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Tech Spec


whenwecanfly

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That was some speedy editing of your profile ;)

 

I'd suggest downloading a few specs from other venues to get an idea of what kind of information is normally included. Perhaps imagine if you're touring a show to one and see if there's enough information in there or whether you would still have questions.

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What happened to the old one? You used to have one and updating is easier. Failing that I would suggest you do something for the website like Arts Depot have done and a list of kit available separately for when requested.

 

Don't strain yourself thinking too hard, steal the ideas as Shez suggests.

 

Oh go on then, an anecdote. Many moons back when the Chickenshed was opening their studio space my old company was given the honour of premiering. We got there to find an empty room, a pile of newly delivered drapes in plastic bags and nothing else. I got the actors hanging drapes like crazy, erected our set and went hunting for kit. I found an old Zero 88 and a pile of ancient lanterns in various states. I worked my butt off with my 16 year old assistant (girlfriend's son on work experience) and managed to redesign, hang and focus by dint of being a genius.

 

The Shed person assisting us was supposed to be a technician and kept asking if I wanted him to download the programme to disk. I kept saying no. I didn't trust an old board from a cupboard and even less did I trust the disks. 10 minutes before doors my young mate came dashing into reception where I was selling programmes.

"You know that technician? Well he's a carpenter and he has downloaded the board and now we have nothing." "Nothing?" "Not a glimmer."

I reprogrammed the first half by poke'n'hope in 15 minutes and went up 5 late. The carpenter wasn't seen for the next two days, I wonder why?

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What happened to the old one? You used to have one and updating is easier. Failing that I would suggest you do something for the website like Arts Depot have done and a list of kit available separately for when requested.

 

Don't strain yourself thinking too hard, steal the ideas as Shez suggests.

 

If we did have one it's lost in the ether now - and I suspect there's been enough changes since to merit a complete look at it. Either way for the future a comprehensive one will come in quite handy I suspect with our new artistic director.

 

I've checked out a lot of ones to steal a couple ideas - this was more a has anyone seen anything really useful I may not have kinda question!

 

(although if anyone does have our old I'd appreciate it because for the life of me I can't get hold of it!)

 

 

 

 

Oh go on then, an anecdote. Many moons back...

 

I can assure you much changed days now!

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I'm a bit confused - you have shows in and you have not been sending anything out to them? I know one of the music acts who have performed there, I'll ask them if they still have the one you sent and if they do, I'll forward it. Silly thought, but have you had a word with the booking people, because they are sending them out?
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I don't know what size venue it is, so not sure how much would be relevant but this is where I would start off:

 

Stage

Stage Size

Wing Size

Stage Height

Prosc Height and width

Orchestra pit? Size and depth?

Height to the grid

Any limitations to weight you can put on the stage

 

Rigging

Any flying ability?

What type of flying ability?

What is the SWL of your bars?

Any extra rigging points?

SWL and location of extra rigging points

 

Masking

What legs/ Borders do you have?

Do you have a gauze or Cyc at the back of the stage?

 

Access

What is the load in like?

Do you have a loading dock (if so what size is it)?

Is it near the stage?

If not what is the narrowest point that you need to get set through?

Is there a lift (if so what size and how much can it take?)

Is there bus power outside?

how many trucks can I get on the dock?

Any limit on truck sizes?

Any limit on truck parking?

 

Power

What power do you have for touring productions?

Where is it all located?

 

Lighting

What lights do you have?

Where are they (Do you have any plans)?

Can I move stuff?

What lighting desk do you have?

How many dimmers do you have?

Where can I get DMX/Hot power from?

 

Effects/Other

Do you have a projector and screen (What size make and brightness are these)?

Do you have a haze or smoke machine (What is the recharge cost of this)?

Can I use pyro?

Can I use haze?

Are there tie lines for me to send stuff around the building?

Music stands? With Lights?

Orchestra chairs?

 

Sound

What speakers?

What amps?

What processing?

What desk?

What mics?

What monitors?

 

SM

What comms system do you have?

What cue light system do you have?

What show relay do you have?

Do you have an SM desk (where is it and what can it do?

 

Dressing Rooms

How many?

Where are they( up 10 flights of stairs!)?

What facilities do they have?

Toilets?

Showers?

Laundry facilites?

 

Include as many useful plans and pictures as you have. I have spent less than 5 minutes thinking about this, so there are many many things missing!

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I'm a bit confused - you have shows in and you have not been sending anything out to them? I know one of the music acts who have performed there, I'll ask them if they still have the one you sent and if they do, I'll forward it. Silly thought, but have you had a word with the booking people, because they are sending them out?

 

No no its not that bad I promise! We're fully inhouse producing at the moment but we're possibly edging towards a few visiting companies and external designers so I'm kind of standardising our information.

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The CFT's are available here https://www.cft.org....ut-us/technical but in reality it should include anything you might want to know if you were going into another venue. I'd especially mention any difficulties with parking locally, if in London nearest public transport links, and any house rules. For example if visiting people are not allowed to rig that should be clearly mentioned. The last one I wrote, for example, had to include a very clear warning that vehicles unloading had to be positioned by usas some of the surrounding tarmac surface was designed for foot traffic only.I'd most want to know I think about any limitations - we had a problem with certain positions on the bars fitted on the rear of prosc wall being fouled by some masking fixings in certain circs which meant that in practical terms the whole length was not available so anybody who looked at the plans thinking they could get eight on would find six really the max.
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The essential thing on any tech spec is the truth.

 

By that I mean everything on it should be available and possible. As an example I have a good amount of Pars in my venue, however I knock 5 of the total on the tech spec as ageing Pars aren't always the most reliable things and at any time a few might be on the bench waiting for us to have a chance to rewire them. Ditto things like old 743's.

 

Other thing that a lot of people miss is whether or not you are allowed to screw into the floor, that can make a fit up a whole lot more awkward if a company turns up expecting to be able to and you can't do it.

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