Probably the best advice I've ever seen in print about how to build a good theater was think of it as a factory, designed with the goal of building a theatrical event in the most cost effective and efficient manner possible. Aesthetics have a place, especially in the presentation of the space to the audience, but the product on stage is just that, a product.
Things I like about out theater, a 2400 seat road house and stuff I'd fight harder for. Not in any order
- Lot's of A.C power in utility outlets available on-stage (and everywhere else), as "pendant" cables - I.E. double duplex 20 amp edison receptacles, some with a pig-tail 2P&G, all on 75ft SOOW cables permanently attached to a distribution box so I don't have to worry about extension cords getting stolen. I have 18 x 20 amp of these outlets. Some are isolated ground, some are on DMX relays. Provide for a lot of A.C outlets, DMX controlled when possible, in every location you could conceivably place any kind of stage lighting.
- A permanent running light system, cross-over lighting, fly rail lighting system, catwalks, grid systems, etc... all controlled from a backstage and other controllers. Provides blue and N/C where needed. Can be on a Unison/Paradigm type control.
- Unison/Paradigm control for works, running, relays, spotting light, assorted powered devices, all from LCD touchscreens at convenient locations. The nice thing about touchscreens is you can re-program the button and screen functionality down the road when the theater changes some functions and needs to add stuff.
- Ethernet everywhere and more then you can ever consider using.
- Get as many dimmers as possible and scream for more. Do not back down on the numbers of dimmers. At some point somebody will want to use it all. Have every light on it's own dimmer if possible. Have ton's of relay circuits for non-dimmable devices.
- If a proscenium house, do not back down on the grid height. It needs to be as high as code allows and 2-1/2 to 3 times proscenium height - I believe is the usual ?. Do not let them take this away as a cost saving as it's crucial to making the space work efficiently. If they want motorized winches for electrics, that's great if you always have the electrics on the same pipe. Or winch the whole system and make them put in a lot of winches. I'm a big fan of winches currently as we have all our electrics motorized and it's a labor savor. Not totally sold on regular linesets, but I do like simply being able to load a pipe and press UP.
- If a proscenium, cut a 1/4" groove US to DS, back wall to pit edge, filled with the same material as the floor (Masonite, tongue and groove wood, etc...) as a center line mark. Makes life really simple when looking for a measurement point. Do the same L/R at piaster line.
- Put in hot and cold running water near the stage, with a drain/sink. Do not make companies/events that need running water run hoses to some place remote in the building. Washer/Dryer for a tour ?. Doing a show needing a running sink or shower ?, an ice show ?.
That's it for now.
Things I like about out theater, a 2400 seat road house and stuff I'd fight harder for. Not in any order
- Lot's of A.C power in utility outlets available on-stage (and everywhere else), as "pendant" cables - I.E. double duplex 20 amp edison receptacles, some with a pig-tail 2P&G, all on 75ft SOOW cables permanently attached to a distribution box so I don't have to worry about extension cords getting stolen. I have 18 x 20 amp of these outlets. Some are isolated ground, some are on DMX relays. Provide for a lot of A.C outlets, DMX controlled when possible, in every location you could conceivably place any kind of stage lighting.
- A permanent running light system, cross-over lighting, fly rail lighting system, catwalks, grid systems, etc... all controlled from a backstage and other controllers. Provides blue and N/C where needed. Can be on a Unison/Paradigm type control.
- Unison/Paradigm control for works, running, relays, spotting light, assorted powered devices, all from LCD touchscreens at convenient locations. The nice thing about touchscreens is you can re-program the button and screen functionality down the road when the theater changes some functions and needs to add stuff.
- Ethernet everywhere and more then you can ever consider using.
- Get as many dimmers as possible and scream for more. Do not back down on the numbers of dimmers. At some point somebody will want to use it all. Have every light on it's own dimmer if possible. Have ton's of relay circuits for non-dimmable devices.
- If a proscenium house, do not back down on the grid height. It needs to be as high as code allows and 2-1/2 to 3 times proscenium height - I believe is the usual ?. Do not let them take this away as a cost saving as it's crucial to making the space work efficiently. If they want motorized winches for electrics, that's great if you always have the electrics on the same pipe. Or winch the whole system and make them put in a lot of winches. I'm a big fan of winches currently as we have all our electrics motorized and it's a labor savor. Not totally sold on regular linesets, but I do like simply being able to load a pipe and press UP.
- If a proscenium, cut a 1/4" groove US to DS, back wall to pit edge, filled with the same material as the floor (Masonite, tongue and groove wood, etc...) as a center line mark. Makes life really simple when looking for a measurement point. Do the same L/R at piaster line.
- Put in hot and cold running water near the stage, with a drain/sink. Do not make companies/events that need running water run hoses to some place remote in the building. Washer/Dryer for a tour ?. Doing a show needing a running sink or shower ?, an ice show ?.
That's it for now.