Stuart R
Member
Hello all! I’m the new arts chair at a high school in Miami, and our lighting designer for our spring musical, going into tech in two weeks, has flown the coop, and I haven’t been able to find a replacement, so it’s going to be me. The good news is that I’ve been around tech theatre for a long time, know how to hang and focus instruments, know the difference between an ERS, a Fresnel and a PAR (etc.) The bad news is that I’ve never done an actual lighting plan/plot before. [And have never dealt with a “hybrid” LED/conventional rig, and I know next to nothing about LEDs and DMX channels (etc.), which is another challenge.] What I really need at the moment is some advice on a general approach to take to the space given our instrument inventory.
This seems a perfect opportunity to create a rep plot that I can use both for this show and as the starting place for all of our events (lectures to concerts to plays/musicals), reserving a certain number of instruments for specials and so on. I’m familiar with McCandless 3-point lighting theory, but also know that there are other schools of thought. I’ve also encountered folks with small instrument inventories who do a “modified” McCandless by using a dedicated front light for each acting area but then use generic side and/or top washes for fill instead of doing these area by area. I also don’t know what to add beyond area lighting. In my research I’ve seen a lot of designers who seem to use additional front washes for blending, and washes from the side or above, in more saturated colors, for mood and/or time of day. So lots of ideas and notions but I need help settling on a solid plan.
Attached is a schematic of our space (cafetorium – yay!) and our instrument inventory is below. I’d love some Big Picture advice on a general approach to take for a rep plot (i.e. how best to use what we’ve got).
In terms of lighting positions, it’s a cafeteria, so none of the pipes are that high, making for shallow angles from a distance. There are also no side ladders or booms; I’m told that past designers have often trees (pipes and bases) for this purpose for shows and put them on either side of the main thrust stage. I’m happy to do that as well.
Thanks!
Inventory:
(5) ETC Source 4 Lustre+ LED ERSs
(8) ETC Source 4 variable zoom (25-50*) ERSs
(5) ETC Source 4 50* ERSs
(1) ETC Source 4 26* ERS
(10) Altman 65Q Fresnels
(10) AmericanPro LED PARs
(2) ETC Sixpar100 LED PARs
(6) ELAR EX LED Tribar cyc strips
(2) Martin Quantum Profile variable zoom (12-36*) LED moving heads
Board: ETC Element
This seems a perfect opportunity to create a rep plot that I can use both for this show and as the starting place for all of our events (lectures to concerts to plays/musicals), reserving a certain number of instruments for specials and so on. I’m familiar with McCandless 3-point lighting theory, but also know that there are other schools of thought. I’ve also encountered folks with small instrument inventories who do a “modified” McCandless by using a dedicated front light for each acting area but then use generic side and/or top washes for fill instead of doing these area by area. I also don’t know what to add beyond area lighting. In my research I’ve seen a lot of designers who seem to use additional front washes for blending, and washes from the side or above, in more saturated colors, for mood and/or time of day. So lots of ideas and notions but I need help settling on a solid plan.
Attached is a schematic of our space (cafetorium – yay!) and our instrument inventory is below. I’d love some Big Picture advice on a general approach to take for a rep plot (i.e. how best to use what we’ve got).
In terms of lighting positions, it’s a cafeteria, so none of the pipes are that high, making for shallow angles from a distance. There are also no side ladders or booms; I’m told that past designers have often trees (pipes and bases) for this purpose for shows and put them on either side of the main thrust stage. I’m happy to do that as well.
Thanks!
Inventory:
(5) ETC Source 4 Lustre+ LED ERSs
(8) ETC Source 4 variable zoom (25-50*) ERSs
(5) ETC Source 4 50* ERSs
(1) ETC Source 4 26* ERS
(10) Altman 65Q Fresnels
(10) AmericanPro LED PARs
(2) ETC Sixpar100 LED PARs
(6) ELAR EX LED Tribar cyc strips
(2) Martin Quantum Profile variable zoom (12-36*) LED moving heads
Board: ETC Element
Attachments
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