Blue Room General Technical Feed

Welcome to the Blue Room

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:22:59 +0100

Hello

Welcome to the Blue Room Technical Forums, which were first created in January 2003, for people to discuss subjects and issues related to life and work 'behind the scenes' in the Entertainments Industry. We hope that you will find the information here useful and the atmosphere friendly, helpful and informative.

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As a supplement to the T&Cs (and in larger type ), we also recommend you read...
How To Ask For Help, so that you get it quickly
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Promoting your business in the Blue Room, without falling foul of the T&Cs
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Volunteers

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:41:57 +0100

Appreciating there is a financial disaster currently around the country, it was with great reading this little article in the stage.

http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.p...aid-ushers-jobs

Appreciating a lot of venues use volunteer ushers, what is actually stopping this company starting to also roll this into Stage Door staff, and eventually backstage staff.

Also if this company is making this the normal across all their venues, will someone like Ambassadors also do the same?

Also are Volunteers accountable for their actions. I was in a venue once where during a show, there was a gas leak - and the building was obviously evacuated. The first people out the door where the ushers and usherettes. . . Leaving the paid staff to deal with it. Apparently their excuse was "Were not paid to deal with that"

So - is this a good idea to replace paid staff with unpaid staff and where will and where can it stop. ?

Next thing we know - follow spot operators and stage crew will be volunteers and all the paid staff will slowly be replaced leave potentially a lot of people out of work.

Saying this - on my touring circuit I have been to some veneus that run solely on volunteers that are brilliantly run, but that is the aim of the venue as their trust to be staffed by volunteers.

Turret Theatre, Kirkintilloch (Glasgow

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 18:32:39 +0100

Boys & Girls,

Looking for any info on the Turret Theatre, Kirkintilloch. It's teeny, but it's only around the corner and I thought, Im planning on taking panto season easy this year and since it's small and 30 seconds from my house I might stick my hand up for them.

Any specs or experiences?

Dodge

Imax Projectors

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:39:01 +0100

I know this one is technically in the wrong place, but I thought I'd open it up to the masses.

Was in an IMAX today and we were chatting about how bright the projectors are. I was surprised by the answer and I just thought I'd open it up to those of us that might not actually know much about these things.

Do you think it's possible for one of these bulbs to be seen from the moon or is it just a myth?

NO GOOGLING! HONEST ANSWERS ONLY!

Neat tester gadget

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:04:14 +0100

This ebay link made me think.

Really simple. Nothing new of course, but I didn't really didn't think of this particular use.

As the ebay data will vanish in a month or two, all it is is a cable tester, but it uses phantom power as the power source. There's a bi-colour LED, and a couple of resistors, that's it - in an XLR plug. If phantom is applied by pins 2 and 3 in the usual way, with the return on pin 1, then you get an amber indication. If either leg is missing, then it's red or green, and if power is missing or there's a screen fault, no light at all. So a nice little project and useful toolbox item.

troubles with System Architect

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:02:04 +0100

Hi,

I have a little problem with the programme System Architect by HiQnet.
I have two subwoofers (VPSB7118DPAN) from JBL. When I connect them to my network the System Architect detects two VT4888AN.

Does anybody know how I can either change the class name or how to "tell" the programme that the identification of the woofers goes wrong?

Thanks a lot, in advance!

Filming of Danceshows / Plays

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:11:50 +0100

To anyone that knows the rules backwards,

I have a friend who films danceshows around the country and then sells them to the dance school as do a lot of companies.

The general rule of thumb for many years, is that they literally put the camera in a empty part of the control room, or have seats reserved. In some venues they put their own mics in if needed, or if the venue is happy to throw them a stereo mix, then they accept that. They dont ask them to change the lighting, the show, the sound. Its a true representation of the show. Ok the sound guys have to set up a mix, but these guys have been doing it for many many years.

Now a particular theatre has said that they will charge �250+vat for this to be be done . as its a "commercial enterprise". . and this money is "apparently" passed onto the technicians. . .

Does anyone know of anything in writing in Bectu, Solt, TMA etc that actually says this. I do remember reading something once, that if you have to change what your doing, put extra lighting in, sound in, rehearsals then this counts . . but . . .

The only people that have access is the Dance school, the parents etc. This isnt for sale in a shop or anything like that. Also the schools get a % to put back into the school.

I did have a search but could not find anything . .

Thoughts?

Packhorse Cases

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:28:48 +0100

I have just bought a custom built case from Packhorse UK. I went around for quotes about a month or so ago; Packhorse turned out to be cheapest and had the best customer service. I dealt with Steve and Amanda there, they were awesome. An email at 7.30 in the evening was answered by either an immediate reply or a phone call at 9am the next morning.

I sent an email to a few case companies asking for quotes, they were all in the same ballpark (�400-�500). Apart from Amptown, I didn't even get a reply to the 3 or so emails I sent to them

The case is Blue (to match the Vector Blue that goes inside); it has a tourplate, Wheels and 10 handles. 3 handles on each side, then 2 on each panel. Underneath the console, inside the case is (as you would expect) a load of foam. So I asked them to cut out space for my screen, keyboard, littlelites, power cables etc and guess what... they did, and to make it even better that was free.

I originally said I want the case anytime this week, but then a show came up tomorrow, so I rang them and asked them to speed it up. Hey Ho, they made it on Tuesday (earlier then they said they would) and had it on a pallet Wednesday night. 9.15am this morning, I had Pallet Force banging on the door with Pallet and case in tow.

All in all, it came to �440. The case itself Inc VAT was �400, then another �40 delivery. The case fits perfectly, its top quality and I love the colour!

So, if you are looking for a case, doesn't matter what it’s for... ring Packhorse!! Top notch service all round. http://www.packhorse.co.uk/flight-case.php

Thanks.

New business help

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:02:32 +0100

I am starting up a pa sound hire business I have two websites which one do you think is the best???

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Regards

Richard

Lighting design image rights

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:54:18 +0100

In a theoretical situation where you are a lighting designer who has designed a show for a/several popular music acts, and you had taken pictures and/or video of said acts, and wished to display these on a website to show your work, possibly for the purpose of generating more business, would you be obligated to ask permission from said acts? This is something almost every professional LD does, how should one go about it is the question.

A discussion on the broader spectrum of image rights in live entertainment would also help.

Thanks Si

Stage set/cloths

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:58:26 +0100

I have just completed (as technical director) a dance show called TV Times. The producer wanted the proscenium arch replaced with a TV screen frame, so the audience viewed the stage through an old fashioned Television set in the first act and a modern widescreen TV for the second act.

The old set divided into two and slid into temporary wings (a 12' wide BWS curtain) on standard theatre curtain track.

The dimensions are:

30� length (total when assembled) and 16� high + carrier brackets to either scaff outriggers or curtain track which can be adjusted to suit.

The set is now in 8 pieces, each set was constructed in a 1/4 and then assembled in the air or on ground. It was then strengthened with 2x1 lengths. The new set was hung on scaff tubes attached to standard 20" truss. The �old set� was attached to curtain track runners, allowing it to be slid in the temporary wings.

The set is constructed from 2x1 tanalised studding timber 'platted' in standard hardboard.

On the right hand side of the new screen there are wo holes with a red gel and a green gel on each. I had a simple light box with a 60 watt lamp in each which showed the �TV� in stand by and then on. There is also a �Sony� remote which is about 5� tall and made to scale (two of the performers walked into the auditorium and �switched on� the new TV at the start of the second half).

I have no further use of this set and would like it to have some future use, does anyone know any companies that could be interested in taking this, any suggestions would be most welcome.

There are photos available, please send me an email address and I send them to you.

Theatrical Logic

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 02:18:17 +0100

THEATRICAL LOGIC

In is down, down is front;
Out is up, up is back;
Off is out, on is in;
and of course -
Right is left, and Left is right.

A drop shouldn't and
A block and fall does neither.
A prop doesn't and
A cove has no water.

Tripping is okay;
A running crew rarely gets anywhere;
A purchase line will buy you nothing;
A trap will not catch anything and
A gridiron has nothing to do with Football.

Strike is work (in fact, a lot of work) and
A green room, thank God, usually isn't.
Now that you're fully versed in
Theatrical Terms - �Break a Leg...�
But not really!

100v system or something else?

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 18:43:55 +0100

Hi all,

My head is spinning and I can't think of the best way to do this at the moment, so im opening it to suggestions and ideas.

I need to create a system for someone that consists of the following:

They need to connect two outdoor speakers/horns to a PC - Simple!

Whats the best method? The first idea was to get a cheapo car amplifier from maplins/halfords and use a jack - phono from the PC into the amp and then connect the speakers to the amp.

However, has anyone got better ideas? I've never built a 100v system before so I don't know if that would be easier...

Dodge

iPhone 4 Case

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 11:26:39 +0100

Hi all,

Looking for a nice case for my new iPhone 4 that can securely be fastened to my belt (along with leatherman etc) which will also stop the phone from falling out when at heights etc.

Anyone used, seen or have any suggestions as to a solution for this?

Cheers,

Pink flys the wrong way!

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:37:25 +0100

Pink Flys