CAUTION: THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS SOME TECHNICAL DETAILS ABOUT THEATRE LIGHTING. BE ADVISED: IF THIS BORES YOU, SUCK IT.
Anyhoo. During this show, I'm running lighting and video (lighting off the GrandMA Lite, video off the Dataton Watchout systems w/ two projectors and three graphics PCs). We've had wicked problems with moving lights, specifcailly three Marting MAC 2K Profiles. These are a journeyman moving light, known to be reasonably problem free. This has not been my experience. We've had two lamps fail (unexpected from a lamp with a 750-hour lifespan) and three fixtures fail altogether. Out of three. The problem, I think, is that these are the only fixtures we have that want to run on 208V power. Our power is old Philly "two phase," That actually produces 240V, and that is not consistent. We've adapted the lights to run on our voltage, but the problems have continued.
Generally no problems in the last few days, after our most recently replaced fixture (which, by the way, weighs about ninety pounds and must be hauled up a ladder). During the show tonight, the new unit unexpectedly reset itself during an important cue, shining across the auditorium and into the house for a few seconds, before settling into its proper position. I began watching closely what the light was doing, to be prepared for it to fail (and to manaully control other moving lights to handle its workload). During that process, I missed a projection cue. Due to the way the video system works, there was no subtle way to catch up. This will make it into the performance report, seen by all involved, including the Broadway designers whose designs I am in charge of.
The stage manager will not, of course, mention in her report the half-dozen cues (out of around four hundred) that she blew, or the ten other cues that I take on my own because she has no sense of rhythm for calling cues in a rock number. Nope. The only thing to be mentioned will be the single cue I fucked up, because I was too busy doing my main job to do the job of two people for a few seconds.
Done venting. have a nice day.
Anyhoo. During this show, I'm running lighting and video (lighting off the GrandMA Lite, video off the Dataton Watchout systems w/ two projectors and three graphics PCs). We've had wicked problems with moving lights, specifcailly three Marting MAC 2K Profiles. These are a journeyman moving light, known to be reasonably problem free. This has not been my experience. We've had two lamps fail (unexpected from a lamp with a 750-hour lifespan) and three fixtures fail altogether. Out of three. The problem, I think, is that these are the only fixtures we have that want to run on 208V power. Our power is old Philly "two phase," That actually produces 240V, and that is not consistent. We've adapted the lights to run on our voltage, but the problems have continued.
Generally no problems in the last few days, after our most recently replaced fixture (which, by the way, weighs about ninety pounds and must be hauled up a ladder). During the show tonight, the new unit unexpectedly reset itself during an important cue, shining across the auditorium and into the house for a few seconds, before settling into its proper position. I began watching closely what the light was doing, to be prepared for it to fail (and to manaully control other moving lights to handle its workload). During that process, I missed a projection cue. Due to the way the video system works, there was no subtle way to catch up. This will make it into the performance report, seen by all involved, including the Broadway designers whose designs I am in charge of.
The stage manager will not, of course, mention in her report the half-dozen cues (out of around four hundred) that she blew, or the ten other cues that I take on my own because she has no sense of rhythm for calling cues in a rock number. Nope. The only thing to be mentioned will be the single cue I fucked up, because I was too busy doing my main job to do the job of two people for a few seconds.
Done venting. have a nice day.
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
And like above - stage managers can be kinda silly. I had one during uni actually leave before me (a lowly actor) during bump out. I was furious. This was after she had asked us to put our car-keys in box so we didn't cheese it after the show - which I found quite insulting. clearly I still need to vent on it haha.