USITT Elite Training – Day 2

Day 2 is over and done. And what a day it was.

Training started bright and early, however due to a malfunctioning alarm clock I was a tad late. That aside, when I arrived we were working with the control boards that Stage Technologies offer. I started with sharing the Nomad with my buddy Joe. For coming in late, I was able to quickly catch up in learning the command syntax and the basic programming nature of the eChameleon software.

One of the hardest parts however was to let go of all the training I’ve had with light boards. Automation control boards look similar, and have similar button layouts, but the syntax and meanings are all different. So in order to learn eChameleon best, I had to stop thinking lighting and just focus on the board in front of me. A change in syntax that I  thought was interesting however was that “RECORD” was a terminal command, no hitting enter afterwards.

So after quickly learning basic syntax, we were off to programming some moves in the offline editor. We started with a mexican wave, in which we were given certain parameters like total time and how many cycles the bars must do, and travel distance. So then with those parameters we had to figure out the rest on our own. For this portion a handy pad of graph paper really helps. After completion of that we were instructed to complete a more practical effect, the Mary Poppins proscenium tap-dance. Let me tell you, seems very complicated but by keeping to our instructors motto of KISS (Keep it Simple Stupid) we were able to replicate the move instructions similar to the actual ones in the show.

After an awesome lunch, we had a bit more class but were quickly whisked off for our tour of Viva Elvis. The minute we walked in the space or jaws dropped. The house for this show is just huge. As well they probably had the comfiest theatre seats I have seen or felt. On stage they were testing many of the smaller lifts as well as some sequences with the 8 LED moving panels. To see them come together and play one video was plain awesome. Backstage it just got even better. Down in the basement we saw all the storage for many of the set pieces that take some of the many large lifts up to stage. What was really cool to see is just how they got them onto the lifts and also to see how they connected things like power, data, and microphones to the set pieces. Back upstairs on stage we saw one of the biggest set pieces I have ever laid eyes on. The set piece was of an amusement park and it was most likely around 80′ wide by 15′ deep and maybe 30′ tall. Riggers actually have to fly in to get to the top levels of the set piece in order to clean it. but the most fantastic part of all of this, is that the set piece in all it’s huge glory is actually flown for storage! On a lighting note, not a single conventional besides 6 practicals on set pieces. 300+ moving lights do the work on this show. That was my first experience with a entirely moving light rig. We summed up or tour had a quick dinner, then 5 of us were of to shadow for KÀ.

Our group was split up in 3 groups by the automation team. For the first show I had the privilege to shadow the operator at the front of house booth control position. Best part though, they provided us with com to hear how the entire show is called and ran. As well our station was situated right between the calling Stage Manager and the SFX board op. This was a great one of kind experience and after experiencing that and having conversations with the stage managers and the board ops I have so many ideas to bring back to my peers.

For the second show, 3 of us were situated in the front row of the house to get an audience perspective. Being so close, we were really able to “feel” the show. It was a really cool experience, knowing what was supposed to happen when and to see it with an educated view.

So day 2 has wrapped up and we have one more day. Once again this has been an amazing experience, and the part that makes me the most excited is how much I can bring back and share with my peers, and with you.

Day 3 is up next with more training and the final tour, Mystere.

Welcome New Guest Writer: Drew Carter

Hey guys! My name is Drew Carter, and for the next few days I will be writing here on isquint.net on my daily experience while attending the first ever USITT Elite Training Weekend. I’m a junior BFA Design/ Tech student at Central Washington University in beautiful Ellensburg, WA.

At the end of March I was accepted into the program to spend 3 days in Las Vegas, NV learning technology at Cirque Du Soleil’s resident show training center. So 31 others and I will be split into groups of eight and study in one of four areas; audio, rigging, multimedia, and automation. I will be studying automation, which will include lessons in products and solutions from Stage Technologies. As well, all of us will tour backstage of Viva Elvis, Mystere, and KÀ. On top of all this we all have the opportunity to job shadow on a show. For the automation group we will shadow KÀ, one show backstage, and one show from the booth.

While I’m there learning about automation (something I am very UNfamiliar with) I will post new things learned, my experiences with the technology, and hopefully pictures of the technology used in action! But alas, I am a lighting guy first and foremost so a few lighting pron pictures may show up…

I’m very excited to be here writing and I hope you enjoy!

Plugfest 2011 Announced – July 22-24 in Westlake Texas

The next PLASA Control Protocols Plugfest will take place July 22—24 at the DFW Marriott Solana in Westlake, Texas. The event brings colleagues and competitors together to further the industry by testing the limits of control protocols and working out the bugs they encounter. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Plugfest began in January 2009 as part of the ESTA (now PLASA) Technical Standards Program by members of various Control Protocols Task Groups represent a variety of manufacturers. Twice a year, when they are all in the same place at the same time, they bring controllers, lights, analyzers, and various other tools and devices, and connect them all through a network to look for and resolve problems. People attend from all around the world in an effort to improve their products.

Plugfest was originally created to support the Remote Device Management protocol (ANSI E1.20 RDM) but now it has expanded to cover all CPWG protocols, including the popular ANSI E1.31 Streaming DMX over ACN protocol. As the scope has grown, so has attendance, and consequently, the space. It began in a small suite but this year Plugfest moved into a large suite with room to grow. Coffee, bagels, and scones serve to fuel the event.

Although the schedule runs until 10pm, the group can often be found working into the early morning hours. Most of the members of the E1.20 and E1.31 task groups, who wrote the standards, are there and they are happy to provide their expertise. They will answer your questions and tell you about protocols. Take advantage of their knowledge and experience. Drop in and experience Plugfest.

For more information or if you are interested in participating, contact Scott Blair at s.blair@ieee.org or sblair@rdmprotocol.org to register.

TOMCAT Announces 18th Annual Hoist & Rigging Workshop Feb. 16-19 in Texas

TOMCAT’s 2011 ETCP Hoist & Rigging workshops are less than 3 weeks away, February 16-19 in Midland, Texas.  Registration is still open for those interested in improving their skills and prospects for 2011 and beyond with training on chain hoists or rigging principles. The schedule is finalized and includes a team of world-class instructors to provide a hands-on-learning experience to production professionals across North America. More information on the workshops in Midland can be found at www.tomcatglobal.com.

The Hoist & Rigging workshops schedule includes instruction by respected and recognized leaders in the industry. Both training tracts include instruction on truss design, usage and theory with Will Todd, TOMCAT USA’s Product Support Manager.  Keith Bohn, TOMCAT USA’s Custom Projects Director, will lead a session on design and safe use of ground supported structures.  The first day of training will conclude with an introduction to entertainment automation by Kevin Taylor, CEO of Stage Technologies.

Attendees in the Hoist & Truss tract will start with a training session on hoist control systems let by Kevin Taylor of Stage Technologies.  Participants will then get dirty with Dave Carmack of Columbus McKinnon, who will provide hands-on motor instruction including teardown, re-assembly, maintenance and live troubleshooting.  This group will conclude its training by taking CM’s certification exam.

In the Rigging & Truss workshop, ETCP certified rigger and instructor G. Anthony Phillips of RigRider Rigging Services will teach safe rigging practices and principles, while Morgan Neff, Fall Protection expert will instruct on safe fall protection practices. Participants will also have the opportunity to put these principles into live practice.

Less Than A Week Till Super Saturday in NYC and Save $50 on Registration!

The count down has begun, there are only 5, yes 5 days left until Super Saturday. No, it is not some huge blowout sale happening in New York City.  I am talking about the Stage Seminars, Stage Lighting Super Saturday.  Here is more about Super Saturday.

A dozen theater lighting professionals will speak and about 20 industry lighting manufacturers will on hand and have technical personnel and equipment to demonstrate. The tentative program includes inspiration, fixtures, color, consoles, moving lights, trouble shooting, CAD, Virtual Magic Sheet & LightWright, paperwork, and other subjects. Starting at 8:00 am on Saturday, January 22, 2011, the sixth-annual Stage Lighting Super Saturday all-day seminar will take place at the conveniently located Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City located across from New York City’s Lincoln Center.

Sounds like fun right?  You’ll find me there!  I am so excited!  You should be too.  On top of a day of lighting glory and education, the organizers of Super Saturday have a special offer for you.  Scott Parker offered a discount code to the readers of iSquint to attend and save on Super Saturday.  The code USE to save you $25 off the registration price… Now, you can save $50! It’s easy, use the code iSquintVIP when you register. What are you waiting for?!  Go register for Super Saturday now! I can’t wait to see you there!

You can learn more about Super Saturday by visiting www.stageseminars.com.

GAM Product Offers Color Workshop January 11th, 2011 in LA

Do you live in the Las Angles area?  On January 11th, 2011, GAM Products is offering workshop on color at their GAM Arts Center right in the heart of LA.

Learn about color temperature, kelvin, spectral distribution, foot candles, mired shift and CIE tri-stimulus values; how they all relate to correcting light sources and balancing color in film and TV. Learn how these measurements relate to perception and the duplication of color.

Speaker: Joe Tawil of GAMPRODUCTS, INC.
Date: Tuesday, January 11th
Time: Refreshments 6 pm / Workshop 7-9 pm
Where: GAM Arts Center • 4975 W. Pico Blvd. • Los Angeles, CA 90019
Secured, underground parking available.

Please RSVP to 1.888.GAMCOLOR or sales@gamonline.com

ESTA Host 2nd Annual Control Protocol PlugFest January 2011

It’s times like these that I wish I lived in the lone star state! ESTA’s Technical Standards Program is holding their second annual Control Protocol PlugFest in Westlake Texas on January 21st and 22nd.

The PlugFest just happens to be at the same exact time and place as the Technical Standard Program meetings! What a coincidence right! Both the TSP meetings and the PlugFest will be happening at the Marriott Solana in Westlake Texas.

PLugFest goes from 4pm to 10pm on Friday, January 21st, 9am to 11pm on Saturday, January 22.  There is also a date listed as July 25th from 9am to 10pm.  The July 25th date must be a completely separate meeting of the TSP and another PlugFest.

The Control Protocols Plug Fest will be an informal event, with the only people around to see the equipment work or fail being engineers and technicians, not customers. The event will provide an opportunity for manufacturers’ engineers to see if their products will work with the products of numerous manufacturers, find out on the spot what is wrong, fix it, and try again. With all the members of the RDM and E1.31 task groups that wrote the standards on-hand, it also provides an excellent resource to get implementation questions answered and to learn from everyone’s shared experience..

For more information and to register, contact Scott Blair. Registration is important so that the logistics of the equipment delivery, setup, and removal can be organized. There is no charge for participation and the event is open to everyone. Hotel sleeping rooms can be reserved through ESTA.

Lighting for Worship Session added to Super Saturday, January 22, 2011

Lighting for Worship session at Stage Lighting Super Saturday. Tom Sanziano will present a beginner’s guide to starting the lighting process in the Worship Market.  This session will provide an excellent introduction for anyone taking their first steps into worship lighting. Scott Parker says, “We are excited to have Tom join us this year. The lighting design and production values for worship have been on the rise for several years now and church services are one of the few areas that constantly cross the lines of live presentation and broadcast to television. Tom will be joining our faculty that includes legendary designers Ken Billington and Richard Pilbrow.”

This popular annual seminar is designed for everyone involved in stage, architectural, or entertainment lighting. The sessions are not too basic nor too advanced. Sonny Sonnenfeld adds, “Everyone who attends will benefit. The intense all day seminar will be led by theatre lighting professionals leading sessions about inspiration, training, product, and just doing it.”

A dozen theater lighting professionals will speak and about 20 industry lighting manufacturers will on hand and have technical personnel and equipment to demonstrate. The tentative program includes inspiration, fixtures, color, consoles, moving lights, trouble shooting, CAD, Virtual Magic Sheet & LightWright, paperwork, and other subjects. Starting at 8:00 am on Saturday, January 22, 2011, the sixth-annual Stage Lighting Super Saturday all-day seminar will take place at the conveniently located Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City located across from New York City’s Lincoln Center.

For more information, please visit www.stageseminars.com.

TOMCAT Announces 2011 Hoist & Rigging Workshop

TOMCAT is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2011 Hoist & Rigging workshops on February 16-19 in Midland, Texas. A team of world-class instructors has been assembled to deliver the Hoist & Truss workshop and the Rigging & Truss workshop. This ETCP recognized training program will provide a unique, hands-on-learning experience for participants interested in receiving both basic and advanced training in their area of specialization: hoist or rigging.

“With the Hoist & Rigging workshops, TOMCAT has established a reputation as a worldwide leader in safety training. The curriculum is regularly enriched in response to the changing needs of the industry as well as the feedback provided by participants,” stated TOMCAT’s instructor Will Todd.

The hoist segment of the Hoist and Truss workshop features complete teardown and rebuild of a one ton Lodestar and a quarter-ton Prostar. Dave Carmack of Columbus McKinnon will provide detailed instruction on inspection, standards and hands-on segment of advanced troubleshooting. There will also be instruction on control systems and load testing. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to take CM’s certification exam.

In the Rigging & Truss workshop, G. Anthony Phillips, an ETCP certified rigger and instructor of RigRider Rigging Services, will teach about safe rigging practices and principles while Morgan Neff will instruct on fall protection practices and equipment. Participants will also have the opportunity to put these principles into live practice in a segment working on a TOMCAT ground support system session.

In addition, both workshops will include a full day of truss instruction with Will Todd. The class includes basic and advanced concepts in truss usage, grid design, applying loads, ground support system considerations, structural design concepts, and inspection techniques.

The 2011 Hoist & Rigging workshops are an excellent educational opportunity for those new to the entertainment industry as well as veterans of the business. Registration is now open and further information can be found at www.tomcatglobal.com.

Review: Nooks Ultimate Punt Pages DVD

A couple months before LDI this year, the Academy of Production Technology announced the arrival of their latest training tool, Nook’s Ultimate Punt Pages DVD.  No, it is not a training DVD for football kickers on how to punt the ball correctly, that is just silly.  Punting is the US term for running a lighting desk on the fly.  Our European brethren know it better as busking.

Richard “Nook” Schoenfeld is a staple in the entertainment lighting industry and is well know for his programming skills and experience running some rather large shows. In addition his programming wizardry, Mr. Schoenfeld also has a monthly column that he writes for PLSN Magazine, LD-At-Large.  It is here that Mr. Schoenfeld imparts advice, experience and his strong opinions about the lighting design field.  When ever PLSN lands in my mail box, Mr. Schoenfeld article is one of the two articles I read first, as I am always amused and left with valuable information and some well appointed humor.

It is no wonder that Mr. Cadena, the founder of the Academy of Production Technology approached Mr. Schoenfeld to produce a training video on moving lighting controls and playback.  Mr. Schoenfeld brings his experience and knowledge of moving lights and live event programming to the DVD with well though out plans of execution and console layout.

Who is it for

The training DVD does have some “prerequisites” before jumping into the DVD.  Before trying to keep up with the training, it is beast to have a basic understanding of how different types of moving lights work and function.  It is also best to have a fair understanding of how a modern lighting desk functions, interacts with moving lights, multiple playbacks and of course tracking.  From there, following along with Mr. Schoenfeld with or with out a desk in front of you is fairly easy to keep up.

What you can expect

If you come from a theatrical programming background, live event or punting/busking style playback might not be the easiest to grasp at first.  In the theatrical world we are thought that everything has a time and must go at a certain time and be repeatable night after night with like or no difference. In the concert/live event world… timing… yeah, not so much.  Things are happening quick, real quick.  Solos can go on and on, or maybe just a couple of seconds.  So running the desked based on timing just will not work, in steps punting/busking.

Mr. Schoenfeld walks you through his methods of setting up a desk for punting/busking.  As a programmer, I found that I already setup my desk for this style of playback very similarly to Mr. Schoenfeld. But there where some very pleasent surprises and interesting concepts that made me stop and think… “I’ll have to steal that”.  That of course is a joke, stealing isn’t very nice. But that is the point of the DVD.  Take new ideas, use them, don’t use them, make your own style and build from there. Mr. Schoenfeld presents a fairly clear road map for successful punting/busking playback session.

Conclusion

Mr. Schoenfeld’s experience and knowledge really shows in the DVD and is presented clearly and easy to understand.  Hey, if he goes to fast, pause, rewind and repeat as many times as you like, it’s a DVD!  It’s like having Mr. Schoenfeld at your finger tips when ever you need him! I would recommend this training DVD for anyone that has the grasp of fixtures and control, but needs a course on live playback.

You can purchase your copy of Nook’s Ultimate Punt Pages from the Academy of Production Technology website, productionseminars.webs.com for $59.95.  If you still have a doubt in your mind or need a little more convincing, The Academy of Production Technology was kind enough to allow me to provide you with a sampling of the training DVD.  Some times, seeing is believing.

Events: Super Saturday – Save Even MORE on Registration

Are you on the right coast?  Drop all your plans January 22nd and head to New York, IT’S SUPER SATURDAY! No, it is not the Super Bowl, or the Super Heavy Weight Fight of the Year, it’s the Saturday when Lighting Designers, Professionals and enthuses come together to talk, share, learn and celebrate the best art form in the entertainment industry, Lighting.

Meet theater professionals and network with like career people. It will be 10 hours of hard work, fun, and a great learning experience. The workshop is geared towards anyone interested in stage/theatrical type lighting including lighting designers, technicians, electricians, set designers, sound designers, architectural professionals, church lighting directors, teachers and students at all levels, etc.

If you register before the end of the year, 12/31/2010, you will be saving $50 off the price of registration.  But wait, it get’s better. Scott Parker, the organizer of Super Saturday has offered something special to the readers of iSquint.  Save an ADDITIONAL $25 off the cost of registration with the code “iSquintVIP”.   Now if you register before the end of the year, not only do you save $50 by registering early, but with the code, you save an ADDITIONAL $25 dollars for a total cost of registering early.

Now, if you register after the new year, you can still use the code above to save $25 dollars off the cost of registering!  A huge thank you to Mr. Parker for his generosity!  If you get to Super Saturday, make sure to find Mr. Parker and say thanks!

Now what are you waiting for… GO REGISTER!  You can learn more about Super Saturday by visiting www.stageseminars.com.

Richard Pilbrow Joins Super Saturday Faculty, January 22, 2011

Richard Pilbrow, internationally known lighting designer, has agreed to speak at the Sixth annual Stage Lighting Super Saturday seminars. Richard is passionate about the advancement of computer technology that allows lighting designers to free themselves from that same technology. He will discuss his recent use of the Apple iPad during a production of “Evening Primrose.” Pilbrow’s credits include “A Tale of Two Cities”, “Our Town”,  “The Life”, “Show Boat”, Broadway; ”The Sleeping Beauty” American Ballet Theatre, Metropolitan Opera; “The Magic Flute” LA Opera; many UK National Theatre Company and West End productions. Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Theatre Projects Consultants for 1200 projects in 70 countries. Author of “Stage Lighting” an international teaching text and “Stage Lighting Design” published in 1997. In 2010 Live Design voted Richard “one of the 50 most powerful people in the entertainment technology industry.”

This popular annual seminar is designed for everyone involved in stage, architectural, or entertainment lighting. The sessions are not too basic nor too advanced. Everyone who attends will benefit. The intense all day seminar will be led by theatre lighting professionals leading sessions about inspiration, training, product, and just doing it.

A dozen theater lighting professionals will speak and about 20 industry lighting manufacturers will on hand and have technical personnel and equipment to demonstrate. The tentative program includes inspiration, fixtures, color, consoles, moving lights, trouble shooting, CAD, Virtual Magic Sheet & LightWright, paperwork, and other subjects. Starting at 8:00 am on Saturday, January 22, 2011, the sixth-annual Stage Lighting Super Saturday all-day seminar will take place at the conveniently located Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City located across from New York City’s Lincoln Center.

For more information, please visit www.stageseminars.com or contact Scott Parker at super2011@stageseminars.com, 1-866-832-4390.