Tech week tables!

[u/ElmWorks]

Howdy Folks, when it comes to tech week and you’re setting up in the audience, what’s your tech table? Custom build? Anyone dealing with stadium seating or table you love that can fold up? Let’s see them and hear about them!

[u/Amtyi]

I've had a few different solutions based on venues,

Trestle Tables with just some wood blocks as a counter-rake in a wider seating row

Wheeled tables in a slightly wider seating row (I hate this one every time)

Stage Deck with custom cut legs to fit the intended height where 2 legs are in the row in front to allow a comfortable seating position

Custom made wooden desks with foldout legs for the venue (these were stupidly heavy, not worth it)

[u/DJ_LSE]

If the seats are flat(or flat ish) 2or 3 4x8ft sheets of ply sat on the seats works. Its not super nice to use. But its easy to store, fits all the laptops, books, prompt desks etc that people use, and its pretty rigid.

The ultimate desk would have to be diy tho. Different length legs to perfectly fit the floor, with rubber feet to prevent sliding. Removable or foldable legs. Varnished with rounded edges for comfort, a couple circuits of power with a lot of sockets (even if these are some long server PDU style strips screwed to the top of the desk. The dream setup would have a little 3u rack that can sit in the middle with things like a few 5 port network switches for the various networks, with maybe some APs that can be patched in for people who want to be able to roam/ dont have an ethernet port/ dongle. And a bigger rack to one side which houses all of the desk lamps, headsets, comms packs, cables etc needed to set it up.

[u/notchochang]

IKEA tables with adjustable legs

[u/Hathaur]

Our tables are steel square tube frame with plywood top. Square tube bits in the corners for the legs to insert and tighten with a thumb screw. Legs are aluminum inside aluminum with holes drilled and pins to adjust length. We have a couple “custom” tables with the corners cut off and coffin locks so we can make giant rows that are easier to get into and out of with the curve of the seat rows. They’re almost really elegant but just clunky enough to not be “elegant”.  

[u/katigirl2]

We produce in a black box with modular seating on platforms. Our tech table is a folding table set one level below where the designers sit, and we put it up on bed risers.

[u/norakgal]

one of my workplaces was able to find folding tables that have legs that can be individually adjusted to differing heights

[u/nik8324]

I worked in a theater complex that had multiple theaters, one with a raked floor, one with tiered stadium seating, but they used the same tech table in both. Couple 3' x 6' decks with coffin locks to tie them together and adjustable legs that could cover either the raked or the stadium seating and still give you a level table.

[u/foolforfucks]

The most basic design I've seen is tables with hinged legs on one side. A hole is drilled though the table top in to the top of the leg, and a bolt is placed to keep everything at 90°. Add a lip on both sides of the legless side so nothing slips. It's a little crazy looking but I've seen the same ones used for years.

[u/schonleben]

Our current tables are 3/16” ply tops on 1x3 frames with folding legs and integrated power. They are nice and lightweight, but can have a bit of wobble. We do have beefier stressed skin tables with threaded pipe legs for the LD and programmers.

[u/Roccondil-s]

It all depends on the space. One place I’ve worked had custom built tables that sat on top/over the seats and had sched40 legs that inserted a socket like many stage decks do. Another uses 2-ft wide mighty-lite style tables with folding legs that fit inside the row. The same company also uses those tables in their other space but removes the last row in the lower center orchestra. And the black box just uses ordinary 6’ or 8’ mighty-lites for tech tables.

[u/Careless_Marketing61]

I use a 3*4 sheet of 3/4 with 6" strips of 3/4 glued around the perimeter and have pipe flanges bolted to the bottom. The legs are cut to fit in the row below where we sit and a set to fit in the row we sit. They secure with set screws so they can be easily struck. We have 4 of them we deploy throughout the house 

[u/derwoodfull]

I have built a parallel platform base with a 3/4" ply top -- fits over the seats with the short ends sitting on the arm rests of the row below. Folds flat for storage backstage.

[u/Spamtickler]

I have specially modified banquet tables for lights, sound and production team. I have to build custom legs, and then do little knee walls that either sit on the floor in front of the covered seats, or sit on the arm rests of that row. It's challenging because our theater is inconsistent, so there is not a standard height for the seating rows so once I build the legs the table have to stay at that row location. Once they're worked out they work great, though.

[u/PoopScootnBoogey]

Just don’t. Be in the booth. Have an auxiliary programmer and console backstage.

[u/Staubah → u/PoopScootnBoogey]

That doesn’t work in just about every venue I’ve been in. Glad it works for you though, it must be nice never having to put a table in the house for anyone.