Courtesy Tabs

[Charc]

Originally Posted by cdub260

With upwards of 30 scene changes during a performance, we use a lot of spike tape in pretty much any color that exists. I end up replacing maybe 2 rolls of spike tape a year, which brings me to my question Sean. How big are your spikes? 10 to 15 rolls per show seems a little excessive. I replace all of our tape spikes half way through our run. I do not use courtesy tabs on my spikes.

On the subject of painted spikes, we have certain spikes that do not change from year to year. The Frame, which has been the primary light source for our paintings for the last 25 years, always goes in the same location. Frame paintings, which are built on wagons which are built to standard sizes, (Before anyone asks what a standard size is, we're talking about Pageant of the Masters standard, not industry standard.) always go in the frame. The Last Supper, our traditional closing piece, always goes in the same location. Because these sets are in the same spots from one year to the next, they have permanent spike marks painted on the stage in glossy acrylic. I have to touch these spikes up every two years.

How much abuse do our spike marks take? Well, this year we have about 40 rolling set pieces, and 18 people pushing those sets. We opened July 9th. and run seven nights a week until we close on August 31st.

Back to the subject of courtesy tabs, I use a variation of this when I hang my lights every year. I do the bulk of my light hang in January, but focus is spread out over the next 6 months as sets are completed. To avoid confusion as to which lights have and have not been focused, I put little tabs of folded orange spike tape on all my over the stage lights. As they are focused, pull the orange tabs. Why no one thought to do this before I joined the staff, I have no idea. We used to have problems with a light getting focused for one piece in February, then refocused for another piece in April. That doesn't happen anymore.

In your LW4 file, you can display the Focus Status column on all sheets, and toggle the unit's focus status: Focused, Partially Focused, Not Focused. Combined with the units Purpose, I find it a pretty darn good way to keep track of lights.

[derekleffew]

Originally Posted by cdub260

...To avoid confusion as to which lights have and have not been focused, I put little tabs of folded orange spike tape on all my over-the-stage lights. As they are focused, pull the orange tabs. Why no one thought to do this before I joined the staff, I have no idea. We used to have problems with a light getting focused for one piece in February, then refocused for another piece in April. That doesn't happen anymore.

Most Corporate Show electricians with whom I've worked use yellow e-tape to denote spare circuits, unassigned mults, and "active hanging spare" fixtures. Where the convention started, I have no idea; but it's easy to identify and troubleshoot.

[cdub260]

Originally Posted by Charc

In your LW4 file, you can display the Focus Status column on all sheets, and toggle the unit's focus status: Focused, Partially Focused, Not Focused. Combined with the units Purpose, I find it a pretty darn good way to keep track of lights.

This would be nice if I ever got any kind of documentation from our lighting designer. Unfortunately I don't even see a plot for my over the stage lights until a month or two after I've hung them. Our Technical Director is also our Lighter Designer, and he definitely takes a very make it up as you go along approach to lighting. So, in order to make my life a little easier, I just hang an assortment of 50 degree Source 4's and Parnels over the stage, so that when he finally does decide what he wants to do, I don't have to take time off from other projects to hang a couple of lights, because there's already something there.

Fortunately, when it comes tome to hang the bowl plot, or my outdoor fixtures, I am given an actual light plot. But still, its a little at a time. The plot grows as we hang more lights. It's a very inefficient way of doing things, but unless we get a new LD, which is not likely to happen anytime in the near future, things will remain more or less as is.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by cdub260

With upwards of 30 scene changes during a performance, we use a lot of spike tape in pretty much any color that exists. I end up replacing maybe 2 rolls of spike tape a year, which brings me to my question Sean. How big are your spikes? 10 to 15 rolls per show seems a little excessive. I replace all of our tape spikes half way through our run. I do not use courtesy tabs on my spikes.

"L" shapes around 1"-3" long with 1/2" colored gaff spike tape. Once the show opens they usually get painted with paint markers, and the tape is removed. Like I said in my post, the spike tape is LEAST used for spikes. Stage Management uses it for actor paths backstage, labels on prop table.....and to tape out the floorplan of the set in the rehearsal hall.

Originally Posted by cdub260

We used to have problems with a light getting focused for one piece in February, then refocused for another piece in April. That doesn't happen anymore.

Um, paperwork? Don't you have any of this information written down?

--Sean

[OnWithTheShow]

I try to avoid tape on cable as much as possible and use tieline to secure coils and cable to pipes etc. I use tabs on our dance floor, labeling of connectors, and fly rail labels. Definitely not on spike tape.

[cdub260]

Originally Posted by Sean

"L" shapes around 1"-3" long with 1/2" colored gaff spike tape. Once the show opens they usually get painted with paint markers, and the tape is removed. Like I said in my post, the spike tape is LEAST used for spikes. Stage Management uses it for actor paths backstage, labels on prop table.....and to tape out the floorplan of the set in the rehearsal hall.

Okay, that explains it.


Um, paperwork? Don't you have any of this information written down?

--Sean

We do now, but before I came onboard, only in our programer's notes. Now we do a better job of keeping track, I think in part because I've gotten on my boss' case about it occasionally. But I find the Orange tape to be a useful shortcut. Its nice to be able to tell at a glance what's already been focused. And, as the only two people who focus lights for the Pageant are me and the LD, I don't have to worry about some new overhire tech not understanding the system. Granted, if we did our hang and focus in a more traditional matter, rather than spreading it out over 6 months, I would probably not need the orange tabs, but we all work with the hand we're dealt.

[philhaney]

Originally Posted by Van

Question for the masses;

To courtesy tab or not ? that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind of the ME to leave a little hangy piece of tape, or to make it clean. For when it is time to shuffle off with the electrical coil, is easier to pull tabs of tape wrap or whip out the multi-tool and slicing end them? For who would tabs abide when thier inheirent nastiness doth give an uncomely appearence unto the cables of sound and light?

In sooth, when all of thine tabs be identical in appearance and application, presentest they most professionally to thy patrons.

To answer thine question, yea verily I use courtesy tabs.

Originally Posted by cdub260

...I find the Orange tape to be a useful shortcut. Its nice to be able to tell at a glance what's already been focused... Granted, if we did our hang and focus in a more traditional matter, rather than spreading it out over 6 months, I would probably not need the orange tabs, but we all work with the hand we're dealt.

That's as maybe, but there's nothing wrong with doing everything you can to stack the deck in your favor...

[derekleffew]

Originally Posted by philhaney

That's as maybe, but there's nothing wrong with doing everything you can to stack the deck in your favor...

You haven't seen the Kevin Spacey movie, 21, have you? The House frowns on anything that it considers might give the player an unfair advantage. How do you think we pay for all the extravagance?

[philhaney]

Originally Posted by derekleffew

You haven't seen the Kevin Spacey movie, 21, have you? The House frowns on anything that it considers might give the player an unfair advantage. How do you think we pay for all the extravagance?

I haven't seen the movie, but I have the book they based it on: Bringing Down the House. If you're going to use a system you have to do it by yourself, you can't use any computers or other devices, and most of all... you can't get caught.

[bdkdesigns]

I can't stand it when people ignore the courtesy tab. This year, that is the very FIRST thing that I taught to all of my shop students, even before I even told them my name. It makes strike so much easier!