The Strand is busy, there is no doubt about it.   The past week we saw the final lecture in our series, the Cobbler Gobblers and the Complete Unknowns.  It was quite the diverse line-up for a single week!   This week we are going to be a little more mainstream.  Poetry on Wednesday and Young Frankenstein this weekend.   What?  You don’t think that is mainstream?  For us it is!

The Poetry Reading, presented by Three Sisters Books, will start at 7:00pm on Wednesday.  This will be open mic night, so bring your prose and share with all.  We are trying to establish a habit of having poetry in April and October.  So far so good.  Please join us for an interesting and entertaining evening.  This event is FREE.
Friday and Saturday we are showing the Mel Brooks classic “Young Frankenstein”.   The movie will start at 8:00pm on Friday and 9:00pm on Halloween Night.   On Saturday night we will have a costume contest too!   Hope to see you there!

It is becoming evident that the theatre is missing a few key components.  It seems as though every event wants to utilize our projection capabilities.  That is great, but we do not own a laptop or computer.  Each user must bring in their own computer equipment which must then be set up to interface with our equipment.  It sure would be nice to have our own computer equipment ready to go at all times.   We are looking for computer equipment that is not too old.  If you have a laptop or desktop that your recently replaced or are not using, please consider donating it to the Strand. We did a short analysis of what we need, and to do things right we need 2 laptops and 2 desktop computers.   The Strand is fortunate to have several excellent PC technicians and network administrators in our pool of volunteers.   What might seem useable to some is still valuable to us.   Thanks.

We have a few things that we are working out (warning, lots of tech talk ahead).  It has become evident that our acoustics do not support the screen in the down position and a set of drums on the stage at the same time.   The problem is that our screen is solid.  When down it reflects sound out and up.  If you sit in the balcony all you hear is drums.  There is no way to tone them down with the unwanted acoustic help the screen is providing.  We have reluctantly informed our performers that the screen will be unavailable if they have percussion.  We are working on a power point template that will allow us to project on the half wall in the proscenium (of course we need a computer first, see above paragraph!)  Once completed, we will still be able to have video presentation during these concerts, but for now no dice.

(tech talk continues…) Since Ron B. is on a roll with the screen problem, he is taking the opportunity to reinforce our other problem, which although existing, doesn’t come into play as much.  It is still something that needs addressed.   The main speakers in our auditorium are up high and on either side, you can see the grilles clearly from the audience.  Behind those grilles are two very old (but still good) Altec Lansing “Voice of the Theatre” speakers.  To give you an idea how old they are, the Strand was only 40 went those bad boys rolled off the assembly line.   The problem really isn’t with the speakers as much as the speaker placement.   The current position the speakers are BEHIND the performer.   This means that if you have a more omni-directional microphone, such as a lapel mic, it will hear the sound emanating from the speakers behind and cause feedback.  This is something we physically cannot solve.  Ron has given it the gallant try, only to come up short.  (to be fair, he says the newer $500 per pop lapel mics will work better, but none of our users nor the Strand has any of those.)   The speakers behind the stage just aren’t a good idea.   To solve this, we have agreed upon a strategy that will accomplish many things.   We are going to move the speaker enclosures forward about 7 feet so they are even with the front of the pilaster on either side of the stage.  We will then build an acoustically tight box for the speakers.  This will provide better mid-range and bass response.  We will also be able to increase the grille size and purchase new speakers.  The 50 year old speakers have done their job and need to go to speaker retirement.   The new speakers will provide a warm, crisp and rich sound.   The area behind the new platform will be ideal for things that will become necessary when we install our theatre pipe organ.  They will as provide additional lighting positions.   The idea just keeps getting better and better.   Bob S. says that the new platforms build to hold the speakers will help our air flow.  The new section will be immediately above our current air vent.  This will keep the air from heading straight for the balcony.  We have a few degree difference between the main floor and the balcony.   This will help mitigate that temperature disparity.   But wait, there’s even more!   The new speaker placement will allow us to install a valance even with the front of the first pilaster.  It will effectively bring the proscenium 14 feet forward.  This will look great, and we will only have a two foot section of stage that will extend past the speakers.   When completed it will change the look of our stage for the better.

This is being planned now and work will hopefully start in January during our heavy maintenance month.   We will be showing only films so we can have most of the theatre available to do this type of work that needs accomplished.  This project is a big deal.  It will require a little outside help, but mostly in the planning and engineering.  We feel we have the skill and talent to accomplish the construction aspect ourselves.   This will once again make Ron a happy camper.  Bob will continue to be a happy camper (even though he brings rain upon all of us) and Gordon, Cody and Steve won’t fight the sound board as much trying to keep things balanced.

So now you know.

Thanks for all the support.  We hope to see you this week.