Poll

Which is the better tool?

3-ring Binder
37 (66.1%)
Digital Light Board
19 (33.9%)

Total Members Voted: 56

Voting closed: Dec 04, 2012, 07:59 pm

Author Topic: University, Round 1: 3-ring Binder vs. Digital Light Board  (Read 8311 times)

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PSMKay

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The University Division starts off with a competition that may be the biggest head-scratcher of round one. The 3-ring Binder, despite recent dismissals in the media as archaic and unsexy, remains a stalwart member of the stage manager's arsenal and perhaps one of the most well-known symbols of our profession even when filled with things other than women.

However, one cannot deny that the relative newcomer Digital Light Board has completely revolutionized the industry, affecting everything from our job descriptions and backstage hiring to the patterns of calling cues.

Vote! Share your ideas on why you voted!

This poll will run through noon on Tuesday the 4th.
« Last Edit: Nov 30, 2012, 08:16 pm by PSMKay »

Jessie_K

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Re: University, Round 1: 3-ring Binder vs. Digital Light Board
« Reply #1 on: Dec 01, 2012, 08:31 am »
3-ring binder has a strong standing in North America, but the Digital Light Board maintains support among the International crowd.

pyromnt

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Re: University, Round 1: 3-ring Binder vs. Digital Light Board
« Reply #2 on: Dec 01, 2012, 01:49 pm »
A digital light board is used to make every show

I use a binder to make my life easier.

Necessity over personal preference
Standby. And 3..2..1

PSMKay

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Re: University, Round 1: 3-ring Binder vs. Digital Light Board
« Reply #3 on: Dec 01, 2012, 02:21 pm »
Speaking as someone who remembers the era before boards went digital, I can verify that they've totally changed the sound of a show in process and the number of staff members required. For most non-equity SMs it means you're running the board instead of calling the cues. It's allowed for the development of far more complex lighting, however it has also paved the way for some situations like time-code shows where almost no calling is needed at all.


Younger SMs will not remember having to use a stopwatch to count down a manual 15 second cross-fade on a two-scene preset board.

nick_tochelli

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Re: University, Round 1: 3-ring Binder vs. Digital Light Board
« Reply #4 on: Dec 01, 2012, 03:20 pm »
Who said binders were unsexy.......I'll kill him!

But compared to the other three rounds currently running, you gotta admit.....unsexy binder isn't faring as well as others are....
« Last Edit: Dec 01, 2012, 03:23 pm by nick_tochelli »

loebtmc

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Re: University, Round 1: 3-ring Binder vs. Digital Light Board
« Reply #5 on: Dec 01, 2012, 03:40 pm »
Quote
Younger SMs will not remember having to use a stopwatch to count down a manual 15 second cross-fade on a two-scene preset board

I don't know....some of the smaller/cheaper theaters around here still have manual two-scene preset boards....

LCSM

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Re: University, Round 1: 3-ring Binder vs. Digital Light Board
« Reply #6 on: Dec 01, 2012, 05:24 pm »
A digital light board is used to make every show

I use a binder to make my life easier.

Necessity over personal preference


I dunno. I've done shows without a Digital Light Board. They went fine. (Coming from the wee young thing that I am.) I have trouble imagining what the heck SMs did before binders were invented.


And how is this not sexy? I love these two-coloured ones from Staples (in a larger size than 1" of course!).


http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/Staples/s0461277_sc7?$splssku$

Mac Calder

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Re: University, Round 1: 3-ring Binder vs. Digital Light Board
« Reply #7 on: Dec 01, 2012, 05:46 pm »
But you don't have to go 3 ring... 4 ring gives you extra support - and for the big shows with far too much paperwork, 2 ring lever arches are awesome.

missliz

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Re: University, Round 1: 3-ring Binder vs. Digital Light Board
« Reply #8 on: Dec 01, 2012, 06:45 pm »
Quote
Younger SMs will not remember having to use a stopwatch to count down a manual 15 second cross-fade on a two-scene preset board

I don't know....some of the smaller/cheaper theaters around here still have manual two-scene preset boards....

I've used one once! It was actually kind of fun, though I'd take the digital lightboard in a heartbeat.

(An older SM I know told me running a two-scene preset "is like waterskiing with a head full of gin.")
I personally would like to bring a tortoise onto the stage, turn it into a racehorse, then into a hat, a song, a dragon and a fountain of water. One can dare anything in the theatre and it is the place where one dares the least. -Ionesco

GalFriday

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Re: University, Round 1: 3-ring Binder vs. Digital Light Board
« Reply #9 on: Dec 02, 2012, 12:19 am »
I like waterskiing and I am a fan of gin...but combining them seems like an odd idea.


I have to root for the lightboard...I am a gear head and if it has on on/off switch it wins...All you silly people with reason why this or that...Vote the PARTY PLATFORM!!

POWER SWITCHES ALL THE WAY!!!!

PSATW!

PSATW!

Not to mention you can make all your docs electronic docs and get rid of that binder all together...Save a tree!! Save the environment...use electricity. Wait. I need to...Hmmm....I need to look at this slogan again...

Ah - never mind.


PSATW!!!!
« Last Edit: Dec 02, 2012, 12:21 am by GalFriday »
"Now the best way to learn the theater, always, is to be a stage manager" - Stephen Sondheim

nick_tochelli

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Re: University, Round 1: 3-ring Binder vs. Digital Light Board
« Reply #10 on: Dec 02, 2012, 08:46 am »
See? I told you! Binder is like the San Antonio Spurs: fundamentally so ery sound, but one of the least exciting teams in the league.

Their big superstar is nicknamed "The Big Fundamental." That's about as sexy as binders are: big yet fundamental.

missliz

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Re: University, Round 1: 3-ring Binder vs. Digital Light Board
« Reply #11 on: Dec 02, 2012, 12:00 pm »
See? I told you! Binder is like the San Antonio Spurs: fundamentally so ery sound, but one of the least exciting teams in the league.

Their big superstar is nicknamed "The Big Fundamental." That's about as sexy as binders are: big yet fundamental.

I guess it's telling that I'm also a Spurs fan, then. :)
I personally would like to bring a tortoise onto the stage, turn it into a racehorse, then into a hat, a song, a dragon and a fountain of water. One can dare anything in the theatre and it is the place where one dares the least. -Ionesco

BLee

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Re: University, Round 1: 3-ring Binder vs. Digital Light Board
« Reply #12 on: Dec 02, 2012, 01:05 pm »
The 3 ring binder has been a classic champion in this division for years, but lately they are struggling to perform at those same levels. Digital light board has a decent chance in the second half to pull out the win, but only if the young players step up the game and show the old-school team how new technology can crush the competition.
XX. The only valid excuse for missing one's cue is death.
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KTSM

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Re: University, Round 1: 3-ring Binder vs. Digital Light Board
« Reply #13 on: Dec 03, 2012, 03:07 pm »
I'm "old school" and have to vote for the 3-ring binder but only if it is zippered to hold everything inside. I'm not sure what a digital light board looks like or what it does exactly so I'm showing my ignorance...

Our theatre uses an Ion Console for lighting and MAC Q-Lab for sound but that stuff is left up to the board ops to run though I've been known to press the "go" button when the need arises.

SMdrum

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Re: University, Round 1: 3-ring Binder vs. Digital Light Board
« Reply #14 on: Dec 03, 2012, 03:11 pm »
Woot!  The digital light board really scored some votes since yesterday.

 

riotous