In Memoriam: Gene Clair, 73

Stage Directions: Walter Eugene Clair, one of the Clair Brothers Audio entrepreneurs, died Dec. 3, 2013 at age 73. Clair, known as Gene, is pictured here at the 2008 Parnelli Awards, produced by Stage Directions owner Timeless Communications. Gene and Roy Clair were honored that year with the Parnelli Audio Innovator Award.

Art Notes: CMU opens doors to student art shows

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: In the College of Fine Arts, art students will show ongoing work in the second- and third-floor studios from 5 to 9 p.m. Food and drink will be served, WRCT DJs will hold forth and artwork will be for sale. "Building BXA" a temporary exhibition space by intercollege degree program students, will run from 5 to 9 p.m. with a presentation at 7 p.m. The BXA Freshman Seminar class exhibition, "Remixing the Wunderkammer," will be displayed from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in CFA Room 303. Performance art will take place on the front lawn.

In The Studio: Five Microphone Placement Techniques For A Bigger Sound

Pro Sound Web: Before you start swapping gear, know that the three most important factors in getting the sound you want are mic position, mic position and mic position.
Get the instrument to make the sound you want to record first, then use the cover-your-ears technique to find the sweet spot, position the mic, then listen. Remember that if you can’t hear it, you can’t record it.
Don’t be afraid to repeat as much as necessary, or to experiment if you’re not getting the results you want.

Walter Eugene (Gene) Clair: May 6, 1940 – December 3, 2013

Pro Sound Web: The professional audio industry is deeply saddened at the passing of Walter Eugene Clair, who died yesterday (December 3, 2013) at the age of 73. With his brother Roy, he co-founded leading live touring company Clair Brothers, which has blazed numerous trails in concert sound reinforcement over several decades.

Sound For Picture: 'Ender's Game'

c2meworld.com: Ender’s Game, director/screenwriter Gavin Hood’s ambitious and arresting film version of the best-selling 1984 science fiction book of the same name, has deservedly received rave notices for its imaginative depiction of life on enormous space stations, mock battle exercises in a zero-gravity geodesic sphere and intergalactic wars involving thousands of spaceships. Those are just three of the environments and situations that challenged the sound team. Then there’s also the fiery destruction of a planet, a wild videogame within the story, a prominent insectoid figure, futuristic weapons and vehicles, implications of mental telepathy, and scads of assorted rooms, chambers and atmospheres in space and, briefly, good ol’ planet Earth. This was most assuredly a CGI designer’s playground, but it was also an amazing sound canvas to work upon, too.

Mark Rein Unconvinced By Second Screen Gaming

c2meworld.com: Epic Games vice president Mark Rein has been unimpressed by second screen experiences to date, and believes we are yet to see a killer app for the technology in games.
Speaking to the Alist Daily, Rein said that second screen has proven itself for linear media, such as films and TV, but has complicated interactive experiences, rather than becoming an integral part of them.

Hazmat by Accident

Occupational Health & Safety: In an emergency situation such as a natural disaster or hazardous material exposure, is your program “Safety in Name Only”? (Chances are, many of you are suddenly looking concerned because you had not considered this.) There is a vast difference talking a good game of safety and actually having an outstanding safety awareness program.

Illinois Concealed Carry Law Mandates a Safety Sign

Occupational Health & Safety: The Illinois State Police unveiled on Oct. 11 the proposed design for one of the newest safety signs that will be displayed in some Illinois workplaces as a result of the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, a state law that took effect July 9, 2013. The law, Public Act 98-63, requires an Illinois Concealed Carry License for someone--current peace officers and retired police officers eligible under a federally approved retired officer concealed carry program are exempt--to carry a concealed firearm in Illinois, according to the agency.

Photographer sends tiny versions of himself to prospective clients

The Verge: Passing around business cards, cards, resumes, and elaborate social media stunts to find your next gig? You're being outdone by a Malmö, Sweden-based photographer, Jens Lennartsson, who created an army of miniature copies of himself to send to magazines and other firms that he thought might be able to find use for his skills.

Pittsburgh Ballet's costumier keeps 'The Nutcracker' on pointe

TribLIVE: With a large cast in colorful costumes and carried by tuneful and brilliant music, “The Nutcracker” ballet is a perfect holiday entertainment — set at a family celebration on Christmas Eve and centered on the dreams of a girl on the cusp of becoming a woman.

Despite All of His Contributions to Modern Stage Combat, Ridolfo Capo Ferro Was NOT a Fight Director

HowlRound: Capo Ferro is the author of a well known treatise on dueling. If his name sounds familiar, it's because he is referenced (along with other luminaries) in the famous sword fight between Inigo Montoya and the Man in Black in The Princess Bride. Those masters and manuals that the characters reference are not about pretending to fight for the sake of an audience, they are about actually fighting in what were often life or death situations. Now, did those two actors recreate the techniques of the masters that they namedropped? No. I would venture to say that aside from the gymnastics, no technique in that fight was not on the SAFD (Society of American Fight Directors) Single Sword SPT (skills proficiency test) curriculum. Did the audience care that they were not doing “authentic” technique of the Italian Renaissance? You tell me.

Museum, Stage Right helps families enjoy a day of fun

TribLIVE: Family fun
Art activities, a scavenger hunt and entertainment by Stage Right made for a fun Family Day Nov. 30 at Westmoreland @rt 30.
Stage Right sang holiday favorites while families enjoyed cookies and punch and time together at the Greensburg museum's temporary location in Unity.

Kelly-Strayhorn party lays groundwork for centennial celebrations

TribLIVE: The lure of a post-Thanksgiving hibernation did nothing to prevent VIPs of the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty from getting together Nov. 30 for some mixers and mingling.

My response to all this Kinky Business.

The Producer's Perspective: Some people know how to try to ruin a Thanksgiving.
If you were too busy eating and shopping and eating again to have heard about the Twitter stir caused by the performance of my show, Kinky Boots, on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, here’s what happened.

Mandy Greenfield to Become Artistic Director of Williamstown Theater Festival

NYTimes.com: The Williamstown Theater Festival, a leading summertime destination for New York actors, directors, and writers to collaborate on ambitious productions, has chosen an Off Broadway leader as its new artistic director. Mandy Greenfield, the artistic producer of Manhattan Theater Club, will succeed Jenny Gersten beginning in September, the festival announced on Wednesday.

NBC Will Air ‘The Sound of Music’ Live on Dec. 5

NYTimes.com: But for the people charged with producing the high-wire spectacle, which will be broadcast on Thursday night, the concerns were somewhat broader. “I have three hours to screw up,” said Beth McCarthy-Miller, who will direct the telecast. “Mikes could go out, music cues could not happen, cameras could go down — there are so many things that could go wrong.”

Isaac Mizrahi Directs ‘Peter and the Wolf’ at the Guggenheim

NYTimes.com: “Peter & the Wolf” quickly became a holiday tradition at the Guggenheim Museum after it was first presented in 2007. Each year, a different artist creates installations to visually interpret the tale, punctuated by the narration of Isaac Mizrahi, the fashion and design impresario. This year, for the first time, Mr. Mizrahi is transforming a concert with art and storytelling into a full theatrical production under his command: He is directing the actors and designed the set and the costumes.

Sennheiser to FCC: Make Auction Winners Pay Those Hurt by Loss of 600 MHz Range

FOH online: Noting that the FCC’s pending spectrum auction jeopardizes future use of wireless microphones operating in the 600MHz range, forcing content creators to reinvest in wireless gear, Sennheiser formally proposed that winners of the new spectrum compensate owners of wireless microphone equipment that will be rendered obsolete as a direct result of the planned spectrum repacking.

Electrosonic provides audio visual systems expertise for Thea Award-winning projects

AV Interactive | Pro AV news, analysis and comment from Europe’s leading Audio Visual title | AV Magazine: The Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) netted honors in the Attraction Revitalisation category and was cited by TEA for “very successfully bringing the 50-year old facility and guest experience into the 21st century.” The theatre hosts the new production “Hawaiian Journey,” which takes guests on a breathtaking flight through the islands as they look at the time of the first Hawaiians.

Renegade is 100% Design

Live Design Magazine: Lighting and visual artist Nick Gray from London creative design practice Renegade created a stunning 90 metre long video / light sculpture in the entranceway to the 2013 100% Design exhibition at London’s Earls Court Exhibition Centre.