General
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Rating: +0
I've been asked to tech my College Ball, what's going on there then?
Essentially there are two routes you can take to cover the technical side of your ball (this includes lighting, sound equipment, smoke effects, cabling and cable covers, etc etc):
1. There are companies who can be hired in to do all this for you. The two main ones used by Oxford college balls are Urban Science and Die Hard, both of whom have websites. Henley Theatre Service (www.henleytheatre.com) have also started setting up balls, and are smaller scale but very flexible and great to work with - ask for Derek. If you have time, then you can contact any of these companies to come and have a look round and give you a quote, without being obligated to hire them to do the eventual ball.
2. Alternatively, you can 'dry hire' the equipment from a suitable company and put together the technical elements of the ball yourself. Be aware that this is a large commitment, and requires a lot of expertise as well as manpower and money. The central benefit is that it can be cheaper than using a third party company - BUT IT MAY NOT BE, so it's worth comparing what you'd like with a complete quote (or two) from the professionals. Those balls that have been done 'in house' in Oxford have mostly been done with the heavy assistance of TAFF and its committee, who are a good start for advice on what might look good at the ball, or simply what is and isn't possible.
Either way, you will need someone at your college to be in charge of the technical side of things (a sort of 'production manager'). In the first instance they would be a liaison with the independent company, and in the second they would be fully in charge of calculating and placing an order of kit, and installing it safely, as well as providing the college with risk assessments (see other FAQ), and probably being present through the night itself.
C Nairne, September 2005
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Rating: +0
The play I'm doing wants firearms on stage. What on earth should I do?
With regards hiring guns, you have several options. The Playhouse does NOT have a blank firer, however:
1) Bapty (2000) Ltd, based in London, is a theatrical / film armourer. They have absolutely every gun and weapon imaginable in blank and de-activated versions. I have used them a number of times before, but they have the downside that you need to collect items in person, and are sometimes expensive. Travel to Bapty's is easiest by car, but you can get to them by getting the tube out along the Piccadilly line (to Heathrow), then getting a taxi / walking from Osterley station. Alternatively, Southall station is actually very close (half mile).
Bapty (2000) Ltd
1a, Witley Gardens
Southall Middlesex
UB2 4ESTel: 020 8574 7700
2) Dave Thwaites (of the Pegasus), has a couple of blank firers and will almost certainly be able to help you out. I suspect he may well have contacted you already anyway (I think he is on the TAFF list), but I will pass on his email address in another email. He is based in Oxford, so transport will not cost you, and although he will charge for hire and blank used, it won't be a huge amount, and almost certainly less than Bapty's.
3) I doubt they will be much use in this case, but Wychwood Warriers have old weapons of various forms used for their battle re-enactments. We did have contact details for someone with them, but I can't find them at present.. I doubt they will be any use in your case, I just wanted to include them for completeness.
Alex Prideaux, April 2005
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