Making an "ON AIR" sign

[DoctorStar]

Hi Folks,

 

I'm looking for a little insight into making an "ON AIR" sign.....yep, we're doing Bugsy.

 

Can anyone advise on a low heat, safe and cheap source of either red or white light. I am happy to connect wires but don't want to be making a mains electrical device if I can help it. I want the actors to be able to switch the device on and off as they come onto the stage.

 

Conversely, if anyone knows of hire stock I would be happy to source one that way.

 

Thank you in advance,

 

Ian

[LX-Dave]

When we did Bugsy, we used a small MDF box, with a perspex front, and red acetate/gel cut with "ON AIR" seen through to the clear perspex. There were 2 (I think) white pigmy bulbs inside, wired to a 13A plug.

 

We initially tried getting the actors to switch on and off, but they were too preoccupied with lines etc to remember, meaning lots of running to/from FOH by me :P

 

Hope this helps

 

Dave

[the kid]

Depending how much you have canford do the signs for about £40 IIR. You have to get the cover and backing separate as they do several kinds.

[Russ83]

When I needed one I used a spare emergency light box fitted to a 13A plug and covered it with black gaffa. Got the tech department to laser cut the letters out of a sheet of black display card then glued that to a piece of red lighting gel and positioned the centre of the 'O' 'A' and 'R'. I found it looked better with a piece of diffuser gel behind that to even out the light.

 

It worked well but you have to remember that the light comes on when you turn the power off and you have to have power to it for a few hours before to charge it up.

[Mr Steve]

When we did Bugsy, we used a "On Air" gobo and a bit of L106. This flashed above the radio announcer. Saved making anything.

[dbuckley]

I made a sign for a similar purpose; an offcut of some perspex like material for the front, then a layer of frost diffusion, then the wording cut out of thin black card, then gel for colour, and then bulbs, 12V MBC, cant remember the wattage, there were three of them.

 

Sign is invisible with bulbs off, just a white plate, and with bulbs on could be read clearly at back of 300 seater venue.

[RoyJ]

:P The on air sign we have is basically a wooden oblong box with three pigmy red coloured lamps, the opening is covered with a heavy frost with commercially produced lettering stuck on.Not quite as fancy as some of the above threads,but works a treat.It was used for a follies type review show,with the sketch taking place in a tv studio sports programme,complete with world of sport theme tune.Regards Roy

[peternewman]

There were 2 (I think) white pigmy bulbs inside, wired to a 13A plug.

Depending how much you have canford do the signs for about £40 IIR. You have to get the cover and backing separate as they do several kinds.

FWIW, that's exactly the same illumination as the Canford boxes use. They also do all the colouring in the front, however red pygmy lamps are available which might be an alternative.

[DoctorStar]

Thanks folks.......time to hit the tool box!

 

 

Ian

[themadhippy]

Just print white text on a black background,stick on a suitable box with couple of red pygmys and away you go

[rossmck]

Due to miscommunication somewhere (and the fact it had to be vertical?) ours ended up the opposite to most people - black letters on a red box (and vertically) - box made of MDF, some clear perspex with red gel behind it and the letters stuck on with spray mount. 2x 40w lamps inside it in BC holders wired back to a 15A plug and plugged into a dimmer channel, so controlled from the desk.

 

As we had no way of flying signs we suggested "DOCK 17" using a custom gobo - just in case you wanted any ideas on that.