Spike corners

[BWEEVEED]

I got very, very excited when I stumbled across these. Now I don't have to keep a pair of scissors handy whenever I need to mark things out!

http://www.thetapeworks.com/spike_corners.htm

Has anyone used these before? Praise or complaints?

[BeckyGG]

A PSM I worked with about 2 years ago had them thus as her assistant I got to use them.  They were a fabulous timesaver in tech.  My only complaint is they are larger then ones I would hand tear out.  I'm actually thinking about ordering some for my current production.

[Sarah]

I love the spike corners, been using them for about 6 years. Lotsa colors and precut! My only complaint is that with larger scenery pieces, they do tend to come up faster than regular spike tape, unless you glue them or tape over them with cellophane tape. I also use them to hang up signs around the rehearsal hall and theatre.

[Thomas A. Kelly]

If the Stage Management God meant all spike corners to be the same size, it would have made all furniture protruberences the same size... ridiculous waste of money.

TAK

[J]

I agree with Thomas'  comment.

My preference is to use spike tape until we're at opening, when I know things won't change, then use colored paint pens to draw the spikes onto the floor. Saves me having to check if they've come up off the floor, and I can make the paint pen do any shape I want!

[shanakathleen]

I've never heard of that before, do you need permission to use paint pens on the stage floor?

[J]

Well, if the stage floor is laid down and painted specifically for the show there's no reason it would be a problem. It's really no different than spike marks. If the floor is not specific to that show, I suppose one would need permission.

[Sarah]

For permanent spikes, I use paint pens or Sharpies...I use spike corners for rehearsal and for tech, if applicable.

[Fitz]

My preference is to use spike tape until we're at opening, when I know things won't change, then use colored paint pens to draw the spikes onto the floor. Saves me having to check if they've come up off the floor, and I can make the paint pen do any shape I want!

I can't believe I've never thought of paint pens!!!  (smacking self on head)

We re-paint the floor for every show at our theatre, and one of the major issues is that previous shows have a bad habit of not pulling up all their spike tape (which is generally masking tape, but don't get me started on the 8000 inappropriate uses of masking tape). So the stage floor gets painted with tape on it, over and over and over and over... and the tape has a lovely habit of coming away from the stage in the middle of a run and leaving a lovely big mark of the wrong colour behind.

We're probably putting in a new stage floor over the summer, so I will probably be getting a big box of paint pens for the theatre for spiking.

Thanks for the idea!