Directing: Catwalk

Print Page | Close Window

Catwalk

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Directing
Forum Discription: For questions about handling shows, actors, crew, board members, children ...or do we repeat ourselves?
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3098
Printed Date: 10/31/25 at 12:12am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Catwalk

Posted By: Elizabeth
Subject: Catwalk
Date Posted: 4/04/08 at 2:09pm

I am curious as to how others go about determining who is allowed in the catwalk?

Replies:

Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 4/04/08 at 3:45pm

The only people who should be up there are the ones focusing.

-------------
In a world of margarine, be butter!

Posted By: Elizabeth
Date Posted: 4/05/08 at 9:33am

Right. Being in a school setting, are students usually allowed to be the ones doing the focusing? Can students accompany an adult?

At my school, no students are 'ever' allowed in the catwalk, but how can I teach them about lights? I suppose I can bring the lights to them, to show them, but it just seems so unauthentic. I understand the liability issues, but this is a new theatre and so I was wondering if the administration was going a bit overboard and I can keep working them to give a little, or if I am being completely off-base - if students should never be allowed in the catwalk, then I won't press the issue. I just thought it was a bit harsh.

Posted By: Linda S
Date Posted: 4/05/08 at 10:27am

It may have to do with the insurance policy. They may not have a choice.

Linda

Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 4/05/08 at 6:06pm

I was a techie all though high school and lit all the pro shows that came through before the big center for the arts was built. I was only one of two students ever allowed in the cat walk.

You might want to talk one-on-one w/ admin, explain the situation, and see if you can't get permission (with a liability waiver from the parents) to take a student up for training.

-------------
In a world of margarine, be butter!

Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 4/05/08 at 6:46pm

How about 'Fall arrestor Harness' being used while on the catwalks?

The school would have to install anchor hook up lines above & along each walk though.

How do the students get on using Tallascopes & ladders for stage work?

-------------
Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

Posted By: whitebat
Date Posted: 4/05/08 at 10:29pm

At our HS, all the lighting techs are students, so, yes, they go in the catwalks. One director let some other students in the catwalks, which was a mistake. It might help to do the focusing during a tech rehearsal when no actors are there. Our current show is at the middle school. We do not get to focus the lights, and the light booth is at a lower height than usual, I think. I have been told to keep people out of the booth, although I think it would be good to have a demonstration (not during rehearsal) so they can either get over their curiosity, or decide to run lights. They have backstage catwalks (maybe 8' off floor), which the students are allowed on.

Posted By: Elizabeth
Date Posted: 4/05/08 at 10:35pm

Tallascopes?? Sorry, not familiar with this term. We have a scissor lift but only maintenance has the key to use it. In fact, I just had them re-string the back curtains because they were hung backward - thought it was kind of funny:-)

I understand. I guess I feel our catwalk is really safe, but I suppose bizarre accidents could occur. I do appreciate the input. I was truly curious as to how others handle it. This is the first time I have been a director in a theatre with a catwalk; usually directed in cafetoriums:-) I was looking forward to brushing up on my skills from college...and having a little fun with the students...teaching is the best way to learn, right?? Just disappointed.

Posted By: Elizabeth
Date Posted: 4/05/08 at 10:44pm

Whitebat,

Can you tell me how many directors your school has? Is someone over the directors? How big is your school? Is it a city-school or more rural? Do your lighting techs have to take a course before they can do a show? Do they have a mentor? I would love any information you are able to give.

Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 4/05/08 at 11:12pm

This is a Tallasope;-

http://www.tallescope.co.uk/ - http://www.tallescope.co.uk/

Used widely in theatres, gymeatres & other spaces. normally they are used with two out rigger legs attached, however in most venues this never happens. [it is quite exiting when they fall off the edge of the apron & a give a great ride down into the auditorium!]

So I gather then that all the 'X" focusing is done by the maintenance bods, if it concerns the lift to do so?

The only restrictions we have with catwalks, is to be 'idiot checked' prior to going up, for loose missiles & objects in the pockets.

As suggested you can show them focusing on the Profiles & Fresnel's working from a clothes rack stand,on the deck. For throw, get them to work the lantern from a alcony or Ashtray in the house to simulate.

-------------
Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

Posted By: whitebat
Date Posted: 4/07/08 at 8:18pm

Elizabeth,

I am no longer in HS, so I don't know everything. Our HS is approx 800-850 students. Our town is approx. 9,000-12,000 people. It is fairly rural. The drama teacher directs, and has a student AD. That I know of, the lighting techs apprentice with another student lighting tech. Two drama teachers ago, the director at the time let non-tech students in the catwalk. No one is over the director, although the school principal is listed as a producer. The CT I am secretary, light tech, whatever for is performing in the middle school. As I said before, it has a very different setup than the HS. When we performed at the HS (the CT), I did enter the light booth briefly, but not the catwalk.

Posted By: Aimee
Date Posted: 4/08/08 at 12:36am

I work at a High School with about 1200 kids. We just got our new auditorium complete with catwalks. The only ones I allow on the catwalks are the tech kids. Our spot ops are up on the catwalks as well so there really is no choice but for kids to be up there.

However! They must be supervised..usually by me as I am the TD.

My kids do all the focusing and hanging. I personally show them how to do things, then rely on the older more experienced ones to show the newer ones after the inital training.

Rules NO RUNNING on the cats. If they are seen running....they are banned..period, no 2nd chances. Safety is too important to let even 1 slide by..and they have all been threatened with expulsion from tech if they do. They also sign a safety form letting my know they understand all the rules, regs and consequences.

For our cats it really is hard to "fall" off. You really have to climb OVER several rails, then jump off and onto the sound clouds. then it really isn no longer falling is it?

I know every place is different, but I hope that helps.

-------------
Aimee

Posted By: whitebat
Date Posted: 4/10/08 at 6:37pm

Oh, I guess technically we have "lofts" backstage rather than catwalks. They do not have a "Genie" (name brand personel lift) at the Middle School, just a very tall wooden ladder with casters on, in the shape of an isosceles triangle. For our last show I went up the ladder and repositioned S-hooks, as the curtains were sagging in places. Luckily someone was watching out for me and held the bottom of the ladder in place, which I wasn't really thinking about.

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 4/13/08 at 12:26pm

This is just a thought gained while taking a bath!

I feel although we have a better understanding with health & safety issues. Yet over the last 50 years, we have progressively increased by 6 months in every decade, the age allowed to get involved in working Fly's & from catwalks.

50 years ago the age was about 12 year old, where by today standard it is around 17.

Could it be the kids are denser today Or should not be allowed to take responsibility, because of what we got upto &/or got away with. Therefore they can't experience & enjoy as we did, for their own protection?

I realise it is possibly caused by Insurance Companies & their attempt to minimise risk on their profits. But by doing so they brain wash us to molly coddle & restrict our kids, from gaining experience & be grown up.

Anyway I know I was working shows from the upper fly floor & even operating Limes 9followspots] from Pulpits over the audience, attached to the Balcony. That was in about '59, I was 12 at the time. It was acceptable & I enjoyed every minute of the experience & it was fun!

But it would not be allowed today, because of all applied perceived rules, policy & guide lines. Even though it is now a lot safer & there have not been any notable problems that I can remember, occurred to force such regulations.

Then we complain that kids won't take responsibility & be trusted to do so.

When I bought my first pair of insulated pliers, which cost me about Half a Crown at the time.

The sparky I was working with backstage, took them & threw them in the bin!

I was surprised, upset & objected strongly! Because to me the pliers cost a lot of money art the time. To this he said"If you want to live longer, it's a cheap lesson"!

As he explained all of his pliers & screw drivers were not insulated & just bare steel. Which ensures that I'm very carefully & think before I do anything!

Of course I listened to him & recovered my new pliers from the bin, but never forgot the lesson!

These day I shudder at the things some techies do, like working on exposed live electrical contacts & believing they are invincible with insulated tools.

-------------
[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

Posted By: Grant
Date Posted: 5/18/08 at 11:05pm

A few months ago the high school theater I work at (I am a high school student) finally realized how annoying students are and finally post signs at every entry to the catwalks, grid above the fly system etc. who is allowed in the catwalks.
We only allow those on our tech crew (and the occasional parent) who actually have a need to be in the "cats". Otherwise, any other student up there will get an immediate suspension and if they aren't a student, they will not be in the PAC much longer.

In addition to this, anyone who goes up there can't have anything in their pockets or carry anything up that could fall off the cats. This of course doesn't apply to the lighting or sound equipment that must be brought up or down. I was mainly talking about screwdrivers, backpacks, etc.

Posted By: stagechild
Date Posted: 5/22/08 at 11:27pm

OK, well in my High School Stagecraft Class, we had learned about how to hang lights and such by using the electric bars above the stage. Then they would take small groups (of about 5 students/trip) up into FOH (as you say the catwalk) just to familiarize them with the catwalk and such. It is the student's choice if they want to go on the trip up to the catwalk. If they do they must be wearing runners and have empty pockets. Students are not allowed up without the permission of the teacher and they must have a valid reason for going up. The class has grades 9-12 in it so if someone who is new to the theatre is doing something that requires going on the catwalk, normally a senior goes with them.