Building Lighting into Set

[sam.henderson]

Hi all,

 

I am working on a show that is in the early stages of the design process at the moment and I have decided that building birdies into the corners (and maybe the center) of the steeldeck we are getting would fit the performance very nicely and look nice so I wondered what experience you guys have had with doing stuff like this. We have got some very handy carpenters and other tradesmen to help build the things (so luckily its not me building the things in, who for the record is the Worlds worst Carpenter Ever). so that is helpful!!

 

What do you think I should cover of the lanterns with where they are level with the deck: Some sort of hard perspex?!? Does this have a proper name? Have already had a little look on the internet and am off to do some more hardcore research now!

 

Any ideas and suggestions would be amazing.

 

Thanks all,

 

Sam

[bruce]

Not sure exactly what sort of effect you're looking for, but if it's to shine upwards, then perhaps the inset lights you get for installation into wooden decks and patios?

 

You can get LED versions and low voltage halogen ones.

 

Bruce.

[sam.henderson]

That could be a good idea but we would have to work out a way of putting them through the dimmers. That shouldn't be too hard although they may not be as bright as birdies, another area to research!

 

Thanks so far,

 

Sam

[andy_s]

Hi all, 

 

I am working on a show that is in the early stages of the design process at the moment and I have decided that building birdies into the corners (and maybe the center) of the steeldeck we are getting would fit the performance very nicely and look nice so I wondered what experience you guys have had with doing stuff like this. We have got some very handy carpenters and other tradesmen to help build the things (so luckily its not me building the things in, who for the record is the Worlds worst Carpenter Ever). so that is helpful!! 

 

What do you think I should cover of the lanterns with where they are level with the deck: Some sort of hard perspex?!? Does this have a proper name? Have already had a little look on the internet and am off to do some more hardcore research now!

 

Any ideas and suggestions would be amazing. 

 

Thanks all, 

 

Sam

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

depends how big the holes in the deck are - if they're big enough to get a whole foot down (i.e. they might need to support someone's full weight) then you shopuld use thick polycarbonate sheet (at least 18mm thick, I should think, but I'm sure suppliers could give you loading figures for each thickness). Like any other material on stage, it should be flame retardant to the correct standards. generally speaking, perspex isn't acceptably flame retardant, and the sort of sheet you get in B&Q etc may not be up to scratch either...

 

if it's not going to be load bearing, you could use thinner material, but you would need to ensure that it couldn't unexpectedly become load-bearing (cf sound of music accident - nuns falling through orchestra pit cover in Birmingham...)

[Jivemaster]

There are outdoor loadbearing fibre optic uplighters in the terralec book (dot com)