As everyone has mentioned, there are benefits to a fly system,
You can bring lights down for students to hang and ground focus, this is in comparison to having students on a ladder,scaffold or lift to perform the same function.
You can fly drops and scenery in do allow for scene changes during a production, compared to eating up additional required wing space for rolling scenery or track operated scenery storage.
A fly system introduces your students to the full world of theater, beneficial for the students moving forward in the future
Downsides:
Anyone operating the system should be properly trained to use it, you shouldn't send an untrained person, therefore students and staff will need to be trained before they should operate the system. And in the future you should have personnel trained as they change.
You need to have annual inspections of the system which are a regular maintenance budget expense, along with the costs of repairs as needed, this is not much early on but as maintenance cycles come around you will replace ropes, cables and other items as needed.
We have worked with Architects and Engineers on Fly and Non-fly spaces, whatever you receive from the design process should ultimately meet your needs, and at a budget that can be afforded. It should look towards your current program and usage and be able to be relevant for the next 25 to 50 years.
Whatever you decide make sure you stress safety in its use.
Non-fly spaces can also have scenery tracks and move on and off, roll drops, draw tracks, pipe grids for flexibility.
We are theater, all we need to start is 2 boards and a passion, every space is unique and provides specific learning opportunities to students, even in community theater every facility have a fly space. We are innovative, I wish you luck in getting a fly but know you will present great theater in any space.
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Jerry Onik
V.P. Theatrical Supplies and Equipment
Omaha NE
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-24-2019 16:34
From: April Woolley
Subject: Justifying Fly Space
My high school has no fly space and they are proposing a renovation project to add fly space to the auditorium. My assistant superintendent asked me to find justifications and resources that show how important fly space is. Does anyone have anywhere I can start looking? has anyone gone through the same process and have any advice? Thank you in advance
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April Woolley
Yorkshire NY
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