My awesome wife, Ruth, works here in Chicago at Chicago Spotlight (who have been kind enough to sponsor BackstageJobs.com in the past).  She’s made a great spreadsheet chart of the majority of stage lighting fixtures out there, and all the lamps that each one can/should take.  She’s shared it before through ESTA, and is happy to share it with you.

The chart is sorted by manufacturer and model, with images for many of the fixtures. It lists each type of lamp the unit can take based on manufacturer specs and common use, as well as wattage, voltage, rated lifespan, color temperature, lumens, and field angle (if applicable).

You can download the chart here as a PDF file.  We also encourage you to report any errors or missing information in the comments section below, and she will update the file as needed (we are aware of rated lifetime errors in the ETC Source Four Ellipsoidal and Source Four Zoom sections.  I will post the correction soon, and remove this parenthesized section. The same lamps are listed correctly in the Source Four Jr sections, so you can use that in the meantime.).

However, this chart does not mean that you don’t still need to have some knowledge about the fixtures you are lamping.  For instance: An old Altman 360Q ellipsoidal is listed as being able to take an FLK/HX600, which is true, but ONLY if the fixture has had its original reflector replaced with the Super Reflector upgrade.  The filament of the FLK is shorter than the EHD and EHG lamps that the original reflector specified, and as such, you need to have the Super Reflector upgrade installed in order to use the FLK lamp in the fixture (unless of course you don’t want the full amount of light coming out of the front of the unit, or the ability to sharpen the beam). And of course, putting an EHD in a unit with the Super Reflector upgrade will also result in lower light output for the same reasons.

You also need to know the difference between lamps that output color temperature at 3200 Kelvin and those that output at 3050 Kelvin, and why that difference is more important than just the possible lifetime lamp hours and price.

So there you go.  I hope this helps you in your season purchases, and I also hope I don’t now need to explain why using the crappy 16/3 orange extension cords you can get at any Walgreens or Target is a bad idea with stage lighting and foggers.

As a response to the recent FCC announcement, Shure is extending 700 MHz (698 – 806MHz) Trade-in & Trade-up rebates of up to $1,000. Purchase a new Shure wireless system and trade in Shure 700MHz frequency band wireless systems and related components or any other manufacturers’ qualifying 700MHz wireless systems and related components. For complete details on qualifying products and rebate amounts, download the Rebate Form.

If you have any questions, please contact (800) 25-SHURE (800-257-4873).

Hat-tip to Stage Directions for alerting me to this.

This ruling will affect everything and everyone from Broadway to the Flat River Community Players, churches, high school and university theatre departments, corporate meetings, concerts, and sporting events, as well as nearly all existing wireless mics, headsets, cordless phones, and baby monitors.

a SetWear script bag, containing 3 rolls of spike tape (red, blue, and yellow), a roll of glow tape, mobile phone/device holder (fits iPhone and Blackberry), a china marker, and a Sharpie.

Purchased separately, these items would cost approximately $85.00.  Chicago Spotlight is offering the whole package for just $45.00.

Want this gift set?  E-mail Chicago Spotlight by clicking here, or here’s the rest of their contact info:

They are located within walking distance of the Ashland/Lake stop on the CTA Green Line.

Do you know of a great gift deal available at one of your vendors?  Let me know!

There are two “Black Friday”/shopping related items I think you should be aware of.  First, for those of you looking to get a new MacBook Pro (or other Mac items) Apple’s online Black Friday specials are online today only, and they look pretty dang good (especially if you have been looking at Mac prices for the last year).

Second, for those of you looking for Mac minis (great for running sound, and if you already have the keyboard and monitor, really cheap), or other Macs, and want to comparison shop: AppleInsider has this great chart listing prices for all the major Macs at 8 major stores.  Stretch that sound budget further! (Prices may not reflect “Black Friday” specials)

Planning on doing any shopping on Amazon today, or at all? Why not help out a great Chicago theatre company in the process, without spending anything extra.  Click this link, and scroll down until you see the Amazon.com search box, enter an item you are looking for, and New Leaf Theatre receives a percentage of the sale.

Remember, some theatre related vendors may be closed today.  Call ahead!  Don’t assume that your usual place to get lamps, gel, snow, fog fluid, or a replacement sandbag will be open.

Finally, the wonderful The City Desk has a great story on the “real” reason we call it Black Friday.

Sure, a holiday week doesn’t change most theatre people’s schedules that much (except for no work on Thursday) but your vendors may have other plans.  Many vendors may be closing early today, and may not be open at all on Friday.  So, if you even think you might need extra lamps, gel, gobos, lights, speakers, cable, fog fluid, rope, or other such specialty items that you can’t (or shouldn’t) get from the hardware store, you should call your vendor right now to place your order.  Or at least find out if they will be open Friday.

Just a friendly reminder.

There are various sizes, but essentially it acts as a gap between two threaded pipes to allow wiring connections to be made between the fixture and the feed/support.

From a recent load-in:

M.E.:  (while looking at hanging practical fixture that needed a wiring connection before going into a threaded rod)  “Hmm…  Might need a hickey.   Check in the box up on that shelf.”

Electrician 1 looks in box.

Electrician 2:  “What’s a hickey?”

M.E.: (turns, pauses)  “Weren’t you ever in high school?”

So, lighting and props folks: how many of you know what the electricians were actually looking for, and how many have no idea (other than the making-out version)?  No cheating by Googling it.  Tell us in the comments.

Answer to come tomorrow.

The American DJ Galaxian 3D laser projector.  Perfect for small clubs and freelance DJs, or for installing in a room full of kittens?

You be the judge.

H/T to my wife for this one.