[SML] Glazing of Control Booths

[Riter, Andrew]

> > Has anyone ever heard of the new construction of large, unglazed
> > window openings for Lighting/Sound/SM booths that open directly onto
> > the audience seating area?  

>and he responded, "Don't you have a problem with reflections?"

Fair question.

**urg**

I can appreciate the operators being in the house (sometimes).  I can also see the demand for having the operators away in a sound proof booth.  That's my preference.  Remember the ETC console with very **clicky** buttons.

1 venue I used to work at years ago had 3 "separate" sections of booth.  The SM booth was totally enclosed, the middle sound booth had a large window that could be dropped out for a live mix show, and the Lx operator was beside that, behind glass (no solid wall in between).  1 day someone got into the venue and stole the wireless com station and belt packs (later returned when an IA brother spotted the venue sticker when being shown the gear by a touring sound guy who just picked them up from a pawn shop).

So to answer the original poster: yes, security to me is a concern

Our mix position is centre of the house, with audience behind.  With the advent of digital consoles, we are concerned by, and get complaints about, the number of video screens, the brightness of them, and the flashes as the operator changes from screen to screen.  For touring amplified shows, it's one thing; for a more subtle, re-enforced chamber strings concert (with a different audience) it is something else.

Our console is not locked up, but the accessory drawers should be locked up every night.  Security screws for the gear in the racks.

Occasionally we move the Lx console into the house for a touring musical act, but then it goes back in the booth after the 1-night stand.  It is nice sitting the house for a show, but given our typical event type, I wouldn't want to be there for every show.

What I wish was a pass through port in the booth wall under the window so we could run wires (touring video cameras, extra mic lines) into the booth without leaving the window open.  (we have a pull tube, the smoke alarms under the floor get set off).

Andrew M. Riter
Assistant Technical Director / Head Lighting Technician

604-822-2372
Andrew.riter at ubc.ca