Updated for 2010, this guide covers how to estimate, warranties and quantity discounts, an estimate form, design and engineering fees, service and installation hourly rates, a letter footage chart, and ...
Onstage neon work is far from normal
Light and light(n)ing effects have always brightened the entertainment industry. Increasingly, neon is being used on stage and movie sets, as well as for TV shows. Based on personal experience, I can vouch that these applications' requirements deviate from normal neon applications. This month, I'll take you backstage for insights that could open the curtain for some neon shops to play a role in this challenging field. But beware, only the good guys (and gals, of course) will survive to the happy ending. Words to the wise In the early 20th Century, the introduction of electric light and its easy controllability revolutionized onstage lighting technology. Since then, neon, as a colorful, custom light source, has gained greater prominence for scenic setups. For any neon shop, the stage manager's requirements will present challenges. Here are a few:
• Absolute adherence to timeframes. Either the neon will be ready on time, or, to borrow an old Hollywood saying, "You'll never work in this town again."
• Unfailing reliability. If the neon fails or flickers during the grand-opening show, your shop will experience a guaranteed blackout, even if nobody in the audience notices.
• No audio interference. Sound technicians don't like anything that interferes with their audio systems. You'll be surprised how sensitive their ears are — even the gentle hum of a magnetic transformer usually eliminates them from consideration for theatrical uses.
• Team organization. Determine who's responsible for which task before beginning installation. Your team must match the stage-crew hierarchy, which resembles a colony of ants or bees. Stage crews are usually unionized, and their structures are often different from signshops.
Fade to black
In most cases, stage and studio sets require dimmability. If the production managers allow magnetic transformers, underload them to avoid flickering tubes at low dimmer settings and high-voltage spikes (the "buzz"), especially when red tubes are used in the circuit. Always use low-power-factor, magnetic transformers with dimmers.
In most cases, theater dimmers can withstand a neon transformer's inductive load. But, allow enough time for a test setup. If the neon's intensity is unstable at low settings, you might need to add some resistive load, such as a powerful lightbulb in parallel to the primary of the transformer. This will stabilize the dimmer's timing and eliminate flickering.