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WizardB Regular user 102 Posts |
I would like to know what the general consensus is for lighting invisible th***d on stage for effects such as dancing cane, floating ball (ala Don Wane) and others, without changing the overall lighting theme for the act. I stopped doing thread work all together because the going from bright white to dark blue then back to bright white was a dead give away! How do I make the needed lighting adjustments without looking so drastic? Is there a way to keep a dimmer effect throughout, and still be able to see everything from the audience's perspective?
Thanks for the help, Brian P.S The act is all music, no talking and it only has one overall piece of music so it is not possible to stop and talk for a transition (it is a competition act ), it has a 7 minute time limit (and that is not my style, I just don't want to etc...) |
Kyle^Ravin Inner circle I slammed my head against 1070 Posts |
The most important thing is to ensure lights does not shine through the thread. Light must be behind the performer, focused against the psychorama or back drop. Other than that, ensure there is not light source shining down on you. All the best. I've worked with thread couple of times on stage. Some worked some did not... but follow the basic guidlines of not allowin light to shine directly on you, and having light behind you against the backdrop helps.
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WizardB Regular user 102 Posts |
Hey thanks. I've always used light from the sides out in the wings. Do you think that I should use light that's hanging directly above me (gels), or lights from outside the confines of the actual stage (out in the house, up in the catwalk etc...)?
Thanks, Brian P.S. What do you mean by "through" the thread? |
makeupguy Inner circle 1411 Posts |
There was a "thread" about this some time ago..
The solution is to make the area behind you very bright.. and teh area were the thread is dark.. Direct lighting from the front works if the background is sparkly. Think of this.. the stars are always in the sky.. they are just obscured by daylight. The same goes for thread.. obscure the thread in darkness.. and light what's around it.. I've seen MANY floating hankys in FULL stage light because the thread isn't lit.. but the rest of the stage is |
aquamage New user 92 Posts |
Losanders DVD on floating has good info on it for this kind of thing. The important parts are not to let light reflect off the front of the thread, and to have the proper backdrop that "breaks up" the line. Mylar curtains or a very "busy" patterned backdrop are best.
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Terry Owens Inner circle Ft. Wayne, Indiana 1707 Posts |
What Makeupguy shared is how Losander shared on the Lecture Network. Bright behind, not dark.
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WizardB Regular user 102 Posts |
Also...most competition acts rarely supply contestants with such specialty "rain" curtains...they are usually solid black or solid red, or brown...solid.
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WizardB Regular user 102 Posts |
Thanks. Could I get some clarification as to how to light in front of it, and also how to light the performer (spot/not spot etc?)? Thanks.
Brian |
Kyle^Ravin Inner circle I slammed my head against 1070 Posts |
Light the back, from the back...which means you have parcans or spotlights shining on the backdrop which are placed on the floor at the base of the backdrop. don't allow light to shine at you.
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WizardB Regular user 102 Posts |
Cool. Thanks
Brian |
mentalv Regular user 105 Posts |
It depends on the mood. if you are doing the floating rose it would be a justified reason to dim the lights because its a romantic piece and gives it the feeling
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chmara Inner circle Tucson, AZ 1911 Posts |
One of Blackstone Jr.'s lighting men shared some physics with me.
1 Red light dilates the pupil of the eye. 2 Subtle shining of red light INTO the audience eye's throws their Iris open and throws images out of focus. 3. The unfocused eye has a very hard time seeing thread work. With these principles in mind I have eschewed the use of low key blues where EVERYTHING is hard to see, including the effect.
Gregg (C. H. Mara) Chmara
Commercial Operations, LLC Tucson, AZ C. H. Mara Illusion & Psychic Entertainments |
hugmagic Inner circle 7665 Posts |
As for spot or no spot, at Abbott's we have two top notch guys for the spots. Both are magicians. They know how to keep the spots on just the performer's face. Not everyone can do this but Jim and Jeff are tops.
As for the thread work, Get Mike Ching's book as it will give you a jump start on lighting thread. Every situation is different. Distance to audience, ambient light, stage floor color and reflective qualities. You can use a photo light meter to get you I the ballpark with lighting but then it must be adjusted. As for the sudden lighting changes, it should be done with a slower fade up and down working with your music change. If you are changing the mood of the act, it is ok to change the lighting. Just do it gradually. Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
WizardB Regular user 102 Posts |
Thanks, all. Good advice...
Brian |
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