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MikeOnIce2010
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Topic: On - Ice Set Question
Posted: 9/20/08 at 8:49pm

Hi All!

I am a figure skater as well as a theatre person.
I am directing and performing in a figure skating show with a broadway theme in Bryant Park in NYC this winter and our finale is a tribute to Rent and there's a La Vie Bohéme segment in it. We're planning on dancing on a table in the piece, does anyone know what kind of material should be placed under the legs of the table to keep it from sliding around on the ice? Much appreciated!
-MIke

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Spectrum
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Posted: 9/21/08 at 1:29am

Depending on the cross sectional area of each leg, I would think either a section of carpeting (pile side down) OR contact cementing sand to the bottom of each leg would help keep it stable on ice. If the legs are very narrow, the only thing to keep them from sliding would be short spikes, similar to what you might use as feet on a subwoofer speaker or maybe the spikes used on golf shoes. The lateral stresses on a table you would be dancing on could be significant, so think in terms of what a car would need to remain stable on ice. (NOT that you would be as massive as a car!)

Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.

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MikeOnIce2010
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Posted: 9/21/08 at 10:23am

Haha thank you. We probably couldn't use the spikes on the ice because the table wont be there the whole time. We are getting the right kind of table that's more of a platform built to be stood on. Any thoughts on the kind of carpet? You know, so it doesn't fray and get stuck on our blades as we skate by...that wouldn't be good for us lol

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vickifrank
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Posted: 9/21/08 at 1:31pm

You may not be able to use spikes, but you probably could use mending plates mounted upside down. Mending plates have several small 1/4"-3/8" spikes.

Mending plates are used to join two boards end to end, and can be 2" x 3" in size and include holes for nails/screws. So if you mounted the mending plate using the holes, but up-sidedown, the small spikes would point down and could be pressed into the ice with the stage hand's foot.

Since these spikes are so small they'd make little more difference than the front of the skate that the skater diggs in before a spin (I think they call that spiking before the spin?). Thus they'd be unlikely to hurt the next skater by making a too big a gash in the ice.

Of course you'd have to check to make sure that my suggestion did pass muster without ice damage or potential for harm--you know more than I about ice dancing.

Since mending plates are integral pieces, nothing can fall off--like threads of carpet, or tacks.

Otherwise on table choice: If you go the carpet route, you may want a trestle table that has more contact with the ice than just four skinny legs, more contact area increases friction, which would reduce sliding--or may want to slightly wet the base to allow a small amount of freezing the table to the ice to occur. This may just mean a spray bottle to mist the part in contact with the ice.

_____________

http://www.studio-productions-inc.com
1-800-359-2964

The theater scrim people

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MikeOnIce2010
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Posted: 9/21/08 at 1:45pm

Thanks alot! That was very informative, the plates could probably work without causing damage. The Rent number is the last number of the show, and the ice would be resurfaced at the end which would fill in the tiny holes. That could definitely work! And the front of the blade is called the toe-pick, we don't call it spiking, we don't really call it anything but a take- off before a jump, just helpin ya out! lol

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singingmagician
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Posted: 9/23/08 at 8:07am

Hey everyone, long time reader, first time post here.

Mike, I have done a little work on ice in the past and we had our technicians wear a special shoe covering that had small spikes on the bottom to provide traction, but did not cause holes in the ice. Perhaps you could adapt something like that to fit onto the bottom of the table?

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MikeOnIce2010
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Posted: 9/23/08 at 12:15pm

That could work, I might wind up using a combination of the techniques suggested here. The weight of the table will weight down whatever is underneath it so that helps, I just want us to be safe and not have the table slide out from under us, that would be bad! More ideas are appreciated! :)

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Set Design and Construction
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Set Design and Construction

Author	Message
MikeOnIce2010 Walk-On Joined: 9/20/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: On - Ice Set Question Posted: 9/20/08 at 8:49pm
	Hi All! I am a figure skater as well as a theatre person. I am directing and performing in a figure skating show with a broadway theme in Bryant Park in NYC this winter and our finale is a tribute to Rent and there's a La Vie Bohéme segment in it. We're planning on dancing on a table in the piece, does anyone know what kind of material should be placed under the legs of the table to keep it from sliding around on the ice? Much appreciated! -MIke

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Spectrum Celebrity Joined: 4/16/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 176	Posted: 9/21/08 at 1:29am
	Depending on the cross sectional area of each leg, I would think either a section of carpeting (pile side down) OR contact cementing sand to the bottom of each leg would help keep it stable on ice. If the legs are very narrow, the only thing to keep them from sliding would be short spikes, similar to what you might use as feet on a subwoofer speaker or maybe the spikes used on golf shoes. The lateral stresses on a table you would be dancing on could be significant, so think in terms of what a car would need to remain stable on ice. (NOT that you would be as massive as a car!)
	Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.
	IP Logged

MikeOnIce2010 Walk-On Joined: 9/20/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 9/21/08 at 10:23am
	Haha thank you. We probably couldn't use the spikes on the ice because the table wont be there the whole time. We are getting the right kind of table that's more of a platform built to be stood on. Any thoughts on the kind of carpet? You know, so it doesn't fray and get stuck on our blades as we skate by...that wouldn't be good for us lol
	IP Logged

vickifrank Celebrity Joined: 9/21/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 332	Posted: 9/21/08 at 1:31pm
	You may not be able to use spikes, but you probably could use mending plates mounted upside down. Mending plates have several small 1/4"-3/8" spikes. Mending plates are used to join two boards end to end, and can be 2" x 3" in size and include holes for nails/screws. So if you mounted the mending plate using the holes, but up-sidedown, the small spikes would point down and could be pressed into the ice with the stage hand's foot. Since these spikes are so small they'd make little more difference than the front of the skate that the skater diggs in before a spin (I think they call that spiking before the spin?). Thus they'd be unlikely to hurt the next skater by making a too big a gash in the ice. Of course you'd have to check to make sure that my suggestion did pass muster without ice damage or potential for harm--you know more than I about ice dancing. Since mending plates are integral pieces, nothing can fall off--like threads of carpet, or tacks. Otherwise on table choice: If you go the carpet route, you may want a trestle table that has more contact with the ice than just four skinny legs, more contact area increases friction, which would reduce sliding--or may want to slightly wet the base to allow a small amount of freezing the table to the ice to occur. This may just mean a spray bottle to mist the part in contact with the ice.
	_____________ http://www.studio-productions-inc.com 1-800-359-2964 The theater scrim people
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MikeOnIce2010 Walk-On Joined: 9/20/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 9/21/08 at 1:45pm
	Thanks alot! That was very informative, the plates could probably work without causing damage. The Rent number is the last number of the show, and the ice would be resurfaced at the end which would fill in the tiny holes. That could definitely work! And the front of the blade is called the toe-pick, we don't call it spiking, we don't really call it anything but a take- off before a jump, just helpin ya out! lol
	IP Logged

singingmagician Walk-On Joined: 9/23/08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 9/23/08 at 8:07am
	Hey everyone, long time reader, first time post here. Mike, I have done a little work on ice in the past and we had our technicians wear a special shoe covering that had small spikes on the bottom to provide traction, but did not cause holes in the ice. Perhaps you could adapt something like that to fit onto the bottom of the table?
	IP Logged

MikeOnIce2010 Walk-On Joined: 9/20/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 9/23/08 at 12:15pm
	That could work, I might wind up using a combination of the techniques suggested here. The weight of the table will weight down whatever is underneath it so that helps, I just want us to be safe and not have the table slide out from under us, that would be bad! More ideas are appreciated! :)
	IP Logged

Topic: On - Ice Set Question( Topic Closed)