My local CT is in the process of building a new theatre. It’s very exiting! We're not a very big group – the new theatre is 120 seats - and we do mostly plays. When the group does do a musical, we typically rent the local professional theatre which is pretty much fully decked out.

 

Back to our new building. Part of the funding will be to replace the existing light board and dimmer system (which is 25+ years old and inherited used) and to add a sound system and I’ve been put in charge of drafting some proposals for the executive.

 

Our budget is limited, so we cannot go over the top, but we do want something that is expandable and won't need to be replaced in 5 years. I've been researching lighting consoles and dimmers and I like the ETC SmartFade 2496. We currently use ETC SourceFour Jr's as part of our (limited) lighting inventory. I also like the wall mount ETC SmartFade Dimmers. I’m not committed to these products, they have are just the ones that stood out while doing online research.

 

For our sound system, currently we have nothing that will be brought over. Our requirements are for sound fx and pre-show, intermission and post show music. There are no mics, no live mixing, etc – however I’ve been talking to one of the directors who thought he might “tackle” a musical in the new theatre – so the possibility to need more channels is out there.

 

We also want to add a party-line intercom system. We currently use those personal-style walkie-talkies that you can buy for $50.00/pair at almost every electronics store… They “get the message across”, but – anybody who’s used them knows – they chirp at the end of a message which is no good for live theatre and once our neighbors have cut in on us. We’d be happy with a wired system.

 

I'm open to suggestions for various systems, manufactures, models, and let me know your thoughts on the ETC SmartFade 2496 if you've used it.

 

Thank you

David

 {British National Opera;-