ABSTRACT
This is the most common spacing for instruments on a pipe, unless the lights will be focused directly to the side, where 24 inch centers are more realistic. Maintaining an even spacing ensures adequate room to properly focus the lights. Using corresponding marks on the battens can make a light hang go really fast, because the electricians can simply count over from center to find the proper place for a fixture. Frequently they may have a Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) drawing of the theatre space that shows where lighting positions are located. In a theatre, lights are hung in specific areas, some over the stage itself and some out in the auditorium. Hanging positions in the audience seating area are called Front of House (FOH) positions. They may have other names like cove or beam or balcony rail in some theatres. Some theatres use drop boxes instead of plugging strips.
