Can we agree that these units are what you use when you don't have much funds, but that it would be desirable to be able to punch through a 50 fc
wash with 300-400 fc follow spot? I do feel bad that the arts are so poorly funded and so many of you have to cope with insufficient funds, but I hate to loose all sight. We specify almost exclusively
Robert Juliat followspots and most high schools get a pair of 1200
watt hmi units like the Topaze. (We make sure there are 4 separate 25 or 30 amp circuits to
cover these and the chance that some event may rent two more.)
Just looking for perspective of this is best we can afford and what would be the right choice.
Hello Mr. Conner;
In support of your Juliats, and without judgements as to any constraints.
Met my first Trouperettes in 1967 then ran exclusively carbon and / or xenon Super's for decades from 1973 onwards.
Always while comfortably ensconced in a suite of air conditioned follow spot and projection booths.
Six rooms in the suite plus a dedicated washroom.
Entrances directly from the attic on both ends, 25 step spiral from the second balcony
lobby if needed.
Never having to mingle with the patrons or
thrust through the madding crowds.
A dedicated private path to work for us denizens of the dark side.
Chalk boards, for cheat marks, conveniently located just above the windows for each spot.
Comfy stools at just the right heights.
In short; spoiled rotten, living in luxury, sneering at
truss spots and spitting on 'spots on sticks'.
Other than touring a
Colortran from Toronto to Calgary, to Sanfrancisco to Broadway's Shubert, I was the stereotypical IA Strong snob.
I demeaned myself, when a production was short, and spent two 14 hour days hugging a
Juliat at the front of the second balcony.
Out of our 'Royal Boxes', such suffering.
I WAS BLOWN AWAY!!!
Didn't do the in, rolled in for the rehearsals and live to tape with full
house.
I'd be at the lamp for my 10:00 a.m.
call.
Via
DMX, it was already remotely powered up and ready to rock with its
dowser closed about 30 minutes prior to my arrival.
For two days, they were fired around 9:30 a.m. and powered down by midnight.
The dowsing was handled remotely by the LD; not necessarily to my liking but conveniently override-able should the need arise.
My job; be there on time,
point and follow as required, walk away with the last B/O.
NO WAITING ABOUT FOR COOL DOWN!!
Fired ALL DAY, much of the time into a closed
dowser yet you could lean your arm against anywhere you'd want to without that immediate searing pain.
The
Juliat folks clearly have a handle on ventilation, materials, conduction and transference of heat, all of this with little
spill to annoy patrons 6' away in several directions coupled with fan noise at a
level perfectly acceptable in the situation. No large diameter hoses above exhausting carbon and ozone to the exterior either. Not bad Mr.
Juliat, not bad at all.
Handled like a big, heavy Super with the mass / inertia at rest thing going for it.
Bright, steadily so, with no noticeable CT differences across the four of them.
Interesting to catch site of your spot in a
monitor, interesting as to how different the looks appeared live vs. via the cameras.
IMPRESSIVE!!!
Stayed for the out.
On the out it was a fraction of the weight.
The lightweight folding
base afforded the rock solid stability of the much heavier Super bases, yet struck and packed like a dream.
Smaller, lighter, easier to deal with physically when schlepping and, visually, at least as bright as our xenon Supers.
No idea of the model; they came, I ran one for two days, they left.
No Mr. Connor, you'll get no negatives from me.
(Hmpf! How's that for an inadvertent double / triple negative?)
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard