Robin D

Going back half a century I used to have to fill in as a delivery driver for large white domestic appliances when the main driver was away. On a straight run of stairs they are great but going round a bend in stairs I would say nigh on impossible unless you have two persons. Years ago you could get them with the ability to lock the wheels such that on the flat they behaved like a normal sack barrow but not seen one for years. I also also once used once that had a belt track like a military tank on the rear but only the one axle. For 3-4 steps, or with a light load it was brilliant, but on a full run with a heavy or large load, there was no way of resting halfway as it would want to descend again. 😣 Finally look carefully at the overall width on either type as the design means the load has to not foul the mechanism. It also make tight doorways difficult. Generally found that a standard sack barrow and two bodies worked better, or better still, drop in ramps if it was only one or two steps.

Venue I attended some years ago largely solved the fire exit security issue. All exits had two firedoors each end of firesafe corridors. When the first was opened it alarmed and triggered the CCTV. The first set were also self closing so it would need two people to then let others in giving a good chance that security would arrive. Local fire service (Berkshire) were happy as it brought the place of safety nearer.

I have bought a few oddities as well as theatrical ('Entertainment' on the menu) lamps from CP Lighting. Service was excellent last time I used them just before the first lockdown.

Not a multitool or even stage related but years ago I was hemmed in and pulled over on the A11 by armed police. Someone had reported I had a gun in the car glovebox outside Barclays in Bishops Stortford. I was scared witless at the time. The explanation was that I was alone in the car on the way home from work. I had stopped at the bank to deposit a wallet of takings in the nightsafe. I always travelled with it in the glove box out of sight. Also in said glovebox was a toy gun confiscated on an earlier journey from our son about 8 years old. He kept pointing it at other cars and shouting BANG which was distracting and possibly upsetting to other vehicle users. Having a gun pointed at me and told to get out of the car slowly without touching anything, being held hands behind back and frisked are burnt in memories I have no wish to repeat. Once they retrieved said silver cowboy revolver from the glovebox they immediately realised it was a toy gun, but I still had to explain why it was there.

Spotlight have fat suits for hire as we hired from them with some costumes and set for Hairspray. It's an amateur group but well organised. They are on the old Alconbury airfield just north of Huntingdon near the A1 /A14 junction.

I've had year 8's and 9's in a state school op'ing the desks up to the first lockdown. They were allowed under my direct control (as a volunteer), to assist with set, connect mic's to the desk, check and change batteries in the radio mic's etc. Holding one end of the snake while I laid it in etc. and helping thread DMX cables into the FOH bar. However, they were kept well out of the way when the bar was coming in or out. I double checked everything they did, and they were pleased on occasion to be asked to double check things I had done. The H&S implications can be significant, but that shouldn't stop us trying to give them some experience. It's all down to a well constructed Risk Assessment. (Not a school one trotted out of a filing cabinet to put ticks on! every show.) I did draw a very firm line when a local primary school put on Cinderella and they had a year 7 'difficult' boy allocated to fire the pyro's. I told the head to stop there or I would walk. After a frank 'discussion', he agreed. The lad was understandably aggrieved to not be "letting off the fireworks"!

Hmmm. In my school we had a lighting position stage Left on steel pillars I guess 7ft to 8ft high. A bit like a small mezzanine. The sound equipment (Brenell Mark 5,), A Goldring Lenco turntable, what seemed at the time to be a homemade (No branding, but a mid green top) 6 channel rotary mixer, two valve amps driving built in columns. The sound operator was facing away from the stage and had to constantly peer around the tabs to see what was going on. Memory may be playing tricks, but I think we had just two microphones, both Reslo ribbon. Still managed to put on cracking shows though, although I may be biased! 😉

Lots there ringing bells. I have never been pro. Been doing it for the same length of time. Similar school experience with open reostats, Junior 8 etc. How did we survive?

Whilst I do not disagree that @Jake Brice needs to really manage his expectations, and also know that getting the brew in and sweeping up are key parts of the job, the lad has shown some iniative posting here, and surely that is to his credit. If we switch youngsters off completely, will they ever come back? What he can do is, as stated, severely restricted by safeguarding and H&S considerations. There are ways to get round both safely, but it might take a little creative. Clearly access equipment is completely out court, but being shown the fundamentals of how a desk works, how colours mix, simple explanation of DMX etc can all be done safely. I started helping with productions at school at about his age, over half a century ago, but under the watchful eye of a teacher who left me in no doubt the immediate consequences of not following instructions to the letter. That said, we have all suffered the annoying over confident behaviour of some immature lads. Although interestingly I have never ever found that with girls wanting to tech!

Possibly your two best bets are: Speak to head of Drama at your school asking if whoever provides technical support is willing to start to show you the ropes Or Find a local amateur dramatics group who are prepared to do the same thing. Please be aware that at your age it will be illegal for people to let you do certain things for safety reasons. Also a little knowledge can be incredibly dangerous, so be prepared for a long learning curve. All that said, I have guided youngsters of your age and they have ended up operating lights for shows and be a real help. However you must listen, question and learn, and if told you cannot do something, accept it gracefully. Welcome aboard from an old geezer who still doesn't know it all, learns something new most shows, but does know when to stop and ask.

I had a cheap digital photo frame that did almost that about 5 years ago Load a video as the only image. When turned on it just played the clip. I think it was Bush branded but can't be sure now. I had it running on a mains timer with the psu plugged in. If my memory is right, it ran for a couple of weeks, every hour during store trading.

I agree MP4 but note that it is a compressed format. Suggest you capture it to .Avi if you have the option. If you need to edit doing so will be easier. Then burn it to MP4. Capturing in HD is pointless if coming from VHS. However, make sure the heads are clean, and keep interconnections to the interface as short as possible to reduce the noise on the analogue as much as possible. There are loads of video capture and editing tools out there. I use Nero for speed and simplicity, but Sony Vegas for more complex stuff.

PM sent.

Or try downloading Opera, Firefox or even Safari for Windows and try them. I often find Opera works when nothing else wants to play.

There was an adage when I was a few years younger when we lost the tape echo machines and other effects became more prevalent... "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should"! Talking to someone else at the same show with macular degeneration who found the ultra bright beams sweeping the audience really painful and had to leave because of that plus they couldn't make out a word of the lyrics through the din. Good to know it's not just me turning into Victor Meldew. ?

At an arena type event last night. A huge hanger type roof. I was 3/4 way back, I estimate c150 metres from the array. The vast majority of the audience of a certain age as an early 70's band. Soooooo much compression on the instruments the sound arrived a mush and vocals almost unintelligible. I recorded peaks well into the mid 90's dB admittedly on a phone but it gives an indication. Loads and loads of people walked before me (after 4 tracks). As I was supposedly being entertained, I didn't expect to take ear defenders. Why? Is it simply the sound guys are deaf?

I have a pair of 10" Alto (TS10?) That are small and light and do everything I have asked of them including many presentations, outdoor PA, lightweight disco and a couple of barn dances. Never heard the 8" version but it seems to get reasonable press. Held up well against a set of Yamaha 12" boxes recently provided you don't want massive bass.

Ohhh. What a pity there is no "like it" button against some of these posts. ? Going back to the 60's I remember the guy with responsibility for we apprentices saying 'rubbish sound in = rubbish noise out" however good the equipment.

They do. Neutrik part no is NC6MSXX. Several UK companies list them.

You might find the phrase votive candle holder useful. One thing you may find surprising is that dropping a candle will 9 times out 10 just extinguish it even when dropping onto a flamable surface. You may find you need a fire starter that gets triggered remotely as the candle hits the deck. It will be an interesting risk assessment.

If you prefer Windows, SCS from www.showcuesystems.com/cms/pricing is as effective as QLab, but there is no free version. They do do temporary licences though for 30 or 60 days. Thier support is first rate if you need it.

I dread to think quite how old my socket set is but it's mainly imperial with perhaps a dozen 'modern' metric heads. Got it when I got the first motor (Ford Anglia 105e in marron and blue) so it's got to be half a century ago. ? Don't remember the brand off hand, but it wasn't cheap even then.

Yet another reason to vote for a 'like' button. ?

Have mine a go in the garage on an assortment of bolts. Did everything I asked of it. However, for serious stuff I would still get the socket set and pukka ring spanner. Horses for courses, and at a tenner, worth carrying I think. The ratchet seemed as positive as my ratchet socket which frankly surprised me. Expected it to feel a bit frail in use.

Bought one when shopping late yesterday. Only one end is 'packaged' so you can see and feel the construction. It seems quite robust, but not had a chance to try it out yet. I bought it for our motorhome as space an weight are very restricted.