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X-Real-To: stagecraftlist [at] theatrical.net Received: by prxy.net (CommuniGate Pro PIPE 4.2.10) with PIPE id 39378753; Wed, 06 Dec 2006 03:01:20 -0800 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.1.5 (2006-08-29) on localhost X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-0.5 required=5.0 tests=ADVANCE_FEE_1,AWL,BIZ_TLD, NO_RECEIVED,NO_RELAYS,SUBJ_HAS_UNIQ_ID autolearn=no version=3.1.5 X-ListServer: CommuniGate Pro LIST 4.2.10 List-Unsubscribe: List-ID: List-Archive: Message-ID: From: "Stagecraft" Sender: "Stagecraft" To: "Stagecraft" Precedence: list Subject: Stagecraft Digest #1045 Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 03:00:36 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-Disposition: inline X-TFF-CGPSA-Version: 1.4 X-prxy-Spam-Filter: Scanned For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- Stagecraft Digest, Issue #1045 1. Real World Rigging by Dorian Kelly 2. Re: Give it a Break! by Kim Hartshorn 3. Re: Autoreply: Stagecraft Digest #1041 by Stephen Litterst 4. I'm Famous by "Paul Guncheon" 5. Southeast Scene Shops by "Joseph Champelli" 6. Re: Autoreply: Stagecraft Digest #1041 by "Delbert Hall" 7. Re: I'm Famous by "Delbert Hall" 8. Re: Unwinding and bicycling WOT by "Alf Sauve" 9. Video & still picture Playback by "Mike Katz" 10. Re: I'm Famous by "Storms, Randy" 11. Re: Video & still picture Playback by Michael de Almeida 12. Re: Give it a Break! by Chip Wood 13. Re: Video & still picture Playback by "Alf Sauve" 14. Fake books by b Ricie 15. To gloat or not to gloat by b Ricie 16. Re: Autoreply: Stagecraft Digest #1041 by Charlie Richmond 17. Re: Video & still picture Playback by "Ken Romaine" 18. Re: Autoreply: Stagecraft Digest #1041 by "Paul Schreiner" 19. Large Stagecraft class by b Ricie 20. camerasn by b Ricie 21. Re: Autoreply: Stagecraft Digest #1041 by Stephen Litterst 22. Re: Firestarter flashlight by "Michael Finney" 23. Re: To gloat or not to gloat by Bill Sapsis 24. Re: Southeast Scene Shops by Christopher Haas CEHAAS 25. Re: Real World Rigging by Bill Sapsis 26. Re: ETCP Electrician test by "RD" 27. Re: Design fee? by CB 28. Re: Teaching Stagecraft with a large class by "C. Dopher" 29. Mock Whitehouse?? by "Tony Deeming" 30. Re: Firestarter flashlight by CB 31. Re: To Gloat or Not To Gloat? by CB 32. Re: Southeast Scene Shops by "deziner [at] theatreinthepark.com" 33. Re: Real World Rigging by "Tony Deeming" 34. Re: Mock Whitehouse?? by "Jeffrey E. Salzberg" 35. Re: Digital Camera by Greg Williams 36. London Theatre Museum by MartySrq [at] aol.com 37. Re: Mock Whitehouse?? by "Tony Deeming" 38. Re: London Theatre Museum by "Tony Deeming" 39. Re: Autoreply: Stagecraft Digest #1041 by "Ken Romaine" 40. Re: Large Stagecraft class by "RD" 41. Re: I'm Famous by "Occy" 42. Re: Mock Whitehouse?? by Bill Sapsis 43. Re: Mock Whitehouse?? by "Jeffrey E. Salzberg" 44. Re: Real World Rigging by Clive Mitchell 45. Re: London Theatre Museum by "Delbert Hall" 46. Re: Autoreply: Stagecraft Digest #1041 by "Delbert Hall" 47. OT: Gmail (was Re: Autoreply: Stagecraft Digest #1041) by USITT UTA Webmaster 48. Re: OT: Gmail (was Re: Autoreply: Stagecraft Digest #1041) by John McKernon 49. An "interesting" trip by "Michael Powers" 50. Re: OT: Gmail (was Re: Autoreply: Stagecraft Digest #1041) by USITT UTA Webmaster *** Please update the subject line of your reply to use the subject *** line of the message you are replying to! Please only reply to *** one message subject in each reply. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-Id: Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 11:28:38 +0000 From: Dorian Kelly Subject: Real World Rigging To all you riggers out there especially those in the UK, can you help me out? I used to design, make and rig all the public Xmas lights in my home town of Colchester up till a bout four years ago, when I gave up because of budget cuts making it uneconomic. I always rigged using specialist subcontractors who worked to the standards according to the ABTT Code of Practice for Rigging or better. For the last four years I have been appalled at the rigging methods now used and warned, quite loudly and on one occasion in writing that the suspensions were unsafe, only to be told that I had to mind my own business, as they were rigged by experts, and I was showing sour grapes because I no longer had the contract.. This year, two of the cross street decoration in heavy alloy frames came down on the pavement within twenty minutes of each other. No one was hurt by sheer luck As far as I can tell, there were no risk assessments done, or method statement written, the rigging eyes let into the buildings hadn't been tested and tagged for two years, and I know for certain that at least one that I had refused to certify and didn't use myself because it failed a 7Kn test was in use. The heavy alloy frames were rigged using two cross street cables using two dogs at each end, some of which were usually upside down, and non-certified bottle clips with open hooks. The cable appeared to be agricultural grade, 6mm. During the rig, none of the engineers wore safety equipment apart from a filthy yellow jacket and worked on cherrypickers over moving traffic. When I did it, I always rigged with three cables so as not to create a single point failure scenario, used proper theatre grade cable with certified fittings and load tested and certified everything. The chain of responsibility is a matter of dispute. The client ( a privatised arm of the Council) issued no contracts, knew nothing of safety or the law, bought in second hand decorations and relied heavily on the contractors, who were simultaneously rigging in at least twenty different locations and therefore employed whoever they could get, any old tom dick or harry to do the job. The Local Councils planning responsibility had been handed over Health and Safety Executive don't seem interested. The Highways dept ordered the removal of all the other decorations pending an investigation by an independent structural engineer, who, guess what - gave it a clean bill of health provided the bottle clips were replaced and they are now about to put them all up again. No one is to be prosecuted or even censured. Although the ABTT Code of Practice for rigging is very clear and comprehensive, there seems to be nothing for the real world that covers this, apart from LOLER , which seem to be barely relevant to this. . There is a Code of Practice for street decorations issued by the Association of Local Councils, but this is very simple and hardly touches on safety. Has anyone any information I can use in an attempt to have the re-rigging looked at more carefully without recourse to expensive formal complaint? Dorian Kelly -- Illuminati Creative Technology 3 Gladstone Road Colchester Essex UK +44 1206 798076 / 07770 950964 mailto:Info [at] theatrearts.biz ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20061205072245.25e4nlfb4wc8k44w [at] webmail.plattsburgh.edu> Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2006 07:22:45 -0500 From: Kim Hartshorn Subject: Re: Re: Give it a Break! References: In-Reply-To: The duty, again as I see it, is to provide information...not to stop misinformation. The difference is that one is positive and the other negative and doing the first keeps the list positive and doing the second can make the list negative. I think absolutely, if a lister believes their information is vital to a discussion then it should be contributed, I also believe absolutely that if a lister believes something someone else said to be incorrect or misleading or dangerous they should post a contrary view with information identified as supporting their view, not disproving the other. Exclamation points might even be warranted!!! I could agree that there may be some information that is in fact wrong, however, real absolute certainty is a rare gift easily confused with arrogance or lack of humility and difficult to achieve from the close personal perspective of whacking out a reply email within minutes of receiving one that gets your hackles up. For instance yesterday when I wrote this email I saved it instead of sending it, to avoid falling prey to ignoring my own advice. At one time in this country aluminum wire was proven perfectly safe despite the gut feeling of thousands of electricians, betamax was the best choice in video, smoking was beneficial to your health and only sissy riggers used any harness at all (and that would have been a belt harness with a dynamic rope). I am sure all of these 'views' were supported with 'correct' information. I am glad that contrary views, and information, were listened to. My opinions and practices have been changed and refined many times over the years due to discussions on this list. Most often from threads that reflected the contributions of large numbers of listers from a variety of backgrounds not large numbers of posts between a couple of 'experts'. Kim ------------------------------ Message-ID: <45757E4F.4000301 [at] gmail.com> Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2006 09:12:31 -0500 From: Stephen Litterst Organization: University of Delaware Subject: Re: Autoreply: Stagecraft Digest #1041 References:

In-Reply-To: Jim Hyslop wrote: > --------------------------------------------------- > The solution, of course, is for everyone to be kind and thoughtful, by > temporarily suspending subscriptions to email lists :-) Or to use a separate account for mailing lists. Gmail is free and easy to set up. I can then use my autoresponder at work and continue to check list mail through breaks and vacations. Not to mention my gmail account gets considerably less spam than my office account. Steve L. -- Stephen Litterst Technical Operations Supervisor litterst [at] udel.edu Center for the Arts 302/831-0601 University of Delaware ------------------------------ Message-ID: <000c01c7187b$099d0d40$0202a8c0 [at] HUNKACRAP> From: "Paul Guncheon" References: Subject: I'm Famous Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 04:38:29 -1000 Me somebody... http://www.shadetreemechanic.com/gearwrench_winners.htm They didn't put the interview up yet, though. Laters, Paul "Stop your sniveling," Tom decried. ------------------------------ Message-ID: <621d2eb00612050648n25463409id42689f96bdde31c [at] mail.gmail.com> Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 09:48:38 -0500 From: "Joseph Champelli" Subject: Southeast Scene Shops I'm looking for scene shops that are "near" Knoxville Tennessee Atlanta, GA Nashville, TN Louisville, KY Lexington, KY Cincinnati, OH Charleston WV Greensboro NC Charlotte NC Others? Anyone have a favorite that they'd recommend? Joe -- Joseph Champelli University of Tennessee FTSI ------------------------------ Message-ID: Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 09:48:45 -0500 From: "Delbert Hall" Subject: Re: Autoreply: Stagecraft Digest #1041 In-Reply-To: References:

On 12/5/06, Stephen Litterst wrote: > > Or to use a separate account for mailing lists. Gmail is free and easy > to set up. I can then use my autoresponder at work and continue to > check list mail through breaks and vacations. Not to mention my gmail > account gets considerably less spam than my office account. > > Steve L. I want to second Steve's recommendation of using Gmail. I use my Gmail account almost exclusively for my Stagecraft list. I get very little spam on it. -Delbert -- Delbert L. Hall ETCP Certified Rigger - Theatre 423-773-4255 ------------------------------ Message-ID: Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 09:52:35 -0500 From: "Delbert Hall" Subject: Re: I'm Famous In-Reply-To: References:

Congratulations Paul. Nice job. -Delbert -- Delbert L. Hall ETCP Certified Rigger - Theatre Stage rigging Workshops www.delberthall.com 423-773-4255 ------------------------------ Subject: RE: Unwinding and bicycling WOT Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 09:56:07 -0500 Message-ID: In-Reply-To: From: "Alf Sauve" I think a semantical problem with the word "rights". However, when you start talking about enumerated rights then consider Amendments IX & X: "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." And "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." =20 http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/charters.h tml It is the government who has a restricted list of powers. Everything else belongs to the people. =20 Alf -----Original Message----- From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net] On Behalf Of Steve Bailey Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 5:50 PM To: Stagecraft Subject: Unwinding and bicycling WOT For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- Dave Vick wrote: =20 _____ =20 >By the way, no one has a "right" to the road; using those roads by any conveyance whatsoever is a privilege, not a right. If you disagree, please be so kind as to point out the specific passage in the Bill of Rights or the Constitution, either federal or state, that enumerates that "right." < =20 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <7cd95e180612050704y67aae65en7ee4bef9e953d325 [at] mail.gmail.com> Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 10:04:12 -0500 From: "Mike Katz" Subject: Video & still picture Playback Good morning All, We have a production coming up that will require play back of video & still pictures to a minimum of 5 displays/projectors and possibly 7- 10. Sometimes one image will go to all of the displays. Sometimes each display will need to show a different image. We are not budgetless, but we are not Cirque either. The possibility to divide a projectors output into different images, similar to the way that Wet Electrics production designer did, would be helpful. So what suggestions are out there for both hardware & software. We have easier access to macs, but PCs are not hard to find around here either. Before anyone tells me to go to the famous Media Lab across the street from me, Let me state that we in theater need to make it work on time every time, that is not the forte of that lab. TIA Mike ------------------------------ Subject: RE: I'm Famous Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 07:06:09 -0800 Message-ID: <555928311F8B2943B65FC7197942C3B70538C3E5 [at] es1.bsdnet.wednet.edu> From: "Storms, Randy" So, how do you steer that thing...? Randy Storms rstorms [at] bham.wednet.edu -----Original Message----- Me somebody... http://www.shadetreemechanic.com/gearwrench_winners.htm ------------------------------ In-Reply-To: References: Message-Id: <595326EA-BDF9-4B37-A58B-1FAE2F529B60 [at] comcast.net> From: Michael de Almeida Subject: Re: Video & still picture Playback Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 10:16:43 -0500 Check out this. http://www.dataton.com/watchout The software is really flexible and the authorized sales people can help you set up a system pretty quickly. Mike de Almeida ATD/ME/MA Phone: (860) 560-0771 Theaterworks, Hartford e-mail: humhead [at] comcast.net ------------------------------ Message-ID: <45759BF0.5020808 [at] gmail.com> Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2006 09:18:56 -0700 From: Chip Wood Subject: Re: Give it a Break! References:

In-Reply-To: Kim Hartshorn wrote: I also believe > absolutely > that if a lister believes something someone else said to be incorrect or > misleading or dangerous they should post a contrary view with information > identified as supporting their view, not disproving the other. Perhaps this will help alleviate some misunderstandings. At least between two sides of the pond. http://english2american.com/dictionary/wholelot.html Chip ------------------------------ Subject: RE: Video & still picture Playback Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 11:30:53 -0500 Message-ID: In-Reply-To: From: "Alf Sauve" First you need to nail down exactly how many "busses" (different feeds) you will need. That will determine the size of the matrix switcher. If everything is one common signal type (SVGA) that will be cheaper than a scalar switcher which adapts many different formats. =20 See Kramer, Extron, and several others. An example would be the Kramer VP88 (with or without audio). http://kramerelectronics.com/indexes/item.asp?desc=3D454 BE careful to make sure that the matrix will allow more than a 1x1 relationship. Some do not allow to a 1xn distribution. Alf From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net] On Behalf Of Mike Katz Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2006 10:04 AM To: Stagecraft Subject: Video & still picture Playback For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- Good morning All, We have a production coming up that will require play back of video & still pictures to a minimum of 5 displays/projectors and possibly 7- 10. Sometimes one image will go to all of the displays. Sometimes each display will need to show a different image. We are not budgetless, but we are not Cirque either. The possibility to divide a projectors output into different images, similar to the way that Wet Electrics production designer did, would be helpful. So what suggestions are out there for both hardware & software. We have easier access to macs, but PCs are not hard to find around here either. Before anyone tells me to go to the famous Media Lab across the street from me, Let me state that we in theater need to make it work on time every time, that is not the forte of that lab. TIA Mike ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20061205163756.41927.qmail [at] web50614.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 08:37:55 -0800 (PST) From: b Ricie Subject: Fake books In-Reply-To: The best fake books I have used(to date) have been lauan covered with fabric, foam inserts for the pages, and painted. Light and sturdy. For books that do not need to leave the shelf, simply cut the spline from some luaun and tack it to a bit of 1x and paint. The 1x method is a great way to fill book shelves quickly with minimal effort. I would rather make books then use real books. For some strange reason I have a hard time killing books, even bad ones. Brian Rice 508-685-0716 b_ricie [at] yahoo.com "Blessed are the cracked: For it is they who let in the light." ____________________________________________________________________________________ Any questions? Get answers on any topic at www.Answers.yahoo.com. Try it now. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 08:46:11 -0800 (PST) From: b Ricie Subject: To gloat or not to gloat In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <378603.9856.qm [at] web50615.mail.yahoo.com> Had our first snow fall of the season yesterday, the ambulances were out in force. I have come to the conclusion that the optimal performance of an automobile is directly related to how tight the nut behind the wheel is. >>I used to pull the desert rats that owned vehicles like these out of the snow with my ole VW bus. It ain't the truck, it's the driver, folks. Used to pull 'em out of the sand, too! Cheez how they hated that bus...<< Oh how I miss my bus. Had a 73 that I often used as a tow truck. That bus went anywhere, and I drove it everywhere. Brian Rice 508-685-0716 b_ricie [at] yahoo.com "Blessed are the cracked: For it is they who let in the light." ____________________________________________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. http://new.mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 16:47:01 +0000 (GMT) From: Charlie Richmond Subject: Re: Autoreply: Stagecraft Digest #1041 In-Reply-To: Message-ID: References:

On Tue, 5 Dec 2006, Delbert Hall wrote: > Gmail account almost exclusively for my Stagecraft list. I get very > little spam on it. The critical question for me though is how many legit messages get tagged as spam. C ------------------------------ Message-ID: Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 11:38:41 -0500 From: "Ken Romaine" Subject: Re: Video & still picture Playback In-Reply-To: References: Mike: As my sig says, I work for Barco. Barco makes stuff to do exactly what you're trying to do. Our Encore Presentation Syatem may be an excellent fit for you here. I'm sure I could find you a rental house in your area. For information, check out: http://tinyurl.com/y2bybu or http://www.barco.com/events/en/products/product.asp?element=2485 I'm also sending you an off-list e-mail with some more info. Hope this helps! -- Ken Romaine Business Development Manager Barco Media & Entertainment The opinions expressed here are mine - all mine - no matter how much I want to impose them on the rest of the world. On 12/5/06, Mike Katz wrote: > > Good morning All, > We have a production coming up that will require play back of video & > still pictures to a minimum of 5 displays/projectors and possibly 7- > 10. Sometimes one image will go to all of the displays. Sometimes > each display will need to show a different image. We are not > budgetless, but we are not Cirque either. The possibility to divide a > projectors output into different images, similar to the way that Wet > Electrics production designer did, would be helpful. So what > suggestions are out there for both hardware & software. We have easier > access to macs, but PCs are not hard to find around here either. > Before anyone tells me to go to the famous Media Lab across the street > from me, Let me state that we in theater need to make it work on time > every time, that is not the forte of that lab. > TIA > Mike ------------------------------ Subject: RE: Autoreply: Stagecraft Digest #1041 Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 11:56:52 -0500 Message-ID: <6E497ADB607656479C24E6D7BF6B505A06D8FEC4 [at] exchange.rmwc.edu> In-Reply-To: From: "Paul Schreiner" > > Gmail account almost exclusively for my Stagecraft list. I get very=20 > > little spam on it. >=20 > The critical question for me though is how many legit=20 > messages get tagged as spam. I think I've had...well, not a single stagecraft list message end up in spam, even the ones where the subject line was prefaced with [BULK]. I've had a couple of emails from other sites I've registered with which weren't spam but ended up in that folder, but those are (a) few, (b) far between, and (c) of practically no importance whatsoever. The gmail spam filter seems to do a pretty spiffy job. Email me if you want an invite... ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 08:58:13 -0800 (PST) From: b Ricie Subject: Large Stagecraft class In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <906228.48455.qm [at] web50614.mail.yahoo.com> Break the class into teams of two, that will turn a class of 20 into a class of 10. BUT....and it is a big but. Change up the teams every day, or week, or whatever, just don't let them be semester long teams. By working with the "buddy" system the students can watch each other, and can start to learn to work as a team. By changing the teams on a regular basis you get rid of any " clicks" and the students learn to work with people other than their friends, again that working as a team thing. In the future, see if you can limit you class size. Break the class into more sections if need be. Try to make the Admin. understand the danger of a large class. (no one is gonna get hurt in a bio. lecture, but a Table Saw is a different beast). Best of luck. Brian Rice 508-685-0716 b_ricie [at] yahoo.com "Blessed are the cracked: For it is they who let in the light." ____________________________________________________________________________________ Have a burning question? Go to www.Answers.yahoo.com and get answers from real people who know. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 09:04:27 -0800 (PST) From: b Ricie Subject: camerasn In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <86632.52198.qm [at] web50607.mail.yahoo.com> I picked up a Cannon power shot for little money. The camera is almost an SLR, and takes a great picture. (really the camera does the work). You can get a wide angle lens, or macro, and even an underwater housing for the thing, yet it is still small enough to fit in a coat pocket. The thing I like most about digi cams is you can snap and snap and snap pictures and still have a hard time filling a 1 gig card. No need to worry about wasting film and you can tell immediately if you got the shot you wanted. Brian Rice 508-685-0716 b_ricie [at] yahoo.com "Blessed are the cracked: For it is they who let in the light." ____________________________________________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. http://new.mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: <4575AD9D.90002 [at] gmail.com> Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2006 12:34:21 -0500 From: Stephen Litterst Organization: University of Delaware Subject: Re: Autoreply: Stagecraft Digest #1041 References:

In-Reply-To: Charlie Richmond wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > On Tue, 5 Dec 2006, Delbert Hall wrote: > >> Gmail account almost exclusively for my Stagecraft list. I get very >> little spam on it. > > > The critical question for me though is how many legit messages get > tagged as spam. My stagecraft account hasn't taggged a single legit message as spam. I get, at most, two spam messages per week to this account. My personal gmail account gets slightly more spam and has only tagged one legit message as spam. Steve L. -- Stephen Litterst Technical Operations Supervisor litterst [at] udel.edu Center for the Arts 302/831-0601 University of Delaware ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Firestarter flashlight Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 09:39:36 -0800 Message-ID: <44FC1DD5E9E93D4F9D4C289DF28F7C3F27AF8F [at] thinkwellsbs.ThinkWell.corp> From: "Michael Finney" > Dale farmer wrote: <> I actually asked an inspector once (while we waited for the laser boys to sort out their power issues) - he was old enough that I think he'd seen the original design drawings for dirt. His response was that lasers were originally deployed primarily in medical applications, and the turf battle over jurisdiction came down to what industry at the time had the most devices deployed. He also said that there was a good bit of discussion of what kinds of potential injuries could be caused by the device and what agency had inspectors with the most experience in evaluating those risks (and FDA had more people with vision and radiation experience). Not 100% certain that was how it came down, but this great old guy certainly sounded reasonable. (Which might be enough justification right there to assume it couldn't possibly be how any governmental agency could have come up with the decision!) =20 Michael Finney Thinkwell Design & Production mfinney [at] thinkwelldesign.com www.thinkwelldesign.com=20 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2006 13:09:16 -0500 Subject: Re: To gloat or not to gloat From: Bill Sapsis Message-ID: In-Reply-To: Split windshield? Ah, my youth is passing before my eyes. Great times in a VW bus up and down the California coast. Heck, we even drove it sometimes.... Bill S. On 12/5/06 11:46 AM, "b Ricie" wrote: > Oh how I miss my bus. Had a 73 that I often used as a > tow truck. That bus went anywhere, and I drove it > everywhere. ------------------------------ In-Reply-To: Subject: Re: Southeast Scene Shops Message-ID: From: Christopher Haas CEHAAS Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 13:30:11 -0500 Near Greensboro, NC, you have the scene shop for Triad Stage that does outside work. I'm not sure about the shop for NC Shakespeare Festival (which is in High Point). There is also Imagine Design & Production Services. www.imaginedps.com (full disclosure, they are all alums of our program) hth Chip Haas Technical Director Department of Theatre The University of North Carolina at Greensboro 336-334-3891 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2006 13:33:48 -0500 Subject: Re: Real World Rigging From: Bill Sapsis Message-ID: In-Reply-To: Dorian. First, I feel your pain. I've been in that position all too often. Second, before you go calling riggers "every tom, dick & harry" you might want to include a Mary or Judy in there also. I suspect that, like here in the States, there are a number of women riggers. Wouldn't do to ignore them, eh? And finally, while I do not have the info in front of me (I'm on the road...again), it seems to me that the HSE's regulations for working at heights would cover at least some aspects of this problem. Don't they talk about using properly rated gear with frequent inspections, etc. I think you might have it a bit easier over there as you have a few more places to go for recourse in this. You have the HSE and CE, yes? They might be just as difficult to talk with as our OSHA, but they're there. I'd think a letter to the editor of the local paper, with a copy sent to the local HSE office would get someone's attention. You could also talk with the folks at PLASA that are working on the Rigging Assessment/Certification. I know Chris Higgs is involved in that along with a Just a thought from this side of the pond. YMMV Bill S. ETCP Certified Rigger - Theatre ETCP Council Member www.sapsis-rigging.com 800.727.7471 267.278.4561 mobile On 12/5/06 6:28 AM, "Dorian Kelly" wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > To all you riggers out there especially those in the UK, can you help me out? > > I used to design, make and rig all the public Xmas lights in my home > town of Colchester up till a bout four years ago, when I gave up > because of budget cuts making it uneconomic. I always rigged using > specialist subcontractors who worked to the standards according to > the ABTT Code of Practice for Rigging or better. > > For the last four years I have been appalled at the rigging methods > now used and warned, quite loudly and on one occasion in writing that > the suspensions were unsafe, only to be told that I had to mind my > own business, as they were rigged by experts, and I was showing sour > grapes because I no longer had the contract.. > > This year, two of the cross street decoration in heavy alloy frames > came down on the pavement within twenty minutes of each other. No > one was hurt by sheer luck > > As far as I can tell, there were no risk assessments done, or method > statement written, the rigging eyes let into the buildings hadn't > been tested and tagged for two years, and I know for certain that at > least one that I had refused to certify and didn't use myself because > it failed a 7Kn test was in use. The heavy alloy frames were rigged > using two cross street cables using two dogs at each end, some of > which were usually upside down, and non-certified bottle clips with > open hooks. The cable appeared to be agricultural grade, 6mm. During > the rig, none of the engineers wore safety equipment apart from a > filthy yellow jacket and worked on cherrypickers over moving traffic. > > When I did it, I always rigged with three cables so as not to create > a single point failure scenario, used proper theatre grade cable with > certified fittings and load tested and certified everything. The > chain of responsibility is a matter of dispute. The client ( a > privatised arm of the Council) issued no contracts, knew nothing of > safety or the law, bought in second hand decorations and relied > heavily on the contractors, who were simultaneously rigging in at > least twenty different locations and therefore employed whoever they > could get, any old tom dick or harry to do the job. The Local > Councils planning responsibility had been handed over Health and > Safety Executive don't seem interested. > > The Highways dept ordered the removal of all the other decorations > pending an investigation by an independent structural engineer, who, > guess what - gave it a clean bill of health provided the bottle clips > were replaced and they are now about to put them all up again. No one > is to be prosecuted or even censured. > > Although the ABTT Code of Practice for rigging is very clear and > comprehensive, there seems to be nothing for the real world that > covers this, apart from LOLER , which seem to be barely relevant to > this. . There is a Code of Practice for street decorations issued by > the Association of Local Councils, but this is very simple and hardly > touches on safety. > > Has anyone any information I can use in an attempt to have the > re-rigging looked at more carefully without recourse to expensive > formal complaint? > > Dorian Kelly ------------------------------ Reply-To: From: "RD" Subject: RE: ETCP Electrician test Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 11:35:42 -0700 Message-ID: <019201c7189c$2bba1a50$6501a8c0 [at] doom1> In-Reply-To: Steve, contact me off line. Please. Doom -----Original Message----- From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net] On Behalf Of StevevETTrn [at] aol.com Sent: Monday, December 04, 2006 10:15 PM To: Stagecraft Subject: Re: ETCP Electrician test For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- In a message dated 11/27/2006 4:43:38 PM Eastern Standard Time, rcargile [at] uci.edu writes: Hi All, Since there has recently been a lot of talk about the Rigging Exam, I was wondering if anyone has taken the Electrican Exam. If so, what were your thoughts and experiences? ....Ron ---- Ron Cargile ME, Univ of Calif, Irvine (via digest) I have been waiting to see if any one would respond to your query and thereby get some feedback myself. Since it seems that no one has replied, here is my opinion. In the interest of full disclosure, I have been involved with the development of this program since its inception. I was not, however, one of the subject matter experts who wrote the actual examination questions. I did sit for the inaugural examination given this fall in Las Vegas. I found that the questions pretty well covered the broad spectrum of knowledge outlined in the handbook. The exam is definitely tailored for someone with experience in both the basic theories and the more advanced practical aspects of entertainment electrical work. You definitely need to know something about electrical codes and safety regulations. Some rigging and film/video electrical questions are included as are data protocols, power feeders, transformers and generators. It was interesting to hear the comments after the exam from some of the 98 who took it. First, no one that I know of was absolutely sure that they passed it. Everyone felt that it was a good challenging test and that there were many things they knew and some that they did not. The test did reveal some regional distinctions between those accustomed to East coast versus West coast versus Canadian practices. Some, with more theatrical experience, wondered about the fim/video content. Others had little experience with tie-ins or generators. While in entertainment the term "electrician" is often associated with the lighting person, this is not a lighting exam per se. It is about safely and appropriately supplying and using electrical power. Once the results are known, perhaps more will chime in with their opinions. Steve Vanciel Orlando, FL ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20061205114503.00c723c0 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2006 11:45:03 From: CB Subject: Re: Design fee? >the SD handed in a CD with sound >effects on it, and thought his work was done. He had no interest in >setting levels, integrating body mic cues, balancing the sound, etc. >etc. Put one HELL of a stress load on the sound operator. When that happens, I usually give the SBO the design credit as well. I credit the guy that recorded the cues as 'Sound Effects Recordist' or some such. If he wants to go to court, there are a half a dozen sound designers that'd love to get the opportunity to describe what a sound designer actually does for the show. At least it'd be one environment where people would listen, and at least pretend to care... OTOH, I've had directors that considered that the sound design job as well, and I've shared the design credit with the SBO, because they did all the 'in house work'. I've also handed my designs off to the in-house folk only to have it completely destroyed. Just so it's clear, how many speaker where and how many mics on who and when they come up and how much and how loud that trumpeting elephant effect should be is all part of the sound design. My wish to buy a 'package' is a bit of performance art, not a design. Chris "Chris" Babbie Location Sound MON AZ Delete key training and post trimming done by appointment. Rates negotiable, will trade for typing lessons/ADD treatment... ------------------------------ In-Reply-To: References: Message-Id: <08301CC5-F8F1-4B2A-A10F-A60334C47092 [at] dopher.com> From: "C. Dopher" Subject: Re: Teaching Stagecraft with a large class Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 14:46:41 -0500 Stan wrote: > On Dec 4, 2006, at 11:25 AM, pearsontony wrote: > >> . . . trying to plan for a stagecraft class that has twenty >> students. . . . Any suggestions or ideas from people who've done >> this already? > > Structure the course with one or two "lectures" each week, and > additional "labs" with part of the class in each lab. For example, > Mon & Wed each a one-hour class with everyone. Tue a two-hour lab > with ten students (section 1) and Thu a two-hour lab with the other > ten students (section 2). This means more time for you, unless you > have upperclass shop aids or grad students, and the institution will > have to accommodate your schedule and credit structure, but it works > well. When I last used this system, we had 47 students and 4 > sections. We also had a grad program. The last Stagecraft course I taught had 32 students. My format was similar to what Stan describes. We met as a class twice a week and there was nothing I could do about that, so I set it up that we had mass lecture on Tuesdays and lab on Thursdays. The labs accommodated half the class. For the students, it meant one class day out of every four was "off", but they had plenty of homework to make up for it. :) For me, it meant conducting the labs in a safe and controlled manner. For most of the students, it was the first they'd ever handle air-powered tools of any kind and most were vocal performance kids, so safety was of utmost importance - they couldn't monitor their own, if you want to know the truth. > > The second way can work as you suggested. If outside shop hours are > required, do the hands on tool and safety training then. Assuming > your students sign up for different times throughout the week, this > plan can work rather like the first. In either case you will need > some paperwork to keep track of who "has" and who "has not." Crew hours were also a component of my class and they had a choice between working with the staff in the shops or crewing a show - it worked out to a 60-hour commitment on average. The kids who chose shop hours often had a knack for it, were eager to learn the nitty gritty of stagecraft. The ones who chose crew generally were the performers - so it was an appropriate choice, as they themselves would later benefit from younger kids crewing on the shows they starred in. If I'd had separate crew from somewhere else, I would have done the tools training during shop hours with the kids and not done as many labs. Good luck, Tony. Cris Dopher ------------------------------ From: "Tony Deeming" Subject: Mock Whitehouse?? Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 19:47:45 -0000 Message-ID: Here's a question for you's guys over there on the left.... All these TV shows, films & whatnot that are set in or around the Whitehouse... I've often wondered - is there a full scale film set of the building, including interior/exterior scenes? Obviously the wide shots will be the real thing cut in to accompany the sets, but there are too many lavish interiors etc to be something just thrown together... And is this set (or sets?) used for all such shows, on a scheduled basis? Oh - and Air Force One - full sized mock-up when that's in shot, or clever camera/post prod trickery...? Just an idle musing on my part. (Oh, and the new "Commander in Chief" - shows some promise, but nowhere near in the class of West Wing, by the way - sadly). TD ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20061205122140.00c723c0 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2006 12:21:40 From: CB Subject: Re: Firestarter flashlight >Pour another cuppa cocoa, kids, and Grandpa Frank will tell y'all >another story.... Yay! Storytime! Wait, I am actually going to take your advice and get a cuppa cocoa for this... ...cheez I love that espresso machine! OK, I got my cocoa, go! (Oh, the 'King and I' had a fire started by a light pointed at a drop, so I'm already aware that a light can easily ingite combustable organic matter...) ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20061205122542.00c723c0 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2006 12:25:42 From: CB Subject: Re: To Gloat or Not To Gloat? >From what I've read in this thread, yer preachin' to the choir, buddy! I meant it as more of an 'amen!' from the cheap seats, but yeah, you get no argument from me! Chris "Chris" Babbie Location Sound MON AZ Delete key training and post trimming done by appointment. Rates negotiable, will trade for typing lessons/ADD treatment... ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2006 14:52:43 -0500 Subject: Re: Southeast Scene Shops From: "deziner [at] theatreinthepark.com" Message-ID: In-Reply-To: There's also NC School of the Arts in Winston Salem. They do outside jobs. They've done some construction and drop painting for us. There should be someone on the list from NCSA that could give a more definitive answer. Steve > From: Christopher Haas CEHAAS > Reply-To: "Stagecraft" > Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 13:30:11 -0500 > To: "Stagecraft" > Subject: Re: Southeast Scene Shops > > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > Near Greensboro, NC, you have the scene shop for Triad Stage that does > outside work. I'm not sure about the shop for NC Shakespeare Festival > (which is in High Point). > > There is also Imagine Design & Production Services. www.imaginedps.com > (full disclosure, they are all alums of our program) > > hth > > Chip Haas > Technical Director > Department of Theatre > The University of North Carolina at Greensboro > > 336-334-3891 ------------------------------ From: "Tony Deeming" Subject: RE: Real World Rigging Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 19:56:38 -0000 Message-ID: In-Reply-To: Hi Dorian. I have absolutely NO qualification to comment with any authority, as I have no rigging experience outside of theatre, and limited within.... However, I'd say that the HSE itself MAY be the port of call you may wish to use in this case. You've told us that you've spoken/written to the local authority - it may also be wise to put your rational thoughts/comments (again in writing) to a different department at the council, though I'm struggling to think of which might be best to go to in this sort of instance. Just an initial thought, anyway. Oh - and Bill's suggestion of speaking to Chris Higgs is a good idea, too. I have his e-mail someplace if he doesn't pop up here on Stagecraft soon. TD > -----Original Message----- > From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net]On Behalf Of Dorian > Kelly > Sent: 05 December 2006 11:29 > To: Stagecraft > Subject: Real World Rigging > > > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > To all you riggers out there especially those in the UK, can you > help me out? > > I used to design, make and rig all the public Xmas lights in my home > town of Colchester up till a bout four years ago, when I gave up > because of budget cuts making it uneconomic. I always rigged using > specialist subcontractors who worked to the standards according to > the ABTT Code of Practice for Rigging or better. > > For the last four years I have been appalled at the rigging methods > now used and warned, quite loudly and on one occasion in writing that > the suspensions were unsafe, only to be told that I had to mind my > own business, as they were rigged by experts, and I was showing sour > grapes because I no longer had the contract.. > > This year, two of the cross street decoration in heavy alloy frames > came down on the pavement within twenty minutes of each other. No > one was hurt by sheer luck > > As far as I can tell, there were no risk assessments done, or method > statement written, the rigging eyes let into the buildings hadn't > been tested and tagged for two years, and I know for certain that at > least one that I had refused to certify and didn't use myself because > it failed a 7Kn test was in use. The heavy alloy frames were rigged > using two cross street cables using two dogs at each end, some of > which were usually upside down, and non-certified bottle clips with > open hooks. The cable appeared to be agricultural grade, 6mm. During > the rig, none of the engineers wore safety equipment apart from a > filthy yellow jacket and worked on cherrypickers over moving traffic. > > When I did it, I always rigged with three cables so as not to create > a single point failure scenario, used proper theatre grade cable with > certified fittings and load tested and certified everything. The > chain of responsibility is a matter of dispute. The client ( a > privatised arm of the Council) issued no contracts, knew nothing of > safety or the law, bought in second hand decorations and relied > heavily on the contractors, who were simultaneously rigging in at > least twenty different locations and therefore employed whoever they > could get, any old tom dick or harry to do the job. The Local > Councils planning responsibility had been handed over Health and > Safety Executive don't seem interested. > > The Highways dept ordered the removal of all the other decorations > pending an investigation by an independent structural engineer, who, > guess what - gave it a clean bill of health provided the bottle clips > were replaced and they are now about to put them all up again. No one > is to be prosecuted or even censured. > > Although the ABTT Code of Practice for rigging is very clear and > comprehensive, there seems to be nothing for the real world that > covers this, apart from LOLER , which seem to be barely relevant to > this. . There is a Code of Practice for street decorations issued by > the Association of Local Councils, but this is very simple and hardly > touches on safety. > > Has anyone any information I can use in an attempt to have the > re-rigging looked at more carefully without recourse to expensive > formal complaint? > > Dorian Kelly > -- > Illuminati Creative Technology 3 Gladstone Road Colchester Essex UK > +44 1206 798076 / 07770 950964 mailto:Info [at] theatrearts.biz > ------------------------------ Reply-To: From: "Jeffrey E. Salzberg" Subject: RE: Mock Whitehouse?? Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 14:57:32 -0500 Message-ID: <018201c718a7$9a8549e0$6701a8c0 [at] Dell> In-Reply-To: With this president, "mock White House" is redundant.... > is there a full scale > film set of the building, including interior/exterior scenes? West Wing used the same interiors as did the movie (also written by Aaron Sorkin) "The American President", and, eventually got to shoot some close exteriors on the White House grounds. I don't know if the same set's been used for other shows. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2006 14:52:30 -0500 From: Greg Williams Subject: Re: Digital Camera In-reply-to: Message-id: References:

On Dec 3, 2006, at 1:54 PM, Arthur Williams wrote: > We are looking into getting a camera for archives and simple > publicity work. Can anyone suggest a favorite digital camera which > works well under stage lighting but doesn't break the bank? I have > some photograph-capable people on staff, so we can go beyond a > simple point and shoot. > > thanks in advance. I think either Nikon or Canon would be fine, as long as you get capability to change lenses. Unless you're willing to spend +/- $2800, (just for the body), you're going to have conversion factors on your lenses to compensate for the reduced (smaller than 35mm) sensor size on most digital cameras. Nikon glass is very nice throughout all their price ranges, whereas Canon definitely has a top tier or two and then "price point" lenses. You probably won't notice the difference between a mid-level and upper-level lens, however, on the smaller sensor size... most of the money on the upper level lenses is due to lack of aberration out to the edges, a trait not needed on the smaller sensors. You can go to www.dpreview.com for side-by-side comparisons of nearly every make and model available. The biggest factor to look for is the ability to shoot in "RAW" format. RAW will allow you to manipulate each image much the same way that entire rolls of film are done in the processing and printing. I went with a Canon 5D and a selection of lenses. Haven't regretted it even once. -=Greg Williams=- www.LRLR.org ------------------------------ From: MartySrq [at] aol.com Message-ID: Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 15:13:43 EST Subject: London Theatre Museum The London Theatre Museum in Covent Garden is about to be shut down. It's not one of world's great museums but has some neat stuff like David Garrick's hand props and items like that. The people trying to save it claim it's a rotten deal and are asking for support -not money - just support. If you're interested go to: www.theatremuseumguardians.org.uk It was always a nice hour or so before going to dinner and a show in the West End. Marty ------------------------------ From: "Tony Deeming" Cc: stagecraft [at] jeffsalzberg.com Subject: RE: Mock Whitehouse?? Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 20:19:52 -0000 Message-ID: In-Reply-To: > > is there a full scale > > film set of the building, including interior/exterior scenes? > > West Wing used the same interiors as did the movie (also written by Aaron > Sorkin) "The American President", and, eventually got to shoot some close > exteriors on the White House grounds. I don't know if the same set's been > used for other shows. > On a side note, watched "The American President" a few weeks back (again) and it's easy to see where that moved on to the west Wing as a series. Very good film, with parts in there for many who'd go on to play in the series... Including, IIRC, Jed Bartlett himself (in a different guise, of course!!) ------------------------------ From: "Tony Deeming" Subject: RE: London Theatre Museum Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 20:24:19 -0000 Message-ID: In-Reply-To: There's a whole thread on this over in the Blue Room. http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=16366&hl= Many people have commented on how it may be a cloud with a silver lining - there's a lot of room for a new venue to be set up, maybe with a more interactive set of exhibits. I personally felt that it wasn't a particularly enthralling visit when last I went - once you're past "That's quaint - I used to use one of 'those' 20 years ago" it gets a little tedious. There's also http://www.theatremuseumguardians.org/, however. TD > -----Original Message----- > From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net]On Behalf Of > MartySrq [at] aol.com > Sent: 05 December 2006 20:14 > To: Stagecraft > Subject: London Theatre Museum > > > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > The London Theatre Museum in Covent Garden is about to be shut > down. It's not > one of world's great museums but has some neat stuff like David Garrick's > hand props and items like that. The people trying to save it > claim it's a rotten > deal and are asking for support -not money - just support. If you're > interested go to: > > www.theatremuseumguardians.org.uk > > It was always a nice hour or so before going to dinner and a show > in the West > End. > > > Marty > ------------------------------ Message-ID: Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 15:24:52 -0500 From: "Ken Romaine" Subject: Re: Autoreply: Stagecraft Digest #1041 In-Reply-To: References:

I've used a seperate Gmail account for the Stagecraft List since August 23, 2005. That's 4081 conversations. 59 Mb of my (currently) 2791 Mb storage allotment. I have nothing but praise for it! Nicely organized, and easily searchable. Unlike the Archives. (Sorry, Noah. That wasn't meant as a dig at you - I appreciate the work you put into keeping this list running, and how hard it is to deal with the archives. Your effort is very appreciated here!) So far haven't had a single real message tagged as spam. However, my spam receiving experience is much different from the other folk who have written here on this topic. My Stagecraft Gmail account has been getting over 15 spam messages a day for months now. Not that it's a big deal - look in the Spam file, see all the spam, sometimes check out the spam recipe, delete all the spam. Or, I could leave it there and it goes away by itself after 30 days. That said, my personal Gmail account gets almost no spam - one or two a week. Gmail and the Stagecraft List - Perfect Together! (To borrow the current New Jersey marketing tag.) If anyone would like a Gmail invitation, please let me know. Happy to oblige. -- Ken Romaine Business Development Manager Barco Media & Entertainment The opinions expressed here are mine - all mine - no matter how much I want to impose them on the rest of the world. On 12/5/06, Stephen Litterst wrote: > > Charlie Richmond wrote: > > > > The critical question for me though is how many legit messages get > > tagged as spam. > > My stagecraft account hasn't taggged a single legit message as spam. I > get, at most, two spam messages per week to this account. > > My personal gmail account gets slightly more spam and has only tagged > one legit message as spam. > > Steve L. ------------------------------ Reply-To: From: "RD" Subject: RE: Large Stagecraft class Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 13:37:01 -0700 Message-ID: <01dd01c718ad$1e6a24b0$6501a8c0 [at] doom1> In-Reply-To: Excellent advice. Smaller units are easier to manage, ask questions, receive direct answers, and give examples for, as well as to illustrate in lab situations. It can be done, has been done, and ought to be done. Doom -----Original Message----- From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net] On Behalf Of b Ricie Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2006 9:58 AM To: Stagecraft Subject: Large Stagecraft class For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- Break the class into teams of two, that will turn a class of 20 into a class of 10. BUT....and it is a big but. Change up the teams every day, or week, or whatever, just don't let them be semester long teams. By working with the "buddy" system the students can watch each other, and can start to learn to work as a team. By changing the teams on a regular basis you get rid of any " clicks" and the students learn to work with people other than their friends, again that working as a team thing. In the future, see if you can limit you class size. Break the class into more sections if need be. Try to make the Admin. understand the danger of a large class. (no one is gonna get hurt in a bio. lecture, but a Table Saw is a different beast). Best of luck. Brian Rice 508-685-0716 b_ricie [at] yahoo.com "Blessed are the cracked: For it is they who let in the light." ____________________________________________________________________________ ________ Have a burning question? Go to www.Answers.yahoo.com and get answers from real people who know. ------------------------------ Message-ID: From: "Occy" References:

Subject: Re: I'm Famous Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 13:08:54 -0800 Congrats! Paul, Santa loves you too! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Guncheon" > --------------------------------------------------- > > Me somebody... > > http://www.shadetreemechanic.com/gearwrench_winners.htm > > They didn't put the interview up yet, though. > > Laters, > > Paul > > "Stop your sniveling," Tom decried. > > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:19:00 -0500 Subject: Re: Mock Whitehouse?? From: Bill Sapsis Message-ID: In-Reply-To: Having worked at the White House I always enjoy seeing how they represent it on TV. You will never get an exact duplicate of the White House or Air Force One. The government isn't about to give out that information. Yes, the wide shots are from the street where it's perfectly legal to take a picture. The rest is up to the imagination of the producer. What I do not know is if there is any watchdog committee that a TV show has to pass before they use one of their made up sets. I mean, I suppose it's possible that through memory of a visit and lucky guesses someone could get the Oval Office depicted pretty accurately. Can't have that on international TV now can we? By the way, if you ever get an opportunity to work there, take it. It is an amazing place to be in, let alone work in. Bill S. ETCP Certified Rigger - Theatre ETCP Council Member www.sapsis-rigging.com 800.727.7471 267.278.4561 mobile On 12/5/06 2:47 PM, "Tony Deeming" wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > Here's a question for you's guys over there on the left.... > > All these TV shows, films & whatnot that are set in or around the > Whitehouse... I've often wondered - is there a full scale film set of the > building, including interior/exterior scenes? Obviously the wide shots will > be the real thing cut in to accompany the sets, but there are too many > lavish interiors etc to be something just thrown together... > And is this set (or sets?) used for all such shows, on a scheduled basis? > > Oh - and Air Force One - full sized mock-up when that's in shot, or clever > camera/post prod trickery...? > > Just an idle musing on my part. > > (Oh, and the new "Commander in Chief" - shows some promise, but nowhere near > in the class of West Wing, by the way - sadly). > > TD > > ------------------------------ Reply-To: From: "Jeffrey E. Salzberg" Subject: RE: Mock Whitehouse?? Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 16:22:35 -0500 Message-ID: <01b001c718b3$7c1b6050$6701a8c0 [at] Dell> In-Reply-To: > I suppose it's possible that > through memory of a visit and lucky guesses someone could get > the Oval Office depicted pretty accurately. West Wing, remember, had several former White House aides -- including the press secretaries for Clinton and GHW Bush -- as consultants. ------------------------------ Message-ID: Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 21:23:42 +0000 From: Clive Mitchell Subject: Re: Real World Rigging References: In-Reply-To: In message , Dorian Kelly writes >Has anyone any information I can use in an attempt to have the >re-rigging looked at more carefully without recourse to expensive >formal complaint? Just remember. The contract doesn't necessarily go to the best installer...... There is a risk that by deliberately stirring things up you may be made to look bad yourself. I think the contractors have already made more of a statement about themselves than you could ever do. This wasn't a street lighting contractor named after a star constellation was it? We've had some really bad work done locally by a street lighting contractor who seems to employ individuals that are not electrically gifted. I don't think Christmas lighting catenary cables are really classed as theatrical rigging. Ours are inspected regularly and every so often a sample rope is sent for destructive load testing and replaced with a new one. (Large diameter permanently installed ropes.) I guess the fact I've been doing our local city lights for the past 15 years with NL suggests the council must be happy with my work. It's actually one of my favourite jobs. Here's a live webcam picture of mine. They just survived a rather violent storm! http://www.glasgowcitycouncil.co.uk/webcam/fullsize.jpg Note the absolute mutha of a tree we ended up with after the first one got snapped by the installers. The much larger than usual surface area meant that a one day job ended up as a three day job in sustained torrential rain! Truly a joy. Now all I have to contend with is the mindless and continuous vandalism of the lights around the city centre. Anywhere lights are reachable from the ground (even behind barriers) the lights and cables will be ripped out by the local scum. -- Clive Mitchell http://www.bigclive.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 17:40:06 -0500 From: "Delbert Hall" Subject: Re: London Theatre Museum In-Reply-To: References: I was there in the Aug. 2004. It was an OK museum. They had some interesting stuff that I would hate to see lost. Plus, it was free - can't bet that. I also took in the tour of the Drury Lane Theatre (just across the street). It was good, but not free. -Delbert -- Delbert L. Hall ETCP Certified Rigger - Theatre 423-773-4255 ------------------------------ Message-ID: Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 17:53:57 -0500 From: "Delbert Hall" Subject: Re: Autoreply: Stagecraft Digest #1041 In-Reply-To: References:

The Spam filter works amazingly well in Gmail, Spam goes into the "Spam" box and Stagecraft messages into the "In" box. Like oil and water, they don't mix. -Delbert -- Delbert L. Hall ETCP Certified Rigger - Theatre 423-773-4255 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <45760D14.8000705 [at] usittuta.org> Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2006 18:21:40 -0600 From: USITT UTA Webmaster Subject: OT: Gmail (was Re: Autoreply: Stagecraft Digest #1041) References:

In-Reply-To: The first thing to understand about email addresses is that if you don't give them out to the wrong places, you'll never get spam. You could dedicate one Gmail account to only getting your mailing list subscriptions, and as long as you don't use it for anything else, you'll be spam free. On top of that, Gmail has a fantastic filters feature. You can set up filters to sort out mail sent to different versions of your email address that have been modified with a plus sign. For example, you can sign up for this list with 'yourname+stagecraft [at] gmail.com' and another list with 'yourname+vectorworks [at] gmail.com' and set up the appropriate filters in Gmail, and they will all go to 'yourname [at] gmail.com' but be sorted per the filters. This is also a great way to fight spam. Say you use your email address to buy something on line or sign up to a random site that you may not fully trust, you could have 'yourname+thatsite [at] gmail.com' and via the filters know who's been giving out your email address to those nasty spammers. Personally, the Gmail spam filter has been good to me. Its only let a handful slip by in the past couple of years and has never snagged a legitimate email away from me. LifeHacker has a ton of great Gmail tips: http://lifehacker.com/software/gmail/ This article in specific is about the filters: http://tinyurl.com/durf9 ( or http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1871053,00.asp ) Kyler Glaze kyler [at] kylerglaze.com http://www.usittuta.org/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2006 23:00:41 -0500 Subject: Re: OT: Gmail (was Re: Autoreply: Stagecraft Digest #1041) From: John McKernon Message-ID: In-Reply-To: > The first thing to understand about email addresses is that if you don't > give them out to the wrong places, you'll never get spam. You could > dedicate one Gmail account to only getting your mailing list > subscriptions, and as long as you don't use it for anything else, you'll > be spam free. I have an email address that is used for nothing but this stagecraft list, and I have gotten spam on that email address. I can't imagine why or how, but there it is, fortunately relatively rarely... Just my experience, YMMV. - John ------------------------------ Message-ID: <58f67b0f0612060028i6ebe6869m9de927f3b27f5636 [at] mail.gmail.com> Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 02:28:19 -0600 From: "Michael Powers" Subject: An "interesting" trip Well, I'm back from Tahoe. Gorgeous place, I love mountains and snow. However it was an ...... "Interesting" ..... trip. Anyone who has been on the road should get a bit of amusement out of this. The first section is the e-mail I sent the office to let them know I had arrived. ============ First, All is fine. I'm checked in and unpacked, dinner is in front of me and a single malt scotch, double, neat, is in my right hand. Now for the odyssey of the last 21 miles. Good news: the actual site is Incline Village, not Tahoe Village. It's only 21 miles from Reno instead of 56. Bad news: The 21 miles is over a 2 lane, twisty, 9,000' (well OK only 8,933') mountain pass. According to the sign at the top, "The highest pass in the Sierras open year around." The last 21 miles took 2-1/2 hours. Bad news: CB chatter says I-80 is shut down at the Ca/Nv border due to heavy snow and high winds. Good News: I'm only going to Reno and then heading south. Good news: The first snow storm, about 150 miles east of Reno, around Rye Patch Dam, only lasted about 5 minutes and then I drove out of it. Sunshine and blue sky all the way to Reno. Bad News: The second storm hit when I was half way up the pass from Reno to Incline Village. Good news: Because I left early I was still driving in daylight. Bad news: The winds were blowing the snow so hard you couldn't see anyway. It was close to white out at times. I was driving between 10 and 20 mph most of the way in fourth gear (out of twelve). Passed a bad wreck on the way up. A 4x4 SUV coming down thought he had the control to turn and stop as well as "go". Went straight on a downhill curve and hit an up-bound car head on. Real mess. They had to put a snow plow against the tangled mess and shove it enough for traffic to get by. The High Way patrol said It was 15 miles either way, to keep going or to turn back, but DON'T stop. Please keep moving if at all possible so as not to block the road and so they wouldn't have to come up and rescue us later. (we chatted as we waited for the snow plow to push the wreck aside). Very few turn outs and none really big enough for the truck, I probably had 20 cars behind me by the time we got down the pass. Maybe I kept one or two from making the same mistake as the guy in the wreck. It really wasn't that bad. Snow hard pack but easy driving, as long as you kept the speed down. I'm thankful for my many years of winter driving experience in Colorado high country. Good News: The directions to the Hotel were easy and I found the turnoff right away. Bad News: As I turned off the High way and down the road, I saw a sign with a truck and the red circle with a slash that said NO TRUCKS. Straight ahead I saw a narrow, steep no shoulder road with the first turn that looked far too tight to get the truck around. I figured stopping now was probably a good choice. Turns out I was right. The guy from the fire dept said it would have taken a crane and a couple of winches to get the truck out if I had tried to go down that hill. Good News: I had my cell and the Hotel # handy so I could call about how to get there. Bad News: "OH, you mean a "real" truck!?! You have to go past the village, hit rte. 28 and come into town from the other side. Third stop light and take a right. Bad News: When I tried to back back up and out onto the main road, there wasn't enough traction. It almost wanted to do it but the truck was trying to slide sideways toward the ditch. Good News: I was right across the street from a fire/EMT station. (See above for their advice as to trying the road.) Trudge across through the snow, one of the guys had seen me try to back out and thought I almost made it, he had the door open and a cup of coffee waiting when I walked up. We decided to try the HI Tech solution. A couple of bags of kitty litter under the drive wheels was all it took and I was out and on my way! =============== Turns out it was a good thing I kept going, the pass was closed all day Monday, and the alternate route required chains which I didn't have. The soonest I would have arrived would have been about 11:00 am Tuesday ......... The first general session was Tuesday morning at 8 am. =============== The first two days were at the hotel ballroom and break-out rooms. The final day shifted about half of the lights, projectors etc to a second site about 1/4 mile away for the closing night banquet and awards ceremony. The Hotel "loading dock" was a 30 degree, narrow ramp with a 90 corner at the bottom. When I backed up to the point where the ramp went from 20 to 30 degrees, lowered the rear suspension, the truck bed was only a little up hill, the ramp was almost level and we only had about 15' uphill to the ballroom level. On the "moving day" there were about 5 trips back and fourth as the equipment that had to be moved became available at different times and there was not enough time to do the set up if we waited until everything was free. There was no loading dock at the second facility but it was actually easier. The front landing was level with the truck bed and I could back up close enough to let the ramp span straight across. The real problem was that the hotel staff didn't seem to understand, even when told them I would be returning, that when I pulled out, that I was coming back! Every time I left, they pulled maintenance trucks and step vans into the ramp area or parked them where I needed swing room to make the 90 corner backing back in. Every trip I had to get someone to move. =================== On the trip home I was rolling east out of Salt Lake, and as I came up on exit 280, there was a line of rigs about a mile long in the exit lane and a portable message sign advising all traffic to exit, I-80 was closed. I found myself in the greater metropolis of Carlin, Nv. two motels and a truck stop. There were about 400 rigs and as many passenger cars, RV's, motor homes and such parked all over town, and the number was growing rapidly as traffic moved in from the west. Turns out a cattle truck had rolled over just east of the tunnel. There were dead livestock on the road and injured, spooked cattle romping around the highway. They had to stop all traffic, both ways. If you've ever seen a car after hitting a 120 pound deer, think what the result would be after hitting a 500 lb steer! 80 was closed both ways and would be for 6 to 8 hours. I was scheduled for layover in an hour anyway so I hit the motel, no sleeper in our truck. The first motel was full, the second had one room left, smoking ......... I took it anyway. ================== The rest of the trip was uneventful ================= Anyway, that's the story! -- Michael Michael Powers Director of Operations Central Lighting & Equipment 1720 Fuller Rd. Suite 150 West Des Moines Iowa 50265 515-277-4190 877-977-4190 Fax 515-277-2295 515-557-0178 cell michael [at] clelights.com ------------------------------ Message-ID: <457681D8.8010509 [at] usittuta.org> Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 02:39:52 -0600 From: USITT UTA Webmaster Subject: Re: OT: Gmail (was Re: Autoreply: Stagecraft Digest #1041) References: In-Reply-To: John McKernon wrote: > I have an email address that is used for nothing but this stagecraft list, > and I have gotten spam on that email address. I can't imagine why or how, > but there it is, fortunately relatively rarely... > > Just my experience, YMMV. > > - John > > Spammers like to run little scripts or bots that crawl the web, download web pages, and search through the lines of code to pull out usable email addresses to add to their lists. I know the archives of this list use a safe 'name [at] email.com' format which tends to confuse those bots, but the Member's Pages section uses a typical 'name [at] email.com' format which is easy for the bots to cull. I don't see you on the Member's Pages, so I don't have an answer for you in particular, but using the Gmail filters could help you find out if that small amount of spam is being caused by this list or by some other nefarious means. Kyler Glaze kyler [at] kylerglaze.com http://www.usittuta.org/ ------------------------------ End of Stagecraft Digest #1045 ******************************