A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting, 2nd Edition

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A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO STAGE LIGHTING

Figure 5.25 shows the circuitry and dimmer

spreadsheet for Hokey. No house circuits or dimmers

are going to be used, so this spreadsheet is rela-

tively simple. This version of the document has been

constructed to monitor the amount of circuitry and

dimming that will be required for the rental lighting

package. The circuits and dimmers are listed across

the top rows of the document, while the positions

are generally shown down the left-hand column. The

next two columns of circuitry listed for each posi-

tion will result in cable runs to each hanging posi-

tion. The first column will indicate the number of

single 575 watt circuitry runs, while the next col-

umn shows any 1200 watt circuitry runs (if any two-

fering is required). The right-hand columns should

reflect the circuitry totals, but will show anomalies

if any circuits are combined at the dimmer racks. At

the present time, in order to provide some kind of

structure, 192-1200 watt dimmers are shown, along

with a backup rack of 48-2400 watt dimmers. While

the overall size of the light plot isn’t yet known, this

should address the needs of the show and still stay

within the power distribution provided in the the-

atre. One the plot gets more defined, the number,

size, or distribution of the dimmers may change in

order to make the plot more compact, less expensive,

or easier to install.

Armed with these worksheets and the core design

documents, the system construction can now take

place. When questions or constraints surface dur-

ing the plotting process, this collection of documents

should ideally provide enough information to allow

informed negotiation to take place, and clear decisions

can be made. As the systems are defined and applied

to different hanging locations, for example, it may

become apparent that there’s not enough room for

six colors of backlight on one electrical batten. One

of the colors may need to be a mix of the other two,

converted to a different overhead system, reduced to

a single special, or eliminated altogether. Which one

needs to stay or move? Check the systems and spe-

cials sheet. Can one system be controlled with fewer

channels or does it need to be more “broken apart,”

in order to have the right amount of light turned off

in that particular cue? Refer to the preliminary magic

sheet. Are there enough plugs on that raceway to sep-

arate control of each light in the system? Better take

a look at the circuitry and dimmer spreadsheet. This

part of the process is inevitable, and it’s part of the

job. It will also take place later, once the final prelimi-

nary light plot is taking shape.

At the present time, concentration will now be

directed to the construction of the lighting systems.

The worksheets will be discussed in more detail later

in this chapter and the next.

Reference Documents While Plotting

In addition to the worksheets and the core design doc-

uments, when the lighting systems are constructed,

everything regarding the show should be available.

Experience has shown that, no matter what unneces-

sary piece of information is neglected while the systems

are being created, that will be the piece of informa-

tion that potentially stalls the process. That said, the

above documents are the most closely monitored, ref-

erenced, and updated throughout the process. After

that, the list is about what would be expected:

•Allshowrelatedresearchandpreliminary

material.

•Anypreexistinggroundplansofthespace

(regardless of scale).

•Anypreexistingsectionsofthespace(regardless

of scale).

•Anyphotographsorvideoofthespace.

•Themeasurementsandnotesfromtheadvance

visits.

•Thetechspecs.

Illustration Notes

In order to provide visual clarity, the construction of

the backlight system will be shown without any other

instruments on the drawing. Doing so allows the

viewer to see the system in its “pure” state, producing

HOKEY CIRCUITRY & DIMMER SPREADSHEET V1

Circuits

in light plot

19248

POSITION

575 1.2K TOTAL 1.2K 2.4K NOTES

Truss 0

SL Bx Bm 0

SR Bx Bm 0

1 Electric 0

2 Electric 0

3 Electric 0

4 Electric 0

5 Electric 0

6 Electric 0

Pit 0

Booms L0

Rover L0

Booms R0

Rovers R0

Groundrow 0

Total circuits plot: 000

Company switch is DSL. 1.2K 2.4K

Dim

Figure 5.25 The Circuitry and Dimmer Spreadsheet for

Hokey, Version 1