Technical Requirements

Please note that these specifications are guidelines.  Michael Minery’s TAPAHOLICS, herein after referred to as TAPAHOLICS, will try to accommodate whatever facility and technical capabilities are available.  We do suggest, however, that you consider providing the best technical setup you can.  It sometimes is the key factor in the success of an event.  Questions may be directed to the Suzy Zimmermann at: 212-233-2323.

COMPANY BREAKDOWN

Michael Minery, 3 female tap dancers, 5 male tap dancers, 1 male actor, 5 musicians, tech director, stage manager, company manager

STAGE

Tap dancing is one area of dance which requires a certain type of flooring to perform on, and this fact is one we take very seriously. For this reason we REQUIRE an all wooden stage. As long as your stage floor is not concrete we can perform on it, but this concern is a primary one in our minds before the performance. Be aware that our Dancers will wish to come as far downstage as possible, unless the flooring on the apron is unsafe.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• A staged performance space consisting of a wooden floor, masonite, or specific surface designed for tap dancing of at least 24’ x 20’.
• Performers should be able to be clearly seen throughout the venue.

IDEAL SETTING:

• A staged performance space of at least forty feet (40’) in width, by twenty-four feet (24’) deep, by sixteen feet (16’) high. 

DRAPERIES

(1)        Grand Drape (or House Curtain)

(3-5)     Sets of Legs and Borders (a standard hang for your venue should be adequate).

(1)        Full stage Cyc (White or Light Blue preferred)

The grand drape should be hung on your furthest Downstage Line Set and the Cyc should be hung on your furthest Upstage Line Set. The Cyc will most likely remain in for the entire show, but the ability to fly it out for prop/dancing changes would be helpful. The grand drape will be operated by a stage hand and should have the ability to do both a traveling and a guillotine opening and closing.

SOUND

System must be adequate to provide full coverage of the venue without distortion or break up of any kind.  System must handle mixing of all instruments and vocals cleanly.

• Sound system to accommodate 5-piece band, CD player, 3 vocal mics, 2 headset mics, and 9 lavaliere (body) microphones used to amplify the tap sounds.
• System includes appropriate amplification for the room and a control board.
• System must be at least bi-amp powered
• Unless the full 5-piece band is playing, the venue must provide 2 CD players with pitch control.  Sound from these must be separately controlled through the monitoring system detailed below.
• Minimum 24 input channels, 4 aux and stereo output.
• System must include industry standard array of outboard processing equipment, i.e. gates, EQ’s, delays, reverbs, compressors.
• As size of venue increases, so must power and speaker coverage
• BECAUSE OF VARIETY OF VENUES PLAYED, HOUSE SYSTEM IS SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF ARTIST’S PRODUCTION MANAGER.

5-Piece BAND - 2 input and 8 output

• Dependant on the size of the stage, TAPAHOLICS will require the use of a tuned piano or an 88 key weighted Keyboard with stand

• Power source for keyboard if no piano available
• Vocal mic on boom stand for keyboard player
• Drum set (To be provided by TAPAHOLICS)
• 3 microphones for drum set
• Bass Driver Di and bass amp
• Condenser microphone and stand for Saxophone
• Condenser microphone and stand for trumpet
• 4 monitor wedges
• All cables and power strips

PERFOMERS - 14 channels

• Lavaliere (body) microphones for each of the performers (generally nine performers). (TAPAHOLICS will provide these mics unless otherwise stated.) TAPAHOLICS recommends quality equipment such as uni-directional, UHF-selectable lavaliere microphone/body packs by Shure, Audio Technica or AKG.
• Two headset microphones (TAPAHOLICS will provide these mics unless otherwise stated)
• Two wireless handheld microphones on straight stands placed backstage left and right. 
• In the event that the venue does not have an adequate house speaker system that can provide loud and clear amplification, alternate speakers must be provided in order to assure that the entire audience is capable of hearing the performance well.
• 3 monitors with separate mix capability.  Monitors should be professional quality (i.e. Yamaha, JBC, EV) and consist of 15” speaker; 1” horn driver.

• For very large audiences (500+), video cameras and projection screens are required.

LIGHTING

This show does not travel with its own lighting package. However we believe that next to the dancing itself, the lighting is the largest artistic impact on the production. We will be happy to supply you with a full-show lighting plot upon request. We are willing to work with the capabilities of your performance space however, advance communication is required.
PREHANG: All instruments need to be pre-hung, gelled, patched, and rough focused so that lighting focus and cueing may begin as soon as possible on the day of the performance.

• Minimum Needs: Ability to darken the room to full black and quickly return to general lighting, controllable by a switch or dimmer.
• A theatrical lighting system with full control of cross fades, fade outs, black outs, and area-specific lights.
• If the lighting system is computerized without manual override, advance notification is required.  Advance notification is also required if the venue policy does not permit our Stage Manager to operate the light board, in which case a qualified operator must be provided.
• If a theatrical lighting system is not available, a non-theatrical lighting system should allow the following:
  • The ability to illuminate the entire stage.
  • The ability to darken the house to full black.
  • The ability to produce slow fades and rapid blackouts.
  • The ability to spot certain areas on stage.

RUN LIGHTS:
Just a helpful reminder that our show requires a lot of quick changes and technical effects to occur during the run of the show backstage. We require the backstage area to be completely lit with blue (or otherwise) running lights which will not interfere with the stage lighting at all.

PROJECTION

Projection is an integral part of Michael Minery's TAPAHOLICS and we also like to incorporate projection if possible in all of our shows (DVD format). Please let us know your theatre's projection capabilities and equipment.

TECH BOOTH/AREA

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• House lights, stage lights, and sounds should all be controlled from one location.  If this is not possible, adequate personnel and communications must be provided (i.e.: headsets).

CROSSOVER, WING and BACKSTAGE AREAS

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Dancers must be able to cross behind the staging area without being seen by the audience.   
• The backstage must extend at least 6 feet past the ends of the stage to produce wing areas large enough to hold a prop table both SR and SL.
• One 6-foot table (to be used as prop table) must be provided in the wing area both Stage Right and Stage Left.
• We need to be able to roll on & off stage, and hold backstage out of view the following TAPAHOLICS set pieces/props:

3 - 4’x 8’x 8’ rolling set wagons

3 - 4’ x 8’ x 6” rolling set wagons for band

3 piece portable rolling stair system (4’x 8’ x 5’ and 2- 4 x 5’ x 5’)

Chairs: 9 folding chairs and 9 café chairs

Gym Equipment: 1 treadmill with extension cord, 9 aerobic steps, weights

Construction scene equipment: 2 horses, ladder, wood, metal, etc.

• If the facilities do not permit this, advance notification is required.

WARDROBE
Please provide two separate dressing rooms that can seat at least six (6) people, each in close proximity to the stage. Also provide a separate private dressing room for Michael Minery that is as close to the stage as possible for quick changes. All dressing rooms must have chairs, well-lit mirrors for each dancer, and clothes racks or hanging space for costumes and clothes. If these rooms do not have hot and cold running water and toilet facilities, then a men's and women's restroom must be provided. Should this be the case, these restrooms should be off limits to anyone except the dancers, easily accessible to the stage and private from the audience. Along with the dressing rooms, the dancers will require one separate wardrobe room with water, lighting and electricity (this can be the green room or the hallway near the dressing rooms if necessary). If dressing rooms are not readily accessible to the performers during the performance, quick change areas must be setup in the wings, one stage right and one stage left. These areas should be show lit, blue lights preferred so the dancers can see, but not strong enough to affect the show lighting.              

PERSONNEL REQUIRED (Provided by Venue): 
        (1) Light Board Operator
        (1) Sound Board Operator
        (1-2) Follow Spot Operators
        (2) Stage Hands to assist Stage Manager during the show

        (1) Curtain Operator
        (1) Electrician
        (4-6) Stage Hands (only for Load-In, Load-Out, and Focus)
        The operators can function as the stage hands if personnel are short handed.

HOURS (Estimated):

OTHER

HOSPITAILITY:
In many areas, restaurants tend to close early or are too slow to accommodate our schedules. The venue is asked to provide any type of hot meal (home cooked meals are preferred but not required) to be available to the Dancers FIRST around 6 PM.
If a meal is a large concern, a simple deli tray of meats, cheeses and bread will be a sufficient substitute. Please note that one of our company members is lactose intolerant and one is a vegetarian. Please plan enough food for all company members, musicians and crew members as well as beverages (coke, tea, coffee or whatever is fine).  (Plan on a total of 20 people). AT LEAST 24 BOTTLED WATERS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE DANCERS ONLY.  Please make this water available in the dressing rooms or green room (chilled preferred). If matinee or morning activities please provide appropriate food for these events should be provided as well.

MERCHANDISE:

TAPAHOLICS would like the opportunity to sell merchandise (t-shirts, CD’s, etc.) and retain all profits. Presenter will provide a 6’ table in a high-traffic, easily accessible location for merchandise to be sold both pre and post show as well as at intermission. TAPAHOLICS will provide all personnel necessary to set-up, sell, and break-down said merchandise display.

Tapaholics Band Rider: 

This Band Rider is for informational purposes only. This band rider will be adjusted according to the venue by our Musical Director, Damien Bassman.

Guitar amp {Fender Delux or Fender Twin preferred}

2 guitar stands

Bass amp {15" speaker cabinet & GK or Hartke kead}, DI box

Electric bass stand

Keyboard {full size keyboard with weighted keys: need clav & a GOOD, REAL piano sound)

Keyboard amp

Drum set: prefer Yamaha Recording Custom or Pearl Masterworks or Gretsch

-sd (5" wood or 5 1/2" metal)

-bd 14x20

-3 toms 8x10, 8x12, 14x14

-3 cymbal boom stands

-all hardware (pedal, throne,hi-hat stand, etc.)

-drum rug

1 vocal mic (wireless preferred): for piano w/ boom stand

10 band mics (trumpet, gtr amp, bass amp, kbd amp, 5 drums: sd, bd, 2 overhead, hi-hat)

2 chairs, stool for bass, bench for piano

6 music stands + stand lights

At least 2 monitor speakers for the band

House speakers/PA system

Electric outlets/extensions for at least 8 plugs