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 22514903; Sat, 21 May 2005 03:01:28 -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 #403 Date: Sat, 21 May 2005 03:01:10 -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 #403 1. Re: fresnel advice needed by Dorian Kelly 2. half screen by Judy 3. Re: half screen by Brian Munroe 4. Re: HS theatre facility manager queries by Shawn Palmer 5. Bounced digests by "Riter, Andrew (Head Ltg)" 6. Vacuum Form bids? by "Dohn Grube" 7. Re: Vacuum Form bids? by Mark O'Brien 8. Re: Clear Com in a rental house by "Riter, Andrew (Head Ltg)" 9. vectorworks export command by ken frederickson 10. Re: vectorworks export command by Boyd Ostroff 11. Re: vectorworks export command by ken frederickson 12. Re: vectorworks export command by Boyd Ostroff 13. Video Projector Placement by "James, Brian" 14. diva dancers by 15. Re: diva dancers by Andrew Vance 16. Re: diva dancers by IAEG [at] aol.com 17. Re: Video Projector Placement by "Jon Lagerquist" 18. Re: diva dancers by "Tom Heemskerk" 19. Re: HS theatre facility manager queries by MissWisc [at] aol.com 20. Re: Video Projector Placement by David Marks 21. Re: diva dancers by Dale Farmer 22. Updating and Repairing a theater. by *** 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: In-Reply-To: References: Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 11:30:07 +0100 From: Dorian Kelly Subject: Re: fresnel advice needed >For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see >--------------------------------------------------- > >>> 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. If you set up a Parnel and a Fresnel side by side, you will see that they are chalk and cheese. The Parnel is a hybrid which gives a good bash of light and vibrant colour, very good for variety, musicals, concerts etc but is fundamentally unsuitable for soft moody textured controlled pools of light for general thatre straight play use. heres a good side by side test for fresnels ( in no particular order) 1) Compare the beam texture peakiness, fade off, whiteness, vibrancy of colour 2) Do the bar doors rotate smoothly and continuously ( they dont all do that), doors cut off smoothly, with a nice soft edge or are they hard edges? 3) Do the barn doors have two smaller and two larger leaves so they can door down very small? 4) If you put the lens in back to front ( i.e. ridged size inwards) does this create a useful small sharp beam ? ( some do some dont) 5) if you put a tapestry gel in ( i.e. a mosaic of irregular small peices of offcuts scrollertaped to a clear gel) does it create a really nice stained glass gobo effect? Does it overheat and fail? Some makes are a LOT better than others at this. Put Rosco blue in and see how long it takes to bleach and burn 6) Does it zoom smoothly when hot? 7) Can it swivel in its trunnion arm sufficiently to point straight down? 8) Are there a full set of filter retaining clips, safety chain fix point, not forgetting the barn door? DK ------------------------------ Message-ID: <428DCD08.7030308 [at] post.tau.ac.il> Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 13:42:00 +0200 From: Judy Subject: half screen Karl Ruling wrote: > but I would like to add that a half-screen is >useful on stage when doing low-angle washes with a fresnel. > What is a half screen, please? Sounds like something I've improvised in the past, but from this message it sounds like a regularly manufactured item. ------------------------------ Message-ID: Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 08:30:54 -0400 From: Brian Munroe Reply-To: Brian Munroe Subject: Re: half screen In-Reply-To: References: On 5/20/05, Judy wrote: > What is a half screen, please? Sounds like something I've improvised in > the past, but from this message it sounds like a regularly manufactured > item. These are mostly used in the film and television industry. Picture a round gel frame, that can rotate around the 4 frame clips on the fresnel. Now replace the gel with a metal scrim, or screen, to diffuse the light. That would be a full scrim, or full screen. A half scrim is a round frame that's half scrim, half empty or open.=20 Diffuses only half the beam. You can rotate the screen to adjust where the diffusion is. There are also different degrees of "scrimness." They come in single scrim and double scrim version, depending upon how much diffusion you need. See http://snipurl.com/f14w for an example. Brian Munroe bpmunroe [at] gmail.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: <428E097B.7050106 [at] northnet.net> Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 10:59:55 -0500 From: Shawn Palmer Subject: Re: HS theatre facility manager queries References: In-Reply-To: > Shawn, > Most of my staff are students, but I have 3 or 4 graduates who are qualified > to stand in for me if I can't work a show. Since the staff and I are hourly > it doesn't cost the district anything to add staff. The person working in > my place gets $20/ hr. and is billed at $35. > > You might propose adding an hourly A.T.D. I've already told my boss that > next year is my son's SR. year and I'm not missing a football game, band or > choir concert etc. so my A.T.D.s will be working more. > > No job is worth your family or health. > > Good Luck > > Randy Whitcomb, TD > Price Civic Aud > Loveland, CO. Some of you may remember this thread from mid last year involving staffing for a new PAC. Seems the powers that be were a bit hesitant to hire a qualified individual to run the new space. I didn't originate the thread, but my posts to it generated some good advice for me. Thanks to all the advice from CB, Randy W., et. al. Now, an update. Some of you already know this, but the light has finally been seen, and I have a QUALIFIED full-time assistant. It is a dream. Sometimes the squeaky wheel DOES get the grease. I truly appreciate the advice and encouragement I have received from the list, regarding this topic and others. I have learned things from you, and passed your advice along to the powers that be, who sometimes listen. I do still remember my first post, and being taken to task by CB for it, but that was a good learning experience for me too ;-) Many thanks- Shawn Palmer Neenah, WI USA ------------------------------ Message-ID: <297C9E3B63B2D3119C8100508B5ED28F160200ED [at] exchange2.ubc.ca> From: "Riter, Andrew (Head Ltg)" Subject: Bounced digests Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 10:26:54 -0700 Wouldn't you know it? I post a couple of questions, get a few answers from individual members (Thanks, I'll respond to those later), but find that the digests have bounced back to Stagecraft.net (thanks for the little warning, noah). So, could someone please forward digests #400 and 402 to me. I've got 401 in me inbox. Thanks Andrew M. Riter Head Lighting Technician Chan Centre ------------------------------ From: "Dohn Grube" Subject: Vacuum Form bids? Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 10:27:41 -0700 Message-ID: I am looking for somebody with a large vacuum form to create 200 plus star patterns in which I can insert a light bulb and then string them up on stage and above the audience. Anyone interested? Dohn Grube Instructor Cabrillo College Prop Master Cabrillo Stage ------------------------------ In-Reply-To: References: Message-Id: <0b06ccd114dac81479d936cca51fa60a [at] email.arizona.edu> Cc: marko [at] email.arizona.edu (Mark O'Brien) From: Mark O'Brien Subject: Re: Vacuum Form bids? Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 10:43:45 -0700 I do not know where you are, but in the mid Atlantic region there is a company named TSA Inc. They are in Northern VA. They have a big machine, and they do wonders with it. http://www.tsatv.com/default.htm They build big sets for corporate America, but their roots are regional theatre, Mike & John really know their stuff, and they seem to be fair as well. Mark-O Mark O'Brien Opera Technical Director University of Arizona, School of Music Tucson, AZ 520/621-7025 520/591-1803 Mobile On May 20, 2005, at 10:27 AM, Dohn Grube wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > > --------------------------------------------------- > > I am looking for somebody with a large vacuum form to > create 200 plus star patterns in which I can insert a light > bulb and then string them up on stage and above the > audience. Anyone interested? > > Dohn Grube > Instructor Cabrillo College > Prop Master Cabrillo Stage ------------------------------ Message-ID: <297C9E3B63B2D3119C8100508B5ED28F160200F0 [at] exchange2.ubc.ca> From: "Riter, Andrew (Head Ltg)" Subject: RE: Clear Com in a rental house Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 11:19:38 -0700 We're a concert hall with a different client in every night (that we rent out). Clear com is included with the building. The audio tech "installs" stations where ever needed for each show. The booth CC are always in place. Same as the FS booth. The only extra charges we apply are for the use of the follow spots, the tunings for the pianos, and (I think) the Yamaha is included, the Steinway is an extra charge. The house rental includes 3 techs for 8 hours (Lights, Sound, Stage), and the necessary FOH crew (for 4-5 hours)to safely operate the front end. Any thing beyond that (time, staffing) gets added on. If the client asks us to arrange rental gear (video), then we charge a percentage fee of the rental package for "administrative costs". Clear com should be part of the building rental, same as the sound gear, and lighting gear. We also charge a ticket surcharge ($1? Per ticket) for a capital cost replacement budget line. If we need to reconfigure the theatre (choral loft move, orchestra pit lift seating change), then that time is billed to the client as a labour charge. Andrew M. Riter Head Lighting Technician Chan Centre ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20050520201154.30504.qmail [at] web50810.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 13:11:54 -0700 (PDT) From: ken frederickson Subject: vectorworks export command In-Reply-To: 6667 I am using vectorworks 9 and i want to export a ground plan as a jpeg. I have done it befor with vers. 7 and 8 but now it is not working. any help? __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 16:22:31 -0400 (EDT) From: Boyd Ostroff Subject: Re: vectorworks export command In-Reply-To: Message-ID: References: Mac or PC? What operating system. Works fine for me (always has) on the Mac in versions 9 and 9.5. Choose File > Export > Image File then choose JPEG from the drop down menu. Click on the compression button and choose desired quality. Am currently using version 9.5.3 under MacOS X 10.3.8. Make sure you have updated to the latest version of VW 9. Like I said, I export quite a lot of JPEG's and have never had a problem. | Boyd Ostroff | Director of Design and Technology | Opera Company of Philadelphia | http://tech.operaphilly.com | ostroff [at] operaphilly.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20050520211941.75233.qmail [at] web50807.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 14:19:41 -0700 (PDT) From: ken frederickson Subject: Re: vectorworks export command In-Reply-To: 6667 I am using pc. when i go to the option FILE>EXPORT>IMAGE FILE then nothing happens. I am actually using 9.0.1 --- Boyd Ostroff wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > > --------------------------------------------------- > > Mac or PC? What operating system. Works fine for me > (always has) on the > Mac in versions 9 and 9.5. Choose File > Export > > Image File then choose > JPEG from the drop down menu. Click on the > compression button and choose > desired quality. > > Am currently using version 9.5.3 under MacOS X > 10.3.8. Make sure you have > updated to the latest version of VW 9. Like I said, > I export quite a lot > of JPEG's and have never had a problem. > > | Boyd Ostroff > | Director of Design and Technology > | Opera Company of Philadelphia > | http://tech.operaphilly.com > | ostroff [at] operaphilly.com > > __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail Mobile Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Check email on your mobile phone. http://mobile.yahoo.com/learn/mail ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 18:08:23 -0400 (EDT) From: Boyd Ostroff Subject: Re: vectorworks export command In-Reply-To: Message-ID: References: I can't really help with the Windows version, but there were plenty of bugs in the early versions of 9 on the Mac. Looks like the newest version for the PC is 9.5.2: http://www.nemetschek.net/downloads/vectorworks/version9/9.5.2_page.html Also check out this Windows update which might be related to your problems: --------------- http://download.nemetschek.net/vectorworks/InstallVW950SystemFiles.exe The VectorWorks 9.5.0 installer shipped without some system DLL files which VectorWorks depends on. Since these DLLs are present on most computers which have a standard complement of software already installed on them, it is relatively rare for VectorWorks 9.5.0 to fail to launch because of a DLL dependency problem, but if it does happen, this installer will install up-to-date versions of all required system DLLs. Users of all Windows operating system versions from Windows 95 through Windows 2000 can use this installer, and it will ensure your system DLLs are up to date. Windows XP ships with current versions of all DLLs necessary to run VectorWorks 9.5.0, so running this installer is unnecessary on XP. If you cannot launch VectorWorks 9.5.0 because of a missing or outdated DLL, you must use this installer to fix your problem. -------------- | Boyd Ostroff | Director of Design and Technology | Opera Company of Philadelphia | http://tech.operaphilly.com | ostroff [at] operaphilly.com ------------------------------ Subject: Video Projector Placement Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 18:18:20 -0400 Message-ID: From: "James, Brian" Does anyone have a simple formula or "rule of thumb" that is reasonable = accurate that can determine how far away from a screen the video = projector needs to be to fill the screen (estimate needed through = distances). All of the formulas I have found searching the web require having the = projector specs handy, however that is a luxury I often do not have. Usually I know for sure is screen size and lens ratios. Any way, ant help would be great! I am sure something is out there, I just have not stumbled upon it yet. Thanks! ------------------------------ Message-ID: <002301c55d8a$d542c500$0200a8c0 [at] lpt> From: References: Subject: diva dancers Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 17:25:29 -0500 Organization: Minnesota Ballet I've been blessed with not having a diva dancer in my company for several years now. My biggest problem was I had a dancer that liked to stand right in front of the shin buster because it warmed up his calf and gave me a nice big bouncing shadow across the stage. My current issue is that the dancers are always asking for more light on stage for warm-ups. The truth was not that they needed more light, but they wanted it warmer. More lights on = more heat. I'm always saying that a S4 is not a $200 space heater. I haven't heard the complaint of blinding lights in recent years, but my reply of "yea, and you look beautiful in it!" usually ended all complaints. Kenneth Pogin Production Manager Minnesota Ballet ------------------------------ In-Reply-To: References: Message-Id: <7B474981-5998-4B49-94B2-6BFF3DA7D446 [at] andrewvance.com> From: Andrew Vance Subject: Re: diva dancers Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 17:49:20 -0500 On 20 May, 2005, at 17:25, wrote: > I've been blessed with not having a diva dancer in my company for > several years now. My biggest problem was I had a dancer that liked > to stand right in front of the shin buster because it warmed up his > calf and gave me a nice big bouncing shadow across the stage. My dancers are likewise diva-less. Biggest complaint I get from them is that the spots are too bright [which they sometimes are] or that the centering light is too bright [which always fascinates me]. I get the new ones trained to avoid congregating in front of the booms after the first tech. Our Artistic Director is really in tuned to lighting and how it works, so she makes sure there's no dancers acting as dousers. > My current issue is that the dancers are always asking for more > light on stage for warm-ups. The truth was not that they needed > more light, but they wanted it warmer. More lights on = more heat. > I'm always saying that a S4 is not a $200 space heater. We solved the worklight issue with our dancers by telling the artistic director we could use $16 lamps to provide heat and hope they'll last through the performance or we could save them until the audience shows up. We sometimes hang a form of works on the electrics to supplement the copious amounts of worklight onstage during warm ups. When the Symphony plays here, they always ask for all the lights at full from the moment they walk in until the actual tech begins. In their real home, they have a shell with ceiling and striplights for the overhead white light. Here, there's just the electrics with nothing to stop the heat until it hits the roof 75+ feet up. They can't seem to understand the whole "heat rises" part of physics. Its actually fun to watch the thermometer they've got onstage and point out to their SM that the temperature it displayed never went up, even with all those lights on. -- Sincerely, Andrew Vance Lighting Designer www.andrewvance.com ------------------------------ From: IAEG [at] aol.com Message-ID: <1c7.28fd619b.2fbfd2d9 [at] aol.com> Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 19:55:05 EDT Subject: Re: diva dancers In a message dated 5/20/05 6:26:48 PM, productionmanager [at] minnesotaballet.org writes: << My biggest problem was I had a dancer that liked to stand right in front of the shin buster because it warmed up his calf and gave me a nice big bouncing shadow across the stage. >> I give a lecture the first night in the theatre and let dancers know that if they even THINK about doing that I will make their stay in the theatre a living hell. I will use VOICE OF GOD mic to embarrass dancers during tech rehearsals when I see shadows and get the cooperation of Ballet Masters / Mistresses to explain how to make entrances with proper preparation in the wings and not stand in front of side lighting booms, taping the floor of your rehearsal studio with exact placement of legs and side lighting booms helps gets every one in the right frame of mind, , , very best, Keith Arsenault IAEG - International Arts & Entertainment Group Tampa, Florida ------------------------------ From: "Jon Lagerquist" Cc: bej [at] vt.edu (James, Brian) Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 17:09:55 -0700 Subject: Re: Video Projector Placement Reply-to: jon [at] lagerquist.com Message-ID: <428E19E3.5257.58C89A7 [at] localhost> In-reply-to: > Does anyone have a simple formula or "rule of thumb" that is reasonable accurate that can determine how far away from a screen the video projector needs to be to fill the screen (estimate needed through distances). From http://www.navitar.com/buhl/ratios.html Using Ratios to Select the Correct LCD Lens When using ratios to select a lens, you must consider the screen width and the projection distance to the screen. The formula is distance/width. For example, if you had a 10' wide screen and a projection distance of 10', you would require a lens with a 1:1 ratio. If your distance changed to 20', you would then require a lens with a 2:1 ratio. However, due to the different LCD panel sizes, the actual focal length of the required lens would be different for each panel size, even though the ratio would remain the same. Jon Lagerquist Technical Director [at] South Coast Repertory Costa Mesa, CA ------------------------------ Message-ID: <64006.142.179.101.174.1116635011.squirrel [at] 142.179.101.174> In-Reply-To: References: Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 17:23:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: diva dancers From: "Tom Heemskerk" The most productive way I've seen the issue of blocked shinbusters addressed in a pro scenario was a demonstration by the SM of how it took so much away from the performance of the dancers onstage. The dancers, being ensemble-minded and very much aware of the art, responded well to this. Maybe that won't work quite as well with dance schools, but it's worth trying, no? TH > if > they even THINK about doing that I will make their stay in the theatre a > living hell. > > I will use VOICE OF GOD mic to embarrass dancers during tech rehearsals ------------------------------ From: MissWisc [at] aol.com Message-ID: <60.55fa1c3a.2fbfe21c [at] aol.com> Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 21:00:12 EDT Subject: Re: HS theatre facility manager queries In a message dated 5/20/5 11:08:06 AM, shawnp [at] northnet.net writes: << I have a QUALIFIED full-time assistant. >> Who??!!! Kristi ------------------------------ Message-ID: <428E8A6F.6070108 [at] comcast.net> Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 21:10:07 -0400 From: David Marks Subject: Re: Video Projector Placement References: In-Reply-To: James, Brian wrote: >All of the formulas I have found searching the web require having the projector specs handy, however that is a luxury I often do not have. > > If you are near an internet connection, try www.projectorcentral.com. They list all the manufacturers. Pick your projector and the spec sheet appears. At the throw distance, there is a little calculator icon. Click on it and it takes you to a great throw distance calculator for that projector, with all sorts of info. Other than that, I've memorized the throw distances for most standard projectors and screen sizes. A 9x12 screen means the projector has to be between 19.5 feet to 25 feet for most projectors, etc. Dave Marks ------------------------------ Message-ID: <428EB558.AC7A485B [at] cybercom.net> Date: Sat, 21 May 2005 00:13:12 -0400 From: Dale Farmer Organization: The fuzz in the back of the fridge. Subject: Re: diva dancers References: Andrew Vance wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > On 20 May, 2005, at 17:25, > wrote: > > > I've been blessed with not having a diva dancer in my company for > > several years now. My biggest problem was I had a dancer that liked > > to stand right in front of the shin buster because it warmed up his > > calf and gave me a nice big bouncing shadow across the stage. > > My dancers are likewise diva-less. Biggest complaint I get from them > is that the spots are too bright [which they sometimes are] or that > the centering light is too bright [which always fascinates me]. I > get the new ones trained to avoid congregating in front of the booms > after the first tech. Our Artistic Director is really in tuned to > lighting and how it works, so she makes sure there's no dancers > acting as dousers. > > > My current issue is that the dancers are always asking for more > > light on stage for warm-ups. The truth was not that they needed > > more light, but they wanted it warmer. More lights on = more heat. > > I'm always saying that a S4 is not a $200 space heater. > > We solved the worklight issue with our dancers by telling the > artistic director we could use $16 lamps to provide heat and hope > they'll last through the performance or we could save them until the > audience shows up. We sometimes hang a form of works on the > electrics to supplement the copious amounts of worklight onstage > during warm ups. > > When the Symphony plays here, they always ask for all the lights at > full from the moment they walk in until the actual tech begins. In > their real home, they have a shell with ceiling and striplights for > the overhead white light. Here, there's just the electrics with > nothing to stop the heat until it hits the roof 75+ feet up. They > can't seem to understand the whole "heat rises" part of physics. Its > actually fun to watch the thermometer they've got onstage and point > out to their SM that the temperature it displayed never went up, even > with all those lights on. For bringing some of that heat down, there are fans made ( mostly for the industrial market ) that bring warm air down from the ceiling from where it would otherwise be wasted. These are either huge noisy high speed fans, or smaller fans pushing air into fabric ducts that hang down just above head level. COuple of these that get used during rehearsals and so on may alleviate some of the lack of heat issues for relatively little money. You could also try putting a couple of heat lamps around for spot warmth. --Dale ------------------------------ Reply-To: From: Subject: Updating and Repairing a theater. Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 21:30:33 -0700 Message-ID: It's good to be back! So, let's start with the fun. Our theater (High School), has finally realized that it is time to do some work on our main stage. There are some few basic things that need to be done, replace the pit, replace the electrical system, and a few other things (all easy sells). But the one that I think really needs to be done is the whole fly system. It is nearly 45 years old, and the only thing replaced on the fly system was the hemp based rope about 20 years ago, to a synthetic. I know that old purchase line systems are a dying breed, and I think most places have replaced them. So my question (Dr. Doom), what can you all direct me for finding information on about replacing this, specifically within Cal-Osha, legal requirements, etc. We are not ready to bring an inspector on site yet, this is just a preliminary thing, but I want to come armed for this one, since it will most likely be the most expensive part, and nobody except me understands the importance of this one. In my dream world, I would like to add about 5 line sets, make them all mechanical, and possible tie them in with some kind of show control system. The ADA requirements are being handled outside the scope of this group. Oh yeah, and the meeting is Monday.. As always, thank you all for your help. ------------------------------ End of Stagecraft Digest #403 *****************************