Hi folks;
Steve Shelley here. This is an interesting thread. I've used probably all of the marking/hanging systems discussed here. When i'm hanging a
one-off in a
proscenium theatre, i'll often just
call off the dimensions with two people holding each end of a tape measure and a third person armed with chalk. in that scenario, we usually only hang one position at a time.
Other times my
production electrician with export the Lightwright info into word, and then use an avery
template to print out the info onto the labels. Then those labels go onto drywall tape at the assigned distance. that comes in handy when a multiple of lighting positions [including truss] are getting hung simultaneously.
When i've worked multiple-stop tours, i've used adding drywall, adding machine tape, or jute for the same process. jute allows you to move the labels easier, if the labels are marked on pieces of
gaff tape. the problem i often have with any of these materials is where to affix them to the
batten in order for them to be seen and read, but also so that they're then not in the way or getting ripped from the c-clamps getting hung on the pipes. i've tried taping the
hang tape/jute/drywall to the
system lines that run back to the tops of the arbors to get them above the battens. often though, the distance between the
system lines makes the paper or jute
droop, and then the distances are less accurate and it's harder to read the written information.
in those situations, i've found that just taping the
hang tape/
etc to the floor under the
batten allows them to be used as a distance reference, while still providing the other information written on the tape. you have to be careful not to drag instruments across the tape--that will tear it. and if it is paper-based, you need to scamper and
roll the tape up as soon as the
batten starts to
fly out to
trim. otherwise, everyone is looking up and
tripping over the tape and ripping it.
bottom
line, hanging tapes can come in handy, especially if you're going to use them more than once, or if you're hanging more than one position at a time. one thing to consider is the amount of space that will be required to store and transport the tapes when they're not in use. on a show that has production crates, having the tapes
in one of the first boxes that comes off the truck typically works out ok. on a burn & run tour, on the other
hand, the tapes will need to
walk in the door with you
in one of your bags, along with a
roll of
gaff tape to attach them to the floor/
batten/
system lines.
hth,
shelley