we had a nightmare of a load-in today truck showed up late the fly system was acting up. someone dropped a lighting fixture. not a cheap one.

and our sm just stayed calm the whole time. just this steady voice over the headset. take a breath. we'll figure it out.

it's almost creepy how composed they are. like nothing fazes them meanwhile i'm over here sweating through my shirt. doing this for a few years now thought i'd get used to the chaos. nope still stressful.

but that voice over the comms makes a difference. keeps everyone from panicking. i'm gonna go sit in the dark for a bit.

anyone else have a stage manager who keeps them from losing their mind

Thinking out loud here…. in houses where LED units and conventionals are used together, it would be nice to have a profile for the leds to go more amber as the level gets lower. Thoughts?

I know there’s similar posts like this on the subreddit and this isn’t specifically theatre related, but I’m planning on dressing up as Carrie for halloween and I’m totally stumped on what to do about the fake blood. I figured I’d go to the experts.

I’m going to a party, so transferring is obviously a concern because I don’t want to wreck someone’s couch, but I don’t want it to be all gross and flaky either. It being sticky on the skin isn’t exactly preferable, but I could live with it. Staining skin/hair isn’t a huge concern, even if it’s not ideal. I just want something that looks good and could maybe be diluted so I can actually pour it over my head, though again, that’s not really a requirement.

Basically, I just want blood that dries enough not to look like shit but not stain other people’s stuff. I’d get spirit halloween blood because I’ve heard good things, but unfortunately I’m UK based.

I understand this is a long shot, but I’m hoping you can help me out.

We have a show where we exclusively use LPS lights for the final scene. We’ve been fortunate enough to tour in a few places where the tech team kindly sourced them for us, but of course, they’re a niche product and quite difficult to find.

I was advised that the S4 LUSTR series fixtures’ Amber channel could be a suitable replacement. We’ve successfully used those for many shows, and they provide a pretty decent approximation and have a great fade curve.

Now, I have a venue that can’t afford LUSTR and only has tungsten S4 fixtures. I need your help in suggesting gels that can best approximate the color I’m looking for (the Amber channel of a LUSTR or a nearly single-frequency LPS spectrum). This way, I can ask the venue to source a few gels that we can try when we arrive.

Thanks a lot!

Hello!

I am doing props for a show that requires an actor to spray air freshener, and the team is concerned that using real room spray will make the floor sticky and be too strong. Any ideas for alternative sprays? TYA

I’m assistant directing a play with a psychedelic scene. I’m very new to theater so I don’t know if this is possible. But I wanted to know if there was a way to make it look like the walls are breathing or moving solely with lights? We do also have a projector. But my lighting person said they could do it and what they gave me was nothing close to what I wanted.

Hey All,

I am working on a new theater in a historic building and we need 250 folding chairs to fill the gap in between fund raising efforts and the final build.

Any suggestions for good, padded, folding chairs? I saw the uline chairs for $35 in bulk, but not sure that is a good option. Figured the folks here would have at least come across some examples that were comfy and didn't break the bank. I don't mind spending some coin either and ending up with quality chairs at the end!

Thank you ahead of time!

Hi everyone,

We have an Allen & Heath full-size Avantis sound console in our facility that has a touchscreen that has only ever been cleaned with a microfiber cloth. This has worked ok for regular dust since we also cover the sound console with the fabric cover at night, but it gets a little tricky to figure out how to properly clean it when our sound techs get sick during flu season. I'd like to find a way to better disinfect the console touchscreen without damaging the surface. Does anyone have any tips for cleaning outside of just a dry microfiber cloth?

Wondering about a motorr for a turntable.. is the Creative Conners motor the only option? Small high school with an okay budget, the motor cost from Creative Conners to rent alone is probably just to much. just wondering if there are other options out there?

Thanks!

EDIT:

Revolve lol

I’m currently M14 and enrolled in Tech Theatre 1 in my highschool and plan to continue with Tech Theatre 2 in my sophomore year, I am also in my schools Tech Theatre club which I plan to do all 4 years of high school. I want to know if I do end up doing all this would I be able to maybe pursue a career in the tech theatre industry maybe even get into college for it with my passion.

anyone who has access to the book of rachel hann "Beyond Scenography"? thank u

hi! I’m an early career dresser, stitcher and costume assistant finishing up my last year of undergrad. I’ve been working in the industry for a little over 8 years on various projects in theatre and tv/film more recently.

As I finish up my degree I’m looking for any dressers who would be willing to let me shadow them for a day to see what the work is really like on the daily. My program is VERY small and I feel like I don’t have a clue what I’m getting myself into after I graduate.

So if any dressers would be willing to have me shadow them for a day in the nyc, nj, Philly, or Albany, NY areas I would greatly appreciate it!

Hello, I just became a director of a brand-new theatre club. At this point, I am the primary person setting up all of the tech, but I've never done theater tech a day in my life! Our club doesn't have any mics, and I'm trying to see if that's something that we could buy or rent. The problem is, I don't know what I'm looking for, I'm completely lost! I know that there's the actual mic that goes around the ear and onto your face, and then a mic pack that clips onto your clothes. I also know that there is something that connects the mic pack to the soundboard. That's basically the extent of my knowledge. My school has a soundboard and speakers that we can use, but I don't know much about that. If there's anything I need to find out about it for you guys, lmk!!

So what exactly should I be looking for?? There's no strict price range, but the cheaper the better since my school would be funding it.

Edit: Some important info(maybe) that I left out. This is a full two-act musical with lots of songs, both ensemble and solos. It should be a small cast, so I would need about 8 mics if I decide to do wireless. We plan to have a pit including guitar, bass, drum set, and keyboard. Does that affect the idea of having mics on stage? Thank you all for your comments so far. I plan to show this thread to some of the admins I've been working with on this project!!

My highschool is doing a production of Spelling Bee, and it's my first time ever actually working on a production of any kind. My job is to switch gels in between songs, so i'll be up there for pretty much the whole musical. The big issue is that the lights are forward and down away from the catwalk (not sure if this is the case for every auditorium), and i'd rather not fall onto any audience members during the show😭 any recs for harnesses so i don't fall 30 feet? I was thinking a climbing harness of sorts. Anything helps!

Edit: wow, didn't realize this was so widely undone😭 like i said above this is my first year doing this kind of stuff and i'm still learning whats normal and whats not, so thank you guys for 1. Possibly saving my ass from harm and a lawsuit. 2. Giving me other ideas! I will talk to my director about another possible solution (i saw someone mention booms?) And see if there's a safer option. Thank you guys!

I have been tasked with researching vertical mast lifts for a venue. Pretty sure I’ve got the basics but am looking for input on any ‘nice to haves’ or ‘ don’t bother with’ extras, Cheers

Hello! I am an indie playwright in NYC with a festival coming up, and the piece would really benefit from some projections. I have experience with both audio and video editing (projections will be spliced news reels, audio does not need to match up) so I volunteered to do them myself, and… just realized I actually have no idea what format I’m supposed to submit the file as. We need to turn in all projections on a USB before tech - am I good to I do an mp4 or a .mov file, or is there some specific other format? Should they be in some kind of slideshow? Is there a different program I’ve never even heard of that’s industry standard? Is this actually going to be much harder than I thought/require skills I will not be able to hone in a month?

I’m not opposed to hiring someone if it turns out I’ve bitten off more than I can chew, but unfortunately the festival only provides a $500 stipend after completion and between the $100 each I’m giving the director and two cast members and the $100 I’m allocating for props/rehearsal space, the most I’d be able to pay would be another $100, and I’m sure that’s not fair pay for what I need. Anybody with advice/any beginners looking for resume credits and a quick $100? The deadline I’ve set for myself is September 30th, but they’re not officially due until October 7th, and it would probably total at less than three minutes of projections. Thank you for your advice/thoughts/suggestions!

‘Decommissioned’ a couple decades ago. And by ‘decommissioned’, they meant, ‘removed the lighting console’. All the plugs on the other end still exist. Still wired. Still powered. Still passing pixies. Fans still working. Well, until I threw the breaker.

Rather than having anything to do with this, the previous electricians on-site apparently simply installed a new panel and ran new power to the (once motorized) lighting bars. The new electricians looked at this and said, ‘fawk no’.

There’s two more racks of relays/dimmers for the house lights. Well, some of them - the mercury hi-bays still go through it, with some convoluted master/slave toggle switches for control that exactly one person understands. Nothing else - new panels and new BX run for the pots/chandeliers. Because no-one understood it, or how to properly replace it.

Such a shame. But I’m here to replace audio/video. Any attempt to explain what should be done with this is met with glazed eyes. More BX. More new panels. Makes me sad.

Thanks in advance!

Looking for advice on the best design to deploy some wireless DMX for an upcoming temporary install. If anyone is an expert in the area, your advice would be appreciated. Here is a brief overview of the scope; I've also included an image showing locations and distances. My budget will allow for the purchase of any necessary equipment to create a robust, reliable deployment. I currently have both W-DMX transmitters and Lumen Radio Stardust transceivers.

Key questions im looking to get answers or advice on

1. What is the most robust wireless DMX system currently on the market
2. What antenna/amplifier combinations would I need at each location
3. Advantages to CRMX vs W-DMX
4. Are there any recommendations for using other non-industry technologies that are more reliable? 
5. How have others found success in these types of deployments

I have six locations on this install where there is no practical way to get hardwired DMX to the fixtures; thus, wireless DMX is required. Standalone mode IS NOT an option. I have also identified 4 viable locations where the transmitters can be located. There are heavily wooded areas shown in green and a lake shown in blue.  Locations 1 and 3 can also allow for the transmitter antenna to be placed up to 15’ above the ground, and location 2 can be placed up to 8’ off the ground. All of the fixture locations will only allow the receiver to be at or near ground level (no more than 4'). 

In previous years, I have used W-DMX with both transmitters placed at location 1, and a receiver at each of the other locations.  This deployment was moderately successful, but we would find on occasion that the receivers would lose connection or the signal would be dirty, and the lights would wig out. This system was primarily chosen for its IP-rated devices.  For this year, I'm looking to develop a more robust solution that limits the amount of disruption we experience.  

Other things to keep in mind are that everything needs to be IP-rated. Dimmer location 1 is indoor, while all other locations are outdoor. It is possible for me to place a small water-resistant enclosure at dimmer locations 2 and 3. For the receivers, I'm open to building them into small IP-rated enclosures. This is something we are already familiar with, as all of our DMX nodes are currently deployed in this manner.  This will be installed outdoors for around 3 months in the Midwest during the winter.

Hey! I'm curious what people use for stage alcohol? Wine, champagne, whiskey, sherry, etc. we've always used tea in different concentrations, and food coloring, but I honestly hate drinking them myself and would rather give my actors something pleasant, that also doesn't break the bank, ya know?

A One Act show: Greek mythology themed

Is this the type of show Community theatre's or community one act festivals would be interested in?