i happen to be one of those highschool theatre techs with no money. i happen to also volunteer at a community theatre with a very good budget and so over half of my schools gel stock is from them. when they use it for two maybe three shows and decide that it is dead it has at least another five shows at my high school.
Thanks for all the wonderful ideas guys, i hadnt thought of donating them. Though in my area i doubt it would do help anyone any. Im from fairfax va, one of the richest countys in the states, the schools actually have newer equipment then the college i attend. I think they just got a brand new lightboard the last one was only 4-5 years old........
Now i did come across someone attempting to use congo blue, and basic red to make an infrared filter, which could then be taped onto glasses, add some infrared leds and presto infrared goggles. Any thoughts?
oh i do love tech on a real budget, i work calls at alot of smaller houses around were i am. some of which have wonderful spaces/budgets. the best by far though is the one that i mentioned giving me gel and it's "in the round" so even more fun.Only five shows? When I was teaching high school I had the budget to change gel about once every other year. Hang in there Nate you'll love college and doing tech with a real budget.
I don't see any reason to get rid of cut color unless it is burned out or faded. I save every cut of color from every show that meets those criteria. So, I have a large filing system where we store cut color and uncut sheets. When I get the paperwork for a new show we pull color from stock first and then buy what we need to complete the show. This saves quite a bit of money.
You have to consider that there are colors that are not worth saving like deep blues that tend to fade quickly. However, I see no reason for a school, community, or regional theatre to just toss color after every show. it may be a consumable, but not every cut is single use.
Wouldn't believe my gel files. No I don't have a Rx #25 as came up recently in me sitting on a ladder with my smallest and most complete of them. Easy to get from stock if really wanted but this is a 3.5" gel file in sizing gel and even saving scrap. One gel file per size of gel used.
I remember a pre-EBay system of selling off goods where at times people would sell off their gel files for lots of money. Suppose it would depend on the size of the gel and not just how complete it is but how many in many colors were within it to be of value.
Not clear about what your scrap gel is? Are you saying gel gets one show and is fresh cut for the next one? If that's the case, I cannot see a less efficient way of using gel. I work for a multi-million dollar lighting company and even we store and re-use our pre-cut gel. Why waste such money if that's what you are saying about what to do with old gel.... re-use it the answer unless toast.
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