Return-Path: X-Scanned-By: RAE MPP/Clamd http://raeinternet.com/mpp X-Scanned-By: This message was scanned by MPP Lite Edition (www.messagepartners.com)! X-Real-To: stagecraftlist [at] theatrical.net Received: by prxy.net (CommuniGate Pro PIPE 4.2.10) with PIPE id 22498121; Fri, 20 May 2005 03:00:30 -0700 X-ListServer: CommuniGate Pro LIST 4.2.10 List-Unsubscribe: List-ID: Message-ID: From: "Stagecraft" Sender: "Stagecraft" To: "Stagecraft" Precedence: list Subject: Stagecraft Digest #402 Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 03:00:23 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-Disposition: inline X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.0.3 (2005-04-27) on prxy.net X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-5.6 required=5.0 tests=ALL_TRUSTED,AWL,BAYES_00 autolearn=ham version=3.0.3 X-TFF-CGPSA-Version: 1.4f2 X-prxy-Spam-Filter: Scanned For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- Stagecraft Digest, Issue #402 1. Re: stage floor finish by "C. Dopher" 2. Re: fresnel advice needed by Cosmo Catalano 3. Re: fresnel advice needed by "C. Dopher" 4. Re: 40 hour load-in, w/no OT or dinner breaks... by "Russel Drapkin" 5. Re: Clearcom in a rental house by Bruce Purdy 6. Re: Clearcom in a rental house by "Bill Nelson" 7. Re: 24 3.6k dimmers by Dale Farmer 8. Re: fresnel advice needed by "Bill Nelson" 9. Re: Fresnels by "Karl G. Ruling" *** 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, 19 May 2005 07:18:49 -0400 Subject: Re: stage floor finish From: "C. Dopher" Message-ID: In-Reply-To: Sunil wrote: > Sorry, this whole thing was just brought on by listening to a couple > diva dancers... even though I know better... Diva dancers. Yeah, I know them. On my last dance concert, when I began writing the very first cue, and had finally gotten the works turned off and turned on some low sidelight, one dancer almost immediately interrupted rehearsal and asked, "are those lights going to be on?" What the hell? Was this her first time on stage or something? Or at least with American dance lighting? The other dancers were as puzzled as I was. She complained again a few minutes later about the front lights, which were fairly heavily saturated and weren't even on all that brightly. Any light that wasn't work light seemed to bother her; "blinded" her. She "couldn't see". I think someone took her aside after that and explained the facts of life to her and how to dance when you can't see your audience anymore. I've lit hundreds of dancers and, sure, I've gotten complaints about a light being too bright or too close...usually in the form of "ow!" from a previously dark dancer, but this one really took the cake. Cris Dopher ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 May 2005 07:31:38 -0400 From: Cosmo Catalano Subject: Re: fresnel advice needed In-reply-to: Cc: chanlights [at] exchange.ubc.ca Message-id: References: Andrew-- I looked over several fresnels for our new facility here. I echo the comments about the Altmans. The Strand fresnelite 1K has a good beam and controls, however it lacks a color frame clip (which we did not notice at the time--It did not occur to me anyone manufactured a unit w/o one these days). Consequently, when used as a downlight, color and accessories get a little precarious, and measures must be taken to keep them in place. Parnels sound like they might be suitable in some of your applications tho... Cosmo ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 May 2005 07:43:47 -0400 Subject: Re: fresnel advice needed From: "C. Dopher" Message-ID: In-Reply-To: Andrew wrote: > I'm looking to purchase a small number of fresnels to replace parcans for a > specific location/purpose in our concert hall and lobby. > > I'm staying away from the ETC Parnel style. Why? I mean, I don't think they have the usable beam width as other (real) fresnels, but other than that, they're good wash units... you just have something against bastard children of the lighting industry? My big suggestion in this email is to look at cost. Don't forget that, whatever you settle on, it can often be had at a better price if gotten used from a good rental house. Fresnels are not complicated and maintenance is easy. A one-time careful re-paint job (especially with wrinkle-black automotive paint) can make them seem brand-new. It might also be a good idea to get units that are commonly supported, as lamping them will continue to be an issue. Speaking of lamping, that's a real cost to be considered up front. BVTs (and the extremely similar BVVs) are getting bloody expensive. In some cases, you can buy 3 HPL575 for the cost of one BVT. Also, the newer lamps (like for Source Four) come in extended life versions, in case access is difficult. As for the two lights framing a painting...perhaps a couple of SourceFour Jrs would be a slicker solution? Finally... size. How high is your lobby ceiling? Do you really want something as chunky as an 8" fresnel cluttering your ceiling. Especially with their gigantic barndoors? If you can get away with 6" fresnels, you'll probably be happier. Cris Dopher, LD ------------------------------ Reply-To: From: "Russel Drapkin" Subject: RE: 40 hour load-in, w/no OT or dinner breaks... Date: Thu, 19 May 2005 08:23:37 -0400 Organization: Russel Drapkin Lighting Designer Message-ID: In-Reply-To: Congratulations Mike! -Russel ============================== Russel Drapkin Lighting Design USAA Local 829 92 Pinehurst Avenue #4D New York, New York 10033 (212) 543-2514 russel [at] rpddesign.com AIM: RusselDrapkinLD ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3894431211bbb38db15019d15b4b0fd2 [at] nyu.edu> From: Mike Voytko Subject: 40 hour load-in, w/no OT or dinner breaks... Date: Wed, 18 May 2005 10:41:45 -0400 ...and well worth it, for the best new show in NYC (if I do say so myself!) Jake Voytko Born Tuesday 5/10/05 7 lb. 9 oz. 20.5" Mom and baby (& Dad) are doing great. Now comes the hard part... :-) Cheers, Mike, Beth, & Jake -- Mike Voytko Lighting & Sound Supervisor TSOA Theatrical Production New York University ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 May 2005 07:38:28 -0400 Subject: Re: Clearcom in a rental house From: Bruce Purdy Message-ID: In-Reply-To: > If the renter is > questionable don't put out the new stuff. Keep some older headsets > around for such occasions. "New stuff" ?, "Older stuff" ? We only *have* three 1/2 headsets! (The 1/2 indicates one that I usually don't count - One earpiece won't work, and it's on the same side as the mike boom so you can't really put it behind the ear.) For the few larger shows that need more than that, we have to go out and rent them, and pass the cost along. So "for continuity" is one reason we charge a line item for any headsets used. I finally got a new set a few months ago (We had 2 1/2 before that!), and one reason I got the green light to spend the money for it, was that we could re-coup the expense through rental charges. When we bought our wireless mikes, it was the same reasoning. "We can't afford to just buy them, but if we charge for their use we can recoup the expense, and offer something we couldn't offer before!" So it is with the mirror ball we recently got, the snow bag I built a couple of years ago, etc. The Steinway demands a hefty price which goes into a "Piano fund" less the included tuning. I found plenty of precedent when I looked at Websites a couple of years ago. I found Theatres with pricelists for everything including per folding chair and per music stand! (We do not charge for any folding chairs, tables, or any of the seven music stands.) Stage lighting is not currently included, since not everyone needs it (Rehearsals, auditions, meetings held on the stage etc.) but lamp usage and electricity do cost us. (Not to mention the price of our new lighting board I *finally* ordered!) Whilst I don't set the pricing policy, I am pushing to have the whole system overhauled in favour of simpler "Package pricing" that would include basic lighting and clearcoms. From the responses I've gotten so far, this seems to be your opinions as well. The biggest hurdle I have to overcome is getting the money for new "toys" (like the additional headsets I want) if they don't generate additional revenue. It's the established mindset. Thank you all for your input! Bruce -- Bruce Purdy Technical Director Smith Opera House ------------------------------ Message-ID: <3593.64.28.60.205.1116512563.squirrel [at] webmail.peak.org> In-Reply-To: References:

Date: Thu, 19 May 2005 07:22:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: Clearcom in a rental house From: "Bill Nelson" > Whilst I don't set the pricing policy, I am pushing to have the whole > system overhauled in favour of simpler "Package pricing" that would > include > basic lighting and clearcoms. From the responses I've gotten so far, this > seems to be your opinions as well. The biggest hurdle I have to overcome > is > getting the money for new "toys" (like the additional headsets I want) if > they don't generate additional revenue. It's the established mindset. In the house where I do most of my tech work and lighting design, there is a charge per light per performance/rehearsal (as well as a base charge) for using the lighting system. There is a fixed charge per performance for use of the sound system. Because of all the performances that require tech communication, an intercom is necessary and included in the house rental fee. The old 2 channel system is being replaced mainly because the new tech director is incapable of maintaining it. The new system will be single channel - we have no need for two channels. My problem is getting new lights or repairs to the old lights. I think the only fixture purchase in the past 10 years has been one pro quality black light. I usually end up hauling in some of my own lights for my shows to augment the meager house stock. I just recently purchased a few used color scrollers that are a bit noisy but have already come in handy. Bill ------------------------------ Message-ID: <428CA719.FB3AA7C6 [at] cybercom.net> Date: Thu, 19 May 2005 10:47:53 -0400 From: Dale Farmer Organization: The fuzz in the back of the fridge. Subject: Re: 24 3.6k dimmers References: Cosmo Catalano wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > I have a rack of 24 3.6kw Colortran dimmers sitting on my loading dock. > These are early 80's vintage, dual SCR units in excellent shape. The > rack is about 3ft square and 6ft tall, convection cooled. You'll need > to have some sort of D/A converter to run them on any kind of modern > control system. I've run them on an LMI DAC for years w/o problems. > > They will go to the first person who can take them away, otherwise I'll > have to dumpsterize them. Tempting. CAn it be broken down into small pieces for transport? I'd like to have them, but the current ride is a honda civic with rather limited load capacity. I'm in suburban boston. --Dale ------------------------------ Message-ID: <3598.64.28.60.205.1116513868.squirrel [at] webmail.peak.org> In-Reply-To: References:

Date: Thu, 19 May 2005 07:44:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: fresnel advice needed From: "Bill Nelson" >> I'm looking to purchase a small number of fresnels to replace parcans >> for a >> specific location/purpose in our concert hall and lobby. >> >> I'm staying away from the ETC Parnel style. > > Why? I mean, I don't think they have the usable beam width as other > (real) > fresnels, but other than that, they're good wash units... you just have > something against bastard children of the lighting industry? Just slap wide flood lenses in them and mount them a bit further back (for more beam width, if needed) than you would a small fresnel. About as much light and not as bulky as a 1KAF. > As for the two lights framing a painting...perhaps a couple of SourceFour > Jrs would be a slicker solution? > Finally... size. How high is your lobby ceiling? Do you really want > something as chunky as an 8" fresnel cluttering your ceiling. Especially > with their gigantic barndoors? If you can get away with 6" fresnels, > you'll probably be happier. The Jr is not that much smaller than the regular S4. I would prefer a couple of old 3.5Q ellipsoidals - or a couple of S4 pars if the painting was huge. The S4 models can be obtained in white - custom colors if you want to pay extra. The 3.5Q can be easily converted to the modern high efficiency 575 watt lamps. Bill ------------------------------ From: "Karl G. Ruling" Date: Thu, 19 May 2005 12:52:29 -0400 Subject: Re: Fresnels Reply-to: kruling [at] esta.org Message-ID: <428C8C0D.8744.479CEB8 [at] localhost> In-reply-to: Riter, Andrew (Head Ltg) wrote: > I'm most familiar with the Strand Fresnelite, and loved the 3380, > which isn't in production, but these new fresnelites look almost > identical, although I've heard the quality wasn't as great as the > 3380. How do the Alto and Cantanas stand up? Other than the outside > housing, any difference in the light output or quality? > > Anybody have the Leviton lamps? I'm going to stay away from making specific brand recommendations, but I can tell you that the Leviton fresnels are Colortran units. They haven't changed the design, only the name. I will add that a PARNel washlight is not the same as a fresnel. The light distribution is different and the edge quality with a barn door is different. A PARNel has a distribution curve that is a simple, smooth hump -- kind of like what you get with a ETC Source Four ellipsoidal reflector spot. A fresnel, particularly when it is at full flood, has a flat plateau in the middle of the distribution curve, a rapid fall- off around the 50% candlepower point, and then a long tail-out to nothing. The distributions are quite different, which is really important for those people who care about such things. You get more light per watt out of a PARNel washlight, which is really important for those people who care about that. > Barndoors for framing are a must. Are the screens I see advertised > any use? Other accessories which are useful? Paul Sanow wrote most of what I was going to write about gel frames, lamps, and screens, but I would like to add that a half-screen is useful on stage when doing low-angle washes with a fresnel. It covers only half the lens so you can use it to dim the bottom half of the beam, the part that lights the nearer acting areas, so you can get a more even low-angle wash across the stage and less obvious fall-off as the actor moves away from the light. I used a half-screen once when I was using a 6 kW HMI fresnel as a keylight to light the whole stage at a low angle. I had a problem with the actors closer to the fresnel being obviously more brightly illuminated than those further away. The right density half-screen solved the problem. Screens don't fade, so once I got the lighting right with the screen, it was right for the whole run of the show. ------------------------------ End of Stagecraft Digest #402 *****************************