Color cut lists are often locally generated to match the available equipment. Equipment shop orders are used to order equipment from a rental house if the theatre doesn't own enough equipment for the show. Focus cards are used mostly by the show electrician, and contain information on where and how each dimmer is focused. Cue sheets list the levels of dimmers or channel in each cue, and may be sent ahead to be entered into the house computer light board.

Hookups are organized according to control channel and list circuits in each, with attached information on the instruments plugged into each circuit. to far upstage, but the more common system in professional theatre is to start over at #1 in each new hanging position, e.g. Instruments may be numbered consecutively throughout the entire theatre, from F.O.H. Instrument schedules are organized by instrument location and unit number. Schedules are lists of information about the instruments collated in different ways. There should be enough information provided about each instrument in terms of type, unit number, color, dimmer or control channel, and ancillary attachments so that the show could if necessary be hung just from this piece of paper. Equipment orders may also be supplied, but are often generated by the electrician from the plan.Ī Light plan is the top view of the stage, showing the stage house itself, the scenery and masking, the hanging positions for electrics, and the location of the lighting instruments on the various positions.

Of these, the local electricians will typically receive only a light plan, and sometimes the instrument schedules and cue sheets. These may include some combination of the following: a light plan, a lighting section, instrument schedules, hookup schedules, dimmer schedules, cue sheets, focus charts, equipment shop orders, color cut lists, and 'cheat sheets'. Technically, a light plot is the entire package of instructions for hanging and focusing the lighting for a show. For this reason, it is a good idea for stagehands to have some familiarity with plots.įirst, some definitions. In these cases, it falls to the local technical director or Union electrician to do a pre-hang of the plot, so that it is ready when the company arrives. For some shows, however, a company will choose to use house-owned or locally obtained instruments, and an advance light plot will be sent ahead. For most shows this skill is not needed the show carries its own lighting setup and the show lighting director or electrician deals with the proper locating of the instruments to be used.

How to Read a Light Plot HOW TO READ A LIGHT PLOT A Guide for Stagehandsįrom time to time, stagehands need to be able to read a light plot.

Stage lighting design plan