[SML] Dance Boom Focus

[Dan Feith]

Hi Randy,

The focus of 'dance boom' units, like every other unit on the plot, depends
on the show and the particular reason for having the unit in that position
to begin with.

What kind of production is this? Professional company? Dance school? Other?

Has this been designed previously? Is it a new design? Are you just putting
up some different lighting looks?

The booms I use for Nutcracker have more units at +8' than below 6'.
Generally set pieces and performers block the lower lights for most of the
piece. I generally just use the lower booms for ' the Snow Pas de Deux,
'Waltz of the Flowers' and occasional variations in the second act, again,
as long as set pieces and other performers don't block those units.

Having said that, I can give you my basic focus. It may or may not work for
your show.

First.. I usually use a 36 deg as the bottom (shin) unit and a 26 deg for
the unit at 6' (head high) unit. I also like to position this unit as close
to the floor as possible. Sometimes I can get it to +9" to the center of
the lens but usually it's at +1' to the center of the lens. This allows a
cleaner cut off the floor or, if I choose to leave it open a bit to catch
feet it won't hit the floor too hard.

Generaly the booms are placed in the middle of each wing, although at times
I'll place the DS boom a little further DS and the US boom a little further
US to get as much light as possible to the extreme US and DS and to get
clean cuts off the US drop or scrim and the DS proscenium line.

Focus:

Shin (+2') -   Stand in middle of wing. Hot at near 1/4. DS cut to smoke
pocket or just inside the proscenium . US cut stays open. Top cut on a 26
deg can be squared off - unless it's going to hit borders or scenic pieces.
Bottom cut at near 1/8'.

Mid (+4')  -  Stand in middle of wing. Hot at center. Same DS cut. Same US
cut. Top cut can stay open generally.Bottom cut at near 1/4.

Head (+6') -  Stand in middle of wing. Hot at center. Same DS cut. Same US
cut. Top cut can stay open generally.Bottom cut at Center.

For US boom cut off the US soft goods. Middle boom may need US /DS cuts
also.

If you are using atmospherics make sure that the top cuts on each system
match.

Most LD's use some sort of diffusion in each system so that the cuts on the
floor aren't as obvious. Usually R119 or R132 depending.

I generally use less saturate colors in the booms. Check costumes and set
colors to determine exact color.

Again, this is all a generalization. I focus these a bit differently
depending on the piece and what I need each unit to do.

Good luck!

Dan

On Sun, Nov 29, 2015 at 11:54 AM, Randy Storms via Stagecraft <
stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:

> Nutcracker season is upon us.  I am not really much of a dance guy, anyone
> care to share focus techniques or rules-of-thumb for achieving good results
> from dance booms?  Assume 42x24 stage, three 8' booms per side,  26º Source
> 4s at 2' and 4', 36º Source 4s at 6'.  Also curious what people's go-to
> gels are for sidelight.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Randy Storms
>
>
>
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-- 
Dan Feith
Production Manager
KY Opera
203-788-4414 cell
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