Onstage > Stage Management: Plays & Musicals

ELECTRICS: Woe is Me, Let's Make a Tree!

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benthehack:
Hello All,

I've issues with my lighting department. That said, I am the lighting (and management, and sound, and properties, and effects, and even costuming) department for my low-budget theatre troope. We had lighting trees on order to hang our 8 instruments from, and they are not going to be here for the first performance. We are in an antiquated courthouse, however, we have all the power we need and the design looks neat. Yet we've only tested the lights, not hung them (due to the lack of tree(s)).

What should I do? It does not work to run the show without tech. Can I create a tree? My director (in all his artistic glory) suggested hanging lights from a ladder. The thought hit me... if I could secure the metal ladder to the floor, COULD I do this? Any other ideas? This would be a great help.

dchec2100:
Sorry, no really useful help here, although a ladder does seem like a pretty good replacement.  I'm interested to know what you end up using, so please keep us posted!

loebtmc:
Can you get a metal or other round pole-shaped floor-to-ceiling pipe at, say, home depot that can be locked at the top and along the sides to the wall? Seems like it might be an easy solve - or maybe drop a tressle from the ceiling?

benthehack:
I forgot to mention that we are in a 'historical reserved' place, so our damage is minimal. I wanted to put in a truss but, no, shot down. Maybe I could attach to the wall somehow... thanks for your thoughts :)

loebtmc:
I assume you don't have the budget, but I work in hotels all the time where they bring in scaffolding and a free-standing truss or two from which they hang side light. And I assume there isn't enough of an aisle to safely roll in one of those free-standing round-based pole-style trees?

Actually, a ladder sounds like a pretty decent option, all things considered - are you using an extension ladder locked to the wall somehow?

But you're so right, solving this will take major creativity...

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