Hidden communication

[mcentrye]

Hi,

We're looking at a way for folks backstage and onstage to communicate with each other and the tech booth. I'd prefer a wireless system.

This is theatre type environment with folks shifting between onstage and backstage. I'd like to find something that's small enough that it can be worn on stage by an actor and not be distracting. Actors are already wearing Audio Technical country man style mics. Any suggestions?

[Tim Padrick]

Wireless comms are very expensive. Radios can be had cheap, but performance is exceedingly variable. Wired comms from Beltpack.com are what we chose, based on the recommendation of the largest local rental house.

[Brad Weber]

Originally Posted by mcentrye

Hi,

We're looking at a way for folks backstage and onstage to communicate with each other and the tech booth. I'd prefer a wireless system.

This is theatre type environment with folks shifting between onstage and backstage. I'd like to find something that's small enough that it can be worn on stage by an actor and not be distracting. Actors are already wearing Audio Technical country man style mics. Any suggestions?

What kind of communication are you needing? It seems to me that even if the physical device were not distracting, which may be difficult since you need an earphone and a microphone along with the transceiver, anyone on stage talking to the tech booth would be. What is probably more common for that type of communication is something at the stage that triggers a light or audible alarm at the booth that indicates they need to communicate.

Some things you may need to consider include:

• Is it acceptable to have an 'always live' connection or do you need voice activation or perhaps some form of request and accept to open the communications, such as a visual or audible indicator that communication is desired that is then accepted via a button push or similar action??
• Is simplex operation where only one party can talk at a time acceptable or do you want duplex operation where both sides can converse simultaneously?
• Do you need the earphone to reduce the ambient noise to allow easier communication?
• Is the communication between just two parties, between any two of multiple parties or between multiple parties at once?
• If involving multiple parties, do you need to be able to select individual parties or groups of individuals?

Basic wireless communication may be accomplished with simple handheld consumer FRS or GMRS radios. From there you may go to inexpensive systems like those from Eartec or up to true production communications systems such as those from Production Intercom, Clear-Com, Telex, etc. When you get to that higher level the wireless systems are much more flexible in operation and range but that definitely has an associated cost.

[mcentrye]

The person that goes on stage, wouldn't be talking through the intercom while onstage. They could while backstage though. The others on the intercom/radio could talk to the person while on stage as well as each other. Probably 4 people would communicating with each other.

[Brad Weber]

Originally Posted by mcentrye

We're looking at a way for folks backstage and onstage to communicate with each other and the tech booth. I'd prefer a wireless system.

This is theatre type environment with folks shifting between onstage and backstage. I'd like to find something that's small enough that it can be worn on stage by an actor and not be distracting. Actors are already wearing Audio Technical country man style mics. Any suggestions?

Originally Posted by mcentrye

The person that goes on stage, wouldn't be talking through the intercom while onstage. They could while backstage though. The others on the intercom/radio could talk to the person while on stage as well as each other. Probably 4 people would communicating with each other.

In a theatre type environment the standard approach is to have a comms system that is used by the Stage Manager (SM), Assistant Stage Managers (ASMs), light and sound board operators, follow spot operators, in the Dressing Rooms and Green Room, in the Box Office, at room entrances, etc. These Production Communications systems typically allow full duplex, two way communication and range from single channel party line systems to multiple channel, digital matrix systems. These systems are generally used solely for back of house communications and not used by any of the actors or performers.

In the broadcast world they use a similar system for tech communications but also use Interruptible Foldback or IFB for the on stage talent. This separate system provides program audio to IEMs with the Program audio able to be interrupted and replaced by the Producer's or Director's mics. These systems typically support only one-way communication from Producer/Director to on stage talent.

For both Production Communications and IFB there are wired and wireless system options. Wireless IFB is essentially simply wireless IEMs. Wireless comms is more complex since it is two way communications, often duplex, and in some cases multiple channels. Good wireless comms will cost much more than good wired comms.

You seem to be describing some hybrid of these two systems. What are you trying to do? Why does an actor on stage need to be part of, and distracted by, technical communications?

[[Admin] osborn4]

So they can't get those magic ear wicks like they use on Leverage and Person of Interest and just automatically be talking to everyone all the time?

[mcentrye]

Brad, First of all, I have to say thanks for the information you provide on this board. I've posted about a range of topics and you're quick to jump in and give valuable information and ask great questions. We seem to come up with interesting "challenges" with things that we try to accomplish at our church. You, and the other folks here, have really helped me wrap my mind around the things that are possible ... and the things that aren't. I have a harder time accepting the things that aren't sometimes.

This situation is a children's theatre type environment (Kidstuf, if you're aware it). We are an all volunteer church and do a lot of what we do with a minimum number of people, therefore some of us wear multiple hats. I'm one of the hosts, but I also kinda serve as technical director. Currently, we don't have communication between backstage and the tech booth (except text messaging). I'd like to have a way to have a minimally visible system for myself and headsets for the other backstage person and tech booth folks. Doesn't need to be full duplex.

I was looking at just two way radios and found one earpiece that's not too bad. I looks like something someone in security would wear.

What I'd like to have may not be available, but you never know until you ask, right?

[tdangelo]

Originally Posted by mcentrye

Hi,

We're looking at a way for folks backstage and onstage to communicate with each other and the tech booth. I'd prefer a wireless system.

This is theatre type environment with folks shifting between onstage and backstage. I'd like to find something that's small enough that it can be worn on stage by an actor and not be distracting. Actors are already wearing Audio Technical country man style mics. Any suggestions?

Mcentrye,

I often have an application not that dissimilar to yours where I have a group of people that need to listen & talk from a fixed location, others that need to listen & talk from many locations and others that need to listen only from many locations.

For those that need to listen & talk from fixed locations I run hardwired standard comms from RTS or Clear-Com (although RTS is much more camera friendly and so I tend to lean that way as I do a lot of video production).


For those that need to listen & talk from many locations I run wireless comms from Telex (typically BTR-800 which allow all the same functionality as the hardwired RTS above).


For those that need to listen only from many locations I run listen only beltpacks from Comtek or Lectrosonics. These are commonly used on film sets to allow the Director and Proucers to hear dialog. They are also used on TV stages, especially newscasts to allow the producer to speak into the talent's ear.