Frequently Asked Questions...
Over the years, users on the previous versions of the web site asked, and got answers to, lots of interesting questions. These questions and answers have been distilled into FAQs.
CAD
General
- Actor falling - How can an actor fall 6 ft (1.83m) safely?
- Floor covering (hardboard) - To recover our sprung maple stage with new sheets of hardboard should I lay the boards first then soak them or soak them, allow to dry then lay them?
- Floor covering (MDF) - Why does the (painted) MDF covering of a stage bulge and warp?
- Foreign language glossary - Where can I get a glossary of stage terms in foreign languages?
- Hearing aids - Audio induction loop or infra-red systems for audience members with hearing aids?
- Photography - Should I use a digital or standard (black and white) camera for photographing productions?
Lighting
- 16amp fittings - Should we fit 16amp fittings when refitting a theatre space?
- Back projectionWhat is the best type of gauze to use for back projection?
- Cue numbering - What is now the convention for numbering and or labelling cues between whole numbers?
- Dimmer ghosting - What is dimmer ghosting?
- Dimmer rack bleedingWhy do dimmer racks bleed?
- Dimmer trimming - Can you trim J.T.M. Dimmers so they do something between 0 to 20% and 80 to 100%?
- Dimmer trimming - How do you trim old Strand-Electric PTM60 dimmers?
- ""GOBO" - Where does the term "GOBO" originate? "
- Gobo making - How can you make gobos yourselves?
- Light emmitting panels - Where can I get panels that emit light when a current is fed to them?
- Mac 250 placing - Where can I put two mac 250's for the schools annual musical festival, on the ceiling! or on the stage it self?
- Peppers GhostHow does Peppers Ghost Work?
- Phase supply regulationsAre there any regulations prohibiting or limiting the use of more than one phase supply on a lighting bar. If so what are they?
- Stencils - Where you can get hold of stencils for the most common types of lantern?
- Strand light info - Where can I get information on old Strand lights?
- Strobe lights - Are there any laws on using strobe lights?
- Tinkerbell - What is the best way to create tinkerbell in Peter Pan?
- Video projection - How do you project a video onto a back drop but from behind without reversing video image?
Props
- Ball of fire - How can you get the effect of somebody throwing a ball of fire out of their hand?
- Blood - How do you make stage blood?
- Breaking china - Where can you get biscuit ware - china to break on stage?
- Climbing spark - How do you produce a spark between two rods and the spark "climbs" the rods?
- Cobwebs - How do you make a cobweb effect for set dressing?
- Flame-proofing - Will a cotton/polyester mix (35%/65%) material treated with Flambar PE6 or Flamecheck retain its flame-proofing after washing?
- Foam Cannon - Where can you get or how could you make a high powered Foam Cannon?
- Glowing effect/Fluoroscein - Does 'Fluoroscein' give a glowing effect?
- Hang an actor - How do you hang an actor on stage?
- Ice cube (2 litre) - How can I make a big (2 litre) ice cube that doesn't shatter easily?
- Knives and Law - How is the use of knives, swords, and other blades in the theatre covered by the Criminal Justice act?
- Paramedic jackets? - Where can I borrow a couple of green paramedic jackets?
- Pyro making - What is the legal situation on making or using home made pyros?
- Pyropot safety - Is this safe to put a pyropot in a hairdryer, like the ones you sit under in a hairdresser's, to blow up and produce smoke?
- Shatter glass resin - Where can I get the resin used to make shatter glass for stage productions?
- Silk flames - Where can I rent or buy the silk flames that look like real flames?
- Sugar glass - How do you make sugar glass?
- Telephone ring - How do make a standard (British) telephone ring?
- Whiskey - What is a suitable substitute for whiskey?
- Wooden barrels - Where can I find wooden barrels and washtubs for a show?
Safety
- The ABTT\'s Statement on Tallescopes (June 2011)
- Dry ice - What are the safety implications of using dry ice in a medium sized venue?
