Set Design and Construction: Custom Set Design

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Custom Set Design

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Set Design and Construction
Forum Discription: Post your questions or suggestions about designing or building a set here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1930
Printed Date: 4/28/24 at 4:12pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Custom Set Design

Posted By: greenjeans
Subject: Custom Set Design
Date Posted: 7/18/06 at 8:31pm

Greetings! I hope I receive a friendly welcome from the members. I found this discussion board in search for people in the theatre community. My question is: Is there a need in the community theatre world for supplying custom built sets? I am part of a small company that supplies pipe and pipe fittings (KEE KLAMP) in steel and aluminum and we recently had a customer purchase fittings from us in order to build a set for their production of The Fantasticks in DeTour Michigan. http://www.eupfac.org/ - http://www.eupfac.org/

I didn't post this in order to just get some free advertising, but more so to see if there is a need for this type of service in the theatre community. We would like to try to do some more grassroots advertising to see if we can be of service to anyone interested so I figured I'd hit some forums to see if anyone thinks this is a possibility and if anyone could give us some advice on how to link arms with some community theatres around the USA.

I know when I was in high school, most of our sets were custom built in wood/partical board. The great thing about our products is that the parts are not welded, they are just tightened with set screws and can be easily taken apart, rebuilt, redesigned, etc.

Here is a link to the pictures and designs that show how our customer used the product. http:??simplifiedbuilding.com/blog/?cat=20 - http://simplifiedbuilding.com/blog/?cat=20

Thank you all for your time. I truly hope I am not a disturbance to the normal postings in this site. I would appreciate any feedback you would have.

In case you're wondering, I was part of the PIT. No acting talent here beyond a junior high production of Cheaper By The Dozen!

Thank you all!
Kevin

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Kevin Green
Simplified Building Concepts - Principal

Replies:

Posted By: Kathy S
Date Posted: 7/20/06 at 1:52am

I could see a potential use for these at our theatre for creating temporary dressing rooms. Would that make sense, to drape fabric sheets over the horizontal poles?

Posted By: greenjeans
Date Posted: 7/20/06 at 10:48pm

Kathy:

That's a great idea to construct temporary dressing rooms! It would actually be a very simple project. For instance, you could make it a square-shaped structure 10x10x6ft high or turn it into a larger structure, more of a rectangle that has a pipe dividing the long side of the rectangle in half, thus making it one structure, but two rooms...

I'm not sure how many people you have in one of those rooms at a time so please forgive me if I'm thinking too big or too small.

You could even get real ambitious and with a few extra fittings, you could build some extensions from the horizontal pipes that could be used as clothing racks!

Aso for the fabric sheets, I would say you could either use shower curtain hooks/rings that slide on the pipe for opening and closing the curtains. Or, you could make fabric loops that are stitched and the pipe could slide right through the loops. Draping is of course the simplest solution, but what fun would that be?

We could definitely help you out if you are interested. Feel free to email me personally at our company website or info@simplifiedbuilding.com You could send us the desired dimensions and we could email you a sketch of the design.

I hope to hear from you Kathy, but either way, thanks so much for the reply.

Kevin

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Kevin Green
Simplified Building Concepts - Principal

Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 7/21/06 at 12:59pm

These things look great! Kinda like Tinker-Toys on a larger scale.

I can imagine using these for touring shows and for setting up impromptu backdrops for theater-in-the-park as well!

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"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 7/22/06 at 12:17am

Bewdy Kevin!
The Kee Klam would make it a last easier, faster & less bulky than using scaf fittings!
I assume you could use the pipe frame for lighting grids & hanging lighting from. Especial for black box theatre suspended lantern grids. This would also be great for booms, battens & ballet bar lighting structures. With obviously less weight. Especial for side lighting frames for touche, & feet high light lamps.
I think they would be good for most Pro or Ameatre venues to have on hand, rather than mess about lashing gaff set ups for different shows & the odd structural need.
Obviously your system would work well producing rostra, podium?s & risers! It looks a lot easier than making up wooden gate leg rostrums & simpler to fit the deck plates using just pipe saddles.
Funnily enough I in the process of doing a proposal to refurbish a community recreation facility in to a black box, workshop/rehearsal space, at the moment.
Could certainly use your system, but I doubt they would be available locally in West Oz?

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