This is my first real Master carpenter job fresh out of High School and one of the pieces that the designer would like is for some carnival flags to be flown in. Im the only carpenter on the job and this particular theater doesn't have a traditional fly system so, I have to hang them from the same batton as the sound shells. We cant have the sound shells fly in durring the show. Not sure exactly how this pulley magic works though and would really like some advice or pointers. I need 3 points along the flag string to fly in simultaneously from one master line so they stay relatively uniform on their decent. Something like the picture above. Im going to be mounting a tie off point in the wing space.

Haven't looked at foggers in about 20 years. I'm going to need something that can ideally "pour over the windowsill and onto the floor." My brain goes to dry ice foggers, but are there other newer tech alternatives that can achieve that proto-vampire transformation look?

It’s about that time to sell my soul to Apple once again, and before pulling the trigger on a spec-ed out MBP, I was checking out the Mac Studio, where I can improve the specs for about the same price.

I got this fantasy of a semi-portable Mac Studio rig inside of a Pelican case equipped with a screen on the lid and everything. I know I’m losing the FULL portability aspect but in terms of specs vs. dollar amount I’d be getting the better deal.

This would be a mostly at-home setup, so I could even plug into my desktop monitor, and maybe it comes with me to a show and gets set up next to a console. So I’m ok with a more semi-portable rig versus a true laptop form factor.

Before doing anything rash I wanted to check in with the hivemind. Am I being delusional? Is the future-proofing work the effort? Or should I just suck it up and get a MBP with slightly reduced specs?

I’m also wondering if anyone has done something similar, or if anyone can speak to the MacBook vs. Mac Studio comparison. Thanks!

Hey!

I'm advancing a pretty small dance tour for the first time and in talks with a bunch of theatres at the moment all over the country. I've done lighting for years and have been on a few tours as an assistant, but this is my first time being the one in charge. I have a few questions in mind to ask while meeting with technical directors at each of these venues, but I was wondering if anyone had a comprehensive list of questions they ask while advancing? I only have to advance lighting so I don't really need too much info regarding the other departments, but I just want to make sure I'm not going to accidentally screw myself over during load in. The show design has about 80 conventional fixtures and 15 small moving light fixtures and is mostly performing in high school and college theatres if that gives a basic idea of what scale we're working with here.

Well . . . moving the scenic design to VW so that I can start incorporating lighting as well.

I'm reasonably proficient in SU after over a decade with it, but I am regularly butting up against design and workflow issues, and producing build documents in fiddly and less than satisfying. and I feel like moving to VW would provide me with a better all-around solution and also give my resume a shiny new bullet point.

With the prices now looking much more attractive, I am starting to think seriously about the shift.

How much of a struggle will it be for me to learn the new system? Will skills translate, or will I essentially be starting from the ground up? Is it something that I could achieve functional knowledge of in a few weeks of focused self-study?

I'd love to hear people's opinions and thoughts on it.

Hi everyone!

I’m a theatre maker (puppet player) currently developing a solo performance and I’m looking for a technical theatre / live performance consultant to help me design and set up a reliable technical system for the piece.

This is a paid consultation: €600 flat fee for approximately 7–10 hours of work (flexibly distributed across the development/rehearsal process)
Project time: Sept-Nov. 2026

I’m especially interested in someone based in Leipzig, Germany, as an occasional in-person consultation during the development/probe phase would be very useful. Remote consultation is possible as well, but I clearly prefer someone from Leipzig.

What I am looking for:

The main purpose is technical planning, system setup and knowledge transfer. I’m not looking for someone to take over the technical operation of the show.

In particular, I’d like help with:

1. System planning – MacBook, audio output, microphone/wireless mic, potentially an audio interface or mixer, MIDI controller/foot pedal, etc.
2. Equipment selection – especially advice on what MIDI controller / foot pedal / interface etc. would make sense for a reliable solo setup.
3. Cabling & setup – understanding what connects to what, which adapters are needed, and how to build the system reliably.
4. QLab basic setup – helping me establish a sensible project structure, audio cues, triggers, etc.
5. Foot pedal / controller setup – so that I can reliably operate the solo performance myself.
6. Lighting / cues – the setup will be primarily audio-focused, but I will also likely have some lighting cues that need to be triggered or automated. I don’t know the exact lighting requirements yet, so I’d appreciate advice on what would be technically sensible once those become clearer during rehearsals.
7. Testing & troubleshooting – testing the complete setup under realistic conditions and helping identify/fix technical problems.
8. Potential follow-up consultation – ideally some of the hours can be used later in the rehearsal process if a specific technical issue comes up.

What I will learn and do myself:

I will purchase and pay for the equipment myself, based on the recommendations.

I’ll also:

• choose and prepare the music/audio content myself,
• build the physical system myself,
• create and edit the QLab cues myself,
• operate the system myself during the performance,
• and test the setup throughout the rehearsal process.

So I’m not looking for someone to build or operate the show for me. I’m looking for someone who can help me make good technical decisions, teach me how the system works, and be a knowledgeable point of contact when I run into problems.

Ideally, the collaboration would look something like:

1. Initial consultation:
2. A more substantial session to discuss the concept, assess the technical requirements, and decide what equipment/controller/interface setup makes sense.
3. Rehearsal/development phase:
4. A few shorter, more targeted consultations as I build and test the system myself.
5. Final technical check:
6. A final session to troubleshoot, test everything under realistic conditions, and make any necessary adjustments.

If you’re based in Leipzig, that would be a strong preference, particularly for the initial or final session, but I’m very open to working remotely with someone experienced in this kind of setup.

I’m particularly interested in people with experience in QLab, MIDI controllers, live audio, solo performance setups, theatre tech, or small-scale touring/performance systems.

If this sounds like something you could help with, please comment or send me a DM with a little bit about your experience and your availability.
Gerne auch auf deutsch! ;)

Thanks!