First you learn the basics, than you learn the toys. Hmm, sit down at a computer and net away, but short of a typing class, your use of it no matter how advanced will be limited.
First you study the normal telescope, than you get into the spectral telescope. (Spectral telescopes relates to lamps in
color temperature as something to learn about.)
In other words, and in my opinion, it's high school - four years and there is a lot to learn about
conventional lights in high school much less college where they should have at least some in a good program to learn with but still not focus upon. I am of the opinion that high schools do not need to focus on waves of technology, they need to educate into the basics first.
Some of you will never end up in a place that has moving lights. The
point of high school is to give a basic education. Would it not be better to learn basics and if time even more advanced methods for lighting the
stage with
conventional fixtures in having lots of experience with design on them, than part conventionals and part moving lights - both in a limited way given the time spent with them?
Wave of the future or not, aptitude for younger generations to learn stuff at an accelerated
level to my own generation or not, there is more than just
McCandless "A Method" to learn when designing with conventionals, as if his theory/solution can be mastered in a few years. One can spend ten or fifty years learning about design just with them and still not perfect the look you wish for. Much less, in figuring out how to get more art out of your looks. Lighting the
stage is easy, making it have the
effect you need is something that takes time to learn even realizing the
effect possible much less how to reproduce it.
A moving light as a tool is useful in creating these looks at times but on the
base level it's often more distraction than a tool to learn the art with in a general way. You spend how much time learning how to use the moving light in comparison to perfecting the same looks over a period of shows with conventionals?
Magic has been made with
filament based lights since the 1920's and before. One might look at some of the art created by Appia, Jones, Craig and Neiher as early pioneers both in set and lighting even before a moving light was dreamed of and produced during my generation.
Harsh I admit in reality check but newest technology in my opinion is not necessary yet in high school. (Perhaps as a once a year or every other year rental but concentrate upon the basics first.) Many of you can count your lighting experience on one
hand. Others on perhaps two. I'm on the fingers and toes and still attempting to master the scene with conventionals in having made some at least moments of magic in the past. Those that say they master lighting with conventionals are limited in my opinion if you value my observation. There is ever so much more to learn even post college graduates don't master including myself.
This is my belief. Before you buy a new hammer, learn how to use the one you have now because the new one won't more easily make the nails go into the lumber until you learn the technique.
"And
changeover will be ever so much easier." That's what you are there to learn, techniques and time savers in making what you have work as a
system easier without having to worry yet about the very expensive to keep running moving lights plus normal fixtures. It's only a solution if you can afford the lamps and maintinence. High school labor is free thus not ecomomical in comparision - nor should it be. Stuff about pain in the rear that has to be experienced or all change overs short of moving lights will be just too much of a pain in the rear. Your first car is not a BMW for a reason, same with lighting equipment.
Before you invest into a moving light that's going to solve all of your problems, learn how to use the tools you have on
hand, and expand upon them with similar ones in costing much less than only one good moving light. One moving light for four to ten conventionals. How many times have you run out of fixtures available in the inventory and wished for just one more?
Yes the moving light will expand the usefulness of this to some extent - given the learning curve is now centered around how to make art with this moving light instead of in general with what you already have not mastered. Looks good is different than the look on the audience in
face when they are moved by the piece you are helping. A few more dimmers or something that is display of your high tech for the money?
Hope this does not make those using moving lights in high school tune out my own opinion, but remember that I'm coming from a post high school and college setting where moving lights are not always available, much less mastering the lighting art with conventionals can use all the time in experience with them - just them possible in general. Some are great artists and quickly master the art, others take a lot more time. In thinking about your school, even if you are ready in having "mastered the art" with conventionals, now that your school has the extra tools, what kind of world are you leaving the next generation of students that perhaps won't master
conventional's as fast as you did?