Hi all!
I'm noodling this question for my own theaters: What would my ideal side lighting position be? And how do I make the position as simple to access, hang, circuit, and focus as possible?
A little background on the question in itself: I work for a university meaning the level of skilled labor I have access to fluctuates frequently as new students come in and old students leave. I'd love to give the students something that gives them a few skills, shows them some new equipment, and makes them think about how much thought and preparation went into making this thing work. The production schedule is often hectic and the lack of a consistent labor pool means complicated solutions often cannot from show to show. The dance show's however are always variations on the same rep plot, and the side lighting positions are the ones I believe have the most potential for being improved (mainly because they take the most time somehow).
What I've got now: I have floor ladders which are our stock side lighting for dance. They are screwed into the floor and a bit difficult to circuit and hang (floor pockets with just 1 less circuit then I need). They are only 7-8' tall but the very top overhung position is just out of reach for most of us working here. In order to achieve a "high side" light position we've used drop down ladders from our main electrics which for a variety of reasons are a PITA.
What the design team would like: a position easy to hang, easy to stow away, 18-20' tall, & safe.
What I would like: exactly what the design team wants; but, thought out in such a way that once I draw it up and take pictures of its finished state I can hand it to an employee that has never seen the thing before and have them get it exactly right with a minimum of help.
I can give you more details if you ask for them in the thread below.
What I'd like from you guys in this forum is some inspiration: What cool ways of achieving sidelight do you have?
Do you have any tricks of the trade you're willing to share?
Any pictures or descriptions of the coolest and easiest to set up touring rig you've ever seen for stuff like this?
Advice on what you guys do to combat limited circuits?
Recommendations for the latest and greatest thingamabob?
Another thread with something related in it that I just couldn't find by searching?
I'd really appreciate your insight!
TLDR: I'm trying to get my sidelight floor ladder/boom positions to be a bit easier to setup and use, what are your recommendations?
Thanks,
D.
I'm noodling this question for my own theaters: What would my ideal side lighting position be? And how do I make the position as simple to access, hang, circuit, and focus as possible?
A little background on the question in itself: I work for a university meaning the level of skilled labor I have access to fluctuates frequently as new students come in and old students leave. I'd love to give the students something that gives them a few skills, shows them some new equipment, and makes them think about how much thought and preparation went into making this thing work. The production schedule is often hectic and the lack of a consistent labor pool means complicated solutions often cannot from show to show. The dance show's however are always variations on the same rep plot, and the side lighting positions are the ones I believe have the most potential for being improved (mainly because they take the most time somehow).
What I've got now: I have floor ladders which are our stock side lighting for dance. They are screwed into the floor and a bit difficult to circuit and hang (floor pockets with just 1 less circuit then I need). They are only 7-8' tall but the very top overhung position is just out of reach for most of us working here. In order to achieve a "high side" light position we've used drop down ladders from our main electrics which for a variety of reasons are a PITA.
What the design team would like: a position easy to hang, easy to stow away, 18-20' tall, & safe.
What I would like: exactly what the design team wants; but, thought out in such a way that once I draw it up and take pictures of its finished state I can hand it to an employee that has never seen the thing before and have them get it exactly right with a minimum of help.
I can give you more details if you ask for them in the thread below.
What I'd like from you guys in this forum is some inspiration: What cool ways of achieving sidelight do you have?
Do you have any tricks of the trade you're willing to share?
Any pictures or descriptions of the coolest and easiest to set up touring rig you've ever seen for stuff like this?
Advice on what you guys do to combat limited circuits?
Recommendations for the latest and greatest thingamabob?
Another thread with something related in it that I just couldn't find by searching?
I'd really appreciate your insight!
TLDR: I'm trying to get my sidelight floor ladder/boom positions to be a bit easier to setup and use, what are your recommendations?
Thanks,
D.