Light booth schwag?

[Charc]

I am in the process of cleaning up, organizing, and arranging the light booth, catwalks, and elec. storage. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for some important or cool schwag to keep in the light booth. I started a mini tech. theatre library. Two lighting books, The Backstage Handbook. I stuck a rosco gel swatchbook in there. I created the "Lighting Binder". A 2 inch zip binder which includes 2 different tutorials for our board, a quick reference sheet, several "Cheat Sheets", blueprints of the cats, rosco gobo catalogue, rosco guide to color filter, extra paper, pencils. I'm trying to think of things that are needed, and should be kept in the booth. Mini-fridge aside, do many of you guys store things like gobos in the booth? I was thinking about storing all my elec. stuff in elec. storage (an unlocked fire escape stairwell. Unfortunately that means organizing all of paint storage (grr, who blocked the barndoors with matte black paint?). So are there anythings you guys just couldn't live without in your booth? Anything that would make life easier for both the experienced user, and the novice alike? Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks,
Charlie

Here is the booth, in the worst picture ever. I am standing in the doorway, it's about 4 feet wide, and about 6 feet deep.

[Jezza]

First off, which desk is that, it looks like a Marquee but I really can't tell from the picture...Things I always like to have in the booth: Music stand for script binder, pens, pencils, sharpies, tape (specifically gaph and board tape) catalogues from all major lighting manufactures (instruments, consoles, and expendables alike), a list of important phone numbers from the console manufactuer tech support line to the # of the local fire dept., file cabinet for gel storage, 3" binder w/ floppy disc pages to store gobos, circuit diagram and plot of current show taped up on back wall for easy access, several copies of the "rep" patch and board configuration disc in case something gets screwy or rerecorded, gobo rotatores, power supplies, basically anything expensive you don't want to end up in the wrong hands, can of black spray paint, basic electrical tools, handful of c-wrenches and speed wrenches, rubber mallet, 20' length of back sash (you never know)....that's about what I can think of that's in my booth...it changes though show to show....good luck

[gafftaper]

Looks like a Strand 300 Jezza.

If you don't want to store your gobos in a binder try a large recipie box or notecard box with dividers... all kinds of cool options at Staples/Office Depot/Office Max

If you've got some money, a couple of Rosco Color Media storage drawers are nice. Each unit has three larger drawers capable of holding uncut sheets of gel. They run about $60 each unit.

Get yourself one of those giant old school papercuter boards for cutting gel.

I like installing peg board on the wall for hanging cable and other stuff. There's all kinds of space up there that isn't being used that peg board opens up to you.

Post your rep plot on the wall, with a laminated copy or two available for your technicians to use.

Do you have decent subdued lighting for in show use? If not buy some colored rope light and string it up around the walls of the booth.

[Charc]

...
"rep plot"?

[soundlight]

"rep plot" is the standard hang configuration for your theater. The default for lighting. What goes up after the plot for a show is struck, often used for smaller shows and shows that just require general lighting that a rep plot can provide. Short for repertory plot.

[taylorjacobs]

the light plot that is in place when no shows are in progress..just a general house plot that is in place for eneral functions in the theatre.

[stantonsound]

I have always wanted a rep plot, or at least a circuit diagram, printed and hung on the wall behind a piece of plexiglass. This way, notes can be made on it with dry erase markers to make quick notes, and then erased after. For instance, if fixtures are moved from the house plot, or recircuited, notes can be made on it so you can easily reference it and know what to change back after the show.

That and it looks cool.

[gafftaper]

Originally Posted by stantonsound

I have always wanted a rep plot, or at least a circuit diagram, printed and hung on the wall behind a piece of plexiglass. This way, notes can be made on it with dry erase markers to make quick notes, and then erased after. For instance, if fixtures are moved from the house plot, or recircuited, notes can be made on it so you can easily reference it and know what to change back after the show.
That and it looks cool.

That's why I like a copy of the rep plot that is laminated because you can write on it with dry erase or over head pen and haul it around with you in the catwalks.

[Charc]

Haha, er, we don't do rep plots here. We go from show to show bitching and moaning in between because not a single instrument hits the musician U.S.R.

[gafftaper]

Originally Posted by charcoaldabs

Haha, er, we don't do rep plots here. We go from show to show bitching and moaning in between because not a single instrument hits the musician U.S.R.

Hmmm... sounds like you might want to think about it then.