Lighting Design @ Schapiro

Prior to starting work on any Columbia Theatre production, please make sure to read and understand the duties and stipulations for general design work at Columbia and the specific design area as detailed below.

General Information for all Designers

  • The Theatre Program will only be responsible for department-approved designs that are received by their designated deadlines.
  • Columbia property may not be altered without express permission.
  • All items purchased by the production budget are the property of Columbia University after the production.
  • NYU designers need faculty permission from NYU to participate in Columbia SOA productions.
  • If a designer is going to be remote for all or most of the design process, their participation in the production must be approved by production management to ensure that the designer’s in-person duties are adequately covered by a member of the production team. It is strongly recommended that designers be able to attend in-person rehearsals and meetings.
  • A written and signed agreement indemnifying Columbia of liability must be provided for any items loaned to the production or borrowed for the production from sources outside Columbia.

Thank you for working with us! Please don't hesitate to reach out to the PM or APM @ Schapiro with any questions.

Please make sure to submit your light plot on time, and let us know any decisions in a timely manner to complete work.

 

  1. The boards must never leave the booth.
  2. The dimmers are older and not all of them are in perfect working order – please do not overload them. Regardless of how you run them, do not put more than 2,400 watts on a dimmer.
  3. You cannot rig anything that will add significant weight to the grid. In other words, you may hang a piece of fabric or an overhead practical, etc. but no swings or anything that would add a person’s weight to the grid. 
  4. Rep plot units nor their associated cables can be moved. Rep plot units cannot be refocused, but can be gelled.
  5. Anyone using the light board must be approved and trained by the PM before gaining access to the booth.
  6. Designers/technicians cannot work in the space without a Columbia student/staff/faculty present. 
  7. Any exposed cable on the floor should be covered by marley and then taped down. Do not tape directly over the cable.
  8. Floor units must leave an egress of 42” 
  9. DO NOT move or refocus the PAR 38 House Lights that are bolted to the ceiling. You may gel or unplug them as long as they can be restored at strike.
  1. Please do not move or refocus the PAR38 houselights bolted to the ceiling. You may gel or unplug them as long as they are restored at strike.
  2. The boards may not leave the booth.
  3. Nothing can be rigged to the grid that will add significant weight. For example, a piece of fabric or an overhead practical is allowed. However, no apparatus that is meant to hold a person’s weight is allowed, such as swings or trapeze work.
  4. 750 watts is the maximum per channel. Our dimmers are old and can be easily overloaded.
  5. Anyone using the light board must be approved and trained by the PM before gaining access to the booth.
  6. Designers/technicians cannot work in the space without a Columbia student/staff/faculty present. 
  7. House lights need to be added to the plot and use a dimmer.
  8. Any exposed cable on the floor should be covered by marley and then taped down. Do not tape directly over the cable.
  9. Floor units must have an egress of 42” 
  10. DO NOT move or refocus the PAR 38 House Lights that are bolted to the ceiling. You may gel or unplug them as long as they are restored at strike.
  • All source four units should have frost in them
  • Floor units must have an egress of 42” 
  • Pulled gels (gels going into the lights) are stored in the “This Week’s Production” folder on the door to B13
  • Sidearms: any sidearms should be screwed into the pipe perpendicularly. The lighting unit should hang below the sidearm pipe, not above or to the side.
  • Any exposed cable on the floor should be covered by marley and then taped down. Do not tape directly over the cable.
  • The Mini 10s that are hanging are not a part of the inventory. They do not run through the board and they DO NOT MOVE. They are “work-light” and are controlled via switches on the wall behind the seating risers.
  • Never use the Genie by yourself. At least one other person should always be present when working off the genie lift. Grid height is 17’-7.5” – 17’-9.5”

Lighting Designer Deliverables

General Duties

Lighting Designer Responsibilities

  1. Present at all Columbia Production Meetings
  2. All drafting MUST be turned in on time in PDF format. If you work in CAD, ACAD, Sketch-up, hand drafting or another form, you must convert this to PDF before sending to Production Management.
  3. Working directly with Production Management to realize lighting load-in and focus, as well as spec’ing of perishables and purchases. 
  4. Maintaining clear communication with Production Management throughout pre load-in and load-in process, responding to emails or other communication within a timely manner. 
  5. Source any purchases needed and send links/information to Production Management for payment.
  6. Being present at scheduled Light Focus.
  7. Being present for Light Programming.
  8. Present at the entirety of all Technical Rehearsals/Dress Rehearsal to program light cues.
  9. If any items were borrowed or rented, the Lighting Designer must coordinate the return of items with Production Management prior to the last performance.
  10. Designers are responsible for the transportation of their personal items.
  11. Responsible for keeping a master list of their items – categorizing everything by owner and location origin.

Resources

Fire Safety

  • Exit signs may not be covered. Additional Exit Signs may be added for sight line issues, pending PM approval.
  • There must be 42 inches of egress to fire exit doors at all times during the production. No scenery, person, chair, or curtain may obstruct the exit.
  • All scenic elements must be flame proofed.
  • No flame, water features, fake snow, sand, dirt, glitter, confetti, or other small particles are permitted (venue & NYC law restrictions).
  • The use of carbon dioxide and/or liquid nitrogen (dry ice) is prohibited in accordance with requirements as set by the NYFD.

Purchasing

  1. As much as possible, please allow Production Management to make purchases on your behalf. It is faster and significantly less complicated than requesting reimbursements.
  2. Please see the Budgeting section, for more information.

Process / Resources

  1. For online orders (always preferred), send links with description of quantity, color, size, delivery preference, etc. directly to Production Management. 
  2. A small amount of petty cash can be fronted for lighting purchases through the APM - please see purchasing rules above.
  3. The theater has a robust rep plot in place, which contains sufficient units (both LED and incandescent) for lighting washes in all of the theater’s playing areas. (Refer to the plot linked above)
  4. Units in the rep plot can be refocused/repurposed and gel can be swapped. 
  5. Units in the rep plot cannot be moved, struck, or re-channeled.
  6. The rep plot may be supplemented with a total of 4 additional units, pulled from Schapiro's inventory. 
  7. Rental of additional lighting gear is allowed on a case-by-case basis. Gel and gobos can be purchased using production budget. Note that the theatre program has gobos and templates in stock, which can be used for productions, if desired. Schapiro does not maintain an inventory of gel; please reach out to Production Management about gel requirements.
  8. Set practicals and special projects must be approved by Production Management 1 week prior to the first day of load-in.
  9. All scenic elements, including soft goods, must be at least six inches away from all theatrical lighting instruments and scenic practicals, unless specific permission is granted from the Technical Director and Production Electrician. This is required even of elements that are inherently flame proof.
  10. There is no dynamic rigging of electrics in Schapiro; lighting fixtures (e.g. chandeliers, sockets, lamps) cannot be lowered or raised.
  11. No chemical fog, haze, or smoke
  12. The use of carbon dioxide and/or liquid nitrogen (dry ice) is prohibited in accordance with requirements as set by the NYFD.
  13. No flame, running water, sand, fake snow, dirt, or other small particles (venue & NYC law restrictions)
  14. Columbia technicians will hang and focus the rep plot and all added units/specials.
  15. Unless express permission is granted by Production Management, the lighting rig and board may not be used at any time without the presence of the PM, APM, or Designated Schapiro Worker.