Recent content by jdenora

  1. J

    Wooden Stage + Scissor Lift

    Be smart and check with the engineer that was contracted for he construction of the space. And get it in writing! It won't matter if bring in a lawn chair attached to helium balloons. If someone gets hurt or worse, it's on you.
  2. J

    Dry Ice Fog vs. Antari Ice 101 Low Fog Machine

    It may seem impractical, but I love the look and reaction of dry ice. It stays on the ground where you want it. Dry ice is cheap enough (at least by me), and new pea-soupers cost about a grand, but you can find used ones cheap, or build your own. It's not hard to do. The liquid fog stuff does...
  3. J

    Lanyards, do I really need them?

    So I guess you've never accidentally dropped anything in your entire life... ever. I thought not. Get a lanyard. If you google "coiled lanyards" you'll get a bunch of results for under $20. There's a nice one with a brass dog clip on one end. Clip it to the tool of the moment, and if you...
  4. J

    A School Full of Problems - MIXER HELP!!

    I suggest finding a vendor with a heart and a decent price and renting everything. If your budget is like most schools, it gets replenished every year. If you can get what you need by renting the whole thing, do it. If you buy it, you have to maintain it, and every organization that uses the...
  5. J

    I need a portable lift platform to raise a Grand Piano 7' in the air.

    That could work. The baby grand in the picture is probably between 700 and 800 pounds. Just don't trade up to a full size concert grand. They tip the scales at around 1,200 pounds.
  6. J

    Falling Through A Glass Table

    Actually, it is a stunt. Falling through a table, and not being able to use a flop mat... that's a stunt.
  7. J

    Scenery Wheel Locks

    I'm not sure how steady the pieces need to be, or how much looseness is acceptable, but you can go as simple as a couple of hook and eye latches. They will keep the pieces from moving away from one another, they are very easy for a middle school crew to use, no tools or pins to lose, you can...
  8. J

    Anyone find a VGA Extender that WORKS????

    Yes, there is a VGA extender that actually works. It stretches from Bigfoot's cave to Amelia Earhart's airplane. In other words, no, I've never seen one that actually works the way you expect. They are all a compromise of one kind or another.
  9. J

    Rental Clients and Food in the lobby

    kendal, you'e got the right idea. Nothing motivates people to do what you want them to do like money. But I think $15K is probably a bit on the high side. Maybe $1,000 or $1,500 makes more sense considering the size of the space. It is also advisable to take a credit card in the event the...
  10. J

    Cost advantage for Broadway vs Hollywood Flats?

    I don't think there is a tremendous cost savings between Broadway flats and Hollywood flats, not even if you implement some of the variations in construction methods that have been suggested in other posts. Either time or materials will add up. Instead of destroying the flats after every...
  11. J

    Practical physics question: casters and wagons and weight.

    If weight is the concern, do your best to make sure the weight is evenly distributed. We did a production of "Pirates of Penzance" a few years ago. We had a 30' pirate ship with as many as a dozen or so actors on it. We used a bunch of large poly casters, maybe eight or ten. With four of us...
  12. J

    Show Stop Stories

    Best show stop I saw (i.e. not working there) was back in the 80's, the premiere show for a new playhouse, maybe 200 seats. We went to see "Dracula" on, of all things, a dark and stormy night. About half way through act two, a bolt of lightning and crack of thunder, and all the power goes out...
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