Posts

Anybody in entertainment production knows what gaffers tape is, but even lots of techs who use it don’t know what a “gaffer” is.

Many theatrical terms come from classic British theatre and gaffer is one of those terms.

The British originally used the term gaffer as slang for “grandfather”, a term that was meant to endear respect. That’s where this name entered the vocabulary.

Early stage lighting was both a hard and a dangerous job, and those who could do it well got a lot of respect from their peers. Thus, the slang term for an elder that earned respect began to be applied to those in the theatre who took on this tough job.

Today we may use a term as lofty as Chief Lighting Technician or even the loftier Lighting Engineer, but those who take this on wear the title of “gaffer” with pride.

The “grandfather” of stage hands is still the gaffer. They are the ones who climb the ladders, string the cable, hang the lights, change the lamps and create the looks that video, stage and theatre directors use to tell their stories.

Gaffers tape proudly inherited the term “gaffer” and Pro Gaff is the gaffers tape used by today’s professional lighting technicians and stage hands.

Harrison Bros. Inc.
TheTapeworks.com
Voice 866-386-8335
Fax 800-327-6651
Email sales@harrisonbros.com

Harrison Bros. Inc.
47 North Chatham Pkwy
Chapel Hill, NC 27517

Calling 1/2 inch gaffers tape “spike tape” doesn’t make much sense unless you know a little theatrical history.

Stage, video and film techs know that gaff tape slit to a half inch width is called spike tape, but most of them don’t know why. Pro Gaff half inch gaffers tape is the audio video pro’s favorite spike tape but even some pros don’t know where the name “spike tape” originated.

To understand this bit of folklore, you need to return to the days of Shakespeare. The theatres were essentially outdoor venues, even though they had basic theatre structures.

At the Globe Theatre in London, and other theatres in England, the floors were dirt.

The reference to performing on stage as “treading the boards” didn’t come into use until much later.

When staging a show on a dirt floor it was necessary to drive a spike into the ground in order to show actors where to stand or to indicate where props and set pieces should be placed.

When stage marking replaced wooden stakes with tape marks the term “spike” stuck (get it?) and that is why thin gaffers tape is called spike tape today.

By the way, GoodBuyGuys.com has spike tape in twenty colors.

Harrison Bros.com
47 N. Chatham Pkwy.
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Voice   800-327-4414
Local   919-968-6651
Fax   800-327-6651
Email   sales@harrisonbros.com

As is often the case in natural disasters, this week’s devastating tornadoes in central Tennessee has brought chaos to the power system.

Since 2011, Duracell has operated a fleet of specialty vehicles designed to provide temporary power sources for those in need.

These vehicles provide emergency lighting, power for recharging electrical devices and backup power sources for communication systems.

Perhaps most importantly, they distribute batteries to residences and businesses that need a portable power source to get back up and running.

Duracell continues to grow their fleet of Power Forward vehicles, adapting them to the ever-changing needs being met by new battery technology.

You can learn more about the Power Forward fleet by clicking here.

GoodBuyguys.com

Harrison Bros.com
47 N. Chatham Pkwy.
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Voice   800-327-4414
Local   919-968-6651
Fax   800-327-6651
Email   sales@harrisonbros.com

Serious percussionists know that gaffers tape can be an invaluable tool when it comes to improving drum sound. Used carefully, and in small increments, cloth gaffers tape can change the tone of individual drums just enough to make a kit sound really cohesive.

Use too much or use it in the wrong places and it can make the drum sound worse and leave a real mess when you try to remove it.

The secret is to use small pieces and to work slowly from the outside edge of the drum head towards the center as you carefully listen to the drum.

Ideally, the tape should be applied in such a way as the drummer will not hit it directly with a stick, as your goal is to change the tone of the drum, not change the impact the stick has when the drum head is struck.

Here’s a link to a really useful video which explains the process in detail.

Harrison Bros. Inc.
GoodBuyGuys.com
Voice 877-863-6150
Fax     800-327-6651
sales@harrisonbros.com

It is tempting, when changing batteries in something like a flashlight, to just change a single battery, even if the device requires two or more

Not only will not changing all batteries at the same time reduce the performance of the newest battery, it may also damage the device by causing the older batteries to rupture and leak.

Here is the recommendation from Duracell, the maker of ProCell batteries.

To Duracell’s credit, this is not advice intended to sell more batteries. If you replace some of the batteries in a device, you will actually shorten the life of both the new and old batteries, increasing your costs and increasing the likelihood that you may actually have to replace the device itself if the batteries leak.

For longest life in high consumption battery use devices, use ProCell batteries, Duracell’s line of alkaline batteries for professionals.

Harrison Bros. Inc.
GoodBuyGuys.com
Voice 877-863-6150
Fax     800-327-6651
sales@harrisonbros.com

We have just started getting marketing information from Duracell about their new line of Procell Intense Power alkaline batteries. They are being promoted as alkalines for high drain devices, and if, indeed their performance is markedly superior to the performance of regular Procells, it could make a big difference for wireless mic users.

There are few devices that would be considered more “high drain” than wireless mics, but if a user is going to pay for extra capacity and performance but still discard the batteries after a single use, then it will make no sense to pay more.

We have requested some specific details on performance comparisons and will set up some testing ourselves as soon as we can get our hands on some actual product.

Check back here soon. We’ll have more information.

Harrison Bros. Inc.
GoodBuyGuys.com
Voice 877-863-6150
Fax     800-327-6651
sales@harrisonbros.com

The number one use, by far, for gaffers tape is to secure cables temporarily to the floor in order to eliminate tripping hazards.

Whether you are securing audio cables to a stage or using an extension cord on carpet, taping down the cable wherever anyone might be walking is essential to making your environment safe.

Gaffers tape works so well for this application because it has a high quality synthetic adhesive that will lot leave residue on the cable or the floor when it is removed.

The Good Buy Guys have a great video that gives you tips about properly taping down cables.

You can view it by clicking here.

GoodBuyguys.com

Harrison Bros.com
47 N. Chatham Pkwy.
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Voice   800-327-4414
Local   919-968-6651
Fax   800-327-6651
Email   sales@harrisonbros.com