Comments on: Stage Lighting Terms – A Guide to Lampie Slang

By: Uxbaz

Uxbaz — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:33:38 +0000

The German for lampie is “pig thrower”. It starts as shine verfer (I don’t spell german sorry) which is light thrower. Shine to swine and there you go.

Pig chucking and proud for a long time now

By: J from Toronto

J from Toronto — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 03:59:39 +0000

I think the term you’re looking for is “ballyhoo” for spotlights scanning.

Up here a cheseborough is a cheeseburger — and that’s what you’ll hear from the peanut gallery until you’re done rigging whatever elicited the first mention.

Twofers reign supreme here afaik, a threefer is clear — but I might not give you a grelco if you asked.

“Blacks” either refers to drapery or to the clothing crew *should* be wearing – it does not refer to folks of African ancestry.

I still mount instruments on floats — pretty much anything rigged with a yoke+clamp in the air would be on a float on the floor (more likely for FX lighting than footlighting btw). They may also be floor mounts, floor stands, or whatever descriptor comes to mind — but floats usually wins out.

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 19:42:18 +0000

Can someone tell me the name for the term when you use spotlights zigzagging all around for the opening of a show, etc. What is it called?
Thank you!!

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 04:52:04 +0000

Hey cha0tic, I was told many (o so many) years ago that the scaffolding company that made them was named Cheseborough (second name I can’t remember). They were out of NYC I believe. They also use to be referred to as cheeseburgers, but haven’t heard that in years.
And Bridget, my understanding of the naming of the afore mentioned “f*** nut” had to do with what the techie would scream when the c-wrench (spanner?) slipped and his hand slammed into steel. This would usually be followed by the wench being turned into a hammer and the offending little bolt being turned into shrapnel that would come flying out of the cats (FOH lighting positions).
Finally, Rob I love your site. I can’t believe I’ve missed it all these years. Thanks for good info and great laughs.

By: Bridget

Bridget — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 00:53:37 +0000

I’m from the U.S. so this was really interesting! Great site! Here’s a few slang terms from the other side of the Atlantic:

Over here, we call the sound guys “Hum Heads” and they call us “Squints” (all that squinting at instruments). But I think I like “Lampies” better!

Grelco’s are called twofers. The 3-way version is usually called a threefer. Not very inventive, I know.

ERS instruments are often called Lekos, even if they’re another brand.

And my personal favorite bit of Squint Slang:

The little bolt on C-Clamps, sometimes called the pan screw, which allows the shaft of the clamp (and therefore the instrument) to rotate 360 degrees is affectionately called “the f**k nut”. This is because it’s usually next to impossible to loosen the thing, especially on older clamps… and thus the vulgarities fly.

Cheers!

By: Graham J McLusky

Graham J McLusky — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:12:57 +0000

Great web site. Just found it. Will pass this on to everyone!

The problem is that in the technical industries there are two many “TLA’s”… (Three Lettered Abbrevieations)

By: klmklm

klmklm — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 22:08:03 +0000

stuck way up here in aiberdeen, its nice to see its all universall!!

By: john

john — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:44:20 +0000

…I’m a Brit working in the USA. Can you recommend a website that has the US lighting slang and a US slant on the industry?

By: Marf

Marf — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 23:08:53 +0000

I have to admit, that part about Shin Busters is good

By: Jimmy Thew

Jimmy Thew — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:18:25 +0000

This was such a useful article for a student.

Cheers Rob