Every true Theatre Technician knows it and relies on it: devices particularly used in theatre, often put together by people working on stage to make their job easier.

True gadgets or basically simple--yet smart--solutions for our kind of work.

There must be quite a lot of them, some used only in opera, others in traveling shows, some for some reason only in one particular country. Simple solutions to tie a cable to a fly bar, handy tilting devices, accessories for lightning technicians...

Mostly they consist of cheap materials that we use all the time, but are put together in a way that creates a new apparatus. Quite normal to the people accustomed to working with it--unheard of by fellow technicians somewhere else! Who knows: you yourself might even have invented one!

Would it not be interesting to share this knowledge?

                  So here it is:

The Technical Commission of OISTAT initiates a competition of these simple yet bright ideas that are in use on stage every day:

The TIP!

Awarded to the theatre technician who comes up with the most creative idea for common practice on stage.

The winner will be announced on the TIP award ceremony at the PQ2011 in Praque.

How to join:

1    Describe your invention in not more than 1000 words, in English.

2    Add at least one drawing and/or picture in pdf of jpg format. (Remember: an image says more than a thousand words.)

3    Fill out the registration form (down load it HERE myname.xls)

4    Mail everything to tip@oistat.org BEFORE October 1st,2010

Of course there are some rules:

1    The idea must concern an apparatus or (auxiliary) tool that is specifically used in theatre technology, capable of being used at every location where theatre technology is practiced.

2    It must consist of materials and/or parts and/or components that are ‘standard’ and can be bought easily.

3    Materials, parts and components that are developed for, and normally used in another industry, may certainly be used in a new and different way for our discipline.

4    The apparatus or (auxiliary) tool must be-–without possible doubt-–developed by a current or former theatre technician. Renowned solutions, gadgets or tools may not be entered into the competition.

5    The apparatus or (auxiliary) tool must not be developed by a professional commercial company.

6    The apparatus or (auxiliary) tool should be free of any rights and everyone should be able to use it without any financial consequences.

7    The apparatus or (auxiliary) tool must already be in practical use somewhere.

8 All members of OISTAT centres or individual OISTAT members can join with maximum 3 entries entries

9    By entering, you give OISTAT the permission to use the texts and pictures you’ve submitted in publications. The rights of the actual invention stay with the inventor.

10    Registration form and other files most bear your name. f.i. myname.xls, myname.jpg, myname.pdf

folder_oistat_print.pdf