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"The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas" which they are going to NOT name,,, or change it to something a bit more "Christian" ... has the bright Idea of installing 20 ceiling fans all over the auditorium. They scoped out the thrift/ charity/ 2nd hand stores and Craigslist and it is doable at leat for the $$$ aspact but...

How to "install" an electric ceiling fan (20 of them, or thereabouts) in a manner that won't damage a plaster school auditorium ceiling. I thought that maybe 3/4" plywood in a large enough length and width and roughly 8 very long #10 or better screws wouldn't put an obvious hole through the plaster, that a touch of spackle after removal wouldn't suffice... Above the ceiling the screws will grab onto pieces of either 2x lumber or... maybe just 4 x 1/2" bolts and nuts/ washers/ lockwashers.

The ceiling itself is walkable from above, off the catwalks. It's how the house lights get serviced because the cherry-picker is roving among this building and others within the Dioecies.

Electrically I figured 3 white insulated #12 awg's. to connect them all together as that would blend right into the ceiling. If the F.D. insist's on SO cable minimum then the idea is dead in the water. But I say exposed conductors meant to be installed within a raceway for protection cna be run "in free air' when not subject to damage, which, at 30' above the seats is quite "protected" enough.

Of course, I suggested just buy 2... from the "Big Ass Fan Company" (yes that's real) and just put a couple in PERMANENTLY. Then it's on the regular school budget and not on the theatre's troop annual $$$.


Is posting a link to a commercial entity OK?
 
I won't comment on the 20 ceiling fan idea at all, because that sounds like a top-to-bottom nightmare, code, and overall safety issue. I'm also struggling to follow what the context is here if this is an upgrade to a venue, a temporary fit-out for a show, or something else. Ignoring all that...

Big Ass Fans are a quality product. We spec them regularly. Top notch, effective, and they have very helpful product reps. If you're considering them for this project, I wouldn't just try to order online. Call them up and see if they can have someone do a layout for you and help you select a specific product, and then get a quote from an electrical contractor to do the install. You'll need controls in addition to the fans, and the controls can be somewhat complicated if you're doing temperature sensing for auto-control of the fan speeds and such -- you'll want to make sure you ask about that too.
 
As @MNicolai said, the twenty-fan idea sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

One thing I noted is your comment about the theatre troupe changing the name of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, which is licensed by Concord Theatricals. I would ask if one, did they obtain a license, and two, what are the terms of the licenses? Licenses spell out what you can and can't change about a production, and I've never seen a license that allows you to change the title of a production. If they did not obtain a license, I would walk away immediately.

The fan idea is the kind of work that would almost certainly require a permit, and if they aren't willing to pull a permit, I would also walk away immediately. If they aren't willing or able to do it to code, then they should go back to the drawing board and find another solution.
 
As @MNicolai said, the twenty-fan idea sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

One thing I noted is your comment about the theatre troupe changing the name of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, which is licensed by Concord Theatricals. I would ask if one, did they obtain a license, and two, what are the terms of the licenses? Licenses spell out what you can and can't change about a production, and I've never seen a license that allows you to change the title of a production. If they did not obtain a license, I would walk away immediately.

The fan idea is the kind of work that would almost certainly require a permit, and if they aren't willing to pull a permit, I would also walk away immediately. If they aren't willing or able to do it to code, then they should go back to the drawing board and find another solution.
Well the rumor is they want to change the name, or NOT prominently mention the "Whorehouse" at all. Definitely not planting a sign on school grounds, as the troupe is simply leasing the space. And yea the more I thought about 20 fans, the more I lean towards them paying the school to install a couple USEFUL fans permanently and the troupe could foot the bill as a "gift" but, I never seen an auditorium with a ceiling fan of any sorts, likely if at all very old movie/ playhouses.

Then I thought of this: Nah... Maybe some ideas just suck.
 

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Maybe, if the title is objectionable, do a different show?

(Of course, "Spring Awakening" sounds like a splendid name for a show for littl'uns -- well, really, if we wanted to make a list of shows with innocuous titles and mature topics, the list would be extraordinarily long.)
 
What is the purpose of the ceiling fans, moving air because the auditorium HVAC sucks or to set the time period of the show? It this is for the show itself, someone needs to have a chat with Herr Direktor about the issues being created. If it's because the HVAC is lacking, that needs to be on the venue owner to approve even if temporary.

Also agree that the license terms need to be adhered to or Concord will revoke the license and send a Lawyer's Nasty-Gram® for cease-and-desist. If the show hasn't been licensed, RUN AWAY.
 
Now you've seen one....View attachment 24327

Well there ya have it. I'm going to venture to guess this was installed in this relatively (seemingly) newer auditorium to help meet some Leed's certification or
Maybe, if the title is objectionable, do a different show?

(Of course, "Spring Awakening" sounds like a splendid name for a show for littl'uns -- well, really, if we wanted to make a list of shows with innocuous titles and mature topics, the list would be extraordinarily long.)
This is the way. I' just lending a hand.
What is the purpose of the ceiling fans, moving air because the auditorium HVAC sucks or to set the time period of the show? It this is for the show itself, someone needs to have a chat with Herr Direktor about the issues being created. If it's because the HVAC is lacking, that needs to be on the venue owner to approve even if temporary.

Also agree that the license terms need to be adhered to or Concord will revoke the license and send a Lawyer's Nasty-Gram® for cease-and-desist. If the show hasn't been licensed, RUN AWAY.
I'm just there to help in no official capacity. None of my business. but... the title song is "20 fans" which were turning in every room, because in a Texas whorehouse... "And ya had to find a way to cool down..."
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Well the rumor is they want to change the name, or NOT prominently mention the "Whorehouse" at all.
I can't recall where or when, but I KNOW I've seen the show (or maybe the movie) advertised as The Best LIttle Brothel in Texas. Not any better really.

Then there's this, from https://classiccountrymusic.com/7-facts-about-the-best-little-whorehouse-in-texas/
The film’s title also caused a bit of trouble in the U.S., since many considered it to be obscene. As a result, some print ads referred to the movie as The Best Little Cat House in Texas. Parton herself would sometimes call the film The Best Little Chicken House in Texas whenever she had to talk about it.
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I've always found "20 fans a turnin' in every room" problematic. EVERY room has 20 fans?
 
What is the purpose of the ceiling fans, moving air because the auditorium HVAC sucks or to set the time period of the show? It this is for the show itself, someone needs to have a chat with Herr Direktor about the issues being created. If it's because the HVAC is lacking, that needs to be on the venue owner to approve even if temporary.

Also agree that the license terms need to be adhered to or Concord will revoke the license and send a Lawyer's Nasty-Gram® for cease-and-desist. If the show hasn't been licensed, RUN AWAY.

With the clarity now that this is purely for artistic value, @TimMc is right on the money. Someone needs to push back on the director. I can't imagine any venue allowing temporary ceiling fans mounted above the audience just for effect -- either 20 fans installed in a hacky way or a couple BAF's for several thousand dollars. This is one of those areas you can use artistic liberty. It's worth taking a step a back and asking, "If we don't go through the incredible expense, PITA factor, and damage the ceiling just for something temporary, will anyone notice?"

And the answer to that is no. No one will notice if there aren't ceiling fans just because they're referenced in one of the songs.

Unless there's a legitimate airflow problem to be solved, it's also pretty manipulative to suggest that the school should cover the cost of installing a couple BAF's.
 
With the clarity now that this is purely for artistic value, @TimMc is right on the money. Someone needs to push back on the director. I can't imagine any venue allowing temporary ceiling fans mounted above the audience just for effect -- either 20 fans installed in a hacky way or a couple BAF's for several thousand dollars. This is one of those areas you can use artistic liberty. It's worth taking a step a back and asking, "If we don't go through the incredible expense, PITA factor, and damage the ceiling just for something temporary, will anyone notice?"

And the answer to that is no. No one will notice if there aren't ceiling fans just because they're referenced in one of the songs.

Unless there's a legitimate airflow problem to be solved, it's also pretty manipulative to suggest that the school should cover the cost of installing a couple BAF's.
From an "Easter egg" perspective I like the idea of 20 fans, but I don't like the practical and legal implications of 20 real, operating fans over the audience.

Since we're in the illusion business how about 20 rotating fan gobos or video projection? Homage can be paid to the song without the physical appliance.
 
I can't recall where or when, but I KNOW I've seen the show (or maybe the movie) advertised as The Best LIttle Brothel in Texas. Not any better really.

Then there's this, from https://classiccountrymusic.com/7-facts-about-the-best-little-whorehouse-in-texas/

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I've always found "20 fans a turnin' in every room" problematic. EVERY room has 20 fans?

Cat House and brothel sound better than WHOREHOUSE in my book but, I'm just a Long Island bastard red headed stepchild. And OK... songwriters have this thing they call "artistic license," Mr. Diction... :) "Twenty fans were turnin'... in every room." It was a BIG whorehouse, because Texas is... well... big if nothing else.

Movie starred Dolly Parton and Burt Renolds...
With the clarity now that this is purely for artistic value, @TimMc is right on the money. Someone needs to push back on the director. I can't imagine any venue allowing temporary ceiling fans mounted above the audience just for effect -- either 20 fans installed in a hacky way or a couple BAF's for several thousand dollars. This is one of those areas you can use artistic liberty. It's worth taking a step a back and asking, "If we don't go through the incredible expense, PITA factor, and damage the ceiling just for something temporary, will anyone notice?"

And the answer to that is no. No one will notice if there aren't ceiling fans just because they're referenced in one of the songs.

Unless there's a legitimate airflow problem to be solved, it's also pretty manipulative to suggest that the school should cover the cost of installing a couple BAF's.

Well consider the push backed, the individual used donated fans idea from Pergament's and Rickels and Modell's found in 2nd hand stores and donation thrifts are a non sequitur. That's not happening. This isn't about cooling the house, it's about effect. She started inquiring about speed controls to have them all turning extremely slowly at the start and then... ramping them up on queue, and I was like... "I'm out" and suggested the school ITSELF invest in a couple of BAF's or have them "gift" the school 1 or 2 BAF's because then it's (the installation) on the SCHOOL and the fan is the only purchase, sorta like crowdsourcing your goal... The fans(s)could be handy when they just need added air movement otherwise w/o turning on the entire wing's CC system when the school save for the auditorium is not populated, save a few LILCO $$$.

Now she's looking into PROJECTIN the fans or the "Shadows" or silhouettes of turning fans onto random places... "How can we make that happen?" "We? Ya got a mouse in your pocket?"
Art isn't easy...
 
From an "Easter egg" perspective I like the idea of 20 fans, but I don't like the practical and legal implications of 20 real, operating fans over the audience.

Since we're in the illusion business how about 20 rotating fan gobos or video projection? Homage can be paid to the song without the physical appliance.
Absolutely that idea is being floated now. Thanks!

And I'm thinking... add a bunch of randomly sampling photos of working fans here and there... window fans, fans on stands, fans in RTU'S on top of malls, Chillers on rooftops in NYC (Huge fans in those) fans on desks, Asians fanning themselves, a crowd at a stadium all rising in thunderous applause, some Peacocks boasting... etc... anything BUT actual ceiling fans. (It was the Hoover depression you know?)
 
I'm pretty certain I've seen the show listed in newspaper listings as "The Best Little *****house in Texas," which presumably made it past the licensing issues due to it being a third party doing the "renaming." I can't find a citation for it at the moment, though.
 
I'm pretty certain I've seen the show listed in newspaper listings as "The Best Little *****house in Texas," which presumably made it past the licensing issues due to it being a third party doing the "renaming." I can't find a citation for it at the moment, though.
That's the only name I ever knew it by, but even Dolly used to call it cathouse when she had to speak about it.
 
The next time you find yourself in an "old Timey General Store" look for Horehound Candy. Tastes sort of like VERY Strong root beer; also has medicinal qualities. Strangely, I remember my prim and proper grandmother buying it for my grandfather. Coonhound, Foxhound, Elkhound, Greyhound...
 
In college I sang a line in the Song "20 Fans" and If they find Whorehouse offensive they sure aren't going to sing THAT line.
"I want literalism of 20 fans real fans in the show but I want a different title."
I believe we had a total of five that flew down, for that scene, from three different battens.
 
IF (and that's a big if) you go down the route of a BAF and its associated control, make sure it is tied into the fire system. In the event of a detected fire, the fan should stop. They spread the fire very quickly if left on. I work for FM Global (who owns AFM). We've been engineering fire prevention property protection for nearly 200 years. Our property loss prevention data sheets are publicly available. Using them in a build-out would make your Property & Casualty insurer extremely happy. Propert protection standards are far more stringent than NFPA's life protection fire codes that are designed simply to get people out safely and not prevent the whole thing from burning down.
 

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