Recent content by AdamBair

LED lights like ColorBlasts can add a lot of versatility to your rig. They are kind short on throw, but can be stuck almost anywhere as wash lighting. They are only 50 watts each, so you can get 60 of them on stage and run them off two 20 amp breakers (standard wall outlet) But the need three...

Yes stay away from real pyro. Tapered white silk strips, some upward pointed fans and red and yellow lights shining from underneath can make for some very good flame effects. The "Le Flame" effect is really just that. It's not tough to replicate on a larger scale.

Humans exhale about 2 lbs of CO2 a day *, so for every dozen people in the room, that's 1 pound per hour. If your theater HVAC moves enough air for the room to contain 240 people breathing for a hour, then it moves enough air for you to use 20 lbs pf CO2 per hour. Yes there will be people and...

The OP did mention very old lights, and asbestos was used in wiring insulation in theatrical lights up into the 1970's so it's actually a likely possibility. If the units are from before 1980 and whip looks like it has a white soft fabric cover, it might be asbestos. If you can hold a piece over...

I think you misunderstand me Gafftaper, perhaps I used poor phrasing. The fact that OSHA has regulated all the way up to spontaneous loss of consciousness is a "nice idea" that doesn't work in real life. Because OSHA has over-regulated then even their very good regulations are met with less...

If you have to cut, cut things that can be easily added later. Get as much hard wiring in place as you can. Socaplex and dimmers can be added later, upgrading your electrical service is much harder. Paths to run cables from booth to backstage are easier if built in. Accessible structural...

If all else fails call you local fire department for an inspection and voice your concerns to them. They can shut down an unsafe theater in five minutes. But first go through school administration, and work with them to get the proper equipment installed correctly.

I would go with a flash bulb or strobe light set inside the amp. Maybe you could pipe in the CO2 from the fire extinguisher if you can cut a whole in the back of the amp. But then that extinguisher would need to be recharged before it counts towards fire safety again.If you dip the general...

Someone must have a laptop to run that video clip from pond5. If you set it up as part of a powerpoint presentation you can use a powerpoint remote to click through the different EKG effects you want.

in a dry ice fog machine, the dry ice is contained fully within the machine, so audience proximity is of no concern. But dry ice is still a no-go you could use liquid nitrogen, but that tends to be on an expensive fog system.The lighting solution sounds like your best shot. The City...

If you don't have a Pyro license then you don't do it. Because "A guy explained it to me in a internet forum" isn't going to sound very good the local Fire Department Chief.

I was the Foy operator for two year on Spamalot, and I want to repeat what others have said: "If you want them to fly, hire professionals." Or as one of my professors used to say: "Think about how it would sound to a judge."If the ceiling is under 20 ft, then there is little chance even the...

Yeah, it's totally against OSHA to straddle a ladder top, but OSHA didn't bother to actually ask the professionals who use A-Frame ladders in their work. Straddling the ladder top is the only way to safely use both hands, and often the only way to safely get the job done is to use both hands...

I would recommend getting a used ETC Obsession if budget allows. That console has been the standard on Off Broadway and straight plays on Broadway, in an educational setting you might as well have the students learn as close to the professional world as possible. PRG has tons of Obsessions and...

As long as you are wiring in line with electrical code, you should be fine. Watch out for asbestos wiring covering in older lights. I wouldn't call HAZMAT, but I would suggest wearing a good dust mask/respirator if the old wire is covered in anything other then rubber or plastic.