Zzz Theatre sound system Part 1

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Template:MenuSound


Introduction

A simple in-house produced Thame Players play, of which we typically do three or four a year, will have the following basic sound department requirements:

  • Music as the audience arrive, socialise in the bar and then take their seats (we call this "bums on seats" music)
  • An audible bell and announcement warning that the show is about to start (we call this the "five minute bell")
  • Relaying the sound produced by the actors into the back-stage areas (we call this the "show relay")
  • Possibly the use of some pre-recorded sound effects

Other sound operations might be required, but these are the basic steps that nearly every show will need.

So we will start by looking at where our sounds come from and where they need to go.

The Sound Matrix

Input

We have a number of potential sound sources:

  • CD players
  • Mini disc players
  • Radio
  • Laptop (proving just audio)
  • Laptop (providing audio from presentations, film clips etc.)
  • USB stick
  • The actors on stage

Output

We have a number of potential sound destinations:

  • The main auditorium
  • The front of house (bar area)
  • Backstage
  • On stage

Mixing the Matrix

So, where should various sound sources be heard?

Auditorium Front of House Back Stage
Bums on seats music Heard
Here
Heard
Here
Five minute bell announcement Heard
Here
No recording or flash photography announcement Heard
Here
Introductory show music Heard
Here
Heard
Here
Heard
Here
Actors dialogue Note 1 Heard
Here
Heard
Here
Pre-recorded sound effects Heard
Here
Heard
Here
Heard
Here

Note 1: Being a small venue, the actors' voices will not need any amplification into the auditorium in most cases.

Typical Show Timetable

Typically for the sound operator, a show would have roughly the following timetable:

When it happens What happens
Curtain minus 60 minutes Ensure you know who the Stage Manager (SM) is and who the Front of House (FoH) manager is
Complete testing of Front of House announcements
Complete testing of communications with SM
Find out if the No Recordings or Flash Photography announcement is required
Front of House open to public
Be wearing long sleeve stage blacks from this point on
Curtain minus 45 minutes Complete testing of Auditorium announcements
Complete testing of all/any sound effects
Start Bums on Seats music
Curtain minus 30 minutes Both the SM & FoH manager should check with you that you are happy for the house to open
The House opens (audience allowed into auditorium)
Do a final walkround to ensure levels are comfortable
Curtain minus 5 minutes Play the Five Minute Bell announcement after checking with FoH manager
Curtain minus 1 minutes Play the No Recordings or Flash Photography announcement if required (see above)
On SM's cue Fade out the Bums on Seats music
On SM's cue Fade in the Show music if required
On SM's cue Fade out the Show music if required
Other cues to follow from either script or from SM
Interval Fade in House music or Bums on Seats music as requested by Director
Curtain minus 5 minutes Play the Five Minute Bell Show Continues announcement after checking with FoH manager
On SM's cue Fade out the Bums on Seats music
On SM's cue Fade in the Show music if required
On SM's cue Fade out the Show music if required
Other cues to follow from either script or from SM
End of Show Fade in House music or Bums on Seats music as requested by Director
Only when last audience has left auditorium Fade out the House or Bums on Seats music
De-rig and shutdown as required