Building A Booth

[mjw56]

Hi everyone,

im looking into making a booth out of an existing room in the back of our auditorium which appears to have originally been a projection room/ticket booth. the walls of the room are 8" CMU and 1 wall carries the joists of the 4'deep spot booth above. i want to put in a 4'x8' window so the SM, light board op and myself ( i am the stage crew moderator) can see comfortably out to the house and stage. im not worried about the structural or layout aspects of this project as i am a co-op @ a structural engineering firm, my problem is the music department head. we tried to get something similar to this done when the new chairs were installed but he didn't go for it. i don't think its that he doesn't want the booth i think its just that he doesnt want to have to deal with the additional thing going on in the department. (he is also the director of 4 different bands and the producer for both annual shows). How do i get him to let me do this project??

[Footer]

Do a search for building a booth. You are going to need more then just working at a design firm before you go cutting holes in walls.

[mjw56]

i should have clarified that the engineers are all available for help and calcs, and i am a structural engineering student in my junior year @ drexel university and after re-rereading my initial post see that that portion is poorly worded. it should say that the structural and layout aspects are well taken care of by myself and a number of licensed PE's

[Footer]

I thought you were in a High School situation, hince the answer. If you got all the engineering taken care of, I would do up some drawings and get a cost estimate. I would also write up a formal proposal about why/how you are going to do this project and the benefits it will provide. Have your university maintenance dept take a look as well. I am not sure if you are private or public, but that can affect how this work has to get done. You could have some union issues as well if you want to do it yourself, if you can at all.

[derekleffew]

...i want to put in a 4'x8' window so the SM, light board op and myself ( i am the stage crew moderator) can see comfortably out to the house and stage. ...

A 4' high window seems unusually tall for a control booth. What is exactly a "stage crew moderator" and what function do you perform in the booth during a show?

[mjw56]

thanks that does help a lot. make a sales pitch!
but just to clarify some more, im @ drexel, and on Co-op at an engineering firm, and i moderate a group of high school students. i graduated from that high school in '06 and started moderating there in late 2007. no students will be doing any work on the opening in the CMU or the reinforcement going in place. frankly i just dont trust them to get it right or that it will look good if they do it and i cant afford to do it twice.

[mjw56]

as to what a stage crew moderator does, i take the design concept and make blueprints for building, i manage all the construction and costs (but don't directly have the power to say "ok spend the money"), watch out for the safety of the students, i give technical advice to anyone who wants it, i help build and give direction on how to use tools. and most importantly keep the students out of trouble and from killing echother. what i don't do is design the lights. basically u name it, i do it. my function during the show is to provide emergency tech advice and to again generally over see the students. and to put out fires (literally, exploding spot bulbs and a floor covered in sunflower seeds don't mix)

the 4' high window was really just an arbitrary number, first 4x8 is the same size as a piece of plywood (to lock up the opening), and between the double 2x12 header going in and the 4' hight of the window i can remove all the block up to the joists and not have to deal with blocks falling out of the head while im trying to install and ill have a sill roughly 3' off the floor

[Footer]

Is this a public school you are helping at? Are you paid staff or a volunteer? There are some huge issues with knocking holes in walls in a public school situation without pulling the proper permits and have the proper labor in place. If it is a public school, I doubt even if you are qualified you could do the work yourself. Added to that, you still need to consider power requirements in the room, dimming/audio connections.... etc. I am not saying it can not be done, but you need to go through the proper channels beyond the guy who is in charge of the music dept. When I was TD at a public school, the head of maintenance would have had my head if I knocked a 4x8 hole in the wall.

[mjw56]

First its a private school and the maintenance staff consists of 2 guys who could care less. the music department head has final say over what happens in the auditorium also.
on to technical requirements though, the dimmers ( 4 leprecon VX2400 racks in a permanent install) are already in place on a platform backstage (about 9' off the ground where the old Frankenstein light board used to be) that has a 3phase 400 amp service. the light board (ETC expression 125) is already back there( where i want the booth). i want to move the com system power supply back there as well and add an IR cam for use as a green room video feed and so we can see in the dark better. i dont think were adding much to be worried about power but there is a sub-panel in the room with 3 or 4 slots open to tap. and before anythone says anthing about opening up panels i also worked for an electrician doing service installs ( 200 amp is the largest ive ever done). the music director doesnt want to move the sound board in there but im leaveing space for that too.

i feel like im missing things that should also be in the room but i cant think of what. so if u have any ideas or more concerns throw them out there.
oh and im paid but im not on payroll. i get paid out of the operating account.

thanks for all the help and ideas so far.

[wfor]

Sound board inside rooms=bad idea.

You can't hear anything...
A lot of new installatiosn sink them right in the middle of the house.

[museav]

I see what you want to do, but not why. I assume you have been operating without this space and if you read some of the other threads here regarding booths you'll find many people trying to get out of just such spaces. There may be good reasons for doing this, it just not clear what you are really trying to accomplish and that would probably be the first aspect to address in 'selling' the concept to anyone. You have to establish and communicate the need for and benefit of something first. What problems would the booth resolve or what new capabilities and benefits would it provide? Show that the potential benefit justifies the potential cost both financially and in any associated effort, inconvenience, etc.

Assuming you are at the main Philly campus (Mandell Theater ?), there are probably many code and ordinance restrictions on what has to be done and who can do it, potentially in regards to both licensing and perhaps Union affiliations. A couple of issues that are commonly overlooked without an Architect involved are how opening up the Auditorium wall may affect fire ratings, you are effectively putting a big hole in the 'shell' of the Auditorium, and what may be required for ADA compliance. Depending on the age of the space and modifications could even run into asbestos or historical issues. And there may be practical considerations such as whether the booth requires ventilation or even a separate heating and cooling unit on a dedicated thermostat to handle the potential loads and off hours operations. And of course, moving the lighting console and comms as well as provisions for the mixing console into a new location could entail significant infrastructure (conduit, power, etc.) revisions or additions.

[mjw56]

The booth is not going in @ drexel its going in @ Camden Catholic high school, and from past experiences having nothing to do with the theater, projects don't have to get bid on or done by union workers and the building isn't leased. the reason i want a booth is first to make a sort of Brain for the auditorium, a place where a few key personel can sit and run the show. i hope it will also fix a heirachial problem we have been having. our current system of an SM, asst. SM and Right and left wing captains leaves rightwing kind of mnagement heavy (the SM has been running things from RW). i figure by moving the SM to the booth, he will be closer to all the tech for calling cues (our com system sounds like **** and is hard to hear on some stations) and able to manage and delegate (VS. doing it himsel). ill have the ASM oversee most of the things happening on stage, and the wing captains managing their individual crews. i know it souds like alot of management but the titles keep people happy and having a feeling of responsibility which helps alot when something needs to get done. the students dont get anything in return for their wok ( i would say something about pride but they all have this i dont give a **** attitude) im working on trying to make stage crew fulfill their arts elective or service hour requirements but as for now titles and t-shirts are all i have to work with.

[museav]

The code and ordinance issues would likely still apply. For example, the perimeter of a public assembly space often has to be a one or two hour rated construction, if it turn out that the wall you are considering knocking a hole in is a rated wall then it would lose any rating. It might also be that converting what has apparently been unoccupied space into occupied space will require other changes (sprinklers, accessibility, ventilation, etc.) to be code compliant. Maybe you already have people involved, such as a licensed Architect (many of the potential issues are Architectural and not Engineering related), who can assess and address all such issues but I was trying to identify that they do need to be addressed.

I think that this may be the type of issues you need to address up front, not necessarily the answers but that these issues will be addressed, to let the people in charge know it is being handled and there will be no nasty surprises that they then get dragged into later on.

[mjw56]

the school was completed in '60 or '61 and the audiriu, was completed in '62 and there's no sprinkler system in the entire school so....

From what i can tell the original intent of the room was a projection booth (the wall in question currently has 3 really small windows about 4 SF total and are trimmed in wood). so i grabbed my NJ building code 2006 and checked it out

Section 409.2
Every projection room shall be of permanent construction consistent with the construction requirements for the type of building (occupancy class A-1) in which the projection room is located. openings are not required to be protected.
The room shall have a floor area of not less than 80 sf for one machine and not less than 40 SF for every additional machine. ........ The projection room and the rooms appurtenant thereto shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7'6". the aggregate of openings for projection equipment shall not exceed 25% of the area of the wall between the projection room and the auditorium. openings shall be provided with glass or other approved material, so as to close completely the opening. ( the ommited portion speaks about distances between projectors)

ok, with hthat info-dump behind us, the first paragraph says the opening can be open and the second says it must be closed. any ideas??? and based on wall measurements of 8x12 i can have a max opening of 4x6(24 sf)

also, table 601, an interior bearing wall of type 1 construction must have a 3hr fire rating. the same wall in type 2 construction requires only a 1 hr fire rating. so does anyone know the difference between type 1 and 2 construction. (they are both completely made of noncombustable materials).

the room also contains 2 singlepane 1/4" glass ticket windows so while the room has not been occupied for quite a while the original design showed it as an occupied space.

so if anyone knows the answer to any of theese questions and whishes to share that would be great. but in the meantime i think i will assume the worst and figure out what a 3 hour fire rated opening is made out of. thanks for everyones help.

[Footer]

Film projectors were notorious for catching on fire. Essentially projection booths had to become a firebox. One of the venues I work at here in NY has a projector room with working projectors and drop doors above each "port" with heat sensitive links. So.... fire=doors drop. If the room is still deemed a projection booth you can not open it up as it currently stands.

[museav]

Fire ratings and such are not where you want to guess. You might want to check with the local code and planning officials as to whether any approvals, permits, etc. might be required as those may in turn require stamped drawings. You might also want to discuss the fire issues with the local fire officials, they are the final arbiters.

The points you bring up show some of the potential issues. I don't know what the code requirements were for Projection Rooms back when the building was built but they likely have changed. For example, in 1962 there were probably no requirements for sprinkler systems but any renovation or changes could require bringing everything up to current codes and that may require adding sprinklers or improving wall constructions. I'm also not sure how current code might differentiate between a dedicated Projection Room and a more multipurpose Booth. Accessibility also often also has to be addressed in any renovations, the ADA was not around in the early 60's. Ceiling tiles and flooring containing asbestos were common in that period so if you plan on tearing up the floors or ceiling that could be a factor. The same for lead paint on the walls since you plan to cut into them. All of these are why you really want to get someone familiar with such renovations involved to at least identify what factors nay have to be addressed. I have seen many 'small' theatre renovation projects end up investing more effort and money on these types of issues than on the primary aspects of the renovation, I've also seen such issues delay or even terminate renovation plans.

[tjrobb]

Type 1 versus type 2. While this can vary based on which code you use, the basics are relatively straightforward.

Type one- MAXIMUM passive fire protection. We're talking 3 or 4 hour rated walls, ceilings, etc. Think OCD bunker building. Not seen often except where really large buildings are needed or where extreme fire hazard is present. I don't think you can build with anything other than concrete due to the requirements.

Type two- a little less insane, but still 2-4 hour ratings on all walls, ceilings, etc. Allows (sometimes) concrete-cased steel and similar items. Much more common than T1, if only because of price.

[mstaylor]

I don't know the local code, may be tougher, but in many areas the need to bring the room to code is a tied to a percentage of remodel. If you exceed a certain percentage you have to bring everything up to code, sprinklers, wiring, fire ratings, all other related codes. It is something you definitely need to check locally.

[mjw56]

the auditorium seats about 1000. the columns are all on the perimeter of the surface of 1 flange of all of them is exposed. the roof is supported by 40" deep Bar joists and the ceiling is approximately 1" of plaster. none of the steel is fireproofed. all the doors are hollow steel there's so fire curtain, no smoke doors in the roof just exit signs and fire system strobes. so I'm guessing its type 2. and the room constitutes 1% of the space

[tjrobb]

Forgot a quirk: steel over 20' from the floor doesn't need fireproofing (usually).

Hmmm, what you are talking about (exposed steel to grade level) is type 2 - 000 according to the NFPA. Inherently fire-resistant (the steel part), but without any actual fire rating. Strangely, I have no idea how a 1000-seat theatre would EVER get away with not using a type one building. Then again, you did say it was 3 or 4 decades old.

Thank goodness you are under 50%. That is the breakover (again, NFPA) to deny grandfathering you in. And with >300 seats... that would have meant sprinklers!

[gafftaper]

MJW you may be able to structurally design and draw it up but you really need to the help of someone familiar with the local codes and permit process. Any advice you get here is going to have a high degree of speculation because we don't live there. I suggest you get in touch with a contractor who does remodel work on large public buildings. You should be able to find one who knows all the local code and is willing to help you design it properly and give you a price quote for the job in the process.

As for your original question. Do the legwork to find out how it can be done and how much it will cost. Put together a nice looking proposal explaining why it is important along with the How and How Much information. Try to get the music teacher's support and if you can't get it go directly to the principal or whatever board is really in charge.

I have to agree that it's not a good idea to move sound in there. My new theater has sound in a great looking but fully enclosed space with only a 4'x5' window. If I can just barely hear the audio it's perfect inside the theater. If it sounds loud enough to me at the console, it's blasting the audience out. Running sound inside an enclosed booth is like running lights with a paper bag over your head.

[mjw56]

im not gonna move sound in to the booth. it was just something i was thinking about a while ago when i was still a student there and didnt know much about anything. i still don't know much about sound frankly...but don't really want too. there are so many issues i have to deal with already.

seeking the help of a local contractor is a good idea and i think i know a few who might help out.
we got approval to build the booth as an eagle scout project. they will want all sorts of references as to who is being consulted for what and their qualifications so the BSA will have their butts covered.
i guess i should be able to talk to the architect for the diocese about all this. but of course the boyscout will have to do all the talking and setting up meetings and stuff.

[gafftaper]

Sounds like you are well on your way. Be sure to stay on top of the permits and the Fire Marshall's approval. You can be in a world of pain if the Fire Marshall decides he doesn't like your work and wants to shut down the theater until he is happy.

[CBR372]

Talking about projection booths turned into lightboard booths... the college im going to has this large theatre (about 900 seats or so) and its booth used to be a projection booth... so it is lined with steel... and it has a bathroom!!! and the old reel tables are still in there... nice storage for my backpack and laptop when i'm programming cues!

[museav]

That probably goes back to the days of nitrate or nitrocellulose film. Used up until the early 1950's, nitrate film base was very inflammable and difficult to extinguish, thus areas where it was stored and worked with had to be highly fire resistant. Today, a cinema has to be certified to show nitrate films, primarily archival films, including many special precautions involving the projection booth and the projectors themselves.

This is also why I often see issues with asbestos in projections rooms, many older 'fireproofing' methods, even into the '60's, utilized asbestos so it is not unusual to find asbestos containing materials in the wall, floor or ceiling surfaces in older projection booths.

I believe that the bathroom was from the days when you had Union projectionists and manual changeovers, it was provided so the projectionist could answer nature's call without missing a changeover or any other manual operation. Of course, the risk of fire with nitrate film stock, which can spontaneously combust, also made for a good reason to have someone in the booth at all times.

[mjw56]

the school has an asbestos inspection every year and the only place it exists in on the exhaust from the backup generator way in the back of the boiler room. but because i like my lungs cancer free. i put on a mask and knocked out one of the small windows to look down the wall. found nothing but pieces of mortar.
myself and the LD (also not a student) have begun to put together a loose spec for the job so the boyscout has something to work with in building his for the job. were not assembling a book. just a mental list of material and hardware. as for the window i was thinking of getting something like this.

http://www.crlaurence.com/crlapps/sh...8&ModelID=9469

but with a full bottom rail.

we want to be able to button up the window cause the kids sometimes get a little loud. but i like that it can be opened up for tech week so the ops can hear.

any opinions on windows. whats worked, what hasnt??

[mjw56]

Well just in case anyone was wondering. The Eagle Scout Project to build a booth has been approved by the school and the students troop committee. He goes before the BSA council for final approval tomorrow.

[mstaylor]

Sounds like an excellent Eagle project. My son and nephew are both Eagle scouts.

[mjw56]

Myself and the LD are both Eagles and one of the seniors just earned his a few months ago. its nice to have a few scouts around working on things, even if they cant tie a bowline behind their backs.

[mstaylor]

My son earned his Eagle rank and his black belt at fifteen.

[mjw56]

Necropost... i know
But anyway
so the booth is structural complete and it turned out ok. pictures will follow eventually. so now its time to put in all the stuff i can possibly think of. Unfortunately the Band director/Producer/head honcho thinks the pass thru that got put in is big enough to move sound into the booth, he didnt think so 6 months ago (eyes roll, sigh). so im going to install alot

Express 125 light board
24channel Mackie sound board
16 channel digital board (dont know the maker)
2 Computers (one for the projector and one for audio stuff)
Wireless mice and keyboards with under desk trays
LCD monitors (for each computer and the lightboard
projector screen controls
2 channel headset system
2 CD players
recording device
God mic with 2 channels( one to speak to the house and one to speak to the green room)
2 filing cabinets
internet connection with wireless G/N and 4 port switch
dimmered booth lights
booth speakers with and independent volume control
2 video and audio lines up to the tv Studio with monitors in the booth
Green room cam with monitor in booth
7' rack to put most of this stuff in
couple power conditioners

so my question to all of u is what have i missed, name anything at all. im going for wish list here so i can plan now for future expansion

thanks all

[museav]

But anyway
so the booth is structural complete and it turned out ok.

so my question to all of u is what have i missed, name anything at all. im going for wish list here so i can plan now for future expansionl

Maybe I am misunderstanding the situation, but shouldn't this type of planning have occurred prior to constructing the booth? For example, looking at you list I see two audio consoles, a lighting board, a camera, two computers with keyboards and mice and several monitors. Have you planned for counter space for all of this? Have things like the dimmable lights and power for all the gear been incorporated into the booth design and construction? Have you addressed conduit or raceway for all the connectivity noted?

As to your question, it is a bit difficult to respond when we don't know what the booth space is like (size, counter space, etc.) or what infrastructure you incorporated when building the booth or how you plan to use the booth. Basically, we don't know much about the existing facility and use or the vision for both, which makes it difficult to say what might be missing. Here's some examples:

Communications for a Green Room would typically be handled via the production communications system, however you note a separate 'god' mic for that purpose. Is there a reason specific for this requirement? Would planning for an expanded comms system make sense?

You note both a 24 channel analog console and a 16 channel digital console. Whether it is two independent mixes or might be replaced by a larger console in the future could factor into any comments.

Since you apparently have a projection screen and you note a projector computer, what about other video sources, source switching, the projector, control of all of these, etc.? Does the booth need to accommodate any of these?

Do you have a cabling path to the TV Studio? What is the purpose of monitoring that signal? Do you need to communicate with them?

What about wireless mics? If you have both the SM and the sound tech up in the booth should the wireless receivers, or at least some way to monitor them, also be located in the booth?

Is there any storage other than the two filing cabinets? Might the booth be used to store wireless mics, comms bodypacks and headsets, cables, mics, etc.?

That's just a few examples, but the gist is that one has to know where you are and where you are trying to go before they can offer useful directions.

[JChenault]

If your sound guy is going to be doing any live mixing ( and given your equipment list, I expect that he will )

1 - try to convince the band director that putting the sound mixing in another acoustical space where he cannot hear what the audience is hearing will not work very well. There is a reason that you see mixing consoles in the orchestra. How would he like to conduct an orchestra from the next room using a TV monitor?
2 - Set up any cable runs, etc so that when the facility comes to it's senses and decides to move the sound equipment to a location where the operator can hear the sound that it is easy to do so.

[mjw56]

thanks for your responses.

the audio consoles have been inserted into the design. i had a long conversation with the band director about this when i started designing and he said that he will never put audio in a booth so my window is only really big enough for 2 people plus Light op and board. he took one look at the finished window and said hes gonna move sound in. this throws my original design for a loop.

So, Proxima projector is hanging from an electric over the house, source switching will be from the projector itself. we dont do anything complicated enough to require on the fly switching.

power is adequate the 100 panel in the room has 4 slots open and only runs small lighting loads.

Mic recievers and amps are backstage in a custom built rack.

we dont have a production communication system, didnt know they existed, so i figured i would use a couple of board channels or rig something up.

the 2 boards will likely become one larger board, ive heard rumors.

i know i can get a wire to the studio but adding a line for comms is a great idea i would have missed . they use a compatible system so they should just be able to plug in (using the studio will be rare, likely only to live mix graduation to the over spill room)

the green room cam is already mounted to the back wall near the ceiling
video monitors would just be nice i guess

we have space for 2 8' tall racks plus a 2.5'ish deep counter (shallow i know, its controlled by door swing)

the room overall is 14' wide by 6 deep with a 5'8" opening in one long wall and a 3' door centered in the opposite wall. one end of the room has a small electrical panel and a ticket window so were loosing 2' there, mkaes the room effectively 12'x6'

i asked for pictures from the kid that did the project but i havent gotten them yet.

i hope what ive explained helps

thank you.

[mjw56]

Well its not pretty at the moment but hopefully in a couple months it will really take shape.

[museav]

So it serves as both Tech Booth and Ticket Window? I might try to separate those functions, I just imagine someone trying to read will call lists and talk to people while someone others are trying to run a show.

That also gets into a trade off with having sound in the booth. When you mix from the booth you want as much opening into the performance space as possible so that you can hear something resembling what the audience hears. However, if you have a large open area and have the lighting operator, SM and others in the Booth then you may have issues with patrons seated near the booth potentially being distracted by the related sounds and activities in the Booth. In retrospect, it might have been better to put in a fixed window to help separate the production activities (the SM calling cues and so on) from the audience space and to have the audio mix position out in the house.

I'm also trying to understand how a fold-up plywood door and a ticket window with openings in it provides the necessary smoke and fire separation. It may indeed do so but it just seems odd.

[mjw56]

I cant move the ticket sales, they were sold through the booths dutch door, which i really hated. The ticket window area will be closed off by a piece of 50% fullness black traveler(that the last show decided was ok to cut in half lengthwise) so that should help with sound and light spill. The opening pictured was supposed to get a nice aluminum framed insulated tripple slider....but the scout doing the project turned 18 2 days after finishing his project and the school let him install that crappy fold up instead so he could get the project done. we did a little test of how far sound travels out of the booth with no soundproofing installed and quiet conversation carried about 15 rows out (were only 28 rows deep). smoke separation would have been taken care of with the window i spec'd for the project but i already explained that. and the ticket window is original to the space (built in 1960).

[DuckJordan]

it looks to me like a very failed, attempt at a school keeping budgets to a minimum. The plywood door is not code, and if that window is not original i am betting the student on the project did not put a header in. also the whole idea of ticket sales going in with booth with absolutely no SOLID separation is a big no no, unless you plan on cutting ticket sales as soon as the show starts (it can get very noisy and hard to hear a show when you have ticket people selling tickets while a show is going on behind them). also i would definatly point the noise issue out to the director because honestly if you are going to put all the time in to building a booth. don't force the audio person to stick to a room that will honestly sound nothing like the actual room.

Quick story, went to a show in the area (wont say the name of the production) but during intermission (it was beauty and the beast musical) i heard the sound board op come out of the booth and ask the SM if they heard any squealing out of the PA system. I, being a sound guy myself, quickly turned around and asked the op why he had to ask. He responded with, the director said the booth was distracting audience members from the show because of the window being open. So upon that sound should never be located in a booth unless you have 100% certainty that the sounds are all recorded, they will always be the same out of the device you are sending out of. That means if there is any chance there is going to be live mixing involved (NO BOOTH). and yes the PA was HOT (squealed louder than a pig).

So that brings me to the curtain thing, it may just be our curtains but any black curtain i have seen in our space sheds some black... fibers after a little while which will give everything in the 5 foot vicinity a nice dust of black fibers... so putting a curtain in that space may be a problem.

as far as room goes, it doesn't look like you'll have very much room in that space for all the devices your planning on puting in there... also have you considered ventilation, i know that our small black box booth has a vent but guess what its almost an air tight room so awesome job on putting an output vent in the room but hey, there is no circulation (room is probably 20 cubic foot and its roundish so no luck putting a flat table in the dang room (another rant for another thread).

My suggestion is good equipment just try to explain to the director as best as possible that sound should always be out in the audience (yes it takes seats but its better to take 5 seats now than wait after a few shows of it being out of the way and you having 20 empty seats because the sound is horrendous.


QUICK THOUGHT:

If sound was out of the booth running the show with tickets would be much more feasible.

[mjw56]

A double A36 C8x11.5 is cut into the block behind that 1x12 on the wall there and is bearing on concrete filled block all the way to the slab the wall is on, or else that 1x12 would have been 1x4. i designed that header and opening and again DID NOT spec a plywood fold up. the window i spec'd for his project is linked to earlier in this thread.

And i PROMISE i don't want sound in the booth and know its bad. but its not my final decision.

Would a black curtain that has been hanging for about a decade still shed those fibers?

we don't really sell a lot of tickets after the show has started so its not a problem, usually the sales person leaves 15min after start along with the ushers and we just let the few stragglers in (its catholic school so nobody really cares about 1 or 2 tickets)

Ventilation is also a good point. there was a really bad draft in the room before this project started, so bad in the winter we lined the whole room with 2" blue Styrofoam and duct taped all the joints, and it was still cold.
ill add a small bathroom fan to the list and see if the space needs it when were done.

[museav]

And i PROMISE i don't want sound in the booth and know its bad. but its not my final decision.

I think the point is that we are trying to give you something to take to the parties who do make that decision and show that this is not just your supposition, but a real concern voiced by others based on experience.

Would a black curtain that has been hanging for about a decade still shed those fibers?

Would is also still be fire retardant?

Ventilation is also a good point. there was a really bad draft in the room before this project started, so bad in the winter we lined the whole room with 2" blue Styrofoam and duct taped all the joints, and it was still cold.
ill add a small bathroom fan to the list and see if the space needs it when were done.

Did you had a Mechanical Engineer involved in the booth design? It is an occupied space and has to provide appropriate heating, ventilation and cooling for both the equipment and occupants.