J Pearce

Theatre is permissible if working on a youth-theatre production or if licensed by a performance licence (you won't get one of these for backstage work). At the Rep we run a work experience week, which runs its own self contained performance, assisted by theatre professionals. We also run a large education/youth programme, which this year includes a backstage element, though we're only offering that to 18+ years of age. You might find a production company who find themselves able to take you on, working on corporate type events, which I can't see ruled out in the laws. P.S. Paul - there's a few more restrictions that work experience schemes do not discount, including work at height over 3m and 'heavy industry', alongside restrictions around sales of alcohol.

Possibly worth opening it and making sure the ribbon cable to the screen is properly seated.

If I get a chance on Monday I'll test my phone with the Interspace USB BalBox at work - it's a really simple class compliant USB audio interface with 2 XLR outs, and is ideal for things like this.

Some USB-C audio interfaces will work with iphones, using the appropriate cable. Gear4music has quite a selection.

Fast dispersing fluid (sometimes sold as steam or 'co2' effect) makes the difference as you don't end up with a smog.

It was the MOV that died when my X32 rack’s power supply gave up.

To add: Unicol now do a straight down mount - though looks to be a custom order. Less flexible than a rigging frame, and weight limited, so depends what projector you’re using.

Many years ago, I worked on a show with a fireplace that had a character appear through it. That used a serpentine of pvc pipe with holes drilled in the top, fed fast dissipating smoke from a smoke machine. In the gaps between the pipe was a load of PAR16 lamps - though these days you’d probably use pixel tape.

Last time I looked Unicol didn’t have any good options for straight down. I guess you could use one of their plates and a yoke, but you’d end up with a off centre weight that doesn’t want to hang nicely on the bar, and I suspect you’d have issues keeping the projector on alignment. I guess you could make something out of dexion and stud, but it wouldn’t have the adjustment of a proper frame, and it might not ‘inspire confidence’ visually. Rigging frames really are the standard solution here. Stage Sound Services have frames made from 20x20mm box steel that are a little more compact. Most of these only have a standard yoke, but I’m sure their fabrication team could make one with a rear mount.

You want a rigging frame with vertical attachment point. I like the ones that Rigtec make, their website says that their X25 frame fits your projector.

I might be missing something obvious - but could you not just use multiple of the smaller units?

Sports has the advantage that generally most of the fans are coming from one location (the home of the away team) and most stadia are city centre based, so charter trains work well. Most festivals are on greenfield sites in rural locations, so a train means a change to a shuttle bus, and the attendees are coming from a wide range of locations. If you're doing dedicated transport as a charter service it makes more sense for it to finish on the festival site, rather than dumping 500+ attendees off a train into a railway station to wait for shuttle buses. Thus, many festivals run buses/coaches from major city centres to their sites. However one I attended this year had to turn several of their coaches into minibuses due to low take-up. The fuss of getting into a city with camping gear etc. to get the coach meant that most folk went straight to the festival site instead. Events with a younger age profile generally do better with coaches, as parents will drop them at the coach pickup rather than take them all the way to the event. As a contrary to everything I've just said, they do bolster train services for some horse racing events, which don't have the home/away planning advantage that football/rugby has.

The wayback machine has the datasheet archived, which looks to have the data you need.

Surely the rubber bung issue would have shown up on the test fire that you undertook when first using a new product?

You'd likely do better using IEM type wireless links rather than bluetooth. Bluetooth doesn't handle one-to-many particularly well, and also has latency, which could be an issue. You could have one IEM transmitter and multiple receivers (battery or mains powered) listening to the same frequency.

Rode do headsets now. Not tried them, but their lav mics are fine. Not a DPA, but need less work than a CPC/SubZero.

Rent in a production switcher and a human who knows how to use one. While they're there get them to show you. In terms of software, QLab could do it, but with noticeable latency on the live inputs - it wouldn't be my first choice. You'd need a mac with 4k output - otherwise, as discussed above, you'll have really low resolution. We're all assuming your LED wall processor can handle a surface of this aspect ratio at a sensible resolution, is this the case? QLab also really wants to work in a linear cuestack fashion, which can be quite restrictive in a more conference type setting, which is why people usually use a production switcher. You could possibly use a matrix switch to do something a bit simpler, more restrictive, and all over a bit bodgy. Input A is Logo Left, Input B is Logo Right, (choose how you source these), Input 3 is the Atem Mini. Output A is Left, Output B is right. For preshow you'd setup a scene that had A-A and B-B, then have a show scene that was C-A and C-B. Once you've got a canvas this wide, if you've got the proper kit you can do much more interesting things. Powerpoint left/right, a logo centre behind the speaker, and a tagline or hashtag etc. across the bottom. Or have live camera left/right, and the powerpoint in the middle, with event themed background/framing. There's some good examples in the manual for the Barco PDS4K that was recommended upthread.

The proper version of this is Disguise or QLab or a-n-other media server system. Many of these will also accept a live video input (QLab could use the ATEM mini on USB on a camera cue, Disguise you'd probably take the HDMI out via a SDI adapter then SDI into the server if you've got one of the servers with SDI input) - however, you'd incur a significant latency in doing so, and you'd be much better just renting a proper presentation switch and doing it properly...

At Birmingham Rep we are seeking to recruit a Deputy Head of Sound & AV, following an unsuccessful recruitment process earlier in the year. We are looking for someone with considerable experience in producing new theatre shows, with a focus on production sound/video skills and experience. Headlines are £30, 521.40 per annum, 39hrs/wk annualised, plus some extra 'BECTU' payments as appropriate. Full details and application form at https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/about-us/jobs-vacancies/ I am very happy to discuss on an informal basis, drop me an email on jonathan.pearce@birmingham-rep.co.uk

Bit of an odd perspective looking up at it, but hopefully shows the principle.

Adding to the info - Flightcase warehouse do an offcuts box that can be handy to have for bodging bits.

I'll try to get a photo of our scaff contraption tomorrow (not in today). Lots of great points from others!

We’ve got a nifty frame thing at work that has barbs that allow scaff poles in easily but prevents escaping poles. It’s only 20mm box, so if you’ve got a square, a grinder, a welder, and a human who can use those you could easily make something similar.

If you have the height, vertical storage works well. Always lock them in with a frame or chain etc. Stillages with dividers works well for shorter lengths. Bays per length works well for organising lengths. If you don't have the height, but have a long wall spare, then unistrut up the wall, unistrut booms out from that, and store them horizontally. Put something on the end of the boom to retain them!

Can't you just put the thread through the yoke of the floodlight then put a nut on? (Or have I missed something?). A lot of spigots work this way, as do the excellent Supaclamps. The socket then stays on the item for speedy setup.