PNTA- Theatrical Supply

Free How-To Videos!

2009-11-25T15:15:00.000-08:00

PNTA has started a series of FREE how-to/educational videos. They are purely informational.

Check them out - just click the title:

Here are a few of the topics we've covered so far:

	Cleaning a Source Four Lens Barrel (3:42)
	Maintaining a Source Four Lamp & Socket (4:08)
	Maintaining a Source Four Reflector (5:30)
	Bench Focusing a Source Four (3:45)
	Installing a Crimp Style Stagepin Connector (5:35)
	Installing a Pressure-Style Stagepin Connector (3:41)
	Getting to Know Theatrical Paints (4:45)
	Understanding the Basic Principles of Stage Makeup (3:37)

PNTA's Favorite Essentials!

2009-09-15T14:23:00.000-07:00

Gaff Tape

Our Tried and True Favorites at $14.99/roll:

Best Value!

Bron's 2" Black Gaff Tape

Spike Tape

Gel

All Sheets of Rosco and Lee Gel - $6 a sheet!

Lee Filters - Arranged Numerically

Roscolux - Arranged Numerically

HPL Lamps

Choose between Osram or Ushio!

All are only $14.70/lamp!

Pacific Series

StrandSelecon's Pacific Series

Starting at $396.44

ETC's Source 4

ETC's Source 4 Ellipsoidals

Starting at $278.59

How To be A Theatre Tech Crew

2009-09-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

The start of the new school year is upon us!

We present another great article from WikiHow:
http://www.wikihow.com/Be-in-Theatre-Tech-Crew-in-High-School

Some of our recommended tools for the beginning tech are:
- Gloves, We really like the ones from Setwear
- 2" Black Gaff Tape, always have a roll with you, it has tons of uses from tapeing down cables to emergecy repair to an actors' costume.
- Tie Line, much like gaff tape, it has a variety of uses
- the Backstage Handbook, a must have book for any all theatre techs

Learn Set Design For Theatre

2009-08-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

At PNTA, we always looking for those tips and resources to help our customers.

Here's a great little article on getting your feet wet in set design:
http://www.wikihow.com/Learn-Set-Design-for-Theatre

Here's a list of books that PNTA recommends to have at your fingertips, in no particular order:
- The Backstage Handbook
- The Stagecraft Handbook
- Stock Scenery Construction Handbook
- Structural Design for the Stage

Ben Nye Foundation SALE!

2009-07-09T10:42:00.000-07:00

SALE! Just a heads up to you makeup lovers!
We have a bit of overstock and need to pare down our inventory.
What does this mean? You save!

PNTA has marked down ALL of its Ben Nye Matte Foundation, both online and in its retail store! This is an overstock reduction, so hurry while supplies last!

June - PNTA and Rosco Paint Sale

2009-06-01T10:24:00.000-07:00

PNTA is having a Paint sale!

All Rosco paints, coatings, varnishes, primers and tints are 10% off through the end of June '09

Limited to stock on hand; not to be combined with any other discounts or offers.

This sales is valid both in our retail store and online store.

Face Painting Your Favorite Sports Teams Colors

2009-05-27T15:06:00.000-07:00

Its no secret that theatre folk are very resourceful.

Recently we've had a few requests for finding face and body paints for showing support for your favorite sports team; specifically for MLS and NFL where fans want to stand out.

We recommend Ben Nye's MagiColor Liquid Paints. They're highly pigmented and dry quickly and are fairly smudge resistant. You can apply with a brush or a sponge.

For Seattle fans:
Seattle Seahawks (NFL) - Green and Blue
Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) - Lime Green and Blue

Lighting Equipment Maintenance

2009-05-14T11:08:00.000-07:00

ANNUAL OVERHAUL

ELLIPSOIDALS

1) EXAMINE CONNECTOR

Is it installed properly?
Strain Relief?
Proper wiring? (green wired to green = ground, black wired to gold = hot, white wired to silver = neutral. Hot separated from ground and neutral.)
Need replacement connectors? Edison/PBG? Stagepin/GSP? Twistlock/TLG?

2) EXAMINE WIRE LEADS

Check for cuts and abrasions. If wire is cut or damaged, replace it. For a quick fix, isolate wires carefully with electrical tape.
Does wire have a protective sleeve? Consider adding a nylon sleeve.

3) REMOVE LAMP BASE (lamp housing)

Remove lamp from socket
Don't touch glass with bare hands. Use a clean cloth.
Need new lamps?

Check for:

Corrosion in socket? replace socket.
Very mild corrosion can be treated with Cramolin.
Loose connections to socket? tighten them.
Ground attached?
Signs of heat/arcing damage? Look for the cause, a loose connection, stray wires, and repair.
Is the lamp the correct one for the fixture?
Reinsert lamp and set base aside someplace safe and clean.
Need new sockets?

4) REMOVE OR OPEN LENS BARREL

Remove lenses and clean with glass cleaner and paper towels.
Make sure you have the correct lenses for the fixture.
Replace broken or badly chipped lenses.
Dust out lens tube.
Reassemble lens barrel.
Make sure appropriate clips, retaining rings, fieldstops, etc., are in proper places.
Tip: If lenses are broken, check that the new lenses are a little loose in the housing, to allow for heat expansion.

5) CHECK SHUTTERS

Insulating knobs on all shutters? Replace knob or shutter if they are missing.
Too tight? Try graphite spray lubricant or 4-Tec DryMoly (no oil lubricants allowed)
Too loose? See if there is a way to add tension to the assembly, or tear apart shutter assembly and see if any plates are missing.
If you do tear apart shutter assembly, keep track of what order the parts belong in.
Too warped? Hammer against a steel plate, or replace.

6) VISUALLY INSPECT EXTERIOR

Can it use a bit of paint? High heat stove paint works well. Do painting while fixture is disassembled to avoid getting paint on lenses.

7) CLEAN REFLECTOR

Use a soft cloth and water or very diluted glass cleaner (ammonia).

8) CHECK ALL MOUNTING HARDWARE

Yoke bolts, handles, etc., all present and working?

Anything stripped, worn or not 'holding'. Replace bad hardware.

Check main c-clamp bolt: does it move freely by hand, or do you need a wrench? Replace bolt if bent or stripped. Lubricate clamp bolts with WD40.

9) REASSEMBLE INSTRUMENT

10) ALIGN INSTRUMENT

Adjust the relationship between the lamp and the reflector for maximum even light output. Method varies by manufacturer, but all adjust both the lamp's depth and its angle in the reflector.

Note: Always compare instruments with others of the same type to tell what parts are needed.

FOR FRESNELS

Same as above, but skip section 5, and you won't need to remove lens to clean it.

On fresnels, check the lens train (spot to flood adjustment) for smooth operation and proper locking (or friction) hold of flood position.

RECOMMENDED TOOL LIST

crescent wrench
screwdrivers
stand for aligning
paper towels
glass cleaner
gloves (to protect hands from heat while aligning)
pop riveter (useful for repairing some instruments, and for replacing insulating knobs on shutters)
"Rocco Wrench" lens ring pliers (or long-nosed pliers) for removing and replacing lens rings
Pin Splitter (for maintaining male stage pin connectors)
4-Tec Dry Moly or Graphite Spray for shutters
Cramolin De-Oxidizer for treating mildly damaged
sockets
GamCheck

SeaChanger Demo!

2009-05-05T14:27:00.000-07:00

PNTA invites to you see check out the SeaChanger from Ocean Optics.

Join us for our demo on:
Wednesday, May 13th, 10am - 12pm, 2pm - 4pm
Thursday, May 14th, 10am - 12pm, 2pm - 4pm
615 S. Alaska St, Seattle WA 98108

The SeaChanger is a milestone in the evolution of theatrical lighting -- SeaChanger is the CYMG color changer for ETC Source Four Ellipsoidals. Through unique, patented processes, the ESTA Award winning SeaChanger yields the most robust and highest transmission dichroics available. You control the color, intensity and saturation of theatrical and studio lighting with unprecedented levels of precision and ease.

Some great features are:
- Near-silent operation with superior dichroic color technology
- Seamless color transitions in < 1 second

Learn more about the SeaChanger from Ocean Optics.

Testing Scenic Paints

2009-04-23T14:02:00.000-07:00

How can I test colors before buying gallons and gallons of paint?

Rosco and Sculptural Arts both make test kits that include 1-ounce samples of the colors they make. Rosco offers a Scenic Paint Kit Sampler, Off-Broadway Kit, Iddings Deep Color Kit, Supersaturated Kit and Vivid FX Special Effects Kit. Sculptural Arts offers a Starter Kit for their Artist's Choice line.

3rd Saturdays!

2009-03-09T10:40:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!
PNTA is going to be open on the 3rd Saturday of the month, starting this Saturday March 21st!

Come down and get your tape, paint, gel, or any other essentials!

Extension Cables for Your Theatre

2009-03-04T17:37:00.000-08:00

Why can’t I just use extension cords for my lighting instruments?

We can think of five reasons right off hand:

They’re illegal for use in theatre. Our cables meet the current National Electrical Code for portable stage use.
They're usually made from smaller gauge cable (usually #16) which is easy to overload with high-wattage stage lights.
Their jackets are light-duty. Ours are heavy-duty and built for abuse.
Their jackets are often made of thermoplastic material that can melt when touching hot lights. Ours won't melt.
Their jackets are bright orange or yellow. Ours are a tasteful flat black.

Be smart and use the right kind of cable. We recommend50' Stage Pin, 50' 20amp Twistlock, or 50' Edison / PBG depending on your fixtures. If you need more or less, check out the various cables we have.

The lighting cables we sell are made specifically to connect lighting instruments to a power source (wall outlet or dimmer pack). All are manufactured with black 12/3 SOOW (waterproof SO) cable. For ease of use and storage, they're labeled to indicate cable length. We stock open cable that can be cut to any length and a range of adapters. We offer the service of making custom cables in any length and with any adapters you need.

Creating Fire Effects On Stage

2009-03-04T17:18:00.000-08:00

How can we create a fire effect on stage? What about rain and snow?

The easiest way to create these effects is to use a GAM FX Film Wheel with a fire, rain or snow film roll. You can also pair the snow effect with stage snow, re-usable shredded plastic pieces that fall realistically to simulate snowfall.

For fire, we also recommend Le Maitre's Le Flame. Le Flame is a silk flame effect. It uses a combination of air flow, light and fabric to create a realistic flame effect. Perfect if need that fire effect under a cauldron or in a fireplace.

There's also the Martin Mania effect unit, that generates intense, hypnotic flame effects. Allows you to blur edges and vary speed to change effect from a cozy flicker to a raging inferno. No cool-down periods are needed, so the fire can blaze as long as you do.

Priming / Base Coats on Flats and Drops

2009-02-11T10:07:00.000-08:00

What should I use to prime or base coat my flats and drops?

That depends on your final desired effect, and how you plan on getting there. As usual, different methods will yield different results.

Priming serves to:

* Size (tighten) the fabric

* Provide a smooth painting surface.

* Saturate the fibers so they don't soak up expensive pigments

* Flameproof (when needed)

* and, in some cases, provide the base color for the rest of the painting.

Several products can be used for priming drops and flats, including scenic paint (a special primer or regular scene paint), gelatin glue and whiting, white glue, or starch.

Leftover Scene Paint: If a brown or gray base color works for your design, mix leftover scene paint together, add white if you need more paint, and water it down to a milky consistency. Add Flamex if you want to flameproof. What a great way to cut down on waste and save money!

We don't recommend mixing leftover house paint to make a primer. The fillers will gum up the fabric, and the binder may not hold well when watered down. Your flats may look chalky and will crack before their time. Also, Flamex may not mix properly with all house paints, but is designed to mix well with all Rosco Scenic paints (Iddings Deep Color, SuperSat, Off Broadway).

Priming White: You can't beat Rosco's ready made primer for speed and ease of use. Priming White, designed for priming new muslin, is less expensive than other scene paints, yet offers the same quality treatment for your fabric. It dries off white, a nice neutral starting color for the rest of your painting.

Gelatin Glue: The traditional primer is made from gelatin glue, water, and dry whiting. Soak one part gelatin glue in one part cold water for one hour, then heat in a double boiler until glue is completely dissolved. Mix one part of this hot glue with ten parts hot water to make glue size. Mix one part glue size with one part dry whiting and you have got your primer.

Laundry Starch: For translucent drops, try priming with Argo Gloss Laundry Starch. Dissolve one pound starch in one gallon cold water. Then slowly pour the starch into three gallons of boiling water, stirring constantly. Let it cool, then strain into a paint sprayer. One person sprays ahead while a second person follows brushing the starch solution into the cloth.

White Glue: If you have a lot of white glue In your shop, try mixing it very thin and using it for a primer. It dries clear but not flexible, so is not useful for painting drops.

Regardless of the primer you choose, these guidelines should be followed:

Keep it thin. The primer should be watered down to the consistency of milk. Don't apply it too thick; just enough to soak the fabric but not leave much of a layer on top. The thinner your base coat the more layers your muslin will take before cracking.

Work it in. Use a big brush and crisscrossing strokes to work the liquid into the muslin. Don't let it just sit on top.

Flameproof now. Flameproofing is most effective at this stage. You can use Rosco's Flamex alone as a primer, but mixing it with scenic paint makes it easier to apply and saves the extra step. See Flameproofing info on back.

Conserve money and energy. Choose your primer to match your needs and accomplish as much as you can with that coat. When possible, prime and flameproof all in one step. It is often useful to tint the prime coat with dry pigments or scene paint to a pastel of the following base coat. For instance, a brown base coat will cover beige better than it will cover white. But don't add too much pigment.... the whole point is to keep it thin and light.

Practice. The more you work with the products, the easier it will be to choose the right primer for the job.

Priming Foams and Metal And Other Surfaces

2009-01-19T17:48:00.000-08:00

What about priming foams and metal?

A. Different products are geared for priming different materials. Rosco's Tough Prime sticks to almost anything, and is designed for priming metals and plastics.

Q. The columns we just built have a variety of surfaces that may or may not take paint the same way, what can we do?

A. Sculpt or Coat will cover a variety of different surfaces including foam, wood, fabric, plastic, glass and metals. Use Sculpt or Coat to make one uniform and paintable surface. Great for props and maskmaking. You can also use Sculpt or Coat and cheesecloth to prime and strengthen the surface in one step. This method is also used to 'even out' different surfaces to make them appear to be made of the same material.

Q. We need to create durable ponds and pools of water on stage. What can we use that is water-resistant and will create a useful texture?

A. Foamcoat, the only water-resistant priming product PNTA carries, provides a durable coating that withstands chipping and cracking. Use Foamcoat for coating foam, concrete, fiberglass and other tough-to-cover materials.

Different Types of Filters

2009-01-19T17:33:00.001-08:00

Are filters used just for adding color, or are there other applications?

Filters are used for a variety of effects:

Color changes the mood or look of your stage.
Color correction changes the color temperature of a light source.
Neutral density filters cut a light's intensity without changing its color.
CalColor is a series of effects filters designed specifically to the spectral sensitivity of color film.
High temp filters are more heat resistant and help to reduce saturated color burnout.
Diffusion softens a beam of light.
Reflection materials made of durable, washable plastic laminate are used to surface reflector boards.
Polarizing filters help reduce the glare of reflection from glass, water and shiny metal objects. For photography, they are especially effective when used in conjunction with a polarizing filter at the lens (cross polarization).

Read about our past post on PNTA's Basic and Favorite Gel Colors!
http://pnta.blogspot.com/2008/06/pntas-basic-and-favorite-gel-colors.html

Portable Sound Systems and Feedback

2009-01-19T17:23:00.000-08:00

We’re using a portable sound system and getting feedback. What should we do?

It's important to keep the microphone out of the coverage pattern of the speakers. You want to set up the system so the speaker energy goes out to the audience, not back into the microphone.

A basic rule of sound systems is get the speakers up, preferably at least three feet above audience head height. This ensures the sound will get to the audience members at the rear and doesn’t blast out the people in front.

Set up the system so the speakers are in front of the microphone. The mic should not be pointing at the speakers. Don’t walk right in front of the speakers with an open mic.

Also, avoid using too much gain. If you find that you're holding the mic over a foot from your mouth, reduce the system gain and work six inches or less from the mic.

If you are looking for a good reference books, PNTA recommends the following:

Sound And Music For the Theatre

Sound Reinforcement Handbook

Theatre Math!

2008-12-04T16:35:00.000-08:00

How do I calculate the coverage of an ellipsoidal?
You can calculate the coverage from any throw distance with the following formula:

Multiplying Factor x Throw Distance = Diameter of Area Covered
(MF x T = D)

One of PNTA's favorite resources is Photometrics Handbook, it contains full specs on virtually every instrument a lighting designer is likely to encounter. It's clearly and consistently formatted, this is an essential tool for any designer who never plans to leave home.

The Dogalog Is Back!

2008-12-04T09:25:00.000-08:00

Download the all-new Dogalog now at http://www.pnta.com/dogalog.htm

(Click the link or cut & paste into your favorite browser)

You asked, we listened and the Dogalog is back! This time in an easy to download format; just add it to your desktop so it's always where you can find it or just print it out to flip through, now or later. Is the Dogalog new to you? It's one of the most complete catalogs (sorry, DOGALOGS) of equipment and supplies for the theatrical, educational, house of worship and architectural lighting markets. The Dogalog is a great reference for the beginner or seasoned pro, with product descriptions, technical specifications, usage tips and FAQs. There are many clickable links to take you right to what you need in our online store. Don't forget to sign up for our mailing list, if you haven't already, for ongoing Dogalog updates, new products, applications and ideas!

Download the all-new Dogalog now at http://www.pnta.com/dogalog.htm

(Click the link or cut & paste into your favorite browser)

Product Demos!

2008-09-23T15:40:00.001-07:00

NEW PRODUCT DEMOS!
From Elation, American DJ and Acclaim
Why wait for LDI? Come see all the new gear now!
Wed, September 24th 2008
5pm - 7pm @ PNTA
**OPEN TO ALL**
Need directions?

FAQ: Fog and Haze

2008-09-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

I’m not sure whether to get a dry ice fogger or a chemical fogger. What's the difference?
It depends on what you want to do. Dry ice fog hugs the ground, dissipating relatively quickly much like real fog will do. Chemical fog floats and disperses in the air, taking a longer time to dissipate. The overall effect is more like smoke. Sometimes a fog machine will be called a smoke machine.

We recommend the Rosco 1900 Fog machine for more realistic smoke effects and the Le Maitre Peasouper Dry Ice Fogger for more realistic fog effects.

How is a hazer different from a fogger?
A hazer fills a room with long-lasting, even mist or haze for atmospheric effects that enhance the visibility of shafts of light. With haze, you can turn your dance floor into a 3-D canvas for moving lights and lasers. Hazers use low heat and very little fluid and they produce a dry, odorless haze.

One of our favorite products? Haze-In-A-Can.

The Basic Types of Lighting Fixtures

2008-08-28T12:48:00.000-07:00

Needs some lights? Not sure what kind?

Lighting instruments can be broken down into four main categories: focused, wash, intelligent and specialty/task.

Focused Lighting
Ellipsoidal, reflector-based instruments, such as the ETC Source Four™, Altman 360 series, Altman Shakespeare and Strand SL allow a focused or purposely unfocused light to illuminate a specific area. Shutters allow you to “frame” the beam down to a defined area. This is the main tool of the stage lighting designer. “Mini” or “baby” ellipsoidals serve the same task on a smaller scale. A tight beam can be used for a special and a broad beam can wash an entire area. Zoom ellipsoidals offer even more flexibility.

Fresnel instruments are most useful for short throw, small area lighting and have a soft-edged beam.

PARs are little more than a housing for a lamp and clips for a color frame; the housing reduces light spill. Their job is to add color and light to specific areas of the stage.

Followspots, while perhaps deserving of their own category, are essentially an ellipsoidal on a stand with handles added to control everything.

Wash Lighting
Scoops, borders and cyc lights are all intended to cover large areas with light. Scoops provide a wide-spread, soft-edged beam of flat, even light. Border and cyc lights are good for down-lighting and for drops; they can also be used on the floor. Often they are multiple-lamp units, available in various lengths and circuit configurations. They provide soft, even light and very wide coverage.

Intelligent Lighting
These instruments perform a wide variety of tasks, including pan and tilt, color change, focus and iris, all controllable from a lighting console to preclude the need for multiple instruments to perform a set of different tasks.

Specialty and Task Lighting
This category includes music stand lights, Littlites and a wide variety of work lights for lighting everything from a sound console in the back of a dark theatre to placing a gobo or other image in the exact place you need it.

Edison (PBG) Twistlock (TLG) and Stage Pin (GSP)

2008-08-19T17:52:00.000-07:00

What’s the difference between Edison, twist-lock and stage pin connectors?
Edisons (PBGs) are the standard three-pin household plug. Twist-lock connectors (TLGs) have three pins arranged in a circle. Stage pin connectors (GSPs) are flat with pins arranged in a row.

What’s the right way to install a 20A stage pin connector?
The green (ground) wire attaches to the center (longest) pin.
The white (neutral) wire attaches to the pin closest to the ground pin.
The black (hot) wire attaches to the pin farthest from the ground pin.

What’s the right way to install an Edison connector?
Attach the green wire to the green screw at the U-shaped prong and tighten the screw.
Attach the white wire to the silver screw at the wider blade and tighten the screw.
Attach the black wire to the gold screw at the narrow blade and tighten the screw.

What's the right way to install a twist-lock connector?
Attach the green wire to the green screw on the L-shaped prong.
Attach the white wire to the silver prong.
Attach the black wire to the gold or black prong.

Used Wireless Gear On Ebay!

2008-07-11T15:49:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

We have some small wireless systems on Ebay. Check it out!!

We're also on Myspace too!

Don't forget to stop by our online store for all your lighting, sound and supply needs - www.pnta.com

PNTA's Basic And Favorite Gel Colors

2008-06-20T17:24:00.000-07:00

I just want some color. What are the basics?
Basic theatre colors are amber, blue and neutral. To get an attractive wash of light, aim amber from one side of the stage, blue from the other side and neutral straight on. Colors currently most used for lighting productions are Bastard Amber, Surprise Pink and No Color Blue. If you want to keep a variety of colors on hand, check out PNTA color packs for theatre, party or film. They give you a convenient mix of colors in pre-cut sheets.

GAMColor 364 Pale Honey, is also a great alternative to Bastard Amber.

Some of PNTA's staff favorites at are:

Roscolux 39 Skelton Exotic Sangria - is an excellent gel for parties

Lee 027 Medium Red - one of the best deep saturated blood red, perfect for concerts and parties , great for creating dark moods on stage too

Lee 323 Jade - another fun party color

Roscolux 34 Flesh Pink - Creates a happy atmosphere, perfect equivelent to Breast Cancer Pink

GamColor 930 Real Congo Blue - 'Awesome', similar to the purple hue given off by black lights

Lee 088 Lime Green - a versatile bright springy green

Lee 707 Ultimate Violet- we're in Seattle, casually known in our shop as 'Husky Purple'; also a beautiful saturated purple

GamColor 845 Cobalt- nice deep saturated cobalt blue

Roscolux 376 Bermuda Blue - nice and romantic blue

How To Create Scars

2008-06-06T12:57:00.000-07:00

How can we create scars?

Scars are made with liquid latex, Ridgid Collodion or with nose and scar wax. With liquid latex, create a mold, pour in liquid latex. When dry, remove and affix with spirit gum. Remeber to powder the latex to keep it from sticking.

Kryolan Rigid Collodian is effective for realistic cuts and scars. For scars: Apply with brush. Scar "puckers" as it dries. No additional makeup required. Very cool, quick effect. You can also ise collodian for creating wrinkles; just stretch skin, apply, let dry, then release skin.

Nose and scar wax molds easily to ones face so you can create a scar as large or small as you like.

For a more realistic look, you can add Fresh Scab or Thick Blood.

Ben Nye also makes a Gel Wound Kit that is available at PNTA’s Online Store and Seattle showroom. It has everything you need, including detailed instructions.

Body Color On A Budget

2008-06-06T12:40:00.000-07:00

You need a large amount of body makeup for a school production but on a budget?

Here’s a “recipe” for painting someone gold (like an Oscar award statuette). You can adapt this to your needs by substituting different colors, such as Indian Copper or Plains Dust, for the gold powder.

For example, for the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz, you can use Silver Lumiere powder. You can mix tiny batches to test colors and color combinations until you find the right mix for each of your characters.

Ingredients:
Aztec Gold Lumiere Powder
Liquiset
Final Seal
Brushes
Spray bottle
Small mixing container (for making gold “paint”)
A spoon, brush or toothpick for mixing “paint”

Procedure:Pour some Liquiset into the mixing container (a bowl or Tupperware container will do). A little goes a long way and it’s better to make a few batches than just dumping everything in at once. Otherwise, it’s art and not an exact science. Start pouring some powder into the Liquiset and mix it as you add it. Keep pouring and mixing until you end up with something that looks like gold paint.

Fill a small spray bottle with Final Seal. Spray every part of the body that will have makeup applied to it. (This will help seal off the pores, keep the body from beginning to absorb the makeup and keep the paint from looking splotchy.) Please note that you want to be careful around the eyes. Final Seal is okay for use there, but it’s alcohol-based and might burn if you get it in the eyes.

Stir the “paint” again a little just to get a good mixture of liquid and particles. Then, paint away. It’s easiest if you paint in parts. For example, start with the face and move your way down. When starting on the face, do the forehead, then the cheeks, nose, etc. This will make it LOTS easier to make it look even. Plus, by the time you start getting tired, you’ll be at the lower part of the body and it’s less noticeable than the face!

Once the body is done, re-spray all the skin covered with makeup with Final Seal. This will help protect the makeup from wiping off and getting on clothing and props.

Try to do a small square on your hand a day or so before so that you have an idea of what you’re facing, what you're going to do and how long it will take. It’ll make the process a lot easier.

Another option is to use the MagiColor liquid paint, also made by Ben Nye. If you spray Final Seal over that, you are even able to scratch at it once everything has dried. It stands up to rubbing and scratching, but comes off with soap and water. So just don’t get it wet!

Lights! Camera! Makeup!

2008-06-06T12:23:00.000-07:00

For the uninitiated, makeup can be a daunting dilemma. Theres just...SO MUCH!!

Like any craft, you need to know the basics first. So what are the basic elements of stage makeup?

Foundations provide a base coat. There are three types:
Creme foundations are easy to mix and blend, go on smoothly and look natural under stage lighting.
Matte foundations provide a versatile blend of high pigmentation and natural coloring in a fine, textured crème. Apply with a sponge and dampen for a lighter finish.
Color cake foundations apply quickly and work well for body makeup applications. Easily applied with sponge and water, they also make a great base coat for white face or other “character” foundations.
Highlight and shadow are applied after foundation to “rebuild” facial features which are washed out by lighting and distance. Highlight and shadow are also used to change the appearance of the facial structure and to create the desired illusion for a particular character.
Concealer is applied beneath foundation with a flat or dome brush. Blend, then powder lightly before applying foundation. For intense discoloration, carefully apply additional layers of neutralizer.
Rouge is available in either creme or dry cake form. They may be used independently or creme rouge may be applied first and “set” with dry rouge. Apply creme rouge with fingertips. Apply dry cake rouge with a soft, full brush.
Cake eyeliner, applied with water or LiquiSet and a fine-tipped brush, is the easiest for most people to use. If heavy perspiration is likely to be a problem, liquid eyeliner may work better.
Mascara is used to color the ends of the lashes, making them look thicker and the eyes larger.
Lip liner is placed around the outer edge of lipstick to accentuate the lips’ shape and heighten their contrast with the general face makeup.
Lipstick is used to enhance or mask lips.
Powder is used to set the makeup after completion. Brush a thin veil over the entire face with a powder puff and remove excess with a powder brush.

Tips to Keep Your Paint Fresh

2008-04-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

Many of use don't have Broadway-scale budgets and are often asked how to make keep paint fresh and last longer between productions.
Here are our tips:

1. Only mix with water the paint that you are going to use within a few days, as water speeds up spoilage.

2. For Rosco's Deep Iddings (a casein-type paint), add one tablespoon of Lysol to one quart of paint to kill bacteria.

3. Keep the lids on tight.

4. Store paint in a cool place.

5. Store unopened or well-sealed cans upside down (the liquid helps seal the lid).

Scenic Paints vs. That Stuff at the Hardware Store

2008-04-10T14:27:00.000-07:00

Its the beginning of a new production and you're tasked with painting either the sets and/or backdrops.

Where do should you get the paint?

Sure you can use household latex paint from your neigborhood hardware store or the local Lowe's/HomeDepot/MegaLoMart, but paint formulated for the stage works better for four reasons:

Scenic paint uses pure, vibrant pigments without chalky fillers, so you can mix colors without the result looking muddy.
Scenic paints have enough binder (glue) to allow for considerable thinning, making them economical and versatile.
Scenic paints dry to a very matte finish, which contributes to the illusion of depth and richness of color when lit.
Scenic paints are durable, made to withstand physical wear and tear and the wide fluctuations in temperature and humidity encountered during scenery's construction, set-up, performance, transport and storage. (House paints are designed for hard, static surfaces in very stable surroundings.)

Here at PNTA, we recommend Iddings Deep Colors for seasoned veterans and Off Broadway for novices.

Our blog has not been forgotten!

2008-02-19T10:23:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone... Wendy here today.

Just wanted to share some exciting news: We'll be having ETC at PNTA with the newest lighting control board -- The ETC ION. With the same "brains" as it's bigger brother, the EOS, but with a price tag that all levels of theater will love, this board takes control to the next level.

I know, I know... you've heard it all before. But trust me on this. We even made sure we bought one for our Rental/Event Services fleet!

So remember:

PNTA
Thursday, Feb. 28th, 2008
10am to 2pm

ION DEMO!! (and of course, lunch.)

615 S. Alaska St. Seattle WA

Any questions? Call me at 206-622-7850 x 108!

Season's Greetings

2007-12-21T15:12:00.000-08:00

From all of us at PNTA, to all you-

And a reminder- we are closed Monday December 24th & Tuesday December 25th. We hope everyone has a fun and merry holiday weekend!

December Coupon Code

2007-12-04T15:50:00.000-08:00

Hey all,

For anyone who's requested a quote through our website and opted-in to receive emails from us or those folks who got the opt-in request when we updated our website, keep your eyes open for a special December coupon code being sent out today for use on the online store. If you don't receive that email and are subscribed contact me at PNTAweb@gmail.com and I'll make sure the coupon gets sent out to you. If you aren't currently subscribed you can do so by emailing me as well.

Why training and safety is so important.

2007-11-30T09:33:00.000-08:00

Wendy here... I wanted to post to any and all about the accident that happened at Yale University last week. A horrible situation all the way around, made even worse by hindsight and knowing that just a little bit more adherence to training and safety could have helped prevent this.

Please take the time, think ahead, and remember you can always use another set of hands no matter what you're working on in the theatre.

Thanks....

From The Yale Daily News

Labor Dept. investigates Salim death

OSHA looks into lapses that may have contributed to death of drama student at Yale Rep

Thomas Kaplan, Staff Reporter

Published Tuesday, November 27, 2007

An Occupational Safety and Health Administration report to be released next month will name several safety lapses that may have contributed to the death of a Yale School of Drama student in an accident at the Yale Repertory Theatre last week, an OSHA official said Monday. The pending report has prompted questions about the University’s culpability in the student’s death.

Pierre-André Salim DRA ’09, of Jakarta, Indonesia, was crushed under the weight of several dozen sheets of particleboard on Nov. 18 while helping to unload materials from the back of a truck for a Yale Rep production set to open next week. On Monday, the University released a statement in which Drama School Dean James Bundy apologized "for any factors that could have contributed to this tragedy," hinting that Yale may be at least partially responsible for the circumstances surrounding Salim’s death.

The director of the Bridgeport OSHA office, Robert Kowalski, shared investigators’ preliminary findings with the News on Monday. Investigators found that the truck had been loaded incorrectly, creating a danger to anyone who was to unload it, and that students unloading the truck may not have had sufficient training to complete the task at hand safely.

Bundy has refused requests for an interview about the accident. The apology was included in a written statement released by the Yale Office of Public Affairs on Monday announcing a new scholarship in Salim’s name.

University Spokesman Tom Conroy said the University has not been threatened with a lawsuit so far.

The accident occurred when Salim and others began to unload 32 sheets of particleboard that were standing upright and were affixed to one wall of the truck, according to OSHA’s preliminary findings. The truck was
parked with a 4.4 degree list toward the sidewalk, and when the straps were loosened so the boards could be removed, the stack of wood fell over and pinned Salim against the other wall of the truck, investigators said.

Salim was wearing a hard hat, but it was apparently knocked off by the impact of the wood, which weighed about 1,000 pounds, investigators said.Those boards were stored improperly in the first place, Kowalski said. They should have been laid down on the bed of the truck or at least affixed against a wall lengthwise, he said.

A second concern, Kowalski said, was how much experience and training the students had in unloading a truck packed with heavy cargo. A lack of necessary skills may have been a factor in the accident, he said.

From a legal perspective, experts said Monday that it was too early to tell who might be responsible for the accident, but the University could be open to a lawsuit stemming from the incident. It was not immediately known if Salim had signed any type of waiver before working on the play,though those types of liability waivers typically carry little weight in court, said Michael J. Walsh, a personal injury lawyer with the Hartford firm of Moukawsher & Walsh, LLC.

Salim was working at the Yale Rep in his capacity as a student, not an employee, said Marjorie Lemmon, the manager of Yale’s Office of Risk Management, which is responsible for handling liability claims against the University. Whenever a non-employee is involved in an accident on campus, the University could be vulnerable to a lawsuit, depending on the situation, Lemmon said.

"If the facts of the situation dictate that Yale had some … negligence involved, or something that should have been done wasn’t done, or something that should not have been done was done, our general liability insurance would respond to that," Lemmon said.

Lemmon would not comment specifically on Salim’s death. But generally, in cases in which an injured party is not an employee — and therefore is not eligible to receive worker’s compensation as recourse for an injury under Connecticut law — the victim or his family would often use the legal system to recoup costs for medical bills or other damages, Walsh said.

"What you would do is look at all the facts and try to find who really is the most culpable party," he said. "It could be the school. It could be other people."

OSHA can levy no penalties stemming from the accident because it only has enforcement jurisdiction over incidents involving employees, Kowalski said.

"We don’t lay blame, what we look at is the factors involved … so it doesn’t occur again," Kowalski said. "That’s one of the reasons why we continued with the investigation — we don’t want to see that happen again."

Every year, Kowalski gives a presentation to theater management majors at the School of Drama to brief them on workplace safety and OSHA regulations. This year, the importance of taking precautions in materials handling will be emphasized, he said.

Salim’s accident was not the first in recent years that has raised concerns within the theater community at Yale. In the late 1990s, a spate of accidents at University theatrical productions spurred calls for more oversight of undergraduate productions to ensure they took proper safety precautions. In 1997, an actress broke her arm when she fell off a platform, the edges if which had not been properly marked with fluorescent tape. In 1998, 12 students suffered minor injuries after a platform collapsed under the weight of the dancing chorus.

The most serious injury occurred little more than a year later. Sitting in temporary bleachers constructed by the crew for a student production of "Woyzeck," a 60-year-old woman suffered a fractured skull, among other injuries, when a railing she leaned on during the play’s climactic scene collapsed.

A medical examiner ruled last week that Salim died of head injuries suffered during the accident and that his death was accidental. The accident remains under investigation by the New Haven Police Department, said City Hall spokeswoman Jessica Mayorga.

Salim, 26, was set to receive his master’s degree in technical design and production in 2009. He graduated from the National University of Singapore in 2002 with a degree in computer science and moved to New Haven last year to attend the School of Drama. On Monday, the University announced a scholarship that has been created in his name. The Pierre-André Salim Memorial Scholarship will cover full tuition and living expenses for one entering student each year. Students from Southeast Asia will have preference, followed by students from elsewhere in Asia, and the scholarship will be aimed at students with an interest in technical theater and design, the University announced.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-21T17:21:00.000-08:00

We'd like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

Just a reminder we are closed tomorrow but will be open during our normal business hours (9 am- 6 pm Monday-Friday) on Friday after Thanksgiving.

Looking for drapes?

2007-10-31T14:59:00.000-07:00

In addition to the full range of services typically offered by our drape shop, which include:

Drape Design (grand drapes, legs and borders, cycloramas, acoustical drapes, room dividers and other soft goods for theatres, churches, casinos, restaurants, studios, showrooms, event venues and museums)
On-Site Measurements
Fabric Selection
Hardware Specification
Fabrication
Installation
Repair

We also currently have a number of already made drapes (some custom orders that were never picked up) available for sale. A few examples of the type of drapes available include:

Flame Retardant Muslin-
10'W x 10' H Natural color- Drop with Standard Finish though no grommets
24' 6"W x 16' 6" H White- Drop with Standard Finish
44'W x 24'H White- Cyc with Horizontal Seams, Webbing, Grommets, Ties, Pipe Pocket; Sides grommeted @ 24"

Velour
10'W x 9'1"H- Pair of Rouge Legs -16oz Melody velour. Flame Retardant; 50% fullness; Webbing, Pinhooks, Chain in Pocket

Sharkstooth Scrim
48'Wx 15'9"H- Black- Standard finish with pocket.

This is just a small sampling of what we have available at this time. If you are interested in any of these or would like to see if any of the other drapes we have available will work for your needs contact us at 206-622-7850 and ask to speak with our drapery expert, Silas.

Used Gear Auctions Live!

2007-10-17T10:44:00.000-07:00

As mentioned last week, we are starting a new method of selling merchandise online using eBay, with our main focus for eBay being used rental gear. While we have added several used equipment to our eBay listings and they are live now! To see what we are currently offering visit: PNTA eBay. And make sure you bookmark that link and check back periodically as we continue to offer used equipment for sale.

Used Equipment Available Soon

2007-10-12T16:51:00.000-07:00

As part of the ongoing changes and improvements we are making to our online presence (including our ever-growing Online Store and this blog), we are also going to be listing some of our Used Rental Equipment for sale on eBay. Look for more information about these listings in the next week or so.

Need to order a custom gobo? Call us!

2007-10-05T13:36:00.000-07:00

Do you have a logo or picture or design or some sort that you want to project with light and are wondering how to go about doing that? Well if you aren't familiar with custom gobos here is a little information about them- A custom gobo is any pattern in which the original artwork of the desired image is designed and submitted by the user. To order a custom gobo call us at 206-622-7850 ext 0 for pricing and details about placing the order!

Gaff Tape

2007-10-03T16:57:00.000-07:00

Perhaps its just me, but it seems like one of the most common debates that happen among technicians is brand preference which is why I keep coming back to it as the basis for the weekly debate topics. And this week is no different. Only this week I thought I'd ask about gaff tape. As you all probably know, we carry 3 different brands of Gaff Tape- Polyken, Pro-Gaff, and Permacel. And I've definitely noticed brand loyalty amongst some of our customers. While there are similarities between the 3 brands there are also small differences when it comes to things like the adhesive used on the tape and the thickness. So I would love to know from you folks out there is- do you have a brand preference and if so why?

Ushio vs. Osram

2007-09-26T17:01:00.000-07:00

Attention all lighting folks out there (designers, master electricians, etc) we want to know your thoughts about lamps. As I'm sure you all know, the two biggest manufacturer's of theatrical lamps are Ushio and Osram, both of which we carry. And like all brand related products it seems that some people have a preference and some people just don't care. We've had customers who insist on Ushio, ones who insist on Osram, and one's who just want which ever is available. Which makes us wonder...why? Is it lamp life, is it durability, is it color temperature or....? Personally, I prefer Ushio if I've got the choice but I'll use whatever is available as well. What about you?

Mourning the loss of an industry icon

2007-09-21T17:41:00.000-07:00

From Leviton's website, comes the sad news of the passing of Leviton's Chairman and CEO Harold Leviton.

Leviton passed away the afternoon of Saturday September 8, 2007 with his family at his bedside. The staff of the Leviton Company will deeply miss him and are comforted by the legacy of market innovation, philanthropy, and goodwill he leaves behind. Harold Leviton’s dedication to the electrical industry and its key professional associations is legendary. He served on many industry association and civic boards over a span of decades, rarely missing a meeting. Well into his late 80s he traveled around the world to position his third-generation family business, formed at the turn of the century, into a global industry leader.

American DJ Introduces NEW LED Effects

2007-09-17T16:33:00.000-07:00

American DJ, recently announced it the release of a new LED version of one of its popular moonflower effects. Based on the Electra 250, the Electra LED is a scanning mirror moonflower using red, green and blue LEDs that produce razor-sharp beams. The Electra LED contains a total of 46 LED and weighing in at only 5 lbs is an incredibly portable effects instrument. For more information on this new product from American DJ click here. If you are interested in purchasing one of these please contact sales@pnta.com.

Digital vs. Analog Sound Consoles

2007-09-12T15:19:00.000-07:00

As Digital Sound Consoles become more and more popular the great debate between Digital and Analog becomes even more prevalent. Clearly one of the greatest advantages of a digital mixer is their ability to store and then recall all of the settings of a mix, including any effects. This is in addition to the configuration flexibility available using a digital mixer that is not available with a "hardwired" analog mixer. Conversely, there are those who swear by analog mixers and feel that the sound quality of analog is better (more authentic?) than digital. Not to mention analog mixers can be easier to troubleshoot.

So what we want to know is what people think. Is there a strong preference for one or the other? Do people like digital for some things but analog for others? What are your thoughts blog readers?

Join the PNTA team!

2007-09-07T11:43:00.000-07:00

PNTA is currently looking for new stitchers for our drapery department as well as having an ongoing need to add people to our Event Services Crew Lead, Driver and Grip/Stage hand pools. For more information about the Event Services jobs please visit our Jobs page. Description of the stitcher position is listed below:

Our drapery department has an ongoing need to add people to our stitcher pool. An ideal candidate has experience with commercial sewing machines and sewing of theatrical drapes. One must be able to lift heavy drapes and fabric, and of course, sew a straight line. Other skills that are required include ability to work well as part of a team and ability to work unsupervised.
We are looking for people who can work from 10-30 hours per week on an as needed basis. Our hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 8am-6pm. If velour is your friend and this sounds like fun to you please email us a copy of your resume (see below).

No phone calls, please. Mail, fax, or email cover letter and résumé to: Careers at PNTA 615 South Alaska Street Seattle, WA 98108 206-267-1789 fax careers@pnta.com

Hazers vs Foggers

2007-09-05T13:01:00.000-07:00

So first a quick overview of how fog machines and haze machines work:

A fog machine (also called a smoke machine) is a device which emits a dense vapor that appears similar to fog or smoke. Most fog machines create the fog by either vaporizing a water and glycol-based or glycerine-based fluid or a mineral-oil-based fog via atomization. For glycol-based fogs, the fluid (fog juice) is injected into a heated block, and evaporates quickly. The resulting pressure forces the vapor out of the exit. Upon coming into contact with cool outside air the vapor forms a fog.

Haze machines, or haze generators, are similar to fog machines in that they produce droplets suspended in the air which are designed to make light beams visible. Unlike conventional fog which can be dense enough to become opaque, haze is very thin. Ideally haze is barely noticeable, if at all, in normal lighting conditions. This allows the operator to fill a venue with haze prior to an event without creating a visibly distracting cloud. Haze also has a substantially longer hang time than conventional fog. While conventional fog may hang in the air for up to 5 minutes, a typical water-based haze can last 1 hour and oil-based haze 6 hours or more, depending on the size of the venue and the amount of ventilation.

And now, the debate part of the post- which do you prefer and why? What about using fluid like Rosco's Light Fog Fluid to try to make a fogger more like a hazer or vice versa? Tell us your thoughts!

More website improvements

2007-08-31T12:45:00.000-07:00

So as part of our goal of constantly improving our website, and especially our online store, we've been spending a lot of time this week adding pictures to the online store. These have included GAM gel swatches, Rosco gel swatches, Rosco Off Broadway and Iddings Deep Colors Paint Swatches, Ushio lamps, Artist's Choice paint swatches and Ben Nye makeup. Visit the online store to check out these additions.

Let's talk about Rosco Paint!

2007-08-29T15:03:00.000-07:00

We've talked about makeup and we've talked about Gel; now its time to hear from the Scenic Artists and Designers out there. We want to know your thoughts on the 3 lines of Rosco Scenic Paint. Supersaturated is arguably the most versatile of the 3 but there are designers and artisans out there that swear by Iddings or Off Broadway. So tell us- what do you love about Supersaturated? Other than for use on scrims what applications is Iddings the perfect paint for? Why do you choose Off Broadway over the other two for certain uses? We want to hear from you!

PixelRange Lights Le Pont du Gard 07

2007-08-27T12:13:00.000-07:00

Le Pont du Gard, one of France's top 5 tourist attractions, and one of the best known Roman Aqueduct's in the world was recently lit entirely by a PixelRange rig which included 110 PixelLine 110s, 20 PixelLine 1044s, 36 PixelPars and 12 PixelBricks. Every year a summer festival is held in the national park as a celebration of the aqueduct and the region of Nimes. For this years festival, lighting designer Jean Marc Bouaniche, lit the entire event using PixelRange fixtures. He said: “I didn’t want to mix generic lights with LEDs. I wanted the aqueduct reflecting in its own colour – not lightening it with HMI or MSR lamps.”

PNTA can help you use these and other LED fixtures to fit your needs regardless of size. Contact Matt at 206-622-7850 ext 121 if you would like to know more about LED fixtures.

Weekly Debate Input

2007-08-24T10:03:00.000-07:00

So far we've debated the benefits of Kryolan vs. Ben Nye vs. Non Stage Makeup as well as debating GAM vs. LEE vs. Rosco in the Gel department and we know there are plenty of other questions/debates we could pose to all of you out there but before we do, we want to know what you want to discuss. What topics do you find yourself debating with friends or coworkers? What brands do you think are amazing? What ones do you think are overrated? We want your feedback on what topics you'd like to see brought up in the weekly debate.

Almost the end of summer...

2007-08-20T17:05:00.000-07:00

It's almost the end of summer, and we all know what that means... the start of school is just around the corner. And while I'm sure everyone out there is well on their way to getting ready for the start of school, have you thought of the theatre supplies you need for the upcoming year? How is your gel stock? What about gaff tape? Now is a great time to get a jump on the school year by calling us to stock up on tape, gel, paint, lamps and all the other consumables needed for the year. So get those PO's written up and call us to place your order!

NACE/ISES Meeting Put Litepad to Use

2007-08-17T14:17:00.000-07:00

This past Monday, members of NACE (National Association of Catering Executives) and ISES (ISES: International Special Events Society) had a joint meeting that featured the public debut of our newly acquired Rosco Litepads. And we've got pictures! (Click on the images to see full size)

Let's talk Gel!

2007-08-15T09:34:00.000-07:00

Rosco, Lee and GAM are the 3 leading makers of gel for stage lighting. Some designers swear by Rosco, some by GAM or Lee and still others have no brand preference but go solely on which brand has the color they are looking for.

And we want to know what you all think! If you love Rosco, tell us why. If you are convinced GAM makes the best gel ever tell us that. And if you don't really care who makes it so long as the color works for you, let us know that as well!

August Spotlight!

2007-08-13T16:21:00.000-07:00

The August edition of our newsletter, the Spotlight is now out. In this edition we have an article about Event Services recent projects on the Space Needle, new LED candles available for rental and recent staff changes. If you aren't currently signed up for the Spotlight go here to sign up!

The Great Make-up debate: Ben Nye or Kryolan (or something else)?

2007-08-10T10:16:00.000-07:00

Ben Nye and Kryolan pretty much set the standard for theatrical makeup and, like all good debates there are those who swear by Ben Nye and those who swear by Kryolan. And there are those people who forgo stage make-up altogether and prefer to use high end regular makeup like MAC or Bobbi Brown.

And we want to hear from all of you! Tell us what makeup you use and why. What do you love about Ben Nye? Why is there nothing better for you then Kryolan? If you don’t like either of them but prefer non-stage makeup, tell us why.

ETC to expand Middleton factory

2007-08-06T14:10:00.000-07:00

Today ETC (Electronic Theater Controls, Inc) announced that it will expanding its Middleton, Wisconsin headquarters facility. ETC, the makers of incredibly popular lighting equipment including the Source 4 Family of fixtures as well as the Express, Congo, and EOS line's of control boards has only been in its current location for 3 years but is already outgrowing the facility. From the ETC press release:

According to Kobi Danke, building-project manager, the new footage will give ETC more manufacturing and warehousing space: “We continue to introduce new products requiring greater assembly space. We also recently brought surface-mount technology in house to manufacture our own PCB/circuit board technology, which required spatial adjustments. And we anticipate further increases in production to meet rising orders and demand. We simply need room to grow.
Among other things, ETC is planning to ramp up the environment-sustaining technologies in use, ensuring that any new design is ‘greener’ than ever before. “The new factory space, for example, will be engineered for daylight harvesting, with optimal window coverage,” says Foster. “The addition will use exterior and interior materials to match the existing building, including the light-reflective dry-shake finish on the factory floor. This floor, in combination with the increased natural lighting, will maintain the clean, bright and open feel of the working environment.”

Northwest School

2007-08-03T17:56:00.000-07:00

Last month we finished our install of the new sound system at Northwest School in Seattle. It was a 21 speaker distributed sound system with advance control capability. This system features extreme ease of use, with menu-driven wall controllers. The system was designed for a unique room within the school where the ceiling is only 9 feet tall in a large room that is used for lunchtime activities and all-school meetings. The rack for the system also had to be custom installed into an existing Trophy case while not intruding on their existing display. This makes the new system virtually invisible to the students that always occupy the room, while still allowing for a permanent system.

New Confetti Cannons Added to Rental Fleet!

2007-07-30T15:10:00.000-07:00

We have recently added 2 CO2 powered Electric Stage Mortar Confetti Cannons from Aerotechnics to our rental supply.

An electric version of the Aerotechnics Stage Mortar, this fantastic cannon operates using an electrical switchbox, in which case it fires as soon as you switch it on and then off, or simply plug it into the wall and it fires when you unplug it. The CO2 charge is located in the back for faster access. The firing pin has been simplified to allow the user to perform maintenance, if ever needed. Simple angle adjustment from 0-90 allows user to change shooting angle quicker then ever.

For more information about this incredibly useful confetti cannon call 206-622-7850 ext.0

Rosco's LitePad- Available in PNTA's Event Services

2007-07-27T15:52:00.000-07:00

Rosco LitePad™ is a slim profile light source that generates a soft even beam of light and almost no heat. Its small form factor and light weight make the Rosco LitePad™ perfect for use in many places where a larger, typical luminaire could not fit. Drawing just a few watts of power, LitePad is simple, fast and economical to use in film and television, theatre and live entertainment, and retail and event lighting.

PNTA has added 40 Litepad's to our Event Services stock in 7 1/2" x 7 1/2" squares. These versatile, light-weight light sources are especially useful as battery operated centerpiece lighting for your special occasions. The low power consumption of these luminaries always them to be used in a variety of situations and venues.

For More information contact Dave Jungck at davej@pnta.com or 206-622-7850 ext. 122.

PNTA ventures into new territory

2007-07-25T16:11:00.000-07:00

As part of our expansion in the online world, which started with the revamp of our online store and has continued with things like increasing our online store inventory and starting this blog, we have now taken the next step and joined the large number of retailers who have a presence on Ebay. Our first Ebay listing went live a few days ago and can be viewed here. Stay tuned as we will adding listings regularly and plan to feature both new and used (from our rental stock) gear!

Wybron fixtures to be installed in Dubai Mall

2007-07-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

Wybron, Inc. has announced that the Dubai Mall Aquarium, a permanent installation in the world's largest shopping mall located in downtown Dubai, purchased 226 Large Format Aquarams and InfoTrace Control and Management System. The aquarium expects to install Wybron’s fixtures and the InfoTrace system in September.

Wybron’s Aquarams will illuminate the 164 foot aquarium to allow visitors to see sharks, stingrays and other species of fish in their natural habitat. Each Aquaram contains up to 32 gel colors and is water resistant. The InfoTrace system will control and manage all of the fixtures via the RDM platform.

The more widely used color changing device from Wybron, the Forerunner is available here: in our online store. Additionally as a Wybron dealer, we can get any Wybron products you are interested in. If you'd like more information about Wybron's color changing or pattern projection accessories or any of the line of products made by Wybron contact Matt at 800-622-7850 ext. 121.

Fun and Exciting uses for Coemar LED lighting

2007-07-20T11:14:00.000-07:00

Some of the most recent and fun additions to our rental fleet have been Coemar LED fixtures. We have Coemar's Pinlight, Parlight, iWash LED Moving Fixture and the Coemar LED Striplite LED.

The Coemar Pinlight is a truss warmer style fixutre that allows for an infinite number of colors generated by a convergent RGB color beam. The Pinlight is DMX-ready and also has Binary dip-switches so it can be used without DMX. It is available with 12 and 30 degree lenses. Plus, it has 12 LED Luxeon's at 1 watt each so it only needs 12 watts!
The Coemar Parlight is a fantastic multi-purpose wash light that is similar to the Pinlight in that it is has both DMX and binary switch interfaces, features a convergent RGB color beam and comes with 12 and 30 degree lenses. Additional features of the Parlight include
synchronised master/slave ability as well as four internal color changing crossfade programs with user definable variable rate. And it only needs 36 watts!
The Coemar iWash has the same head and capabilities as the Parlight only on a single yoke. Movement features of the iWash include: articulated movement of the projector body: pan 538° tilt 270°, 16 bit beam positioning, immediate reaction to the DMX 512 input data; inversion inertia through a dedicated dmx channel, automatic repositioning in case of accidental misalignment of the fixture. Also a noteworthy feature is that the fixture's software allows to proportionally decrease the light output without altering the selected color. And like the Parlight it can use either the 12 degree to 30 degree lens.
The Coemar Striplite LED features 24- 3 watt LED Luxeon's for a total power requirement of 72 watts! Like the other Coemar LED fixtures it allows for an infinite number of colors generated by a convergent RGB color beam plus white at 3200K. It comes with a standard 30 degree lens. Another important features of the Striplite include: digital linear regulation of light intensity and synchronized or random strobe effect.

All of these fixtures are currently available in our rental fleet! Call or visit the Rental section of our website for more information.

Happy Birthday to the Source Four!

2007-07-18T15:19:00.001-07:00

According to ETC's website as the Source Four spotlight prepares to celebrate its 15th year of production, the brand passed the 2 million shipped mark. The Source Four family includes over ten different versions--including Source Four juniors, PARs, zooms, PARNels, MultiPAR™ striplights, and HIDs, as well as a moving light, the Source Four Revolution.
Also from the ETC site:

To kick off a six-month campaign celebrating the Source Four and its achievements, which will go from now until LDI 2007, ETC is inviting Source Four fans worldwide to express their spirit and tell their own Source Four stories by sending in testimonial video clips. ETC will then feature some of those Source Four clips here on the Web site and will include a select group in a grand-finale montage to be unveiled on their Web site during LDI 2007. To participate, send the video clips to ETC’s webmaster at webmaster@etcconnect.com. ETC will accept .mov, .avi, and .mpg files. Or, videos may be sent on CDs, postal mailed to PR Dept., ETC; 3031 Pleasant View Rd; PO BOX 620979; Middleton, WI; United
States, 53562.

PNTA returns from Wisconsin

2007-07-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

Last week, several members of the PNTA crew went to Madison, Wisconsin to participate in ETC Product Training. We sent Mac Perkins, the owner of PNTA, and Wendy Hammatt our Business Development Manager as well both Michael White and Jon Harmon, two of our Custom Sales Project Managers who primarily specialize in lighting, to participate in the training. They spent time getting hands-on knowledge of the Congo, Congo Jr. and EOS control systems as well as the Pharos Lighting Playback Controller, NET3 Systems and the SmartFade ML. According to Wendy, "The ETC Workshop was incredibly well thought out and organized for all of the participants to gain maximum education, and have a great time!" Michael adds "We were taught in-depth programming techniques for the EOS and Congo, ETC's new flagship lighting consoles." In addition to the extensive time spent learning more about dimmers, consoles and fixtures (oh my!) the participants of the training also took some time out to play a game of softball with the teams divided up East Coast vs. West Coast. Sadly, the West Coast needs less coffee and more softball time! East won 30 to 27.

Here's a picture of Jon in action during the softball game:

And one of Michael and Jon wrapping up a full day of classes:

Martin Launches LC Series of LED Video Screens

2007-07-13T13:38:00.001-07:00

For those who may not have heard yet, Martin Professional, an industry-leader in intelligent lighting and effects machines, have launched a new LED video screen that "takes convergence of light, video and set design that extra step, offering entirely new possibilities for staging"

For more information about this remarkable new offering from Martin, click the link above to read the entire article.

Colorkinetics- Local & International uses of LED

2007-07-11T12:22:00.000-07:00

Colorkinetics, one of the leading manufacturer's of LED lighting, recently had a milestone installation at the CN Tower in Toronto, the world's tallest freestanding tower. The CN Tower had previously been lit minimally to conserve energy but with the low energy consumption of LED technology the Colorkinetics lighting will actually be using less energy while drastically increasing the amount of illumination and lighting design potential on the tower.

While they may not be on the same scale as the CN Tower, there are examples of the dynamic and fun uses of LED technology, provided by PNTA, that can be found around Seattle. One example that many people have probably seen is the Vine Street Storage building. Located in Belltown at the corner of Vine Street and Alaskan Way, the Vine Street Storage building has over 60 outdoor Colorkinetics Colorblast's lighting the outside of the building.

Other local LED installations can be found at Hotel 1000 in Downtown Seattle as well as Sugar Nightclub in Capitol Hill.

If you are interested in learning more about LED installation's please contact our custom sales department at (206)622-7850 ext 121.

North Creek Events Center- Drapery Install

2007-07-06T16:57:00.000-07:00

Part of Cascadia Community College and UW Bothell, the North Creek Events Center, is a meeting venue located on the east edge of the CCC/UWB campus, thatoverlooks a 58-acre wetlands area. As you can see in the first couple pictures, one full side of the building is glass so installing velour drapes to help blackout the tremendous amount of light coming in was quite a sizable project. Adding to the complexity of the installation was the fact that there limited hang points for the track (as seen in picture 3).

Fortunately our Custom Sales Drapery Expert Silas Morse is highly skilled and experienced with track and drape installations and was able to solve the challenge in a way that completely met the customers needs.

Happy 4th of July!

2007-07-03T13:19:00.000-07:00

We'd like to wish everyone a fun and safe 4th of July! We'll see you again on Thursday.

Rosco Updates & Improves the X-Effects Projector

2007-07-02T16:25:00.001-07:00

According to Rosco, the X-Effects projector "has undergone an engineering overhaul to drastically increase the durability and lifespan of the X-Effects projector in 24/7 operating environments such as theme parks, architectural installations and museums. Addressing both moving parts and optical components, our engineers have re-tooled guides, idlers, drive assemblies, motors and even tweaked the lamp and power supply of the previous X-Effects. The result is the X24 X-Effects.This new unit replaces the previous X-Effects."

LOOK Solutions Celebrates 10 years!

2007-06-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't already know this, Look Solutions, Germany's premier maker of fog and haze generators, is officially celebrating their 10th year of producing their top-quality products. Look Solutions offers a range of fog and haze machines including the incredibly popular Unique 2. They also feature other fog and haze generator's such as the Tiny Compact
an extremely useful portable, battery powered fog machine. While we currenlty only feature the Unique 2 in our on-line category, as a Look Solutions dealer, we can order any Look Solutions equipment by request.

In celebration of Look Solutions 10 year anniversary, we are offering a 10% off coupon for any Look Solutions machines (the Unique 2 can be ordered online for any other products please email sales@pnta.com) for any orders placed during July. Use coupon code LOOK07 through July 31st.

Event Services on the Space Needle

2007-06-27T16:20:00.000-07:00

One of the fun projects that recently happened at PNTA in our Event Services department was the Installation of blue and green Color Media Around the Base and Halo of the Space Needle in conjunction with the Seattle Art Museum's Grand Reopening in May. Here are a couple of pictures from that event including one of our Event Services Business Development Executive, Dave Jungck, on top of the Space Needle:

Rosco 1900 Fog Machine

2007-06-25T17:15:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the latest fog machine made by Rosco? The Model 1900 is a high output professional fogger designed for industrial applications as well as theatrical production, clubs, opera, or anywhere a large amount of fog is needed. The Model 1900 improves on the technology of the Model 1700 including allowing up to 4 machines to be run on a single remote by simply daisy-chaining the machines using a standard 3-pin XLR cable.

First Post

2007-06-25T16:56:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the brand new PNTA blog! I'm your host, Chrystian Shepperd, PNTA's online rep (aka "web guru"). Check back here often or subscribe to our RSS feed to keep up on current happenings in theatrical supply and equipment. I'll be doing posts about new equipment coming out, events that happen (i.e. our House of Worship Audio Clinic and the Annual USITT conference) as well as posting tips and responses to questions we've gotten over the years about theatrical lighting, sound, makeup, etc. Feel free to leave a comment if you'd like to see a specific topic covered or have a question you'd like answered. Thanks for stopping by!