are probably mostly the same but I need to purchase some new direct boxes. Does anyone have any incredibly bad or good experiences with a particular brand? Rob Carovillano Technical Director Bluett Theatre Saint Joseph's University 610-660-1044 rcarovil [at] sju.edu ----- Original Message ----- From: ladesigners [at] juno.com To: Stagecraft Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 1:35 PM Subject: Re: Stage Expo For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- My place in Toronto has WiFi AND a RJ-45 router jack freebie, also. /s/ Richard > Our hotel is across the street from a condo building, so we have a ton of > unsecured WiFi accounts to log into. The convention center asks for your > account number, I don't know what their charge is. Be careful! I heard yesterday that the convention center charges $375 per computer for internet access. My only question was whether that was per day or for the week...:( Fortunately, I'm at the Intercontinental, which has free high-speed access in the rooms! - John ------------------------------ From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com Message-ID: <1da.38578e31.2f6b2ce6 [at] aol.com> Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 13:56:38 EST Subject: Re: Fire Detection In a message dated 17/03/05 05:29:37 GMT Standard Time, dale [at] cybercom.net writes: > Back to basics. There are several types of fire detection technology. > They > all have their advantages and disadvantages. I'll try to summarize and > explain > each kind. Once you have wrapped your brain around them then things become > reasonably obvious. Many thanks for this post. I shall pass it on. I just wish, though, that it had been sooner. We have just had an alarm system installed. To judge from the externals of their installation, I don't think that they are very good. To put it at the lowest level, glaring white trunking running all over the place does little for the aesthetics. I just hope that their technology is better than that. Frank Wood ------------------------------ Message-ID: <4239D1FC.4050406 [at] northnet.net> Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 12:52:44 -0600 From: Shawn Palmer Subject: Re: Direct Boxes References:

In-Reply-To: > I know they are probably mostly the same but I need to purchase some new > direct boxes. Does anyone have any incredibly bad or good experiences > with a particular brand? > > Rob Carovillano I am a big fan of Countryman Type 85s. I am not a giant fan of BBE stuff, but a friend of mine swears by the new direct box he has that has a BBE "Sonic Maximizer" built in. I've not used that one. I can say that you get what you pay for... a Rapco passive DI can be had for $30-$40. The Countryman is four times that, but I can park my truck on it, if I want to. FWIW Shawn Palmer Neenah, WI USA ------------------------------ In-Reply-To: References: Message-Id: <9dcd67569b0687de90e01df7ed4cbf8a [at] andrewvance.com> From: Andrew Vance Subject: Re: Stage Expo Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 13:15:28 -0600 On 17 Mar, 2005, at 12:35, ladesigners [at] juno.com wrote: > My place in Toronto has WiFi AND a RJ-45 router jack freebie, also. Where I'm staying for the convention is also wired throughout with Cat-5 and has a wireless network. Unfortunately, its in Omaha, NE and nowhere near Toronto. : ( Here's looking forward to Louisville and perhaps a schedule that will allow me to attend! -- Sincerely, Andrew Vance Lighting Designer www.andrewvance.com ------------------------------ In-Reply-To: References: Message-Id: <476900a19dcabd2fbaab8fca8ba354e4 [at] hawaii.rr.com> From: Karen Archibald Subject: Re: foam to fabric Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 09:18:33 -1000 On Mar 17, 2005, at 1:00 AM, Stagecraft wrote: >> Does anyone know of a good, non-toxic adhesive in a spray can that >> will join soft upholstery foam to fabrics? > 3M number 74 (not to be confused with 77) is a contact spray adhesive > specifically made for foam. I use it all the time when upholstering. I believe it is called "Foamfast". ------------------------------ Message-ID: <4239DA02.A57E4F9F [at] cybercom.net> Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 14:26:58 -0500 From: Dale Farmer Organization: The fuzz in the back of the fridge. Subject: Re: Fire Detection References: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > In a message dated 17/03/05 05:29:37 GMT Standard Time, dale [at] cybercom.net > writes: > > > Back to basics. There are several types of fire detection technology. > > They > > all have their advantages and disadvantages. I'll try to summarize and > > explain > > each kind. Once you have wrapped your brain around them then things become > > reasonably obvious. > > Many thanks for this post. I shall pass it on. I just wish, though, that it > had been sooner. > > We have just had an alarm system installed. To judge from the externals of > their installation, I don't think that they are very good. To put it at the > lowest level, glaring white trunking running all over the place does little for > the aesthetics. I just hope that their technology is better than that. > > Frank Wood The technology nowadays is really quite robust and forgiving. The problems now are mostly system design and programming issues. Inappropriate detectors in the location is the most common. I'm not in the field any more, so my knowledge is a few years out of date. --Dale ------------------------------ In-Reply-To: References:

Message-Id: From: Greg Bierly Subject: Re: Direct Boxes Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 14:32:14 -0500 countryman seem to be a rock and roll workhorse for active. I don't think I have ever heard of one not work as long as they had phantom to them. They are also great for aiming speaker wedges and cabinets. ("earth curvature compensators" as we refer to them). For a solid but inexpensive passive model I buy Rapco. I have also had good luck with both the passive and active whirlwind models. Greg Bierly Technical Director Hempfield HS ------------------------------ Subject: RE: Direct Boxes Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 14:46:00 -0500 Message-ID: <89DE71075FCD6E44A4D117FBFBBD801C09F9B296 [at] fangorn.cc.vt.edu> From: "James, Brian" Stay away from DOD. As with most of the gear, it is lacking (I inherited a bunch). -----Original Message----- From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net]On Behalf Of Greg Bierly Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 2:32 PM To: Stagecraft Subject: Re: Direct Boxes For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- countryman seem to be a rock and roll workhorse for active. I don't=20 think I have ever heard of one not work as long as they had phantom to=20 them. They are also great for aiming speaker wedges and cabinets. =20 ("earth curvature compensators" as we refer to them). For a solid but=20 inexpensive passive model I buy Rapco. I have also had good luck with=20 both the passive and active whirlwind models. Greg Bierly Technical Director Hempfield HS ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 13:49:28 -0600 Subject: Re: Fire Detection From: Greg Persinger Message-ID: In-Reply-To: > We have just had an alarm system installed. To judge from the externals of > their installation, I don't think that they are very good. To put it at the > lowest level, glaring white trunking running all over the place does little > for > the aesthetics. I just hope that their technology is better than that. > > Frank Wood I'm with you Frank. I think alarm guys are the worst at just throwing cable and conduit anywhere in the name of "safety". Who cares what it looks like as long as it works right? I had an alarm guy put a cable at waist level across a catwalk. No amount of reasoning would get him to move it. The boss moved it. He made sure he had a running start so there was lots of force when he hit it. You would think the alarm guy would get the idea. Nope! The alarm guy came back and put the cable in the same place. (this was before the place opened and they were still on the jobsite) After that the boss just cut it every time they put it back up. Even the General contractor had ordered them to move it to no avail. They would have had to put up a couple extra pieces of unistrut for anchor points to go up and over. To them it was just easier to zip tie to the catwalk rail. Everyone was told "this is the way we are doing it and if you want a working system to get the occupancy permit then you need to leave it alone." Took the fire marshall telling them to move it because it created a trip hazard and a point of failure for the system to get them to move it. They were also shocked when the owner withheld their money to clean up some surface mounted stuff that was supposed to be recessed in the walls. Crazy! Greg Persinger Vivid Illumination Greg [at] Vividillumination.com ------------------------------ From: "Jeremiah Minh Greenblatt" Subject: RE: Direct Boxes Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 14:51:33 -0500 Message-ID: <000201c52b2a$bbe4ec10$0200a8c0 [at] ROADHAT> In-Reply-To: Can't disagree with the previous posts but would add my very good experiences with the BSS AR-133. - J.Minh ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20050317211352.016e6868 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 21:13:52 From: CB Subject: Re: Balloons and smoke alarms >The problem with laser sensors is that they can be tripped by >interrupting the beam between the sensors, so the balloon may never >get near the pointy bits. Think of this: (o) as a sensor, and this: -+-+-+ as a bared wire. Your set up could look like this: (o)+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+(o) 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: <3.0.6.32.20050317211646.016e6868 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 21:16:46 From: CB Subject: List etiquette What's worse etiquette, using and auto-responder without being able to set it up correctly, or not trimming your replies for a two word post? 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: <3.0.6.32.20050317212913.016e6868 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 21:29:13 From: CB Subject: Re: Rose Brand Problems >Personally I think it's a little irresponsible to air your dirty laundry >in public like this. There should be more effective ways to get results. I dunno, it gives him an opportunity to open a discussion about a vendor that gets a lot of press on this list, therefore has a bunch of customers here. Either they or their customers (like you) get the opportunity to gibve theri side of the deal, all on this very same list. And, if it isn't Rosebrand's issue, we all get to know where the issue DOES lie. I kinda think that this is exactly the place to bring up these kind of issues, as we all learn a little something. 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... ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 16:04:01 -0500 (EST) From: Boyd Ostroff Subject: Re: Rose Brand Problems In-Reply-To: Message-ID: References: On Thu, 17 Mar 2005, CB wrote: > I dunno, it gives him an opportunity to open a discussion about a vendor > that gets a lot of press on this list I'm fine with all that. But I have a problem with this: "I want to advise everyone to avoid Rose Brand if at all possible." He isn't "opening a discussion" he's ADVISING me what to do, based on one experience - and now he has even come back to admit that he was at least partially responsible for some damages. And this part is also just so much empty sabre-rattling: "I am thinking about forwarding the matter to our University's attorney" It falls into the category of "venting" I suppose, but in the end it makes the person look foolish and does nothing to help resolve the problem. To turn things around, let's say I hired a graduate of St. Josephs University where Rob works, and I was unhappy with his performance. Should I then send a message to the list saying "I want to advise everyone to avoid hiring graduates of St. Josephs if at all possible?" | Boyd Ostroff | Director of Design and Technology | Opera Company of Philadelphia | http://tech.operaphilly.com | ostroff [at] operaphilly.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: From: "Waxler, Steve (waxlers)" Subject: RE: Rose Brand Problems Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 16:26:42 -0500 Lets chalk it up to, "he let his frustration get the better of his sense". Steve Waxler Technical Director College Conservatory of Music University of Cincinnati It falls into the category of "venting" I suppose, but in the end it makes the person look foolish and does nothing to help resolve the problem. To turn things around, let's say I hired a graduate of St. Josephs University where Rob works, and I was unhappy with his performance. Should I then send a message to the list saying "I want to advise everyone to avoid hiring graduates of St. Josephs if at all possible?" | Boyd Ostroff | Director of Design and Technology | Opera Company of Philadelphia | http://tech.operaphilly.com | ostroff [at] operaphilly.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1111097204.4239ff74cd2bb [at] mail.clarktransfer.com> Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 17:06:44 -0500 From: jdeull [at] clarktransfer.com Subject: Re: Direct Boxes References: In-Reply-To: The passive Whirlwinds have worked well for us (high school level). Solid and pretty transparent sounding. Also inexpensive. Jonathan Deull Edmund Burke School Quoting "James, Brian" : > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > Stay away from DOD. > As with most of the gear, it is lacking (I inherited a bunch). > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net]On Behalf Of Greg > Bierly > Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 2:32 PM > To: Stagecraft > Subject: Re: Direct Boxes > > > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > countryman seem to be a rock and roll workhorse for active. I don't > think I have ever heard of one not work as long as they had phantom to > them. They are also great for aiming speaker wedges and cabinets. > ("earth curvature compensators" as we refer to them). For a solid but > inexpensive passive model I buy Rapco. I have also had good luck with > both the passive and active whirlwind models. > > Greg Bierly > Technical Director > Hempfield HS > > ------------------------------ Message-ID: <423A037A.7E600435 [at] Ithaca.edu> Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 17:23:54 -0500 From: Stephen Litterst Organization: Ithaca College Subject: Re: retensioning handlines References:

Greg Bierly wrote: > --------------------------------------------------- > An odd question to add to this. Should you have a person positioned at > the floor block to step on the toe plates if they are located remotely > from the locking rail? For example if your arbors travel to a pit or > if your locking rail is on a catwalk and the floorblocks are at floor > level. If so would they be necessary for loading and unloading only > or for normal operations? Our floor blocks are at stage level and the operating rail is 25' above the deck. During load-ins and strikes we have someone available at stage level to tie snubs as needed. Our floor blocks move a little too easily, though so you can pull the block up from the operating rail if necessary. STeve Litterst ------------------------------ From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com Message-ID: <103.5d5fe04d.2f6b64b3 [at] aol.com> Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 17:54:43 EST Subject: Re: Fire Detection In a message dated 17/03/05 19:25:35 GMT Standard Time, dale [at] cybercom.net writes: > The technology nowadays is really quite robust and forgiving. The > problems > now are mostly system design and programming issues. Inappropriate > detectors > in the location is the most common. I'm not in the field any more, so my > knowledge > > is a few years out of date. I'll let you know when I find out. I have no great faith in the specifying authority, with whom I have tangled before. There was a time when this was good engineers, who knew the right questions to ask, even if they didn't know the subject in detail. Now, it's a psychologist! Frank Wood ------------------------------ From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com Message-ID: <144.41b9658a.2f6b670b [at] aol.com> Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 18:04:43 EST Subject: Re: Fire Detection In a message dated 17/03/05 19:50:44 GMT Standard Time, gregpersin [at] comcast.net writes: > I'm with you Frank. I think alarm guys are the worst at just throwing cable > and conduit anywhere in the name of "safety". Who cares what it looks like > as long as it works right? > > I had an alarm guy put a cable at waist level across a catwalk. No amount of > reasoning would get him to move it. > > The boss moved it. He made sure he had a running start so there was lots of > force when he hit it. > > You would think the alarm guy would get the idea. Nope! The alarm guy came > back and put the cable in the same place. (this was before the place opened > and they were still on the jobsite) After that the boss just cut it every > time they put it back up. Even the General contractor had ordered them to > move it to no avail. > > They would have had to put up a couple extra pieces of unistrut for anchor > points to go up and over. To them it was just easier to zip tie to the > catwalk rail. Everyone was told "this is the way we are doing it and if you > want a working system to get the occupancy permit then you need to leave it > alone." > > Took the fire marshall telling them to move it because it created a trip > hazard and a point of failure for the system to get them to move it. I've met people like that. PITA! Minimum cost installation: maximum profit. I don't think we have anything that silly. About the detection elements, I am less certain. But at least all the cables are in trunking, attached to the structure. I can only hope. Frank Wood ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 18:46:56 -0500 (EST) From: murr rhame Subject: Re: NFPA Pyro Regs. [Was: NIST Station Fire] In-Reply-To: Message-ID: References: On Wed, 16 Mar 2005, Bruce Purdy wrote: > Murr, this is all very interesting, and I thank you for the > information. If I am not mistaken, the pyro used by Great White > at the Station was indoor approved devices were they not? As > such, they would be covered by NFPA-1126. > If this is so, I still don't see how Flash paper is any less > restricted than what they used. I guess this depends on your definition of "less restricted". Flash paper is covered by NFPA-1126 but small flash paper effects don't need as much clearance (room) as 15 second 15 foot gerbs. The smallest pyro effects are often overlooked by Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Strictly speaking, flash bulbs, party poppers and cap pistols are pyrotechnic devices. Some fire marshals would laugh at you if you bothered to ask for approval on tiny stuff like this. Others would insist on a fire watch or ban their use all together. Generally speaking, you would need federal license and approved storage to buy and use gerbs. Last time I looked, no license was required to buy flash paper. There may be state or local licenses and permits as well... NFPA regs don't attempt to sort out all of the local regs. NFPA-1126 refers you to the local AHJ and venue owner for approval. From what I understand, neither the AHJ nor the owner were asked about the pyro prior to the accident at The Station. >> Setback distances for flame effects are covered by NFPA-160. >> In part, the minimum distances for flames are based on wattage >> per square meter that reaches the audience and the duration of >> exposure. I've experienced a 140 megawatt flame from >> too-close-for-comfort. There are limits to the amount of heat >> radiation someone can take in comfortably. > I'm confused by this. I understand wattage from an electrical > perspective. Wattage for flames?? If this refers to heat, I > know degrees, and if brightness foot-candles or lumens. Watts? The output of any controlled flame can be calculated in watts. It takes a little work to do the conversions. You need to know the energy content of the fuel, which is often measured in BTU per gallon. BTUs are converted to joules. You need to know the rate at which the fuel is burned in gallons per second... I could go through all of the mathematical gyrations to calculate watts per square meter at viewing distance but it's pretty boring stuff. > I do not have NFPA-160. What does it say about lit candles? I > have had several groups ranging from theatrical to "Grateful > Dead" bands that insist on using candles, and I don't know what > the legal restrictions are. Strictly speaking, NFPA-160 would cover candles, if the local jurisdiction has adopted NFPA-160... I haven't read through NFPA-160 with candles in mind. If I wanted real candles on stage, I'd work with my local AHJ. If you can make them happy, you shouldn't have a problem. I didn't specifically mention that NFPA rules are only mandatory if they are adopted into state or local law. They're still good safety guidelines even if not required by law. - murr - ------------------------------ Message-ID: Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 21:09:25 -0500 From: Brian Munroe Reply-To: Brian Munroe Subject: Re: List etiquette In-Reply-To: References: oops, You're right CB. I did forget to trim the quote. Sorry about that. I used to belong to a mailing list that had a lot of digest-version subscribers who wouldn't trim anything! Imagine getting tons of 2 line replies followed by the entire digest! I don't belong to that list any more. I guess I owe you some ADD treatment, can't help with the typing lessons. Brian Munroe brian [at] themunroes.com bpmunroe [at] gmail.com On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 21:16:46, CB wrote: > What's worse etiquette, using and auto-responder without being able to set > it up correctly, or not trimming your replies for a two word post? > Chris "Chris" Babbie > Location Sound > MON AZ ------------------------------ Message-ID: <423A3ABF.1000108 [at] fuse.net> Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 21:19:43 -0500 From: Stuart Wheaton Subject: Re: Burning smoke alarm (was Balloons and smoke alarms) References: In-Reply-To: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com wrote: In a message dated 17/03/05 04:39:26 GMT Standard Time, dale [at] cybercom.net > writes: > > >> As it was explained to me the next day. It was one of the earlier >> type ionization smoke detectors, before the use of a radioactive source >> was approved. It was in a kitchen, and grease had accumulated in and >> around it. Heat from the ionizer ignited the accumulated guck on it. >> These were 1970's era smoke detectors. > > > All the possibilities you have to consider. It's a wonder your brain doesn't > catch fire. I'll give you another. I once had a Strand Patt.23 catch fire. You > wouldn't think it possible. The body of the luminaire is stove enamelled > metal, the lampholder ceramic and metal, the wiring (Then!) asbestos sheathed. > What is there flammable? > > Under the lampholder is a disc of paxolin (SRBP). That's flammable. A loose > connection at the base set up a maintained arc, and that's hot. At the > post-mortem, we found that the faulty brass terminal had actually melted. > > Frank Wood I'll give you another good one... I finish a weld, and when I open the hood, I find flames roaring up from the center of my table. It is a steel grid table, and since it is a WELDING table, I don't keep flammable stuff under it. All my drawings are accounted for (this time). I look under the table, the wire basket is blazing merrily. A wire basket full of fibreglass WELDING BLANKETS! After I dragged it out and snuffed it, I discovered that somebody had brought back some blankets that had been on the road, and to keep the itchy fibres under control, they'd stuck 'em in a garbage bag. Unfortunately, plastic bags burn very well. It probably took 3 months before the right spark landed in the right place. Stuart ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 23:38:24 -0500 Subject: Re: retensioning handlines From: Bill Sapsis Message-ID: In-Reply-To: on 3/17/05 10:45 AM, richard j. archer at rja10 [at] cornell.edu wrote: > Our Clancy system with single line synthetic has the floor block is > down in a well about 6' deep. (No, you can't get down there except by > climbing in) Kind of hard to reach the toe plate to raise the > pulley, to get slack, to twist the lines. Didn't somebody use to > make some kind of fancy stick to reach floor blocks in wells?? Yeah. That's the inherent problem with this kind of system. Use a piece of 1.5" pipe Bill S. www.sapsis-rigging.com 800.727.7471 800.292.3851 fax 267.278.4561 mobile Please support the Long Reach Long Riders on their 2nd annual benefit ride http://sapsis-rigging.com/LRLR.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 23:41:59 -0500 Subject: Re: retensioning handlines From: Bill Sapsis Message-ID: In-Reply-To: on 3/17/05 7:37 AM, Bll Conner at bill-conner [at] att.net wrote: > Would somebody raise the question at the annual Stump the Riggers session at > USITT Saturday? Go ahead, but now I'll be ready for you!!!!! <> Bill S. www.sapsis-rigging.com 800.727.7471 800.292.3851 fax 267.278.4561 mobile Please support the Long Reach Long Riders on their 2nd annual benefit ride http://sapsis-rigging.com/LRLR.html ------------------------------ Message-ID: <423A5E02.E2750A29 [at] Ithaca.edu> Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 23:50:10 -0500 From: Stephen Litterst Organization: Ithaca College Subject: Re: retensioning handlines References: Bill Sapsis wrote: > > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > on 3/17/05 10:45 AM, richard j. archer at rja10 [at] cornell.edu wrote: > > > Our Clancy system with single line synthetic has the floor block is > > down in a well about 6' deep. Didn't somebody use to > > make some kind of fancy stick to reach floor blocks in wells?? > > Yeah. That's the inherent problem with this kind of system. Use a piece of > 1.5" pipe Won't that be about 5'10.5" short? Steve Litterst ------------------------------ In-Reply-To: References: Message-Id: <30c13d30c798accb7a482f84aeda3e6d [at] earthlink.net> From: Jeff Forbes Subject: Re: consoles Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 23:23:46 -0800 On Mar 14, 2005, at 9:07 PM, Stagecraft wrote: > 1) No boards will be based on proprietary OS. Like the Maxxis (I > think?) > they will run off kernel version of XP or similar. (Linux, etc.) > We're > moving towards a day when the computer brains of the boards are merely > embedded software on standard motherboards and the console is -- a > fancy, > specialized keyboard, much as they are now Last year sometime I was asked by a friend of mine at EDI to look at a new console they were developing and offer feed back. It ran on Linux, and had some very nice features, and the possibility of having more. I don't know if it's been released yet or even previewed at one of the trade shows. Has any one seen it? Jeff A Forbes PMB 124 6820 SE Foster Rd Portland OR 97206 (503)-888-5619 www.performanceworksnw.org ------------------------------ End of Stagecraft Digest #333 *****************************