Proving that new ideas to enhance backstage communications don’t have to be high tech to be effective, J. R. Clancy is offering new writeable batten end caps, which can help rigging operators identify batten numbers from the deck or the grid. The yellow plastic end caps cover the ends of standard pipe battens and have a writeable surface so crew members can jot down the batten number using a permanent marker. If additional line sets are added during production, the operator can simply move the end caps, adding the new batten’s number on its end cap.
“The batten number has to correspond with the rope lock and line set at the rail, or with the line set number on automated controls—or technicians will find themselves moving the wrong line set,” said Tom Young, J. R. Clancy vice-president of marketing. “Now we’ve made it easy to coordinate the batten number and the controls, which will help theatre staff avoid incorrect cues—and even accidents—onstage.”
The end caps also include set capacity information, so users will know exactly how much weight each batten can hold—and when the batten is over capacity. “Far too many users have no idea what their set capacities are,” said Young. “By making these new end caps available, we hope to reduce the number of hazardous situations created by overloaded battens and out-of-balance loads.”
For more information, please visit www.jrclancy.com.
