Thanks guys.. great ideas. Geoff can you elaborate on your system though. For example, for "SR2", how do I get the depth (wing) as well as the width of the mark?
ps. All trucks with be moved either by IA or automation
As far as depth (distance US/DS) most pieces were in line with legs, or we could take measurements from the scrim (which was in a fixed position throughout the show). Width wasn't an issue for us because we used either the real piece, or a rehearsal piece that was within a few inches. This system worked well (I think) only because the actors were doing all of the movement, so scenery movement became part of their blocking/choreography and therefore it made sense to gauge furniture placement off of similar marks that the directors/choreographer were using. Of course, pieces were also corner spiked, if necessar, for the benefit of the lighting designer, or if something needed to be placed at a specific angle. The whole thing was kind of a rudimentary grid system which may/may not work in other settings. The choice to work this way was more of a necessity rather than an ideal, but it seemed to function relatively smoothly in the end and the actors appreciated its simplicity.
Looking back, had we not had so many of the pieces so early on, this would have been very difficult.