Hi folks,


Some readers here may be getting involved in holiday
programs at churches and schools that use sound
reinforcement, maybe for the first time.  These performances are usually all
volunteer, amateur performers and stage
crew, even if that stage crew is the guy who provides the
system.

The concert and touring industry has gotten some rather loud wake up calls
this last year with the stage collapse in
Indiana and those in Belgium last summer.  But, I find that
it helps to remind the amateurs especially of some real
safety concerns whether it be for a permanently installed
system in a church or auditorium, or a temporary rig brought in for the
occasion.

First and foremost, avoid trip hazards!  Make sure that any
cables that cross traffic areas or the deck of the
performance space lie flat on the deck, and are secured with gaffer's tape so
as to not create a trip hazard.  YEs, duct
tape may appear to work, but that gunky residue it leaves
behind sure makes a mess out of cables.  TAlk to your local
theater supply folks about getting some gaffer's tape, which will hold the
cable firmly to the deck, but comes away
clean.

WIth the Christmas shows there is lots of lighting, be aware of fire danger
and keep lights away from flammable materials such as curtains, wood, etc.


Those speakers with a stand pocket supported by the stick and tripod are sure
handy to aim at the ears of the audience,
but remember that they have a rather high center of gravity. IF you're going
to have a lot of folks moving around close
to them provide some counterweight to lower that center of
gravity.  SEcuring sandbags or other such material to the
legs of the tripod helps keep the speaker in the air instead of falling on
performers or audience members.

Always think safety first.  THis means electrical safety
too.  SEparate sound and lighting on different circuits, and be sure that in
case you draw too much current for the
circuit you're using that you don't pop the breaker that
controls house lighting.  This may mean running some heavy
duty extensions to access circuits not available on the
stage, but that's what gaffer's tape is for.  USe it
liberally in any areas that see traffic.

Finally, before you ask, wireless microphones are a hassle.
If somebody in the planning stages starts talking about
hanging wireless lavalier microphones on all your performers remind them that
it's a big job, frequency coordination is a real hassle, and that rental cost
eats up your budget quick. Teach performers, especially children to project
their
voices, use wired microphones strategically placed to do
what pickup is needed.  YEs you see everybody using wireless lavs on the big
Broadway shows, but they've got the big
Broadway budgets and have already taken care of the
frequency coordination nightmares.  MOst churches schools
and amateur theater groups don't have that kind of dough to
work with.  So, forget the wireless, put the money into
other parts of the performance such as set development,
advertising or something else useful.  YEs the local vendor
who rents you all that wireless is glad to have your cold
hard cash, but you'll be tearing your hair out trying to get the frequencies
to coordinate and all that radio
transmitting and receiving equipment to play nicely
together.  Then there's the hassle of having an extra crew
person backstage to wire everybody up and make sure
microphones  have fresh batteries and are actually turned
on.  IT's another headache that you can do without if you
use a little common sense and plan ahead.


Regards,
           Richard
---
 * Origin:  (1:116/901)