Venues · Rigging and LED
Littman: microphones, monitors, lighting and theater load-in
At the Julius Littman Performing Arts Theater, prepare the input list, monitor mixes, lighting plot and load-in schedule together. The municipal v.8 packet, dated 10-1-2023, ties these changes to additional staffing and restoration; confirm the published inventory for your event date.
Which address, room and seating configuration need confirmation?
The municipal profile places the theater at 17011 NE 19th Avenue, North Miami Beach, Miami-Dade. The packet names the City of North Miami Beach Department of Parks and R.E.C. as operator and uses 17051 NE 19th Ave for administration and insurance. Confirm the production entrance separately; a correspondence address does not identify the unloading route.
The profile and seating chart indicate 931 seats: 539 in the upper section and 392 in the lower section. Plot cameras, consoles and accessible positions on the proposed configuration; check which seats and routes remain usable before finalizing ticket sales. The packet requests notice of accessibility accommodations 5 working days before the show.
The municipal Special Event Permit Application link is described as being for amphitheater rentals. Do not use it as automatic authorization for the indoor theater. The McDonald Center has separate availability and booking; a Littman reservation does not reserve that space.
When are assistants required, and how should monitors be prepared?
Create an input list identifying source, microphone, position and monitor destination. The packet requires at least one sound assistant for a minimum of 4 hours when more than 2 microphones or monitors are needed. A presentation with few microphones also triggers this condition if it requires a monitor.
The rider describes an analog Soundcraft MH3 with 48 channels, 4 stereo inputs and 12 auxiliary sends; it offers up to 8 monitor mixes, with 6 EAW SM400 and 4 EAW SM200. Do not turn the console’s sends into guaranteed additional mixes. Confirm the patch, available units and assigned outputs before bringing the show.
With the house operator, check one input at a time at test level and verify its arrival at the agreed monitor mix and house system. If a signal reaches the house but not the monitor, check that input’s send and destination before changing connections. If it is missing from both, first check source, cable and assigned input. Record the previous patch and restore any change that does not resolve the missing signal.
| Published system | v.8 rider data | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Stereo PA | 4 EAW KF750, 4 EAW KF755 and 2 EAW Sb1000z | Available condition, coverage and agreed show level. |
| Monitors | Up to 8 mixes; 6 EAW SM400 and 4 EAW SM200 | Independent mix count, positions and output assignments. |
| House control | 52 ft from the front curtain line | Control access, show patch and coordination with lighting. |
Can the plot be changed or LED hung from the battens?
Compare the show lighting plan with the plot confirmed by the theater. Plot changes or refocusing require at least one lighting assistant for a minimum of 4 hours. The v.8 packet lists a USD 350 restoration fee for cleared lighting bars; obtain the current scope and rate before clearing them. Save initial positions, patch and focus information for restoration after the show.
The rider lists Jands Vista T4, 8 Chauvet Rogue R2 Wash, 8 Rogue R2 Spots and 6 Par Hex7 RGBAWU. It describes 2 motorized lighting battens, a dead-hung third electric and fourth cyclorama electric, and a 42 ft motorized batten in front of the cyclorama. It also states that no fly system is available. Motorization does not establish suitability for suspended LED, sound or scenery.
Submit positions, total masses including accessories, load distribution and the proposed lifting operation. The linked drawings publish neither authorized points nor WLL. Until theater review and applicable structural documentation are available, exclude new suspensions from the scope and prepare a ground-supported alternative subject to support, stability and surface review.
What needs checking before connecting power distribution or intercom?
The packet describes 2 Colortran ENR96 racks, each containing 48 double 2.4 kW modules: 192 circuits total, 30 for house lighting and 162 theatrical, with 20 A stage pin connectors. These figures do not identify spare power or outlets suitable for supplying LED, video or electronics from dimmers. Request assigned circuits, voltage, protection, authorized connection and approved distribution for each load; do not energize a supply without that assignment.
The published intercom is a wired 2-channel Clear-Com MS222 with stations on both sides of the stage, at followspots, controls and catwalks. With the house team, check call, listen and talk at each required station before opening the house. If a station is missing, check the agreed cable and outlet without altering a working line; return to the recorded connection if the change does not restore communication.
The projection list mentions a Sony VPLFX 500V rated at 7000 lumens. Confirm the installed model, lens, signal input, format and cable route before preparing adapters or content. An inventory designation does not determine compatibility with a computer output.
Which dimensions help prepare loading and the stage?
Compare each packed item’s external dimensions, orientation and handling equipment with the entire route, not just the loading opening. The rider describes a trapezoidal stage elevated 3 ft, a proscenium 49 ft wide and 18 ft high, and 35 ft depth from stage edge to cyclorama. Verify the same reference points in the current layout before positioning a screen or scenery.
The rear dock is described as 3 ft 6 in above ground and the door as 7 ft 10 in × 7 ft 7 in. The 2010 section marks 7 ft 6 in beside that opening; do not round away the difference to fit a flight case. Request current clear opening, thresholds, turns and unloading arrangements; if clearance is not confirmed, reduce the package or change to an approved route.
The 2010 drawings show dimensions and battens, not load authorization. The section marks 21 ft 6 in maximum trim height, but this establishes neither permitted height nor capacity for a new system. Floor-supported equipment still needs allowable floor loads, concentrated loads, ballast and protection; do not size these solely from available area.
How do rental hours, performance time and technical calls differ?
Prepare a schedule covering unloading, setup, checks, house opening, performance, restoration and load-out. The v.8 daily rental limit is 5 hours including the performance; the performance limit is 3 hours including intermission, with access up to 2 hours beforehand. The clock starts at the requested time; the packet requires events to conclude by 23:00. Do not assume load-out is outside the clock or that house staff cover the whole loading period.
Each performance requires a house sound operator, lighting operator and stage operator. Calls have a 4-hour minimum and time-and-a-half charges after 8 hours. An outside technical crew does not replace house supervision. You may propose an outside equipment supplier, but loading, removal and staffing must be coordinated with management.
Request an itemized quote covering hours, assistants, restoration, equipment and surcharges. The v.8 packet contains contradictory overtime-duration wording and different rounding rules for rental and personnel. Do not calculate a current total by silently correcting those entries.
| v.8 item | Published timing or scope | Check before contracting |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | At least USD 1 million; received at least 2 weeks before; include rehearsals | City of North Miami Beach as additional insured; current endorsements and coverage dates. |
| Estimated payment | 1 week before performance | Current contract amount and terms, separate from technical approval. |
| Front-of-house staff | Available 1 hour before advertised show time | Opening, accessibility and closing coverage in the schedule. |
| Police | Required by the packet for an audience of 100 or more | Event staffing and cost; this is a published venue condition. |
How should effects, approvals and changes preserve the base setup?
The v.8 list includes Smoke Machine (Water-based Hazer), but that rental does not approve haze, lasers, smoke, pyrotechnics or detection changes. Submit the exact effect, location, product information and operating sequence to the theater; establish the competent authority’s project-specific review before including it in the show. If applicable authorization is missing, retain an effect-free version. The packet prohibits confetti and glitter and lists a USD 1000 penalty for unauthorized use; confirm current terms.
For recording, establish authorization, positions and cable routes with management: the packet requires consent and prohibits extension cords in the audience house. Do not solve an added camera by running a cable through an exit or aisle. Review circulation and use only the accepted route.
Separate authority permits, theater acceptance, organizer conditions, service contracts and technical checks. Acceptance of an AV list does not itself approve a structure or effect. Mark every change to layout, load, schedule or patch, request the appropriate review and keep the last accepted version so it can be restored without an improvised substitution.
| Review layer | What to settle for this case | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | Applicability of structural, electrical, fire and effects permits to the exact design | Not resolved by the rental profile or amphitheater form. |
| Theater | Space, plot, staffing, connections, loading and restoration | The packet requires management coordination and approval of requirements. |
| Organizer and contract | Program, suppliers, access, insurance, quote and changes | Do not replace technical reviews or applicable permits. |
| Technical check | Patch, communication, dimensions, circulation and fallback version | Operate with verified destinations, routes and configuration. |
Frequently asked questions
Do 2 microphones and a monitor require a sound assistant?
Yes, under v.8. More than 2 microphones or a monitor requirement triggers the condition. Allow at least one assistant for a minimum of 4 hours, in addition to required house operators; confirm staffing in the current quote.
Do the MH3’s 12 auxiliary sends mean I can request 12 monitor mixes?
The rider describes 12 Soundcraft MH3 auxiliary sends but offers up to 8 monitor mixes. Confirm the show’s mixes and outputs with the theater; do not reserve extra mixes based on the auxiliary count.
Can an LED screen hang from the 42 ft motorized batten?
No published capacity supports that decision. The rider states there is no fly system and supplies no WLL for that batten. Submit the design and loads for review before including the suspension; a ground-supported alternative also needs floor and stability review.
What should I allow for refocusing or clearing lighting bars?
The v.8 packet requires a lighting assistant for at least 4 hours for plot changes or refocusing and lists USD 350 restoration for cleared bars. Record the initial setup and agree current staffing, scope and price for restoring it.
Is the loading door confirmed for a 7 ft 7 in package?
No. The rider publishes 7 ft 10 in × 7 ft 7 in, while the 2010 section marks 7 ft 6 in beside the opening. Verify clear opening and orientation along the actual route; the difference between documents is not a clearance allowance.
Does the 5-hour rental include free later load-out?
Do not assume that. The v.8 packet includes the performance in those 5 hours, limits performance to 3 hours and access beforehand to up to 2 hours; events must conclude by 23:00. Explicitly agree load-out, restoration and technical calls.
Is the inventory hazer already approved for the performance?
A Water-based Hazer appearing on the rental list does not authorize use at every event. Establish the effect, location and operation with the theater and applicable reviewers; retain an effect-free version until the necessary approvals are in place.
Official documentation
The municipality links a packet marked revision v.8 with printed date 10-1-2023; its V6 metadata does not replace that cover. The dimension, floor and section drawings are dated 8/30/10. Dimensions, inventory and rates require event-specific confirmation; these documents are not an approved rigging design.