Air Con & punters

Mon, 26 Oct 2009, 02:49 pm

JoeMc18 posts in thread

Just a thought, as the weather is warming up at day time Matinée, especialy if it has not been used for a while. A good idea is to run the system for while prior to opening the house, this allows the air return system filter to clean up the air. Especialy in very old buildings with open frame roof viod structures.

I went along to Garrick for the Sunday Matinée of Hotel Sorento, when I took my seat in the back row the ceiling fans were on, but as the show started they switch from fans to the ducted air con. Good idea as the bcollected heat of the punters started to rise, as most were from the blue rinse set it started to become cooler. Then about 10 minutes into the show the coughs & weezes started, brought on by the dust in the air & became like a mexican wave for a lot of the first half. By the end of the act the air return filters had caught up & scrubbed up the air & the coughs abated.

It's something to think about as we come into summer, especialy when considering our punters in preference to economy.

One thing which I though was quite specky was the blue light spill from the FOH bar lights. It was a great effect on the back of the heads of the front row punters. It realy set off the rinse in thier hair do's.

Also the ambient light coming from under the eaves of the roof into the auditorium, assisted the odd punters going to the loo & helped the warm props moving around the set in the blue outs.

I only seen the first half, I enjoyed It & the set worked well!

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JoeMcMon, 26 Oct 2009, 02:49 pm

It's something to think about as we come into summer, especialy when considering our punters in preference to economy.

Also the ambient light coming from under the eaves of the roof into the auditorium, assisted the odd punters going to the loo & helped the warm props moving around the set in the blue outs.

I only seen the first half, I enjoyed It & the set worked well!

jeffhansenMon, 26 Oct 2009, 07:01 pm

Ahh...Air con. Those who

Ahh...Air con. Those who have suffered through a Melville summer production will be well aware how hot the theatre can be. After having aircon installed courtesy of the Ignite grant, we have now had complaints that it's too cold. Oh dear. No pleasing some people. www.meltheco.org.au

anothertechMon, 26 Oct 2009, 09:49 pm

FOH Lighting Bar

Hmmmm Sounds like there are fresnels on the foh lighting bar and there are dirty gels so the light is being reflected back into the auditorium. Don't know why people won't read a few good theatre lighting books because it has all been done by professionals before and profiles are the best choice for foh lighting as they can be accurately focussed so all of thier light goes onto the stage. Providing you are willing to spend a bit of time focussing, you will get a smooth focus from foh. Remember that profiles have a lamp adjustment, it is on on the bottom for conventionals and on the rear for axials. This adjustment allows you to peak the lamp for a normal focus or to flatten the beam intensity when using gobos. Before doing any adjustment with a theatre light, while it is off and cold, move all of your adjustments to ensure that they move freely. If you don't do this and the adjustment judders, you will blow a globe due to filament shock. Normally, you can expect a few years life out of a lamp in community theatre, if you are not using the lighting rig for working bees, every rehearsal etc. That is what cheap working light floods are for. Ideally, you use zoom profiles foh so you can set the beam size, then soften the edges so the overlap is not noticeable. Yes, it is easier to flood the stage with fresnels from every angle, but how are you going to get your mood and atmosphere without shadows? What a pity so few community groups applied for good quality lights during the Ignite grants. There are other aspects of lotteries funding available so it can still be a possibility to own Selecon Acclaim axial zoom profiles. The aircon needs to be put on by someone before the audience goes into the theatre, something the stage manager needs to delegate as they are in charge of a running production. Why not read Selecons articles on line, don't have to go the library to borrow that book http://www.seleconlight.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62%3Aintro-to-stage-lighting&catid=59%3Aknowledge-bank&lang=en

JoeMcTue, 27 Oct 2009, 08:59 am

Climate control in venues

Climate control in venues can be a pain especialy when it is generaly left to the lighting techie to monitor, they are usualy far too busy & remote from the punters to be concerned. I believe this is within the domain of the HOH Manger, as SM's have usualy got enough to do with the stage. The problem is the FM's tend to treat the matter on a set 'n forget basis, yet who is better placed to ensure constant control, as thier staff are in & about of the auditorium all the time.

Which brings me to another question of why there is this a tendancy creaping in, of locking out the punters from the theatre foyer untill a set time of around 30 minutes before show time? I can understand the need to restrict entrance to the auditorium to 30 minutes before, but surely not the foyer - that's what it's there for! Also one more important thing as most venues have an operating bar, why they only tend to serve coffee/tea at interval? This seems to be an area where extra revenue can be generated to allow the punters to mingle. When they front up & as soon as the FOH staff get there, be it an hour or more before, acomodate the punters & if they prefer a tea to grog - supply it!

Don't have them milling about outside in all weathers trying to find shelter or sitting in thier cars, untill it's the apionted time - Welcome them in, afford the time for them to find out & show them 'What we are about'. Give them an enjoyable experiance of comeatre & take the wheight off thier purses. Which is a far better time to push the PR barrow, rather than just rely on interval when there is more importance placed on a cuppa, loo & smokeo time!

You will never know when the theatre could miss out on that elusive tourist who donates a $6 Million cheque. - Which aparently happened at the vperth Maj a few years ago because the foyer was open & he wondered into to look around & the Foh staff welcomed him in!

mike raineFri, 30 Oct 2009, 04:23 pm

I couldn't agree more

If theatres want to survive, then they need patrons . . . so they should be doing what they can to make sure the experience is an enjoyable one for them. We want them to come back . . . and bring their friends.

cernunnonSat, 31 Oct 2009, 01:03 am

Erm...

Fresnels are fine from front of curtain. Softening the edges of a profile, especially on small stages like the Garrick, just looks like an out-of-focus profile. The intensity of light will be different from centre to edge. They look rubbish. To be honest your post reads as incredibly patronising, and I'm glad I have done enough study of lighting to not have to take your ignorant, self-righteous advice.

JoeMcSat, 31 Oct 2009, 10:15 am

Too true Mike! I agree if a

Too true Mike!

I agree if a punter wants to squat thier bot in comfort, let them in to the foyer. Also if they want to buy a cuppa before the show accomodate them, even though the policy is a free cuppa at interval - take thier money, it costs next to nowt to make a quick brew!

I'm sure a lot here would remember the 'Connie Ord' days at the Old Mill. Where all the bos's had to purchase a clloakroom ticket for a cup of tea at interval, prior to the start of the show. If they didn't they had no chance of having a tea at interval without a ticket! {She would not sell or serve coffee because she only ever drank tea herself].

In some regards this is 'what a few comeatres are stll about'.

JoeMcMon, 2 Nov 2009, 10:17 am

Housekeeping is a good

Housekeeping is a good piont Don! I'll have to remember next time I'm in garrick to have a quick sqiz at what is on the Foh Bar. Last time I was tghere the bubble in my Maglite had blown. I do need to get to Alltronics & pickup an LED conversion kit - Although I might wait, as there is only about 50 odd shoplifting days left untill christmas! might hang in there & wait in great expectation?

i wonder how many venues actualy clean thier gear & especialy the air con filters, seeing we are about to hit the swetty season again.

Invarabily as they out of sight & mind they are forgotten. Much the same as a lot of lights hanging growing cobwebs and acres of dirt 'n dust. Where by a quick clean will impove thier efficeincy, life & output.

As for what lamps are used where or why? In most cases the tendancy it to just work with what ever is hanging & focus from there, because it's quicker to just change the gel or why worry just leave them in open white - Gawd we are slack!

I'm afraid I'll keep using fresnels or even floods where ever, not restricting them to just the 'X' wash or work lights.

Adrian Samoiloff got some great effects from the use of Sunray batens, when Strand developed them back in the 40's. The Paul Robeson pajamas or the Ascot scene from My Fair Lady comes to mind, where the costumes colours changed completly at justthe flick of a light switch, all down to the Samoiloff effects & the mood use of floods.

LogosMon, 2 Nov 2009, 02:18 pm

Gaafa: I love floods too. I

Gaafa: I love floods too. I have two prewar 10 cell Sunray battens and three 8 cell S Battens. The trouble is the bubbles will soon (if not already) be unavailable and I will have to go to PAR 38's which are not as good. As for cleaning lighting gear. Shouldn't all the lights be brought down at least once a year to safety test them (test and tag)and isn't it worth cleaning them at that point. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

Peter ProbertTue, 3 Nov 2009, 04:24 am

Stray lighting...............

I agree that very few theatre productions look at the auditorium and the stray and reflected lighting that hits the back of the audience heads and indeed the sides of the auditorium and ceiling. There's one theatre I visit (no names no pack drill) and I've noted that when the FOH follow spots are on there’s a spray of reflected light hitting the backs of the heads of the audience. Turning round I note its coming from the barrels of the spots. Just an example that when looking at your production. Take a look at the audience area and sit in the auditorium and look at the lighting and look for this stray light. Most of the punters are probably unassuming but us professionals should know better......... Peter

anothertechTue, 3 Nov 2009, 08:24 am

Replacement Batten Lamps

Logos, have a look at the Osram Halogen ES Classic A energy saver lamps http://www.osram.com.au/_regional_APAC/pdf/Professional/General_Lighting/MARCH09_Halogen_ES_Brochure.pdf, they are a halogen capsule in a gls envelope to keep peoples hands off the inside quartz envelope. There is a 105W ES that has the light output of a 150W GLS and is the same light source as the original gls lamp. The PAR38 lamps are too directional and are not suited to battens. There are other brands that make these capsule style lamps.

LogosTue, 3 Nov 2009, 10:31 am

Thanks, I had seen the

Thanks, I had seen the halogen capsule lamps but was not aware they were available in a ES. That will also save the lives of my 6 old Patt 60 floods. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

JoeMcTue, 10 Nov 2009, 11:54 am

G'donya Don!These bubbles

G'donya Don!

These bubbles will reduce the need for a lot of ameatre groups to resorting to using those gawd awful Autio workshop elcheapo floods. While these convertions work, they creat a lot of heat & reduce the life of the gels.

I remember years ago one of the LD's of the Aussie Balet, waxing lyrical about his new idea of using Border Battens, as it was a great inovation. The mere fact theatre has being using Xray border lights for epns, didn't enterr into his press release.

This new halogen ES bubble may certainly hearald the return to 3 & 4 colour X ray wash lighting again, even with the use of floats [Footlight] Z ray lighting?

With the stray light sills, I was taught, when I was a wee bloke, to aviod any spill on the punters. Especaily when operating the Limes [followspot]. Which was a problem in those days using carbon ark limes from a pulpit over hanging the audiance. Or heaven forbid lighting the pidgeon holes. As they "would not be amused", especialy if the Box Legie drapes were drawn.

RapunzelThu, 12 Nov 2009, 02:19 pm

Carbon arc?????

Carbon arc limes??? Holy cow Gaafa! No offense intended and I would never dream of being so rude as to ask a gentleman his age but I'm guessing you have CONSIDERABLE experience of all things lighting. I haven't heard followspots called limes for ages, how lovely! I haven't ever heard of the boxes as being pigeonholes, will adopt that one from now on, it's very, very appropriate. "Life is too short to stuff a mushroom"

jeffhansenThu, 12 Nov 2009, 06:29 pm

Our Gaafa

Don't get him started, or he'll be regaling you with all manner of stories from his childhood, operating salt water dimmers and the like. www.meltheco.org.au

JoeMcFri, 13 Nov 2009, 07:04 am

Ah the old 'piss pots!

Ah yes the old 'piss pots', I remember them well!

Followspots or 'domes', are also refered to as 'Drummond' lamps as well, after thier developer. against general belief, I actualy never met the bloke!

But for Jeff & the sake of others others I'll put away my regalia back into it's box, as it's only all ever another story! ;-)

To answer your question Repunzel - I'm anceint 'n rather invalid these days. Having popped out at the stage door after the finarle rag bounce, when me Mam was on stage. I don't think I have missed a cue ever since?

jeffhansenFri, 13 Nov 2009, 07:17 am

Salt water dimmers

Actually, in my day job, we still use a version of the salt water dimmer to this very day. When testing three phase gensets, we have three metal plates bolted together with insulators, that we lower into a drum of salt water. Makes it very easy to control the output current of the generator. At 100 amps, the water boils in fairly short time. Earlier this year, I also came across an old three phase motor soft starter - three saltwater pots. I didn't know what they were at first, but soon worked it out. One of the pots had run low on water. Topped it up, and it's back working for another 50 years. www.meltheco.org.au

JoeMcFri, 13 Nov 2009, 07:48 am

That's the biggest hiccup

That's the biggest hiccup of the salt water dimmers, in ensuring to replenish the water level in the salt brine, hence the old nick name of 'Piss Pots' - Hey this might be part of the reason we are called Sparkies? I know it has made a few Sparkies eyes water from time to time - I was never that daring!

I didn't realise they were still being used?

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