[SML] FOH hang and focus safety improvement needed

[billn at peak.org]

> After reading the numerous suggestions and your rebuttals, I think your idea
> of moving your pipes is a decent one.  Bounce focus is not a great solution
> but in many circumstances it is what you/we have to do.  With your limited
> height I would not suggest truss but look at enough lift lines to stick with
> standard pipe battens.  Truss looks cool but you loose height and only gain
> the distance between your lift lines.  If you look at something like the
> Vortek system I believe you are looking at $10k+ per lineset.  If you can
> reuse your current battens you can put the money towards the rigging.  One
> other off the wall suggestion.  Could you add catwalks to your attic space and
> light down through coves?

Thanks for the comments, Greg.

The thought about truss is that it is probably more rigid than flown pipes.
Also, the current pipes are mounted about 10" - 12" below the ceiling. If the
trussing could be flown to a high trim close to the ceiling, the instruments
would still hang at about the same height. If the instruments could be mounted
inside the trusses, then it might even be possible to gain a few more inches
of height.

I would love to have coves to keep the lights out of sight of the audience,
but attic catwalks are impractical. Much of the space is filled with heating
and air conditioning ducts.

Also, at the electric location closest to the apron, there is only about two
feet of spacing between the ceiling joists and the roof rafters.