Stage and Auditorium Equipment
Until about 1995, secondary schools employed AV technicians to support the teachers and help them understand the technical equipment such as projectors, video equipment, computers, stage lighting and sound systems. Many schools have cut back this resource, and teachers of broad-based technology may now be asked to fill the gap, despite their full teaching load.
¡§Shop teachers¡¨ who taught wood working, metal working, drafting, auto repair, electrical work and many other skills are hard to find, as these courses have been discontinued in many schools. Their knowledge was extremely useful in planning and building stage sets.
Although most elementary schools have much less resources, the concept of understanding the tools available (for example, the lights, dimmers and sound system) will make the use of the equipment safer and more productive.
Identifying the spotlights and maximum bulb wattage for each ensures that the correct bulbs will be ordered and kept in stock. Fresnel spotlights have 500-hour maximum bulb life, so more spares should be kept for these lights. Ellipsoidal spotlights usually have 2,000 hours average bulb life, so they do not need as many spares.
Knowing who to go to for advice is very important. If a new teacher is supervising the play, and the school has no lighting system manual, of if the equipment is not working properly, that teacher needs to find the original supplier for advice.
The company that supplied the equipment may be an electrical distributor or sales agent, and neither may have any technical knowledge nor be willing to help the school. The manufacturer may be in another country and have no record of the equipment provided. By doing the research ahead of time to find the local experts, the school can probably avoid ¡§dead¡¨ systems.
A school's sound system equipment list should include:
Microphones
Microphone cable
Microphone stands
1 powered mixer or
1 unpowered mixer and 1 amplifier or
1 unpowered mixer and 2 powered speakers
2 P.A. speakers
2 speaker cables
2 electrical outlets
Many communities have theater professionals as parents or neighbors who are very willing to help the teachers. These could be professional or amateur musicians, electricians who have built theatres, community theater members who have a wide range of theatre experience, engineers or architects who have designed theaters, and equipment suppliers who have decades of experience in the theater industry. A newsletter note to parents may uncover a wealth of local resources to help the teachers with their dramatic and musical productions in the school auditorium.
If the school has no stage lighting or sound systems, it can call on the same resources for advice, for rental and set-up of equipment or for purchasing equipment to improve the facility.
This information was developed as part of a pilot project for Theatre Ontario¡¦s ¡§To Act In Safety¡¨ program. The objective is to help teachers learn more about the safe handling of the stage equipment in their schools.
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Product Roundup
Draper Motorized Retractable Flag
With Draper¡¦s newest product, you can make a dramatic presentation of the United States flag in any gymnasium or auditorium. Draper¡¦s Patriot is a ceiling-suspended housing that contains a U.S. Flag, state flag or banner on a motorized roller. When it is time for the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance, ¡§Old Glory¡¨ appears at the touch of a switch or wireless transmitter. Press another button, and the flag retracts into the housing, getting it out of the spectators¡¦ line of sight and protecting it at the same time. The Patriot includes a sewn, nylon flag, displayed either vertically or horizontally. The flag measures 12' x 18' with both mountings. The Patriot can also be used for state flags and banners. The vertical or banner flag is housed in a 14' 10" case, and the horizontal flag is housed in a 20' 10" case.
www.draperinc.com
Alulite Portable Stages and Choral Risers from Southern Aluminum
Schools and churches all over the country use Alulite portable stages and choral risers with absolute confidence, knowing that their Herculean strength will never give way. Southern Aluminum, manufacturer of Alulite, builds its lightweight products, which come with a lifetime guarantee, from aircraft-grade aluminum. First-class construction easily supports 8,000 pounds of distributed weight, and yet set-up and take down is easier with the lightweight structure. Even after exposure to blistering sun and torrential downpours, their staging shows no signs of fading or deterioration.
www.alulite.com
Mity-Lite Summit Lectern
The lightweight Summit lectern from Mity-Lite weighs only 48 pounds, but it is durable enough to withstand a 30-foot drop with no damage. If you are tired of heavy wooden lecterns that are difficult to move, or that tend to get dropped and damaged, then consider a Mity-Lite Summit Lectern. Since Mity-Lite Lecterns are built to last and come with a 12-year limited warranty, you will save time and money in replacement and repair. Customize your own Mity-Lite lectern today, and choose from a variety of colors and inserts. Mity-Lite also makes lightweight folding tables, folding and stacking chairs, carts, room partitions and accessories.
www.mitylite.com
Lecterns from Alfax Wholesale Furniture
The number of choices in lecterns and podiums is staggering. Yet, selecting the right product for your auditorium becomes easier when you employ the process of elimination. The first decision is whether you need a sound or non-sound lectern. For sound models, the Alfax catalog has many models from which to choose, starting with the simple desktop style to the larger models, offering height adjustability, reading lamps and mike stands. They even have a selection of portable sound products that incorporate CD and cassette player/mixers so that you can take your show on the road. All Alfax products carry their minimum 15-year guarantee.
www.alfaxfurniture.com
Stage Curtains from Commercial Drapes
An auditorium is not only a place for education and assembly, but also a place to show the pride and dignity we value in our schools. Purchasing stage and window curtains is a major project that is both significant and lasting. At Commercial Drapes, they are dedicated to producing the finest stage curtains available. Their experience in stage rigging assures you of the safety you need and expect for students. Their stage curtain construction techniques surpass industry standards. Whether it is basic stage curtain replacement, refurbishment and renovation of stage rigging and projection screens or a completely new installation, Commercial Drapes produces the value and quality you can rely on.
www.commercialdrapes.com
Rose Brand Custom Curtains and Drapes
The core of Rose Brand¡¦s business is fabrics, custom-sewn draperies and curtains for clients nationwide. The cornerstones of the line are velour, muslin, canvas, scrim, duvetyn, leno and netting. For event and display fabrics, Rose Brand carries the widest range of items¡Xin varieties of color, texture, finish and width¡Xto be found in the industry. Rose Brand specializes in manufacturing curtains for large-scale spaces--everything from standard bi-parting curtains to the most detailed specialty curtains. As far as styles, one of the most ornate curtains is the Austrian, which is raised by multiple vertical riggings between which are sewn a series of swagging pleats. The Tab curtain has two panels, sewn flat or in fullness, and is raised by diagonally lifting the two onstage lower corners towards the upper offstage sides. Perhaps the most versatile, the Venetian (contour) curtain consists of a pleated panel that is raised by multiple vertical riggings that are individually adjustable, making it possible to open up the view of the stage in various ways.
www.rosebrand.com
BY-360 Meridian with Pleat from Seating Concepts
With the BY-360 Meridian with Pleat from Seating Concepts, superb lines of design create a chair that encompasses the best in seating today. With its injection molded polypropylene outerback, you can have great aesthetics and ease of maintenance. Offering an overall chair height of 38-1/2 inches, this chair is perfect for all auditorium environments. Seating Concepts is a world-class manufacturer of seats for the dynamic education market. They provide seats for the primary and secondary and markets. No project is too small or too big. They provide superb quality seating for both the budget conscious as well as the more prestigious projects.
www.seatingconcepts.com
