Gear / Technical Help > Ask The Tapers
Help With Balcony Clamping
skotdee:
Hey Folks, taper newb here, got a few questions about clamping to the balcony.
There is a local venue I'm going to taping in a lot, with not much floor room to set up but a great balcony. Here is a pic so you see what I'm working with:
Obviously thats a side view but the balcony is the same in the back. Anyway, Im thinking of clamping to one of those vertical supports, then extending down to get closer to approx 10' above the floor. Several concerns: 1) Do you think the sound is going to slap off that section of wood under the balcony and affect my recording? I'll be using cards, so I was hoping that might not be an issue. Maybe I should extend all the way down past it so that wont be an issue? That would still be plenty above people's heads, but It looks like I'd need a damn long extension of some sort. 2) What is the best equipment to use for this job?
I've done a lot of research but all the different options are a bit overwhelming to say the least. I'm leaning toward a superclamp with the extension arm, but is that going to be long enough to get me under that flat section of wood under the rail? Also could someone please show me exactly what all I'll need to attach a t-bar to the extension arm if thats the way to go? Im a bit confused here since I'd be working "upside down" with this particular application. I know the shure vert bar would probably make matters much easier, so I may go with that. There is a show next weekend that I'd love to tape so I need to act fast.
Any thoughts/suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
shaggy:
2 X superclamps and a monopod, run it upside down. But if you can't, just run a superclamp or an ENG C-clamp off the top. No need to get all fussy about it if you don't have the gear. Do it before anyone comes in, just-in-case your palms are sweaty and the monopod goes bye-bye! Safety is foremost.
skotdee:
Thanks Shaggy, but could you elaborate a little more? I don't have the gear, but Im willing to buy whatever I need since I'll be taping here quite a bit. This is my hometown venue. Isnt there an extension arm for the superclamp that would work instead of a monopod? Or is that not long enough? With the 2 x clamp option are you saying one to clamp to the rail and the other to hold the monopod? Also, how the heck to you mount a t-bar to a monopod? Won't it have a big ole attachment head for a camera on the end of it?
Also, whats an ENG C-clamp? The tapes made from up top leave a little to be desired, so I'm really trying to get down below the balcony if at all possible.
Thanks!
shaggy:
You said you wanted it to go down to about 10' off the floor? The Bogen/Manfrotto extension bar will certainly not clear that space between the lowest part of the vertical slats and the bottom of the balcony (the longest rigid one is like 7 or 10 inches, they make a longer flex arm too but I dunno how secure those are with a monopod and mics on the other end). If you use two super clamps and an extension arm you could run a monopod upside down, you gotta see if that lip is gonna be a problem (from what I see in the photo, it might be a problem to clear with the extension arm). A wee bit dangerous but if everything is tight, nothing will come loose. A monopod has a camera screw at the top, use whatever adapters you need to get your t-bar to work with it.
Running two superclamps supporting a mic stand, here at the Showbox in Seattle (hard to run dead center there, the next best thing and getting a a few feet closer to the center is to clamp to the rail next to the soundboard). Having two is indispensable but they a bitch to lug around. Had to lose these before I flew out here to Tokyo. I sure could have used them last night in Aoyama to get a bit closer to the center.
If it sounds bad, then forget it. A ENG C-clamp to run off of anything:
What about them spot lights I see every 4-5 feet apart. Is there one dead center? Can you use the house ladder to get to it?
spyder9:
A Super Clamp and either a Bogen HD Flex Arm or a Bogen 196 articulating arm. Anything that will get you down and out away from the edge of the rail. That way you won't pick up all the yelling and screaming coming from the balcony.
Example below:
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